Chapter 198 - 125: To Nuke or Not to Nuke?

Chapter 198: Chapter 125: To Nuke or Not to Nuke?

The convoy traveled for the better part of the day on a road that was slightly bumpy but clearly maintained. In the distance, the outline of the Jiang City Shelter’s ever-expanding and reinforced walls finally appeared on the horizon.

Compared to when Xu Mo had left nearly four months ago, the Jiang City before him seemed far more fortified. The walls were not only taller and thicker, but numerous new watchtowers and firing points had been added. Most eye-catching of all were the many steel "hedgehogs" pointing skyward, both atop the walls and within the newly established perimeter security zone. They were new anti-aircraft weapon systems.

These included relatively simple but numerous twin- and quad-barreled anti-aircraft machine gun turrets, as well as more complex, self-propelled anti-aircraft guns with radar platforms and electro-optical targeting systems. At several key high points and wall corners, Xu Mo even spotted the blurry outlines of what appeared to be short-range anti-aircraft missile launchers.

The density of drone patrols in the sky also seemed to have increased. Like diligent worker bees, drones of various models crisscrossed their designated airspace.

Along the way, Xu Mo noted that the forward base had also undergone significant changes. The base, which once served as a buffer zone and supply transit point, had now become an anti-aircraft fortress armed to the teeth. Layers of various anti-aircraft defenses were in place, and the alert level had clearly been raised to the maximum.

’Looks like the pressure from those birds is even greater than I imagined.’ Xu Mo calmly observed these new changes through the vehicle’s window.

Jiang City had clearly learned its lesson from the initial attacks and was now building a layered air defense network at any cost to counter the ever-more-rampant threat of mutated aerial creatures.

Upon entering the Inner City, he was hit by the familiar clamor and a complex mix of smells. Pedestrians hurried through the streets, vehicles passed by, and most shops were open for business as usual.

But a closer look revealed many differences. Protective netting or shutters had been installed on the windows of many buildings, and some street-side signs showed signs of hasty repairs. The number of patrolling soldiers and peacekeepers had noticeably increased, and many of them were equipped with crossbows or rifles with long bayonets—gear seemingly intended for close-quarters defense against aerial assaults.

From time to time, a pedestrian on the street would, like a startled bird, jerk their head up to scan the sky with wary eyes, only continuing on their way after confirming there was no danger.

A fear and vigilance toward the sky seemed to have woven itself into the very fabric of daily life in this city of millions.

Xu Mo and the other returning Observers were taken to a large building to complete their mission debriefings.

The process was straightforward: identity verification, confirmation of mission duration, a short end-of-mission briefing, a reminder about confidentiality and recent safety protocols, and finally, the distribution of rewards.

When Xu Mo inserted his Identity Card into the dedicated terminal and saw the number that flashed on the screen, even with his current composure, he couldn’t stop his heart from racing.

Contribution Points: +15,000

Fifteen thousand points.

The number far exceeded Xu Mo’s expectations. He remembered veterans mentioning that while long-term deployment missions for Observers offered high rewards, they typically paid only two to three thousand Contribution Points per month, depending on the danger involved.

His mission had lasted less than four months, so even by the highest standard, he should have earned only seven or eight thousand points. This fifteen-thousand-point reward had clearly taken into account the mission’s risk, its specific nature, and probably some kind of hazard pay or confidentiality bonus.

’It seems Jiang City rated the danger of this mission very highly, or perhaps they’re giving a hefty bonus to those of us who stuck it out to the very end.’ Xu Mo understood clearly. In any case, it was a fortune.

After collecting his Contribution Points and signing the necessary documents, Xu Mo was officially off-duty.

He didn’t linger, instead gathering his pile of gear and heading straight for his living quarters.

Walking along the familiar streets, a strange sense of being grounded washed over Xu Mo. The mission had been arduous, but the rewards were immense.

His rent payments, which had been paused, would only resume from the day of his return, saving him a good sum. He had also successfully broken through to the Iron Bone Realm—a fundamental evolution that no amount of Contribution Points could buy.

On top of that, he had received a massive fifteen thousand Contribution Points from this mission, instantly elevating him from someone with minor savings to a man of some means. In Xu Mo’s view, this wasn’t just a "win-win"; it was a "win-win-win" on all fronts.

He arrived outside his small courtyard to find the gate locked tight.

Xu Mo took out his key and unlocked it. The courtyard looked almost exactly as it had when he left, just with more fallen leaves. He strode into the house but didn’t rush to put down his luggage. Instead, his sharp gaze swept over every part of the room.

The trace of dust on an inconspicuous spot of the inner windowsill, the precise angle of several books on the shelf, the single, nearly invisible strand of hair wound around the wardrobe handle... all the tiny, secret "markers" he had deliberately left before his departure were undisturbed. Their positions and states hadn’t changed in the slightest.

’As expected,’ Xu Mo thought, ’the security for a managed property is reliable after all.’ He nodded to himself, finally able to relax completely.

This confirmed that no one had entered his personal space during his absence. In this apocalyptic world, the value of a completely secure and private foothold was immeasurable.

He unstrapped his gear, stowed it away meticulously, and placed his spare clothes in the wardrobe.

Once all that was done, Xu Mo went into the bathroom and took a long, satisfyingly hot shower, washing away all his fatigue and the lingering dust of gunpowder and ruins.

He changed into clean, comfortable clothes and lay down on his own bed. Xu Mo felt a profound sense of relaxation that seemed to emanate from the very marrow of his bones.