Chapter 321: The Unknown Mission
After Jackson finally acknowledged Kai’s strength, just like that, the tension in the training ground eased.
"Your Gene Weapons... they must be Mid‑Grade. Well done," Jackson commented, realizing that no Low‑Grade weapon could have made him feel that sting at his current level.
He knew that it was not easy to obtain Gene Weapons. It means that Kai must be very lucky, or perhaps he was just that skilled to actually obtain it.
"You’re right, Sir Jackson," Kai replied with a respectful nod. Although he failed to gain the upper hand in that short exchange, he was still able to force Jackson to use a Gene Skill. He knew that very well since he had felt him gathering his Spirit Energy.
Resha then stepped forward, her calm demeanor still unchanged.
"That’s really great... You’ve passed, Mr. Kai. From here, you’ll be arranged with one of our mercenary squads. They’re all Level 39, like you. You’ll march together in the raid."
***
Later that evening, Kai was introduced to the squad.
Their leader, Trent, greeted him with a firm handshake. He was a tall man with a sharp gaze, carrying a blue‑hued sword strapped across his back.
"This is the Blue Sword Squad," Trent said, gesturing to four others gathered around.
"We’re seven in total, though only five are here now. We’ve been together since the start."
Kai listened as they shared their story. They weren’t tied to any faction, not because they lacked strength, but because they had no plans to remain in Cameron City forever.
"We promised each other," one of them explained, "that once we see the sea, we’ll settle. We lost friends along the way, and it was their dream. We’ll fulfill it for them."
’I’m not really interested in your story but I guess it’s fine.’
Kai frowned slightly, also unable to understand their logic.
’Why risk everything for a promise?’
But he wasn’t in a position to judge.
For now, they were completing their Gene Enhancements, stuck in the city for over six months. Pisces had been paying them well and feeding them consistently, which kept them alive and motivated. The taxes might be high, but it was enough to live well within the city.
Kai learned that Pisces would only send about seven of their own members to the raid. Alongside Trent’s Blue Sword Squad, there were two more squads, each with seven mercenaries. That made a modest force, but one with enough cohesion to survive.
Before they parted, Trent reminded Kai, "Bring what you need for endurance. Stimulants... or anything that can help you recover from fatigue and maybe even Spirit Energy, anything that can keep you alive when the raid starts. There will be some medics there but don’t rely on them too much. They also charge 10 times higher... Sometimes, even if you managed to survive, you could be in debt."
"I see... So there’s no medic assigned for the Pisces Faction?"
"Unfortunately... But if the medics of other factions are available, they’ll treat you anyway. Just expect that it’s not for free."
Kai nodded, feeling the weight of the raid ahead.
Still, he was able to step deeper into the politics of Cameron City and the mysteries of the A.I. Civilization because of this raid.
’The city remains our biggest supplier of Skill Fusion Crystals and other materials... and since we’ll have to grow our own force within this city, I have to start gaining more influence.’
***
The next morning, the second batch finally assembled at the city’s eastern gate.
The Pisces Faction’s modest force was ready. Kai joined Trent’s Blue Sword Squad, along with the other mercenary groups, all of them Level 39 like him.
But this time, they weren’t alone.
The Scorpio Faction had also committed to the raid.
Unlike Pisces, who barely had fifty members in Cameron City, Scorpio maintained a small but respectable presence of around three hundred.
For this mission, they sent thirty of their own fighters... no mercenaries, just faction members. Their discipline was evident, and Kai quickly noticed that among them were at least two survivors at Level 80.
’That’s kinda reassuring but...’
Kai gave a wry smile, realizing how low his own level was compared to theirs. The gap was daunting, but it also underscored how dangerous this mission would be.
If factions were sending their elites, the grounded A.I. Ship was no ordinary vessel.
Soon, the convoy prepared to move.
"Let’s go!"
The Pisces members pulled out hoverboards. They were sleek and efficient for travel... Furthermore, the maneuverability was also incredible.
On the other hand, the three mercenary squads, including Trent’s, readied their motorbikes and soon, rumbling engines could be heard.
The Scorpio Faction, however, displayed their strength with five armored cars, each carrying six fighters.
The vehicles weren’t just heavily protected, it also had turrets prepared!
Kai considered summoning his Dragoon Unit, but he hesitated. None of the others had such advanced equipment, and flaunting it might stir jealousy or suspicion.
Instead, he took out a motorbike from his inventory, blending in with the mercenaries.
He knew it was wiser to move at their pace, neither too fast nor too slow.
The group departed together, the hoverboards gliding smoothly, motorbikes roaring, and armored cars rumbling like beasts of steel.
Dust rose behind them as they crossed the plains outside Cameron City.
The journey was long, the landscape shifting from broken roads to barren fields that were scarred by past battles.
Hours passed, the convoy pressing forward.
Kai kept his eyes ahead, scanning the horizon for signs of mechanical beasts or ambushes.
"I guess it’s still pretty safe around here due to the hunt that’s going on."
The Scorpio cars maintained tight formation, while the mercenary bikes started moving around with more freedom...
Meanwhile, Pisces members hovered gracefully, conserving energy for the fight ahead.
Finally, after what felt like half a day’s travel, the convoy slowed.
In the distance, Kai saw it... the grounded A.I. Ship, or rather, a Floating Fortress that had safely landed, probably to resupply or due to an engine issue... he had no idea.
It was definitely not a crashed ship as he looked at it now. It was massive, easily the size of a small city block.
However, Kai soon realized why the first batch was having a hard time!
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