Chapter 95: Counterattack (4)

– “Clean up the battlefield, inventory equipment, and report casualties.”

Lin Mowei habitually issued orders as she usually did.

She froze immediately after speaking, and the command channel fell into a dead silence.

Two voices in one unit was a major taboo, even if the second voice was correct.

The soldiers looked at each other; some wanted to move, others hesitated.

Mu Qingqing’s voice rang out, “What are you waiting for? Execute the order!”

Lin Mowei turned to see Mu Qingqing walking toward her.

“Chief, it’s great that you’re here. Otherwise, I really don’t know how many casualties we would have suffered.”

“Who knew those Rift Beasts could use that kind of attack?”

Fear was still visible on her face.

Lin Mowei removed her helmet, her brow showing fatigue.

Recall could restore her physical state, but it could not recover spent mental energy or starlight power.

She patted Mu Qingqing on the shoulder.

“You did very well. I’m pleased.”

Mu Qingqing smiled at the praise.

Who wouldn’t be happy to receive praise from someone they admired?

“Thank you, Chief. Please come with me for the operational meeting.”

“We need to study this carefully. Something feels very wrong with the Rift Beasts we faced this time.”

She took Lin Mowei’s wrist and led her toward the rear.

Lin Mowei turned her head to look down at her subordinate.

“Qingqing, aren’t you afraid of being disciplined when we get back?”

Handing over command on the front lines without authorization was a serious matter.

Even with a victory, she wouldn’t escape accountability.

Mu Qingqing pursed her lips, her gaze remaining firm.

“It’s fine. If this is the price for doing the right thing, I accept it.”

Hearing this, Lin Mowei’s eyes wavered slightly.

“Qingqing, you’ve really grown a lot.”

“Remember the first time you went on a mission with me? Didn’t you vom—”

“Chief!”

Mu Qingqing stopped in her tracks and looked at Lin Mowei with flushing cheeks.

“Why… why would you bring that up!”

She glanced around and saw everyone was busy, which made her breathe a sigh of relief.

“Haha, it’s nothing. I just remembered it suddenly.”

Perhaps the change in status gave Mu Qingqing some confidence, as she questioned Lin Mowei.

“What about you, Chief? I don’t believe you didn’t have any reaction during your first mission.”

“I didn’t. I went to work as usual the next day. You can ask others if you don’t believe me,” Lin Mowei replied without changing her expression.

Of course, she would never admit she couldn’t sleep that night.

Her younger brother had stayed by her bedside until she finally drifted off.

The next morning, seeing her brother prepare breakfast and greet her with a smile, all her bad feelings vanished.

‘Xiao Yu is so sweet…’

Thinking of this, the corners of her mouth curled up.

Mu Qingqing looked at her suspiciously, especially at that final smile.

For some reason, she felt the Chief was being… a bit annoying.

“Alright, don’t worry. Teacher said she would settle everything,” Lin Mowei comforted her.

Mu Qingqing blinked. “Doctor Qin? If she said that, there won’t be any problems.”

A relieved smile appeared on her face.

Lin Mowei’s previous hesitation to come over was partly due to this consideration.

It wasn’t fair, but the price for the same outcome varied between people.

Mu Qingqing might be demoted for this.

As for Qin Wuyue, the Chief would likely only sigh and say it was not to happen again.

Then things would proceed as usual next time.

This was why many people showed expressions of terror at the mention of Qin Wuyue’s name.

Who wouldn’t fear an unordered person with unknown strength who existed outside the rules?

Lin Mowei changed out of her armor in the equipment vehicle and wore regular clothes over her restraint suit.

She then went to the temporary command tent with Mu Qingqing.

Inside were the heads of each squad. Xin Yao should have been there, but she was injured, so Wei Fan came instead.

Lin Mowei chose not to overshadow the host and sat beside Mu Qingqing as an assistant.

As the status reports came in one by one, everyone’s expression grew more somber.

“Thirty Ability Users sustained minor injuries, five are seriously injured.”

“For the regular soldiers, 103 have minor injuries, twenty are seriously injured, and… eight have died.”

Mu Qingqing’s eyes reddened as she looked at Lin Mowei.

Since she started following the Chief, there had only been minor injuries.

Serious injuries were rare, and there had never been deaths until now.

Lin Mowei didn’t look at her, her expression unchanging.

She reached under the table to hold Mu Qingqing’s hand, seemingly trying to comfort her.

Mu Qingqing felt moved and steadied herself. “Continue. What’s the equipment status?”

The logistics officer spoke up. “There’s basically no loss of equipment.”

“The Rift Beasts that broke through the line were all controlled by Mu Liuli of the Hunter Squad.”

“They were detonated at a safe distance.”

Mu Qingqing felt the hand holding hers tighten suddenly before letting go.

‘Hmm?’

She looked at Lin Mowei again with confusion but saw nothing on her face.

Oh, Mu Qingqing remembered everything—Mu Liuli, Lin Yu, and the rest.

‘Chief, please stay calm. Can’t you settle this after you go back?’

They discussed several plans afterward.

The Rift Beasts this time were clearly unusual, so they opted for a conservative attack.

“Fine, that’s the plan. The next attack is set for 12:00 PM. Everyone, go prepare.”

After the officers left, Mu Qingqing called out softly to Lin Mowei, who was still dazed.

“Chief, what’s wrong?”

“…Nothing.”

“Are you sure?”

She checked again, feeling uneasy.

Lin Mowei withdrew her hand and looked at her coldly.

“Qingqing, you’re talking too much. Ask again, and I’ll continue your training when we return.”

“…”

‘Revenge. This is definitely revenge! This woman is just embarrassed…’

—

11:50 AM.

The troops gathered outside the radiation zone again.

Observations showed the Black Tower’s base was severely damaged.

It was estimated that only two shells were needed to destroy it completely.

The Black Tower was a device used by Rift Beasts to terraform the environment.

For humans, it was a landmark. Destroying it meant an indisputable victory.

Time passed minute by minute, and the final preparations were nearing completion.

Mu Qingqing looked up at the dark sky. Suddenly, she felt something land on her face.

It was raining.

Intelligence had predicted this, but they couldn’t stop the attack for a little rain.

In the rain, everyone stood straight, staring firmly at the giant shadow in the distance.

“It’s time,” Lin Mowei nodded to her.

Mu Qingqing pressed the communication button. “FIRE!”

After the positron cannon charged, it fired once more.

The pale blue stream of light evaporated the rain.

The shockwave from the air impact pushed the rain aside, creating a moving tunnel in the sky.

Every eye followed that point of light as it crossed hundreds of meters in an instant.

BOOM!!!

The sound echoed back shortly after.

The soldiers waited for the swarm of beasts to lunge at them, but they found nothing.

No, it wasn’t that there was nothing.

“What is that?”

Following the exclamation from the front line, Mu Qingqing and Lin Mowei looked at the display screen.

After the smoke cleared from the rain, a figure slowly walked toward them.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

The figure was humanoid.