An Inescapable Trap!

"Are they targeting us?"

Mike froze for a moment, his mind racing at lightning speed as every event since the unification of Jinling replayed in his mind.

But time was not on his side. Jiang Xiaoci, pointing at the map, spoke up immediately. "Sir, at first, I wasn't sure, but only in the past few days did I begin to feel suspicious."

"When I received news of the defection of the Guangling resistance, followed by urgent military reports from the direction of Suzhou City... it became clear," she continued, her voice steady. "These two events tell us that, even now, they still have ways of monitoring us in Guangling. Their movements show that they have little concern for Guangling itself."

"If they cared about places like Guangling, Dantu, and Xinchang, they would have struck long before, when Xinchang fell or when you sent people to contact Dantu and Guangling."

An exceptional leader would never passively watch as their defenses were gradually consumed. They would act decisively when the trap was near completion, finding any means to break out. This was the only viable option for someone who had no escape route left.

Jiang Xiaoci had anticipated this, but even after Jinling's forces took Dantu and marched toward Guangling, there had been no response from the hidden masterminds behind it all.

The situation from a few days ago had seemed promising, too good even, and it made Jiang Xiaoci cautious yet perplexed. She couldn't figure out the enemy's strength. Was their silence due to insufficient power or a tactical retreat? Or was it part of a more sinister plan, patiently waiting for the right moment to strike?

"I have to admit, I underestimated them," Jiang Xiaoci said with a sigh. "They don't want Guangling, Dantu, or Xinchang. They want us. They want Jinling."

She paused, her voice soft. "To be more precise, they want you, sir."

Mike's expression tightened. "They've been watching me this whole time? That's impossible!"

He shook his head. Even during the early stages of the apocalypse, even after Jinling was unified under his command, he hadn't done anything remarkable enough to attract such attention.

At least, not compared to the collective strength of Xinchang's army or the extraordinary talents of Old Xu from Dantu.

If anyone had been targeted, it would have been after he took over Xinchang, likely drawing the attention of those with far-reaching perceptive abilities. Before that, there had been far more impressive talents than Mike—far more dazzling figures.

"Sir, I know this seems unbelievable, but now that they've shown themselves, we can exclude any potential gain from their actions. The only thing they could possibly be interested in is Jinling."

Jiang Xiaoci's tone remained calm. "They want to defeat you, and this is the only explanation that fits. Why didn't they attack during the Xinchang phase, or during Dantu? Why wait until Guangling was nearly finished before making a move?"

At this point, most of Jinling's forces were concentrated in Guangling. Over two-thirds of their military strength was there, along with key figures like Jiang Xiaoci, Chen Dafu, Qin Dashan, Lu Nianxin, Chen Xun, Wang Shi, and Wang Chen.

A decisive strike against Jinling's forces here would severely damage Mike, possibly cripple the entire Jinling faction. The moment they lost their military might, not only would they lose their bid for dominance in Jiangnan, but their ability to protect the people would be in jeopardy. Mike might not even survive.

The timing of the enemy's move was deliberate, and it made clear what Jiang Xiaoci had just said: they were sure of their victory. In fact, they seemed intent on humiliating Mike on the battlefield.

They wanted to see him panic, retreat in disorder, and watch as everything he had gained was stripped away, piece by piece.

"This means they don't just have one SSS-level powerhouse," Mike said, his voice tight with realization. "Their strength could far surpass ours."

He took a deep breath, not yet panicked, but growing heavier with the weight of the situation. "They've thought this through. They must have been watching me for months, waiting for the perfect opportunity."

The enemy's strength was staggering: elite forces, powerful weapons, a meticulously calculated strategy. The depth of their plans was awe-inspiring.

Mike couldn't blame Jiang Xiaoci for missing this. After all, human intelligence had its limits, and she could only analyze the situation with the information at hand.

"Sir, we must retreat," Jiang Xiaoci sighed, resolute. "Victory and defeat are common in war. There's no point in dwelling on the outcome. If we fall back to Jinling, we can force a stalemate."

"Prolong the conflict, and we might have a chance."

Her voice was steady, and she didn't regret the miscalculation. She was already thinking of how to minimize the damage and save what could still be saved.

"This isn't a feigned retreat. We can still come back," she said firmly. "But if we lose these cities…"

Mike furrowed his brow, knowing time was running out. The question was vital. "Xiaoci! Is the future you see a favorable one?"

Jiang Xiaoci had her methods. She could at least guide Mike on what the best course of action was.

"Retreating will lead to victory," she said softly. "You may lose some things, but the end result will be good."

"Losses? These two cities?" Mike asked, a bitter smile forming. "And Wang Chen—where is he?"

"In Shencheng," Jiang Xiaoci answered calmly. "I sent him there. At the crucial moment, he could become a key piece for us, helping us reclaim our lost strongholds."

Mike's eyes widened. "To save us from the enemy's trap, they're using Shencheng as a diversion!"

Suddenly, it all made sense. The enemy had thought of everything. And Jiang Xiaoci wasn't about to surrender easily.

Mike weighed his options for a few seconds, then made his decision. "Retreat from the west! Take a detour if necessary!"

"Dantu and Guangling—let them have it. We're not going to risk our entire army over two cities."

It was a tough choice, but Mike understood the bigger picture. He couldn't afford to lose his military or his most valuable personnel, especially those with rare talents. He had to preserve the army's strength for the long-term fight.

With Jiang Xiaoci's calculations in mind, the retreat wasn't just about running—it was about regrouping and using their forces more strategically. Wang Chen, in Shencheng, could be the key to striking back.

Time was running out. The enemy would soon close in on Dantu, and Mike needed to prepare for what was to come.

But as Mike began planning the retreat, something caught his eye. A shift in the enemy's forces.

"Dafu, what's going on?" Mike asked, staring at the troops below.

Dafu, confused, strained his eyes. "Sir? Are those... missiles?"

Mike's heart sank. The enemy was prepared to launch missile strikes. Hundreds of specialized vehicles, packed with short-range missiles, were ready to fire. And not far away, helicopters armed with missiles were prepped for action.

"Shit!" Mike cursed. "They're targeting Dantu—bombing it with missiles! They're going to destroy the city!"

The enemy's strategy was clear: using missiles, they could obliterate a city full of civilians. Their message was simple: they didn't care about the people of Dantu or Guangling.

The enemy wanted Mike to choose: retreat and abandon the citizens, or stay and face the trap head-on.

"Dantu's empty. They know it's undefended," Mike muttered, pacing. "We should have seen this coming. They want to wipe out the civilians and make us stay—force our hand!"

He turned to Dafu. "Get down there. Stop them! At any cost!"

Dafu didn't hesitate. "Yes, sir!"

Mike clenched his fist. He knew the risks—this could be a trap, but he had no choice.

The game had changed, and it was time to face the consequences.