Chapter Eighty-One: The Dagger Revealed When the Picture Ends

"Alright, everyone, look over here."
Ji Cheng had grasped the current situation, and the enforcers were already in position, so he was ready to personally take charge of the next phase as planned.
The five ability users from the Red Eagle Republic, the sole survivor from Blackwater City, and the three—including Luo Rao, who had long since assumed Ji Cheng’s appearance—gathered at his call.
"Do you have a way to deal with those spiders?" asked one of the Red Eagle Republic’s ability users, whose nose was unusually large. He wore a single tactical monocle and a flamboyant red combat suit.
Given their enhanced hearing, these ability users had likely already heard my conversation with Centipede and the others in full detail.
Ji Cheng didn’t expose this. The newcomers to Anxi City were still unfamiliar with the situation, so he repeated Centipede’s idea and his own expertise in network intrusion, then asked, "Do any of you have a better solution?"
Everyone shook their heads.
"Then how confident are you in cracking this small network node? Don’t tell me you just broke one earlier—this isn’t child's play. Each node is different, and failure could trigger the defense system." The big-nosed man was stern.
Ji Cheng could tell there was no provocation in his tone; it was pure concern.
He glanced around and replied coolly, "I wouldn’t claim absolute certainty, but I’m at least seventy to eighty percent confident."
"That’s still not safe enough."
"Safe? Do you think we have plenty of time for everyone to slowly come up with a safe plan?"
Ji Cheng gave them a sharp look, meeting each gaze, and received only negative answers.
"If we all agree there’s no time for careful deliberation, then let’s proceed with Southport’s approach."
It seemed directed at the ability users from Red Eagle and Blackwater, but in truth, Ji Cheng was speaking to the members of Huang Long’s squad.
By now, Southport held the upper hand—six ability users plus five from Anxi City, leaving the outsiders powerless.
In fact, Huang Long’s squad might not share his interests, especially since his standing in Southport was shallow. So he deliberately invoked 'Southport’s approach' to bind them to his plan, at least for now, preventing dissent.
"Fine," the Red Eagle members nodded, and the Blackwater survivor lowered his eyelids in tacit agreement.
Ji Cheng stepped up onto a stair and faced the group, taking in every expression:
"Let me lay out a few rules. First, given the current radiation levels, we have at most twenty-four hours to search the central zone—it’s urgent."
He looked at the Red Eagle Republic members and said flatly, "I trust none of us wants anyone to waste everyone’s time for any reason."
The big-nosed man who had questioned the safety earlier recognized this as a warning, but merely snorted in response.
"Second, any Phase Two genetic prototype is claimed by whoever finds it first—no fighting over it, or the offender shall be dealt with collectively."
Most people assume they’re the special one, confident they’ll find the prototype. Besides, nobody wants to risk their life over a dispute in a place like this; time spent fighting others is better used searching more locations.
This rule was quickly accepted.
"Third, everyone knows command is indispensable in the mining zone, but now we’ve lost all signals. If something happens, who takes charge?"

Ji Cheng finally revealed his intentions.
He didn’t allow time for others to weigh their options, speaking rapidly: "There’s no time for discussion; let’s vote by raising hands. I nominate myself."
This was his true objective—to secure temporary command over all ability users in Area A and B.
"I’m skilled in network intrusion, highly familiar with the Sand Brain mining zone, and I possess many secret documents about the Hive Laboratory."
Ji Cheng tapped his wrist computer, projecting a holographic screen in midair.
Though the group couldn’t see much detail, it was unmistakably Hive Laboratory information.
"Agreed," the Zhang sisters immediately sided with him.
"We agree as well," the Anxi City group exchanged looks, perhaps considering the likelihood of encountering mental contamination, and nodded in approval.
"We’ll follow your lead," Centipede’s group chimed in.
The lone ability user from Blackwater City voiced dissent:
"I find this difficult to accept. Command in high-risk mining zones is always handled from a relatively safe base. Now you’re in the field with us—there’s a conflict of interest. Who’s to say you won’t make ‘wrong’ decisions to protect yourself?"
"Is there any choice but to trust me?" Ji Cheng replied.
Instead of answering directly, the man pressed further: "Besides, this place is full of sudden dangers. It’s hard for a commander to react in time. Are we supposed to wait for your orders at death’s door?"
Ji Cheng had no interest in further debate: "Don’t forget, we’re voting. The tally is at least twelve to six—your opinion no longer matters. Either follow orders or leave the team."
Silenced, the man closed his mouth.
Luo Rao, rarely seeing Ji Cheng like this, bit her lip, eyes shining.
Ah Cheng looks so handsome when he’s fierce!
Then the ten-odd ability users each reported their names and quickly agreed on several basic command codes.
"Alright, let’s move out."
Ji Cheng turned and led the group to the door. Through the secondary window, eight cocooned metal spiders were still charging, blinking with green light, and the small network node was embedded in the wall a dozen meters behind them.
He opened the door, donned his tactical monocle, activated his wrist computer, and summoned Shana in a mode invisible to others, before cautiously stepping forward.
"Why’s he getting so close?" the ability users whispered behind him.
"With radiation this strong, the planetary LAN access pod’s signal range shrinks. If he doesn’t get close, he can’t crack it."
"What if the spiders suddenly attack?"
To them, breaking the mechanical guardians’ defense was extremely difficult. If combat broke out, they’d have to risk their lives to buy time, then scatter to escape.
Ji Cheng’s ‘Regret’ could breach defenses, but that treasure wasn’t something he could reveal in public.

"They’re cocooned, so their sensors must be affected. Just don’t get too close."
Sure enough, the charging spiders didn’t react to Ji Cheng’s approach.
He walked a few more steps and stopped.
"I should be within the access pod’s reception range now."
He pressed the network intrusion option on his monocle.
—— Connection established. Quick-crack program loaded. Please select buffer zone.
Ten minutes later, the small network node was successfully breached, Ji Cheng deactivated the charging pillar, and swiftly exited the room.
The D-208 spider guardians retracted their cocooning wires and remained motionless for several minutes. Just as impatience was setting in, they finally moved along some patrol route, leaving the room ahead.
The group pressed on, winding through ten more rooms and corridors to avoid potential bio-detection, until they reached a stuck-open security gate.
"According to the map, beyond this is a platform. We’ll need to take a rail car deeper underground."
Ji Cheng pointed beyond the door, where a downward 60-degree track and several cable car-like vehicles could be seen.
"Li Yi, Yuan Feng, step forward and enter."
"Centipede, Lei Junming, maintain push-in alert."
"The rest, take cross-mobile positions and prepare for a room-clearing assault."
He issued his orders methodically.
Before crossing over, as a hardcore elite gamer, he’d commanded massive interstellar wars with hundreds of participants and nearly a thousand ships exchanging fire. Directing this group of ten was easy by comparison.
Immediately, two ability users stepped forward, entered cautiously, and dashed to opposite sides of the platform.
Centipede and Lei Junming advanced two paces, raising their firearms—one wielded a micro submachine gun, the other a short-barreled shotgun, both bristling with lethal energy.
They entered and stood guard with guns trained ahead, while the others streamed in, lining up to the left of the door.
At this moment, only Lei Junming and Yuan Feng stood to the right of the door; everyone else was lined up on the left—a standard CQB formation.
"Platform secure."
"No, there’s fresh blood on the ground!" someone suddenly cried out.
Ps: CQB, also known as Close Quarters Battle, is a tactical mode used by many international special operations and counter-terror units. The formation Ji Cheng’s team adopted upon entry is called “Snake” in English, enabling a rapid deployment of firepower.