Chapter 131: Sister-in-Law Is Yours

"It's a personal flight vehicle!"

"That's right!"

"Who's back? Lu Shangbai or Ji Cheng?"

"You're not even considering Councilman Yao at all, are you?"

The wind pressure generated by personal flight vehicles is highly distinctive; it causes windows and walls to vibrate, though not necessarily shatter. The moment the ability users heard the rattling of the glass, they understood.

They quickly looked up at the sky and immediately spotted two streams of black light, racing each other as they descended toward the base.

"Two of them!"

"They're both back."

*Hiss—*

A sharp sound of air being sliced echoed from above. As the vehicles gradually decelerated and landed, the sound faded into silence.

Both vehicles returned simultaneously. With superior handling, they moved from extreme motion to absolute stillness, touching down on the open ground in front of the tactical command center.

The hatch of the 'Osprey' opened, and Lu Shangbai and his two companions stepped out. Upon looking up, they were met with the sight of heavily armed ability users, all eyes fixed upon them.

"Ha, you're too kind, really."

The crowd wore strange expressions. They didn't bother to puncture Lu Shangbai's misunderstanding, instead turning their gaze to the 'Hunter' nearby.

A halo of light flickered across the seamless fuselage. Then, the hatch buzzed and slowly rose.

"Let's go, we've arrived."

Inside the cabin, Ji Cheng called out as he stepped out.

Soon, the crowded cabin was emptied. The open ground inside the guard station was filled with the teary-eyed families of the ability users, who had been anxiously waiting for their return. Cries of joy, sobs, and words of comfort overwhelmingly drowned out the distant roars of beasts.

Seeing that his surroundings had cleared, Ji Cheng took a look around.

The Grey Zone guard station occupied a significant area. Originally, there were only a few small sentry towers along the perimeter and the robots Ji Cheng had deployed earlier. Now, after a few days of absence, it had been heavily reinforced.

Especially around the perimeter of the tactical command center, a large number of light and heavy weapons were visible everywhere, their muzzles aimed toward the streets. The former guards had been reorganized to handle early warning and basic defense.

This was all work Ji Cheng had delegated to Chen Qian before he left, and it seemed she had done a fine job.

Ten minutes later, on the top floor of the tactical command center.

"Ji Cheng," Huang Long spoke first, "We owe this all to you."

"Not at all, not at all. It was just on the way. Even if I hadn't gone to pick them up, Brother Lu would have gone, right?"

Ji Cheng replied with casual modesty.

He didn't really think it was a big deal; he had just let Shana fly the ship around a few times—it was no more effort than taking a nap. However, the ability users present were truly grateful for his efforts. Regardless, he had risked his life to bring their families to safety.

"Lu Shangbai? What happened to him? Little Tian told me everything. If you hadn't arrived in time to help him, never mind picking people up, he might not have even survived himself."

The Centipede then looked at Lu Shangbai. "Though, I do feel for you, encountering a Rotor Dragonfly."

"Indeed, it hasn't been easy for little Lu." Huang Long added with a chuckle.

However, Lu Shangbai sat in his chair, eyes fixed on his nose, meditation-like, showing no reaction whatsoever. Ever since the story of him being drenched in dragonfly excrement had spread, he had maintained this state.

To put it professionally: he was biologically alive, but socially deceased.

"Ahem."

Ji Cheng coughed a few times to draw attention back to himself. "Now that we have two flight vehicles, we can carry about twenty or thirty people. Any more than that, and it won't work. You understand what I mean, right?"

Qiu Ding was the first to raise his hand. "Understood, understood. We'll just abandon those guards."

"Why have you become such a sycophant in just a few days?" the Centipede glanced at him.

"Does it concern you?"

*Bang.*

Seeing the conversation veering off track, Ji Cheng helplessly patted the table.

"I didn't mean we should abandon them. I believe there are still many survivors in the New South Harbor City. On the way back, the biological monitoring equipment kept giving signals."

"So, my idea is that we first secure the Old City, organize some troops, and then retake the New City. What do you think?"

In the face of organized, heavy human firepower, most mutated animals would be forced to retreat. The fact that the New City fell so easily was primarily Zhang Sheng's fault. He had likely lured all the city's ability users to their deaths, consumed all the energy crystal mines, and allowed the Parliament Building—the central command hub—to be infected. Without orders or support from ability users, the military was naturally overwhelmed.

"I think Ji Cheng makes a valid point, but I have a few things to add."

Huang Long shared his perspective.

The brief meeting ended quickly. Throughout the session, everyone tacitly avoided mentioning Yao Lun, and no one asked about his life, death, or whereabouts.

It was as if they had all agreed he had accidentally died at the hands of the mutated animals. After all, he was one of the councilmen of South Harbor and had made significant contributions in the past. Whether he was dead or alive, one thing was certain: he and Ji Cheng were incompatible—it was either him or Ji Cheng.

Since it was Ji Cheng who returned piloting the 'Hunter', even Huang Long stopped asking.

Too much had happened recently. After the meeting adjourned, everyone left with their own thoughts, agreeing to depart in two hours.

Ji Cheng prepared to return to his room to pack his things. Just as he turned, he heard someone calling him. He turned back and saw Zhou Ze pushing through the crowd.

Zhou Ze looked haggard and pale, his voice weak.

"Ji Cheng... I wanted to ask, when you were in the Emerald District, did you happen to check on my house?"

"Oh, right!"

Ji Cheng quickly ran back into the flight vehicle and returned just as quickly, handing a glass fishbowl to Zhou Ze.

"Here, Brother Zhou, here is your sister-in-law."

"Thank you, though your sister-in-law is an artificial intelligence life form; she doesn't need to be kept in water."

Zhou Ze took the bowl, a long-lost smile finally appearing on his pale face.

"I know, but I felt that carrying her around directly with my hands would be a bit disrespectful."

...

In Ji Cheng's room, the Zhang sisters paid him a visit together.

After entering and sitting down, the atmosphere turned silent; they seemed to have something to say but hesitated.

"What is it you two want to ask?"

"We just came to check on you." Zhang Lingfei circled around Ji Cheng, poking and prodding him from time to time, seemingly unaware that such behavior was a bit over the line for members of the opposite sex.

"Not even a scratch on your skin?"

Actually, there were some, but they had already healed. Ji Cheng didn't explain, his gaze shifting between her and Zhang Jing'e beside her.

"You actually want to know about Chairman Zhang, don't you?"

The Zhang sisters clearly hadn't expected Ji Cheng to be so direct. They looked into his eyes with surprise—had they been exposed so easily?

"We do want to know." Zhang Lingfei snatched the warm water Luo Rao was about to hand to Ji Cheng, took a sip herself, and then passed it to Zhang Jing'e.

*Clack.*

Ji Cheng pulled a small notebook from his pocket and placed it on the table.

"This is the diary he left behind."