Chapter 27: The Observation Post's Reaction
As the foremost outpost established by Chu Sheng City on the front lines against the JD Ruined City Nuclear Wasteland Area, the JD Ruined City Area Observation Post was definitely the most dangerous among the many observation posts established by Chu Sheng City.
Due to its significant meaning and value, it was also currently the observation post most valued by the base government.
Just the five hundred permanently stationed troops and four standard combat squads of the Security Army already made it stand out among the numerous observation posts deployed by Chu Sheng City.
Not to mention the dozen or so Standard Infantry Fighting Vehicles; even tanks and armed helicopters, rarely seen even at the Chu Sheng City Human Base government headquarters, were deployed here.
The strength of its armed forces aside, the special approval directive of 'priority logistical supply' issued by the highest administrative department of the Chu Sheng City Human Base government, in particular, made other observation posts extremely envious.
Transport teams braved extreme risks, crossing a nearly thirty-kilometer-long supply line, to deliver various living supplies from Chu Sheng City here twice a week.
At least in the eyes of Dian Fenglin, the person in charge of the observation post, those who could enjoy such excellent treatment and sophisticated military equipment should undoubtedly be elite units of the Standing Army.
However, an unexpected reality shattered this notion of his, making him unable to imagine that such a thing would actually happen here…
“Do you know what you are doing? This is dereliction of duty! It’s a crime! Is the base government’s funding for the observation post meant to raise you bunch of wastes?”
Even with some restraint on his emotions, the mere high-decibel reprimand failed to alleviate his feelings, instead fueling his rising anger.
He waved his hand, scattering the documents on the table.
Many white papers flew around the room, and more landed on the person standing in front of his desk, head lowered, receiving the scolding.
The grayish-black combat uniform was the standard attire of the Standing Army, but the blue shield insignia on his shoulder highlighted his extraordinary identity – belonging to the Security Team.
And to be able to receive a personal scolding from the commander-in-chief in the office was no ordinary Security Team member.
Considering the armed forces deployed here by the Security Team, he must be a Security Team soldier at the captain level or above.
“Why was the spread of the contaminated area in the JD Ruined City Nuclear Wasteland Area only reported now? Why were the thirteen documents recording the abnormal migration of mutated creature groups only handed to me now? You’re not elites, you’re simply wastes. You’ve disappointed me greatly.”
Even with the doors and windows closed, the angry roars from the observation post office could still penetrate the walls, audible from over a hundred meters away.
The guards stationed at the courtyard gate momentarily forgot their duties.
Their wandering gazes were not on alert at all, but rather their heads were slightly tilted, allowing their ears to capture more of the transmitted information.
It wasn't that the guards were inherently lax and derelict in their duty, but Dian Shanlin losing his temper to such an extent this time was too rare for everyone in the entire observation post.
Dian Shanlin’s displayed temper had always been lukewarm, making those who knew him even slightly curious about the cause of this outburst.
However, his investigation didn't last long.
Before he could even make out a complete sentence, a voice from his side interrupted his intention.
“What are you doing?”
Startled by the sudden voice, he even fumbled with the gun in his hand for a moment.
The embarrassment of being caught derelict in his duty made him feel ashamed and thus annoyed.
To be a guard by the commander-in-chief's side, his status in the entire observation post was only slightly lower than that of the Security Team members.
Who would dare to provoke him?
But just as he turned his impatient expression around, after clearly seeing the person behind him who had just spoken, the impatient expression immediately twisted and disappeared, replaced by a fawning smile.
The swear words that had almost reached his lips were forcefully swallowed back, the speed of which was astounding.
“Re, Researcher Ren? Why are you here? Is there something I can help you with?”
The only one in the entire observation post qualified to wear a white lab coat was Researcher Ren Xi, who had been dispatched from the Chu Sheng City base not long ago to assist with data analysis of JD Ruined City.
As merely a guard, he didn't know much about the other party's details, nor did he have the qualification to find out.
But the identity of a researcher alone was enough.
That was not someone he could afford to offend, a V.I.P. whom even the commander-in-chief of the observation post had to treat with utmost courtesy.
She watched with great interest the guard's skillful face-changing technique, marveling at how exaggerated and rapid human facial muscle movements could be.
Although she wanted to see more, the current situation didn't allow her to continue playing around.
After hearing the other party's deliberately diverting question, she directly and concisely stated her purpose: “It’s nothing. I just want you to help me deliver this application to your Colonel Dian.”
Ren Xi spoke in a light tone, but the content within was so heavy that the guard felt a bit breathless.
He cautiously glanced at the office behind him, from which angry reprimands were still continuously emanating, then looked back at Ren Xi.
Behind that face with a warm smile was an irresistible determination.
“I… Researcher Ren, you should give up…” The guard forced a stiff smile, his feet seemingly rooted to the ground. Facing Ren Xi’s gaze, he dared not waver in the slightest. “You’ve already submitted two applications, and both were rejected by Officer Dian. The situation in JD Ruined City is special right now. The commander-in-chief will not approve sending people in for sampling and investigation.”
It wasn't just a prevarication of Ren Xi's request; the guard's words were also not without reason.
Ren Xi's two previous applications had both been rejected one by one.
The situation in JD Ruined City had exceeded the observation post's expectations and control.
Faced with such a grim situation, no rash actions were allowed without the approval of the Chu Sheng City Human Base government.
This application would inevitably just be another crumpled piece of paper added to the office trash can.
“Look clearly, my application this time is not an exploration application but a meeting application. I need to have a private meeting with Colonel Dian…” Ren Xi impatiently waved the application form in her hand in front of the guard. The content written in black and white was just as Ren Xi herself said, not what the guard was worried about.
But even so, it couldn't eliminate the guard's anxiety.
Dian Shanlin's anger over there was still on the rise.
If he rashly interrupted, he would inevitably become the innocent fish caught in the crossfire.
Ren Xi was prepared for this…
“And you should understand, dereliction of duty, secretly probing military intelligence… according to the Standing Army’s military law department regulations, how is that punished…”
“Yes, yes, I understand… Researcher Ren, please wait here for a moment.”
While the guard was pondering, Ren Xi used that last sentence to give some hints.
The analysis of pros and cons made him make a decision instantly.
No matter how reluctant he was, he could only take the application form from Ren Xi's hand and walk towards the office.
Under Ren Xi’s gaze, the guard went through some psychological preparation at the office door.
It seemed that the angry scolding from inside, even though not directed at him, still put considerable pressure on him.
Soon, a figure walked out of the office, but it wasn't the guard from just now, but Dian Shanlin himself.
He strode directly towards Ren Xi.
His face was flushed, his steps hurried… It was clear that the anger in his chest had not subsided.
However, when facing Ren Xi, Dian Shanlin still tried hard to suppress his emotions, making his voice sound calmer: “Researcher Ren, I’ve seen your application. Speak: what is it you want?”
“Then shall we go to the meeting room?”
“No need, let’s just talk here.” Waving his hand to decline Ren Xi’s suggestion, Dian Shanlin had an ‘I’m very busy and have no time to fool around with you’ look. Clearly, he had once again linked the purpose of Ren Xi’s meeting this time with the previous two applications, and his purpose for coming out personally this time was to completely dispel Ren Xi’s unrealistic ideas.
“Alright.” Ren Xi shrugged indifferently; it was the same no matter where they spoke.
“I need you to dispatch a combat team into the JD Ruined City Nuclear Wasteland Area…”
“You know that’s impossible, I won’t approve it…”
The unsurprising request made Dian Shanlin lose patience to stay here even for another second.
However, before he had taken more than a few steps after turning around, Ren Xi’s next sentence made him stop abruptly in his tracks, standing rigidly in place like a statue.
Even the flow of time became almost imperceptible.
Faint, like stagnant dead water…
“What if I told you that Researcher Han Nianling passed through here not long ago and entered the JD Ruined City Nuclear Wasteland Area?”
“……”
“You… what did you say?!”
The shock this news delivered to Dian Shanlin instantly destroyed all his restraint.
He quickly turned back to Ren Xi, his widened eyes looking as if they were about to devour someone, the whites of his eyes filled with bloodshot veins.
Such a violent reaction made Ren Xi’s heart pound fiercely.
“Researcher Han… she just… entered the JD Ruined City Nuclear Wasteland Area?”
There was no need for Ren Xi to answer again.
Dian Shanlin had already repeated it for her in a self-questioning manner.
And what Ren Xi did was to nod in return to affirm the truth of the information Dian Shanlin had learned.
“Why… I wasn’t informed… Bastards! All of them are bastards! Everyone responsible for guarding the gate should be shot!”
The successive impacts and violent emotional fluctuations seemed to have made this commander-in-chief somewhat delirious.
His staggering figure retreated two steps as if unsteady, making Ren Xi feel a bit sorry for this commander-in-chief.
But a commander-in-chief was, after all, a commander-in-chief.
Someone who could sit in this important position was not someone who could be defeated by mere emotional fluctuations.
After muttering for a while, Dian Shanlin instead fell into an unusual calm.
“Where did Researcher Han go?” This sentence already confirmed Ren Xi's status as an insider.
“Her reply to me was Sector 06 and Sector 04.” Ren Xi didn't deny this fact and answered truthfully. Her heart, hidden beneath her calm exterior, was more anxious than anyone else's.
“She also brought five mercenaries with her, riding in a standard infantry fighting vehicle.” Without Dian Shanlin asking, Ren Xi revealed all the information she knew.
“Five mercenaries… Absurd… Stop eavesdropping, come out.”
Dian Shanlin took a deep breath and suddenly said to the air in front of him without any preamble.
Before Ren Xi could react, the Security Team soldier in a black combat uniform behind the door responded and walked out.
Heavy leather boots made crisp sounds as they stepped on the ground.
Textbook military-style steps landed on the ground with precision, stopping only when he stood three steps away from Dian Shanlin.
Ren Xi had seen this face a few times, but she couldn't recall the other person's name for a moment.
However, it was clear that this person was probably the target of Dian Shanlin's angry tirade just now.
“JD City Observation Post First Security Army Squad requests permission to proceed to JD Ruined City to rescue Researcher Han.” He said, giving a standard military salute. His upright body made his already tall figure seem even taller in a daze. The strong military aura was almost palpable.
Dian Shanlin didn't answer directly, but stared into the other's eyes.
The other person responded in the same way.
Their gazes met without exchanging any additional information, just simple eye contact.
“Approved…” After a short silence, it was indeed Dian Shanlin who turned his head away first, shifting his gaze to the horizon, focusing on the slowly rising full moon. “Also… merits don’t offset demerits. Remember to go to the military law department to receive your punishment after you return… Luo Shi.”