Chapter 897 - 727: All-Out Mobilization (Part 2)

Chapter 897: Chapter 727: All-Out Mobilization (Part 2)

Sitting by the car window, Dong Xu was absentmindedly feeling the cold metal segments of the nine-section whip coiled around his waist, the sensation somewhat unfamiliar.

Lately, he preferred holding a file and planer, immersing himself in woodworking inside the prison area.

I have to admit, he had quite the talent for it and was recognized as the best woodworking-skilled prisoner in their section.

In the last inmate labor excellence evaluation, he just won a rare little red flower for a skillfully crafted mortise and tenon small wooden box.

He was close to being promoted to the leader of the woodworking group—in the hierarchy of Second Prison, this was no small "rank."

He could manage 20 group members under him, wielding more real power than his own squad leader.

Even Captain Chen Ya could barely manage the four of them, having just recently learned to enjoy the fun of management.

Zhao Zhibao, sitting opposite him, was deftly playing with a few knives thin as willow leaves, the cold gleam dancing between his fingers, yet his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he also felt a bit "unfamiliar."

He had recently grown accustomed to the rhythmic "click-clack" of a sewing machine or doing some patient and meticulous hand-stitching work.

He even thought that with a bit more time to refine his craftsmanship, his sewing skills might someday catch up with the captain’s tailoring skills.

Incidentally, in the recently reformed Second Prison, "little red flowers" were indeed a valuable hard currency.

The management of Second Prison implemented a series of "humanized" management measures, such as awarding "little red flowers" to inmates with excellent performance in labor and discipline.

A single red flower could be exchanged with the guards for a pack of cigarettes or a chance for limited communication with the outside world, which held considerable temptation for prisoners long cut off from society.

Sitting in the innermost part of the compartment, the composed Chen Ya seemed to sense the wandering minds of the team members, softly clearing his throat to draw everyone’s attention.

"Everyone, focus. I know, playing the role of prisoners purifies the soul, letting you find inner peace, and even uncover unexpected hobbies.

But don’t forget your identity, don’t forget why we’re here, what our mission is."

The team exchanged glances, silent yet internally buzzing with whispers and complaints:

"In the past, wasn’t the one most immersed in playing a prisoner, most enjoying it, none other than yourself, Captain?

Why does it feel like the captain has changed recently? Like... secretly finding something more attractive than being a prisoner or a tailor?"

However, these questions they only dared to ponder silently; long training and disciplinary constraints quickly refocused their thoughts.

In unison, they instinctively raised their right fists, gently placing them at their hearts on the left chest, with ceremony-laden solemnity.

Through their masks, their deep and resolute voices melded together, resonating within the cramped vehicle compartment:

"For Destiny, offer death!"

Chen Ya spoke sternly:

"Let me clarify, we’re now upgraded to the status of prison guards. Playing prisoners, we strive to be model ones, earning red flowers. As guards, we aim to be the best, diligent in our duties, upholding prison regulations!

Once we disembark, our goal is clear: capture or eliminate the most inmates among our ’peers’.

Any questions?"

The enemy who attacked the minister, regardless of prior identity, had now been automatically cataloged with the "Second Prison reserved inmate" brand.

As "prison guards," hunting them down, or even killing them, was naturally a righteous duty.

Logic-wise, there wasn’t a flaw in Chen Ya’s speech.

"No questions, Captain!" the team shouted in unison.

Chen Ya lowered his fist from his chest, clearing his throat again:

"So, adjust your mindset, don’t nostalgically reminisce about the ’leisurely’ days as prisoners. We’re now righteous prison guards, irreconcilable with evil."

"..."

The compartment fell into a subtle silence once more.

From beneath their masks, the team members secretly, quickly exchanged glances.

A tacit understanding of "As expected," "This feels right," spread like a warm current among them instantly.

Hahaha! Yes! This is the spirit!

Love the job you do!

This is truly our leader, who can immerse into any role swiftly, pursuing perfection!!!

........

In the distant hut stood the lone figure of the Mechanical Department’s man before a computer.

Of course, he couldn’t control the computer, couldn’t switch perspectives, for he lacked the user permissions, merely a passive spectator.

Like a true audience, he watched the live feed transmitted on the computer screen.

Luckily, the Intelligent Brain Xiaoyou, as if understanding human hearts, unfailingly captured the "audience’s" deepest desires for what to see.

Every screen transition, each close-up or zoom-out, aptly showcased the most intense and crucial scenes on stage.

The Mechanical Department’s man was intently glued to the screen when Zhang Shenyi, steam emanating blood-red from his entire being like an overloading killing machine, punched his fists out, covering Feng Mu’s figure entirely, resembling a one-sided beating.

His heart nearly burst out of his chest, threatening to jump out of his throat.

He was truly afraid Zhang Shenyi might accidentally kill Feng Mu.

On several occasions, he couldn’t help but shout at the computer—"Go easy on him, dammit, easy, capture him alive, alive."

Of course, without the passcode to the combat communication channel, he could only hope the "Intelligent Brain Xiaoyou" would empathize, relay his thoughts to the actors on the frontline.

Then, he watched Zhang Shenyi, seemingly combusting spontaneously, burning himself bald, followed by an unprecedentedly powerful punch, directly shattering Feng Mu’s head.

"No—!"

The man’s exclamation caught in his throat.

In the next second, on the screen, Feng Mu’s head, like a watermelon smashed by a heavy hammer, burst explosively, red and white splattering everywhere.

"Buzz," with a sensation, the man felt his brain mattered as if it too had been seared and dried through the screen.

After a brief blankness came volcanic-like rage.

He launched abruptly from his chair, facial features twisting with utmost anger, hands madly pounding the keyboard before him.

"Clatter!"

Fragile keys flew everywhere.

"Professional?! Huh?! This is the damn professional of the Worries Relief Studio?!"

"Where’s the promised capture alive?! The infallible guarantee you talked about?! Huh?!"

"How the hell did it end with killing him?! Killed him!!!"

"A dead Feng Mu is of no damn use to me..."

The Mechanical Department’s man’s eyes reddened, chest heaving violently through peak anger, nearly overturning the entire table when a new mutation suddenly started on the screen.

Feng Mu’s swiftly dissolving headless corpse suddenly... exploded?!

"???"

The man’s table-pounding action froze mid-air, eyes veined with red staring at the screen.

What did it mean?

Did Feng Mu also feel he shouldn’t die today, so without a head, his body just... self-destructed out of rage?

This absurd idea flashed through his chaotic mind like a bolt of lightning, but was immediately obliterated by the shocking, more impactful scene before his eyes.

It wasn’t a simple flesh and blood explosion.

An invisible but vast airwave, centered on the headless body, suddenly expanded and surged outward.

Not flames, nor shockwaves, more like... pure energy’s destructive release.

Dust, rubble, and green grass fragments on the ground were fiercely swept skyward, forming a chaotic dust vortex.

Having just finished a lethal strike, Zhang Shenyi, now exhausted, was slapped hard by an invisible giant hand, unable to resist being brutally flung away.

"Boom!!"

A heavy crashing sound seemed to echo through the screen.

Zhang Shenyi smashed heavily to the ground, his entire body drenched in blood, arms especially, now a bloody mess with pale bones piercing through the flesh, exposed to the air, entangled by ominous black mist.

The Mechanical Department’s man held his breath, his mind thrown into chaos once more.

This... what was this now? Feng Mu dead but still dragging others down with him?