After Old Feng briefed Chen Chuan and the others on the general situation, he called his own team members to rendezvous with them. In just twenty minutes, everyone had arrived.

They were all dressed in the uniform of the General Affairs Bureau: black windbreakers and fedoras, with a sharp, competent air and piercing gazes. They were divided into three squads of fifteen men each.

After a few glances, Chen Chuan felt that some of them were likely far from simple. It was a hard feeling to describe; they didn’t seem threatening at first glance, but one couldn’t help but pay close attention to them.

But this was a good thing. After all, they were on his side. While carrying out the mission, they also had to ensure their own safety. Naturally, the stronger the team, the better.

Since this was their first time working together, Old Feng briefly explained how they would coordinate. Aside from Chen Chuan himself, the squad he brought was to serve in an auxiliary and supplementary role, not as the main fighting force.

Chen Chuan had already mentioned this role to his people from the start, and everyone understood.

Wei Chang’an’s men, on the other hand, felt that Old Feng was a decent leader. If they had encountered a more ruthless type, they might have been used as cannon fodder to scout ahead.

Before the operation began, Old Feng distributed standard-issue Protective Clothing from the General Affairs Bureau to everyone, along with an Anti-stabbing Windbreaker, a protective fedora, and a scarf and mask to block wind, sand, and toxic gases.

This was a state-sponsored mission, so of course, the use of such equipment wasn’t restricted.

After putting everything on, everyone felt a profound sense of security.

For an ordinary person, this gear would maximize their chances of survival. But for someone like Chen Chuan, it greatly enhanced his combat effectiveness, allowing him to use his martial abilities without restraint.

At the same time, everyone was given a medical kit. Inside, besides various wound treatments, were miracle drugs that could keep you alive in a critical moment. The personnel from the General Affairs Bureau also had drugs to stimulate their potential for a final, desperate struggle.

Once all preparations were complete, at ten o’clock at night, everyone boarded the vehicles prepared in advance by the General Affairs Bureau and set off into the wasteland under the cover of darkness.

Chen Chuan rode with Old Feng. In the vehicle, he reviewed the specific details about this shipment. Because the trade of biological combat weapons was forbidden in the Dashun Republic, Molan Company had no choice but to order them from foreign companies.

This was also why Boxing Lion had brought the Tayana Combat Spiders to the edge of the wasteland to find a buyer. Aside from large corporations, the average person would have a hard time handling such things.

However, the key to these things was the High-Energy Nutrient Supplement. This supplement had a short shelf life and couldn’t be stockpiled in large quantities. Therefore, once you had the combat organisms, you had to purchase a new batch periodically.

It wasn’t that the companies producing the High-Energy Nutrient Supplement lacked long-term storage technology. Rather, this practice allowed them to both limit the military power of other companies and make repeated sales. Even various national governments supported them in doing this.

Old Feng said, "We’ll first head to the Antan Company’s outpost in the wasteland. The intelligence from there should be accurate and unlikely to have changed significantly."

Chen Chuan nodded. According to the files, this outpost officially had two experts who had reached the Second Limit. Most of the personnel were locally recruited armed thugs and a few combat elites with Implants. There were no Fighters with higher martial prowess.

The same was true for the team responsible for transporting the goods.

This intelligence should be reliable.

After all, once a Fighter reached the Third Limit, many companies would offer them high-paying positions. They could live comfortably with far better treatment than ordinary people, with no need to come to the wasteland to eat sand, let alone participate in dangerous smuggling operations like this.

He said, "What about Molan Company? Since this shipment is so important, they surely won’t just sit back and do nothing."

Old Feng said, "That’s the part we need to watch. Molan Company will likely dispatch powerful personnel to receive the shipment. But we don’t need to worry, because Old Cao is keeping an eye on them. If those people show up, his team will be responsible for dealing with them."

"However, Molan Company has been entrenched in Yangzhi for a long time, so they must have arranged a pickup force in the wasteland. We only need to deal with those people."

Chen Chuan understood. This mission had two objectives: one was to intercept the shipment of nutrient supplements, and the other was to use it as bait to lure out Molan Company’s people, then eliminate them to weaken their strength.

He tentatively asked, "Will the ’Blood Ink Guard’ show up?"

He had a deep impression of this guard unit, as they were incredibly formidable. All their members were selected from among Fighters.

After undergoing a series of surgeries to enhance their bones and muscles, they were fitted with Implants that boosted their neural response and motor control. Once the Implants were activated, they could briefly match the speed of a Third Limit Fighter. This prevented Third Limit experts from simply overwhelming them with crushing force.

And with sufficient numbers, they could use their equipment to counter-attack or even score a kill.

With such strength, it also meant that any Fighter below the Third Limit would likely be powerless against them.

And Molan Company’s branch alone had ninety such individuals.

If they were dispatched to the wasteland this time, they would be a formidable foe.

Old Feng shook his head. "The Blood Ink Guard is Molan Company’s prized possession. They wouldn’t deploy them in a place like this. After all, every member is built with piles of money. They also require squad coordination and specific equipment to be effective, which places high demands on logistics. The field conditions here aren’t suitable for their maintenance."

"If they were here, we would have discovered them long ago."

"For this operation, we coordinated with numerous departments in advance and have been conducting peripheral surveillance on Molan Company’s activities for two consecutive years. So you can rest assured on that point."

Chen Chuan thought, ’Actually, running into one or two wouldn’t be a bad thing. I could get a preview of the Guard’s combat capabilities.’

Old Feng raised his hand and looked at his watch. "We still have a ways to go. Let’s not talk about this for now. On another topic, after the school term starts, you’ll be applying for a spot to go to Central City, right?"

A thought stirred in Chen Chuan’s mind. He said, "Is Specialist Cao planning to deal with Molan Company before September?"

Old Feng glanced at him. "I didn’t say anything."

Chen Chuan smiled. "I’m definitely going to Central City."

Old Feng looked at him seriously. "You must go. I’ve seen your file; you’re more than qualified. Only by going there can you achieve significant growth."

"But, after all, some things can’t be written down on paper. Especially since some people at the Wuyi General Hospital have tangled connections with local factions. That’s why you need to earn as much merit as you can during this state-sponsored mission to make your resume look good. It will help you get into the General Hospital. Do your best to stand out this time, and I’ll give you opportunities."

Chen Chuan understood what he meant. Aside from official missions and his Unlimited Defense Certificate, the fact that he had killed members of the Mutual Aid Association and defeated Tan Wang would not be on his official record.

And it was right not to include them. Those incidents had nothing to do with Wuyi Academy and would only exist in the files of certain departments. Bringing them up could even be counterproductive.

Actually, this was also good; it was an indirect way of protecting himself.

However, some things could be brought out into the open. For example, participating in this national mobilization would be a very impressive entry on his resume. Old Feng’s intention was for him to ride this wave and rack up an outstanding record.

This was Old Feng doing him a favor. He said, "Thank you, Special Envoy Feng."

Old Feng smiled. "No need to thank me. Seeing a promising young talent like you grow is the greatest thanks we could ask for." He glanced outside again. "We’re almost there."

After driving for another seven or eight minutes, the convoy stopped behind a high slope. Old Feng sent someone to scout ahead. A quarter of an hour later, the scout returned and reported, "Special Envoy, everything is normal at the camp. It matches the intelligence report. Everyone is on standby, likely waiting to receive the cargo."

Old Feng called over a squad leader. "As planned, take your squad and a radio and hold this position. Report any developments immediately."

"Yes, sir."

A moment later, a squad disembarked and quickly melted into the night.

The convoy then started up again, continuing deeper into the wasteland.

Old Feng explained to Chen Chuan, "This camp is too conspicuous and easy to find. It’s unlikely both sides would choose to make the exchange right here. So, we’re going straight for the transport team now."

Chen Chuan asked, "Do we have any intelligence confirming their location?" The wasteland was vast. Accurately finding a moving convoy within a limited time would not be easy.

Old Feng smiled. "I don’t know, but I can ask them."

He had the radio operator beside him take out the radio and start transmitting. Before long, the operator received a message. After decoding it, he looked up and said, "Special Envoy, they say their original route is unchanged. They’ve already passed Mangrove Forest and are expected to reach Broken Stone Gully in ten minutes."

Old Feng said, "Keep monitoring them. Ask again in an hour." He smiled at Chen Chuan. "You see? Antan will tell us their location themselves."

Chen Chuan found it a bit absurd. But he knew that behind these seemingly illogical actions, there had to be an internal logic at play. It was just baffling to outsiders.

He said, "With Antan Company operating like this, isn’t their client, Molan Company, worried?"

Old Feng said confidently, "Because they have no other choice. And I suspect Molan Company will make the same choice we did."

Meanwhile, on another side of the wasteland, another armed convoy was speeding along. This was the Molan Team that was permanently stationed in the wasteland, responsible for receiving this shipment.

Knowing that Antan Company might leak information, they had arranged two pickup locations. One was the confirmed, public-facing armed camp, meant to attract outside attention.

The other was for them to proactively find the Antan team while it was still en route, and then they would transport the goods to the designated location themselves.

As for how to find them, although Antan Company wouldn’t give them the specific route, they could acquire the information through Antan Company’s intelligence market.

That’s right. As the recipient in this deal, they also had to buy intelligence to get an accurate location.

And so, the current scene unfolded: both the receiving party and the intercepting party were now rushing toward the same location, and the source of information for both was Antan Company itself.

An hour later, after another radio exchange, Chen Chuan’s convoy came to a stop behind a slope.

They didn’t have to wait long before faint lights appeared on the dim horizon, gradually drawing closer. Those with good eyesight could make out a convoy.

But before it arrived, the sound of engines roared from another direction, rapidly approaching the first convoy.

A squad leader looked through his binoculars and said, "Special Envoy, it’s the Molan Company’s pickup team."

Old Feng said, "Don’t rush. Let’s wait."

After the two convoys ahead rendezvoused, it only took a few minutes for them to apparently coordinate. A single vehicle detached from the transport convoy and fell in behind the Molan Team, and the two groups parted ways.

The squad leader looked back. "Special Envoy?"

Old Feng remained calm. "Wait a little longer."

Just as the Molan Team’s convoy was about to drive away, another sound suddenly erupted. Yet another convoy appeared and rammed directly into the Molan convoy.

A chill ran through the team members. ’So there are others!’

The squad leader watched for a moment, then asked, "Special Envoy, do we make our move in a bit?"

Old Feng thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Let’s wait a little longer. You have to trust Antan’s business acumen when it comes to selling intel."

Sure enough, pinpricks of light now appeared on the high ground opposite them—clearly another convoy. And the fact that they could find this precise location was obviously thanks to Antan.

The team members were all dumbfounded. ’Damn, they sold one piece of intel to four different buyers! No, judging by the situation, there might be even more. Their intel business is making an absolute killing.’

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