Chapter 341: The Tipping Point
by xennovel“Prepare for takeoff! Activate wingman support!”
“Be careful—when cornered, they might hijack a fighter jet and make a run for it!”
“If anything goes wrong, shoot down the fighter jet carrying Yenir immediately!”
On the ground, fighter jets taking off one after another shrieked as they, under the guidance of the ground command post, sped toward the white fighter jet about to breach the airspace.
Almost as if he were speaking directly to the Special Operations Group squad, Chen Feng barked successive orders, clearly anticipating Yenir and his crew trying to seize an aircraft to escape.
“Chen Feng! You’ve gone too far!”
“Our Special Operations Group wouldn’t dare flee from accountability! And besides, our men did nothing wrong!”
In a style reminiscent of Zhao Hongtu, Captain Li Hai—a recently dispatched leader of the Special Operations Group—glowered at the troops encircling the airport.
His facial muscles twitched in tension.
Anger and frustration filled him.
His men, who should have been celebrated as heroes upon returning to the Capital, were now on the brink of becoming prisoners!
“Oh? Captain Li, watch your tone.”
“Too far? I’m merely following orders.”
“Besides, aren’t you aware of what your men have done?”
“Tsk, just check the Battle Zone channel—hundreds of survivors are accusing the East Sea of being bombed, left homeless. How many are demanding answers from the Military for destroying their homes?”
“And that’s just the awakened; the common people are seething with resentment!”
“Millions are now homeless—it breaks my heart just thinking about it!”
“Your Action Team, tailing Yenir, not only failed to stop him but even aided his misdeeds! With such egregious behavior, how can you possibly claim they’re innocent?”
“How can you face the nation, the Military, or the people?”
“How is it that the Action Team can act so recklessly and defy the East Sea?”
Unflinching, Chen Feng shot back with fierce reproach and sorrow, as if locking his gaze on Yenir and Ming Luo for crimes unforgivable in his eyes!
Before Li Hai could retort in a fit of anger, Chen Feng sneered coldly:
“Let me tell you! If you’re even allowed in the airport right now, it’s only because your superiors gave you face!”
“But if any of you dares to stop us from taking people, be ready to face charges!”
“If Yenir bombs the East Sea, then he becomes a criminal against Huaguo!”
“And as for your squad—prepare to be hung on the pillar of shame and sent off for mining! The Military sparing your lives is a tremendous favor!”
Constantly egging on Li Hai, Chen Feng was well aware that the Special Operations Group had rushed here with the intent to seize people. Using internal investigations as a pretext, they were desperate to save Ming Luo and the others.
But how on earth could he ever agree?
Ming Luo and the others being taken was one matter, but letting Yenir go was absolutely unacceptable.
If they didn’t apprehend that guy first and force him to confess something, it would be a wasted opportunity!
Indeed, the Military had vaguely stated that only Yenir would be detained until further details emerged.
Yet there was ample room for maneuver—a myriad of ways to coerce that guy into revealing the “truth”.
Especially since Fang Teng and the three committee members were still missing—there were serious suspicions that Yenir might have already targeted those four!
…..
A light, incessant drizzle fell.
With six fighter jets forming a protective circle around the returning plane, every member of the Special Operations Group on the ground grew increasingly tense.
From this moment on, everything hinged on these critical few minutes!
“Captain Li, get your team moving—now is not the time to quarrel with him!”
“Find a way to take Yenir away; Zhao Long’s team has already contacted us and is ready to cooperate…”
An older, composed team member quietly reassured Li Hai, signaling the Burly Man not to fall into the opponents’ trap.
Clearly, Lu Tianming’s men were continuously provoking them, just to get an excuse to lash out.
“I know…”
“I just can’t understand how the higher-ups could agree to detain someone!”
“Yenir bombing the city was meant to save lives! Sure, it was reckless, but without him evacuating survivors, the East Sea would have been doomed anyway!”
“At worst, it just evens things out!”
With a long, heavy sigh, the burly man felt overwhelmed by injustice.
Looking at the people he’d brought along, he was filled with helplessness.
Though the Special Operations Group boasted high status and strength, their numbers in the Capital were scant.
Most of their personnel had been assigned to various subplots and border areas.
As a result, the ones they managed to bring were barely a handful—hardly even a Third-Stage Advanced cultivator.
If a full-blown conflict erupted, he doubted they’d be able to evacuate anyone successfully.
“Captain Li, things are probably not as simple as we think.”
“I’ve heard whispers that the Authorities suddenly changed their stance—some rumor is behind it.”
“And one more thing: the crisis in the East Sea is nearing its end…”
With a bitter laugh and a weary shake of his head, the mature middle-aged man conceded that although Captain Li was formidable, his approach was far too simplistic.
“The units withdrawn from the Sea Area are now unreachable, but satellite images have pinpointed their withdrawal locations.”
“Those Sea Beasts have lost their targets and are now moving toward the East Sea.”
“Several major Battle Zone units are en route, and Commander Fang Hao is also on his way.”
“In at most twelve hours, all troops will have assembled; in no more than seventy-two hours, the East Sea Beast tide will be eliminated! And Commander Fang Hao has even brought the Demon-Hunting Team along—he was already near the East Sea, so he must be arriving soon!”
“Just think—while the Military sees the Sea Beast crisis as resolved, at this critical juncture, Yenir goes and bombs the East Sea…”
“That’s a major Safe Zone we’re talking about—such a loss is colossal…”
“Strictly speaking, this is even more severe than the casualties!”
Li Hai listened in silence, shaking his head in despair.
After a long pause, he muttered in a low, muffled tone:
“I don’t believe that Yenir would act without a reason, as they say.”
“After all, he’s taken down entire subplots before…”
No sooner had his words faded than a rapid series of beeps filled the air.
High above, a swarm of fighter jets was steadily descending.
Yenir has been brought back.
Meanwhile, the ever-impatient Chen Feng waved his hand broadly and commanded in a stern tone:
“All units, listen up! Surround and capture immediately!”