Chapter 21: The Colossus-Monstros à Solta, Mas Eu Sou do Exército Regular(Dudu Bola de Neve está chegando!)

Deep night.

A drone hovered silently above Xiamazhen. A fully armed squad lay in wait in the woods outside the town's residential area, their eyes fixed on every move of the townspeople through the images transmitted back to their smart goggles.

Thermal imaging analysis was 90% complete, and every target still active in the dead of night had been marked.

To conserve power, high-output electromagnetic jamming had not been activated, but in this world where the electromagnetic environment was almost entirely blank, air superiority in the electromagnetic spectrum seemed of little importance.

Chen Jian held He Shuo’s QSW-06, while He Shuo had already occupied the high ground on the north side of the town, his 26-sniper rifle equipped with a silencer, waiting quietly for Chen Jian’s order.

His expression had initially been one of skepticism, but as he noticed the heat sources converging in his field of vision, his doubt instantly transformed into surprise.

"Targets are gathering, moving east along the side path."

"Captain, just like you said, it looks like they really are up to something."

Hearing this, Chen Jian nodded slightly by instinct and replied, "There must be a secret in this Xiamazhen."

"If they can produce 40 rounds of ammunition, they can certainly produce 400. That is a very basic deduction."

"Such a large quantity of equipment would be impossible not to attract attention."

"The Holy Blooders don't rely on thermal weapons and follow trade rules, so their behavior is understandable, but what about the others?"

"The Church of the Mechanical God, passing so-called hunters, merchants with real power... they cannot be fools."

"If these people, like us, thought this town was profitable, how could they allow a town of only a few hundred people to exist in this world? Just for a single supply run?"

"This is the apocalypse, not the modern society we knew that still had rules and laws."

"The very existence of Xiamazhen is already incredible, and what is even more incredible is that they are able to conduct business."

"There is only one explanation that makes sense."

"Those who coveted them have all been eliminated."

"The people here must have a hidden ace we don't know about... regardless, we must find that ace first!"

"Understood."

The other squad members replied one by one. Chen Jian continued to monitor the movement of the heat signatures, and a moment later, he gave the order:

"Targets have left the residential area. Vision is clear; conditions for tracking are optimal."

"Lei Jie, Shen Yue, move through the woods on the north and south sides and track along the targets' path."

"He Shuo, advance to the second sniper position, keep your field of fire clear, and be ready for fire support at any time."

"Received."

At the command, everyone moved immediately.

Chen Jian set the drone to automatic tracking mode, then rose silently. Avoiding the sight of the sentries still on guard in the town, he crossed through the town with incredible precision, following close behind the Xiamazhen residents moving along the path.

His speed was not fast, but compared to the residents who lacked any lighting equipment, his movements were effortless.

Moving eastward, the tracked residents seemed completely unaware that they had a tail, preoccupied with trekking along the rugged path.

Chen Jian’s doubts grew heavier. Through his thermal fusion night-vision goggles, he could clearly see the expressions on the faces of the residents not far ahead.

It was a kind of... near-fanatical excitement?

What exactly were they excited about?

Chen Jian’s hand was already on the trigger, prepared for any sudden turn of events.

But fortunately, no such incident occurred.

After changing their tracking formation several times, the four-man squad successfully followed the residents up the mountain.

Upon reaching the highest point, the residents stopped in a clearing. Less than 10 meters in front of them lay the Baizhang Source Reservoir that Chen Jian had marked earlier.

Chen Jian cautiously changed his position, lurking behind a giant boulder by the reservoir, relying only on the drone's perspective to observe without exposing himself.

At this moment, the other team members also reached their positions. Just as all four were puzzled by the residents' goal, the group of Xiamazhen residents, who had been silent the entire way, finally spoke.

"...Do we really have to kill them all? There are four Holy Blooders there!"

"It doesn't matter. No one will know it was us. This place is far from Hanshui City; the news won't spread!"

"That's not what I mean. I’m saying those Holy Blooders just killed that monster in Chuansha City; they are strong!"

"If they survive, we will..."

"They cannot survive! No one can survive!"

"But is it worth it? We have been settled for so long..."

"It's more than worth it! Didn't you see the weapons those people had? Those weapons are exactly the same as the ones we saw in the pictures!"

"Those are treasures from before the Great Cataclysm. As long as we send those treasures to the Church of the Mechanical God, we can leave this place!"

"We won't have to risk our lives for the Church of the Mechanical God anymore, do you understand?"

"I understand, but..."

"There are no 'buts'! Do as I say!"

...

The arguing gradually subsided. Chen Jian took a deep breath, readying himself for battle.

Clearly, what these people wanted was the equipment his squad was carrying.

The bait they had cast had been swallowed.

They were about to show their final hand and expose their biggest secret.

But what exactly was this secret?

Chen Jian signaled "continue waiting" in front of his smart goggles, then leaned out and aimed his gun at the villager closest to him.

He was not willing to kill indiscriminately, but when it was time to act, he would not hesitate.

After a moment, the residents lined up and walked toward the edge of the lake.

What were they doing now?

A sacrifice?

Was there a monster hidden in this reservoir?

Chen Jian was filled with questions. He wanted to fire to interrupt them, but he was unwilling to let go of the answer that was right before his eyes.

Information is always the most important thing. To obtain it, one must sometimes take certain risks.

A moment later, the residents reached the bank of the reservoir.

They gathered in small groups and lifted the giant boulders on the bank.

*Thump—*

Splashes erupted as the boulders sank into the water.

A moment later, ripples began to disturb the calm surface.

Looking down from the drone’s perspective, a massive shadow slowly rose toward the surface.

"We have a situation."

Chen Jian whispered, "There is a monster underwater. They are trying to wake it up. We have to stop them."

"Lei Jie, Shen Yue, take up favorable positions on the flanks."

"He Shuo, provide cover and be ready to fire at any moment."

"These people are suspicious; leave one alive!"

"Understood!"

The others responded quickly. Chen Jian rose quietly, intending to raise his weapon and fire, but at that exact moment, the environmental monitoring module on his goggles suddenly began to alarm.

"Oxygen low! Carbon dioxide high!"

Chen Jian’s eyes narrowed.

He understood what these people were planning.

Beneath this reservoir, it was all carbon dioxide!

Stirred up by the giant creature in the water, this carbon dioxide was rising to the surface.

It wouldn't be long before the gas, which was heavier than air, would cascade like a waterfall into the low-lying Xiamazhen.

Those still in the town would inevitably die without knowing why—everyone, that is, except for their own people.

Case closed.

It wasn't that the steel bullets were corrosion-resistant and wouldn't rust easily; it was that for a very long time, this town had been a near-anaerobic environment!

Chen Jian took a deep breath and ordered:

"Fire at will!"