The air reeked of gunsmoke mixed with blood, an unpleasant stench that heralded death. Flames burned across the base, and the sea wind blew harder and harder.
The helicopter landed steadily on the Club's large ship.
Hu Songlin led the way, using his authority to suspend the Club's attack on the Laboratory base. For a moment, the surviving agents looked at one another, then lowered their weapons.
The suspension of the attack also shut down the Defense System that the Laboratory base had automatically activated.
The entire sea fell silent.
The Club had suffered 12 deaths and 32 injuries. Ammunition expenditure was unknown. 178 drones and 32 large vessels had been destroyed. High-tech consumable losses were unknown.
The Laboratory had suffered 14 deaths and 27 injuries. Ammunition expenditure was unknown. Three heavy machine gun defense systems had been destroyed. The base was 73% damaged, with most experimental functions disabled. High-tech consumable losses were unknown.
In summary, both sides had suffered devastating losses. Neither had come out ahead.
Xie De stood with both feet on the Laboratory base's deck. There were no railings here, and the sea wind blew in without cease.
Xu Gong knelt on the ground, cradling a woman's corpse and staring at him, utterly lost. She looked up, her eyes rimmed red, and asked in a nearly voiceless whisper, "Sir, where exactly is fate trying to push us?"
Only Xie De and Hu Songlin had come by helicopter. Hu Songlin had already gone over to the Club's ship, leaving Xie De alone to silently survey everything before him.
Where was fate trying to push them?
Xie De wanted to ask that question too.
But he did not know the answer, nor did he know where the journey ended. People had to keep moving forward, whether willingly or swept