Chapter 164: Going to Rescue Them Personally

The announcement of the "Guardian Covenant" was like a depth charge dropped into the seemingly calm global situation, its aftershocks rippling endlessly.

On the surface, every nation's officials maintained silence, but covert intelligence activities suddenly intensified, all trying to track down any trace of this mysterious "Guardian." The underworld was even more jittery; many unsavory deals and operations temporarily went quiet, terrified of drawing that demon-god's gaze.

Qin Feng was more than happy to see this. The goal of deterrence had been initially achieved, buying him more time to develop and lay his plans.

His daily rhythm remained as regular and efficient as ever. Handling the massive commercial affairs of the "Wind Rising System," monitoring the follow-up training and equipment upgrades of the "Zhulong" Squad, studying the system's newly unlocked functions, and constantly improving himself using the Blessing Key and Skill Key.

That day, he used the Blessing Key and obtained a rather special blessing effect—"Heart Palpitation (Minor)": a faint premonition would arise regarding events closely tied to himself.

At first he paid it no mind, until that afternoon, while he was listening to Sun Zhe's report on the group's latest investment portfolio, his heart suddenly thumped for no reason, and an indescribable irritation and unease quietly spread.

"... Also, Mr. Qin, the cross-national marine ecology research project we previously had our eye on, 'Deep Blue Probe,' led by Madam Su Wenqian's sister, Dr. Su Yuqing, seems to have run into some trouble." Sun Zhe flipped through the report, his tone carrying the usual cadence of a briefing.

Su Yuqing? Su Wenqian's sister?

The name rang a faint bell for Qin Feng. A scientist utterly devoted to marine ecological conservation, she had spent years conducting research across the world's major seas, independent and stubborn by nature, and her relationship with her elder sister Su Wenqian seemed somewhat delicate. Su Wenqian would occasionally mention this sister who made her both proud and worried.

"What kind of trouble?" Qin Feng suppressed the odd feeling in his chest and asked casually.

"Based on the limited information we've received, the 'Deep Blue Probe' project vessel Poseidon lost contact with Base a week ago while conducting deep-sea sampling in an area of international Public Sea in the South Pacific. The last communication mentioned they seemed to have discovered an anomalous deep-sea bioluminescent bacterial colony, after which the signal cut out. The International Maritime Organization has already issued a search notice, but conditions in that stretch of sea are complicated, with frequent appearances of illegal armed vessels, so the search is progressing slowly." Sun Zhe replied.

Lost contact? Anomalous bacterial colony? Illegal armed vessels?

Those keywords flashed through Qin Feng's mind like lightning, instantly aligning with the unease in his chest!

The blessing effect of "Heart Palpitation" was faintly burning!

This was no ordinary scientific mishap! Su Yuqing and her team had very likely become entangled in some unknown danger!

Su Wenqian was one of his most capable housekeepers; with her kin in peril, by every rule of sentiment and reason, he could not sit idly by. More importantly, that "anomalous deep-sea bioluminescent bacterial colony"... could it be one of the "anomalies" the system defined as threatening the survival of human civilization?

"Immediately mobilize every satellite resource we can, and focus-scan the last known signal area of the Poseidon! Contact all our information channels in that region—at any cost, I want to know the latest situation on the Poseidon and Dr. Su Yuqing!" Qin Feng shot to his feet, his tone clipped and absolute, carrying an urgency that brooked no argument.

Sun Zhe was startled by the sudden burst of momentum from Qin Feng, but recovered at once: "Yes! I'll see to it right away!"

Orders went out swiftly, and the vast resources and intelligence network under Qin Feng began operating at unprecedented efficiency.

An hour later, an urgent intelligence report was delivered to Qin Feng.

The situation was worse than imagined.

The Poseidon had not simply lost contact—it had been forcibly seized by a modified armed cargo ship flying a skull flag (not traditional pirates, more like some private militia) and towed toward a micro artificial island located in disputed waters, unacknowledged by any nation! That island was controlled by a mysterious private company called "Deepsea Technology," rumored to be conducting all manner of unregulated, high-risk biological and marine experiments.

And the "anomalous bioluminescent bacterial colony" Su Yuqing's team had discovered was highly likely some dangerous product that "Deepsea Technology" had either secretly leaked or was actively researching!

"Deepsea Technology..." Qin Feng's gaze turned icy. He had vaguely seen this company's name in some top-secret intelligence before—its background was unfathomably deep, with ties to multiple international brokers and underground forces, and it acted with utter impunity.

"Where is the Zhulong Squad right now?" Qin Feng asked in a low voice.

"They just finished a simulated combat exercise and are resting at Base, ready to deploy at any time." Gao Yuan answered immediately.

"Not enough." Qin Feng shook his head. "The enemy is entrenched in a sea fortress they've operated for years; the situation is unclear, and they may possess defensive measures and biological weapons we don't know about. The 'Zhulong' excel at assault, but in precise rescue operations within complex environments and in dealing with unknown biological threats, there's risk."

He paused, a flash of resolve crossing his eyes: "This time, I'm going in person."

"You're going in person?" Both Gao Yuan and Sun Zhe were taken aback. Given Qin Feng's current status and importance, personally walking into danger was really...

"Say no more." Qin Feng raised a hand to stop them. "Notify the 'Zhulong' Squad to immediately conduct equipment checks and resupply, and stand by as the cover and support force. Gao Yuan, you come with me. Sun Zhe, coordinate all resources to ensure information and logistical support throughout our operation."

His tone brooked no argument, carrying a long-absent, razor-sharp edge—the air of a man about to step onto the battlefield himself.

Having the system, having the "Zhulong," did not mean he had to keep hiding behind the scenes. Some things concerned the safety of those close to him, concerned the possible threat of an "anomaly"—he had to confirm it personally, and settle it with his own hands!

Besides, he was also eager to test just how far his own abilities, paired with some of the system's functions, could go without relying on the "Zhulong."

He returned to his study, and with a thought...

"System, use the Skill Key!"

The pale-blue button was pressed, and the skill roulette spun rapidly.

【Skill Key activated! Drawn: Advanced Underwater Combat Mastery Trial Card! After use, Underwater Combat Mastery is elevated to Advanced for one hour!】

Advanced Underwater Combat Mastery! Exactly the ability most needed right now!

A flood of knowledge and muscle memory regarding deep-sea diving, underwater combat, equipment use, and Environmental Adaptation poured into his mind!

At the same time, he changed into a specially made black combat suit with certain protective and diving functions, and threw an ordinary trench coat over it as cover. He did not wear the "Zhulong" battle armor—that would be too conspicuous; what he needed was stealth and agility.

Gao Yuan had also changed into lightweight tactical gear, his eyes carrying a trace of worry, but more than that, resolve.

An hour later, a specially modified small jet aircraft with short takeoff and landing and stealth capabilities quietly lifted off from a private airfield under Qin Feng's name, slicing through the cloud layer and racing toward the South Pacific.

Inside the cabin, Qin Feng rested with his eyes closed, feeling the vast and intricate underwater combat knowledge in his mind, and the power flowing through his body.

Su Wenqian's worry, the unknown "anomalous" bacterial colony, the mysterious "Deepsea Technology"...

This time, he would take matters into his own hands and tear this fog apart completely!