Sky-cracking Rider

Breeding mutants wasn't an easy task; just keeping their bellies full required a tremendous amount of resources. The best approach was self-sufficiency, but neither agriculture nor animal husbandry could efficiently fill the gaping stomachs of mutants in the short term. No matter how unselective their diet was, there would always be a huge shortfall.

Then "Flesh Mushrooms," a genetically relatively stable mutant, were discovered. Not only could they be consumed by humans and mutants alike, but they were also rich in nutrients, combining the benefits of both plants and animals, almost like the perfect food pyramid. They balancedly contained various nutrients, from vitamins and amino acids to carbohydrates and proteins, lacking nothing. Even if one only ate "Flesh Mushrooms," there was no worry about nutritional imbalance, and what's more, they had an excellent taste. They naturally had a tender, beef-like flavor and grew rapidly.

Indeed, large-scale cultivation of "Flesh Mushrooms" could satisfy the needs of a considerable number of mutants.

After the artificial cultivation facility beneath the Alps Mountains initiated its self-destruct sequence, the adult mutants had killed each other off, and the parent organism was entirely destroyed. The "Flesh Mushroom" cultivation area was not spared either, leaving only this skinny little one that slipped through the net for Chen Fei to pick up cheaply.

To this day, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee still pondered the source of feed used by the "Water Bear" organization when breeding mutants. Whether it was through free-range, man-made hunting, or external procurement of feed, they could not find any clues whatsoever. Each method would tend to leave some trace.

Even with patrols and elimination operations by the aircrew bases as regular as combing, it was still impossible to stop the endless emergence of various mutants, making it difficult to truly eradicate them.

The evidence was right before their eyes; neither Hana nor Chen Fei had any intention of handing over their findings to the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee.

All seized items forfeited? Dream on!

If there were no spoils of war, were the military contractors all contributing to society out of the goodness of their hearts?

They might as well wish for peaches!

Chen Fei looked at the sinister-looking big mushroom and cruelly slurped his saliva, saying coldly and heartlessly, "We'll find an opportunity to give it a try!"

Nothing about its shape would stop him. No, prevent it from being consumed.

"You've got some guts. Hurry up and take that thing away."

Hanna Gagel frowned deeply. Having this "Flesh Mushroom" hidden in her office had already been enough to set off a whirlwind of wild thoughts.

"No problem!"

Chen Fei picked up the big glass tank with the "Flesh Mushroom" from the hidden cabinet, turned his head back, and said, "Anything else? If not, I'll get going!"

Boss Hana waved her hand dismissively, not wanting to speak another word to him, and pressed the remote control again.

The soundproof door panel and office door automatically opened, clearing a path for Chen Fei holding the glass tank.

Just as he stepped out of the office, he unexpectedly bumped into a little sister from the administrative department. She smiled at Chen Fei, but as her gaze fell on the glass tank, her expression turned to shock and uncertainty. She looked toward Boss Hana's office with bewilderment, then backed away with a ghost-sighting look on her face, leaning against the corridor wall. The previously pleasing, gentle smile turned into an awkward grin, as uncomfortable as it could get.

"Good afternoon!"

However, Chen Fei was oblivious to this, his mind solely focused on what "Flesh Mushroom" might taste like—perhaps it could open the door to a whole new world.

Slurp!

"G-good afternoon!"

The administration sister hesitated, gave a little wave, and then ran off like a startled rabbit, disappearing without a trace.

"What are you running for? Just be careful not to trip!"

"Ah!"

A shriek echoed from the end of the corridor.

Chen Fei helplessly shook his head, what was there to run from? He wasn't going to eat her.

Rabbits are so cute, slurp, but the spicy ones taste the best.

All of a sudden, he remembered that he owned a Rabbit Valley. He wondered how many more rabbits there were since he left, hoping the mutants hadn't eaten them all, considering those creatures would eat almost anything.

Noticing the commotion outside her office, Hanna Gagel froze, then her face turned red and then pale as she clasped her head, feeling as big as a fight.

This was it, a major social death scene, ahhh!

"You, Rookie, can't you be a bit more observant?"

Unaware of the reactions his presence elicited, Chen Fei strutted down the hallway carrying the glass tank back to his little western-style house. It housed a greenhouse with various plant species, and adding one more mushroom wouldn't be an issue.

Everyone he passed reacted remarkably the same, women blushed and retreated while men winked and nudged, telepathically understanding each other as seasoned drivers.

Just as he set down the glass tank, the alarm blared.

It sounded like a first-level combat readiness call.

Chen Fei was no longer a newcomer at the Aircrew Base, and was familiar with the different levels of alarms, especially the first-level combat readiness alarm, which he had heard many times before.

He quickly changed into the "Flying Dragon" tactical armor. Since he had already received his salary from the Boss, he felt he should eagerly serve the Boss. After swiftly fastening the locking components, his outfit was ready.

"Cheep!~"

The little bird was unsurprisingly startled awake. It stood up from its nest, fluffed up its feathers into a soft ball, then slowly settled down and shook its little head, looking around with a dazed expression.

In the nest, the third rank crystal core of a light-elemental magical beast had shrunk to the size of an egg, the substance becoming more pure and transparent. If it weren't for the numerous light spots continuously emerging and rushing into the little bird's body, it would've been hard to notice its existence. The more the magical beast crystal core was absorbed, the smaller it became, and the light elemental energy contained within grew purer. As time passed, the rate at which this light beast crystal core diminished would slow down.

The Pure Light Sparrow was thrilled to see daddy Chen Fei return, fluttering its little wings quickly it landed on his shoulder, chirping cheerfully non-stop as if it were telling him how much it missed him.

Clattering against him, the little bird was a pesky little sprite.

"Not going to sleep a bit more?"

Chen Fei extended his finger and rubbed the little guy's head, eliciting a burst of joyful chirping, excitedly pecking at his ear.

Even though the little bird couldn't speak, its emotions could be discerned from its actions and sounds, and it seemed very happy.

"Cheep!"

The little guy showed no intention of returning to its nest at all.

"Then let's go!"

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Due to the recent assaults by mutants, in addition to his F-22 "Raptor" jet fighter, two MiG aircraft and six "Big Mouth Monsters" were all on standby at the tarmac, with ordnance suspended 24 hours a day, ready to launch at any moment.

"'Rookie,' requesting to rejoin formation!"

When the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron was lining up, Chen Fei, with the little bird, jogged over.

"Rejoin formation!"

Squadron Leader Chekhov nodded, indicating that Chen Fei should stand in the middle of the team.

When he got serious, he was quite stern.

"Ugh!~"

A belch full of drunkenness burst out.

This Big Bear never had a serious moment!

"The combat plan, see for yourself."

Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios slapped the tactical planner against Chen Fei's chest.

Takeoff was urgent at the moment, no time for detailed explanations; he would have to read it while ascending!

Looking at the jets and turboprop aircraft on the tarmac, Chen Fei asked in confusion, "Boarding the MiGs, is...?"

"Off we go, 'Rookie!' My MiGs aren't needed to deal with those bastards!"

Big Bear Squadron Leader grabbed Chen Fei by the arm and pulled him toward aircraft 211, he favored fire control operators who were ruthless and efficient like Chen Fei.

After squeezing into the cockpit's front seat, Squadron Leader Chekhov turned around and saw Chen Fei still holding the clingy little guy and said irritably, "Don't bring your bird onto the plane, let it out to stay behind for guard duty."

On one hand, birds were natural enemies of aircraft, and on the other, just one Xiao Jiu could match the entire "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron.

If they let this Pure Light Sparrow join them on the mission, soon there might be nothing left for them to do.

In the whole Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, the hottest "kid" wasn't the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron; it was this little bird.

No matter how skilled a pilot was, in front of birds, they were all second-rate.

With Xiao Jiu firing its laser cannon and going BiuBiuBiuBiu, was the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron just supposed to cheer them on with 666?

Even if Big Bear had the thickest skin, he probably couldn't lower himself to do that.

"Xiao Jiu, go find Hanna, or Mr. Abel is fine too, I've got work to do!"

Chen Fei placed the little guy on the edge of the cockpit and gently pushed it out, but the little bird circled back and flew in again, refusing to leave.

"Off you go, off you go!"

"Jiu!"

"Be good..."

"Jiu!"

But Chen Fei just couldn't persuade the clingy little creature to leave.

Xiao Jiu would always fly back.

"Let's go, let's go, never mind!"

Military orders were supreme, military situations were urgent, Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear had no time to wait for Chen Fei to deal with the little bird, so he pulled down the cockpit canopy himself.

"Jiu!~"

A streak of light zipped into the cockpit; the little guy was incredibly fast and managed to sneak in, landing on the backrest of the front seat, pecking furiously at Chekhov's flight helmet.

Thud thud thud thud...

"I get it, I get it, won't do it again!"

Big Bear really feared this little critter, luckily it wasn't a woodpecker or else it would've drilled a hole in his head.

"Stop flying around!"

Chen Fei caught the little guy with one hand, pulled open a small pocket in the cockpit, and stuffed it inside, leaving only a little head poking out.

"Jiu!"

The little bird glared at Chen Fei dissatisfiedly but after a shake and rattle, the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft carrying Chekhov and Chen Fei surged onto the main runway, with the turboprops roaring at full throttle, taxiing over two hundred meters before lifting its nose and darting into the sky.

"Wind direction 210, wind speed 08, atmospheric pressure 28.15, visibility 9 kilometers, watch your altitude."

"Bearing 135, altitude 1200, speed 110, distance 265 kilometers, IFF not required."

Weather data and the target's location were consecutively broadcast on the comms channel; since the tactical target was mutants, there was no point in establishing IFF as they would provide no response.

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