Chapter 155 - 110: Eliminating Hidden Dangers

Chapter 155: Chapter 110: Eliminating Hidden Dangers

After Xu Mo’s warning echoed through the walkie-talkie channel like a blaring alarm, a suffocating silence descended for over ten seconds. The only sounds left on the channel were the sporadic explosions of landmines outside, each one a grim reminder that their dreadful theory was becoming reality.

Just as the oppressive atmosphere was becoming unbearable, the steady voice of the Zone A representative, codenamed A-02, once again broke the silence:

"Everyone, please remain calm. The fact that C-07, Xu Mo, was able to identify this issue so quickly and sharply is a very good thing! It proves the value of our observer posts and reflects all of your high sense of responsibility. Rest assured, this intelligence has already been reported to Jiang City Command. Command has professional analysis teams and more comprehensive information. They will conduct a thorough assessment based on our intel and take the most appropriate and timely action."

His voice, carrying a soldier’s unique calm and credibility, somewhat eased the anxiety spreading across the channel.

"Furthermore, you must all trust in the integrity of these bunkers. They are our most reliable strongholds on the front line. As long as we don’t intentionally expose our positions or leave without authorization, our safety is absolutely guaranteed. I repeat, the bunkers’ main structures are secure. Hold your positions and maintain observation."

Hearing the military representative’s reassurance and guarantee, the others on the channel seemed to find their resolve. They began speaking up one by one, offering each other encouragement and comfort.

"A-02 is right. We can’t be the ones to lose our cool."

"Discovering the problem is a good thing. It’s better than being kept in the dark!"

"I’m sure Jiang City will come up with something. We just need to do our part."

The atmosphere was still tense, but the initial sense of panic had indeed been suppressed. Everyone refocused on their observation and recording duties. Now, however, their gazes toward the explosion sites outside held a deeper sense of vigilance.

About thirty minutes later, just as everyone was observing and quietly speculating on how Jiang City would respond, A-02’s voice came over the channel again. This time, his tone was noticeably more spirited:

"This is A-02. I’ve just received the latest directive from Command. In light of the potential risk that the current minefield is accelerating zombie evolution, Jiang City has decided to immediately dispatch a Superpower User squad to the Red Star Industrial Zone to execute a special cleanup mission. The priority is to eliminate the new variants created from devouring corpses and to assist in dealing with the landmine hazard. All bunker Observers are to maintain close observation. If you spot the Superpower User squad approaching, provide necessary intel support as the situation dictates, but your personal safety and concealment are the top priority. I repeat, a Superpower User squad is entering the field to execute a cleanup mission."

"A Superpower User squad?!"

"That’s great! This should solve the problem!"

This news was like a shot in the arm for their flagging morale. The walkie-talkie immediately buzzed with excited and eager responses. To most ordinary survivors and combatants, Superpower Users were still synonymous with mystery and might—one of Jiang City’s trump cards in the fight against the apocalyptic crisis. Their deployment was a clear sign of how seriously Jiang City was taking the situation, and it gave everyone stationed in the bunkers a massive confidence boost.

Xu Mo also felt much more at ease upon hearing the news.

He had never been worried about a few scattered Tier-1 variant zombies. With his Cowhide Realm strength and the weapons at hand, dealing with a few of them alone wasn’t difficult.

What Xu Mo truly feared was the principle of quantitative change leading to qualitative change. Once the number of Tier-1 variants reached a terrifying level, the probability of them devouring one another and evolving into Tier-2 zombies would skyrocket. That was the real threat—an existence that could endanger the bunkers and even trigger a regional catastrophe.

’Looks like Jiang City has the same concerns I do,’ Xu Mo thought to himself. ’They’re also afraid this area will spin out of control and breed higher-level monsters, which would be a devastating blow to the security of Jiang City’s perimeter. Dispatching a Superpower User squad for ’precision demining’ is the most direct and effective way to handle it.’

Outside the bunker, landmines continued to explode sporadically, but everyone’s morale had returned to a state of relative calm. There was even a sense of anticipation as they waited for the official forces to arrive.

Time trickled by.

「Around five or six hours later, at dusk.」

The familiar WHIR of helicopter propellers grew louder as they approached from the distance. Xu Mo immediately moved to an observation slit and saw three helicopters bearing the Jiang City insignia. They flew in formation, skimming low over the bunker and heading toward a nearby area with high zombie density where several mines had recently exploded.

’The Superpower User squad must have arrived,’ Xu Mo realized. This method of direct insertion into the core of the action was typical for the rapid-response tactics of an elite unit.

However, that wasn’t all. Later that night, after darkness had completely fallen, a low, sustained RUMBLE, completely different from a helicopter’s, carried from the distance. It was accompanied by the sound of more frequent and louder explosions.

Soon, an Observer reported excitedly over the walkie-talkie: "It’s mine-clearing vehicles! Jiang City sent in mine-clearing vehicles! They’re mechanically detonating the landmines."

Xu Mo immediately understood the source of the rumbling. ’Jiang City is using a two-pronged approach. They’ve sent the Superpower User squad to clean up the variants while simultaneously using heavy engineering equipment to eliminate the root cause—the landmines that act as an ’evolutionary catalyst.’ All about efficiency, clean and decisive.’