Chapter Twenty-Four: The New Concept of Living Off Others and the Watchful Sparrow

Early the next morning, Zela retrieved the pre-prepared radiation suits from the hovercar and distributed them to everyone. Laden with ample water and food, the group set off toward the land of radiation.

With Ye Hai and Qiao, both experienced guides, leading the way, they swiftly reached the entrance. It was a rugged crevice between two mountains.

Ye Hai explained, "This is the gentlest entrance to the radiation zone. The entire area is a great rift valley, narrow at both ends, and in the middle lies a vast expanse of barren desert. According to the map you provided, our target is right on that desert. This used to be a military camp, an outpost for a secret nuclear station. To walk there and back will take at least two days at the fastest. And that's not considering possible attacks by mutants along the way, which will only stretch the time longer. We should be prepared to stay at least three days in the radiation zone."

Looking at the marked spot on the map, Qiao’s usual irreverent smile vanished, replaced with solemnity. "Boss, are we really going to help this bald guy complete a mission in such a dangerous core area? This is suicide! Even someone like me, who frequents the radiation zone, has only ever reached the edge of the desert. Going deeper—it's far too dangerous! Only that madwoman, Zero, has ever reached the edge of the eighth-stage mutant territory, which is exactly where our target lies!"

Clearly, the destination was far beyond what Qiao had anticipated. Though Ye Hai had already told him about the deals struck with Zela the previous night, and Qiao was certainly tempted by the Subcurrent Organization’s off-world connections, his expression remained conflicted when he realized how deep into the eighth-stage mutant territory they would have to go.

Among all the Corpse Hunters, only Zero—the "madwoman" Qiao mentioned—had ever explored that region. It was truly a forbidden zone for humans. If all they encountered were a few seventh-stage entities, Qiao had confidence he could escape, even if he couldn’t defeat them. But the eighth-stage mutants were beyond the reach of guns and explosives.

Qiao’s mind raced. He stared at Zela and questioned, “You breaking into the boss’s villa was an accident. If you hadn’t met him, you would still have entered the radiation zone on your own. Don’t tell me you’d dare go that deep without any cards up your sleeve…”

Even through the radiation suit, Zela could feel Qiao’s agitation. Zela no longer hid anything.

“The Queen of Subcurrent is already stationed in orbit.”

Ye Hai and Qiao both started in shock.

“You summoned the flagship of the Subcurrent Organization?”

“We have orbital weapons support?” Ye Hai’s expression was complex as he looked at Zela. He’d suspected Zela had some astonishing backup, but mobilizing the flagship for fire support was beyond anything he’d ever imagined.

Zela’s next words left both Ye Hai and Qiao numb.

With an embarrassed smile, Zela continued, “Also present is the Artillery Duke.”

At this, Ye Hai’s understanding of “living off a woman” reached new heights. The Artillery Duke was the flagship of General Talan, ranked among the top five warlords of the Chaotic Stars and father to Queen Zexi of Subcurrent—the organization’s true patron.

Zela himself had no idea how much sweet talk he’d fed the Subcurrent’s formidable queen. Not only had she sent her own flagship to back him, but she’d even convinced her “father-in-law” to dispatch his flagship into Zombie Star’s orbit. If General Talan’s enemies learned his flagship had left the Chaotic Stars, the consequences would be dire.

Two flagships meant two orbital strikes. With Chaotic Stars’ battleship technology, concentrating more than half the energy for an orbital strike took a full day to charge. That meant over three days in the radiation zone, they could have up to six orbital bombardments.

From Ye Hai’s understanding of mutants, encountering a seventh-stage one was almost certain death—there was no luck involved. Whether an eighth-stage mutant could withstand a strike was unknown; using precision attacks to avoid friendly fire would significantly reduce the power, but even if it didn’t kill, it would leave the mutant mangled.

No wonder Zela was so bold; with only a second-stage mutant’s physique, he dared bring two ordinary subordinates deep into the radiation zone. Truly, he must have accumulated seven generations’ worth of good karma to be so lucky in love. Why not eight generations? Because if there’d been one more, Zexi wouldn’t weigh over five hundred pounds.

From this, Ye Hai drew a profound conclusion: the reason for one’s unattractiveness might not lie with oneself, but rather with one’s ancestors—or those of one’s girlfriend or boyfriend.

“Let’s go! If we’re going to do this, let’s do it big. What are we waiting for?” Upon learning such powerful support watched over them from above, Qiao was instantly exhilarated.

Unlike Qiao, Ye Hai smiled faintly, seeing through the things Zela hid. Though Queen Zexi of Subcurrent was supporting this operation with everything she had, she likely had no idea that Zela’s real target was the Calan Biogene Corporation—Dr. Eivor Schmidt’s identity card. Otherwise, the Subcurrent Organization and General Talan would have done as the giants of Great Tree Star had, sending ground troops to seize it, not just cheering from orbit.

Now Ye Hai understood why Javier dared not kill Zela outright, but instead trailed him into the radiation zone. If Zela died there, it had nothing to do with the First Defense Army of Great Tree Star. But if Javier killed Zela with his own hands, the consequences would be severe. Judging by Zexi’s willingness to dispatch two flagships at a word, if she learned her lover had been killed by the Defense Army, she wouldn’t hesitate to blow the Crimson Queen out of the sky.

The child of a warlord fears nothing.

Glancing at Zela once more, Ye Hai couldn’t help muttering under his breath, “Scoundrel.” Still, this was the outcome he hoped for. Without Zela’s deliberate concealment, he would never have had a chance.

…

“Commander Javier, the target has entered the radiation zone. Additionally, our First Legion’s flagship, the Borogen Star, and our ally from the Chaotic Stars, General Kobayashi’s Helmsman, have established contact with the Crimson Queen. In at most a day and a half, both flagships will lead their fleets into Zombie Star’s orbit.”

Javier, filthy and unkempt, nodded coolly.

“Relay my orders: the First Combat Team of the Second Legion is to enter the radiation zone with me. Do not alert the target—they make excellent decoys. Also, order the Crimson Queen to expand its search; we must locate the seventh-stage intelligent mutant we encountered yesterday.”