Chapter 470: Chapter 298: A Glimpse of the Phantasm
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In a conference room thick with tension, light from a projector beamed onto a screen, displaying a map of all of North Carolina.
A Salvation Army intelligence officer was conducting a strategic analysis of the various cities.
"In the Southern Theater, Luoxi City and Jin City are cities we must capture. Luoxi City is on the coast and has the largest port in the south. If we take it, we can transport supplies by sea. Several countries in America, Australia, and South America are willing to trade with us. Some of the deals have already been finalized.
Jin City, on the other hand, has rich mineral and oil reserves. It’s the south’s resource and transportation hub. If we capture it, the entire south will be plunged into a resource shortage. We estimate that within a week, southern North Carolina will be liberated. At that point, we will be in a north-south standoff with the government."
"However, there are some destabilizing factors in the south."
As the intelligence officer spoke, a figure appeared on the screen, along with a dense block of text detailing his profile. "This man is Andre, from Russia, a Tier Three Ascender. His moniker is ’Violent Bear.’ Among Tier Three Ascenders, his strength is considered top-tier. He committed a series of vicious murders in Russia and was wanted by the Star Association. He fled to North Carolina for refuge three years ago and, in just one month, became the Grand Commander of North Carolina’s southern underworld.
Later, the North Carolina Government offered him significant benefits and recruited him to manage the southern underworld on their behalf. He commands a legion of two thousand men, including twenty-six Ascenders. Most of them are wanted criminals from all over the World, with the majority being Tier One.
In addition to the Ascenders, there are two hundred elite soldiers implanted with Nanomachines. This group has undergone rigorous training and is perfectly suited for carrying out surprise attacks. If they were to strike our forces during the war, they would undoubtedly cause massive casualties and losses. They must be dealt with beforehand."
"Leave this person to us," the Plague Doctor said abruptly, drawing everyone’s attention.
"Andre’s strength was already top-tier back then. After so many years, he’s certainly even stronger now. There’s a good chance he’s a Quasi-Tier Four. I’m afraid the Poisonous Sore Gang won’t be a match for him," the intelligence officer said.
"I’m about to advance. As long as we are fully prepared, killing him won’t be difficult," the Plague Doctor replied with absolute certainty.
"Any objections?" The intelligence officer looked at the high-ranking members present. No one spoke; they all tacitly agreed.
The intelligence officer nodded. "Then Andre will be left to the Poisonous Sore Gang. Let’s move on to the next destabilizing factor..."
The image on the screen changed to show a colossal metal sphere. It stood a full ten meters tall, its mere appearance exuding a sense of immense weight. The sphere was composed of dozens of independent modules that were not physically connected, leaving large gaps between them. A menacing red light pulsed from within these gaps, giving the whole object a very sci-fi look.
"This is the strategic deterrent weapon, the [Return Ball], created by Havier back in the day. Its explosive yield is enough to destroy half of North Carolina. At the same time, the entire environment and ecosystem of North Carolina would suffer a devastating blow. Once detonated, North Carolina would instantly revert to a primitive society and cease to exist."
The intelligence officer said grimly, "During the Salvation Army’s most critical moment, Havier used the [Return Ball] to intimidate the government. However, this also revealed the [Return Ball]’s location. After the uprising failed, that laboratory was seized by the government and has since been converted into a Government Army military zone.
Havier was a Great Sage of the Alchemy Realm. He used his unique techniques to create the [Return Ball]. Unless he himself is present, the [Return Ball] cannot be moved or disarmed; even other Great Sages would be powerless. Furthermore, the Defense Array is connected to the detonation switch. If the Matrix is breached, the switch will trigger the explosion, so the government certainly wouldn’t dare to tamper with it. In other words, to this day, the [Return Ball] remains inside that laboratory.
As a strategic deterrent weapon, the [Return Ball] absolutely cannot be left in enemy hands. We must take it back."
"We’ll take this mission, too," the Plague Doctor volunteered once again.
Zhou Chen, who was sitting nearby, was stunned. ’You agreed again?!’
’We haven’t even started the first high-difficulty mission, and you’re already taking on another one?’
’You really don’t see me as an outsider, do you? Just squeezing this golden-goose tool for all I’m worth, huh?’
Zhou Chen’s lip twitched. He could figure out why the Plague Doctor was so bold without even trying—that brainwashing Skill was just too damn useful.
Bruce turned around and asked doubtfully, "Are you serious?"
"Of course," the Plague Doctor said seriously. "When have I ever done something I wasn’t confident about?"
"This isn’t child’s play."
The current leader of the Salvation Army tapped on the table. He was a vigorous old man with a full head of white hair, his aged face betraying no emotion. "The government won’t be unprepared. There is a Tier Four in North Carolina who hasn’t been seen in years. My guess is they’re guarding the [Return Ball]. If you go, you’ll be walking to your deaths."
"That’s why we’ll need Senior Xing Wu’s help." The Plague Doctor looked toward a middle-aged, black-haired man on the floor of the conference room.
Xing Wu, an East Continent native, thirty-seven years old. He was a friend Havier made while traveling the World years ago. He later followed Havier back to North Carolina, joined the Salvation Army, and threw himself into the fight to overthrow the North Carolina Government.
A Tier Four Uncrowned, his Extraordinary Ability is called [As I Will].
In short, any terrain, obstacle, building, or even Barrier is like air to him. He can come and go as he pleases. His speed is in a class of its own; at full power, he can circle the planet in just three hours. The vast majority of Tier Four Ascenders can’t catch him.
