Naming Technique of the Night

Chapter 254 203, Scepter No.

Countdown 5:45:00.

Great Snow.

Only 45 minutes left until nightfall.

Itʼs common knowledge in the Federation that consortia donʼt have their own armies, but the entire Federal Army is at the consortiaʼs disposal.

What this means is that although consortia are not allowed to have private armed forces, they have long since infiltrated the entire Federal Group Army.

For instance, the 112th Division of the Federal First Group Army is a direct line troop of the Qingʼs Family.

18 kilometers northeast of the 18th City, thatʼs where the 112th Division of the Federal First Group Army is stationed.

At this moment, it wasnʼt yet completely dark, but in the camp, huge searchlights had already been turned on.

The flakes of snow twirling down from the sky coated the ground with a layer of white, lending the army camp an especially solemn atmosphere.

Dozens of white geometric beams of light swept back and forth through the night sky, like gigantic white swords plowing through the camp.

As the light passed through the air, one could see dense snowflakes piercing through the beams.

Soldiers in the camp bustled about like worker ants, moving to and fro in an orderly manner.

The buzzing sound came from the dusk, and seven Black Knife-02 type armed helicopters carrying tactical heat-seeking missiles had risen to midair, ready and waiting for orders.

All these Black Knife-02 type armed helicopters were equipped with Morningstar-13 type lead-bismuth alloy reactors, capable of long-endurance flights.

The strong and powerful propeller blades whipped up snow and wind in the air.

Over the communication channel someone said, ”The first combat formation is on standby, ready to escort at any time.”

”Received, Scepter No. requests take-off to carry out combat mission 0221.”

”Permission to take off granted.”

”Anchor 1 has been unlocked.”

”Anchor 2 has been unlocked.”

”Reactor control device temperature is normal.”

”Take off.”

Inside the command post, a middle-aged officer with a solemn expression watched the real-time surveillance footage, waiting for the war machine to start.

The next moment, amidst the snowstorm.

Suddenly, huge amounts of accumulated snow in the army camp were lifted into the air, countless snowflakes whirled about, and camouflage tents flapped violently in the howling wind.

In the center of the camp, a terrifyingly large hover airship rose from the ground, with hundreds of jet devices arrayed underneath like a matrix, bursting into life.

The already dim sky, due to the heavy snow, grew even darker with the ascent of the Scepter airship.

Snowflakes in the sky were thrown into chaos by the vortex, swirling around like tornadoes.

From the command camp voices transmitted continuously, ”Confirm again, the reactor temperature is normal.”

”Matrix jet engines functional.”

”Coordinates have been anchored.”

”Confirm execution of combat mission 0221, Scepter No. is ready.”

At this point, a young officer rushed into the tent and questioned the middle-aged officer, ”Uncle 13, do you realize what you are doing? You are provoking a war!”

The middle-aged officer looked at him calmly and said, ”In the army, I am your commanding officer, not your Uncle 13. Disregarding military discipline, drag him out and hang him up, hang him for 24 hours.”

The young officer roared, ”Did you consult with the main family before deploying Scepter No.?!”

The middle-aged officer smirked, ”What is the main family? I am only responsible to the Family Head.”

After the guards from the Guard Camp dragged the young officer away.

The middle-aged officer in the command tent spoke calmly through the communication system, ”Triumph.”

As his words fell, the Scepter airship in the sky emitted a deafening roar, and the soldiers in the camp looked up to see that breathtaking airship challenge the sky, becoming a new Iron Sky!

Seven Black Knife-02 type armed helicopters escorted it, like tiny seagulls next to a tiger whale.

All the ground crew in black uniforms ran to both sides to avoid getting scorched by the jet engineʼs flaming tails.

Amidst the roar, Scepter No. started slowly, rising higher and higher, gaining speed as it headed straight for Prison No. 18 in the southwest!

The massive hover airship, braving the snowstorm, was both spectacular and breathtakingly beautiful.

In the grandeur of the Scepter airship, nobody even noticed that a secret ground troop had suddenly broken away from the 112th Divisionʼs station and was racing northward.

...

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Countdown 5:20:00.

Inside Prison No. 18, everyone was completely unaware of what was happening outside.

Qing Chen sat across from Uncle Li Dong and asked, ”Master, I guess before this, many people only knew the serial number ACE-002 but didnʼt actually know what it was or where it was. Was it you who leaked the information about it being in Prison No. 18?”

”Why do you presume so,” Li Dong Uncle smiled.

”Because when you look at the whole thing from start to finish, itʼs like someone intentionally gathered these people together,” Qing Chen said calmly, ”The containment conditions for the forbidden artifact ACE-002 seem to require human lives, and the number it needs is very large. That is why you continually select those who have committed unforgivable crimes, hoping to use them to complete the containment of the forbidden artifact ACE-002.”

”When I appeared, you knew that you had already left a knightly inheritance, so you were free to go and do what you wanted to do, but still, the containment conditions for the forbidden artifact were not enough,” Qing Chen continued, ”At that point, you actively released false information, attracting all those who wanted to compete for the forbidden artifact, using their lives to fulfill its requirement.”

”Not entirely correct,” Uncle Li Dong laughed.

”Hmm,” Qing Chen nodded, seemingly not surprised, ”I know where I went wrong. Because when you had not yet decided to take me on as a disciple, Guo Huchan had already received the fake news about the forbidden artifact ACE-002 and come here. So, in fact, you had already planned to leave.”

Previously, Qing Chen had thought that it was because of his emergence that the knight had a new successor, and that Uncle Li Dong had no more concerns, and thatʼs why he planned to leave Prison #18.

But all the clues from the past were in his head, and just a brief review revealed that the timeline didnʼt add up.

Uncle Li Dong didnʼt plan to leave because Qing Chen appeared, but rather, Qing Chenʼs arrival delayed the original plan.

If Qing Chen hadnʼt appeared, the events that were about to unfold today would have happened a month earlier.

Uncle Li Dong exclaimed with emotion, ”Sometimes I really donʼt know whether finding such a smart disciple is a good thing or a bad thing. Your analysis is not wrong; I had this plan long ago. However, you may not know that many things have changed because of your arrival, like the way the plan was to be completed. I canʼt tell you why just yet, but someday you will find out for yourself.”

At this, Uncle Li Dong did not intend to continue explaining anything, and Qing Chen felt there were some secrets hidden within, perhaps related to his identity in the Inner World.

”Master, how many of your friends are controlled by the conglomerates? And which conglomerate controls them?” Qing Chen asked.

”Chen Clan,” Uncle Li Dong said calmly, ”Eight years ago, many people died outright, and another 36 were not sacrificed, but taken by the Chen Clan to a secret detention place. At that time, the Lee family protected me, but the Chen Clan was not satisfied, so they traded the lives of those 36 people to imprison me, hoping to keep me here forever.”

”You havenʼt found their detention location?” Qing Chen asked.

”Yes,” Uncle Li Dong nodded, ”Iʼve been looking for many years, but never found it. However, after I released the news, those peopleʼs plans outside began. Someone started a student protest to try to draw away the police and military, while others turned around and leaked to Heng Society, saying that the Chen Clan would carry out a secret execution of the 36 at 19 oʼclock tonight. They were certain I would go.”

”Such a fake message, whatʼs the use of releasing it?” Qing Chen didnʼt understand.

”They think I wouldnʼt dare to gamble,” Uncle Li Dong said.

The lives of 36 vibrant individuals, all former friends, mean that for someone like Uncle Li Dong, as long as there was a glimmer of hope, he would try it out.

Therefore, Chen Yu believed that Uncle Li Dong would definitely not return to Prison #18 tonight.

But Uncle Li Dong came back anyway.

Uncle Li Dongʼs expression turned cold, ”Those people probably think I would, just like eight years ago, uphold the knightʼs integrity and kindness, but they are terribly wrong. Uncle Li Dong is no longer the Li Dong of eight years ago.”

Qing Chen was taken aback, to be honest, he also found it a bit strange.

After coming out from Taboo Land No. 002, he had also searched for opinions on knights in both the Inner and Outer Worlds, only to find that everyoneʼs appraisal of knights was positive.

Integrity, kindness, perseverance, bravery...

And the ruthlessness and decisiveness occasionally demonstrated by Uncle Li Dong, were very far from the knightʼs reputation.

At a certain moment, Qing Chen wondered if his master had been an optimistic and cheerful person in his youth, perhaps not as steady and calculating as he was now.

It was this world that changed some things, creating the Uncle Li Dong of today.

Qing Chen suddenly asked, ”Master, are the containment conditions for the Taboo ʼACE-002ʼ sufficient?”

”They are sufficient.”

”Master, will your friends die today?”

Uncle Li Dong calmly replied, ”I donʼt know, I have left that answer to destiny.”

At that moment, Uncle Li Dong said to Qing Chen, ”Originally, there was no need for your help today, but unexpectedly, you are adept at handling ʼACE-005ʼ. With that being the case, there is something you can do.”

At this, he had Lin Xiaoxiao bring over a reader and then pulled up a photo: ”This person is named Su Xingzhi. Go to 13 Chunlei Street, Ninth District, and find him. Tell him he can take action now. Later, youʼll leave through the secret passage in the cold storage. Remember, be quick.”

However, unexpectedly, Qing Chen shook his head and said, ”Master, I wonʼt go.”

”Why?” Uncle Li Dong was a bit surprised.

”Sending a message to him is a simple matter for you; thereʼs no reason to specifically send me on this errand. Although I donʼt know your purpose, by asking me to find Su Xingzhi, youʼre just wanting me to leave Cell Block 18,” Qing Chen said calmly.

”Do you think thereʼs danger inside Cell Block 18?” Uncle Li Dong asked with a smile, ”Every prisoner in this entire block dares not look me in the eye, and thereʼs Yiʼs protection inside. What danger do you think there could be?”

”I donʼt know, but Iʼm not leaving,” Qing Chen insisted, sitting stubbornly in his chair, motionless.

Uncle Li Dong sighed, ”Xiao Chen, how long have we known each other?”

”For a long time,” Qing Chen answered. ”I have recalled the experience of meeting you countless times, as long as several centuries.”

Uncle Li Dong smiled, ”Since you became my student, I have taken you here and there. I brought you to the ʼ002ʼ Taboo Land, to Qing Shanʼs sheer cliffs, to the boxing gym.”

”Master is grateful to you. Walking this journey with you, I felt as though I returned to my youth. Watching you, Master was reminded of the courage he once had, the kind that allows one to make moves without regret.”

”But Master has led you on these paths; they are not the ones you wish to travel. Do you remember what I once said? The Qing Shan Falcon pushes its young off the cliff in the second month after they hatch. Only the fledglings that fight to spread their wings have the right to survive.”

”Although good times are always short and fondly remembered, the time has come...”

”Now, you should start your own life.”

During the conversation, this contemporary demigod unexpectedly struck out at Qing Chen, knocking the young man unconscious.

Uncle Li Dong looked at Lin Xiaoxiao: ”Take him through the secret passage, Yiʼs hover car is already waiting there.”

”Boss,” Lin Xiaoxiao said softly, ”are you really not going to tell him the truth? Knocking him out will at most keep him unconscious for half an hour. When he wakes up, heʼs definitely going to come back.”

”It doesnʼt matter,” Uncle Li Dong smiled, ”there are only 15 minutes left. He wonʼt make it back in time... Something must have already started in City 18.”

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