"The Finish" 026. (The Kimia Family Arc) Beast Strategist

Jingdong City, a dark basement somewhere.
"How is the progress going?"
The speaker was a middle-aged man dressed entirely in black, with short, spike-like dark brown hair. His skin was somewhat tanned, and his strong arms were muscles intertwined like coiling dragons, with a latent explosive power.
At this moment, he was sitting upright at the table, speaking in a deep voice to a scout who was crouched before him.
"Report, Captain. The progress is going very smoothly. The three squads have successfully infiltrated the inner area of the Sun-worshipping Forest. It is expected that within three days, they will reach the Tianxing Mountains."
The scout was about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, male, short and thin, with dark skin. But a faint, sharp brilliance shot from his eyes, like an ice-cold blade that could strike lethally!
"The march to the mountains must be accelerated as much as possible. The earlier we reach the Tianxing Mountains, the fewer risks we face! The people of the Sun-worshipping Archipelago are not fools; for now, they are only suspicious. But I believe that within a few days, they will surely figure something out. When that time comes, our situation will be unfavorable. Over the years, the Sun-worshipping Archipelago has become increasingly restless, and it's not without reason that they possess strength. Although they are currently in a state of restraint, they still have limits. Once they detect even a hint of our actions, it could very well trigger an early conflict."
The captain, of course, was the middle-aged man sitting at the table. To the casual observer, he looked simply like a mass of explosive muscle and bulk. However, when he analyzed matters, it gave others a sense of precision, even infallibility!
Indeed, very often, human beings cannot be judged by appearances alone.
The black-clad scout had clearly not been in this team for long. Listening to the captain's profound analysis, the corners of his mouth twitched, and his gaze revealed a deep sense of admiration.
The captain of the 23rd Battalion of the Iron Blood Legion, Lei Zhentian, truly deserved the title of 'Beast Strategist,' a renowned name within the Iron Blood Legion!
Of course, to squeeze into the Iron Blood ranks at the age of just over twenty in the midst of fierce competition, the black-clad scout was clearly no ordinary person either.Although he admired the captain's quick wit, it only lasted for a few seconds, almost just a moment. The black-clad scout immediately returned to his usual stern and icy expression and responded:

"Everyone is fully aware of the importance and danger of this mission. The three squad leaders have already tried to speed up the march and have also sealed off all information to prevent leaks. I believe that the Sun Worship Archipelago will not notice this so quickly."

"Hmph! Seal off the information, do you really think my Lei Zhentian is blind and deaf? These past few days, news of the third-level fierce leopards roaming around the perimeter of the Sun-Guard Forest has already spread throughout the entire Jingdong City! If it weren't for the full assistance of the Shadow Division in smoothing things out, could we still be sitting here safely?"

"Captain, your criticism is well-founded. This was indeed the negligence of the squad. The three squad leaders have deeply reflected on the matter and have punished the responsible leopard soldiers according to military law…"

"The Iron-Blood Legion's primary requirement is rigor! Making such a basic mistake, how are the squad leaders even managing their teams? Military law must be enforced strictly!" Lei Zhentian slammed the table heavily, his words full of deep anger. After a pause, he calmed himself slightly and continued:

"At the same time, according to the information from the Shadow Division, the volcanic crater in the Tianxing Mountains is becoming increasingly unstable. Calculations indicate it will erupt completely in three days. This mission can be said to be life-threatening, so while speeding up the march, we must also closely monitor the condition of the troops. Especially on the third day, a strict rest must be enforced to fully prepare for the immediate action!"

"Yes, Captain, I will personally ensure the information is delivered on time! However, there are some matters I am unsure whether I should mention…"

"Speak!"

"Our Iron-Blood Legion's Twenty-Third Division has virtually no foundation in the Sun Worship Archipelago. Apart from some surface-level information that we can directly control, we are almost blind to many detailed pieces of information and must act entirely according to the Shadow Division's reports. Now, this so-called Shadow Division… can it really be trusted? Can we really entrust the operations of the entire Twenty-Third Division to a Shadow operative who won't even show their face to us? Moreover…"

"Enough!"Lei Zhentian interrupted the scout's words in a deep voice, pondered for a moment, and then said, "The Shadow Warrior Legion's status within the Empire is no less than ours, and even more mysterious than ours. Its status naturally comes from its unique management methods. So, although this Shadow Warrior, who has been lurking in Jingdong for years, has a somewhat peculiar style, since this is arranged by the Empire—whether out of trust in the Empire or in the Shadow Warrior Legion—we have reason to believe this Shadow Warrior is trustworthy." "Yes!" "By the way, how's the investigation into Qingyan from the Mu Gong family going?" "Reporting to the brigade leader, the investigation is basically complete. Here are all the results of the investigation related to Qingyan. The brigade leader truly predicted things perfectly. This young man is indeed a bit strange." As he spoke, the scout pulled out a thin small notebook from his pocket, leaned forward, and placed it on the table.
......
By now, it was already dusk. The smoke from the kitchens of a hundred households rose in the wind, brushing to the nose, always evoking a warm and comfortable feeling that made one feel inspired, inspiring an incomparable sense of comfort and ease. "The Red Dragon Guide, originally from Liujin Island in the southern part of the Huaxia Empire, can stimulate the body's combat nerves for a short time, greatly enhancing combat power. Because of its powerful effects, the Huaxia Empire officially classified the Red Dragon Guide's army decades ago, even classifying its medicinal guide, 'Tianxin Powder,' as a military secret. Its formula is completely controlled by the Huaxia Empire's military and has never been circulated among the common people." "
By the windowsill, Qingyan rested his chin on his hand, flipping through an old yellow medical book, and with a hint of meaning, softly read a short passage from it.