Chapter 300: Orders Under Fire

East Sea Safe Zone, 113 kilometers out.

“Commander Chen, we’ve been idling here for nearly two weeks. What does Yenir want us to do?”

“The daily expenses are really mounting…”

Sitting in the armored vehicle, Wang Tian let out a helpless sigh, wincing as he glanced at the four Third-Stage fighters not far off.

Ever since Yenir ordered them to ‘station’ near the East Sea, he has led the team personally, waiting day after day.

Not only did he mobilize half the Merchant Guild’s forces, he also hired a group of Third-Stage fighters at exorbitant prices.

Every day’s spending nearly drained his entire fortune.

Remember, this isn’t a mere caravan—it’s a force of over a thousand men!

Moreover, inside the East Sea Safe Zone, he deployed numerous staff under the guise of setting up branch offices.

“Who knows…”

“But since he needs us, we do what he asks.”

“I’m just afraid…”

He exhaled softly.

Standing beside the armored vehicle with his hands behind his back, Chen Kailai looked on helplessly at the forces he and Xiao Hai had brought.

Twelve thousand Second-Stage fighters, thirty thousand First-Stage troops, plus assorted personnel, totaling seventy-three thousand four hundred men…

Thirty-two attack helicopters and three fighter jets…

True to his promise to Yenir, he risked everything to transfer these forces from the North China Battle Zone.

Outwardly, it was just a military drill and joint exercise.

Although the high-level troops were few, they could easily flatten several medium-sized safe zones.

Yet the daily costs were similarly draining his reserves.

Especially since no one knew what Yenir was really planning.

With worry etched on his face, Wang Tian hesitated, torn between duty and concern:

“Commander Chen, we can’t keep waiting forever…”

“Have you noticed? Lately our men have run into several mutants. Even though we’re not far from the Safe Zone, lingering out here might bring big trouble.”

“And the surrounding safe zones and the Military have started questioning us—wondering why we’re keeping so many troops out here…”

“Shouldn’t we ask Yenir what exactly he’s planning?”

Unauthorized troop movements are a grave matter. Even though Chen Kailai is the Military’s Deputy Commander, keeping troops out without solid reasons naturally catches the Military’s eye.

Listening to Wang Tian’s concerns, Chen Kailai sighed inwardly.

“Ask? And how would you even ask?”

“I suggest you pray he doesn’t do anything rash! I’m afraid he might trigger a disaster…”

Recalling Yenir’s tone when he contacted them, Chen Kailai’s skin prickled.

That tone—no matter how you listened—seemed off. Yet, he couldn’t fathom what Yenir might be up to.

Without further thought, Chen Kailai squinted at the setting sun and spoke calmly:

“Enough, there’s no point in complaining.”

“Yenir needs us, so we do as he says. Have you heard? Apparently, he’s accomplished something great this time!”

“A friend in the Capital hinted mysteriously that the guy might have stirred up something earth-shattering again!”

At these words, Chen Kailai couldn’t help but smile, feeling sure his investment was paying off.

As one of Yenir’s earliest collaborators, the better he performed, the more they’d all benefit!

Yet every new report of Yenir’s exploits made him think of his granddaughter.

He was getting old, and his resolve was weakening.

If only he could be even closer to family… that would be wonderful.

Lost in thought, he glanced at Chen Yao, the granddaughter brought along by Xiao Hai. Before he could speak, a long-dormant private message suddenly broke his reverie.

“Hmm?”

The message was from… Yenir!?

He quickly opened it.

At that moment, all three received their messages simultaneously and stared at their private inboxes.

“Yenir is contacting us?”

In the next second, before Wang Tian could think further, after reading Yenir’s message, all three faces drained of color.

The message contained only a single, brief sentence.

“Immediately deploy troops into the East Sea! I need to take control of the East Sea and evacuate the survivors within one hour!”

“!!!??”

Like a bolt from the blue, Chen Kailai stared at the message in stunned silence, unable to speak. Meanwhile, Xiao Hai and the others widened their eyes in terror.

Deploying troops into the East Sea to seize control? And then evacuate them!?

They had thought perhaps Yenir disliked some Private Faction and wanted to wipe them out. They never imagined his troop mobilization was for such an act!

Don’t be deceived by the simplicity of the command—it hardly sounds significant.

Yet, as high-ranking Military officers, both Chen Kailai and Xiao Hai knew exactly what this entailed!

Troop movements require Military approval! Unauthorized deployments are a severe offense! And forcibly taking over another Military Region is nearly treason!

No superior would allow his commanders to bypass orders and directly attack another Military Region!

If just pretending it was an exercise was risky enough…

then what Yenir was asking was almost like inciting a mutiny!

Under this overwhelming pressure, Chen Kailai’s lips trembled as he hurriedly replied:

“Yenir!!”

“Please, don’t do something stupid!!”

“What exactly is happening?! Why are we taking over the East Sea and evacuating survivors?!”

“This isn’t a matter to be taken lightly!”

“Did the Military Department order this?!”

He pleaded desperately.

Now nearly 70 years old, Chen Kailai felt his spirit nearly shattered, anxiety edging him toward madness.

Yenir’s sudden cold command sent chills down anyone’s spine!

Deploying troops into the city is one of the gravest taboos! He never wanted his lifelong reputation ruined, ending up accused of treason—especially post-apocalypse, when troop movements require multiple approvals!

“No orders came from the Military. This was entirely my decision.”

“The East Sea is about to face a Level A disaster. I need you to help evacuate the survivors!”

“Help me this once!”

“The lives of a million survivors in the East Sea rest on all of us!”

“..”

Above the Safe Zone, Yenir explained in a flat tone, sparing no unnecessary words.

He knew precisely what consequences his actions would bring.

If Chen Kailai and the others chose to trust him, well and good; if not, he wouldn’t hold a grudge.

At this point, he had no room to back down.

He swiftly eliminated Fang Teng and imprisoned the remaining committee members.

As long as this message remained hidden, he could use Fang Teng’s orders to forcefully command the East Sea troops! With the cooperation of Chen Kailai and the others, he’d control the entire Safe Zone and evacuate all survivors at any cost!

If the four-hour evacuation window could be stretched to over seven hours, he was sure he could save everyone!

At that thought, a determined glint flashed in Yenir’s eyes as he stopped checking Chen Kailai’s messages.

He slowly turned and looked at Liang Lie, who had remained silent by his side.

“Uncle Liang.”

“Can I kill anyone I want?”

Liang Lie slowly lifted his eyelids, as inert as wood, and stared silently at the Youth. After a rare moment of hesitation, he nodded slowly.

“Everyone here…”

“is fair game.”

Behind him, the squad members listened to the exchange between Yenir and Liang Lie, their eyes widening in terror.

In that instant, they seemed to grasp exactly what Yenir intended.

“………….”

“Boom!!”

Inside the Donghai Military Region command room, as a light curtain fell, Fang Teng, who had been sipping tea, stared in astonishment as Yenir suddenly appeared before him.

Noticing Fang Teng by his side, Yenir instinctively tensed up.

Strangely, even though they were inside the Military Region, he felt an overwhelming sense of unease.

“Yenir!? What do you want now!?”

“What, aren’t you ready to give up…”

Before Fang Teng could launch an angry retort at the Youth, Yenir, shielded behind a silenced barrier, chuckled softly and said:

“I’m not doing anything.”

“Just borrowing you for a bit!”

“Boom!!”

In an instant, fists and blades erupted in a furious flurry.

Three seconds later, staring at the corpse split open on the ground, Yenir shook his head silently and strode briskly toward the control room.

The stench of blood was overpowering.

At this point, he knew there was nothing left but to act.

Behind him, Liang Lie slowly wiped the blood from his hands and, with a rare rasp in his voice, warned:

“You’re going to have trouble.”

Without looking back.

Gazing at the system prompt on the panel, now delayed to seven hours, Yenir murmured calmly:

“Trouble?”

“No…”

“Great achievements never shy away from risk…”

“I’ve chosen the second path!”

“……”

Three hours and forty-three minutes later, the Capital erupted in fury.