Chapter 2345: S-Rank Guide's Forced Love 30

The interior of the New Star Alliance's camp was far more luxurious than the temporary command post of the High Tower, laid with thick animal-skin Carpet.

Andre sat sprawled in the chief seat.

He was a Guide even less like a Guide than Jin Chen, extraordinarily burly, with bronzed skin, and a ferocious scar running from his brow to his jaw, making him look more like a battle-hardened berserker.

【4> The astonishingly wide-spread Grey Falcon perched on the metal armor on his shoulder.

The gray falcon with an astonishing wingspan perched on the metal armor on his shoulder.

Jin Chen sat opposite him, his windbreaker uniform clashing with the somewhat rough environment, yet subtly forming a balance of aura.

"Old friend, long time no see."

Andre grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth, picked up the metal cup on the table and took a gulp.

"Where's your wolf? Why didn't it come with you?"

He and Jin Chen were old acquaintances, and the Grey Falcon and White Wolf knew each other as well.

Jin Chen lifted the water cup before him, his fingertips rubbing the rim, his tone flat: "Not here."

Andre's rugged eyebrows rose, a flicker of understanding crossing his eyes.

He chuckled twice and didn't pursue the matter further.

What else could make an S-Rank Guide leave his spiritual form alone?

Most likely he went out on a mission with his precious sentinel.

That's novel; I've known Jin Chen for so long, yet I've never seen him care so much about anyone.

"Fine, let's not talk about that."

Andre set down his cup, leaned forward slightly, a pressure washing over him: "I'd rather know why you suddenly had someone contact me—was it just for this..."

He paused, then spat out two words: "Cooperation."

Cooperation.

When they were about to embark on a mission, on the day Youzan confirmed his restoration as a High Tower Special Operations Sentinel, Jin Chen had Ling Gun Gun disguise as a communications officer and secretly contacted Andre.

As Jin Chen expected, Andre had little loyalty to the New Star Alliance itself.

He was more like a lone wolf craving power and territory; being appointed commander of the resource mine contention this time was a key step for him to demonstrate his ability and seize greater power within the Alliance.

Jin Chen's private contact hit exactly what he wanted.

Andre needed Jin Chen's aid, while Jin Chen could use him to avoid an unnecessary bloodbath and thereby further establish his prestige within the High Tower, eliminating the influence of the Cain Faction.

It was a case of each taking what they needed.

Jin Chen looked at Andre's undisguised ambition, raised an eyebrow slightly, and said, "Much like you, Old Man isn't willing to watch the High Tower be eroded by filth and turbidity; let me go back and clean it up."

Andre chuckled, tugging at the scar at the corner of his mouth, "Don't give me that; I'm not like you. My ambition is huge—I take what I want. You..."

He sized Jin Chen up from head to toe, "You look... not like someone who would willingly jump into that power mire."

Jin Chen didn't deny it, gave a slight nod, "I have no interest in becoming the Tower Lord of the High Tower."

What's the difference between becoming Tower Lord and being an emperor?

He certainly wouldn't wade into muddy waters.

Andre asked with interest, "Then what are you interested in? You gotta have some goal, right?"

He was genuinely curious: what could make this guy, who seems to care about nothing, willingly jump into the muddy water?

Jin Chen lifted his eyes, "My sentinel."

Andre: "..."

He opened his mouth, then leaned heavily back into the chair, rolled his eyes, grabbed the cup and took a big gulp, muttering indistinctly, "Damn! I shouldn't have asked!"

After all that, this S-Rank big shot mobilized forces and stirred up the situation just to protect his own sentinel.

What the hell, this is top-tier lovesick brain!

He let out a breath, with a hint of mischievous amusement, "Tsk, when will you bring it out to show me? I'd like to see what kind of deity it is."

Jin Chen's lips curled as he focused his attention on his spiritual form, "There will be a chance."

——

Meanwhile, in the narrow ravine reeking of heavy metal rust and bloody odor,

Youzan darted swiftly through the wreckage of massive pipes, together with the Assault Team, carrying out the strike mission ordered by Jin Chen.

The ravine's terrain was complex and treacherous, the light dim, the air thick with strong mental pollution.

Battle could break out at any moment.

Youzan's spirit was highly focused, his senses heightened to the extreme, like a top-tier predator lurking in the darkness.

The crystal on his neck collar continuously emitted a warm, moist glow, stabilizing the mental landscape that fluctuated slightly under environmental pressure.

Jin Chen did not allow him to join the negotiations.

This originally made Youzan very unhappy, extremely unhappy!

That whatever Andre, just hearing his name sounds like no good thing; why would Jin Chen see him alone?

Although Youzan is rebellious by nature and dislikes restraint, the things Jin Chen explicitly forbids him from participating in rarely raise any doubt in him.

However, before setting out, this displeasure was replaced by a sense of steadiness.

The White Wolf entered his mental landscape.

This meant that, no matter where Jin Chen was, a part of his consciousness followed him like a shadow, accompanying and watching his every move.

"Left-side conduit, three lurking mutants."

Youzan heard the exchange on the encrypted channel, his motion without the slightest pause, the dagger in his hand flashing a cold light.

"Front corner, mental pollution sources gathering."

This time it was Luwen's voice.

Youzan glanced ahead, didn't move, and had Lindun charge forward from his side.

When the Assault Team ventured deep into the wasteland's interior to carry out a survey mission, they once again fell into an ambush by a swarm of mutants.

Initially just a few scattered ones, but soon more surged out of the darkness; they resembled rotting vines crawling up from the ground, emitting a bone‑chilling hiss.

Youzan's pupils contracted sharply; before him was a mantis‑like mutant with six compound eyes.

It was the same kind of mutant that had nearly killed him in the ruins mission.

His breathing instantly grew heavy; the black jungle cat behind him bristled silently, its emerald pupils narrowing to slits, while near‑boiling killing intent churned in his throat.

Luwen stood at the front of the team, catching Youzan's reaction in his peripheral vision, his brow furrowed.

"Prioritize eliminating the mutants! Don't scatter!" Luwen shouted the order.

Kaisen's command echoed in his mind.

If Youzan died on the mission, no one would investigate.

But now is not the time.

He pretended to be pushed back by another mutant, while quietly adjusting his stance, preparing to strike Youzan from behind.

"Luwen! Left!" Lindon's shout interrupted his plan.

A giant multi‑footed worm lunged at him; Luwen had to turn and fight, cursing under his breath.

There were far too many mutants—he had no opening to carry out an ambush.

The battle stalled.

The seven members of the Vanguard Squad formed a back‑to‑back defensive circle, but the number of mutants kept rising.

Worse still, the concentration of mental pollution in the air was spiking, forming a visible black mist.

"Holy shit! The pollution source has erupted!" Amoss yelled.

As soon as he spoke, the entire battlefield was suddenly swallowed by thick, ink‑like darkness, leaving only the faint tactical lights on the team members' weapons.

A screeching static came through the communicator, then it fell completely silent.

His vision was instantly engulfed, visibility dropping to less than one meter.