14.Infiltrating Lan Jing

Qin Hu had heard from Qin Gang before that the reason the nutrient capsules tasted bad wasn't due to an inability to make them flavorful, but rather because making them too delicious would lead to unnecessary cravings. Overeating them would not only be wasteful but could also result in excessive nutrition and obesity.

When he first arrived, Wang Zuo had promised to inquire about it, but after so many days, there was still no news. Just as he was about to look for Wang Zuo, the assembly whistle blew.

The group gathered once again but was immediately dispersed and reassigned to different teams.

No one would let ten rookies form a single unit—that would be sending sheep into a tiger's den, practically a suicide mission.

Whether by coincidence or deliberate arrangement, Wang Ben assigned Qin Hu to Zhao Ding's team.

A few minutes later, the teams set out in succession. Under Zhao Ding's lead, Qin Hu's group departed, but he quickly realized that they were retracing their route from earlier.

Zhao Ding, who was leading the group, suddenly turned back. "Qin Hu, come here for a moment!"

"Coming!" Qin Hu immediately ran over. "Captain Zhao, you need me?"

Wang Ben nodded. "Qin Hu, this isn't our first meeting, so I'll get straight to the point. Which district of Lan Jing are you most familiar with?"

"East District!" Qin Hu answered without hesitation. "I grew up there."

It had been several days since he left Lan Jing. Who knew what it had become now?

Zhao Ding frowned slightly. "What about the Central District? Are you familiar with it?"

"Not really." Qin Hu shook his head but then added as a reminder, "The Weisen warships are stationed in the Central District. That place is crawling with Weisen troops—there's no way any survivors could be there."

Zhao Ding nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, I understand."

"Captain Zhao, our mission isn't in the Central District, right?" Qin Hu asked anxiously.

The Central District was the wealthiest area of Lan Jing, home to the elite. If they were looking for high-ranking members of the colonial fleet, it was the most likely place to find them.

Zhao Ding sighed. "No, but if we can't find our targets elsewhere, we may have to move closer to the Central District."

"If we can't find them, we still shouldn't go near it. That place is too dangerous. Unless we have a death wish, no one would dare approach," Qin Hu insisted.

Zhao Ding suddenly gave Qin Hu a strange look. "Then where do you think we have the highest chance?"

"Nowhere." Qin Hu shook his head. "The first place the Weisen forces destroyed was the Central District. Besides that, I can't think of any other locations where those people might be."

The colonial fleet and Lan Cang Star did not have an aristocratic system, but no matter how civilized a society was, social class always existed. The Central District was where the upper echelon of Lan Cang Star gathered.

Even if some high-ranking members' children had escaped when the Weisen forces invaded, their numbers wouldn't have been many. After over two months of struggle, how many could still be alive?

Zhao Ding was silent for a moment before saying, "Let's do our best and leave the rest to fate."

Qin Hu couldn't hold back his curiosity. "Captain Zhao, why are we looking for these high-ranking officials' children?"

What he really wanted to ask was whether someone from the resistance's high command had a missing family member in Lan Jing, prompting this mission.

Zhao Ding didn't answer immediately. After a while, he finally said, "I don't know the exact reason. But I do know what you're thinking. And I can tell you that's not the case—because the resistance has no high command."

Qin Hu was stunned, feeling a bit embarrassed. "How did you know what I was thinking?"

Zhao Ding smiled knowingly. "You're not the only one who thought that."

"Then why not just explain it to everyone?" Qin Hu asked, puzzled.

Zhao Ding gazed ahead. "There's a saying: 'The more you deny, the more people suspect.' Sometimes, the more you explain, the less people believe."

Qin Hu wasn't sure what to say. It wasn't that he understood Zhao Ding's words—in fact, it was the opposite. His limited life experience prevented him from grasping the deeper meaning.

As they talked, the team reached the sewer entrance. The hidden door had already been opened by the advance team, and outside, a row of hovering vehicles was lined up.

Following Zhao Ding, Qin Hu boarded a vehicle, and they immediately set off. At first, other vehicles were moving alongside them, but before long, they vanished, leaving only Qin Hu's vehicle moving alone.

Half an hour later, after an unknown journey, the vehicle finally stopped. Everyone disembarked quietly, making not a single unnecessary sound.

Zhao Ding gestured to one of the soldiers, who nodded and launched a tiny drone, smaller than a mosquito. The drone ascended the vertical shaft and swiftly emerged above ground.

It was early morning, and thick fog blanketed the landscape, turning everything into a white haze.

The soldier reported in a low voice, "Captain Zhao, the fog is dense with very low visibility!"

"Any sign of Weisen troops?"

"None."

"Expand the search radius."

"Yes!" The soldier complied, and the drone began circling the shaft. Within minutes, it had scanned a 100-meter radius.

"No Weisen troops detected!" the soldier reported again.

Zhao Ding finally made his decision. "Exit the shaft!"

A soldier swiftly climbed up, his rifle ready for security.

One by one, the others followed. Qin Hu was the last to emerge, instinctively raising his rifle.

Zhao Ding gestured at him. "Qin Hu, do you recognize this place?"

Qin Hu hesitated, scanning his surroundings. "The fog is too thick. Do you have a map?"

"I do!" Zhao Ding extended his left arm, displaying a 3D holographic map from his wrist terminal. A red dot was flashing. "We're right here. Do you know where the most survivors would be?"

"I do!" Qin Hu nodded. "But that was several days ago. I don't know if anyone's still there now."

"Lead the way!" Zhao Ding dismissed the map and signaled the group to move.

The team got up but remained highly alert.

Just as Qin Hu was about to nod in agreement, a muffled explosion suddenly echoed through the fog, followed by a barrage of gunfire and more blasts.

Everyone was stunned. Zhao Ding immediately activated his communicator. "Who's firing? What's happening?"

A response came immediately. "It's South Squad Four! They've encountered the enemy!"

Zhao Ding stomped his foot in frustration. "What the hell happened?"

Before setting out, they had repeatedly emphasized reconnaissance. How had they run into the enemy so soon?

"Unclear…"

Zhao Ding was furious but knew this was no time to assign blame. He quickly pulled up the map, zooming in on South Squad Four's location. The area was swarming with flashing red enemy markers.

His heart sank. "South Squad Four! How many enemies are there?!"

"No idea!" A panicked voice came through the communicator, drowned by intense gunfire and explosions. "The fog is full of enemies!"

Another voice cut in. "Reporting! South Squad One has encountered enemies—at least a hundred!"

Zhao Ding's chest heaved with frustration. "All units, listen up! South Squad One, hold your ground! South Squad Two, flank them! All other South District squads, provide full support to South Squad Four!"