Chapter 473: Chapter 264: Judicial Court’s Protection of the Fire List
"What kind of secret are you two keeping?"
Lin Xiong widened his eyes, glancing left at Jiang Shijie and right at Wu Yong.
Are we not in the same squad? How did I become the outsider?
They built a small group behind my back!
"Knowing too much is not good for you."
Wu Yong retorted with a hint of annoyance.
Jiang Shijie nodded in agreement.
If Qin Shi, the Scorching Sun level native of Heng Province, appeared on the frontline, and the information leaked from the Seventh Battle Group into the hands of those Esotericists,
the consequences would be unimaginable!
If Qin Shi were to fall, besides the power investigation from the New Star Governor’s Mansion in Heng Province, the Judicial Court would also get involved, and the Seventh Battle Group would undoubtedly be unable to extricate itself. Under the suspicion-free circumstances, it would invite trouble for nothing.
Therefore, Jiang Shijie had to keep the secret and pretend he didn’t recognize Qin Shi.
"I didn’t expect that Qin would quietly arrive at the frontline and even become a new recruit at the training camp."
Jiang Shijie sighed, initially thinking that a strategic genius of Qin Shi’s value should be kept in the far rear, to be deployed once the eastern and western fronts were nearing completion, to grow through experience.
"Old Jiang, Old Jiang..."
Wu Yong nudged the curiosity-filled Lin Xiong to the side and whispered:
"Qin Shi ran into the polluted area without any reason, right into the nest of the Human-faced Spider clan.
Meanwhile, we received orders from higher-ups to drive the Rakshasa ants here... Old Jiang, don’t you think everything seems too coincidental?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shijie’s face slightly changed, his sharp mind instantly grasping the deeper meaning in Wu Yong’s words.
"Old Wu, can we really talk about this indiscriminately?"
His eyes flickered, reluctant to dwell too much in that direction.
"The commander’s father is the Director of Education in Heng Province. If you had read Qin Shi’s dossier, you’d know he has done several audacious things.
Bearing the title of successor to Nanhuang Daoist School, he even killed a direct member of the Ying family... Old Jiang, I respect and admire the commander; his leadership and command capabilities are beyond question.
But I equally trust my own analysis and judgment. The Seventh Battle Group should not interfere, especially with the west line not fully advanced, the sudden orders and actions already explain a lot."
Wu Yong’s gaze was firm; he was a scout, adept at capturing details and summarizing situations.
"Old Wu, pretend you didn’t notice anything."
Jiang Shijie sighed:
"Even if your judgment is correct, this matter is beyond our capabilities."
Wu Yong shook his head, not accepting Jiang Shijie’s explanation, even if he was the captain with "command authority":
"Turning a blind eye goes against my military beliefs. I agree with Marshal Yang’s words, that a battle group should not be a one-man show, and the Dongxia Military Department should not be anyone’s god-making place.
Therefore, I remain skeptical of all results and objective toward the Nine Marshals.
If the commander truly gave orders out of personal vendetta, secretly sabotaging Dongxia’s pillars, I have every reason to file an anonymous report with the Military Department."
Curse those rationalists!
Jiang Shijie found himself helpless; what could he do if Wu Yong was a standard rationalist?
New Dongxia continued the "Great Expedition" strategy from the Imperial Era, forging an invincible battle force over a nine-thousand-year-long war.
However, as the march of war never ceased, by the fifth millennium, a voice began to surface.
Whether the trajectory of New Dongxia’s advance had already deviated from the Nine Marshals’ original intentions, and whether there was a tendency toward militarism.
This led to the emergence of a group of people wishing to oversee the Military Department, preventing unlimited expansion of battle group power, and thus avoiding internal imbalance within the system.
Obviously, Wu Yong was one of them.
"Old Wu..."
Jiang Shijie hesitated, no doubt, Wu Yong’s actions were correct, and he couldn’t stop his friend from doing the right thing.
"Stop whispering, you two! Look, what’s that? How is there a meteorite?"
Feeling "excluded," Lin Xiong bumped into the two teammates with his shoulder, and the defensive soldiers of the Seventh Battle Group unanimously looked up, gazing at the massive fireball slowly descending from the distant sky!
...
...
In the heart of the Imperial Capital, inside the magnificent building of stone and steel, the clear sound of military boots echoed along the slightly empty hallway.
The middle-aged man wearing red gloves walked with his hands behind his back through this "Coffin of Dongxia," face relaxed and carefree.
He had just finished an enjoyable "interrogation," extracting the secret of colluding with corporations to smuggle strategic materials from a senior officer in the battle regiment command.
"What a wonderful day."
The man’s voice was hoarse, and even his laughter carried an eerie undertone.
He savored the scene of the so-called "Iron Will Iron Man" high-ranking officer weeping bitterly, reflecting upon himself.
"What firm beliefs, what superior intellect, it’s all bullshit."
The man squinted his eyes, a hint of cold light emanating from them:
"How could a truly faithful warrior ever commit acts of treason against the country for profit!
All these parasitic insects hidden within the vast system must be eradicated, cleaned out... Hey, why is my alarm going off?"
As the man pondered whether to throw that person into the Judicial Court’s dark cell for endless incarceration or to let him out as bait to trace his accomplices,
suddenly, a hissing electric current sound came from the walkie-talkie he carried, followed by a muffled voice:
"Suspected disappearance of a person on the Fire sequence list, should we activate protective measures?"
The man took the walkie-talkie to his lips, frowning slightly without giving an immediate answer, only asking:
"Who?"
"Heng Province’s native Scorching Sun, Qin Shi."
The man’s frown deepened, like ropes tightening into a dead knot.
"How long has he been gone?"
"Less than two hours."
The man was somewhat irked:
"Triggered the protective measures after such a short time? According to the regulations, it should exceed eight hours to activate the warning protocol!"
The muffled voice within the walkie-talkie remained calm, like an icy conscious entity:
"The sequence of the person on the list has been recently elevated."
"Reason? Enhancing priority in the Fire sequence I remember is difficult. What significant act has this kid done?"
The man held the walkie-talkie in one hand, supporting his service cap with the other, his gaze as sharp as a hawk’s, seemingly scrutinizing the other side.
"According to the intelligence gathering by the Judicial Court. The person on the list is not only chosen by the Four Pillars but is also not of the initial ’Suspect’ level."
The muffled voice gave its explanation.
"He received the blessing from the Four Pillars?"
"It appears so, and according to the report submitted by the Netherworld Research Institute, the frequency of appearance of the Four Pillars in Heng Province has greatly increased. If the judgment is accurate, the person on the list might surpass the ’Blessed’ level."
The man’s rough face, as if polished by gravel over time, could not help but twitch a little.
Chosen by the Four Pillars together and elevated to the "Surrendered" level?
It sounded very much in line with some people’s "training policy" within the Judicial Court.
"What is the confidentiality level of this information?"
The man asked.
"Because it involves the Four Pillars, it is the highest. Given that you are the ’Guardian’ of this batch’s Fire list, you have the right to know."
The muffled voice stated matter-of-factly.
"I see."
The man nodded, as if having made a decision.
"Do not activate the warning protocol; wait until twelve hours later to discuss it."
He grinned slightly, revealing a cruel undertone.
As someone described as a "totalitarian" and a "loyalist," the man did not trust the Four Pillars. Instead, he saw them as entities that "erode the nascent Dongxia and steal the fire of civilization."
A top-tier talent like Qin Shi would undoubtedly attract the attention and favor of another faction within the Judicial Court calling themselves the "State Religion Faction."
"Receiving the blessing of the Four Pillars indicates that his faith is not firm enough, nor loyal enough."
The man shook his head, intending to cut off the walkie-talkie.
But the muffled voice continued:
"According to background checks, the person on the list has not only received He Lan Chan’s legacy but also possesses the gift of Unity of Spirit and Body, and has already passed the Star Cup youth group selection, qualifying for the ancient celestial path..."
The man’s furrowed brow tightened again, as a seasoned member of the Judicial Court, he sensitively captured crucial information.
"Cut those meaningless words and tell me directly, what is, in your analysis, the likelihood of him obtaining He Lan Chan’s Celestial Imperial Secret Collection?"
"Eighty-three percent."
The man’s whole face contorted for a moment, then he suppressed his excitement and lowly shouted:
"Launch the highest standard rescue plan you can mobilize; ensure his safety at all costs!"
"Understood. Searching... Executing... Gravitational capture device forming... Meteorite being deployed!"