Chapter 722: Reconnaissance Squad

As the Attila veteran was hit, Batu led the remaining Attila recruits into a dense forest of withered trees, where only jagged branches remained.

The pursuing Cyberk soldiers stopped abruptly at the edge of the woods, hovering a few meters above the ground.

It scanned the intricate branches below, its back thrusters emitting a low hum.

"Pursuit cost: low, this target has no information worth collecting."

After a few seconds of thought, it abruptly changed direction, abandoned the pursuit, flew away at high speed in the direction it had come from, and soon disappeared into the twilight.

The Attila recruit lay on the horse's back, gasping for air, bloodstains marking their arms and thighs from the sharp, withered branches, yet their face bore a trace of grief and indignation.

"They... they didn't dare enter the woods! Our..."

Batu reined in his horse, looking back at the withered forest and the direction the pursuers had vanished, his face devoid of any joy.

"No, perhaps we aren't worth the effort of a full-scale pursuit."

He took a headcount; the three people in his group were still there, but a mournful whinny of a warhorse drifted from afar, clearly indicating the other group had met with misfortune.

"Collect the information, recruit."

Batu's voice was low and hoarse, carrying exhaustion and a deeper sense of worry.

"We must bring the intelligence we've gathered back to the nearest military base."

"These tin-skinned beasts..."

The Attila recruit wiped the dust from their face, looking at the direction the Cyberk had disappeared, their eyes solemn.

Ninth Defense Zone Outer City.

On the wide main road, people wearing gray or brown work clothes walked in a hurry, heading toward the factories.

A repair shop had a sign with a gear and wrench hanging at its entrance, and the sound of clanging and banging came from within.

A tall, burly man with dark skin was holding a hammer, striking at the forge.

"I'm really sorry to trouble you, Huokan, but we only discovered the hoe was cracked today when the Planting Zone started a new round of sowing."

A man who looked to be 50 years old watched Huokan swinging the hammer and said with a smile.

"Don't mention it, Laoma. The Energy Crystal from the Aliens buried under the soil in the Planting Zone enriches the earth, so it's normal for hoes to break while tilling."

Huokan handed the repaired hoe to Laoma, his reddish eyes looking at the crowd passing by on the street as he spoke.

"Hahaha, everything is by the Emperor's blessing! Otherwise, I might have died at the hands of the Alien Race long ago. I really never imagined that you, a noble Emperor's Angel, would become friends with us commoners."

Laoma took the hoe from Huokan's large palm and said with some emotion.

Huokan wiped the sweat that had just seeped from his forehead with his right hand, a warm smile appearing on his seemingly terrifying face.

"The Emperor once said, come from the people, go to the people. Besides, I don't consider myself superior to others. Isn't it quite nice for us to get along just like this?"

"Hahaha, indeed! I'm off! There's still a lot to do in the Planting Zone!"

Laoma laughed heartily, greeted Huokan, and left the repair shop.

Just then, a few children passed by, and when they saw Huokan, they shouted loudly.

"Morning! Huokan!"

Inside the factory canteen, steam billowed from metal barrels, emitting the scent of vegetable soup.

Workers held their respective ration cards and lunchboxes, forming long lines inside the canteen.

Behind the window, the cook Marie nimbly distributed food while reminding everyone in a crisp, gentle voice.

"Next! Don't rush! There's enough for everyone!"

"Hahaha! Marie! Even if you didn't remind us, we wouldn't cause a mess!"

An old worker with a face full of grease and work clothes stained with mechanical grime joked, drawing a burst of laughter from the surrounding workers in line.

Marie skillfully took his ration card, swiped it with a "beep" on the card reader nearby, and then scooped up a large ladle of piping hot thick soup, with a few green vegetable leaves and meat chunks floating in it.

With a "splash," she poured it into the lunchbox the worker handed over.

"Mess or not, I still have to say it. If you tease me with this again, watch out, I'll hit you with the ladle next time!"

Marie retorted with a smile on her lips.

She then picked up two pieces of hard, coarse bread and stuffed them into the empty space in the worker's lunchbox.

"Take it, you look like your eyes are green with hunger today."

"Hey! Marie, that mouth of yours!"

Laotangmu took the lunchbox, the rich aroma of the soup making his stomach growl, and he chuckled.

"Eyes green from hunger? Our living conditions are much better now, how could I be that hungry? Hahaha!"

Marie made a gesture as if to hit him with the soup ladle.

"Go on, go on, drink your soup! There are people waiting behind you!"

A crowd gathered in front of a huge metal board at the edge of the residential square.

It was covered with various information: the Planting Zone was testing new crops, the Outer City would continue to crack down on those using their positions for personal gain, and in the most conspicuous spot, a notice issued by the Military District with a striking title: "Do Not Forget the Past, the Crisis Remains."

A squad of Modians in ornate uniforms walked down the street with steady steps, attracting the eyes of the surrounding residents.

The leading Modian Sergeant scanned the crowd and the shadows of the buildings.

People consciously made way for them, their eyes filled with respect and a hint of imperceptible reliance.

A child curiously wanted to get closer to look at the soldiers' guns, but was immediately pulled back by their mother nervously and scolded in a low voice.

"Mom, will those Alien Races come again?" the child asked, pointing to the Cyberk portrait on the bulletin board.

The mother tightened her grip on the child, her voice soft but firm.

"Don't be afraid, child. The Emperor will bless us."

At the street corner, a group of workers who had just finished the night shift squatted together, gnawing on energy bars with hot water.

"Did you hear? The eastern Patrol Squad found footprints of those flying tin cans again yesterday, less than fifty kilometers from here."

"Damn it, they're like ghosts... but at least we have the big pot lid the Emperor gave us."

"They say it can withstand quite a few attacks..."

"Enough nonsense, finish eating and hurry back to sleep; we still have to reinforce the roof of Warehouse No. 3 this evening."

"Laozhao, I heard your daughter went to the Military District's medical corps? What an achievement!"

Hearing the envious words of his fellow worker, Laozhao's face blossomed with a smile.

"Yes, it's all thanks to the Emperor's blessing! That's what allowed the girl to make more contributions to the Human race!"

"That's a great thing! We must celebrate!"

"Celebrate what? Working steadily and living a good life is what really matters!"

Laozhao waved his hand, but the smile in his eyes could not be hidden.

"By the way, it seems they are hiring over at Xinghuo No. 1 City-State this afternoon, who among you is going?"

Another fellow worker asked.

"I'm going!"

"Count me in!"

"I won't be going."