Strange Movements in the City Center: When the Unusual Hides the Unseen

Mike had witnessed the full scope of the brief yet intense war firsthand, observing Jiang Xiaoci's strategic planning and execution.

"Impressive," Mike couldn't help but remark. "A total domination with perfect restraint at the last moment."

By dawn, Jiang Xiaoci had never sent a single soldier to the city center, nor had he launched a single artillery bombardment. The strategy remained purely defensive, executing the initial war plan with unwavering precision.

Not a single chance was given to the enemy to fight back.

Mike found the entire night exhilarating. It was like watching a war film while staying in the comfort of his home.

Meanwhile, the rest of the survivors in the city could only anxiously wait, pulling their hair in frustration.

"Damn, the artillery's been going off all night! I've got word—our commander's in a battle with the city center! The man's war reserves are something else!"

"Your info's late, bro. Everyone knows that already. The real question is: what's the status of the frontlines? How far has the battle line moved? Anyone have news? Hurry, I need answers!"

The chat channel buzzed with frantic questions about the war. Survivors spun in circles, desperate for updates.

The sound of artillery echoed, and explosions lit up the night sky. It was chaos—everyone had stayed awake, eagerly waiting for any word.

"Don't worry, my guy with the eagle eye is on it. I'll have the frontlines' reports soon!"

At first, no one believed it, but before long, detailed reports started appearing on the chat channel.

"It's 8:20 AM now! Latest update: the frontlines are in a stalemate! Conclusion: our commander is genius—he has decisively crushed the city center's breakout attempt. Major victory!"

The report detailed how the city center had sent numerous exploration teams to break into refugee zones, only to be intercepted by Jiang Xiaoci's forces. The city center's leader, So Ge, tried to counterattack with a swarm of drones, drawing in a heavy firefight. But Jiang Xiaoci anticipated this and had set up an ambush that decimated So Ge's forces, sending surrender messages to the city center.

At this point, So Ge's forces were silent. His position was weakening, and his losses were significant.

As the battle unfolded, images of the frontlines surfaced—detailed and high-definition, showing drone bombardments, brave ambushes by Chen Dafeng's team, and gunfights with enemy insurgents.

The images flooded the chat, stirring up a storm of excitement among the survivors.

"Wait, bro! You really are an eagle eye! How do you even know these military secrets?"

"I told you, China's vast! There are some seriously skilled people here. Even this kind of intel can be uncovered!"

With the reports came more admiration for Jiang Xiaoci. The battle had been a clear victory for his forces, and the once-feared So Ge was now just a puppet with good luck and little skill.

However, as the excitement grew, some skeptical voices rose.

"Hold on a second. Where did those images come from? How does someone know the battle's movements so well?"

"Why use artillery to shoot down drones? Isn't this the apocalypse? Shouldn't we be conserving resources?"

"And why keep surrounding the city center instead of going for a final push? Why not take the city center now and free those who've been captured?"

Questions began to surface, but quickly, defenders of Mike's stance stepped forward.

"It's been explained already. My eagle-eye buddy has his ways; it's a gift! Using artillery against drones seems wasteful, but our commander values the lives of his soldiers. He's not wasting lives to destroy drones."

"Anyone who understands tactics knows that containment without an immediate assault is a wise move. Overconfidence leads to failure. If there are still surprises in the city center, rushing in could cost us."

"The city center may seem quiet, but we need to respect the enemy's strength. So Ge's rapid rise shows he's not to be underestimated."

The discussion was heated, with most leaning in support of Mike. After all, Mike represented the official forces and was fighting to protect the people, so the survivors naturally favored his side.

Still, some didn't buy into the reports, questioning the flow of information.

"Something's off. How does someone know this much about the changing battle conditions?"

"And why are they still holding back? Why not push for a final assault?"

The skepticism continued, but the defenders remained strong.

Mike, too, had his doubts. He thought about the eagle-eyed reports and couldn't help but wonder: Could these reports have been orchestrated by Jiang Xiaoci?

It made sense. By showcasing his strategic brilliance, Jiang Xiaoci could build Mike's reputation and strengthen future city management. Still, Mike didn't press further. With Jiang Xiaoci on the frontlines, it was best to let things unfold naturally.

By midday, Mike had received no new updates. Jiang Xiaoci had successfully solidified the defensive perimeter around the city center, making any breakthrough increasingly difficult.

"Looks like last night was So Ge's best chance for a counterattack," Mike murmured.

"Now that he failed, his chances of escaping are slim. If he hasn't broken out by now, it's over."

Mike waited. When no new news came through, he contacted Wang Shi.

Wang Shi's communication system was top-tier—able to stay connected even in extreme conditions without the need for skill links.

"How's the situation inside the city center?" Mike asked.

"Quiet. No signs of unrest," Wang Shi replied. "After last night's battle, over 2,000 were lost, but morale remains high. They haven't prepared for a new battle yet, just ramped up production."

Mike raised an eyebrow. Over 2,000 casualties and there was no morale collapse? That was unusual.

"They're producing daily necessities—food, water, and supplies," Wang Shi continued. "The production lines look a lot like ours, but there's no sign of any military production. No drones being built, no weapons."

"Interestingly, I couldn't find any sign of a leader in their ranks, only a class of higher-ups running things. It's like a feudal system, with the upper echelons having complete control. They seem to believe in the system, though they're skeptical about the future. There's a strange obedience among them, almost like they're being controlled by something."

Mike's heart sank. Something didn't feel right.

"There's something off about all this. Why are they ramping up production instead of preparing for a fight?"

Mike had seen enough. The strange silence from the city center made him uneasy.

"Something's going on," Mike muttered to himself. "I'll have to dig deeper into this."

His instincts were telling him there was more to this war than met the eye.