Chapter 142: Lianbangzheng Prefecture Investigation Team

Squeak~

Finally, the Infinite Number rolled into the front of Track Sequence 7 and began waiting for tower coordination.

In an instant, Lin Xian felt himself reentering the order of human society; the loneliness of drifting in darkness faded significantly.

The train came to a stop. Lin Xian opened the carriage door and stepped out. His gaze swept across the vast platform, where countless vehicle convoys lined up in orderly queues; all major entry and exit gates of the airport had been sealed shut after nightfall.

Beneath the night sky, the horizon was dim. Machine gun nests atop the airport’s high walls kept firing continuously; several 1130 CIWS units guarded the skies, while two rail electromagnetic cannons on the elevated platform above the ascending elevator emitted faint blue electrical arcs. Numerous damaged and nonfunctional defense systems dotted the scene—clearly, these surviving weapons had been hastily repaired and deployed by the Phoenix Society for the airport’s emergency defense.

On the airport platform, numerous survivor convoys waited for their turn on the ascending elevator; the square was filled with all kinds of survivors.

Large numbers of Taitiewei troops moved through the crowd, with supply vehicles constantly transporting weapons and ammunition to reinforce the outer defenses.

In an instant, the thick stench of gunpowder surged into everyone’s nostrils.

Chen Sixuan scanned the surroundings and said anxiously, “The situation looks tense—if the line breaks, no one here will know where to run.”

At that moment, Xu Jin, Shu Qin, and Lao Mo arrived, having parked their vehicles.

Xu Jin looked up at the ascending passage and sighed, “Given this situation, we’ll probably be waiting until the middle of the night.”

“So many jellyfish are coming—can the Taitiewei even hold the line?” Shu Qin said.

“With Taitiewei’s firepower, they should manage, as long as it’s not that thing we encountered on Dalaoshan,” Lao Mo waved his hand. “Don’t underestimate the military’s firepower. The real problems are nighttime internal infections and those big things.”

Lin Xian, however, was curious: “Didn’t we just receive a message from the airport guard battalion? Why haven’t we seen a single one?”

“Guard battalion? Those people are all inside the inner harbor protecting the rich.”

A bold voice rang out. Everyone turned toward it and saw a tall middle-aged man approaching—square-faced, with a full beard and a beer belly, dressed in a thick wool coat. Several others followed him, their eyes immediately scanning the Infinite Number behind Lin Xian.

“Strange configuration—a vintage heavy gas turbine locomotive pulling, yet a Twin Star 11R nuclear-powered electric locomotive trailing? What’s the logic?”

“Gas turbines aren’t suitable for escape—energy supply isn’t guaranteed.”

“The armor plating looks good—probably standard issue...”

“Looks like they’ve got armor but no weapons.”

“Still, they don’t seem to have many people—this is impressive.”

“Hey! Don’t point and gossip at others!” The man interrupted, then turned his gaze to Lin Xian and extended his hand. “Let’s get acquainted. Longshan No. 1, Shi Di.”

Longshan No. 1?

Lin Xian looked toward the distant intercontinental-class heavy doomsday train, resembling a moving city, and understood. He reached out and shook his hand, his expression serious.

“Infinite Number, Lin Xian.”

“Infinite Number? Sounds mighty.” Shi Di nodded, getting straight to the point. “The fire in the southern sky just now was seen by many. The airport was already closed, yet they reopened it specifically for you—I assume you ran into something big.”

“So many jellyfish!” Shasha chimed in. “Didn’t you see them?”

“There are plenty of big things in the night,” said a woman behind Shi Di. “We’ve encountered plenty of things in the sky...”

"He must be referring to the Federation Investigation Team," Ding Junyi said, picking up the computer and walking over. "I’ve already contacted them through the airport’s information system. This investigation team was specially dispatched from Star City headquarters to look into the accident at Underground City Nine. My access rights, along with those of Dr. Zhao and the others, are still active in the system, so I checked their mission log—they’re also responsible for relocating some first-class citizens and senior officials who were stranded at the airport during the Great Migration, with a rescue mission involved."

“He means the Lianbangzheng Prefecture investigation team,” Ding Junyi said, walking over with her laptop. “I’ve already contacted them via the airport’s information system. This team was specially dispatched from Xingcheng headquarters to investigate the accident at Underground City 9. My and Dr. Zhao’s access permissions are still active in the system, so I checked their mission logs. This team is also responsible for evacuating first-class citizens and senior officials stranded here during the Great Migration—there’s a rescue component.”

Hearing Ding Junyi’s words, Lin Xian grew puzzled. Had they been allowed entry earlier because Ding Junyi had contacted the Lianbangzheng Prefecture team?

“So the original Lianbangzheng Prefecture’s current headquarters is in Xingcheng? Aren’t they afraid of being covered by Eternal Night?” Kiki asked.

Ding Junyi looked at her. “The Lianbangzheng Prefecture’s doomsday policy has always been the Underground City Plan—this hasn’t changed.”

“What a bunch of damned old fossils!” Kiki had developed intense hatred toward the original Lianbangzheng Prefecture ever since learning of the self-destruct protocol of Underground City 9.

“Hah! They really are old fossils. This investigation team arrived two days ago and looks ready to evacuate a few hundred people via a giant airship,” Shi Di sneered. “Those bastards mobilized the airport guard battalion to protect their flying harbor—would rather not fire a single shot to defend their first-class citizens than come support the front lines. Now the entire defense rests on Taitiewei soldiers.”

At this, everyone frowned.

Many knew Taitiewei had suffered heavy losses in the battle at Dalaoshan. Hearing the Lianbangzheng Prefecture’s conduct, they all felt a surge of indignation.

!

Lin Xian asked, “Why would the airport guard battalion obey them? Isn’t the current official government the Qitian Fenghuang Society?”

“It’s not that simple,” Lao Mo said, adjusting his sunglasses as he stepped forward. “The Phoenix Society has only existed for a few months. The old government and new government still have countless tangled debts. The airport guard battalion is a local armed force—their chain of command isn’t as clear as the Interstellar Army or Taitiewei.”

Before he finished speaking, a group of armed personnel drove several shuttle vehicles rapidly onto the scene. Several Lianbangzheng Prefecture officials were on board, arriving quickly at the airport square.

The leader was a blonde woman in her early forties, wearing a black leather jacket and sunglasses, walking with brisk authority—clearly a North American.

Ding Junyi, seeing their uniforms, immediately spoke.

“Airport guard battalion—those must be the Lianbangzheng Prefecture officials.”

Lin Xian looked toward the rear train, where Zhao Yan and Xu Wen were still hiding inside the carriage. He said to Ding Junyi,

“Since your people are here, let those two get out.”

Ding Junyi glanced at Lin Xian and said, “The investigation team might want to talk to you. Whatever they say, just refuse outright.”

Lin Xian chuckled. “Survivors, in a sense, are all citizens abandoned by your Lianbangzheng Prefecture. From a sociological standpoint, I’m not under their jurisdiction. Let them mind their own business.”

Survivors were fleeing everywhere; social order had collapsed. Only the Qitian Fenghuang Society currently organized global survivor aid, including deploying the Interstellar Army and Taitiewei. Under these circumstances, the original Lianbangzheng Prefecture was, in Lin Xian’s eyes, no different from a civilian organization.

Ding Junyi didn’t catch the sarcasm in Lin Xian’s words. She remained expressionless, hands in her pockets, waiting for the Lianbangzheng Prefecture officials to approach.

Thank you for the 3,000 monthly tickets. Today’s bonus chapter is up. I’ll keep adding more tomorrow, the 15th, mid-month—begging in advance for your mid-month monthly tickets! Every additional 1,000 tickets will trigger another bonus chapter!

(End of Chapter)