Chapter 2339: S-Rank Guide Forced Love 24

The training base was filled with a tense atmosphere.

The seven-day training camp was extremely intense, and Youzan's long-dormant combat instincts were fully awakened.

Whenever he attempted high-difficulty obstacle breaches or extreme shooting, the edges of the training field were always crowded with sentinels.

Their gazes were no longer just scrutiny or malice; many sentinels' eyes held pure admiration, even reverence, for the strong.

Although the true nature of the 'accident' in the ruins mission was not made public due to the leadership's deliberate downplay, restoring his identity was enough to prove it.

Youzan paid no heed to it.

Sweat slid down his toned muscles; he wiped his face, his gaze sweeping over Luwen, who was also training nearby but clearly exuded a gloomy aura, and a flicker of coldness crossed his eyes.

More thoughts drifted, uncontrollably, toward the memory of that overly quiet room.

The training intensity exceeded his expectations; there was hardly any time to go outside over the seven days.

Even the cat kept pestering him, wanting to go back.

What was Jin Chen doing? Was that white wolf again napping on the carpet?

Not seeing him for seven days... that thought made his molars itch a little.

Youzan inexplicably grew irritable; he slammed a heavy punch into the sandbag before him, sending out a deep, muffled boom.

On the evening of the seventh day, all sentinels participating in the special training were gathered into the briefing room.

Under the cold lighting, Instructor Chenyan's stern face appeared.

"The expedition to survey the ruins crystal mine is a very important mission; we must constantly guard against the Alliance Organization beating us to it."

"They are divided into twelve squads, each with seven members."

His voice echoed rigidly in the silent room: "The first squad is the assault elite team."

He called out the names, each representing an outstanding active sentinel from the high tower:

"Youzan, Luwen, Yamosi, Lindun, Mawen, Bali, Dike."

The named sentinels showed varied expressions.

Mawen was a tall, burly man; hearing this, he cracked a friendly, respectful smile at Youzan.

Dike, a young sentinel with eyes sharp as an eagle, also gave Youzan a slight nod.

Luwen tightened his face, his eyes dark and inscrutable; Yamosi wore a bitter expression, only able to once again stand with Luwen.

Chenyan's gaze lingered on Youzan's calm face for a moment, then he continued: "Squad leader, Luwen."

With the appointment announced, several glances subtly swept over Youzan in the room.

Luwen straightened his back, a flicker of joy crossing his face.

Youzan merely raised his brow, not moving his eyes at all.

"Seven guides will accompany the squad." Chenyan announced the names.

Yejun stood in the guide line; upon hearing this, he immediately put on a graceful, proper smile, his gaze seemingly unintentionally sweeping over Youzan.

"All sentinels must be injected with the long-lasting artificial guide agent before departure."

Chenyan's voice carried an unquestionable command: "To prevent large-scale mental storms from causing mass disorientation and chaos."

"I refuse." Youzan's voice rang out abruptly.

He stood there, calmly regarding Chenyan.

All eyes once again focused on him.

Chenyan frowned, "Reason?"

He quickly reacted, deliberately lowering his voice: "Councilor Jin Chen... is your guide. What rank is he?"

This question clearly troubled him, or rather, troubled the people behind him for a long time.

To be able to steady Youzan, a sentinel capable of reaching S-rank, amidst deep infection and berserk states, and to have him refuse the official guide agent—such a guide could hardly be an ordinary person.

Yejun's ears practically perked up, his body leaning slightly forward as he focused on Youzan.

Youzan tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing a slightly wild arc, and spat out just two words: "Confidential."

He would have to be crazy to reveal Jin Chen's rank to other sentinels.

Yejun's eyes shifted slightly.

He couldn't help but step forward, his voice deliberately softened, urgent.

"Youzan, the mission is dangerous; refusing the guide agent is risking your own life and that of your teammates."

"I can help you with deep counseling, stabilizing your mental landscape......"

"Get lost." Youzan didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice cold as ice shards.

Yejun: "......"

He froze in place, his face alternating between pale and ashen; the carefully prepared speech died at that single word.

Chenyan watched this tense standoff, his voice deep: "Refusing the injection is your choice; you bear the consequences. The guide agent injection schedule remains unchanged, others proceed as before."

He no longer bothered with Youzan, scanning the room: "Finally, the supreme commander for this mission will arrive at the base tonight to give the final briefing."

"Dismissed; continue your individual training."

The briefing room door opened, and the crowd filed out.

Youzan ignored all the complex stares and strode out first with long steps.

The cold wind of the outside training field blew across his sweat-drenched back; he drew a deep breath, lifted his gaze toward the direction of the high tower's top level, and a surge of mixed irritation and anticipation churned in his depths, something he himself couldn't quite articulate.

Jin Chen said he would accompany him to the ruins mine, but in what capacity?

Could it be... the supreme commander?

"Supreme commander?!"

The top-level council hall, its arched ceiling looming high.

The final authority over the ruins resource mine mission was precisely the point of contention.

The originally nominated commander of the Cain faction, Sentinel Raymond, was standing in the center.

But now, Jin Chen is also vying for the position of Chief Commander.

After Cain repeated it in disbelief, there followed an uncontrollable gasp and murmurs.

The council members stared at each other, thinking they had misheard.

A Guide serving as the chief commander of frontline combat? That's outright fantasy!

Cain's sharp gaze pierced Jin Chen: "Councillor Jin Chen, watch your words! In the history of High Tower, there has never been a precedent of a Guide serving as frontline chief commander! This is no game!"

Raymond, standing in the center, also froze for a moment, then his face showed a mix of absurdity and offended anger.

He turned to Jin Chen, his voice loud and bluntly military: "Councillor, commanding operations is not a Guide's pretend play! We need solid battlefield experience and…"

His words trailed off.

Jin Chen lifted his gaze and locked eyes with Raymond.

A wave of icy, vast power, like a polar glacier silently pouring forth, instantly filled the entire council hall.

Absolute, soul‑freezing mental suppression.

The air seemed to solidify into real ice, heavily pressing on everyone's chest.

The light in the council hall seemed to dim, and all the electronic screens emitted a strained buzzing.

Raymond bore the brunt.

His burly body stiffened, all color drained from his face, and his pupils dilated from extreme shock.

The sentinel power they prided themselves on, under this mental pressure, was like a small boat in a storm—maintaining stance became extraordinarily difficult, legs trembling uncontrollably, and beads of cold sweat instantly appeared on their foreheads.

He tried to speak, but found his throat constricted, unable to make a sound.

Like an ant facing the majesty of a god.

Not only Raymond, but all the sentinel councilors present felt a strong sense of suffocation and violent turmoil in their mental landscape.

The guide councilors, however, could more clearly perceive the terrifying source of that power, staring in shock at Jin Chen.

"What… is this power?!"

"Good heavens…… my mental barrier……"

"Jin Chen…… what… what level is he?!"

Just then, the quietly observing Bai Ye seemed to snap out of his contemplation, elegantly pushing up his gold‑wire glasses, his face showing just the right look of realization.

"Ah, sorry, everyone. I forgot to mention an important piece of information."

"Councillor Jin Chen is an S‑rank Guide."

"Those four words were like a thunderclap out of the blue."