Patrols and the Temptation of the "Safe Zone"

The next morning, accompanied by the loud reveille within the outpost, Lin Mo woke up in his "single room" lined with hay and soft cushions. He stretched, his heavy armor scraping against the floor to produce a teeth-gritting metallic screech, yet he found the sound remarkably pleasant.

New day, new beginning! Buffet, here I come!

After enjoying a hearty breakfast in the cafeteria (which was merely an appetizer for Lin Mo), Wang Feng personally led their group to begin a detailed introduction to Outpost No. 03.

They climbed the high perimeter wall, where the biting cold wind swept past, carrying the unique scent of the wilderness. Wang Feng pointed to the faint outline of a city on the distant horizon: "That is Songhua Satellite City, our rear base. And here, we are the final fixed surveillance outpost in front of the satellite city, twenty kilometers from the main city."

He turned and pointed toward the wilderness outside the wall, which appeared calm but was actually teeming with hidden murderous intent: "Our primary mission is not to launch active offensives, but to monitor, observe, and patrol. Like eyes, we must keep a close watch on this area, promptly discovering the movements of beast tides or the traces of powerful individual monsters to provide early warnings for the rear."

Next, he took them to the core of the outpost—the Defense Command Center. A massive electronic sand table clearly displayed the terrain for dozens of kilometers around the outpost, as well as light dots representing various patrol squads and monitoring equipment.

"The outpost's strongest offensive power comes from this integrated defense system." Wang Feng patted the console, his tone filled with confidence. "The automatic cannons on the wall, surface-to-air missiles, the smart minefield buried underground, and the energy shield activated when power is sufficient are enough to easily repel or even kill monsters of the Junior and Intermediate War General rank. This is the foundation of our foothold here."

He looked at Aunt Zhang and Lin Mo, admitting candidly: "Currently, there are over thirty resident elite martial artist squads in the outpost, all with decent strength, but the strongest individual combat power is me, a mid-stage War General. After your arrival, Sister Zhang is a Junior War General, and with Mimi... uh, the not-to-be-underestimated strength of Lord Tiger King, your squad can be considered the strongest mobile force in the outpost besides myself."

Strongest mobile force? Hehe, sounds good! It seems this King has a high status here!

"However, don't be too nervous." Wang Feng changed the subject, his tone relaxing slightly. "Precisely because we have this defense system, combined with long-term clearing and deterrence, there is basically no major danger within a radius of a dozen kilometers. Any monster with a bit of brains knows this place is a tough nut to crack and won't approach easily. Relatively speaking, this area can be considered a 'safe zone'."

Safe zone? Does that mean... the monsters nearby are all old, weak, sick, or particularly cowardly? Can the quality of ingredients be guaranteed? This King is here for the Beast General Rank!

Seeming to notice the doubt in Lin Mo's eyes, Wang Feng smiled: "Of course, 'safe' is relative. Some Beast Soldier Rank monsters, especially those that reproduce quickly and have low intelligence, will still be active in this area. Furthermore, occasionally there are big guys who are blind or have wandered in from deeper regions. Therefore, patrols and vigilance can never be relaxed."

"Today, I will take you to familiarize yourselves with the daily patrol procedures and specific methods."

Soon, a standard patrol squad gathered under the wall. Including Wang Feng and Lin Mo's group, there were fifteen people in total, riding in three light armed patrol vehicles—Lin Mo still enjoyed his exclusive spot on the roof.

The patrol vehicles drove out of the outpost gate and into the open ground. Wang Feng explained through the vehicle's communication system: "Our patrol routes are fixed, covering the main directions and paths of potential infiltration. The focus is on observing traces—footprints, excrement, gnaw marks, and signs of combat between monsters."

The convoy drove slowly along a dirt road repeatedly crushed by tires. The soldiers vigilantly observed their surroundings, while drones circled overhead, transmitting real-time footage back.

"Look over there," Wang Feng pointed to a patch of flattened grass, "those are the migration traces of an Iron-Toothed Rat pack. Judging by the direction and quantity, it should be a small pack, posing no threat."

He then pointed to deep claw marks on the trunk of a large tree in the distance: "This is the mark of a Sharp-Clawed Lynx, Advanced Beast Soldier rank. They are solitary and quite cunning, generally not attacking convoys proactively."

Lin Mo lay on the roof of the vehicle, his golden tiger pupils acting like the most precise scanners, carefully observing everything. His sense of smell was far sharper than a human's; he could clearly distinguish the various monster scents lingering in the air. Most were very faint, belonging to the Beast Soldier Rank, and they all seemed to carry a sense of "vigilance" and "estrangement."

Sure enough, the monsters nearby have learned their lesson. Smelling the scent of the outpost and so many human martial artists, they don't dare to approach easily. It seems it's a bit difficult to eat a 'big meal' here.

During the patrol, they also encountered several other squads returning from hunting or missions. When those squads saw Wang Feng leading the team personally, along with the dark golden Tiger King on the roof, they all slowed down, honking their horns in greeting, their eyes filled with curiosity and awe.

During a short break, Wang Feng said to Wang Keke and Lin Mo: "After you are familiar with the procedures, your Wind-Breaking Squad can undertake patrol missions independently. During patrols, if you encounter lone monsters whose strength is within a controllable range, you may hunt them. This is also an opportunity to enrich the outpost's supplies and your own gains. But remember, do not stray far from the patrol route, do not pursue too deeply, and prioritize safety above all else."

Independent patrols? Hunting opportunities? This is good! Although they might just be 'side dishes,' it's better than just watching! I'll use these 'side dishes' to practice, get familiar with the feeling of real combat, and incidentally fill the stomach for [Combat Devour]!

As the day's patrol ended and they returned to the outpost, the setting sun dyed the sky orange-red. Lin Mo had a more intuitive understanding of this so-called "safe zone." It wasn't that there were no monsters here, but rather that a delicate balance had been formed. The outpost's powerful force had drawn an invisible line; most powerful monsters lurked in the deeper wilderness, while those that dared to be active nearby were mostly "fringe characters."

The 'safe zone' is just an appetizer; the real feast is still in the depths. However, before going to find the big meal, clearing out these 'little snacks' jumping around nearby seems like a good choice? Hehe, starting tomorrow, this King will collect some interest in the front hall of this 'cafeteria'!

He looked at the wilderness gradually shrouded in twilight, his eyes becoming increasingly sharp. The calm was merely a facade; the hunt was about to begin.