Stronger with More Jobs-Chapter 426 - 227: Nine Tribulations Cyan Dragon Body, Only Witness Corps

Chapter 426: Chapter 227: Nine Tribulations Cyan Dragon Body, Only Witness Corps

There, a deep gray trail, barely noticeable to the naked eye, streaked across the sky at an astonishing speed towards the southeast.

The old man’s face, lined with wrinkles, showed no expression, but deep within his cloudy eyes, a complex and indescribable glimmer seemed to flicker.

He lowered his head, looking at his blurred reflection in the muddy river.

Murmuring in a voice only he could hear, like a sigh:

"What a pity..."

"Time’s running out..."

...

An hour later.

The hour-long terrifying feeling of being pressed into the seat and the sight of rapidly retreating clouds outside the window finally began to subside.

The speed of the Profound Bird Shuttle noticeably decreased, and its altitude was rapidly dropping.

"We are about to reach the outer platform of the Anjiang Province frontline command post, preparing to land."

The driver’s voice sounded once again.

Looking down through the porthole, it was no longer a bustling city, but a stretch of undulating hills and mountains. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The vegetation was lush, and a winding road snaked through like a gray ribbon.

At the edge of the mountainous terrain, a relatively flat area had been artificially cleared, establishing a makeshift helipad, barracks, and defensive fortifications.

The Profound Bird Shuttle, like a precise hunting falcon, steadily landed vertically at the center of the helipad, the dust it raised instantly smoothed by the faint force field emitted from its base.

The hatch slid open upwards.

Fang Qingyu was the first to come down, holding a metal box.

As his feet stepped onto the firm ground that smelled of earth and grass, the fresh air rushed into his lungs, dispelling the slightly stuffy atmosphere inside the cabin.

As soon as he stood still.

A group of soldiers in dark green combat uniforms, with crossed sword and shield crests embroidered on their arm patches, quickly approached.

The leader, a man around his forties, with a square face and bronze skin from years of exposure to the elements, stood tall like a pine tree, his eyes as sharp as an eagle’s, the shoulder patch showing a Colonel’s rank.

His face bore a windblown but genuine smile.

He took a few steps forward to Fang Qingyu, extending a calloused hand:

"Welcome! Welcome, Captain Fang! And comrades from the Dragon Abyss Pavilion! You must have had a hard journey!"

His voice was loud and forceful, with a soldier’s unique straightforwardness and enthusiasm, firmly shaking Fang Qingyu’s hand without a second thought.

"I’m Zhou Zhenguo, commander of the third mobile brigade of the Only Witness Corps in Anjiang Province! Responsible for coordinating the defense of this battle zone’s Ghost Festival! I’ve long awaited your arrival!"

Fang Qingyu was slightly taken aback by this warmth, instinctively nodding: "Colonel Zhou, hello. I am Fang Qingyu."

At this moment, Jiang Wei, Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, and Lu Jiuyuan also descended from the Profound Bird Shuttle, somewhat surprised by the turnout on the helipad.

"Haha, this must be Comrade Jiang Wei! And Comrade Wei Banmeng, Comrade Chu Kuanglan, Comrade Lu Jiuyuan!" Zhou Zhenguo had evidently done his homework in advance, his gaze accurately sweeping over the group, calling out their names one by one, enthusiasm undiminished, "Welcome! Welcome to join the Anjiang Battle Zone!"

The officers and staff standing behind him also stepped forward, faces brimming with respect and anticipation, starting introductions:

"Deputy Commander, Li Weiguo!"

"Combat Staff, Wang Tiejun!"

"Logistics Director, Zhao Yuanzhao!"

"..."

The names carried the distinct marks of the era and military demeanor.

Zhou Zhenguo waved a big hand: "Captain Fang, comrades, accommodations have been arranged, they are simple but absolutely clean and safe! Everyone can settle down first, rest a little, grab something to eat! Then we can detail the defense situation!"

"Thank you, Colonel Zhou."

Fang Qingyu nodded in appreciation.

The group followed Zhou Zhenguo and the others through the simple helipad.

All around were stretches of field tents, temporary barracks, supply points covered with camouflage nets, and defensive structures built from sandbags.

The air was filled with the smell of engine oil mixed with dirt.

In the distance from the training field came the soldiers’ shouts, the atmosphere tense yet orderly.

"Every Ghost Festival," Zhou Zhenguo introduced while walking, his voice deepening, "the city has Grandmasters and the Divine Management Bureau stationed, that’s relatively manageable."

"The truly fierce areas are actually these places far from the city, with relatively sparse populations, but where the Life Ghost disturbances are highly frequent. Our defense line is stretched very long, and the pressure is immense. Your special squad’s arrival, especially your presence, Captain Fang..." he looked at Fang Qingyu, his gaze revealing undisguised expectation, "it’s definitely a shot of adrenaline for us!"

Fang Qingyu looked at the soldiers around, sweating profusely in the dust, their eyes firm.

Feeling the somber, intense atmosphere of this field camp, he suddenly asked: "Colonel Zhou, why are you called the ’Only Witness Corps’?"

Zhou Zhenguo’s steps paused slightly, the smile on his face retracting, replaced by a near-reverent solemnity.

He stopped, turned around, his gaze swept over Fang Qingyu and the others, then looked at the busy figures in the camp, finally casting his eyes to the distant, vast mountains and forests, speaking word by word, resolutely:

"Because our duty is..."

"We see, we eliminate!"

The voice wasn’t loud but branded the air like a vow.

"Absolutely not letting the Life Ghosts be exposed to the public! Not letting panic spread! Not letting those distorted things taint the lives of our compatriots behind us! Anyone who enters our sight will be destroyed with the force of Thunder before they can take root!"

"That is the ’Witness’!"

Fang Qingyu and his group were shaken to their core by these words.

Wei Banmeng’s calm eyes flashed with a trace of respect.

Chu Kuanglan put away his carefree expression, nodding vigorously.

Lu Jiuyuan clutched the handle of his sword tightly.

Jiang Wei looked up, her clear big eyes gazing at Zhou Zhenguo, then at the dust rising from the training field in the distance, the lollipop in her small mouth gently rotating.

Fang Qingyu held the cold metal box.

Looking at the dark-skinned, determined-eyed military colonel before him, he slowly nodded.

"Understood."