Chapter 17 – I rather like Captain Su as a person

The next day, Ying Xize hung the freshly cleaned coat on Su Fengzhou’s doorknob before heading off to regroup with his team.

During the time when the Third Squad and the Ninth Squad were returning from overseas, the newly formed temporary teams conducted several more training exercises.

The incident from the previous night had clearly startled the captain of F33365 as well.

When he saw Ying Xize again, he couldn’t help but want to say a few words. Yet under that calm gaze, all that made it to his lips were six words. “Stay close to us next time.”

Ying Xize nodded. “Okay.”

With the experience from their initial trial, the primary training zones for these temporary teams had moved slightly inward from the outermost safe areas.

The teams with relatively stronger combat capabilities were stationed at the front, while Ying Xize’s less experienced squad remained at the rear to provide assistance and support.

Following this arrangement, they entered the underground cavern three more times, with their respective durations being six hours, twelve hours, and sixteen hours.

The gradually increasing durations indicated that everyone was steadily becoming more accustomed.

By the fourth entry into the cave, the entire team had already conducted a preliminary exploration of the initial path once taken by the ill-fated S0012 detachment. All that remained was to await the commencement of the official mission.

During this time, they managed to bring back a considerable number of tissue samples. Unfortunately, none contained the final cellular target they needed.

The failure of the A25 series weapons was undeniably a grave matter. Only by promptly retrieving the necessary samples could the development of new weapons advance more swiftly.

The fourth descent into the cave was also the final mission before the official operation.

This time, all the teams remained inside for a full twenty-four hours.

After spending such a long period in the dim environment, everyone emerged visibly fatigued.

When Ying Xize stepped into the sunlight again, he narrowed his eyes slightly.

As he gradually adjusted, he noticed that more than twenty new people had appeared in the plaza outside the cave entrance. Judging by the different styles of their uniforms, it was evident that they belonged to two separate teams.

Ying Xize heard the captain beside him murmur in a low voice, “The Third Squad and Ninth Squad have finally arrived.”

It was well known that within the Investigation Department, teams numbered Seven and above were primarily tasked with handling ultra-critical ‘incidents.’

Compared to the standard uniforms worn by members of the Third Squad, the uniquely designed crimson uniforms of the Ninth Squad were immediately striking.

However, what drew even greater attention at this moment was undoubtedly the tense, confrontational atmosphere on site.

Though no one spoke, it was evident that a clash had occurred here.

Amid the silence, those who had just emerged from the cave felt an overwhelming sense of oppression unlike anything before.

And the source of that suffocating pressure undoubtedly stemmed from the two leaders of the Seventh Squad and the Ninth Squad.

It had long been no secret that Su Fengzhou and Xu Xuefeng were on bad terms, but judging from the current scene, it was far beyond mere discord. One could almost believe they were irreconcilable enemies.

Had the initial assembly notice not explicitly stated that members of the Eighth Squad and the Tenth Sqad were unable to provide support due to pressing matters, it would be easy to suspect that the higher-ups had intentionally assigned these two to the same mission, perhaps to offer them a convenient chance to eliminate one another during the operation.

No one dared to speak aloud; all conversations were carried out in hushed whispers.

Ying Xize glanced up and noticed that Su Fengzhou was still wearing the same uniform jacket he had returned—the one with a small tear at the collar.

If memory served him right, this was the third day Su Fengzhou had worn it.

He sat there with one leg casually crossed over the other, exuding an air of arrogant defiance.

The ground around him was already strewn with a dense scatter of cigarette butts, echoing the one still clamped between his lips.

Behind Su Fengzhou stood a line of the Seventh Squad members, neatly arranged in formation.

Rather than a scene of standby readiness, it more closely resembled a gang of street thugs gathered to hold their ground.

As if sensing something faintly, Su Fengzhou suddenly lifted his head and looked in this direction.

Only then did Ying Xize notice just how dark and intimidating his expression was. After a brief moment of eye contact, he quietly shifted his gaze away. He followed the team as they were directed by logistics personnel to change into protective suits and proceed with infection screenings in sequence.

According to protocol, anyone who had entered the area beyond Wangchuan was required to undergo a complete inspection process.

After all, no one could afford to bear the risk of bringing an infection into the outside world.

The interior of the detection building was vast and spacious. Everyone lined up before the four windows, one by one putting on the detection devices, then moved to the observation area to wait for the observation period to pass.

Although no one had been injured during the relatively straightforward mission, the subconscious fear of unknown infections still cast a subtle tension over the atmosphere.

No one spoke, and the detection devices remained stable.

Just as the observation period was nearing its end, the sound of footsteps suddenly echoed from the entrance.

Moments later, several people pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The Ninth Squad’s captain, Xu Xuefeng, entered with a coat draped over his shoulders and a freshly issued registration form in hand. As he stepped inside, he slightly tilted his head, still speaking to the Outpost Division’s staff beside him. “Are you certain we must be assigned scientific personnel? You all should understand the conditions inside the cave better than I do. If something truly goes wrong in there, I can’t guarantee my men will have the strength left to protect others. If you ask me, rather than bringing along a burdensome researcher, we might as well handle the task of collecting the cell samples ourselves.”

The staff member, evidently worn down from relentless questioning, kept wiping away sweat. “Captain Xu, this is a direct order from above. The samples needed for this mission are quite special. There’s concern that the Investigation Department may not know the precise extraction points, which is why cooperation from the Research Department is necessary. Rest assured, the researchers and logistics personnel will primarily stay in the rear. They won’t be a burden to your team.”

As the two spoke, they had already reached the entrance to the observation area.

Xu Xuefeng casually flipped through the documents in his hand. “But judging from the situation, we only arrived two or three days later, and it seems the comrades from the Research Department have already been assigned to teams. Are there any still available?”

The staff member continued smiling apologetically. “The higher-ups have made it clear that your special unit from the Investigation Department and the leading detachment of the Defense Force are the core forces in this operation. As far as personnel arrangements go, anyone you choose will receive priority cooperation.”

The higher-ups, the higher-ups—damn it, all they ever do is blindly follow orders from above.

Xu Xuefeng let out a cold, mocking laugh in his heart. His gaze swept over the list in his hand one final time before he snapped it shut with a crisp sound.

He shifted his eyes toward the people in the observation area, his tone rising slightly. “Well then, we’re officially entering the cave tomorrow. Is there any comrade from the Research Department willing to join the Ninth Squad on the front lines?”

Their earlier conversation had been completely unrestrained, and now Xu Xuefeng deliberately emphasized the words ‘front lines’ with particular weight. For a moment, no one made a sound.

Though Xu Xuefeng’s public image was not as crazed as Su Fengzhou’s, he was undoubtedly a ruthless and decisive figure. The moment his piercing gaze swept across the room, most who met it instinctively looked away.

His eyes continued to scan the room slowly, until they reached a corner, where he met a gaze that did not immediately avert itself.

Not only did that gaze not evade his own, but beneath its calm and indifferent exterior, it seemed utterly unconcerned.

Xu Xuefeng paused for a moment, then raised a hand and pointed, speaking to the staff member beside him. “Since no one’s volunteering, we’ll take him.”

The staff member responded, “Ah, yes—Researcher Ying, Ying Xize. You mean him?”

Xu Xuefeng replied, “Yes.”

“……” Ying Xize hadn’t expected the matter to fall onto his shoulders in the end, but he had no intention of complying without question. Before the staff member could respond, he took the initiative and calmly stated, “Apologies, I refuse.”

Being openly rejected in front of everyone was, to some extent, a loss of face.

However, since it had merely been a casual selection, Xu Xuefeng wasn’t bothered. He narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, “Why?”

Ying Xize’s expression remained composed. “I like the atmosphere in my current team.”

Excuses—if one truly wished to find them, they were never in short supply.

The captain of F33365, seated nearby: “?”

In his recollection, this cold and aloof researcher had spoken so few words since joining the team that they could be counted on one hand. Who would have expected him to possess such a strong sense of team spirit?

Xu Xuefeng clearly didn’t believe Ying Xize’s excuse either. Instead, he seemed to grow slightly intrigued by this pretty-faced man who could lie so brazenly. “Ninth Squad has always had the best atmosphere in the entire Investigation Department. And didn’t this comrade from the Outpost Division also mention that the higher-ups have already stated all personnel arrangements should prioritize our group’s choices? So if I say I want you today, what are you going to do about it?”

Ying Xize frowned lightly.

Before he could respond, a low voice sounded first. “If we’re speaking purely in terms of preference, Ninth Squad might not necessarily hold the highest priority.”

As that figure stepped in from outside, it felt as though the invisible battlefield beyond the walls had been brought directly into the room.

Everyone was instantly torn between the urge to spectate and the fear of getting dragged into trouble.

Xu Xuefeng turned his gaze to Su Fengzhou, his tone carrying a subtle implication. “You really can’t resist sticking your hand into everything.”

“Coincidentally, the researcher on our team requested a transfer to reunite with her boyfriend. I’m a reasonable man, and I don’t interfere in good relationships. So, it just happens we need a replacement.”

Su Fengzhou tugged the corner of his mouth into a half-smile, his tone and expression both openly confrontational. “I’ve interacted with Teacher Ying a few times, and my instincts tell me he’s truly the most suitable choice. My apologies, Captain Xu, but I’m afraid this one comes down to first-come, first-served.”

Ying Xize recalled that the Seventh Squad’s originally assigned researcher had been Yu Qingyi. When he turned to look, he saw his colleague mouthing two silent words from afar. “It’s true.”

He rubbed his temples lightly.

His instincts told him that there was probably no avoiding the matter today.

However, there was one point Xu Xuefeng hadn’t been wrong about—following a top team like theirs offered the distinct advantage of accessing the front lines.

During the recent descents into the cave, he had conducted a brief exploration of the peripheral zones, but had gained nothing of significance. From a certain standpoint, it did seem he needed an opportunity to delve deeper.

Ying Xize made his decision in just a brief moment.

As if entirely unaffected by the tense atmosphere around him, he calmly interrupted the standoff between the two. “Captain Su has indeed wanted me for quite some time. Since he’s made the request directly, it would be impolite to refuse.”

Xu Xuefeng, who had obviously been hoping to enjoy the satisfaction of snatching someone from Su Fengzhou, frowned upon hearing that. “Didn’t you just say you really liked the atmosphere of your original team?”

“Yes, I do like the atmosphere in my team,” Ying Xize replied with polite composure. “However, based on our previous interactions, I also find that I rather like Captain Su as a person.”

Xu Xuefeng: “…Someone actually likes the way Su Fengzhou carries himself? That’s honestly surprising.”

Ying Xize offered a faint smile. “Thank you for understanding.”

From the moment Ying Xize stated his stance, the grim expression on Su Fengzhou’s face subtly stiffened, as if he had been momentarily caught off guard.

After the observation period ended, Ying Xize removed the detection device and handed it to the staff.

As he passed by on his way out, he lightly tapped Su Fengzhou on the shoulder. “Captain Su, see you at the mission tomorrow.”

Su Fengzhou: “…Ah, alright.”

It wasn’t until quite some time after the person had left that Su Fengzhou finally seemed to regain his senses.

Ignoring Xu Xuefeng’s probing gaze, he turned directly to the nearby Outpost Division staff member. With a casual pat on the shoulder, he said, “Ahem, anyway, that’s the situation, make sure to upload the updated team assignments.”

—

Ying Xize’s thoughts were relatively straightforward. Everything ultimately revolved around retrieving the target sample.

That very night, he received a text message notifying him of the updated team assignment.

After organizing all the necessary equipment for the official operation, he carefully placed the dagger into his pocket.

As night fell, the lights in the residential quarters of the Outpost Division gradually extinguished one after another.

Once sufficient rest had been taken to ensure everyone was in optimal condition, by the evening of the following day, the whole squad had formally assembled.

The steady movement of personnel making last-minute arrangements heightened the sense of urgency, adding another layer of tension to the already bustling scene.

Clad in his designated protective suit, Ying Xize made his way through the dense convoy and located the spatial vehicle positioned at the rear of Group Seven’s formation.

Under normal circumstances, combat units would be arranged at the very front and along the flanks of the formation, with support personnel in the middle, and research and logistics staff bringing up the rear.

However, now that he had been reassigned to Su Fengzhou’s Seventh Squad, the vehicle Ying Xize boarded was already positioned about as close to the front lines as any non-combatant could reach—far ahead of the usual outer teams.

When Ying Xize opened the vehicle door, he saw a young man in his early twenties with malt-colored skin seated in the driver’s seat.

The other paused for a brief moment, then greeted him warmly. “Hello, Researcher Ying. I’m Zhuo Yu, responsible for logistics in the Seventh Squad.”

“Hello.”

After getting into the vehicle, Ying Xize noticed a well-equipped sniper rifle resting on the front passenger seat.

Through the rearview mirror, Zhuo Yu caught his gaze. “Ah, that’s mine too… You see, the Seventh Squad is different from the usual teams. Even though I’m in logistics, I still have to monitor the situation from the rear. If someone happens to get infected, I might have to… ahem, well, I’m sure you understand?”

Ying Xize nodded. “Clear the field.”

Perhaps it was his unnervingly calm demeanor that prompted Zhuo Yu to glance at him a few more times.

At that moment, the recently closed car door was suddenly pulled open from the outside.

When he saw who was leaning in, Zhuo Yu immediately straightened his posture. “Boss!”

Su Fengzhou responded with a simple acknowledgment, then turned his gaze to Ying Xize. After a brief exchange of eye contact, he asked, “Are you ready?”

Ying Xize replied, “Yes.”

Su Fengzhou had taken a brief moment amidst the chaos to come and check in. After quietly watching Ying Xize for a while and sensing the calm in his expression, he finally spoke again. “Vehicles within a fifty-meter range can still maintain basic communication. During the operation, I can’t guarantee I’ll remain conscious. If any unexpected situation arises and I’m unable to respond… have Zhuo Yu contact Rong Yun.”

Ying Xize noticed a faint, abnormal redness at the corner of Su Fengzhou’s eyes, which looked like a silent effort to restrain something.

He paused. “…Alright.”

Su Fengzhou parted his lips, as if wanting to say more, but in the end said, “Alright, let’s move out. Into the cave.”

The car door closed once again.

Through the window, Ying Xize could see Su Fengzhou boarding the lead combat command vehicle in the distance.

As the foremost vehicles gradually started moving, the entire convoy began to follow in turn.

One by one, the vehicles merged into the dim environment of the cave.

The moment they crossed the threshold, moonlight and all exterior lighting were severed entirely. The convoy’s collective activation of high beams became the most spectacular source of illumination in the darkness.

Wangchuan was never particularly deep. When the vehicles passed through, the water rose to about halfway up their bodies.

Once the sound of water outside had quieted, the shaking within the vehicle gradually subsided as well.

The grotesque and eerie forms of the surrounding vegetation began to come into view.

Any aliens that had tried to approach the outer perimeter had long been eliminated, but this desolate, deathly zone was clearly not the true objective of their mission.

Whether the development of the new series of weapons could proceed smoothly depended entirely on whether this mission succeeded in retrieving the required specific samples. With so many elite personnel gathered and such a vast array of equipment deployed, their sole destination was Chen Mountain Cave [411, 9968].

Beneath the firm resolve in each person’s expression, there remained a lingering trace of unease.

No one knew whether they would return alive.