Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 639 - 578 Liuqiu

With no more obstacles ahead, Li Ang stepped over rubble and broken bricks, Elemental Material spreading out beneath his feet, covering all armored vehicles and infiltrating each one.

Fractured power lines reconnected, battered cannon barrels were restored, screens lit up, and tracks began to turn slowly. All the vehicles followed Li Ang’s movements, turning north.

"Damn it..." Ryan, half-kneeling on the ground, was filled with extreme unwillingness. He tried to stand, but as soon as he moved, his knees trembled sharply, and he fell to the ground once more.

"Don’t move." Moon Woman pressed down on his shoulder, glanced at his injuries, which were indeed gut-wrenchingly severe, and said calmly, "You’ve already done enough. Leave the rest to others. Trust them."

「 」

Sharp and loud air raid sirens echoed through the city streets. Ordinary people panicked and shouted, rushing toward the nearest shelters. At the entrances of underground parking lots, subway stations, and underground malls, crowds were jammed together, everyone pushing and shoving to get to the front, a scene far from the "orderly" manner described in some magazines.

Countless lights flickered in the sky—the US Army’s drone swarm.

They converged from all directions. Early warning aircraft circled high above, capturing footage and transmitting it to the command center, while a dense swarm of suicide drones, resembling dragonflies, swept through the night sky, guided by infrared, plummeting toward the convoy below.

Li Ang stood atop an M1A2 tank, ordering the convoy to continue onward, crushing or knocking aside unmanned vehicles in their path. He slightly opened his palm, releasing Mind Needles.

SHOOP SHOOP—

Eighteen Mind Needles danced and circled in the air, forming an impenetrable barrier, intercepting all suicide drones as they approached the convoy. The small drones carried minimal explosive payloads, and their detonations lacked the force to destroy the Mind Needles or sever Li Ang’s connection to them.

The first wave of attack was easily deflected, and then the second wave assaulted them.

Large suicide drones flew low, each carrying over 50 kilograms of high-explosive warheads. Given their vast numbers, they were indeed capable of breaching the Mind Needle defensive line.

Then...

Li Ang flicked his fingers. A large number of Mind Needles soared skyward, instantly seizing control of an entire swarm of unmanned reconnaissance drones. He then reached out toward four self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

The self-propelled anti-aircraft guns mounted on the vehicles received his commands, raising their barrels skyward. The integrated fire control system, comprising photoelectric sights, stabilized fire control, laser rangefinders, infrared goniometers, and thermal imagers, precisely located each suicide drone before thunderously opening fire.

The launched programmable cluster submunitions detonated in mid-air, unleashing high-density clouds of shrapnel, like shotgun blasts. This barrage formed a protective wall above the convoy, destroying all the drones.

"FUCK!" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

The bodies of some fallen soldiers still lay inside the combat vehicles. Their noise-canceling headsets remained connected to the command post, clearly transmitting the disappointed and furious shouts of American generals on the other side of the city.

Elemental Material could not only repair the vehicles but also block remote override attempts from the U.S. military, effectively turning their own weapons against them.

Li Ang gave a faint smile and ordered the convoy to continue its advance.

When air-to-ground missiles approached, he first used the captured drones for reconnaissance and then had the anti-aircraft artillery shoot them down. If bombs destroyed the road ahead, he would repair the surface with Elemental Material, retrieving it once the vehicles had passed.

The entire convoy, bristling like a hedgehog, defended against all attacks. Finally, they arrived at the heart of Japan: the Japan National Congress in Tokyo’s Chiyoda District.

It was a modern-style building with light gray granite exterior walls. Four large, round stone pillars flanked the entrance, and a pyramidal spire crowned the central tower. The surroundings were desolate and silent, devoid of temporary fortifications, formations of soldiers, or any tanks and aircraft. The entire National Congress building seemed defenseless, its doors wide open.

TAP. TAP. TAP.

Footsteps echoed from the shadows of the National Congress. A young man in a sharp suit emerged, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. He spoke in fluent Chinese, "If Your Excellency is here to take captives or hold hostages, I’m afraid you will be disappointed."

Li Ang ordered the convoy to halt and observed the man coldly.

"During the past hour," the man with the glasses continued, "key figures from the National Congress, the Cabinet Office, and the Prime Minister’s Residence, along with those in the Imperial Palace, have been relocated to other secure locations via secret passages. Therefore, taking hostages to compel Japan or the United States to allow your departure is no longer possible."

Li Ang glanced at him but remained silent.

The man with glasses, momentarily ignored, pursed his lips and continued, "However, there is still the possibility of engaging in rational discussion and negotiation. Your Excellency has proven your power, and both the Japanese and American sides have suffered heavy losses in the recent battle, recognizing their mistakes. We would like to invite you with genuine hospitality to join our Liuqiu Project. What do you think?"

Li Ang raised an eyebrow. "Liuqiu Project?"

The man explained, "Formed by the United States, Japan, and South Korea, with participation from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and other nations, the International Alliance aims to jointly research the large meteorite that fell into the Liuqiu Sea Area—which your country calls the East Sea Region—a few months ago.

"During the initial period after the meteorite’s descent, its true value was unknown. Consequently, a significant amount of meteorite material circulated and was sold on the international market, which led to the emergence of a number of Superpower Users.

"The Liuqiu Project’s objectives are to study the meteorite’s origin, the mechanisms by which it creates Superpower Users, the fundamental nature of these superpowers, and, by analyzing the abilities of Superpower Users, to contribute to the scientific and technological advancement of all humankind.

"Because the exact mechanism by which the meteorite fosters superpowers remains unclear, and not everyone exposed to it develops abilities, every Superpower User is an invaluable asset to all humanity.

"This entire incident was caused by certain high-ranking government officials on our side. Driven by a desire for quick gains and short-sightedness, they acted unilaterally without authorization and employed improper methods in dealing with you, leading to these severe consequences.

"We are prepared to bear all losses, rectify the damage to your reputation, compensate you for any psychological distress, and severely punish those who violated regulations in this affair by dismissing them from all posts and sentencing them accordingly.

"We sincerely hope you will grant us an opportunity to mend our relations and embark on a truly equitable partnership. Please."

With that, he brought his feet together and bowed deeply to Li Ang.