Chapter 86: Garden of Silence's Superhuman Bai Fu Has Entered the Battlefield
Before officially setting out, Bai Fu produced a large number of 50-grade Psionic Shield cards and put them up for sale in her shop. She also had Gao Yuan deliver a batch of submachine guns, grenade launchers, RPGs, and grenades to sell to Players.
This time, they were attacking a base far more important to the Truth Society than the Bagaros Base. To successfully complete the mission, she had to prepare thoroughly.
Through her efforts over the past two days, she had successfully leveled her 【Apprentice Psionic Illustrator】 class to Lv13.
Currently, her stats were——
【HP】：1730/1730
【Psionic Value】：700/700
【Stats】：Strength 20, Agility 21, Constitution 75, Intelligence 18, Spirit 24, Inspiration 67
Bai Fu estimated that if she could successfully complete Yulia’s Commission Assignment and take down Black Hawk Base, she would level up at least twice in one go. If luck was on her side and she managed to obtain some special rewards, her strength could skyrocket again.
At that point, across the entire Origin Star, aside from NPCs who had unlocked Advanced Classes and a few high-level monsters, she would basically be standing at the pinnacle of solo combat power.
Just thinking about it filled Bai Fu with motivation.
“Take me with you.”
Suddenly, Little Yulia, who was placed on the table, spoke up.
Bai Fu refused without hesitation. She could certainly understand Little Yulia’s feelings, but Little Yulia was just a ragdoll and couldn’t be of any help.
“Stop that. If I leave you in the vehicle, I’m afraid you’ll fall. If I put you in my pocket, I’m also afraid you’ll fall out or get crushed. I can’t possibly stuff you into my chest or underwear, right?”
Little Yulia said, “I don’t mind.”
Climb down. Have you thought about the fact that while you don’t mind, I really do? Who in their right mind would stuff a ragdoll in there?
Bai Fu kept a stern face. “Ms. Yulia, you don’t want to lose all your family and friends forever, do you? If not, then be obedient and stay in the Goli Desert. Don’t make any unnecessary moves.”
Little Yulia could not argue.
She couldn’t move and had to let Bai Fu arrange everything.
Bai Fu handed her over to Old Nissen for safekeeping, then gave Gao Yuan a few more instructions before setting out on the expedition to Black Hawk Base with over 500 Players.
There were far more Players in the Garden of Silence now. The reason she only brought a little over 500 was because she didn’t have more vehicles to carry them.
She had already tried her best. When she first arrived in the Goli Desert, she only had one vehicle. By relying on robberies everywhere, she had cobbled together a convoy of nearly 30 vehicles.
From an extreme logistics standpoint, 30 vehicles could carry 900 Players, but then the Players wouldn’t be able to bring any weapons. So in the end, Bai Fu chose a little over 500 Players who could afford weapons to charge forward with her.
……
Old Republic, Twilight Canyon, a river running through the canyon was flanked by rows of military-green tents.
The tents were set up temporarily. Outside the tents, armored vehicles and standard model power armor stretched as far as the eye could see. These weapons weren’t particularly advanced, but in this wasteland era, they could already be considered formidable firepower.
At this moment, in the largest command tent, the Old Republic’s commander Damian was discussing battle plans with reinforcements from the Railway Guild and Gene Primordials.
A few days ago, the three factions simultaneously received intel about the exact locations of four Truth Society bases.
To be honest, the information was a bit too shocking to be believable. But since the coordinates in the email were marked within their own territory, the Old Republic and Railway Guild still sent scouts to investigate.
What they found was that the contents of the anonymous email were actually true!
The relations among the three major forces weren’t particularly good—conflicts flared up from time to time—but since the enemy was the even more dangerous Truth Society, the three factions decided to temporarily set aside past grudges and destroy the Truth Society together.
“According to the scouts’ reports, the Truth Society has clearly sensed danger. Over the past two days, they’ve withdrawn all their outer sentries and are preparing to evacuate the base.”
“But from the direction of their retreat—still heading toward Twilight Canyon—it’s clear they haven’t noticed our presence. This is our chance. We must wipe out this unit and hit the Truth Society hard—hard enough that they’ll never dare act recklessly again!”
Damian delivered a passionate speech.
But compared to his speech, the Division Four Special Agents from the Gene Primordials sitting near the tent entrance were more concerned about the signature on the email they received four days ago.
【Captain Xu, do you think that email really came from Bai Fu?】
A message popped up on the personal terminal.
Xu Hong glanced at Yago, who was grinning beside him.
【You brat, this is the thirteenth time you’ve asked me in four days. You ask me—how would I know for sure】
【I’m just curious. Come to think of it, it’s been over a month since we’ve seen Bai Fu. During this time, I visited the Wildfire Gang Boss in prison a few times. That Old Deng kept bragging about how sharp his eyes were, how he recognized Bai Fu’s greatness early on】
—Have you heard of Bai Fu? The outlaw who punched the Truth Society and kicked the Gene Primordials, still at large despite being hunted by two major factions! She was once my subordinate!
Thinking about the Wildfire Gang Boss’s words made Yago laugh.
【A few days ago, Xia Shi contacted me too. She asked if I had any news about Bai Fu. I could only shrug helplessly at her】
Xu Hong shot him a sidelong glance. 【Why are you bringing this up? You’re in your twenties, don’t start reminiscing like an old man】
Yago shrugged. 【Captain Xu, I honestly think the email was most likely sent by Bai Fu. Only a few people know your personal terminal number, and no one else sent anything. That just leaves Bai Fu, doesn’t it?】
Xu Hong didn’t respond. Truth be told, he and Director Lu had thought the same thing.
【Captain Xu, from any angle, Bai Fu has nothing to do with the Truth Society. So why does the military want her dead? Why is she wanted? I joined Division Four because I believed in the Gene Primordials’ vision to rebuild order from the ruins. But now the higher-ups want to kill someone willing to sacrifice herself for ordinary people—I really don’t get it】
Yago recalled the scene he and Xia Shi witnessed at the Abandoned Cooling Plant and couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
Seeing another message from Yago, Xu Hong’s expression changed. He quickly replied:
【Watch your words!】
He, too, felt something was wrong. But this kind of thing must never be spoken aloud.
He had a hunch that Bai Fu knew something. If only they could meet again.
……
The convoy stopped near Twilight Canyon. Moving all these vehicles together would make too large a target. Bai Fu didn’t want to become the main strike target of Black Hawk Base—otherwise, she wouldn’t have secretly contacted the Gene Primordials and other factions.
She was waiting for the right moment—once Black Hawk Base clashed with the Gene Primordials and the others, she would lead the Players into the battlefield.
Unless absolutely necessary, she would not fight battles she wasn’t confident in. She had plenty of ways to level up now, and there was no need to risk her life just for some XP.
After getting out of the vehicle, Bai Fu assigned Players to scouting missions.
Normally, scouts were expected to have exceptional military training, physical endurance, and psychological resilience. The slacker-like Players obviously didn’t meet those standards.
But compared to regular scouts, Players had the advantage of being able to transmit information conveniently and even share video, enabling real-time monitoring of the battlefield.
After sending off the Players who took on scouting tasks, Bai Fu began warning the remaining Players.
“I know you all usually love to talk, but today’s situation is different. If we’re discovered by the enemy, what awaits us will be shellfire. To avoid unnecessary casualties, do not speak unless I give the order. Even if you have something to say to me, please raise your hand first.”
This warning was very necessary.
Veteran Players were fine, but the new Players participating in a major event for the first time were already jumping around excitedly in the vehicles.
Bai Fu could understand their feelings. After all, this time they had taken on two large-scale quests at once.
The first quest was a faction quest released in the name of the Garden of Silence. The format was similar to the one during the raid on Graham, but the rewards were more generous.
The Player with the highest contribution would receive 50,000 XP, 30 Faction Reputation points, and 2 【Custom Card·Battle Etiquette】.
At this stage, for any Player, such a reward was enough to drive them crazy.
The second quest was automatically triggered as the convoy approached Twilight Canyon.
【Multinational Joint Operation】
【Quest Description: A joint strike operation against the Truth Society is about to begin. Show your prowess on the battlefield!】
【Quest Objectives:
1. Ruthless Slaughter - Each kill of a Truth Society member grants 1000 XP;
2. Decapitation Mission I - Kill Black Hawk Base Commander Pedro, reward based on contribution;
3. Decapitation Mission II - Kill Mechanic Qi Yuan, reward based on contribution;
4. Eliminate Black Hawk Base - reward based on contribution.】
【Quest Rewards: Reward based on contribution】
This quest followed the same template as the one triggered during Bai Fu’s assault on Bagaros Base, and Bai Fu had also received the quest.
Considering Black Hawk Base’s higher level compared to Bagaros Base, the rewards this time would definitely be much richer.
Bai Fu found a clean stone to sit on and quietly waited for the scouting Players to return with intel.
……
At the same time, outside Black Hawk Base, the base’s commander Pedro glanced back at the facility.
“What a pity.”
Before the President could even begin the counterattack plan, Black Hawk Base’s location had already been compromised due to Graham’s sudden betrayal. Once the President calmed down, he immediately ordered a retreat—they had no choice but to abandon Black Hawk Base.
It had taken nearly ten years of effort to build this base.
“Graham!”
Pedro’s heart was bleeding. He swore he would capture Graham alive and torture him with every cruel method he could imagine.
Suppressing his killing intent, Pedro turned to Qi Yuan sitting in the vehicle and said, “We might encounter danger during this retreat. We’ll be counting on your power.”
Qi Yuan smiled and nodded. “Piece of cake.”
He had absolute confidence in his strength.
Who could kill him?
Unless it was a massive army encircling him, or the enemy launched a last-resort missile strike, otherwise he was confident he could use his mechanical army to tear apart any defensive formation.
He wasn’t an ordinary Mechanic. He possessed mechanical manufacturing skills far beyond most, and an enviable electromagnetic-type Esper Power. Empowered by this Esper Power, his crafting speed far exceeded that of regular Mechanics. The mechanical dogs and mechanical bees he created could unleash far greater power than ordinary machines.
Thanks to this unique ability, he had made a name for himself on the dark web, becoming a listed S-rank Certified Assassin in his twenties.
Later, the Truth Society took notice of his talents and offered very generous terms. He then joined the Truth Society.
Don’t be fooled by the fact that he wasn’t in charge at Black Hawk Base. That was simply because he didn’t care to manage others. His status was far above Pedro’s.
After giving his briefing, the troops at Black Hawk Base began their orderly retreat.
As they neared Twilight Canyon, the waiting coalition forces immediately detected their presence.
“Commander Damian, an unidentified convoy is heading toward our ambush zone!”
Damian’s spirits lifted. A few days ago, they had already blocked the nearby roads. Now that a convoy had suddenly appeared, who else could it be but the Truth Society?
“Let them enter the ambush zone. Once they’re in, attack immediately!”
He shouted loudly, and everyone became excited.
They’re here—the walking achievement points are here!
A few minutes later, as the Black Hawk Base convoy entered the ambush zone, a power armor unit hidden above raised its right arm.
Da-da-da!
The machine gun began spitting fire. This signaled the start as autocannons on armored vehicles, agents, and soldiers all opened fire.
The unlucky few at the front of the convoy were instantly shot in the head, blood and brain matter splattering everywhere.
“Ambush! Ambush!”
Screams rang out.
Pedro’s face turned grim. “Are these people part dog? Their noses are that sharp? They really set up an ambush.”
He wasn’t exactly panicking—he had been prepared for this—but he was still annoyed. He’d been praying nothing would go wrong on this retreat, and now those prayers were meaningless.
“Fight back, damn it! You think I’m here to play nice?” Pedro looked at Qi Yuan beside him. “We can’t stall for too long, or more enemies will arrive.”
Qi Yuan shrugged with a smile. “I already deployed my mechanical bee swarm when they started firing. Just sit back and enjoy the show.”
He jumped off the vehicle.
Watching his back disappear into the chaos, Pedro breathed a bit easier.
Extraordinary individuals typically couldn’t shoulder the main offensive in battle—but Qi Yuan was different. He was a Mechanic who could truly fight as a one-man army.
As long as Qi Yuan launched his attack, everything would turn out fine!
Pedro had witnessed the power of the mechanical bee swarm—those venomous stingers could even kill a Type II Amoeba!
“What the hell is that?”
“Mechanical bees! Retreat! Poison stingers!”
The coalition forces noticed something was wrong—but it was already too late. The stingers fired from the mechanical bees struck several soldiers’ necks, and the poison quickly spread. Within seconds, the affected soldiers collapsed, writhing and screaming in agony.
“Help me! Help me!”
“You bastard!”
Damian gritted his teeth. He hadn’t expected the Truth Society to have such a trump card. Just as he was commanding troops to suppress the bee swarm, the Black Hawk Base troops launched a flank attack from another direction.
The infantry and convoy launched a feint, while Qi Yuan took the main offensive.
Yes, a one-man offensive.
Wearing customized power armor, he drove hundreds of mechanical dogs—each carrying firearms on their backs—to charge at the coalition forces from the flank.
The mechanical dogs were small, agile, and fast—so fast that even Bolt would shed tears. In the face of the coalition’s hail of bullets, they easily broke through the line, and while doing so, they could use their auto-lock modules to seek and shoot targets.
“It’s Qi Yuan! Damn it, the intel never said he was at Black Hawk Base—this is bad!”
Seeing the swarm of approaching mechanical dogs and recognizing Qi Yuan, Damian’s eyes narrowed. He realized it would likely be very difficult to completely eliminate this Truth Society retreat unit today.
“Ha ha.”
Qi Yuan laughed wildly.
He greatly enjoyed this sight—his mechanical legion harvesting enemy lives. To him, a man’s romance should be guns (machines) and roses (blood)!
At the rear, Pedro nodded slightly.
Just as he had expected, though the enemy had prepared, they were caught off guard by Qi Yuan’s presence and had exposed a weakness.
“Wait for my command.”
He immediately contacted all drivers via walkie-talkie, preparing to charge through the barrage at any moment.
At this moment, neither Pedro, Qi Yuan, nor Damian could have imagined that Bai Fu, who had received a report from the Players, was lying in wait in the shadows.
“So this is the combat power of a fully formed Mechanic?”
Bai Fu believed that once this video got out, plenty of Players would rush to transfer to the Mechanic class.
But it didn’t matter. She would show through her actions that, at least in this moment, in Twilight Canyon, she—Bai Fu—was the strongest!
“Now it’s our turn!”
With Bai Fu’s command, over five hundred Players split into five hundred routes and charged at the convoy from Black Hawk Base.
“Sir, bad news—our flank is under attack!”
“What?”
Pedro’s eyelid twitched wildly at the report.
He turned his head in haste, and across the chaos of rampaging Players, he spotted from a distance a young woman approaching with steady steps. She wore a spotless white shirt, a black mask, and black leather gloves.
“Quick, get Qi Yuan back here!”
Pedro could feel the threat of death closing in.