Scepter
Countdown: 5:45:00.
Heavy snow.
There were only 45 minutes left until nightfall.
There is a common understanding in the Federation that the conglomerates do not have their own armies, but the entire Federation's Group Army are under the command of the conglomerates.
This statement means that although conglomerates are not allowed to possess private armed forces, they have already completed their infiltration of the entire Federation Group Army.
For example, the 112th Division of the First Group Army of the Federation was the direct force of the Qing clan.
Located 18 kilometers northeast of City No. 18, at the garrison of the 112th Group Army.
It was not yet completely dark, but huge searchlight equipment had already been set up in the camp.
The snowflakes falling from the sky turned the ground white, making the garrison camp appear particularly solemn.
Dozens of white geometric searchlight beams swept back and forth across the night sky, like enormous white swords slicing through the military camp.
As the light passed through the air, dense snowflakes could be seen passing through the beams.
The soldiers in the camp were as busy as worker ants, moving back and forth in an orderly fashion.
A buzzing sound came from the twilight as seven Black Knife-02 attack helicopters, carrying tactical heat-seeking missiles, climbed into the air and entered a standby state.
These Black Knife-02 attack helicopters are all equipped with the Qimingxing-13 lead-bismuth alloy reactor, which allows them to operate for extended periods.
The strong and powerful propellers swept up snowflakes in the air.
Someone on the communications channel said, "The first combat formation is on standby, ready to provide escort at any time."
"Received, Scepter requests takeoff to carry out combat mission 0221."
"Airborne launch approved."
"Anchor No. 1 has been unlocked."
"Anchor No. 2 has been unlocked."
"The temperature of the reactor control device is normal."
"Take off."
Inside the command center, a middle-aged officer watched the live monitoring screen with a serious expression, waiting for the war machine to start.
The next moment, in the wind and snow.
Suddenly, a huge snowstorm swept through the military camp, with countless snowflakes swirling in the air, and the camouflage tents were whipped about by the howling hurricane.
In the center of the camp, a fearsome airship rose from the ground, with hundreds of jets arranged like a matrix below it, bursting forth.
The sky, already somewhat gloomy due to the heavy snow, became even darker as the Scepter took off.
The heavy snow in the sky was stirred up by the eddies, swirling and flying like a tornado.
Voices echoed from the command camp, "Reconfirmed again, reactor temperature is normal."
"Matrix jet engine is functioning normally."
"Coordinates have been anchored."
"Combat mission 0221 confirmed. The Scepter is ready."
At that moment, a young officer rushed into the tent and questioned the middle-aged officer, "Uncle 13, do you know what you're doing? You're starting a war!"
The middle-aged officer glanced at him calmly. "In the military camp, I am your unit commander, not your 13th uncle. Ignoring military discipline, drag him out and hang him up for 24 hours."
The young officer roared, "Did you even consult with the First Branch before using the scepter?!"
The middle-aged officer sneered, "What is the First Branch? I am only responsible to the head of the family."
After the guards dragged the young officer away.
The middle-aged officer in the command tent calmly said over the communication system, "Triumphant return."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Scepter airship in the sky roared deafeningly. The soldiers in the camp looked up and saw that the suffocatingly powerful spaceship had replaced the sky and become a brand new steel firmament!
Seven Black Knife-02 armed helicopters escorted it, making it appear as tiny as a seagull next to an orca.
All the ground crew members in black uniforms ran to the sides to avoid being burned by the jet engine's exhaust plume.
With a roar, the Scepter slowly started up, rising higher and higher, its speed increasing, heading straight for Prison No. 18 in the southwest!
The massive airships, braving the blizzard, were exceptionally spectacular and breathtaking.
Amidst the overwhelming presence of the Scepter, no one even noticed that a secret land force had suddenly broken away from the 112th Division's base and sped northward.
Countdown: 5:20:00.
Inside Prison No. 18, everyone was completely unaware of what was happening in the outside world.
Qing Chen sat opposite Li Shutong and asked, "Master, I suspect that before this, many people only knew the serial number ACE-002, but had no idea what it was or where it was. Did you leak the information that it was in Prison No. 18?"
"Why do you guess that?" Li Shutong laughed.
"Because the whole thing, from beginning to end, seems like someone deliberately gathered all these people together," Qing Chen said calmly. "The containment conditions for the Forbidden Item ACE-002 should require human lives, and the number required is enormous. That's why you kept selecting people who deserved to die, wanting to use them to complete the containment of the Forbidden Item ACE-002."
"When I appeared, you knew you had left behind a knightly legacy, so you could go ahead and do what you wanted. However, the containment conditions for the Forbidden Item were still insufficient," Qing Chen continued. "At that point, you deliberately released false information to attract all those who wanted to fight for the Forbidden Item, and used their lives to make up for it."
"Not entirely correct," Li Shutong said with a smile.
"Hmm," Qing Chen nodded, seemingly unsurprised, "I know where I went wrong. Before you even decided to take me as your disciple, Guo Huzhan had already received false information about the Forbidden Item ACE-002 and came here. So, you actually planned to leave a long time ago."
Previously, Qing Chen thought that it was because his appearance gave the knights a new legacy and made Li Shutong no longer have any concerns that he made the decision to leave Prison No. 18.
But all the clues from the past were in his mind, and he only needed to examine them briefly to find that the timeline didn't match.
Li Shutong did not intend to leave because of Qing Chen's appearance, but rather Qing Chen's arrival slowed down his original plans.
If it weren't for Qing Chen, what would have happened today would probably have happened a month ago.
Li Shutong sighed, "Sometimes I really don't know if finding such a smart apprentice is a good thing or a bad thing. Your analysis is correct; I've had this plan for a long time. But you may not know that many things have changed because of your arrival, such as the way the plan was carried out. I can't tell you why now, but you'll know for yourself one day."
Li Shutong did not intend to explain further, but Qing Chen felt that there was some secret hidden in this, which might be related to his identity in the Inner World.
"Master, how many of your friends are controlled by conglomerates? And which conglomerate controls them?" Qing Chen asked.
"The Chen family," Li Shutong said calmly, "Eight years ago, many people died directly, but 36 people survived and were taken to a secret detention location by the Chen family. At that time, the Li family protected me, but the Chen family was unwilling to give up, so they used the lives of 36 people to exchange for my imprisonment, wanting me to stay here forever."
"You haven't found their detention location?" Qing Chen asked.
"Yes," Li Shutong nodded, "We've been searching for many years, but we haven't found them. However, right after I released the news, those people outside started their plans. Some people launched a student march to try and divert police and military forces, while others leaked information to Heng Society that the Chen family would secretly execute 36 people at 7 p. m. tonight. They were certain I would go."
"What's the point of releasing such fake news?" Qing Chen asked, puzzled.
"They thought I wouldn't dare to gamble," Li Shutong said.
Thirty-six vibrant lives, all former friends—for someone like Li Shutong, he would have tried anything, even if there was only a glimmer of hope.
That's why Chen Yu believed that Li Shutong would definitely not return to Prison No. 18 tonight.
But Li Shutong still came back.
Li Shutong's expression turned cold. "Those people may think that I will uphold the integrity and benevolence of a knight as I did eight years ago, but they are sorely mistaken. Li Shutong is no longer the Li Shutong of eight years ago."
Qing Chen was taken aback; to be honest, he also found it a bit strange.
After leaving Forbidden Zone No. 002, he searched for opinions about the Knight in both the outer and Inner World, and found that everyone's evaluation of the Knight was positive.
Honest, kind, resilient, brave...
However, Li Shutong's occasional displays of ruthlessness and decisiveness were far removed from the reputation of a knight.
At one point, Qing Chen thought that his master must have been an optimistic and cheerful person when he was young, and perhaps he didn't have the composure and shrewdness he has now.
It was this world that changed things, shaping Li Shutong into who he was today.
Qing Chen suddenly asked, "Master, are the containment conditions for the Forbidden Item ACE-002 met?"
That's enough.
"Master, will your friends die today?"
Li Shutong calmly replied, "I don't know. I've left that answer to fate."
At this moment, Li Shutong said to Qing Chen, "Originally, we didn't need your help today, but what's surprising is that you are exceptionally skilled in using ACE-005. So, there is something I can entrust to you to do."
At this point, he asked Lin Xiaoxiao to fetch a reader, then showed her a photograph. "This person is called Su Xingzhi. Go to No. 13 Chunlei Street in District 9 and tell him you can make your move. In a moment, leave through the secret passage in the cold storage. Remember, be quick."
However, to everyone's surprise, Qing Chen shook his head and said, "Master, I'm not going."
"Why?" Li Shutong was a little surprised.
"It's a simple matter of what message you want to tell him. There's no reason for me to make this trip. Although I don't know what your purpose is, you're asking me to go find Su Xingzhi just so I can leave Prison No. 18," Qing Chen said calmly.
"Do you think there's any danger in Prison No. 18?" Li Shutong asked with a smile. "None of the prisoners in this entire prison dare to look me in the eye, and there's someone protecting me inside. What danger do you think there could be?"
"I don't know, but I'm not leaving," Qing Chen said, sitting firmly in his chair, not moving an inch.
Li Shutong sighed, "Xiao Chen, how long have we known each other?"
"A very long time," Qing Chen replied, "I have recalled the experience of knowing you countless times, it has been as long as several centuries."
Li Shutong laughed and said, "Ever since you became my student, I've taken you here and there. I took you to Forbidden Zone No. 002, to the Green Mountain Cliff, and to the boxing gym."
"Master is very grateful to you for taking you on this trip. It feels like I've returned to my youth. Looking at you, Master is reminded of the courage I once had to make a move without regret."
"But the paths your master led you down were not the ones you wanted to take. Do you remember what I said? In the second month after the young falcons hatch, Azure Falcon would push them off the cliff one by one. Only the young falcons that bravely spread their wings had the right to live."
"Although good times are always fleeting and leave us wanting more, but..."
"Now, it's time for you to start your own life."
As they were talking, this contemporary demigod attacked Qing Chen, knocking the boy unconscious.
Li Shutong looked at Lin Xiaoxiao: "Send him out through the secret passage. The hovercar driven by Yi is already waiting there."
"Boss," Lin Xiaoxiao said in a low voice, "Are you really not going to tell him the truth? Knocking him out will only keep him unconscious for half an hour at most. When he wakes up, he'll definitely come running back."
"It's alright," Li Shutong smiled, "There are only 15 minutes left, he won't have time to come back... In City No. 18, it should have already started."
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