Chapter 70: Expanding the Scope

Wang Yunfei graduated from the Tianlong Military Academy, where he had studied extensively about the threats posed by insect beasts. His knowledge on how to deal with such creatures was deeper and more comprehensive compared to the average person. He was particularly aware that when a resource-based base was invaded by insect beasts and personnel went missing without signs of death, it usually meant that these insects were part of a special, more dangerous breed.

"Parasitic insect beasts?" Wang Yunfei's voice was tense as he asked, his mind racing with possibilities.

"Are you suggesting, Captain Tianxiao," he continued, his expression growing more serious, "that you suspect parasitic insect beasts might have landed alongside the ships?"

As the highest-ranking officer at the base, with a computational ability reaching G-level, Wang Yunfei was no stranger to complex scenarios. His quick thinking allowed him to catch on immediately. His face grew ashen as he asked in a shaky voice:

"Do you have any concrete evidence?"

Tianxiao paused, a cold glint in his eyes, as he revealed the traces of the Qinglong computational search, as well as a newly discovered underground passage near the dismantling site.

Wang Yunfei's face turned even paler.

The four bodyguards were so frightened that they nearly lost their composure.

Because they were the ones responsible for investigating the Star River Gale's lair. They were also the ones who had brought the spacecraft back, yet they had failed to notice the parasitic insect beasts that had followed them. They now had to account for the safety of the base, and the three missing miners.

In other words...

Their actions had violated the base's security protocols.

Since this operation had been conducted privately, it was not sanctioned by the company. Not only would they not be reimbursed for their actions, but the company might even pursue legal action for the damages caused.

"If it is indeed the Chameleon Red Lizard," Wang Yunfei said, trying to regain his composure, "then the pursuit operation should be coordinated by the Base Command Center and the Security Department. As the only G-level warrior at the base, I will take the lead in capturing the Chameleon Red Lizard."

Wang Yunfei hoped this operation would allow him to redeem himself.

Tianxiao nodded.

"You may participate, but you must follow my orders throughout. If you don't comply, I won't allow you to join."

"No problem," Wang Yunfei said, visibly relieved, his gratitude evident. Tianxiao had agreed to give him a chance to redeem himself—a rare opportunity. After all, Tianxiao had every reason to refuse, and could easily use this situation to strip away any trust the headquarters had in Wang Yunfei.

"Captain, don't worry too much," Wang Yunfei continued, his voice steady but filled with urgency.

"Right now, our common enemy is the Chameleon Red Lizard. We must capture both it and the parasitic larvae. Otherwise, the entire base will be under threat, and everyone will be at risk of parasitic infestation."

"I understand," Tianxiao replied, his expression grim.

At that moment, the modified Qingniao (Skybird) No. 01 activated its stealth mode and appeared in the air above the dismantling site, the outline of the aircraft now visible. The hatch opened, revealing a space for them to board.

Wang Yunfei's vehicle was a G-level Eagle-class transport craft, equipped with machine guns, heavy artillery, and tracking missiles, making it just as formidable as the Qingniao. The two of them boarded their respective craft.

The rest of the five squads, totaling twenty-five Qingniao aircraft, had already swept across the area, taking control of three deep pits located three kilometers away. The machine guns and heavy artillery were all in place.

The atmosphere was tense and oppressive.

The three deep pits were eerily silent.

There was no sign of any biological activity, neither in the underground passages nor in the pits.

"What are we waiting for?" Tianxiao barked. "Time is of the essence!"

"Search every corner of the area!" he ordered. "Move out!"

With a sharp command, all the Qingniao units sprang into action. The hatches opened, and small unmanned drones were ejected, swiftly taking flight.

The surveillance feeds quickly appeared on the security department's monitoring screens.

Old Lu and the immobile Qiao Dazhi were tasked with analyzing and sorting through the intelligence data.

Hundreds of drones spread out, scanning every inch of the deep pits with detailed analysis.

The efficiency of the team working in unison was astonishing.

Soon, there was a breakthrough.

In the three deep pits, they discovered four hidden underground passages, cleverly concealed behind rocks and in difficult-to-detect corners. These passages were interconnected, and the final one appeared to lead toward the base but ended as a dead-end halfway through.

The more Wang Yunfei examined the data, the more unsettled he felt.

"It's definitely the Chameleon Red Lizard," he said, his voice tinged with dread.

"The Chameleon Red Lizard is small, but its limbs are extremely sharp. It can easily puncture metal shells, and its strength is comparable to G7-level power. Ordinary underground rocks are no match for it."

"However, the rock layers near the base are more compact. The creatures haven't finished digging yet; they must have been startled by our presence and retreated."

"Our task now is to dig them out, no matter what!"

Wang Yunfei quickly briefed the team on the Chameleon Red Lizard's characteristics.

"The Chameleon Red Lizard has an exceptional ability to camouflage. It can blend into rocks like ordinary insect beasts, but it can also disguise itself as a simple stone, evading even conventional search methods. Our drones and biological sensors won't be able to detect it."

"…"

The team looked toward Tianxiao, awaiting his response.

"That's correct," Tianxiao confirmed, his expression unwavering.

Then he added:

"Furthermore, I believe that there is no way one single Chameleon Red Lizard could have dug such a long underground passage in just two days."

"After parasitism, the Chameleon Red Lizard typically enters a brief period of weakness. For it to have dug such a long tunnel so quickly... it's simply impossible!"

Wang Yunfei's face turned pale, and he realized the gravity of the situation.

"So, there must be at least two Chameleon Red Lizards at the base," he muttered under his breath.

"…"

The security team members couldn't help but vent their frustration.

"Goddammit."

"What a mess."

"How long has the Captain been gone? And now we have two G-level Chameleon Red Lizards and three larvae at the base... and who knows how many more will appear! This is no small issue."

"I knew those guys couldn't be trusted."

Though Wang Yunfei was the head of the base, he could not retort, forced to listen to their bitter complaints.

"Enough," Tianxiao interrupted, bringing the venting to a halt.

"Now is not the time for complaints. We need to focus on eliminating the Chameleon Red Lizard."

"Don't waste any more time."

"Given the Chameleon Red Lizard's speed, we must block off a 50-kilometer radius around the area!"

"Old Lu, bring in a team from the logistics department. Use mining machines to form a blockade and become our eyes!"

"Yes, sir!" Old Lu responded.

Tianxiao continued issuing orders: "The other squads should continue their search. Maintain ground-level height, and deploy drones. If anything suspicious is detected, open fire without hesitation."

"Yes, sir!"

Then he turned to Wang Yunfei.

"The Chameleon Red Lizard is elusive, and we may have to engage in a prolonged battle. It's better if you return to the base and oversee operations from there."

"I return to the base?" Wang Yunfei hesitated, not eager to leave the field.

But Tianxiao's next words completely convinced him.

"I've reviewed the data," Tianxiao said. "The Chameleon Red Lizard has a powerful parasitic ability. If our blockade fails, it could start infecting other creatures on this planet. Its larvae could spread, eventually leading to a full-blown disaster."

"I need you to return to the command center and issue an order to halt all work. We also need to set up a second line of defense, monitoring all areas of the planet."