ushernet Chapter 438: Red Alert, Doubt from the Supreme Command
Chapter 438: Red Alert, Doubt from the Supreme Command
Northern Domain, above the ice plains.
Chu Sheng stabilized himself, shaking his somewhat dizzy head.
What the hell?
Lord Mosquito is back!
He looked up.
The Demon Eye, which was the spatial channel, had just closed.
Whew. He almost didn’t make it out.
...Meanwhile.
Down on the city walls, tens of thousands of soldiers who had prepared for a fight to the death were now just looking at each other, massive question marks written on all their faces.
’What... is going on?’
Everyone stared at Chu Sheng in the sky, their discussions breaking out into a clamor.
Just then, from a beacon tower, Luo Zhan let out a sharp roar that cut through the clamor.
His gaze was electric as it swept across the entire area.
"All troops, listen up!"
"Everything that just occurred is now classified as top secret! Anyone who dares to discuss it privately will be court-martialed!"
Luo Zhan’s voice held an authority that could not be defied.
Then, his figure blurred. He shot up from the ground, transforming into a streak of light, and appeared before Chu Sheng.
This battle-hardened marshal, who had defended the Northern Domain for many years, now gazed at the tiny mosquito before him, his expression exceptionally complex.
There was scrutiny and surprise, but more than anything, there was a deep, heartfelt respect.
"You did it."
Luo Zhan looked at Chu Sheng, his tone low and earnest.
"It doesn’t matter if you brought back any useful intelligence, or even if you just went for a look around."
"The very fact that you came back from that place alive is enough."
"From this day forward, I, Luo Zhan, fully acknowledge you. You aren’t just a Contracted Beast—you’re an outstanding soldier."
Chu Sheng was completely dismissive of Luo Zhan’s acknowledgment.
"BZZZZZ! (’Tch, as if Lord Mosquito needs your approval?’)"
"BZZZ! (’Cut the crap! We have to hurry! Something huge has happened!’)"
He was in no mood for sentimental theatrics right now.
Everything was about to go up in flames!
Without caring if Luo Zhan could understand him, he whipped around, transformed into a bolt of black lightning, and shot down toward the main command tent.
Seeing Chu Sheng’s frantic haste, Luo Zhan’s heart leaped into his throat.
’It seems... something truly major has happened.’
"All troops, maintain a Level One alert! No one is to approach the central command tent without my direct order!"
Luo Zhan barked out the order before bursting forward at full speed, following Chu Sheng into the tent.
...
Inside the central command tent.
The atmosphere was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.
In addition to Luo Zhan, several core generals from the first line of defense had also been urgently summoned.
Right now, everyone’s gaze was fixed on the massive strategy table.
A mosquito was hovering above the table’s surface.
A pen, controlled by invisible Mental Power, was writing furiously on a sheet of white paper.
The SCRITCH-SCRATCH of the pen tip on the paper sounded exceptionally piercing in the deathly silent tent.
As the words appeared one by one, the faces of Luo Zhan and the other generals turned grim at a visible rate.
Eventually, their faces turned pale, and beads of cold sweat formed on their foreheads.
The contents on the paper were concise, but every word was like a dagger to the heart:
[Alien Race Plan: Feint attack to lure the enemy, followed by an all-out assault.]
[Force Composition: 50+ Lord Level, 20+ Monarch Level, countless Fierce Soldier Level.]
[Core Power: An Emperor-level Alien Race member—the Purple Nether Demon Lord—has personally arrived!]
[Attack Time: Tomorrow! Or even earlier!]
[...]
Piece by piece, the intelligence was written out by Chu Sheng.
SNAP!
The pen slammed down on the table, snapping in two.
The tent fell into a dead silence.
Only the harsh breathing of the generals could be heard.
After a long moment,
A burly vice-general swallowed hard, his voice dry and raspy.
"Em—Emperor-level? And so many Monarch Level and Lord Level members... Th-that’s impossible!"
"Is... is this intelligence accurate?"
All eyes turned to Luo Zhan.
Luo Zhan stared intently at the paper, the muscles in his jaw twitching.
He knew all too well what this meant.
If this intelligence was true, there was no way they could hold the Northern Domain!
Especially if an Emperor-level member of the Alien Race had truly arrived...
Once the Northern Domain’s defensive line was breached...
The consequences would be unimaginable.
The entire northern part of Great Xia would become a slaughterhouse for the Alien Race.
"There’s no need to doubt the authenticity of this intelligence."
Luo Zhan took a deep breath, his voice turning ice-cold.
"We have only one option: defend!"
"Hold it to the death!"
He snapped his head up, a look of grim resolve flashing in his eyes.
"Relay my orders!"
"All personnel of the first line of defense on leave are to be recalled immediately!"
"Activate the highest-level defensive Grand Array! Bring out all our spirit stone reserves—use them without restraint!"
"Also..."
Luo Zhan paused, his tone becoming more solemn than ever before.
"I need to contact the Military Department General Command immediately."
"We must request reinforcements!"
"Not only do we need to mobilize forces from other war zones, but more importantly... we must request an Emperor Realm expert to come to the Northern Domain. Immediately! Right now!"
The generals snapped to attention and saluted in unison. "Yes, Marshal!"
The situation had become extremely critical.
This was no longer a regional battle; this was a war for the fate of Great Xia, and perhaps the entire Human Race!
...
「Ten minutes later.」
Inside the secret communications room of the central command tent.
Luo Zhan stood before a giant display screen, waiting anxiously.
His report and request for reinforcements had already been sent, transmitted personally with his authority as the commander of the first line of defense.
Normally, once a signal of this priority was sent, the Military Department was required to respond within five minutes.
However, time ticked by, second by second.
Five minutes... ten minutes...
The screen remained black.
Luo Zhan’s fists clenched tighter and tighter, his nails digging deep into his palms.
’What’s going on?’
’Why aren’t they picking up?’
Just as Luo Zhan was about to lose his patience and send the signal again,
BEEP—
The screen finally lit up.
But the person who appeared on the screen wasn’t the Minister of the Military Department, whom Luo Zhan knew well.
Instead, it was a middle-aged man with a gaunt face, high cheekbones, and an air of shrewdness and indifference in his eyes.
The moment he saw this man, Luo Zhan’s brow furrowed into a deep scowl.
’Qin Zhen!’
"Where is the Minister?"
Luo Zhan cut straight to the point without any pleasantries.
"I have extremely urgent military intelligence that I must report to the Minister personally!"
On the other end of the screen, Qin Zhen sat behind a wide desk and spoke coolly.
"The Minister is currently away from headquarters due to special circumstances."
"For now, I am handling all affairs of the Military Department."
"Marshal Luo, I have seen your request for reinforcements."
At this, Qin Zhen set down his teacup and leaned back slightly. He drummed his fingers on the desk as he looked at Luo Zhan.
"We have decided... to reject your request."
’Rejected?!’
That single word struck Luo Zhan’s chest like a sledgehammer.
He couldn’t believe his ears.
"Qin Zhen! Do you have any idea what you’re saying?!"
Luo Zhan could no longer suppress his fury and roared,
"The Alien Race is about to launch a full-scale invasion! An Emperor-level member is on the field! The Northern Domain’s defensive line is on the brink of collapse!"
"And you’re telling me it’s been rejected at a time like this?! Are you insane?!"
"I need a reason!"
Facing Luo Zhan’s rage, Qin Zhen remained perfectly calm.
He slowly enunciated his words.
"A reason? It’s simple."
"We see no reason to believe... a mosquito."