stonecrandall Page 87
Page 87
His "Metal Cluster Locust" project, which had been stalled due to a lack of high-level data, needed the final, most important piece of the puzzle for its core algorithm iteration, energy model optimization, and precise manipulation at the atomic level. And in this way, it just happened to come to him by itself!
The data contained in this batch of T2 memory will be key to his plan to overcome bottlenecks.
He seemed to see countless metal locusts converging into a stream, reconstructing matter and changing the world under his will.
"I'll take this commission."
Su Chen immediately agreed.
His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness.
His tone was so straightforward that it surprised Maria.
Her prepared arguments regarding the difficulty of the task, the risk assessment, and subsequent bargaining all stuck in her throat.
She had imagined all sorts of reactions from Su Chen: greed, caution, or making exorbitant demands.
The only thing I didn't expect was that he would agree so easily and so quickly.
Maria frowned almost imperceptibly.
She didn't know that the man in front of her didn't care about the worldly rewards she offered.
What he pursued was far purer and more... dangerous than money and power.
A slight smile curved the corners of Su Chen's lips.
He was simply a hungry hunter who had spotted his prey.
Those 26 T2 memory modules were the most coveted treasures he desired to capture at that moment.
Fengdu is about to become his hunting ground.
Chapter 67 "Ames's" Hunting Grounds, A Frenzied Warning
Su Chen's thoughts quietly shifted from the unruly figure of Da Dao Keji.
The initial cause of this clash with "NEVER" was far more profound than a mere encounter between leaders.
For him, the significance of Da Dao Keji and his "NEVER" mercenary group goes far beyond a "commissioned mission" that needs to be properly handled.
This was an excellent, even ruthless, proving ground for testing the true combat capabilities of the armed forces he had cultivated—the AIMS forces.
If even these mere twenty-six dopants cannot be eliminated cleanly and efficiently, how can he have confidence in his future plans to face the behemoth lurking in the shadows of Fuuto—Sonosaki Ryubei?
How could he possibly be qualified to challenge the will of "Earth" itself?
These thoughts, like undercurrents in the deep sea, surged within his consciousness.
Therefore, after accepting Maria's seemingly ordinary request without making a fuss, Su Chen did not choose to go to the front line in person.
He was more like a behind-the-scenes chess player, precisely positioning this incident as a large-scale, high-intensity live-fire exercise for the "AIMS" force he had created.
He needs data.
He needs verification.
He needed to confirm whether this force was as sharp and reliable as he had expected.
The atmosphere at Zero One Technology's headquarters, in that vast training ground deep underground, filled with cold metal and eerie blue light bands, was grim.
The air was filled with the faint smell of engine oil and the unique energy core.
Yua, her body, enhanced by Humagear technology, now appeared even more upright and capable, with every inch of her muscles containing explosive power.
Beside her was Kujo Aya, who had also undergone the same technological transformation but retained the keen insight of a former police officer. Her sharp eyes scanned the area ahead.
The two stood side by side, facing a whole squad of well-equipped, mass-produced combat Humagears—"Combatants"—that gleamed with the cold light of inorganic matter.
These "combatants" are an extension of Su Chen's will and a manifestation of Zero One Technology's cutting-edge weaponry; every action is precise down to the millisecond.
Su Chen's instructions were not given through traditional communication devices, but rather through a clear, stable, and absolutely authoritative holographic projection projected directly into the air in front of them.
The figure of Su Chen in the projection was slightly illusory, but his cold and majestic aura penetrated the barrier of data, clear and extremely oppressive.
"From now on, you will only have one task, number 210."
Su Chen's voice was devoid of any emotional fluctuation, like precisely calculated instruction code, directly injected into the auditory nerves of every receiver, leaving no room for argument.
"Based on real-time intelligence provided by the Ark satellite, an indiscriminate hunt will be launched against all members of the 'NEVER' mercenary group throughout the entire Fengdu region."
This order signifies a ruthless purge, regardless of the cost.
"My instructions to you are: no prisoners, no interrogations."
His voice paused, each word carrying undeniable weight, like the impact of steel.
"Your target is not those so-called 'people'."
This statement strips the target of its attributes as a "human being," completely objectifying it.
"It's the twenty-six 'T2 Memory' units they carry that possess special powers."
"I want you to bring those twenty-six memory units back to me intact."
This is the ultimate goal, and the core of this operation.
"Yes, President!"
Led by Yua, the AMS squad's eyes flashed with a cold blue light. Their movements were synchronized and their voices were uniform, as if they were a perfectly coordinated whole, without the slightest hesitation.
They are weapons, extensions of Su Chen's will.
A hunt dominated by cutting-edge technology, with a completely unequal power structure, officially began its chilling prelude in the shadows of the bustling metropolis of Fengdu.
Yaksatellite's "Sky Eye" system, like an omnipresent judge, encompasses every corner of the entire city under its cold surveillance.
Any individual who possesses a T2 memory will have their abnormal energy fluctuations clearly marked on the Ark satellite's tactical map, like a lone star in the night, leaving them nowhere to hide.
At the port of Fengdu, the damp sea breeze carries a salty, fishy smell.
A NEVER mercenary, having just completed a secret transaction with smugglers amidst the shadows of shipping containers, is preparing to activate his memory and leave.
He transformed into a ferocious "whirlwind hybrid," his body swirling with violent air currents.
However, he was not even able to fully adapt to this newfound power.
Deadly beams of energy, like precisely calculated projectiles, rained down from the sky, weaving an impenetrable net of fire that instantly covered the area.
The first squad of AMI, led by Yua Yaiba, appeared like ghosts at various pre-planned tactical points.
Their actions were flawless, with every movement and every shot demonstrating textbook-perfect tactical coordination.
Within a mere three minutes, the battle ended with a roar of defiance and the deafening roar of an explosion.
The first T2 memory chip, "Whirlwind," was successfully captured, its cold metal casing still retaining a trace of warmth.
Meanwhile, in the western part of the city, there was a long-abandoned factory area filled with the smell of rust and dust.
Another NEVER member, who held the "lock" memory, was more cautious and cunning.
He used the complex terrain of the abandoned factory to lay a series of traps, a veritable net, waiting for his prey to come to him.
However, he was facing Kujo Aya.
This former police officer, with her almost instinctive intuition for danger honed through countless cases, and her enhanced analytical abilities after being transformed into a Humagear, possesses remarkable skills.
The moment they stepped into the trap area, they saw through all the arrangements and even anticipated the opponent's possible counterattacks.
After a clean, swift, and surgically precise raid, accompanied by the ear-piercing sound of metal twisting.
The second T2 memory module also unsurprisingly fell into Ames' hands.
Leveraging Zero One Technology's equipment advantage, which is a generation ahead of its time.
This, combined with the almost cheat-like intelligence suppression provided by the Yark satellite, which has a near "full-view" capability.
The "Ames" squad, like a group of highly efficient and ruthless cleaners, carried out a merciless harvest in every corner of Wind City.
They quickly, one by one, targeted the NEVER mercenaries who had become isolated due to their dispersed operations.
Then, with overwhelming force, they seized one precious T2 memory module after another, each containing Earth's memories.
This hunt, meticulously planned by Su Chen, proceeded exceptionally smoothly from the very beginning, so smoothly that it was almost tedious.
This is exactly the result he wanted to see.
crush.
Absolute crushing.
The Ames team's surgically precise and efficient hunting operation was like a depth charge dropped into a calm lake.
No.
It was more like a sudden, violent earthquake that shattered the seemingly stable swamp of the "NEVER" mercenary group, stirring up a colossal wave of panic that far exceeded everyone's expectations.
After losing several comrades-in-arms one after another, and even their treasured T2 memory modules falling into enemy hands, the core members of the "NEVER" mercenary group finally awoke from their initial shock and disdain.
They were forced to confront this mysterious force from the home of Fuuto, which had appeared like a ghost and displayed overwhelming power.
The intelligence network began operating with unprecedented efficiency.
The slightest clues were quickly gathered and analyzed.
The target was quickly locked onto by their informants who had infiltrated the shadows of the city.
The source of it all points to Zero One Technology, a rising star in the tech world of Fengdu.
And its controller, (bjeg) the young president named Su Chen.
However, when Su Chen's calm, even excessively young face, along with his unfathomable strength assessment report, were placed on the conference table of NEVER's core members, an eerie silence enveloped everyone.
This opponent is too mysterious.
This opponent is too strong.
Most of the NEVER members, those veterans who had experienced countless life-and-death situations, subconsciously chose the safest strategy—to wait and see for the time being.
They needed more intelligence and a more comprehensive plan to deal with this suddenly rising behemoth that posed a threat to their "Paradise" project.
However, mercenary groups are never short of hot-blooded brutes who regard "caution" as cowardice.
There are always one or two madmen whose personalities are as untamed as wild horses, who firmly believe that "violence can crush all conspiracies and tricks."
Among them was a woman known within the mercenary group for her fiery temper.