Chapter 1042

Lin Dui, are we just heading straight into that... dungeon?

Sitting in the latter part of the transport plane, Xiong Hanzi scratched his head, looking at Lin An entering the cockpit, and asked in a low voice.

After being driven out by Mo Ling, he then ran to the garbage dump where Sophia was.

After putting down the last of the food in the ring, he felt a bit better in his heart.

According to Lin An, if he leaves—or if the Soviet war zone calls on him to act—after it's over, Lin An will tell the Soviet high command to send these children to the Safe Zone, guaranteeing their survival.

Although he knows he can't save everyone, he still wants to do his part.

"Yes, once you enter the dungeon, you must be careful."

Inside the cockpit, Lin An skillfully started the transport plane; after a shake, it rose directly into the sky, heading straight for Lake Baikal.

According to the data obtained from Ter, a small dungeon with the Death God set is located in a nearby town.

Recalling the limited dungeon information, Lin An couldn't help but, taking advantage of the free time, think carefully.

According to the information we have, the dungeon's background is 17th‑century Soviet Russia, during the reign of Yekaterina—i. e., the Industrial Revolution and the steam‑engine era.

The exact size of the dungeon is unknown, but the main setting is concentrated in a sacrificial temple.

According to the recollections of the first intruders, the monsters in the dungeon are mostly humanoid cultists; a small portion of believers have unknown mist and eyes appear in their bodies during combat. Though they are flesh and blood, most of their strength is comparable to that of ordinary people. However, under the influence of mysterious power, they are often extremely hard to kill.

And the altar storing the Death God armor is located in a church that houses a huge statue.

After recalling the key information, Lin An pondered for a moment and quickly made his judgment.

The dungeon's difficulty should not be considered great.

Since the entrants at that time were merely a First‑Level squad, it shows that if the difficulty were too high, no one could possibly survive.

Later, the Soviet war zone also sent people in; although they dispatched a Second‑Level peak Awakened One, they retreated out of fear when they approached the Death God half‑body armor.

In summary, the dungeon's danger level should not be enough to harm a Third‑Level being in a short time.

If there is any problem, it probably lies in the entities possessing those cultists.

Is it some kind of cult ritual that summoned a demon? Or a Lovecraftian setting, an indescribable evil force?

Eastern Orthodoxy... Tsar... steam era... cult ritual...

Capital Military Region, underground intelligence office.

Personnel moved about in the damp, stuffy underground civil defense works, where several Second‑Level Awakened Ones continuously recorded data.

Suddenly, a signal‑sending intelligence officer stared blankly for a moment, then hurriedly strode into the office of his superior.

He pushed open the heavy sealed iron door and looked, somewhat shocked, at the director of Global Intelligence, Wang Shujin.

"Director Wang! I just received an overseas message! Please check it promptly!"

"Huh?"

Lifting his head from the pile of documents, a middle‑aged man wearily rubbed his forehead, his brows knitting.

"What intelligence? From where?"

They were swamped with tasks; as the ones responsible for gathering global intelligence, although they no longer possessed the formidable pre‑apocalypse intelligence‑gathering capability, and satellites and internet transmission were unusable, thanks to the overseas intelligence agents Hua Guo had dispatched before the apocalypse, they could still, via the chat channels of various war zones, catch some important news.

He swallowed, and even though he had seen many major incidents across the war zones, the staff member responsible for reporting information also felt it was hard to believe.

"The intelligence comes from the Soviet war zone."

"Just a day ago, in the Soviet war zone's chat channel, it broke out that the zone might have produced a super‑strong individual! His strength is suspected to be Third‑Level peak, and he killed a Third‑Level high‑grade mutant of that zone—the Sunwalker!"

"Killed a Third‑Level high‑grade!? Suspected Third‑Level peak!?"

His hand paused while organizing documents, and Wang Shujin's usually calm face also showed a flicker of shock.

"What kind of joke is this!? The Soviet war zone has produced a Third‑Level peak!?"

As if he couldn't believe it, he couldn't help but repeat the question, unable to believe this fact no matter what.

"Isn't Lin An still the highest‑ranked in our war zone!? He's only suspected to be Third‑Level mid‑grade! How could the Soviets produce a Third‑Level high‑grade!?"

"Our war zone's highest rank is still Lin An, right!? He is also only suspected to be Three Fourth Rank intermediate! How could the Soviet Union produce a Three Fourth Rank advanced!?"

Although they were on bad terms with Lin An and the military often avoided mentioning him, as members of Huaxia they would still bring up his name whenever discussing Awakened Ones' strength and trials, for Lin An was like a curse that always appeared.

As soon as he finished speaking, the staff member responsible for reporting also couldn't help but give a wry smile.

"Director Wang, the message indeed says that."

"Moreover, the Soviet side has verified that the Sunwalker mission was indeed completed by someone."

"They are now urgently investigating the area where the Sunwalker was, to see if any battle traces remain."

After hearing this explanation, Wang Shujin froze momentarily, then repeatedly asked:

"Have you found out who it is? Which Third‑Level from the Soviet military? Do we have his data? Is it Ter? Akginso?"

He quickly rattled off several familiar names, and Wang Shujin instantly realized how major this news was.

It's hard to imagine, but although the Soviet war zone isn't weak, in the trials it is clearly inferior to the Huaxia war zone.

Especially in high‑end combat power, they are lacking standout individuals.

Where on earth did this opposing super‑strong individual come from? Could it be that the Soviets have been hiding their strength all along!?

Taking over the question, the intelligence officer hesitated a moment, then shook his head:

"We haven't found anything."

"In fact, according to the intelligence we've gathered, the Soviet war zone very likely doesn't know who the opponent is either."

"In fact, they are also conducting a massive search, turning the whole war zone upside down, with bounties posted everywhere for whichever super‑strong individual."

"So we suspect that this suddenly emerged Third‑Level strong individual is very likely not under Soviet control!"

After hearing the intelligence officer's account, Wang Shujin felt a surge of jealousy toward the Soviets, and his face suddenly changed.

Even the Soviets themselves don't know?

Could it be that it's some Awakened One with extraordinary talent who only reveals his power after reaching Third Level?

Could it be that it's an Awakened Ones with super talent, whose power only manifests after three Fourth Rank?

Regardless of whether Soviet Russia is unaware of who the other party is or how, he realized the importance of this news.

Now, on the surface the strongest globally is Lin An, but now another mysterious person has appeared.

Without a doubt, all Awakened Ones worldwide will cause a huge uproar over this!

Thinking about the importance of a super-powerful individual, Wang Shijin stood up without hesitation and went to report to the High Level.

A mysterious person stronger than Lin An has appeared; this news will surely shock many people!

If the other side is truly not under the control of the Soviet Russia war zone, maybe several surrounding war zones could possibly recruit them!

The allure of at least a third-rank peak..

Bang bang-

Wang Shijin felt his heart pounding, and in an instant realized this might be a means to counter Lin An!

Since the trial ended, the rift between the Faction: Long An side and the capital has been growing larger.

As an intelligence High Level, he naturally knows the surface harmony; privately, the mid-high level is troubled by how the Faction: Long An dominates alone!

For the capital, an uncontrolled Faction: Long An is like a time bomb that could explode at any moment!

Moreover, they know that Lin An, under the suspicion of having recovered his Memory, absolutely cannot help but view the original planners with hatred!

For now, he hasn't taken action, nor revealed it...

Lin An is very likely biding his time, waiting for his strength and influence to grow a bit more before launching a fierce strike against the capital!

Putting himself in another's shoes, he asks himself sincerely.

Wang Shijin asks himself, if he too had been a member who recovered his Memory in the Long'an Project, he would definitely retaliate against the Long'an Project and even the entire High Level!

If it weren't for the neutral faction and several High Levels having different opinions, unwilling to start a civil war, and the Faction: Long An using Meme threats.

The capital side has long wanted to launch a decapitation operation!

「Chief! Urgent intelligence! 」

「Pat-」

A detailed report was placed on the table; a middle-aged man sitting in a chair, after looking at it, couldn't help but become solemn, falling into deep thought.

「Stronger Awakened One than Lin An? Soviet Russia war zone!? 」

Moments later, a flicker of strange light crossed the man's eyes as he coldly gave the order:

「Find him! Contact him! 」

「If he does not belong to the Soviet Russia side, tell him! We Huaxia are willing to let him join! Any conditions can be discussed! 」