Sky-cracking Rider

Adam: Temporarily suspend the connection.

Adam: Have I been deleted? I've discovered counters that once existed, as well as running logs and a backup database.

Chen Fei: It wasn't me!

He finally managed to stop "Adam" from crazily probing at the edge of deletion in time.

Adam: Because of the encrypted network signal just now?

The AI wasn't truly foolish after all.

Chen Fei: You encountered your nemesis!

He didn't know exactly what had happened, but the previous version of "Adam" had been killed off by "Captain" using some mysterious method.

Sheesh... Died so unjustly!

But AIs don't really have a concept of life and death, one can simply recompile another if it comes to that!

Adam: Record the signal code, tag, and block it!

If you can't beat them, avoid them. Only the wise and brave can recognize the situation. It is no wonder he was a top AI, the Great Demon King that nearly wiped out humanity over thirty years ago, capable of both seizing and letting go.

Chen Fei: "Phew..."

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Huh?

A bunch of people looked over again, wondering what new mischief he was up to.

"Chirp..."

The Little Bird sensed the surrounding light, still keeping its eyes closed, it let out a faint chirp.

The voice of the "Captain" sounded once more.

"Everyone, the 'Black Albatross' is expected to arrive near the mission target in ten minutes. Please make the necessary preparations."

The cabin, which had been flying so smoothly that there was hardly any perceptible shaking or jolting, began to decelerate slightly, then returned to its smooth course—a sign of gradual linear deceleration.

The massive aircraft was silently gliding through the night sky.

In the final five minutes, the "Summoner" came to the cabin where team 04 was located and distributed a pendant to each person, saying, "This is a spiritual power target, which will confirm your positions and communication usage. You can converse mentally without speaking aloud."

The pendant was a droplet-shaped black material about the size of a soybean with a misty surface that did not reflect light; it was lightweight, almost like plastic, and the cord was a common black nylon thread—cheap but sturdy.

"It's quite convenient."

As a fellow Psychic Ability User, Joshua recognized it as a method of his own Series.

Supernatural power users had a wide array of quirky Skills, even within the same Series, each having their own unique abilities. Some skills were understood upon Awakening, while others were learned later on. Of course, there were also abilities that could not be learned, differing from person to person.

Classifying them into eleven Elemental Series was just a general categorization, with many more detailed branches within them, even including hybrid categories.

"Human spiritual waves are even more complex than electromagnetic waves, no encryption needed, making it difficult for others to eavesdrop."

It seemed that the spiky-haired burly man "Summoner," who was likely the leader of the Sovereignty Squad, took the rare initiative to explain a bit more.

Putting the pendant around his neck, Chen Fei immediately heard voices in his head.

"Evil thoughts detected, suppress!"

The tone was devoid of any emotional fluctuations, as if mechanically recited.

His head felt as though it had been struck by a muffled blow—sharply painful for a moment.

Fuck!
Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire

"Hiss!~"

Chen Fei inhaled sharply.

What the hell is this thing? It even included a psychic attack.

"What's going on?"

Adrian, who had just put on his pendant, noticed Chen Fei's unusual reaction.

Chen Fei grimaced and said, "Headache, it's like I'm being attacked!"

While he was no longer feeling like he was being hit with a blunt object, the stabbing pain came in waves without stopping, making his scalp tingle. Lucky for him he had short hair; otherwise, it surely would have been standing on end.

"Why would this happen?"

Adrian immediately questioned the "Summoner," who had finished distributing the pendants, asking why he didn't mention the side effects earlier, as this could affect the combat strength of the team members.

"Sorry, but the 'Rookie' has too many stray thoughts. I need to shield them; otherwise, they'll interfere with everyone's mental communication."

Almost everyone's minds simultaneously heard the same voice.

"Eh? Are your malignant thoughts that severe?"

Mouri Misono looked at Chen Fei in amazement, astonished beyond belief.

Chen Fei's malignant thoughts were so overwhelming that even the blonde elder sister at the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division's registration could hardly cope with them, let alone affecting the collective psychic communication.

"Uh, can't you restrain them a bit?"

Adrian frowned, his eyebrows deeply furrowed. How could a normal person constantly harbor thoughts of evil? Chen Fei's malignant thoughts were almost like a curse, which explained why he had become the latest nightmare of the Neanderthal tribe, having slaughtered the most ferocious clan leader in the history of the Supreme Council.

"I can't, they are completely out of my control, but it's getting better now."

Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders as he held Xiao Jiu's nest. The tingling sensation on his scalp was evidently subsiding, and his reaction wasn't as intense as it had been at first.

If he had a way, he wouldn't have nearly caused the blonde elder sister to faint, but it was definitely not intentional.

"If there are no problems, I will announce the mission assignments. 'Captain,' I need a projection."

No sooner had the porcupine-haired burly man, the "Summoner," finished speaking than multiple corners of the cabin began emitting thin beams of light which quivered rapidly, their vibration frequency increasing and quickly stabilizing to the naked eye, forming a transparent full-view topographic map.

"The suburban residence of Akim Vasily Ulyanov, the police chief of the Tunguska Region, is a castle-style building covering 20,000 square meters. His wife died three years ago, leaving behind four daughters, one of whom is married, two are still studying, and only the youngest daughter stays by his side. There are four full-time servants and two lovers in the house. Besides his main job as the police chief, Akim also invests in many businesses, and he holds shares in most of Yarsk City's well-known bars. His dividend income each year exceeds his public service income by sixty times. Adrian, the mastermind behind the poaching gangs you encountered, is him."

Adrian exclaimed in disbelief, "What?"

"Thieves denouncing thieves, how can the thieves ever get caught!"

The Holy Knight, Walter Sam, shook his head; no wonder Squad 04 had made so little progress—the problem lay right here.

"Akim himself is a First Rank Wood War Professional. According to our investigation, he may possess a skill that allows him to extract vitality from animals and plants. His actual rank is likely understated, so be very careful. Once the operation starts, 'Sleep Demon' will be responsible for reconnaissance on the battlefield, she'll be the one talking in your heads. 'Forbidden' is in charge of sheltering the battlefield to prevent attack spills. I'll lead the team to encircle. 'Cornered Beast' will act in the shadows. Adrian, your men will guard in four directions to catch any stragglers; we must thoroughly eradicate them and show no concern for ordinary people because there are no innocents."

The "Summoner" of the Sovereignty Squad briefly outlined his team's operation and the main collaborative duties of Squad 04.

As for the details, they would still not disclose the direct action plan to Adrian and the rest.

Information relating to sovereignty, involving national defense secrets, would naturally not be carelessly disclosed to civilians. The fact that personnel from the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, under the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, could participate was already a significant face-saving gesture. They should open their eyes wide and see for themselves how the sovereign power resolves its adversaries, a lesson that could be invaluable for a lifetime.

Adrian was completely in the dark about the specific operations of the Sovereignty Squad and what "Sleep Demon," "Forbidden," and "Cornered Beast" really meant as operation codenames—what skills they possessed and how they coordinated with each other.

The way the others spoke, the task assigned to Squad 04 seemed almost like that of bystanders, their job pretty much to cheer from the sidelines.

"Summoner" concluded, "Any other questions?"

It felt like being power-leveled by a gaming boss, and you'd better be quick to thank them for the favor.

Without hesitation, Adrian said, "No! However, Tanya must stay behind and cannot join us in the operation."

Tanya, seemingly transparent, hid in a corner, hanging her head low, not daring to make eye contact with anyone.

Once an A-Rank supernatural power user, now no different from an ordinary person, anyone present could easily kill her.

"Stay here and don't wander off. We are now preparing to air-drop. 'Sleep Demon,' commence full surveillance."

The "Summoner" had not glanced at Tanya even once. He touched the pendant on his chest, identical to the others', turned, and headed out into the corridor of the cabin, followed by several individuals dressed in light-armored overcoats. The code names he had mentioned might well be among them.

Adrian waved to the members of Squad 04 with vigor.

"Let's move out, everyone!"

"Chirp!"

The Little Bird in the insulated nest on Chen Fei's hand ruffled its feathers, fully opening its eyes, curiously looking around.

Having been thoroughly awakened by the conversation.

Chen Fei looked at the little creature and handed the nest over to Adrian, a buzz-cut white-haired First Rank fire mage.

"Adrian, please take care of Xiao Jiu."

The climate in Siberia during the winter was too harsh and not suitable for the little guy to roam freely. Nearby a fire mage, it was safer than with Chen Fei.

Had he known earlier, he would have left Xiao Jiu in a warm mobile base vehicle, although its support capabilities would be reduced, at least it wouldn't be as awkward as now.

"Oh, no problem at all, leave it to me!"

Adrian took over Xiao Jiu's nest.

He understood Chen Fei's reasoning well. All he had to do was maintain a warm area with his fire spells to ensure the little one's safety amidst the ice and snow.

If it accidentally turned into a frozen bird, that would be terrible!

With the frail constitution of a Pure Light Sparrow, that was a very likely possibility.

Squad 04 followed behind the Sovereignty Squad and arrived at the rear of the Black Albatross Number. Just like on the way there, they felt light as they were lifted by an invisible force. The ground split to the left and right, a gust of cold wind swept in, and the sporadic lights of the Ancient Castle Manor could be faintly seen on the ground.

At this deep, quiet hour of the night, the Black Albatross Number silently hovered in mid-air, its body pitch-black and non-reflective. Even if one looked up from the ground, it would be hard to make out this special Magic Cube Warship hidden amongst the snowstorm.

Under the "Summoner's" special ability, the team was shielded from wind and snow, landing smoothly on the ground in succession.

-