Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Silence often signaled an impending decision of utmost significance.

To save or not to save.

"A connection to the Dungeon is still possible?" someone ventured, breaking the quiet.

"No response yet."

"The meeting in the First Conference Room has concluded. With our current resources, we can sustain the entire city for three to ten days."

"What if we don't guarantee survival for everyone?"

"By solely ensuring the supply to the Twin Towers and Eden, we could last fifteen to thirty days, without accounting for weather factors."

"In extreme circumstances, key personnel could be evacuated to Eden's underground shelter for long-term survival considerations."

"There's still a glimmer of hope."

Silence reigned once more.

Eventually, someone asked, "Should we attempt a rescue?"

The major general's gaze swept across the room. An Zhe had heard the announcement for the meeting and knew that the individuals present in this room were the highest-ranking officers from the command center, the staff office, and the operations center – unlike those in the first conference room who dealt with logistics and city defense. These people were all destined for the frontlines.

However, even An Zhe was aware of how perilous this frontline would be. What could have pushed the most well-equipped human base to the brink of collapse, even causing the artificial magnetic poles to fail?

Perhaps by the time reinforcements arrived, the place would already be a ghost town. Or perhaps the team would crash en route, plunging into the earth or the Pacific Ocean amidst the storm. Alternatively, the Northern Base might have depleted its military supplies to aid the underground city, leaving it defenseless against the next joint alien assault.

In the prolonged silence, An Zhe heard Lu Fen beside him say, "I'll go."

The general gazed at him for a long while.

"You're the best choice," he said.

An Zhe looked at Lu Fen, understanding why the general considered him the ideal candidate.

Monsters in different regions on the same continent could exhibit vast differences, and the Northern Base was separated from the Underground City by the entire Pacific Ocean. The monsters there might have entirely unfamiliar behaviors and combat tactics.

Who could adapt to such uncertainty the most?

—Those who often venture into the abyss. The creatures of the abyss are chaotic and frenzied, bearing almost every imaginable pattern of mutation.

At that moment, another officer spoke up, "I specialize in commanding large-scale joint operations. I volunteer for the mission."

"Captain of AR137," Lu Fen said, "Communicator, please inquire if he's volunteering willingly."

"Mr. Hubbard agrees to proceed," came the reply.

With the meeting adjourned, as they were leaving, the Vice Admiral called out to Lu Fen.

"Who will be taking on the duties of the Court Martial?"

"My executive officer."

"Is he capable?"

"Yes, he is."

Exiting the room, Selan approached. The court's work area was within this building. He whispered, "Colonel."

Lu Fen responded with a mild acknowledgment.

In the dim light, Selan's eyes appeared slightly red. Lu Feng had left, but Selan still had much to prepare.

Selan allowed An Zhe to rest in one of the court's offices. In the meantime, An Zhe made an excuse to step out. He climbed to the 13th floor, where the door to D1344 was still illuminated with researchers' voices inside. They spoke of the urgency of time – precisely because time was of the essence, every bit of research had to be conducted with haste. An Zhe lowered his head. His mushroom body was too fragile and soft, preventing him from rushing in recklessly. He returned to the first-floor atrium.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Selan came to stand beside him. An Zhe remained silent, quietly observing everything unfold. The busy, back-and-forth crowd, the constant announcements, the flickering lights and intermittent power supply. All of it happened swiftly, just like the unpredictable aurora borealis in the sky, reflecting the volatile fate of humanity.

At eleven at night, the Equipment Center reported that their task was complete.

At midnight, the Logistics Department conveyed the same message.

At one in the morning, PL1109 was fully serviced, and the fighter fleet took off.

A distant rumble echoed, and ground control required an unobstructed view. The isolation wall rose, as scorching rays and fierce winds swept over them. Everyone retreated to the safety zone deep within the atrium. A row of lights appeared in the distance, and An Zhe strained to see them. The wing and nose lights outlined the massive silhouette of the fighter jets – three PL1109s, along with an entire flight formation, smoothly cruising forward.

An Zhe knew of the PL1109. It was a masterpiece of human technology, equipped with a full radiation shield and an independent cruise system that didn't require a magnetic field. Mankind had foreseen and prepared for the impending disaster, but no one knew how effective these preparations would prove to be.

And now he understood why the base's roads were so smooth, solid, and wide. This military base, connected tightly to the city center, with its vast buffer zones and landing pads scattered everywhere... it was all crafted a century ago by people who had spared no effort in preparation for potential war.

Another gate opened, and a few officers dressed in black combat uniforms emerged.

Among them, An Zhe could spot Lu Fen instantly. The man stood tall and lean, his silhouette crisp and clean, exuding an entirely different aura from the elegant and aloof air of thejudicator's uniform. Although the combat attire resembled it, it seemed more casual, accentuating the rogue qualities within him.

But tonight, An Zhe didn't intend to label him as a troublemaker. Lu Fen was a good human.

Lu Fen approached, his arm holding An Zhe's original uniform jacket. Selan took it from him.

"Follow Selan, don't wander off," Lu Fen instructed, looking at An Zhe.

Then, he said to Selan, "Keep an eye on him."

Despite the simplicity of these words, An Zhe sensed a subtle threat behind them, as if he would be punished if he strayed.

He furrowed his brow and looked up at the man.

Lu Fen reached out and tousled An Zhe's hair in a haphazard manner.

His gaze wasn't as cold or harsh as usual; An Zhe even sensed a hint of gentleness in it.

This man had made up his mind to head to the underground base on the other side of the Earth. An Zhe felt that he should say something, like reminding him to stay safe or take care of himself...

He opened his mouth but then thought that the colonel was probably accustomed to such a lifestyle. He seemed capable of handling everything on his own, without needing any reminders.

In the end, An Zhe only said, "I cooked mushroom soup tonight."

No matter how good the thermos was, the soup wouldn't taste as good now as it would when freshly boiled.

There was a faint smile in Lu Feng's eyes.

"Thank you," he said. "Cook it for me again when I come back."

Those eyes—like the faint glow of fireflies deep in a summer forest—were fixed on An Zhe.

He leaned in slightly, and for a moment, An Zhe felt that Lu Feng wanted to get closer to him. But that sensation vanished quickly.

"I might not come back," Lu Feng's voice was a little hoarse as he said, "Take care of yourself."

An Zhe hummed in response. He watched Lu Fen turn and leave without looking back, disappearing into the makeshift boarding bridge.

He had lost count of how many times he had seen Lu Feng's retreating figure. He couldn't understand why this man could always move forward, unhesitant to shoot his comrades and ready to sacrifice himself at any moment.

Outside, the sandstorm arrived with the fierce winds. The darkness of night concealed it, turning the swirling dust and sand into an endless mist of the night. Amidst the vast expanse of darkness and moonlight, the engines of the PL1109 fighter jet roared to life, lifting off smoothly with its all-black body.

Its wings spread like a giant bird, becoming smaller and smaller in An Zhe's sight until it was nothing but an indiscernible black dot, eventually vanishing into the glittering Milky Way stretching across the horizon.

A distant boom echoed – the sound of a sonic boom – as the fighter jet accelerated once more.

An Zhe could no longer spot it.

Everyone looked up at the boundless night sky, the hall filled with a solemn silence. After a long while, people began to disperse.

An Zhe remained standing there. Soft footsteps sounded behind him; it was Selan.

"I sometimes wonder why Colonel chose me as his successor. What qualities and principles did he believe a judge should possess?" said Selan. "Now I think, contrary to popular belief, it wasn't cruelty but compassion."

"The interests of humanity come first, not out of compassion for an individual, but out of compassion for the collective fate of humanity. That is the unwavering source of our conviction," Selan's voice was soft and slightly hoarse. "I sincerely hope that future generations won't have to face what we do now. If humans still exist then, that is."

An Zhe remained silent, his gaze lifted to the star-studded night sky, a boundless expanse of radiant splendor.

General Selan draped his military greatcoat over An Zhe's shoulders.

"When the aurora brightens again, Colonel will be back."