Chapter 1162: Helicopter Takes Off

When raptors strike at migratory birds, the people within the Northern Zone One territories feel even more tense than when fierce beasts attack, because these big fellows with wingspans exceeding six or seven meters can flap their wings and reach the airspace above the territory in just over ten minutes. So upon receiving the notification, the lords all stood at the edges of their farmlands with guns and blades, ready for battle.

The Northern Wolf Group and the Northern Xiong Qun stood within their respective territories, watching the bird battles to the north or northwest; the Azure Dragon Bird-Catching Team on Mount Forty-Nine was methodically sorting the previously captured birds and transporting them back to the territory's food storage warehouse for cold storage.

Yang Jin, who was directing on site, paused and tapped the touch area of his Bluetooth earpiece. "Teacher Tan?"

Tan Junjie replied, "It's me. The drone dispatched by Inspection Team 23 was attacked by birds and has lost contact. Before the second drone reaches the designated location, can the Azure Dragon Squad provide migratory bird intelligence to the inspection team?"

"We can. I'll have Xuan Yu contact Su Ming to provide real-time intel." Yang Jin hung up the phone and looked at his team member Li Xuanyu.

Li Xuanyu, a Level Six auditory evolver in Yang Jin's squad, primarily responsible for reconnaissance, intelligence analysis, and liaison tasks, immediately nodded and called Su Ming of the inspection team via radio.

Just as the lords, unable to get real-time updates, grew anxious and prepared to ask questions, Tan Junjie's calm and serious voice sounded again. "Lords, the spot-billed ducks are locked in fierce combat with the raptors, and their forward speed has slowed. A flock of no fewer than 2,000 Bai Liu sandpipers and iron-billed sandpipers will pass over the territory in ten minutes, at an altitude of 3,000 meters."

Hearing this report, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Di Ming, a brain-domain evolver and retired soldier within Territory Eleven, spoke up. "Sandpipers are small birds roosting in Bai Liu, with low attack power but strong endurance. A flight altitude of 3,000 meters means they don't plan to stop here."

"Hearing Mingzi say that puts my mind at ease." Kuang Qingwei of Territory Six chimed in. Having a brain-domain evolver as an ally felt absolutely fantastic.

Watching the temperature climb degree by degree, Wen Nengjie of Territory Seventeen worried that the flock of spot-billed ducks would invite disaster. "Captain Tan, will the spot-billed ducks and raptors end up fighting their way over to us?"

Hearing Zhu Li was having none of it. "Can't Brother Jie hope for something good?"

"Exactly!" Tang Huai followed up immediately.

"Buzz—"

"Your friend Duan Yao is calling you on video."

After Xia Qing answered, she not only saw Duan Yao Wolf's big nose and heard the lead wolf's even more urgent warning howl, but also heard the high-frequency cries of large numbers of birds. Hugging Wolf Lao Er's neck to soothe him, she asked, "Duan Yao, have the raptors entered your territory's airspace?"

Duan Yao Wolf looked up for a glance, then lowered his head to look at the phone. After a few seconds of thought, he picked up the transparent pouch holding the phone in his mouth, propped the phone upright against a rock, adjusted the angle, and gave Xia Qing a view of the battle in the territory's airspace.

"Duan Yao, you truly live up to your reputation as a smart wolf standing at the top of Jin Zita. With the phone propped up like this, I can see the spot-billed ducks and the raptors." Xia Qing earnestly praised Duan Yao Wolf while observing through his dirty phone screen the black dots swirling around the two raptors like a tornado in the sky.

The flock of spot-billed ducks, attacked by the raptors, had not scattered and fled, but had actually fought back against the raptors. Xia Qing asked in surprise, "Duan Yao, are there evolvers among this flock of spot-billed ducks?"

Duan Yao Wolf's solemn face appeared on the screen. He bared a little tip of his fang at Xia Qing, then raised one of his big paws.

The aerial battle between the birds did not greatly affect the wolf pack, but Duan Yao Wolf, who had learned a lot from videos, knew how harmful birds were to human farmlands, which was why he had called Xia Qing again.

Watching the approaching migratory bird storm, Xia Qing understood Duan Yao Wolf's meaning. "Thanks, handsome wolf brother. I'll strengthen the territory's defenses and protect the farmlands. If necessary, I'll use the helicopter to attack. You also need to—"

Before she could finish, she saw Yang Jin calling her. Xia Qing ended the call with Duan Yao Wolf and was about to contact Yang Jin when Wolf Lao Er, whom she was hugging, had already turned around and let out a roar toward the north.

Xia Qing turned her head, and damn, she saw Yang Jin, wearing special protective gear, easily vault over the wall she had built for 250,000 points, and arrive before her in the blink of an eye. He stated his purpose: "The flock of spot-billed ducks and two giant raptors are flying toward us. The helicopter is ready for takeoff. Sister Qing, come with me to the helipad. We need to intercept this flock of ducks in the air."

"Okay. Boss, Lao Er, I'm leaving the territory to you!" Xia Qing nuzzled Wolf Lao Er with her head, patted Boss, and ran with Yang Jin toward the north gate of Territory Three.

After bursting out of the northern isolation belt, Yang Jin stopped. "Get on, I'll carry you."

"Okay." Xia Qing immediately jumped onto Yang Jin's back. The two of them crossed the Three District of Mount Forty-Nine in just three minutes and boarded the helicopter that had already lifted off the ground.

After the two entered the cabin, Azure Dragon team member Li Xuanyu immediately reported, "Captain, Sister Qing, at the spot-billed ducks' current speed, they are expected to reach the airspace above Mount Forty-Nine in eight minutes."

Yang Jin gave the order: "When the helicopter reaches the airspace above Territory Twelve, Sister Qing will contact Third Brother to request the deployment of Territory Seven's laser cannon. I'll contact Teacher Tan to adjust the ground-based air defense forces to join hands with us in defending the territory."

"Okay." Xia Qing acknowledged and immediately contacted her idol.

With the helicopter over Territory Twelve, the four snipers on the aircraft, including Xia Qing, joining forces with the laser cannon of Territory Seven located in the northeast corner of the Northern Zone One territories, the inspection team, and the deployable air defense forces within the territories, full fire coverage of the Northern Zone One territories could be achieved.

Soon, the inspection team and the evolvers within the territories ran quickly to their positions, non-combat personnel in the various Northern Zone One territories retreated into bunkers, and the students of the Ninth Central School also hid under their desks to avoid the incoming bird attack.

Without needing the teachers' reminders, every child clutched their books, curled up quietly under their desks, and stared wide-eyed out the window. Quickly finding sturdy cover to hide in when a natural disaster strikes was the first survival skill learned by children born in the era of natural disasters. This survival skill had already seeped into their bones and become their survival instinct.

The anti-aircraft gun emplacement within Territory Seven opened up, the barrels extending out and adjusting their angle to aim at the northern sky.

"Buzz—"

After the phone in her pocket vibrated, Xia Qing heard the voice prompt from her Bluetooth earpiece: "Your friend Duan Yao is calling you on video."

Xia Qing, aiming her sniper rifle at the northern sky, did not take out her phone. She only pressed her Bluetooth earpiece with her left hand and heard the wolf howls and bird cries. She lowered her voice and spoke: "Brother Duan, I've already taken the helicopter up and am intercepting the bird flock in the air. Don't worry, nothing will happen. I'll call you back when the battle is over."

Huh?!!!

The five Azure Dragon team members on the helicopter heard Xia Qing's voice, which was much gentler than usual, and instinctively looked at their boss.

Who is this person surnamed Duan? Is there an evolver surnamed Duan in Northern Zone One? Could it be Duan Ziyang of the Aurora Squad?

Damn! Trying to cozy up to Sister Qing right in front of the boss—Duan Ziyang has a death wish, doesn't he!

Hu Zifeng, who was piloting the helicopter, remained perfectly calm. Just from the tone, he knew Xia Qing was talking to an animal. Among the animals that had dealings with Territory Three, the only one Xia Qing would address as "Brother Duan" was that brain-domain evolved wolf whose scheming mind outmatched most humans, and who often came and went from Territory Three carrying a laptop in its mouth.

It already had a laptop, so having a phone was perfectly normal.

Yang Jin swept his gaze over his distracted team members like a blade, his eyes landing on Xia Qing. The wolves having phones meant closer contact with Xia Qing, and the safety factor of the Northern Zone One territories had risen again. This was a good thing.

However, what phone was Duan Yao Wolf using, what was the number, and how was the bill paid?