Chapter 142: Her Way of Survival

Three days later—the morning of the second day after the field investigation was completed.

On a tray lined with red cloth lay a brass medal and a small red booklet with small gold-stamped characters on the cover: Third-Class Merit.

The person holding the tray was one of the reviewers, with an ordinary appearance, average height, and a voice so forgettable that it vanished the moment it was heard.

"Yes, this review has concluded. Thank you for your contributions to the Haicheng Barrier and during the mission. We also hope you will continue to carry forward the heroic spirit of protecting all mankind and keep up the good work!"

Liu Mu felt disgusted. It wasn't that she couldn't accept the commendation, but the person's platitudes made her want to smash that smiling face with a punch.

"Then, what about the Special Operations Team? They sacrificed themselves; what level of merit were they awarded?"

She said this through gritted teeth.

This reviewer was undoubtedly shrewd; he grasped Liu Mu's thoughts almost instantly. "The Captain received a Special-Class Merit, and the others received First-Class Merits. In addition to the military's standard subsidies for fallen soldiers, their families will also receive the status of 'First-Class Merit Martyr Family.' Rest assured, we will not treat a family of merit poorly."

Liu Mu still did not take the tray, her gaze lingering on a thumb-sized tag next to the medal and certificate.

The tag was dark with a metallic luster, and Liu Mu's name was intaglio-engraved on it, along with a string of specific numbers. The edges of the engravings were exceptionally sharp, and the slightly darker color gave the name a sense of fortitude and depth.

There was no need to rack her brain; Liu Mu knew that if she flipped it over, the other side would certainly be the designation of the Special Operations Team. That designation, which she still didn't know the meaning of even after experiencing life and death with them several times, was a military secret.

"What is the meaning of this?"

It was impossible for her to join the Special Operations Team; she didn't even want to join the military. Even holding a nominal position within the Barrier was only for the convenience of doing business. "Whose idea is this?"

"The Special Operations Team is being reorganized. After the Haicheng Barrier high-level officials and the General Command held a meeting to discuss it, everyone unanimously passed the decision for you to take over this team and complete the recruitment of new soldiers within half a month."

"Do you not need to ask for my own opinion?"

"Commander Yang Shuo wrote a recommendation letter in his own hand, which was submitted to the General Command half a month ago. Including this review, the General Command has pulled all your information, and the results are clearly fair and optimistic. Comrade Major Liu Mu, at the memorial service this afternoon, Commander Yang Shuo and Minister Qi Zhengxun will personally appoint you."

"……Is that so?"

Liu Mu still didn't reach for the tray. The reviewer seemed somewhat helpless, his plain face showing the frustration of an unsuccessful task, and he left with the items at a leisurely pace.

Before closing the door, he still politely advised: "The appointment and the awarding of the medal are scheduled for the latter half of the memorial service, which should take place around four in the afternoon."

"Oh," Liu Mu watched the door being gently closed, her face revealing no great emotion.

This person—no, it should be said that there was more than one person in the Review Board who didn't want her to stay in the Barrier.

The young man from before who lacked subtlety, and now this middle-aged man who looked ordinary but was deep in schemes.

The former was confrontational from the start, while this one must have observed for a period of time before deciding to make a move at this critical moment.

Regardless of whether they were from the same faction, their goal was the same: someone didn't want her to enter the official ranks, or even interfere with the Barrier's management.

This was normal. Where there are people, there are conflicts of interest. As the largest survivor settlement under construction in the Southeast Three Provinces, who wouldn't want to become an original 'shareholder' of the Haicheng Barrier?

Liu Mu's goal was to become the largest non-staff force in the Barrier and make the Huishou Group an entity the Barrier had to rely on.

But now it seemed that this idea of staying out of it and reaping the benefits was not very realistic.

But what infuriated her most was that Yang Shuo had sent her files to that mysterious General Command controlling the whole country almost at the same time they were heading out to annihilate the Tiankuishe 18 Hao base.

This old man... or perhaps she was just too naive. She hadn't dealt with such old foxes in her past life; he was truly a master of dark arts, his mind as deep as an abyss.

"It's long-term vision," Zhuo Qing said as she delivered the military uniform, speaking for Yang Shuo while urging Liu Mu to accept the appointment. "Currently, there are eight power-holders in the General Command, and Elder Qi, whom you have met, is one of them. But there are only two representing the military. They intend to support one more person to enter the core. Who do you think it will be?"

"That doesn't need guessing, does it?"

Liu Mu touched the thick fabric of the military uniform with her fingers. It had to be said that even in the apocalypse, the material of this uniform was still the best—or rather, precisely because it was the apocalypse.

"If the Chief can return smoothly, the three coastal provinces will be his greatest backing, and the Special Operations Team will once again become the blade in his hand."

Zhuo Qing picked up the military green shirt and handed it to Liu Mu. "He has been looking for someone who can hold down this region. He had considered Tan before. But your Brother Tan is a straightforward person with a soldier's mind that doesn't know how to be flexible; he doesn't have the political ability to wrestle with various factions while maintaining a balance. Liu Mu, if you agree, I can guarantee to assist you with all my strength."

"I'm just a scavenger," Liu Mu mocked herself, feeling very resistant and lacking confidence. "What kind of political ability could I have?"

A trace of sorrow and a glimmer of expectation appeared in Zhuo Qing's resolute eyes. "I believe in the Chief's judgment; he must have his reasons."

Liu Mu took off her holey T-shirt, leaving only a black tank top, and took the shirt. While putting it on, she asked casually, "He convinced you?"

Liu Mu could guess nine-tenths of what Yang Shuo had said to Zhuo Qing. So far, the only thing that exceeded her expectations was that Yang Shuo had listed her on the 'Blade List' early on.

But she only wanted to do business, make a lot of money, and become a force of her own—wealthy and happy. Why step into the man-eating quagmire of the establishment?

"The conversation was one of the procedures for entering the Special Operations Team, but I didn't lie to you about the reason I don't want to leave," Zhuo Qing had simply solidified her inner choice from her conversation with Yang Shuo.

"I know," Liu Mu knew what Zhuo Qing had been hesitating about before. "But I will not accept the appointment to the Special Operations Team. I hope you understand; I am not good at surviving within the establishment."

Her way of survival had always been brutal and bloody—it was to put the enemy to death and cut the weeds and dig up the roots as long as her strength was sufficient. She didn't know how to play the power games of intrigue and conspiracy.

Zhuo Qing continued to persuade her, but until they entered the memorial venue, Liu Mu had not changed her mind.

The medal, the certificate, the Military Tag... it was just the last item that she refused.

This decision seemed to be within Yang Shuo's expectations; he did not make things difficult for Liu Mu, but instead told her to think it over carefully.

The commendation meeting hadn't ended yet when the sound of barking dogs disrupted the venue.

Almost the moment she heard the sound, Liu Mu rushed out. "Someone is attacking the Base. Get ready."

The vast dining hall fell into a brief silence, and Yang Shuo stood up to personally deploy defenses.

While the Haicheng Barrier was being built, some of the main roads had also been repaired, but even so, no vehicle could compare to Niu Boyi's running speed.

Once outside the county area, Liu Mu wanted to establish contact with Xu Xiaofeng, but she never succeeded... the distance was simply too far.

Currently, the maximum radius for direct contact with creatures under her system's protection was five kilometers, but if Xu Xiaofeng's vines grew to their limit, this distance could be extended by a few more kilometers.

Niu Boyi said the Tiankuishe had arrived, and it only took them two hours to take back the ship.

But Liu Mu knew clearly that these people's target was obviously not the ship.

—For the sake of Hong, how much force could they dispatch?

Or was it that Hong was a trap from the start, and he was just bait, still serving the Tiankuishe?

"Go through the mountains!"

Halfway there, Liu Mu suddenly changed her route.