Exposure of True Nature

With things having reached this point, Yu Lian could only agree. Fortunately, Lieutenant Parkin's subordinates were of the same mold as him: burly, agile, and adept at headshots. Compared to defense, they were naturally more skilled in offense and reinforcement. Within the 101st Company, they had always played the role of vanguards.

"Those goblins shouldn't dare to cause trouble anymore. You can determine the artillery targets yourself based on the situation; just give the order."

"Understood. Heh, young man, our company also has a few technicians and artillerymen who moonlight as such. Even if they haven't fired thousands of rounds like you, they won't be easily fooled."

That was true. Those artilleryman technicians had at least attended technical school and operated small phase cannons. They had monitored the goblins' operations alongside Yu Lian for so long that they could at least understand what was happening.

Yu Lian thought for a moment and added, "Be careful north of the high ground. I've observed that the cliffs there are relatively gentle, leading down to soft sand and the lakeside. If the Sandfolk want to launch a surprise attack, they could sneak in through the water. Although they didn't evolve from reptiles, their swimming and climbing abilities are quite strong, at least stronger than ours. I'm quite worried about a surprise attack from that direction."

History would later tell Yu Lian that most of the 101st Company's casualties occurred in the latter half of the battle. The future father of Sandfolk independence, the hero Kazhan, would lead his guards and launch an attack from that blind spot. Many of his guards would die falling during the climb, and he himself would eventually be defeated by the rapidly reacting defenders, but he did indeed inflict some casualties on the 101st Company.

From that time on, "Climber" Kazhan became his moniker.

Captain Winter nodded. If it were anyone else, he might have dismissed it, but since it was Yu Lian saying it, he naturally took it to heart.

"Matthew! Move three of the sentry guns from the stone gate to the north!"

The 101st Company's portable sentinel guns were autonomous and could detect enemies via infrared and thermal signatures. Even if the Sandfolk had evolved from reptiles, as long as they were so mobile, their temperature couldn't be lower than rocks, right?

Of course, if there were psionics, it would be another matter, but Yu Lian remembered that Kazhan's star sign was "Guardian."

Yes, thick-skinned, tough, and reckless enough, but it was useless here.

Yu Lian felt relieved, but after thinking for a moment, he dialed Ina's communicator: "How's the situation?"

"All enemies who tried to attack us have been repelled! Their current disarray is obvious; you don't need to worry."

"Excellent. According to the original plan, have the mercenary gentleman meet me at Point C."

"Understood." Ina didn't ask further but added, "I'll have Sergeant Baka bring a squad along."

A combat squad from the security team consisted of five people. Regardless of whether they were reinforcements or observers for the mercenary, if Ina said it was okay, then it was okay. On this battlefield, this future "Witch of the Scorching Eye" was the second person Yu Lian trusted, second only to Captain Winter, and certainly more trustworthy than his senior schoolmate who was facing the wind and waves.

Yu Lian and Lieutenant Parkin's platoon activated their mechas' gliders and flew over the mountain stream, passing over the heads of the dazed Sandfolk. They then engaged and eliminated over a hundred Sandfolk cavalrymen who were rushing to reinforce them. Amidst the wails of dying raptors, they rounded a hill and soon saw figures appearing on the opposite hill – naturally, it was Baka's group.

Besides his rifle and large power axe, Sergeant Bearman was also carrying one of the two energy rifles and grinning at Yu Lian.

As for the one shrinking at the back of the group, who else could it be but Ash Steyn.

"That infiltration just now was brilliant. I'll report it to the Governor's Mansion and provide you with substantial rewards. Perhaps you'll even be granted the title of honorary citizen of Tulon."

What good was that? Would it exempt him from taxes? Ash Steyn looked at Yu Lian with grief and indignation, but forced a smile: "Hehehe, maintaining the existing international order and protecting civilian safety is also the duty of us Bracers. So, are we heading back to the valley to reinforce now?"

You're just a graduate of the Bracer training camp; you don't have a license yet. Of course, you'll never get one in this lifetime.

Yu Lian looked at him with pity, activated his communicator again, and called Youyou in the canyon.

Fortunately, this time, after only a two- or three-second delay, the connection was re-established.

"The enemy?"

"Still attacking. The Sergeant has engaged them, but..." The voice coming from the communicator this time wasn't Youyou's, but that of the silly communications soldier... Hmm, what was his name again?

"We'll be right back," Yu Lian said, but then he heard the communications soldier cry out: "Ah, why did you come in? This is... Awoo!"

The enemy had already broken through? Cold sweat immediately broke out on Yu Lian's forehead. Fortunately, a second later, Frederica's voice sounded in his earpiece.

"No need to come back; we're fine here."

"Huh? No, why are you..."

"I might not be good at fighting, but I at least understand what's more important. I'm good at dealing with idiots, Second Lieutenant. Do what you need to do!"

"Um, Miss Frederica, I think..."

Before he could finish, the signal on the other end was cut off.

Yu Lian stared blankly. He looked at everyone's bewildered faces, took a deep breath, and said gravely, "We're not going back; we're attacking! Straight for the enemy's main camp!"

Yu Lian couldn't be completely at ease, of course. However, considering the Alliance prodigy's class attributes, she should be the type to cherish her life the most. Since she said she could handle it, she probably could... Moreover, the current situation really didn't allow him to divide his forces any further.

The essence of war was, in fact, about making choices!

Even so, just making this decision made Yu Lian feel exhausted, as if he had used up all his strength.

Lieutenant Parkin let out a whistle, Sergeant Baka's face was filled with excitement, while Ash Steyn, after a moment of stunned silence, shouted, "Wait, wait, with our small group, you want to go for a decapitation strike?"

"The enemy is in complete disarray; there won't be any organized resistance! I remember the military classes at the Bracer training camp were stricter than most military academies, don't tell me you lack that much judgment!"

"E-even so, you want us to go too?"

"Is there a problem?"

"You want us, who can only walk on two legs, to keep up with you guys in power armor? Are you speaking human language?"

Before the mercenary could finish speaking, he suddenly felt the psionic fluctuations emanating from the other party and quickly jumped back, assuming a "white crane spreads its wings" stance. In an instant, Yu Lian's psionics transformed into an invisible cage. It didn't attack Ash, but surged down the mountain, followed by a "buzz."

A Frankenstein Tank, whether passing by or fleeing, was caught in the psionic wave and immediately broke down.

Ash watched, a chill running down his spine.

He knew that what the other party had unleashed was not a psionic pulse, but an advanced psionic ripple, which essentially condensed psionics into infrasonic vibrations that could instantly kill living beings without damaging machinery or electronic structures.

"You, you, what rank are you?"

"First rank."

Guess if I believe you? Ash rolled his eyes, about to retort, when he heard Yu Lian say again, "Get in the vehicle. I know you can drive a tank. Baka, you guys get in too and set up that energy rifle!"

Councillor Jiang Yudong stared, dumbfounded, as the purple-haired Alliance girl emerged from the communications room, a wine bottle in hand. Too many surreal, magical-realist events had occurred recently, making the Councillor feel like giving up on thinking altogether, but this one was likely to be the most surreal of them all.

"No need to wait any longer. I've told Second Lieutenant Yu Lian not to come back," Miss Frederica Verbart stated matter-of-factly to Councillor Jiang and the assembled people's representatives beside him.

"M-Miss Verbart! How could you do this!" the Councillor wailed loudly, as if mourning the dead.

"You, you little monster!" a mine owner lost his temper and roared, lunging at the young girl.

Then, all they saw was the girl raise her wine bottle and decisively smash it onto the man's forehead with speed and accuracy. With a "clang!", the mine owner, whose weight was at least three times Frederica's, promptly fainted.

"Hiss!" Everyone gasped. It wasn't that the girl's displayed combat skills were terrifying, but rather the sheer ruthlessness she exhibited was terrifying. It was clear she'd knocked heads before.

"Only two to three hundred people, and we have the advantage of firepower and terrain, yet you're already scared out of your wits? You don't dare fight with weapons, but you have the guts to bully me, a delicate and refined lady?"

Where are you delicate and refined?

"The supplies you brought out are enough for a thousand people for a week, but if I hadn't generously offered them, and you hoarders refused to hand them over, that would be one thing. But now, the battle has already started, and it's still like this? Look over there, even the women and children have picked up weapons, while you who call yourselves the upper class are just hiding here crying for help. Are you still breastfeeding? Looking for your mothers? Do you need to wear open-crotch pants?"

The experienced Councillor and the equally experienced people's representatives beside him were completely stunned by the scolding. It wasn't that they hadn't been yelled at before. The main issue was that a delicate, well-bred young lady had completely let loose, and they were finding it hard to adapt.

"Cowards! Scum! Unworthy of being men! The shame of humanity! Even an amoeba is more suited to be an intelligent creature than you!"

The young lady's tirade alone was enough to make the eloquent Councillor and his companions flee in disarray, even stripping them of their right to exist.

"If you come crying to me again, no matter how much you've spent these past few days, I won't give you a single cent! So you know, I'm not even an adult yet, so what I say has no legal effect!"

Well, perhaps that last sentence was the one that truly served as a deterrent.