Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

"Now… can you tell me exactly what happened?"

Likok blinked, coming back to reality from his distant reverie.

The ancient warrior who had perished together with the electronic demon indicated that they knew what happened afterward. But this knowing clearly referred only to Bai E.

Bai E smiled and softly recounted everything he knew—

"… This was a trap set for 439 years. Our ancestors used their wisdom and determination to place the electronic demon in an unbreakable cage…"

"…"

A long silence.

Likok had never imagined that all the records he saw about the electronic demon and this base were actually an enormous puzzle set by the ancestors to deceive the electronic demon.

What was strange was…

"Why has such a plan become unknown to everyone today?"

Confronted with Bai E's question, Minister Likok shook his head, "Since it was a plan that could not be recorded, it naturally could be lost. Two hundred years ago, the last emperor of the empire passed away, and since then, the reigning kings have been unable to control the world. It is normal for many things to be lost in chaos. Our Blackwater City can still maintain the form of a whole city.

Many places don't even have a proper community, and there are refugees everywhere ..."

"…" Bai E nodded, feeling his understanding of the world had grown a bit more.

"Alright…" Likok caressed the silver-white central control console in front of him tenderly, as if it was his lover.

"Restarting the base is just the first step; we have a long road ahead of us."

After returning, he still needed to build a signal tower and then restart the entire technological manufacturing chain of smart weapons. It might take years before they could even begin to see the most basic results.

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For an ordinary life in this era, a few years might already be a golden age, but for the entire course of human history ... just a few years is but a flick of a finger.

Likok's gaze then shifted to some of the corridor entrances. After power was restored, the metal doors automatically lowered and, without sufficient authority or a specific key to physically open them, passage was utterly impossible.

Not only those that could be seen at the moment but also many outside passages, including the outermost doors, were the same.

Unless there was a planned attack by a large-scale organized combat force, merely some wandering individual threats or the natural environment definitely wouldn't affect the safety of the personnel stationed inside the building.

As long as there was enough food, the personnel stationed inside the structure could live quite comfortably.

"Commander Gregory." The electronic demon had dissipated, and the team's internal communication had long been restored. Likok pressed the microphone near his mouth and called softly, "Could you come up here, please?"

Meeting Gregory's inquiring gaze as he jogged up, Likok explained softly, "The internal facilities of the base have indeed restarted, but we do not have the time to station troops here."

Restarting the server mainframe was just the first step. There were also many corresponding tasks in the city that required him to go back and oversee.

"So I hope you can arrange for some warriors to stay and handle guard duties and maintenance work after the base restarts."

"Of course, no problem!" Gregory agreed at once, "What kind of warriors do you need?"

"That's up to you. I only need them to follow the orders of my assistant Miss Aryan regarding the handling of the base's related devices. As for defense work, they can negotiate amongst themselves; what abilities are needed is up to you to decide."

Miss Aryan's mission was not just to be the little helper on the way and to assist with repairing hardware. As Likok's most outstanding student, she bore the most important mission from the very beginning of their journey.

"Alright, I'll make the arrangements."

Turning away, Gregory opened the microphone on his own accord, "Blood God, tally the team's casualties… Oh yeah, aren't there still two warriors stationed outside? Have them come in; we'll rest here for the night and head back to camp early tomorrow morning!"

"Yes, sir!"

…

The fruits, vegetables, and pork raised by the bio-engineered soldiers to sustain life became the feast for the warriors tonight.

Bai E, who had always eaten tastelessly, almost swallowed his tongue when he tasted the desperately desired natural foods. Chronic scarcity of certain resources often leads to greater desires, and the fulfillment is even more delightful…

In the soft white light within the base, Gregory's face glowed with an excited flush, "This operation has yielded results far beyond what we could have imagined. I will accurately record everyone's performance during this battle and report it for military commendation.

Soldiers temporarily staying here need not be restless; once we return, I will immediately report and apply for a regular rotation and more military honor records for you all. You are the city's finest warriors, and I am proud of you!"

His gaze swept over all the soldiers before him, pausing slightly on a particular figure.

During this military operation, this soldier had twice acted independently of orders, which should have merited severe punishment; however, the end result proved to be an indelible contribution to the final victory, with merits outweighing faults...

An artificial humanoid, a new recruit with its own thoughts?

But what did that have to do with him? Now that the mission was perfectly complete, all he needed to do was return and report truthfully. How to deal with it was a matter for the higher-ups to consider, not his responsibility.

Rare indulgence in the evening, the base's topmost dome could be opened, and the photon-sensitive canopy perfectly displayed the glittering starry sky outside... if it existed.

It was hard to imagine how comfortable the lives of the workers stationed at this base must have been after a day's work, in the nights of the past centuries.

Bai E went alone to the heart of the mainframe room, in front of that flowery egg... This was where he first laid eyes on Doyle Kevin.

"He was great..."

As if she had come along with Bai E, Miss Aryan appeared behind him at some unknown moment, whispering gently.

When Bai E turned to look at her, the girl's face revealed a decidedly passionate and proactive smile, "You are too…"

Bai E's performance all this while could only be described as godlike, and the young, naïve girl displayed the passion and bravery hidden deep in her bones.

Explore more at empire

Tonight was the last encounter.

Afterwards would be estrangement.

Bai E had to return to the barracks, while Aryan was to stay stationed here.

Understanding the fervor in the girl's eyes, Bai E took a small step back, "I did it only for myself."

Even now, his purpose here was the same...

He had come to confirm his ultimate control over this base.

The flowery egg reflected his entire body, somewhat distorted like a hall of mirrors.

But within it, Bai E "saw" that he could grant anyone the authority to enter and exit or manipulate the devices at any time.

[Current highest authority of the relic site: Bai E.]

[Confer secondary ownership to: Aryan.]

Unknown rays scanned the girl's body, and Bai E offered her a gentle smile, "Goodnight, Miss Aryan. We will meet again."

A bare base wasn't much use; he had no intention of halting his steps here.

Without external facilities, the base was just a pure toy.

But once all the external facilities began to be built, the power to control their vital lifelines... would be in his hands.

...

They arrived with twenty-five, but left with thirteen.

Three soldiers had unfortunately perished in battle, and including Firepower Handlers A and B, six others were gravely injured. Even after receiving treatment from Bai E and other soldier-medics, they were unable to quickly regain combat ability.

Taking them along on the journey home would only be a burden, so it was better for them to remain at the base for proper recuperation while shouldering some defensive duties.

Along with Aryan herself and two currently healthy soldiers, twelve people in total stayed behind at the base.

The engines of two off-road vehicles roared to life; thirteen soldiers heading home made ready to depart.

Gregory's impassioned voice rose over the team's comm.

"Let's go! We're heading home!"