Chapter 155 - 153: Mobilization Meeting

Chapter 155: Chapter 153: Mobilization Meeting

Su Yuqing had actually considered asking Feng Ling for help.

But he’d known Feng Ling for less than a month, and their relationship wasn’t very deep.

Besides, his impression of Feng Ling was that she was a very goal-oriented person. She wouldn’t necessarily be willing to spend time and energy searching for a missing Inspector unless he could offer a sufficiently attractive reward.

But frankly, aside from offering Feng Ling some conveniences within the scope of his authority, there wasn’t much else Su Yuqing could give.

So, after careful consideration, Su Yuqing contacted a mutual friend of his and Ye Zheng’s: Xu Yiming.

They had been friends for over a decade. Without Su Yuqing having to say much, Xu Yiming offered to search for Ye Zheng.

It just so happened that the Supervision Bureau issued the recruitment order for this mission, so Xu Yiming gathered two of his Hunter friends and brought Su Yuqing along.

In Xu Yiming’s view, having the strongest join forces was the optimal choice. It would both increase their operational efficiency and ensure the team’s safety. The prerequisite, however, was that the other party’s character and values had to be compatible with the team. Otherwise, no matter how skilled the newcomer was, they wouldn’t necessarily help the team perform at its full potential. That was why Xu Yiming had asked Su Yuqing if Feng Ling was easy to get along with.

"If she’s easy to get along with, then there’s no problem." Xu Yiming put his arm around Su Yuqing’s shoulder and said, "Actually, after I found out she was number one on the list last night, the thought did cross my mind. But then I considered it—the few of us already have good chemistry. Suddenly adding a young woman to the mix... we might not adapt well, and she might not be willing either, so I didn’t bring it up. But look, she clearly knows more about the Maze than any of us. The odds are against us once we’re inside, and one extra piece of information could be a lifesaver. No matter how you look at it, cooperating with her definitely has more pros than cons."

Su Yuqing gazed toward the tent. "I understand. I didn’t suggest cooperating at first because I was worried you and your friends might get the wrong idea and think I didn’t trust your abilities."

Xu Yiming chuckled. "Well, thanks for that, Old Su. Even at a time like this, you’re still worrying about our egos."

"Then I’ll go ask her what she thinks," Su Yuqing said, starting to walk away.

Just then, Feng Ling emerged from the tent, wearing her mask.

Most people wore masks that covered the upper half of their face, but she did the opposite. She had taken the skull of some unknown animal, split off the top, and wore only the lower half on her face. It looked as if a set of ghastly fangs were growing from her own jaw, creating a dissonant, horrifying effect.

Xu Yiming couldn’t help but ask Su Yuqing, "Are you sure she’s easy to get along with?"

She looked so incredibly bizarre.

Xu Yiming couldn’t help but worry. After all, the Hunter community was a high-risk group for psychological problems.

Su Yuqing turned back and assured him, "She really is. Her personality is very simple and straightforward."

Xu Yiming said hesitantly, "Alright... I’ll take your word for it."

’I hope we gain a simple and straightforward partner,’ he thought.

Su Yuqing left the classroom, waved at someone in the distance, and walked over to talk with Feng Ling.

Xu Yiming was too far away to hear their conversation. He only saw Su Yuqing say a few words, the young, masked woman nod, and then Su Yuqing returned.

"How did it go?" Xu Yiming asked hurriedly. "What did she say?"

"She agreed," Su Yuqing replied. "She’ll join us once the operation begins."

"She agreed just like that?" Xu Yiming was stunned. "She didn’t ask why? Didn’t make any demands?"

"It’s just moving together, no need for demands." Su Yuqing smiled and glanced back at Feng Ling. "To her, it makes no difference who she teams up with."

Xu Yiming frowned, looking at Feng Ling in the distance. He thought, ’To be ranked first on the Hunter list, she must be incredibly strong. But isn’t Old Su exaggerating a bit? No matter how powerful she is on her own, can she really be better than our coordinated team?’

Then Xu Yiming had another thought: ’She has two people with her. Old Su probably meant that her team is very strong.’

... ... ...

... ...

At noon, the train arrived on schedule, delivering the second batch of Hunters to Black Mountain Town.

Staff members distributed lunch. The meal—simple compressed biscuits and mineral water—was a perfect match for the spartan accommodations.

Afterward, all the Hunters were gathered in an empty classroom. There were no desks or chairs; everyone stood.

A man in a protective suit walked into the classroom, followed by two armed soldiers.

Almost everyone here was wearing a protective suit, making it hard to tell one person from another. However, from the formation before them, it was clear that the person who had just entered the classroom held an extraordinary status.

"Thank you all for coming." The man began to speak, standing in front of the blackboard. His voice was deep, steady, and resonant, suggesting he was not a young man.

"I am Yan Lingfeng, the director of the Northern Military District. I am currently in charge of all matters related to the spread of pollution in Daling Forest! That includes this operation of yours!"

The Hunters began to murmur among themselves.

Feng Ling heard them refer to the man as Admiral Yan. He seemed to be a very important figure, but she didn’t follow military news and wasn’t familiar with him.

General Yan said, "The Hunter Alliance’s first batch of Hunters was planned for 100 people. Among them, one is missing and seven are dead. Eighty-one of you are participating in this operation, accounting for nearly 90% of the total Hunters. Every single one of you should be proud of your courage! Regardless of the final outcome, you are all undisputed heroes!"

Feng Ling thought, ’Oh, is this what you’d call a pep rally? A speech to boost morale before the operation.’

General Yan continued, "Although the exploratory mission into the Northern Maze has concluded, the current situation in the polluted area is grim. You will receive a map of the Maze on your phones, surveyed by the research institute. The Maze is currently divided into three areas: A, B, and C. Your mission is to enter these three areas and eliminate the remaining Pollution Bodies to the best of your ability! This will relieve the pressure on the soldiers outside the containment fence!"

Everyone’s phone buzzed.

Feng Ling looked down at her phone and saw that she had indeed received a message: a floor plan of the Maze.

The map clearly marked three areas—A, B, and C—with a large, blank gray area in the middle.

Before the Hunters could ask, Admiral Yan explained, "This Maze was originally split into four parts. The largest section vanished after the Maze Master was killed. However, three areas on the Maze’s periphery did not disappear with the Maze Master’s death. The Pollution Bodies living inside them are still very active. The pollution they cause has not only mutated the wildlife in the forest but has also harmed nearby residents! The situation is urgent. We need you to set out immediately and wipe out all the Pollution Bodies as quickly as possible!"

After he finished, the General’s gaze swept over the crowd like a torch as he raised his voice and asked, "Any questions?"

The crowd looked at each other.

Although they had signed up for the operation full of passion, being told to depart immediately felt a bit hasty. It seemed they weren’t quite mentally prepared.

Finally, a Hunter stepped forward and asked, "Admiral, are we... operating independently? Is there no team leader?"