Wang Jixuan watched the unmanned drone surveillance footage Mu Dan was displaying, fixating on the figure that was step by step approaching the camp, his thoughts drifting.
The Blade Beast had indeed come for negotiations.
The identity of Black Storm clearly could no longer be used.
Last time he blocked the hole at the bottom of Fortress 76 and killed an unripe General Level Blade Beast inside the Young King Worm Nest, that incident must have also been exposed.
"Mu Dan, go and wait outside the camp, tell it to wait a moment, I still have some matters to attend to here," he said.
"Uh, Commander," Mu Dan was somewhat astonished, "this is on record—the Blade Beasts are actively seeking communication with humans for the first time!"
"Negotiations also require a first-come, first-served basis."
"Go on, don’t let it come near the military camp, your combat strength should be enough to exterminate it directly, it’s just a Mimic Blade Beast."
Mu Dan answered quite solemnly:
"For such a moment of historical significance to civilization, Mu Dan will certainly take it seriously!"
She performed a military salute with due formality and turned to rush out of the medical tent.
"Lao Zheng! Keep watch at the door, don’t let anyone get close!"
Wang Jixuan glanced a few times at the projection screen, shook his head, bowed down to gaze at the A-grade Spiritual Ability User lying unconscious, pressed his palms together, recited Buddhist scriptures, and a halo of Buddhist light appeared behind his head.
Reciting scriptures is not an act of kind-heartedness;
Only wish to enlighten the heartless.
Another victim of Mahayana Buddhism was born today!
"A Mimic Blade Beast? Came to the edge of Fortress 82 on its own? Says it wants to have a talk with Black Storm?"
Zhou Zhengde couldn’t believe his ears when he got the news.
He grabbed the communicator and dashed to the door of the ’cell’, shouting outside, "I want to see my grandpa!"
The guard outside hesitated a moment, then promptly said, "Of course, Captain Zhou, your vehicle is being prepared immediately!"
Ten minutes later, Zhou Zhengde barged into the heavily fortified D5 headquarters building, filled with numerous autonomous guard robots, and was taken underground by a high-ranking staff officer.
He was led to a secluded small conference room, where seven or eight old generals, whether standing or sitting, held their silence, staring at the large screen on the wall.
The image on the screen was somewhat eerie.
The Sari Desert at night was peaceful and serene, with each sand dune resembling a giant creature asleep, ready to devour the last vestiges of green at the edge of the desert.
Three large multi-rotor combat drones hovered in the night sky, concentrating light on a narrow ten-square-meter area.
There sat two figures.
Wearing a black maid’s outfit, complete with cat ear headband and white stockings, along with a pair of red-soled black high heels, the little maid Mu Dan was kneeling on a checkered picnic blanket, with a four-sided tray in front of her, still containing two cups of tea made from industrial tea essence.
In front of Mu Dan was a ragged, withered old man.
The old man’s eyes were covered with a layer of white crystalline film, no longer concealed, emanating a frightening aura, with the screen beside showing the structure inside the old man’s body.
Inside the old man was a High-level Mimic Blade Beast.
In front of the screen, Zhou Zhengde heard a gentle call.
"Has Zheng De arrived?"
An old man smiled and beckoned:
"Come over here, the main event hasn’t started yet."
"Ah," Zhou Zhengde edged forward cautiously.
Fu Jian, sitting in the main seat, turned to glance at him, merely nodding, and then he picked up the walkie-talkie to ask, "Has Black Storm not arrived yet?"
Lingtong’s voice rang out in the center of the screen, "The transformation surgery on the A-Grade Spiritual Ability User is not yet complete."
"Alright," said Fu Jian simply, "then let’s follow his pace, no need to rush him."
"Yes!" Lingtong crisply responded.
Zhou Zhengde was puzzled, "What A-grade Spiritual Ability User?"
A benign-looking old staff officer laughed and said, "Two Spiritual Ability Users have just come to Fortress 82 and surrendered themselves, their embedded self-destruct chips in their brains have already been effortlessly removed by Black Storm, and we are preparing to use these two as propaganda material."
"Surrender? A-grade? What a big gain!"
Zhou Zhengde pointed at the screen, muttering softly:
"Then what’s the deal with this monster?"
The old men gave a simple briefing:
"This is a High-level Mimic Blade Beast, likely a Preacher, who has taken over the body of a Scavenger Camp resident and walked hundreds of kilometers to get here, its body nearly collapsing."
"Since it was a single individual the target was too small, our radar failed to detect it in advance."
"However, when it was within three kilometers of approaching the fortress, it actively sent out a biological wave to the fortress’s surface camp, and many soldiers heard it say... Black Storm, let’s have a talk."
Zhou Zhengde’s expression was full of admiration:
"His charisma has even radiated to the Blade Beast Group!"
A group of old men turned to look over, and a few of the old-style Half-human Mechas showed a touch of puzzlement in their eyes.
True Black Shell muttered to Fu Jian, "Commander, are you sure there’s no problem with your grandson’s orientation?"
"He dares! I’ll break his legs!"
With a cold snort from Fu Jian, Zhou Zhengde’s legs nearly gave out, and he stood honestly to the side, watching the screen without daring to speak again.
The corner of the screen showed a split-screen, Wang Jixuan and Lingtong getting into an off-road vehicle, speeding towards the desert.
Wang Jixuan was still in the classic Black Storm outfit, a black combat suit, black tactical helmet, leaning back with his eyes closed, resting in the passenger seat.
Fu Jian picked up the walkie-talkie: "Lingtong, ask him how he wants to proceed."
The large screen immediately transmitted Lingtong’s voice.
"Commander asks how you would like to proceed?"
"I don’t know," Wang Jixuan simply said, "haven’t the Blade Beasts ever communicated with humans before?"
"They clearly have the ability," Wang Jixuan clicked his tongue, "perhaps they are too arrogant, thinking humans are not a strike worth considering."