Sky-cracking Rider

Chapter 747: Section 742 - Mercenaries of the Southern War Zone

Despite bearing the character for "south" in its name, Nandu City, the third-largest city of Zilu Continent, is actually located in the east of the continent, within the Eastern Warzone of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army.

Chen Fei, wanting to head to the Southern War Zone, would have to cross a great deal of the Eastern Warzone, and even pass through the Central War Zone, before finally reaching his destination.

Regarding the information on the Rebel Army's Southern War Zone, Minante and his uncle, the "Radiant Tiger" Legion Commander Befas, weren't able to provide much, after all, a mere legion commander wouldn't casually spy on the Commander-in-Chief of another warzone's information.

Therefore, the information Chen Fei had mainly came from what Princess Lin Ziyu and the Imperial Security Department of the Slan Dynasty had gathered. Even with the unfolding rebellion, the typically discreet Security Department didn't lose much manpower or intelligence network in Zilu Continent, still operating steadily.

For his journey from Nandu City to the continent's south, Chen Fei was given two cover identities: one as a liaison officer for the Tessa Empire Restoration Army, arranged by the "Radiant Tiger" Corps, and with the tacit consent of Eastern Warzone Commander Stephens, turning a blind eye, it wasn't just Chen Xiao'er who was itching for a bit of reprisal.

The other identity, set up by the Security Department of the Slan Dynasty, was that of an Investigative Agent, which could be used to leverage the Security Department's intelligence network in the southern region of Zilu Continent. Being a Blue Star Person with some connections to the Slan Royal Family, and with no additional conflicts of interest, Chen Fei didn't need to worry about misusing this identity for questionable deeds.

Following the route plan given by the Security Department of the Slan Dynasty, after leaving Nandu City, Chen Fei blended into the crowds of commoners fleeing the war, drawing ever closer to the south.

Since Cangqiong Star established large-scale trading quotas with Blue Star, it wasn't just magic, Battle Qi, and alchemy techniques that spread to Blue Star.

Similarly, the unique scientific technologies of Blue Star Civilization were also continuously transferred to Cangqiong Star, influencing each of the planetary civilizations in turn.

Including communications, light and heavy industries, agriculture, electronics, and transportation, among other sectors, with the local magic and alchemy on Cangqiong Star, technological upgrades happened much more quickly. In less than forty years, enough change had occurred across the continents to turn the world upside down.

In many places, the look and feel of cities and towns is hardly inferior to Blue Star's century of accumulation.

Had it not been for the clothing, decorative styles, natural landscapes, and the frequent sight of various intelligent species, Blue Star People could easily be fooled into thinking they were still on Blue Star.

With a meticulously crafted "travel guide" and cover identity provided by Legion Commander Befas of the "Radiant Tiger", it only took a week for Chen Fei to make his way through hundreds of checkpoints, both large and small, and arrive smoothly in the southern region of Zilu Continent, also the territory of the Tessa Empire Restoration Army's Southern War Zone.

No sooner had he stepped into the Southern War Zone's territory than Chen Fei noticed a stark difference from the Eastern Warzone: the abundance of Mercenary Corps here.

Ability Users wielding staffs and swords could be seen wandering the streets in groups, entering and leaving all manner of shops, shouting loudly, and even engaging in conflicts, fighting with one another.

Compared to their counterparts on Blue Star, Cangqiong Star's mercenaries are much more unrestrained because their existence has a long history, and the official oversight has grown weary. After all, there are plenty of Ability Users, so a few deaths are inconsequential.

Military contractors, however, have to subsist cringingly under the supervision of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee. Striking it rich by securing an Aircrew Base is like winning the lottery, not only ensuring a steady income but also bringing in a hefty amount of extra money. If they want to resolve inter-corporate disputes using force, they must submit and obtain approval for corporate warfare, making them unable to fight on the streets and spill blood like on Cangqiong Star.

Having just stepped out of the main public long-distance bus station in Sun Domain City, the largest city in the Southern War Zone, many Mercenary Corps already had their eyes on Chen Fei, warmly greeting him as if they were old friends.

"Young man, come join our 'Snow Seed' squad!"

"Hey, kid, got a team? We 'Black Blood Butterfly' are looking for people. We guarantee there are plenty of missions and money to earn, with full benefits insurance and all."

"Join our 'Iron Crocodile Squad.' We have a great team atmosphere, no backstabbing, nurture for newbies, paid annual leave, and enthusiastic single ladies, the dreamland for a single dog."

"'No Injury Team' is recruiting! Young man, want to give it a try? It's a free come-and-go, with inner circle prices for gear and equipment, warriors, mages, magicians—everyone can find their place."

…

Having been through life-and-death battles and witnessing bloodshed, it was easy for Chen Fei to attract these mercenaries who lived on the edge of the knife with his demeanor and personal charisma. Just a few glances, and they would realize that he was one of them, kindred spirits.

The Southern War Zone, a magnet for mercenaries, boasted specialized guilds that released all sorts of bounty missions. Driven by money, these killers, who were ready to die for cash, would even fight for the Rebel Army against the Silan Dynasty's forces without heeding the Dynasty's stern warnings. Even the prospect of being executed on the spot once captured couldn't deter these desperados from relentlessly contributing to the complexities and uncertainties of the war.

The mercenaries flocking to the southern region of Zilu Continent weren't just from the local land, but also from other continents, including not only Human Race individuals but also members of other Intelligent Species.

Chen Fei had just arrived in Sun Domain City and hadn't walked a hundred meters from the station when he was stopped and invited countless times, with the allure of war techniques, money, beauty, equipment, and an endless stream of PUA tactics. If it weren't for his experience and no longer being a greenhorn in society, he might have been easily led astray before getting far.

The "Basic Optical Observer" Psi Skill always remained activated in its "Infrared Thermal Imaging" and "Full Spectrum Imaging" states, similar to the unbridled processing power consumption of the AI "Adam". Activating Psi Skills not only drained Chen Fei's Physical Energy but also consumed even more Spiritual Power.

This special visual ability could only be maintained for four hours; any longer and he would suffer from dizziness and blurred vision, unable to continue.

However, the discoveries made Chen Fei increasingly somber; along the way, he had already identified three Parasitic Hosts.

This was genuinely frightening!

Apart from the towns near Nandu City where everyone is a host, such a density is already a comparatively high proportion. If it weren't for a targeted identification model, he and others would have no idea that the person in front of them is already a walking corpse, and that every word and action is an award-worthy disguise.

It could be hypothesized that among the rebel army in the Southern War Zone, there are many Parasitic Hosts hidden, and perhaps more than one branch of the Ninth Rank "Royal Breed (Xionees)" spreading the parasite sub-bodies.

The "prophecy" of big shot Louis Landon was not complete. Limited by the societal status and information channels in his "previous life," he only knew that the Parasitic Species suddenly appeared en masse, completely overwhelming the unprepared Blue Star Civilization. Soon after, a large portion of the population fell, rapidly losing the ability to resist, and humans became the prey, hunted until the population fell below the reproductive threshold, from there on walking toward true doom.

But he wasn't aware of the situation on Cangqiong Star, he merely knew that the Dimensional Gate was closed, severing contact between the two civilizations.

Even if the Dimensional Gate were closed and no longer used, the fate of Cangqiong Star Civilization might not be any better. It's possible that the outbreak of the Parasitic Species originated from Cangqiong Star, making it the true epicenter of the disaster.

To completely shatter the Doomsday Prophecy of Blue Star Civilization, it might be necessary to start with Cangqiong Star.

With an expressionless face, Chen Fei walked straight ahead, when suddenly a wicked wind assaulted him.

"Hey, kid, join us!"

Well, damn, for the sake of recruiting, they really stoop to any low tactic. They're resorting to force.

His black pupils instantaneously revealed fine, gold specks. His right hand and forearm inflated substantially, the nails sharp as blades and shimmering with a metallic sheen, radiating a severe cold light.

Pff!

"Ahh…"

The shrill scream lasted only two or three seconds before quickly fading away.

Pieces of flesh, along with broken bones, bounced on the ground, and bright red blood gushed out. A muscular man with a strong build lay in a pool of blood, violently torn apart, his skin rapidly draining of color.

Suddenly, there was a hush all around. Those who witnessed the scene were petrified, falling completely silent and frozen in place.

"Maniac!"

Chen Fei shook off his hand, his pupils returned to their normal color, and his hand and forearm returned to their original size. He didn't even glance at the corpse at his feet and kept walking forward.

After all, they had already made the first move. There was no reason for him to play by the book—it was only natural to subdue with one strike.

In the tight-knit circles of military contractors, cowards deserved to be bullied to death. For those in this line of work, life and death were treated lightly, and confronting those who didn't comply was the norm. Were it not for the pressure from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the conduct of military contractors might even be wilder than that of the mercenary teams on Cangqiong Star.

"Stop! Don't run!"

"Hey! How can you kill someone? He was just saying hello to you!"

The man who was torn apart had companions, who quickly reacted, and three similarly burly men, carrying machetes taller than a person, surrounded Chen Fei.

The crowd suddenly dispersed, as all the mercenaries present knew that a bloody skirmish was inevitable.

Better to stay far away—the slight bother of blood splatter was one thing, but inadvertent disaster was quite another.

Confronted by the ferocious trio, Chen Fei stood with an air of calm composure, spreading his hands.

"I was just saying hello too."

Their "hello" might at most knock someone out, but Chen Fei's "hello" could be lethal.

"But you can't just kill him. Give us an explanation today, or you're not getting out of this!"

The three muscular men with knives were unwilling to accept this explanation, taking a stance with an undertone of energy swirling around them. They had cultivated Battle Qi, but it had not yet reached the level of creating Battle Qi Flames.

Generously, Chen Fei said, "Then, I'll let you strike me with a knife."

Before the sound of his voice had faded, three fierce blades whistled down, slicing through the air towards him.