On the outskirts of Avant, a streamlined research ship is parked on the roof of a logistics building.

The terrain here is high, the view is wide, and you can directly see the "Tower of the World" several kilometers away, which is a good place to eat melons and watch the excitement.

As the ceiling of the melon-eating world, the explorers of the academy fell in love with this feng shui treasure at a glance, and immediately occupied it after advancing from the battlefield to the core city.

At this moment, next to the research ship, an explorer wearing an exoskeleton was standing behind a sampler with a tripod.

The multi-function camera on the sampler was aimed at the "Tower of the World" and connected to the nearby research ship through a python-thick data tube.

And around the busy explorer, there were five prospectors wearing exoskeletons who were on guard with loaded guns.

This is a war zone after all.

Even if the war is nearing its end, there is no guarantee that something unexpected will pop up.

They have to be careful of all potential threats.

Thankfully, there were no twists and turns during the time they collected the data.

After playing the last card, Tyr of the Southern Army was eliminated by the Alliance, along with the "anomalous lifeforms" that suddenly appeared on the "Tower of the World".

As the announcement of victory sounded, their data sampling entered its final phase.

Seeing that the work was coming to an end, one of the prospectors let go of his hand on the assault rifle and pulled out his binoculars to look in the direction of the "World Tower".

Looking at the dark red wreckage that had lost signs of life, he couldn't help but smack his tongue and muttered something in a low voice.

"It's really a twisted ......"

He was clearly not alone.

Several prospectors standing next to him also had indescribable looks on their faces, whispering in the communication channel.

"Is that 'Gaia'?"

"Ah...... Probably. ”

"Tut-tut......"

"How did the Southern Army come up with it? When did they even get their hands on such amazing technology? ”

"The devil knows...... But I'm more inclined to think that they don't even know what the technology is. ”

"Like a dead agent?"

"That virus, you say? Haha, count on that kind of pediatric stuff...... They might as well widen the caliber of their guns and make them 1000 mm. ”

"It's not pediatrics, that thing is actually a bit level, including this 'Gaia'...... We may be underestimating these madmen. ”

Unlike the vast majority of living things in nature that are atoms within the laws of nature, Gaia is the very existence of the laws of nature.

Unlike the "gestalt lifeforms" conceived by the academic circles of the Prosperous Era, the existence of "Gaia" is considered by the academic community to be "amorphous lifeforms".

Or, to be more accurate, "life forms that are completely determined by consciousness".

For example, the indescribable and aggressive tentacle monster is based on similar technical principles, and the spiritual world of Tyr is embodied in the form of carbon-based creatures.

It may sound incredible, but it's what happened on the planet Gaia.

That planet is the embodiment of "Him" spiritual world.

The Alliance's research institutes have made a series of conjectures about the origin of Gaia civilization from the perspective of social science, but they are basically only at the level of conjectures.

The Academy's research, on the other hand, is more technically focused, and identifies similar situations as "Gaia-like lifeforms".

The brood analogue that appears on the "Tower of the World" building is in fact a type of "Gaia-like lifeform...... It's just that this guy's power is too small, and he was crushed to death by the alliance without even swallowing a settlement.

However, although this thing was crushed to death, it still attracted the attention of the academy's higher-ups.

After all, even in the Academy, it is a fairly cutting-edge field of research, and there is no reason why it would appear in the wasteland......

Listening to the conversation of his teammates, Song Changfeng, who was standing behind the tripod, didn't say a word, just stared at the tablet meticulously, and reported the situation on the front line to his superiors waiting in the rear.

Currently active here is the Academy's "Beacon" team, and he is the leader of the Beacon team.

Unlike Task Force Alpha, Beacon Task Force is composed of prospectors or androids on the Academy's staff, primarily engaged in surveys rather than offensive or defensive activities.

By the way, their previous captain was Zheng Hao, and he was just a vice captain.

However, the guy has been promoted, and now he has been transferred to the Containment Planning Team of the Investigation Division.

In the words of the prospectors, it is "going ashore".

In general, compared to other life-threatening jobs, the "Beacon" team is a promising job.

Not only do they have the opportunity to show their faces in front of senior researchers, but they also have the opportunity to accumulate scientific research qualifications in the process of assignments, and have access to advanced intelligence that they would never have access to in their lifetime.

The academy is different from other places, and the more you know, the safer it is.

Of course, the premise is that it is known through the means permitted by the rules.

Every time he thought that he was about to turn 30, Song Changfeng couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency in his heart.

He wasn't interested in what Gaia wasn't gaia, he just knew he had to go from prospector to researcher before the age of 30.

There has always been an unwritten rule in the academy – or rather a rule.

That is, if a person is still an explorer after the age of 30, then this life basically ends here.

This has been the case for the past century and a half, with most researchers showing extraordinary talent at a very young age.

For example, Jiang Xuezhou, who used to be in the team with him, was an E-class researcher when he was a teenager.

It's not that he's jealous of those talented geniuses, and he doesn't think about how high he wants to climb to, he just wants to "go ashore" like the former captain Zheng Hao.

If you can become a researcher before the age of 30, you can still fight for it.

Even if you are only an E-class researcher, your status is much higher than that of an explorer......

"Suspected Gaia Lifeform has been dealt with by coalition forces......"

"Yes, some of the life activities outside the building have largely stopped...... It is unclear what method they used, but the subject's vital signs and multiple readings have been overwritten by new parameters......"

"Okay...... We'll pack up here and come back immediately. ”

Hanging up the communication, Song Changfeng took a deep breath and waved his hand at the teammates around him.

"The data collection is complete, and the work is over."

Although I couldn't guess what the superiors were thinking, judging from the tone on the other end of the communication channel, the superiors were still quite satisfied with their work.

Maybe......

Hope for promotion?

"Roger!"

Hearing the leader say call it a day, the young men finally let go of their hanging hearts, answered and walked to the open hatch of the scientific research ship.

Compared to the previous missions, this mission is easy and almost like a benefit.

I watched a war blockbuster on the boss's scientific research ship, took a few photos and charts and went home, and this kind of good thing is estimated not to happen once a year.

However, just as everyone was thinking so, the air as silent as water suddenly rippled.

"Hum—"

It was so fast that it was impossible to react, and an exoskeleton-clad prospector flew out as if he had been hit by a train.

The bulletproof lining turned into splinters in the sky and fell downstairs with the rag-like body.

Looking at the electromagnetic signal ripples that suddenly jumped on the radar, Song Changfeng, who was standing at the door of the cabin, suddenly became alarmed in his heart and shouted loudly.

"Sniper! It's an electromagnetic rifle! Three o'clock! ”

There was no need for him to remind them, and everyone had already reflexively acted, hiding on the other side of the research ship before the second mass bomb hit.

Without a pause, Song Changfeng immediately remotely activated the deflection shield of the scientific research ship.

Almost at the same time, a second mass bomb landed ten meters away from them, exposing the concrete roof and even the steel bars!

Thankfully, the bullet was deflected by the deflector belt.

If this hits people, the consequences are unimaginable!

Looking at the shocking breach, Song Changfeng, who was hiding at the door of the cabin, had a heartbeat.

Who the hell is it?!

Nope-

Now is not the time to think about this.

Looking at the crowd suppressed outside the research ship, he opened his voice and shouted loudly.

"Come on!"

Seeing that the deflector shield was opened, the four explorers outside the cabin immediately rushed into the door.

There were three more bangs in the distance, but they didn't affect everyone except for a splash of some concrete debris.

Seeing that all the team members had returned to the ship, Song Changfeng immediately closed the hatch.

The hatch slammed shut!

Looking at the closed hatch and the well-functioning shield energy gauge, his beating heart finally calmed down.

It's safe......

As the anti-gravity device activated, the plasma engine spewed plumes, and the research ship with a deflection shield rose into the sky.

Everyone sat down on the ground, uncovering their helmets, and their faces were full of horror.

"......"

"What happened just now?!"

"Little Wang, he ......"

"Damn it!"

Thinking of the young man who unfortunately died, Song Changfeng also felt a pain in his heart.

Although they didn't get along for a long time, the young man surnamed Wang still gave him a good impression, but he didn't expect the final ending to be so sloppy......

However, now is not the time to be sad, and as the captain, he has more important things to do......

With his index finger on his neck, Song Changfeng connected to the communication module of the scientific research ship and made a report in a serious tone.

“…… This is the Beacon Squad...... We were ambushed. ”

"We can't be sure how those guys found us. But they seem to ...... It's like knowing where we are. ”

The rustle of electricity flowing from the other end of the communication channel was as quiet as if it had broken down.

Song Changfeng's expression hesitated slightly, and he reconfirmed the icon with a good connection, and there was nothing abnormal.

What's the situation?

Just as he was stunned, a cold touch suddenly pierced his chest through his back.

He watched as a dagger came out of his chest, and the four familiar faces turned from stunned to panicked.

"Ahem—"

Song Changfeng wanted to say something, but he only coughed up a mouthful of blood, and then his eyes turned black like a fragment, and then he came back to his senses and fell on the blood-stained alloy floor.

A stranger in an exoskeleton stood in the center of the buffer cabin, his face obscured by a dark silver helmet and pitch-black eyepieces, blood dripping down the dagger to the floor.

As for his four teammates, they were all lying on the blood-stained floor, just like him.

Song Changfeng didn't know what method that guy used, he only knew that that guy wiped out the five of them in an instant.

Optical camouflage ......

No, it's not just optical camouflage!

He suddenly reacted to what the electromagnetic signal ripple that had been beating on the radar before.

The snipers who fired at them were not there to snipe them at all, but to cover their teammates who boarded the ship......

"You...... This guy ...... What the hell is it. ”

Song Changfeng tried to reach out and grab that person's leg.

As if hearing his voice, the man turned to face him.

Without the slightest warning, the tip of the blood-dripping knife and the tips of the toe towards him seemed to disappear from his vision in an instant.

When Song Changfeng suddenly noticed, a slight sound had swept over the back of his head.

"Poof—"

There is no pain.

Song Changfeng only felt that his gaze rolled forward, and then his consciousness completely fell into the abyss......

At the same time, somewhere in the wandering swamp tens of thousands of kilometers away, the containment planning team of the Investigation Division.

In an operational command room covering an area of 200 square meters, dozens of pairs of eyes stared directly at the six missing signals on the holographic screen, and they were silent.

The face of the man standing under the holographic screen was like water, and his uncertain face made it impossible to guess what he was thinking at the moment.

At this moment, a B-class researcher came to his side tremblingly and reported in a low voice.

"No signal ......"

The man's face grew gloomy.

In any case, the loss of a scientific research ship is a big deal, especially the loss of this scientific research ship.

The CTO will certainly be asking about it.

Even if he is the director of the Investigation Division, he is not so easy to fool.

After a long silence, the man finally sighed and closed his eyes.

“…… It seems that we can only ask our allies. ”

The Union loves to dismantle things.

The research ship is not an all-terrain research vehicle, it is a vehicle that can fly to the moon with one foot on the accelerator.

If it wasn't a last resort, he really didn't want to ask those blue gophers......

……

The joys and sorrows of people are not the same.

At this moment, the entire army of the alliance is still immersed in the joy of victory in the war, and does not know what has happened to their allies.

The entrance to a refugee shelter.

The smiling debtor big eyes are carrying a sack on his back, and he grabs the cute little girl and gives out candy.

In fact, he originally had two sacks.

However, on the way here, it was robbed by a few dogs, and now there is only one left.

Looking at the little Klees who were munching on chocolate with happy faces, he felt indescribable satisfaction in his heart, as if he was the melted chocolate.

Isn't that much more fun than feeding pigeons at Fries Harbor?!

"Oh - I'm afraid this guy won't change. Status, right? The [Hungry Forces] had an indescribable expression on his face.

[Bow to the hungry forces] standing next to her tugged at her hand.

"You it, that guy has big eyes."

"Oh, it's a big-eyed ......" [Hungry Force] nodded suddenly, with an expression of "That's fine", but quickly looked at his object with a suspicious expression, "Wait, why do you sound like you know him very well?" How often do you play together? ”

[Bow to the hungry forces] A cold sweat came out, and he hurriedly waved his hand to clarify.

"I, I...... How can this be very familiar, who doesn't know him on the forum? ”

Looking at the suspicious object, he pressed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her aside.

"Let's go, let's hurry up and hand in the task, leave this guy alone. Although he doesn't have any discipline, he still has a bottom line. ”

And that's exactly what happened.

Although they stared at this guy with suspicion, no one said anything because he didn't go further or make any other noticeable moves.

And for other people's thoughts, Big Eyes has long stopped caring.

Let's go with these dogs, anyway, his reputation is already a lot of fleas, and he doesn't have to worry about debts.

Compared to players with 10,000 hearts, he really prefers to stay with NPCs.

“…… Eat, you're welcome, you big-eyed uncle have many, many more here. ”

Looking at the faces that glittered with hope, the big eyes were almost eager to turn all the silver coins in their pockets into chocolate and scatter them for them.

A thin girl looked up at him, her eyes sparkling like little stars.

"Uncle Big-Eyed...... You...... Are you Santa Claus? ”

She didn't know what that word meant, but she had heard other Vault dwellers describe him that way.

Debt big eyes smiled and just wanted to say don't listen to other blue gophers nonsense, he has always entered from the front door in the bright light, and has never climbed the chimney.

However, at this moment, a witty voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Santa Claus? No, no, no, in our place it's generally called a licking dog. ”

The little girl was stunned, tilted her head and repeated silently.

“tian gou？”

Seeing that she was learning quite similarly, the construction site boy and the brick's eyes lit up, and he rewarded her with a lollipop with a smile.

"That's right, that's what I said!"

There was no time for the big eyes to react, and the little girl looked at him happily, imitating the "refuge slang" she had just learned.

"Uncle Big-Eyed is a licking dog!"

The glittering expression was too dazzling, and the harsh sound seemed to have a critical effect, poking at the indescribable pain in the big eyes' heart.

Pain!

It hurts so much!

"Hahaha!"

The construction boy and the brick laughed and screamed, and Big Eyes flew up in annoyance and kicked the former's ass.

"I'll Nima!"

Seeing that this guy was murderous, the construction site guy was also clever, and hurriedly ran to the side.

"! Brother Eye, I was wrong! I apologize! I'll knock you one! ”

"Death !! for the master"

The big eyes that threw down the chocolate chased after the construction guy, eager to knife the dog back to the spring.

The two of them ran around the camp twice without stopping, and the physical fitness of the intelligence department was still a little weaker after all.

Looking at the two of them who were making noise, the laughing roller washer shouted.

"Don't fight anymore!"

Looking at the commotion at the gate of the camp, the corners of Laplace's mouth couldn't help but curl up with a smile.

In other words, it seems that this kind of relaxed and comfortable day has not passed for a long time.

For a moment, he felt as if he had returned to the time when he had been in Dawning City for a long time.

At this time, the captain of the Death Corps walked in from outside the camp with edge paddling, and he could be regarded as holding down the two "conspicuous bags".

"It's a mission, and Command says there's a researcher dead in the north, uh, it looks like an explorer...... Anyway, it's someone from the academy, so much the same thing. ”

The construction site boy and the brick looked up in confusion.

"Someone from the Academy? Are any of them here? ”

The roller shampoo also looked confused and scratched the back of its head.

"I didn't see them when I was fighting, why did they come out again after the fight."

Edge paddling smiled.

"When have those guys been idle? In any case, it is a hidden danger that someone is making a small move on our turf, who will go with me to take a look? ”

The construction site elder and Big Eye raised their hands in unison.

The edge paddled and snapped his fingers.

"Okay, bring your gear and follow me." (End of chapter)