Chapter 219 - 132: New Mission

Chapter 219: Chapter 132: New Mission

This wall would separate more than just danger from safety. It might also divide the old era from the new, despair from hope, and the vastly different futures of countless people.

In the morning, the sun had yet to fully unleash its light and heat. Xu Mo completed his routine rounds and was riding his well-maintained bicycle, preparing to take a relatively quiet path near the East Gate back to the Inner City.

Just then, a much heavier and more concentrated vibration emanated from the end of the road. Unlike the scattered roar from the distant construction site, this sound was uniform and powerful, carrying the distinct low growl of grinding metal and diesel engines.

Soon, a convoy appeared in his line of sight, approaching rapidly.

A uniform column of wheeled armored personnel carriers led the way. Their hulls were covered in faded but well-maintained camouflage paint. On the remote weapon stations atop the vehicles, the barrels of 12.7mm heavy machine guns glinted coldly in the morning light.

Following behind were several modified and reinforced military trucks. Beneath their tarps, one could vaguely make out crates of supplies and soldiers sitting ramrod straight. The convoy wasn’t large—only about twenty vehicles—but it moved with a deadly aura, a stark contrast to the civilian convoys that usually transported construction materials.

Xu Mo had seen plenty of military convoys like this one heading out on missions. Most were tasked with clearing threats from specific areas, escorting important personnel or supplies, or conducting long-range reconnaissance. He didn’t pay it much mind, simply standing quietly in the roadside shadows to watch it pass.

However, as one of the armored vehicles drew near, a figure in the passenger seat caught Xu Mo’s eye. The man was leaning halfway out of the vehicle, one hand on the roof rail as he scanned the road ahead. He had a strong, defined profile—it was Zhao Ming, whom Xu Mo hadn’t seen in a long time. He wore a standard-issue combat uniform, but his presence was even more formidable than it had been back at Fortress C-07. His gaze was as sharp as a hawk’s.

As if sensing the stare from the roadside, Zhao Ming turned, his gaze landing unerringly on Xu Mo. He clearly recognized him. A flicker of surprise crossed his serious face before melting into a brief, genuine smile. He gave Xu Mo a small but distinct nod of acknowledgment.

A warmth spread through Xu Mo’s chest, and he nodded in return. No words were exchanged. It was a silent greeting between old acquaintances, shared across the swirling dust and roaring engines.

The convoy didn’t stop. It rumbled past Xu Mo and sped toward the vast wilderness beyond the East Gate, quickly vanishing into a cloud of dust at a bend in the road.

’Looks like they’ve taken on a more important mission,’ Xu Mo thought as he watched the convoy disappear. Zhao Ming’s unit was well-equipped and its members highly capable. They clearly weren’t on a routine patrol or clean-up mission. Considering all the major moves Jiang City had been making recently, the destination of this convoy was likely tied to some top-secret operation.

Pulling his gaze away, Xu Mo got on his bicycle and started back toward the city.

However, Xu Mo had ridden less than two kilometers and was about to turn onto the main road to the Inner City when the sound of another large convoy rose up behind him. This time, the noise was more chaotic. In addition to the roar of armored vehicles, there was the rumble of many more trucks, and even the distinctive CLANG of tracked vehicles.

Xu Mo pulled over and looked back.

He saw a combined-arms force, far larger than Zhao Ming’s convoy, emerging from a fork in the road. It was heading in the opposite direction on the very main road Xu Mo was about to enter, speeding away from the city toward a different area. A dozen or so tanks of various models led the column, with observers in the turrets vigilantly scanning the surroundings. They were followed by more armored personnel carriers, trucks packed with soldiers and supplies, and even dozens of prime movers towing field artillery, along with engineering and repair vehicles. The convoy kicked up a towering cloud of dust, an awe-inspiring sight.

The supply vehicles in this contingent were especially conspicuous. Their sheer number and the visible cargo suggested they were equipped to support a prolonged or large-scale operation. Their direction of travel was completely different from Zhao Ming’s convoy, clearly indicating a separate destination.

’Two directions. Two heavily armed forces deployed simultaneously...’ Xu Mo’s brow furrowed, his mind racing. For Jiang City to dispatch two formidable combat groups in different directions while also pushing forward with the New Home project was highly unusual.

Construction requires a stable rear and vast resources. Conducting major military operations on multiple fronts simultaneously suggested one of two things: either they were facing a dual threat that demanded immediate attention, or they were proactively maneuvering for a much larger strategic play.

The northeast. Xu Mo recalled a crude regional map he’d seen. That direction led toward a distant hilly region and the rumored ruins of several small and medium-sized towns that had fallen early on. Had a threat emerged over there, one so significant it required tanks and artillery? Or was Jiang City proactively clearing the area to pave the way for future expansion?

The possibilities collided in his mind, but he didn’t have a single clue.

Xu Mo didn’t linger. He got on his bike and quickly merged with the flow of people and vehicles heading back into the city.

Back in his small courtyard in the Inner City, he shut the gate, muffling the city’s din. Xu Mo stood in the yard, looking up at the high, vast sky. The Jiang City No. 1 satellite was probably orbiting silently up there somewhere, connecting them to distant places and perhaps even spying on secrets closer to home.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

Just as Xu Mo was lost in thought, a knock at the gate made him start. He had been living here alone for some time now. Other than the occasional trip to the market to trade or to the Hunter’s Guild to turn in a mission, he barely interacted with his neighbors. Who could possibly be knocking on his gate?