Chapter 649 - Dumbfounded Gate Organization: It Wasn't Me!

The Black Serum Project and the Black Soldier Program had always been closely monitored by the Hongli Federation military. From the very beginning of the war, the military and researchers from the Black Ops Agency followed and continually pushed the project forward.

Finally, it looked like the experiment could be put into practice but in the end, the underground base had disappeared! All the data and serum, as well as the numerous researchers, scientists, and so on had also vanished!

Therefore, when the news that the underground base had vanished was reported, it caused a huge uproar. The Hongli Federation military even convened an emergency meeting, calling in all relevant personnel to discuss causes and impacts.

Firstly, in terms of impact, with the underground base of the Black Serum Project and the Black Soldier Program gone, the entire plan naturally came to a complete halt and was aborted.

Secondly, who did it? Who exactly was it? Who was so mad as to pluck the whole base out of the ground and go?! Surely that person was too efficient! He had fundamentally cut off the Federation military's possibility of continuing the research!

After much thought and discussion, the military could think of only two forces. One was the three western nations and the United States of Yana backing them, and the other was the notorious number one dangerous force, the Gate Organization. Only they might have the ability to move the base. Although they didn't know how it was done, the most likely option was them!

Could the entire Black Serum Project have long been on their radar? Were there spies inside the military as well? Thus, the Federation military cooperated with the Black Ops Agency and quickly carried out a major internal purge. They didn't know until they checked; but once they did, they were shocked to find they had indeed caught a large number of spies from the three western nations and the United States of Yana. They even ferreted out some Gate Organization informants.

In a short time, both the United States of Yana and the Gate Organization suffered heavy losses.

***

It was July 4 of the Hongli Federation year 111.

At the border of Falik Republic, one of the three western nations, was a highly important operational command base. It hosted not only Falik Republic soldiers but also senior officers from the other two nations. There were even some personnel from the United States of Yana.

At the moment, an emergency meeting was being held inside a white building. A ring of stern-faced senior officers sat around the edge of a square conference table in a well-lit room.

The only group not wearing officers' uniforms were personnel from the United States of Yana's spy organization. They certainly could not openly appear on the western front wearing the United States of Yana's military uniforms, for that would be a direct declaration of war against the Hongli Federation. Pursuing a proxy war through the three western nations was more aligned with their interests.

At the meeting, a leader of the spy organization stood and announced an exceedingly grave message.

"Everyone, last night, the spy network we built within the Hongli Federation's western forces was completely destroyed. The Hongli Federation's army conducted a major internal purge..."

"What?"

"Completely destroyed?"

"Could it be that someone was exposed?"

Representatives of the other nations erupted in an uproar, talking all at once. It was neither good news nor a small matter.

The spies inside the Hongli Federation military had brought them much vital information. It was not just war deployments, but also the hidden Black Serum Project. Once the link was cut, the imitated Black Serum Project underway on the western side would halt.

Continuing to push forward would be exceedingly difficult, for there would be no example left to follow.

"The specifics aren't very clear on our side either. The Hongli Federation military has sealed things very tightly. We only know this matter is closely tied to the Black Serum Project. Gentlemen. The Federation military likely discovered our intentions toward their Black Serum Project. The situation has changed..."

The spy organization member's voice was heavy. Clearly, the situation was not optimistic.

Although the three western nations were also modifying soldiers in imitation of the Black Serum Project, they were ultimately crossing the river by feeling for stones laid by others. Without access to the key data for final practical application, the plan could well fail completely.

In that case, a change of direction was likely needed. In the conference room, representatives of all sides discussed intensely, striving to produce an effective plan. In the end, a consensus was reached. Since it couldn't be obtained, then destroy it!

Send spies, send agents, and even troops. Destroy the underground base of the Black Serum Project, and prevent the birth of Hongli Federation's super-soldiers. Pull both sides back to the same starting line!

Of course, their own imitation Black Serum Project was to continue. Who knows? They might just make a breakthrough and succeed. Sabotage the enemy while accelerating one's own research. The future wasn't necessarily developing in a worse direction!

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

The meeting ended and a basic plan was set. The militaries of the three nations quickly began gathering personnel and drafting practical action plans. However, just as the plan began to take shape, they received bad news!

The three western nations' research facility had vanished into thin air! Unlike the Federation military's underground base, the western nations' battlefield research facility was a complex disguised as a hospital. It contained numerous researchers, experimental materials, program data, and so on.

The hospital was in a remote location, kept secret, and guarded by the army. Every night, five to six squads would patrol back and forth. The vigilance was so strict that not even a mosquito could get in!

No problems had ever occurred, up until the night of July 4.

A patrol had circled the hospital as usual. They were highly alert soldiers with professional reconnaissance training. Each had eyes like eagles; any slightest stir would draw the patrol to investigate.

That night, they did the same. They made several exceptionally dutiful customary rounds. Then, as the time for a shift change arrived, they returned to the hospital with solemn faces. That was when the patrol discovered that the hospital was gone! The entire complex within the walls had disappeared!

A standard set of foundations appeared before them, and even those with basements had been hollowed out. Not a single brick or tile had been spared.

The patrol was dumbstruck. Such a large hospital had silently vanished into thin air? They had patrolled seriously; not even a mosquito could get in from outside but the research facility they guarded had suddenly sprouted wings and flown away?

For a while, the three western nations and the United States of Yana were exceedingly enraged.

Who did it? Who did it! Who on earth did it!? The Hongli Federation!!! It had to be them!

They had noticed the three western nations stealing and imitating the Black Serum Project and responded in kind! It seemed there were numerous spies inside the western nations' militaries and even within the United States of Yana! Otherwise, it would be impossible to quietly remove the entire research facility.

It seemed like the western nations' militaries would have to launch a major purge as well!

Thus, a major internal investigation was set underway.

***

The next day, a group of black-robed figures gathered in a remote small town near the Lotak mining area.

A black-robed figure spoke, frowning. "What's going on? All our informants embedded within the Hongli Federation military and the three western nations were completely cleared out in the last two days? Did our people get exposed? But even if they were exposed, problems shouldn't have emerged on both sides almost simultaneously. It's far too unusual..."

The other black-robed figures also looked puzzled and at a loss. Then, a core member stood to calm the crowd and steady morale.

"Everyone, don't be hasty. The Fourth General King has already gone to investigate... There should be news soon, so let's wait patiently."

Thus, time passed until around noon. The Gate Organization's Fourth General King of the time-travel era returned and brought back a message that left everyone dumbfounded.

Gone! Both the Hongli Federation's underground research base and the three western nations' research facility had vanished into thin air in the past two days! That's right, they had vanished without a trace!

Both research facilities, including the many personnel and materials inside, even the undercover agents planted by the Gate Organization, were all gone. They had evaporated from the world! Not even traces could be found.

This horrifying matter made the atmosphere of the Gate Organization's meeting turn grim. It would be easy for the Gate Organization's deputy leader, who was an extreme combat artist, to destroy a large base or a hospital complex. However, to make both evaporate from the world so silently was nearly impossible. There would definitely be noise and traces left.

"What the hell? Could there be a mysterious fourth power involved? And could such a force be unknown even to our Gate Organization, who has dominated the world for thousands of years?" A black-robed figure said.

As he spoke, a chill ran down his spine. If that were true, it would be terrifying. A force hidden even deeper than the Gate Organization... And now it was finally acting. Could they be so confident in attacking the Gate Organization?

Such a deeply unsettling thought made one shiver.

"Also, according to Lord Fourth General King's information, the Hongli Federation and the three western nations have begun to suspect each other, taking the other side as the primary suspect. In addition, both are taking our Gate Organization as a secondary suspect. If things go badly, once the two sides make contact or continue to send spies to learn the truth, they may simultaneously dispel their suspicion of each other. Afterward, they'll turn to unanimously believe it was done by our Gate Organization. That possibility may not be small..." Another black-robed figure said.

The Gate Organization's reputation was too foul. The Hongli Federation and the three western nations might unify and point their spear at the Gate Organization. After all, they had all discovered the Gate Organization's spies.

Ordinarily, the Gate Organization wouldn't care, because they were usually the masterminds behind such affairs. However, this time, they were innocent. In that case, wouldn't the Gate Organization become a scapegoat?

Moreover, their role of a scapegoat had to be borne whether they wished it or not. Could the Gate Organization explain to the Hongli Federation and the three western nations? Would the other side listen?

Although the Gate Organization was notorious and ill-intentioned, this indignance still made them feel aggrieved.

In the remote town, the Gate Organization members fell silent. The hot-tempered ones felt their anger rise all the more.

Obviously it wasn't us, yet they insist it was... How vexing...

After a fairly long silence, a core member posed a practical question.

"What should we do next?"

Indeed, what should be done next?

With the Hongli Federation's and the western nations' research facilities gone, the Black Serum Project and the Black Soldier Program had been aborted. Then, the Gate Organization's plan to mass-produce Black Soldiers, and even have them rampage at critical moments to pollute the entire battlefield would also be impossible.

How did a problem in one step cause the entire plan to collapse? More than a year of preparation by the Gate Organization had come to naught. What should they do now? The plan regarding the Miracle Garden had been decided by their legendary, elusive leader, Xiadu. If it failed and was aborted, likely everyone would be held responsible.

The Fourth General King, leader of the meeting, stood and reassured them. "Don't panic. We'll stand by for now. I've already reported the relevant intelligence to headquarters. This is a grave matter so the other General Kings and the deputy leader will come as well. When they arrive, we'll decide the next step. If the organization goes all out, there's nothing we can't do..."

Even if the original optimal plan was aborted, the Gate Organization could, at great cost, make a backup plan work. The Miracle Garden could absolutely not be abandoned. The Gate Organization had to find an opportunity to enter it.

As a core member of the Gate Organization, the Fourth General King had heard the First General King and the deputy leader hint that the Miracle Garden was not only the pinnacle creation of that ancient civilization, but also an ultimate seal that could move at any time within the earth's continental plates!

As for what was sealed within, that was unknown. However, what was clear was that the Gate Organization seemed intent on lifting the seal. The chance of the Miracle Garden being trapped could be called once in a millennium. Hence, the Gate Organization would never give up.

The Fourth General King slowly rose, and the Gate Organization's meeting ended.

"Everyone, continue with your current tasks while we await the deputy leader's arrival..."

At almost the same time, a blurry shadow at the town's edge instantly dissipated. Cassius slowly appeared on a reddish-brown peak in the Lotak mining area where there was an abundance of metal.

He stood atop the mountain, the hem of his black clothes fluttering in the summer wind. His gaze swept over the land, overlooking the entire mining region with a trace of composure that held everything in hand.

Cassius had heard the Gate Organization's exchange just now. For the moment, he chose not to act, but to merely wait for everyone to arrive.

In just two or three days, Cassius had already resolved the original owner's first lingering attachment. Now, the second lingering attachment was not far off. Of course, he would do it more thoroughly. Sabotaging the Gate Organization's plan was nowhere near as thorough as directly destroying the entire Gate Organization. If one couldn't solve the problem, then they could dissolve the person who caused it.

Cassius would resolve both the problem and the person, ending everything directly!

"Miracle Garden and an ultimate seal... Could it be an Ultimate Dark Form? I'm very much looking forward to what the ancient Ao Yin civilization left behind..."