Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

Bai E narrowed his eyes, sensing that the officer was contemplating a retreat, he once again threw out the information he had discovered, "Moreover, I saw just now that they seem to be restricted by orders and won't actively pursue us beyond a certain limit; once they reach that boundary, they will stop in their tracks."

Bai E, who covered the rear, observed more information than the rest of the party.

This discovery actually proved very useful in verifying other things...

Normally, to prevent intruders from causing damage, the relatively small number of biowarriors should be patrolling throughout the base.

So, was it the case that the orders they received at the beginning were just like this? A few warriors guarding the outer ring, most protecting the central processing units.

But this was not logical... It wasn't just them who might come to this base wanting to restart the equipment; orcs, wild beasts, insects, any of them could have come, and they wouldn't show any mercy to human technological creations.

Of course, it's also possible that there were more than these few people in the base initially, and the biowarriors responsible for patrolling mostly died of natural causes over these hundreds of years. And these biowarriors executed their orders so rigidly without any flexibility, leading to the current situation.

However, Bai E felt this possibility was rather slim.

Therefore, the last possibility became quite interesting—

The orders they received were new.

Some "person" had discovered their team of intruders and issued a temporary change of orders, directing them to concentrate at the last line of defense.

Who could issue orders to them? The answer was on the verge of revelation.

What decision would this speculation lead the officers to make—retreat, or complete destruction?

What kind of abilities did the electronic demon have? Apart from controlling machinery, what impact could it have on them as living beings?

He had no idea.

The situation became chaotic.

Bai E looked at Minister Likok, who still held onto his computer and aimed to obtain verification from the data, waiting for his final verdict.

But before that, someone needed to be dispatched to find and make contact with the other two squads that had split off.

The enemy had already gathered their forces, while his own side was still operating singly?

No wonder they were at a disadvantage!

Glancing around, Bai E chose to remain silent.

Now that there was a commander-in-chief, he could step back... from talking, at least.

Having listened to the multitude of information provided by Bai E, Gregory, after a brief period of contemplation, immediately issued an order, "Before Minister Likok confirms the final result, I need you to find the other two dispersed squads."

As he spoke, he pointed to a side road they had just passed and said, "All the paths here are connected. Leave three with me to guard the minister, and the rest of you divide into three groups to search for them, going in pairs. Make sure to remember this starting point, as we will wait for you to return here.

Remember, you have half an hour, and whether or not you find them, you must return immediately! If you encounter the enemy, don't engage in a drawn-out fight, try to lead them towards us."

"Yes, sir!"

Gregory then gave Bai E a significant look, full of appreciation, "95B27, we will rely on you next. You will also be in one of the groups searching for them. If you find that they are being pursued, please make sure to rescue them!"

"Guaranteed to complete the mission!" Bai E readily agreed.

Leading a large team, he couldn't roam everywhere at leisure; now, working in a pair with another warrior, wasn't it just like wanting to go wherever they pleased, finding their scattered companions while perfecting the exploration of the ruins? Perfect!

"Alright, move out!"

...

"Thump!" In the midst of the long wait, Minister Likok, finally, after abruptly striking a key, completed his final meticulous analysis.

Gregory, who had been waiting, immediately looked at him with expectation, "Minister?"

"..." Likok waved his hand, "Have everyone turn off their radios first."

"Radios?" Gregory was taken aback for a moment before turning to give the order, "Everyone, completely shut off your radios!"

"Yes!"

After completing this task, Likok seemed to let out a long sigh as if all his energy had been drained.

After comparing all possible data, he finally confirmed...

"The electronic demon has returned!"

Or rather, it had never really dissipated.

The electronic silence of several hundred years hadn't made It disappear in obscurity, nor even sleep.

Even the idea of exploiting the weak period of Its slumber to mount a sudden attack with rapidly developed network-controlled firepower before completely shutting down the network was impossible!

Humans, in the end, had to face those insects on their own!

And this base...

"Destroy it!"

Minister Likok looked at Commander Gregory, his face pleading.

Even though they hadn't been able to successfully restart the Root Server, their trip here was not without meaning—

The scientists from hundreds of years ago had encountered the electronic demon for the first time; their judgment was ultimately flawed, and hundreds of years of time had done nothing to destroy the electronic demon. There was not the slightest sign of its waning. It was still here, lurking, waiting.

To destroy this base was the greatest significance of their mission!

As the time for the 500-year agreement drew closer, human hearts ultimately struggled to contain themselves; he had his own ideas, and it was hard to ensure other cities wouldn't have people wanting to restart the network.

Perhaps they didn't have the geographical advantage of being as close to this base as Blackwater City, but even if they decided to develop their own, upon reaching a certain scale, it would result in the electronic demon's immediate arrival.

By then, it would be utterly out of control.

Without an endless army of machines to stop them and with less than a hundred biochemical soldiers guarding, the chance to completely annihilate the electronic demon was right in front of them. The task their predecessors had not resolutely decided to undertake, would now be taken up by the younger generation!

Even if it didn't work out this time, they would have to go back and report to the military district so they could send someone to eradicate it completely!

Of course, a large-scale mobilization by the military district would consume countless manpower and resources. If it was something they could do themselves, there was no need to trouble more soldiers.

They had to at least try to be satisfied.

"Are you sure?" Gregory didn't understand much about technical matters. In his military view, one or two bases, which could be knocked down and rebuilt countless times, were no big deal.

The order he received was to coordinate with Minister Likok's actions at the last moment, whether it was to restart or to destroy. It was merely a choice for the other party.

Likok's eyes were filled with a grim determination. He decided to make this significant decision and also decided to bear all the consequences, "I'm sure!"

"Good!"

Gregory nodded in agreement, "Please wait a moment. Once our most loyal soldiers return, we will destroy this base completely!"

...

"Found them!"

The soldiers moving with Bai E found a small team that was taking a temporary rest in a room.

Their directions of movement were different. This team had infiltrated mostly residential areas, and with the loss of power supply, the doors to the rooms of the original base personnel were all open, providing them with a place to hide.

The members of the resting team in the room were all injured and looked somewhat ragged. It seemed they had encountered quite troublesome opponents.

Bai E's gaze swept through them. He didn't recognize anyone... it wasn't the group led by the Blood God.

"We are ordered by the commander to take you to the assembly. Come with us now," the soldier accompanying Bai E explained cheerfully to the team.

"We noticed earlier that the voice communication was cut off, so something really happened, huh?"

"Let's go now!" The members of the team were somewhat surprised. Without the commander's orders, they were also a bit confused about what they should do next.

"Go!"

As they passed by an intersection, Bai E hesitated slightly. Having taken a few steps past, he took a step back and looked up toward the transverse corridor that seemed to stretch endlessly.

"Brother?" Bai E's unusual behavior puzzled the accompanying soldier.

"You take them to see the commander," said Bai E.

"Ah?"

"You take them to see the commander. I have another task," Bai E withdrew his gaze and explained calmly with a stern face.

"?" The accompanying soldier expressed his confusion with a question mark.

"The commander ordered me to ensure the safety of the other team of brothers. I need to find the other team," Bai E clarified.

"..." The accompanying soldier couldn't immediately find fault with that.

The commander had indeed given that order in front of everyone.

But... isn't there something wrong with acting alone?

He couldn't quite articulate it.

Bai E urged expressionlessly, "Hurry up and go. Don't keep the commander waiting. I will look for the other team."

"Be careful on your own," the soldier, not having strong opinions of his own, could only follow Bai E's orders, as Bai E had been his "commander" during the brief time just past.

"Don't worry."

Watching the accompanying soldier lead the team further and further away, disappearing around the corner at the end of the corridor, Bai E then pivoted on his heels, walking in the direction of the passage he had just observed.

Having wandered around the base for quite some time, he had a good understanding of the overall architecture of the base.

All the places he had visited were like the fog of war lifting, unlocking each on the mental model of the base relic in his mind.

[You have explored the target relic's residential area completely. Current exploration progress: 70%.]

The exploration mission did not require him to walk through every corner of the relic with his own feet. A rough exploration of a large area and understanding its general function was considered task completion.

And now, the only area left enshrouded in fog was the central computer room area, which the commander and his team had wanted to enter but failed to breach.

Is it hard to get in? Indeed, it is hard.

But now there was an opportunity.

The paths within the base were traceable. Following this branch road would lead straight to the entrance of the concentric circle corridor closest to the Root Server room...

A big group would have a hard time breaking in, but what about one person sneaking in?

He had just sensed the commander's reluctance. Facing a force of hundreds of biochemical soldiers, the commander clearly wanted to be prudent.

He might be prudent, but what about his own mission?

If they were to return, there would be no more room for personal choice. If the commander decided to retreat, should he obey or not?

Disobeying would mean going against military orders, but obeying would mean a failed mission.

Life, sometimes, is about taking chances.