"Councilor Ruthless, we're about to begin our operation. Do you have time on your end?"
Jia Yi's voice came through the phone.
"Don't worry, I'm free whenever you need me."
Hen Ren nodded.
"Are you heading to City 0551 now?"
"Sure. I'll have Zhu Xi meet you there. I still need some time on my end—there are a few things I have to take care of."
Jia Yi smiled as he spoke. Once he had finished handling things here, he would have to head over too. After all, with three King-level Monsters, Zhu Xi couldn't handle them alone.
As for Hen Ren, she would help, but he still had to prepare for the possibility that something might go wrong.
"Mm."
Hen Ren nodded and hung up.
Elsewhere, Xu Ai had just finished exercising. She went up to the rooftop and looked down at the returning Martial Artists. Most of them had still chosen to leave.
In the war against the monsters, technology was the main force. Most of them were Warrior Level or War General Level, and they had received no training. They would be nothing but cannon fodder on the battlefield.
Only Martial Artists at the very least at War God Level could take part in the fighting.
"Xiao Ai, come on. Let's go to the military camp."
"Hmm? What are we going to the military camp for?"
The situation didn't look like a war was about to break out.
At least, it would still be some time.
"Let's register our information."
Ye Yu smiled. Xu Ai nodded. They were probably just checking how many people would take part.
"If we're joining this battle, the military will naturally provide us with some safeguards."
Ye Yu led Xu Ai downstairs, where Liu Qingling and the others had been waiting for them.
"Safeguards?"
"The military is encouraging Martial Artists to take part in this war and will provide them with equipment for free. Whether it's firearms and ammunition or weapons and combat suits, as long as we join in, the military will supply them."
Liu Qingling smiled as she explained.
Ye Yu added, "On top of that, the families of Martial Artists who participate in this battle will receive the title of 'One-Star Citizen.' The country will also pay the families of fallen Martial Artists one million yuan in compensation each year, and they'll be eligible for many preferential policies."
"Mm-hmm."
Xu Ai nodded. It didn't seem to be much use to her, though. Oh well.
"By the way, I have some good news for you."
"What is it?"
"My master is coming over."
Xu Ai answered. Hen Ren, who had already been hailed as the world's third-strongest fighter, was coming. That was definitely great news!
Sure enough...
"That's wonderful! With Councilor Ruthless here, we're sure to win this battle."
"I should've guessed. Her disciple is already here, so of course her master would come to look after her, especially when there's a war on."
Yu Fei smiled.
"All right, all right. Let's get going."
Liu Qingling opened the door and headed out first.
They went to Lao Gao's place again.
There were quite a few people there now. The Martial Artists who had chosen to stay were registering with Lao Gao.
Xu Ai was surprised, though, when she spotted a familiar face in the crowd—Luo Feng!
Everything had gone completely off the rails...
Xu Ai watched Luo Feng hand his form to Lao Gao before leaving with the Fire Hammer Squad. She couldn't help but rub her forehead.
"You're here. Here, I prepared these for you already."
Lao Gao smiled and handed several forms to Liu Qingling and the others.
"If you're sure you want to take part in this battle, fill out this form. Keep in mind, once you sign up, you must participate. Otherwise, you'll be treated as deserters!"
Lao Gao was very serious. A single deserter could cause the entire Martial Artist force to fall into disarray!
"Understood. Don't worry."
"This isn't the first time we've helped the military fight off a monster tide. Don't you trust us by now?"
"That's right, Lao Gao. I'm very disappointed in you."
"All right, all right, ladies, I was wrong."
Lao Gao gave a wry smile.
Xu Ai smiled. She knew Lao Gao had been saying that to her, but she didn't mind.
The top section of the form was for personal information, such as name and gender. In the middle below that was a section for family members, with only five slots.
There were only so many slots, so she would have to choose carefully.
Xu Ai listed Xu Xin and Xu Yan, then filled the remaining three slots with Xu Gang and the others. She might as well round out the numbers.
The next section was for the weapons they needed. There were five slots as well. Those below Advanced General-Level could only request A-grade weapons and combat suits, while those at Advanced General-Level could request S-grade ones.
At the very bottom was a note: Any War God-Level Martial Artist or above who participated in this battle would have their family awarded the title of "Three-Star Citizen." They could choose SS-grade weapons and equipment, and after the battle, they would receive one Vegetation Spirit.
This was meant to entice War God-Level Martial Artists and councilors from other organizations to participate.
Of course, it probably wouldn't have much effect. At least none of the War Gods from the HR Alliance in the West had come over.
Not a single unaffiliated War God had shown up either...
Xu Ai was only Intermediate War General Level, so she could only choose A-grade weapons and equipment. They were worse than what she already had, so she decided to leave the request blank.
Yu Fei was the first to finish filling out her form. As soon as she was done, she handed it to Lao Gao.
"Lao Gao, when can we collect the equipment?"
"Don't worry. If you submit the forms now, the equipment will be delivered to your villa tomorrow."
Lao Gao glanced at what Yu Fei had requested and couldn't help widening his eyes.
"These firearms and bullets... Never mind. I'll just submit the request for you."
They had agreed on this already. Besides, Yu Fei was an expert with firearms, so he might as well give them to her.
The others submitted their forms too. Aside from Liu Qingling and Ye Yu, who had requested S-grade weapons and equipment, everyone else had requested A-grade gear.
Qin Yi had also requested a shield made from a mix of S-grade and A-grade materials, though it remained to be seen whether her request would be approved.
"I've done the math. The battle will probably start in about a week. What do you think, Lao Gao?"
Liu Qingling asked tentatively. As the person in charge of the Warrior Supply Base, Lao Gao would surely know more than they did.
"Well, I'm not sure, but I'd say your guess is probably pretty close."
Lao Gao smiled as he spoke.
A week would bring them close to September. The higher-ups had already decided to begin the campaign in September.
"Then we'll head back and get ready."
"All right. Take care."
Lao Gao waved, then went back to work.
Liu Qingling nodded and led everyone back to the villa.
Vehicles were coming and going from the Supply Base more and more often. Every so often, they could even see some large components.
Mm, Laser Cannon components.
Yu Fei excitedly tugged Xu Ai along. She was the one who had told Xu Ai they were Laser Cannon components.
"If they can miniaturize the Laser Cannon's energy unit, I'll be able to use one as an individual weapon. I could just carry it on my shoulder and blast a King-level Monster!"
"If a weapon like that really existed, it would spell the end of the monsters."
Xu Ai smiled and shook her head.
If she remembered correctly, in the original story, the individual Laser Cannon Luo Feng pulled out of Ancient Civilization Ruin No. 12 was even bigger than a person...
"Xiao Ai, look over there! That's the latest Vulcan Cannon. You can't even buy one on the market."
Yu Fei excitedly tugged Xu Ai along again. Xu Ai had no doubt that if there were a Gundam here, Yu Fei would be so excited she'd faint.
Over the next few days, vehicles came and went more and more frequently. Many Martial Artists had already left. Those who remained were the soldiers and the Martial Artists like Xu Ai who were willing to take part in the campaign to retake City 0551.
Hen Ren had arrived long ago, but she was staying in a villa Zhu Xi had arranged for her.
Xu Ai didn't plan to meet her just yet. There wouldn't be anything to say, even if they did meet.
High walls had also been built around the military base, with Vulcan Cannons mounted along the top. A few Laser Cannons had been set up as well.
This would ensure that no stray monsters could charge the military camp once the battle began. It was also their last line of defense!
"Is it starting?"
Ye Yu, who had been keeping watch, asked in confusion. One tank after another, along with troop carriers and fighter jets, was leaving the military camp and heading toward City 0551.
"No. They're probably just the vanguard."
Through Hen Ren, Xu Ai had learned a little about the plan.
"The dense buildings in the city are natural shelters for monsters. If we end up fighting street by street, firearms won't be very effective. And there are fewer Martial Artists than monsters. If the monsters swarm us, it'll be over."
"Then what should we do?"
"Blast the monsters' shelters to pieces!"
Yu Fei's eyes lit up. She wished she were the one driving those tanks and planes.
That was right! The tanks and fighter jets were heading for the buildings in City 0551.
The high-rises were natural shields for the monsters, blocking the soldiers' and Martial Artists' lines of sight.
They were going to destroy the buildings in the end anyway. They might as well take them out at the start and perhaps send plenty of monsters flying along with them.
On top of that, they needed to establish their first line of defense!
Ye Yu nodded. As the brains of the Willow Leaf Squad, she understood as soon as Xu Ai explained.
"But if they do that, Number One will have to start, right?"
"Mm..."
Xu Ai nodded.
Jia Yi, Zhu Xi, and Hen Ren had also set out for the central district of City 0551.
"But I need to get ready early, too!"
Without the help of the Gravity Chamber, her cultivation would surely be less effective. Still, her physical strength was already very close to Elementary Warlord Level. She might as well use the Dragon Blood.
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