Part 2
After a few tones, it finally connected.
The other side said, “Hello, this is the National Defense University Emergency Rescue Team.”
Yu Shi breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed only their equipment had been cut off.
He briefly explained the encounter in Area B and said quickly, “The number of these androids is unknown. I suggest immediately suspending the exam and evacuating everyone.”
The operator was quiet for a moment, then said, “Received. I will ask the Chief for instructions immediately. Evacuation planes will be arranged within ten minutes.”
He paused and added, “Instructor Yu, there is media coverage for this exam. To avoid causing public opinion issues, please keep what you encountered confidential. Also, detecting that the communicator owner is Xu Bohan, please ask Assistant Xu to keep it strictly confidential as well. This matter is of grave importance.”
Yu Shi nodded. “I understand.”
Xu Bohan listened in a daze, immense panic showing in his eyes.
He asked urgently, “Androids and pheromone weapons? Weren’t these developed a hundred years ago after Olo failed to attack us? In the early days of the nation, the Sovereign established the Five Institutes to counter them. Who knew it would trigger social incidents later, leading to the destruction of these inhuman things? How could they appear here?”
He had been doing experiments with Yu Shi all along, so of course he knew the immense danger of these things. His body couldn’t stop trembling.
Yu Shi didn’t say much, just patted his shoulder.
The emergency team was very fast. Five minutes later, an all-channel broadcast announced: “Attention all students. Due to a sudden situation requiring equipment debugging, this Simulated Battlefield is suspended. All members are to gather at the open space of the Area C Fortress within half an hour to board planes and return immediately.”
The notification was repeated three times. Within twenty minutes, everyone rushed to Area C.
Everyone discussed animatedly, guessing what had happened.
Those in the know remained silent. The atmosphere outside the fortress was chaotic and oppressive.
Dark clouds covered the horizon. Night was about to fall. The tree canopy swallowed the sunlight completely. The rainforest was like a monster dormant in the deep darkness, ready to move.
Yu Shi searched around and asked, “Where is Xie Ren?”
Xu Ze said, “Brother Ren isn’t going back.”
“Why?” he asked in surprise.
“The emergency team conducted an infrared scan. The estimated number of androids exceeds three hundred. The quantity of pheromone weapons is unknown. To speed up extermination and prevent escape, they asked Brother Ren to stay as bait.”
Yu Shi frowned. Xu Ze added, “Instructor Yu, don’t worry. He doesn’t need to show his face; he just needs to stay inside the fortress. It’s very safe inside.”
“What about his injury?”
“That little injury is nothing. Medics have already treated it.” Xu Ze seemed accustomed to it, nodding to him before climbing the boarding ladder.
Plane after plane left the ground, flying into the distance.
Night soaked the jungle like ink. There was no moon tonight, nor stars. The sky was heavy and oppressive.
After nightfall, all members evacuated the rainforest.
The Area C fortress was a one-hundred-square-meter warehouse with copper walls and iron walls, impenetrable. Inside were various food and weapon reserves.
Xie Ren sat by the stove, roasting a rabbit.
Honey was drizzled over the crispy skin. The aroma of meat mixed with sweetness filled the air. Beside him was an open bottle of whiskey. It was just like every night he spent in the desert—ordinary and boring.
9527 held a tray and twisted its waist. “Master, detecting that your mood is too flat. 9527 thinks we should liven up the atmosphere. Do you want to see a Yangge dance performance?”
“Don’t want to. And stop monitoring me.” Xie Ren rolled his eyes. “Or I’ll throw you out to feed the zombies.”
The emergency team insisted on leaving this thing to keep him company. Like idiots.
9527 rolled its eyes. “Okay, Master. Querying finds that adult Alphas prefer stimulating dances. What do you think of a pole dance performance?”
“Get the hell out.” Just as Xie Ren finished speaking, he suddenly narrowed his eyes.
Rustling sounds came from the door. Someone was entering the password.
The main door was locked dead. There shouldn’t be any living people in the rainforest right now.
9527 hadn’t received a rejection command and started twisting its butt to dance on the pole.
Xie Ren had no time to mind it, vigilantly picking up his rifle. However, an unexpected voice sounded from outside the door.
“Xie Ren, it’s me.”
He froze instantly, looking at the main door in disbelief. Yu Shi pushed the door open and walked in.
“You…” Xie Ren looked at him as if seeing a ghost, like a frozen statue.
Yu Shi turned to lock the door, only then realizing he was watching an impromptu show.
Smiling yet not smiling, he said, “Sorry, I seem to have interrupted you.”
9527 cast a flirtatious wink, singing and dancing, “Pure robot dog so hot, tonight it comes to your home. Your home has its little lover, meeting to boom-cha-cha together.”
Xie Ren’s head buzzed. He scolded angrily, “9527, shut up! No, you didn’t interrupt… It’s not what you think. Why did you come here?”
“They said you were here alone. I wasn’t very at ease,” Yu Shi said truthfully.
After all, if a student got into trouble, both the instructor and counselor would be in big trouble.
Xie Ren stared at him blankly.
Not at ease. He said he wasn’t at ease…
Xie Ren had executed hundreds of missions, gone deep into enemy camps alone countless times. Let alone such a trivial thing as being bait—everyone was used to it. Xu Ze even sent him a movie, fearing he would be bored alone.
No one asked about his safety. Everyone was at ease about him because they knew his combat power was invincible.
But Yu Shi said he wasn’t at ease.
Xie Ren’s hand trembled, and the roasted rabbit nearly fell to the ground.
Yu Shi noticed the blood on his bandage. “They didn’t use the specialized healing agent on you?”
Xie Ren’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “I need to release pheromones to attract the androids over. I can’t use healing agents for now.”
Yu Shi’s face darkened, seeming to disapprove of this method.
9527 obsequiously pulled out a chair. “Beautiful Omega, please take a seat. 9527 is honored to serve you.”
Xie Ren rotated his dagger, sliced off the tenderest rabbit meat, and placed it on the tray.
It huffed and puffed, presenting it to Yu Shi. “Beautiful Omega, please enjoy the dinner prepared specially for you.”
Yu Shi said speechlessly, “I don’t want to eat. Can you make it change the title?”
“I didn’t make it call you that.” Xie Ren acted like it wasn’t his business. Thinking Yu Shi disliked the dagger, he said, “Eat some. It wasn’t cut with the killing one; this one is very clean.”
Saying that, he raised it and waved it in front of his eyes.
Yu Shi’s gaze paused, noticing this dagger was different. It used special material; the blade was unusually sharp, reflecting almost no firelight. The side had a groove for bloodletting. It was an excellent weapon for night marching.
Seeing him looking seriously, Xie Ren explained, “This was left by my grandfather. When he was a recruit, the army medic gave it to him.”
Yu Shi took the dagger to examine it and found “Heaven’s Punishment Cold Weapon Division No. 1314” engraved on the handle.
He scrutinized it and said, “This kind of particle dagger can pierce mecha. It’s an extraordinary killing weapon. I didn’t expect your grandfather to be in the Air Force.”
Xie Ren laughed. “Your focus is really strange. Only looking at its material and usage, don’t you even glance at its serial number?”
Yu Shi was stunned. “This is…”
“This is their token of love. My grandmother was that medic.”
The dagger instantly became hot to the touch. Yu Shi returned it to him awkwardly, rebuking, “Such an important token, and you actually use it to cut meat.”
“It’s all a tool anyway. They won’t mind,” Xie Ren said indifferently.
Yu Shi remembered his family situation and asked in passing, “The two elders must be retired, right? How is their health?”
He remembered K9 had subsidies for elderly family members. He didn’t know if the Falcon Regiment had them. If not, he could apply for Xie Ren upon returning to alleviate his financial pressure.
“My grandma is gone. Grandpa lives in a nursing home. Health-wise… okay, I guess. Has some chronic underlying conditions. Mainly, he doesn’t listen to the doctor much.”
Yu Shi said, “If you have any difficulties, you can tell me anytime.”
“Difficulties?” Xie Ren pondered. “I really have encountered some difficulties. Old people, you know, having nothing to do all day. He’s been obsessed with making friends online recently, with absolutely no guard up. I’m worried he’s being scammed without knowing it.”
“Your grandfather likes online chatting?”
“Not likes, loves! The last time I saw him love something this much was manufacturing cold weapons.”
Yu Shi laughed. “Recently, the Public Security Ministry is cracking down on fraud gangs. These overseas scams are too rampant, especially targeting the elderly. If you encounter similar problems, remember to collect evidence before calling the police, otherwise, it’s hard to find the source.”
Xie Ren agreed. “I thought so too. Wanted to probe that person’s background first to avoid alerting the snake.”
He mocked, “Do you know, that scammer actually impersonated a researcher. Turns out researchers really are the most popular profession now, whether in the job market or the marriage market.”
“Instructor Yu must also be very popular, right?” He tilted his head to look at Yu Shi.
Yu Shi said lightly, “It’s alright. But it’s best not to have industry filters when dating. Profession doesn’t represent character.”
“Makes too much sense. What do you think of my profession?”
“There’s a widely circulated saying: In the Falcon Regiment, nine out of ten Alphas are scumbags.”
“Look at you. Saying not to have filters while wearing a discrimination filter.” Xie Ren laughed.
Yu Shi smiled too. His smile was very faint, reminding Xie Ren of the Vanda orchid he saw in the rainforest during the day.
Purple buds half-open, just like this appearance.
He said meaningfully, “Did Instructor Yu forget something? We agreed you’d let me smell your pheromones when you came back. Do you plan to go back on your word?”
Yu Shi glanced at him sideways. “Who agreed with you?”
“Not refusing is tacit consent. Not making a sound means agreed.” Xie Ren was quite a rascal.
Yu Shi was silent for a moment. “Your guess is indeed correct. My pheromone concentration is lower than Omegas of the same rank. Except for heat or massive blood loss, others can hardly smell it.”
Xie Ren’s smile disappeared. He asked seriously, “Is it a physical reason?”
Yu Shi shook his head and didn’t answer.
He rolled up his sleeve and picked up the reconnaissance dagger.
He was a person who wouldn’t break his word to students. Since Xie Ren wanted to know, there was no harm. Yu Shi raised his hand and stabbed toward his wrist with almost no hesitation.
Just as the tip of the knife was about to touch the skin, Xie Ren’s hand clamped down, grabbing the blade.
He didn’t have time to pull his punch. The blade instantly cut through the glove, leaving a shallow mark on the palm.
Yu Shi hurriedly let go of the dagger, looking at him in astonishment.
Xie Ren pulled the knife from his hand, frowning and saying in a deep voice, “Instructor Yu really suits his actions to his words. At least give a warning! Scared me to death!”
Yu Shi was shocked. “You’re the one who scared me! What if you cut your hand?”
“Yeah, what if I cut my hand.” Xie Ren gazed at him. “Just because of a bet, I let you bleed in front of me? Then I’d really be a piece of trash.”
His gaze held the oppressiveness of a high-ranking Alpha, an instinctive, innate desire to protect, which even he himself hadn’t realized.
Yu Shi felt uncomfortable being looked at and frowned. “What do you mean?”
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