Chapter 656: Shadows of Rebellion

“Hmm? You’re back!?”

“Zhao Teng, didn’t you guys catch anyone!? I saw some Third-Stage mid-level fighters coming over as support.”

Almost as soon as Yenir had the Otherworldly Ghost under control and rejoined the team, the Rebel squad responsible for keeping order surged forward.

Facing their own comrades, they showed no trace of caution.

Yet, seeing Zhao Teng under Yenir’s control—looking utterly dazed—they couldn’t help but exchange puzzled glances.

Catching a Second-Stage fighter, why does he look like he’s about to drop dead?

“Oh, no. We didn’t catch anyone.”

“We just got chewed out by that high-ranking officer. You know we didn’t nab anyone—he’s definitely pissed.”

“Isn’t that why we got docked half a month’s Credit Points? His mood is through the roof…”

Under Yenir’s control, Zhao Teng answered blankly. His expression still radiated unease, and the others couldn’t help but nod in understanding.

“No wonder—you look awful.”

“Now that things are about to go off the rails, you’ve been ‘noted’ by the higher-ups. Not only will they dock your points, but I bet…”

From the gathering squad, a somewhat flippant soldier patted Zhao Teng’s shoulder sympathetically, mistaking his worry for concern over what might come next.

Before he could add anything, a slightly higher-ranked Awakener glared coldly.

“Keep your mouth shut!”

“The higher-ups have already issued a death order. Aren’t you afraid someone might report you for leaking military intel with what you just said!?”

Faced with the middle-aged man’s scolding, the Youth curled his lip but dared not reply further.

“In a situation like this, who doesn’t know we’re about to fight…”

“It’s only a matter of days. Soon enough, everything will be declared…”

“Shut up!”

Listening intently to every word, Yenir’s eyes flickered as he caught hints in their conversation.

(Just as expected—the Rebels have no intention of waiting around for death. They’re done pretending.)

(Declare war? So they’re not planning a full break with the Capital…)

A bitter laugh escaped Yenir. He was now even more convinced that the Rebels held a secret trump card.

And it was most likely just as he suspected: Lu Haishan’s first-wave Rebel group was nothing more than a set of sacrificial pawns!

If that worked, they’d simply replace the Prime Minister and his crew with a scapegoat.

If not, then it wouldn’t matter even if Lu Tianming and his men perished!

Yenir even suspected that Lu Haishan’s faction still maintained ties with the Capital—after all, Lu Tianming himself sits on the Committee. This implies that Lu Haishan’s group isn’t made up of true allies of the Mother at all; they’re peripheral Rebels who want influence in the Capital but refuse to remain completely hidden!

(Maybe Lu Haishan was taken out too soon…)

(No wonder Lu Haishan holds such animosity toward me, and why the Rebels are so impulsive. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Mother behind the scenes is fanning the flames, eager to see me clash with Lu Haishan.)

Yenir sighed inwardly. As more clues surfaced, he began to grasp the truth behind many of these issues.

It certainly isn’t as simple as it seems…

Yet, if given another choice, he wouldn’t yield an inch.

On the bright side, he at least forced Yuanlong—the suspected entity—to show himself. Without that, Yenir might have remained clueless, single-mindedly focused on conquering the Huaxia Battle Zone.

Then the Mother would continue to lie low, gathering strength, only to strike him with a catastrophe at the crucial moment.

Honestly, Yenir found the whole situation utterly unsolvable!

Enemies within are the most terrifying of all!

Even the Sea Beast disaster from his past might have been only part of the story! Yuanlong probably only used a fraction of his power—just enough to devastate the Huaxia Battle Zone!

In fact, back then, Yuanlong might not even have seen him as a threat, allowing him to grow unchecked!

“That Captain from the Fire Wolf Squad also helped me earlier.”

“Look, they said they’ve got a truckload of supplies waiting outside. It’s too inconvenient to move with the main force. Aren’t we headed for Base Two? How about I take them along?”

Without a second thought, Yenir manipulated Zhao Teng to pretend he wanted to leave the team.

Heading to Base Two was a must, but joining the main force was something Yenir would never agree to.

The crowd not only risked exposure, but he couldn’t possibly control higher-ranking Rebels one by one in plain sight.

Just managing Zhao Teng and the others almost went sideways.

“Helped? Fire Wolf Squad?”

“I’ve heard of them. But kid, you’re clearly up to something more than just lending a hand.”

“I reckon you’ve got ulterior motives!”

The Squad Captain sneered coldly, his gaze appraising Zhao Teng.

As his words died away, everyone behind Yenir was startled, thinking his suggestion was too obvious and abrupt!

Before they could ready for battle, the Squad Captain’s cold demeanor melted into a cryptic pat on Zhao Teng’s shoulder.

“I get what you mean. But there’s just too much stuff—you can’t bring it all in.”

“Besides, you know what happens once it’s inside…”

“Heh, kid… you really are ruthless.”

After the Squad Captain’s ambiguous remarks, Yenir suddenly grew wary.

It wasn’t so much the Captain’s attitude as the underlying implication that caught his ear.

The talk of not being able to bring everything in was just a way to offload some benefits so that Zhao Teng couldn’t hog everything for himself.

But that final remark…

(Ruthless? Doesn’t that mean Zhao Teng dragging us in is actually a bad thing—a case of biting the hand that feeds?)

(Looks like once we get to Base Two, we might not get out alive?)

Even while aware of the issues, they had no choice but to go.

Maintaining a calm facade, Yenir controlled Zhao Teng into a hasty agreement, then turned his eyes toward the distant main force.

He had gathered plenty of information by now.

1: The Rebels have decided to initiate hostilities; 2: There are stronger fighters and even unknown monsters lurking within their ranks; 3: It appears they intend to draft all the Awakener from the Tianjin Battle Zone into this fight.

It’s unclear whether they plan to send the living or the dead into battle.

Though, according to the Squad Captain, their fate might be no different from those previously sent into the base.

Yet Yenir couldn’t shake the feeling that things were far more complicated.

The logic was simple: for the past ten years, the Rebels have been smuggling people covertly, never daring to send too many at once.

This time, not only are the numbers overwhelming, but they’re all local Awakener!

If this were to leak—no, there wouldn’t even need to be an expose; with so many deaths in the Tianjin Battle Zone, the Rebels would become public enemies throughout the Huaxia Battle Zone!

Who isn’t scared?! Who would dare work for them?!

The higher-ups might be monsters, but the soldiers below are only human—they have families and loved ones!

(We must figure out a way to control another batch of high-ranking personnel! Preferably the one Nie Fei mentioned—she once saw that silver-haired youth!)

————

Beihai Coastal Defense Line.

The regular patrol team from Beihai, much like reconnaissance planes, habitually circled the coast.

Gazing out over the glassy ocean, their idle chatter was largely drowned out by thoughts of the earlier announcement.

But just as they flew over a patch of sea, a massive, island-sized shadow suddenly streaked beneath the calm waters, unnoticed by the group!