Sky-cracking Rider

Chapter 746: Section 741 - Squad 47

One airship after another disappeared into the silvery light patterns on the back of Chen Fei's hand; this was the first evolution manifestation of the group combat model and not the final product. More debugging was still needed to reach the standards of actual combat.

Prior to this, these were essentially 1:1 scale physical toys, easy targets serving to add kills and rake in points.

Chen Fei could guarantee that the next time he faced off against the Parasitic Species, it would definitely not be a solo fight. He scavenged resources everywhere to tinker with the group combat model precisely for that purpose.

He had no choice but to scrounge; even if Chen Xiao'er coughed up the money, not to mention the hard-earned cash he had saved from risking his life, even selling himself wouldn't be enough to afford it, for it wasn't something an individual could play with. The starting point was sovereignty, and that was based on the premise of assuming logistics on one's own. Without the industrial-grade Metal Elemental Psychic Power, it remained unthinkable.

The continuous optimization by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" wasn't limited to the flagship and cooperative ships' internal structure, but extended to the carrying of combat units and various functional modules.

Compared to manned airships, Chen Fei's unmanned airships didn't require extensive facilities related to life and survival; the limited carrying capacity and internal space could be devoted to combat units and even more functional modules.

Although the core flagship of the group was only 60 meters long, its carrying capacity for combat units and output firepower were by no means inferior to the main force Light Wing Ships measuring around 200 meters in length. Due to the ship's size, its three-dimensional cross-section was relatively smaller, which actually increased its survival rate on the battlefield significantly.

For three consecutive days, Chen Fei was preparing to head to the southern region of the Zilu Continent. A special elite combat squad from Blue Star passed through the Ground Portal Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City and directly entered the realm of Cangqiong Star.

"Identity confirmed, Citizen Chen Fei, codename 'Rookie,' employed by the military contractor Jiu Defense Company, B-rank Metal Ability User, Magical Beast Pure Light Sparrow, registered name Xiao Jiu, Human Order Sixth Rank. I am from the Blue Star's United Sovereignty Special Task Force, temporary Squad 47, led by Meng Hai. This is a special notification that your commissioned task on Cangqiong Star has concluded. Our Squad 47 will take over from here. Please hand over the relevant information."

An eleven-person team found Chen Fei just after he launched the fleet of airships and presented him with an official document in person, thereby establishing their official sovereignty-backed status.

In their speech, they seemed to know Chen Fei's situation well, even including the current rank of Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu.

Not many people actually knew the true rank of Little Bird, but if a sovereignty decided to get serious, they could still find out.

Accepting the paper document, Chen Fei glanced at it and tentatively asked, "Has the Slan Dynasty agreed to let you hunt the Parasitic Species on Zilu Continent?"

After all, since they claimed to represent Blue Star Sovereignty, if they didn't have permission from the rulers of Cangqiong Star, they probably wouldn't even be able to pass through the Dimensional Gate, let alone take any action upon arriving.

"'Sagali' has not only concealed itself on Cangqiong Star but has also infiltrated Blue Star. To clarify the relationship between the two, we have received authorization from the Slan Dynasty."

As Squad 47's eleven-member leader Meng Hai spoke, he continued to size up Chen Fei, while his mind was filled with doubts.

Such missions should have been assigned to professional combatants like them, not outsourced to an employee of a military contractor. The other party was just a B-rank Metal Ability User, and from every aspect, seemed insufficient for the task.

That he was still standing alive in front of Meng Hai, without missing any limbs, spoke well of his luck, but luck alone couldn't solve all problems.

"May I make a phone call to confirm?"

Chen Fei still harbored some doubts.

After all, during the previous combat at the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, the Slan Dynasty always forbade the defense forces of the substation from taking offensive action and only authorized Chen Fei to act as a free combatant.

Suddenly allowing an elite combat squad organized by Blue Star Sovereignty to come over seemed puzzling, especially as relations with the Blue Star sovereignties grew increasingly tense. Wouldn't the Slan Dynasty fear they might engage in some other activities?

"Please do,"

Meng Hai took back the sovereignty document and stepped back a few paces, giving Chen Fei space and distance. He then began to converse quietly with his teammates, seemingly discussing plans for after the handover.

"Her Royal Highness the Princess,"

Chen Fei dialed Princess Lin Ziyu's communications number.

He had just started to speak when the Princess said directly, "Has Blue Star's Squad 47 arrived?"

"Why am I the last to know?"

Chen Fei answered oddly beside the point.

With an apologetic tone, Princess Lin Ziyu explained, "It seems that the time has come! I'm sorry I didn't notify you in time. It's because the matter was settled quite abruptly. My brother and I thought it would take more time and that the negotiations might not even be successful."

Blue Star Sovereignty is divided, and bickering among them is the norm, unlike Cangqiong Star which is ruled by a single voice. Who would have thought that Blue Star would respond so efficiently and surprisingly fast this time? They didn't raise any problematic conditions and just agreed outright, promptly sending over the team charged with the mission.

This caused Chen Fei to be somewhat embarrassed, caught off-guard, and unavoidably a bit emotional.

"What exactly is going on? Can't the Slan Dynasty send anyone?"

Chen Fei wasn't really angry; he lingered in Cangqiong Star, locking horns with the Parasitic Species partly out of personal connections, partly due to a commission, and partly because it concerned his own interests throughout.

After all, once the Parasitic Species gained momentum, no one could be spared. In a future like the apocalyptic end of Blue Star Civilization, anyone would take the initiative to do their utmost to prevent it.

"Indeed, we can't spare any manpower..."

Her Royal Highness the Princess explained everything.

It was only after Crown Prince Lin Zio Slan returned from Zilu Continent that he made the suggestion, which Blue Star Sovereignty promptly responded to.

Most of the energy of the Slan Dynasty was tied up by the open rebellion in Zilu Continent and the undercurrents stirring in several other continents, leaving them unable to fully investigate the infiltration of the Parasitic Species throughout the continent.

Today, the Seed Nest of the Parasitic Species has been confirmed, but how long it has been in place and the actual number of species are still unverified. This kind of threat cannot be ignored, and based on feedback from Chen Fei and the intelligence channels, the Rebel Army of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army has little interest in actions to exterminate the Parasitic Species. Most do not take it seriously at all, single-mindedly opposing the Slan Dynasty's rebel-suppressing forces.

If the Slan Dynasty were to send in people, they would inevitably be obstructed and hunted by the rebels, but Blue Star Sovereignty's intervention might not prompt the rebels to consider it an affront, which could lead to warfare on two fronts, wolves ahead and tigers behind - truly a case of misfortunes never coming singly.

So after careful consideration, Blue Star's temporary Squad 47 was created for cross-dimensional combat.

Even if the Rebel Army finds out about the presence of this elite squad from Blue Star on their territory, they would likely not act rashly. Besides, the number of 11 personnel is just right for rapid maneuvering without overly provoking the rebels' sensitivities.

After speaking with Princess Lin Ziyu and understanding the ins and outs, the cause and effect, Chen Fei then contacted the big shot Louis Landon and his own boss, Hanna Gagel, one after the other.

After all, the Suicide Squad had been spent, but not in vain, and the Intelligence Team and Strong Men Team were currently under Chen Fei's command. Yet the authority belonged to Louis Landon, the major financier. To transfer relevant authority to Squad 47 from Blue Star Sovereignty, it was necessary to inform them regardless.

Like Chen Fei, Louis Landon, busy with corporate operations, didn't keep up with the latest developments on Cangqiong Star. However, since it was decided by Blue Star Sovereignty, he could only comply.

Ultimately, neither Chen Fei nor Squad 47 differed in their final goals: to eliminate the Parasitic Species lurking in the Zilu Continent and other threats to prevent the true arrival of an apocalyptic civilization from a past life.

It's a good thing that Blue Star Sovereignty was taking action; no longer would it be a solo struggle for Chen Fei and Louis Industrial Company. The more participants there were, the greater the chance of preventing an apocalypse.

The call from Boss Hana Gagel, however, pertained to the contract for guarding the Dimensional Gate Management Substation in the suburbs of Nandu City. This had nothing to do with Squad 47, as Blue Star Sovereignty did not step in to terminate the contract, meaning Chen Fei could still stay and earn money even if he handed over intelligence channels.

Jiu Defense Company and Boss Hana intended to continue with the contract too. After all, with less work, more money, and higher safety, it was undoubtedly a rare and desirable task for both public and private reasons.

Now, with only the Radiant Tiger Legion left in the Nandu City area and aware of the Parasitic Species threatening from the shadows, they would definitely not attack the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation again.

Though this reduced many concerns, vigilant caution was maintained, because of this layer of connections, Chen Fei's importance only grew. As long as the contract was in place, there would be no renewed hostilities for the sake of saving face if not for letting bygones be bygones.

Chen Fei summoned "Mute" Kano and several key members, "King Kong," from the local snake gang in Nandu City. He also called representatives from the Intelligence Team and Strong Men Team. Right next to the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation, Chen Fei formally transferred his command authority and the funding provided by the big shot to Squad 47. He even handed over the encrypted communication relay gateway from Minante to them, ensuring normal communications could be maintained despite the Rebel Army's communication blockade.

Having transferred everything, Chen Fei gave a nod to the Defense Commander of the Ground Portal Gate Management Substation and left Nandu City alone.

He didn't choose to go through the Dimensional Gate to return to Blue Star but headed southwest instead. There was still unfinished business, and this was a good opportunity to close that chapter.