Sky-cracking Rider

"Eh?"

Mouri Misono voiced her surprise.

Is that even possible?

"Really?"

Kiterley, an A-grade Metal Ability User, who had been looking tense, couldn't help but widen his eyes in faint delight.

If his little brother was still part of Team 04, that would indeed be great news.

The guy was still thinking about continuing to fleece the supervisor for a hefty extra bonus, a sum that paled in comparison to the stipend provided by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee.

Although Kiterley, a loner, could feed himself and didn't starve his family, the saying went, "One does not grow rich without windfalls, and a horse doesn't get fat without night-time grazing." Without the extra bonuses, how was he supposed to live?

Originally, upon hearing from Adrian that Chen Fei might possibly leave, the rest of Team 04 felt somewhat saddened, but now, upon hearing the news, things seemed to take a turning point toward an unexpected twist.

Chen Fei stated truthfully, "The specific details need to be kept confidential for now, but I have yet to receive notice to leave Team 04."

Personnel changes within the operation teams required going through the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division; one couldn't simply pluck someone from their original team with just a word.

The new team had to consider combat strength combinations, and the old team faced similar issues.

To be honest, everyone was a temp worker, with their original work affiliations still tied to their former employers. If someone was unhappy, it was entirely possible they could drop everything on the spot, each returning to their own home, finding their own mother.

"It seems I was overthinking it!"

Adrian heaved a sigh of relief. Ever since the loss of the Holy Knight and his mount, the Blue Scaled Colt Mini, he who hoped that Team 04 would remain intact from start to finish did not wish to see any reduction in the team, for whatever reason.

As long as Chen Fei was there, the rear defense line of Team 04 could be guaranteed. After all, the precision bombing of the 152 Demolition Bombs was not a joke; in a critical moment, it could turn the tide of the battle. Add to that the long-distance mobility of the Mobile Base Vehicle, which could ensure the entire team arrived at the mission area in optimal condition to engage.

The huge black figure, Apu, and the Earth Elemental Mage, Ruan Tiankai, happily high-fived each other, only for Old Ruan's hand to swell and Lao Hei's face to turn even darker.

Joshua, an A-grade Psychic Ability User, curiously asked, "What kind of new team is it? Are there people from other operation teams?"

"Doesn't seem like it. It should be a more direct team."

Chen Fei considered for a moment, then shook his head, giving only a subtle hint.

Apart from the monk-like Miyoshi Xuesen, the other four were complete strangers, not seen in any of the other teams of the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division, not even a slight impression.

The teams belonging to the Bear Hunting Special Operations Division were tasked with eradication of the "Water Bears" and peripheral members of the "Sacred Advent" organization, as well as conducting covert investigations, spending most of their time searching and confirming suspicious targets.

However, the new small team Chen Fei had just joined was inclined to take direct action, hunting down targets that had already been confirmed.

As for where the hunting list originated from, it was not something that Chen Fei and others were privileged to question; the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, standing behind them and backed by various sovereignties, naturally could obtain some special intelligence.

"Let's not ask too many questions!"

Adrian guessed that the team Chen Fei had just joined had certain confidentiality requirements and reminded the members of Team 04 accordingly.

If it weren't so, the Liaison Officer Rossi wouldn't be so secretive, refusing to reveal even a single word.

The Puppet Master, Joshua, rubbing the back of his head, said discontentedly, "Such secrecy!"

Everyone was, after all, directly under the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee; trust those you employ, and don't employ those you mistrust. All this secrecy clearly seemed like underestimation.

"Better safe than sorry!"

Mouri Misono, however, could understand better. She had been a middle manager in her original unit and knew that the struggles behind the scenes often surpassed imagination.

This time, with the mutant attack on the city, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee and Hablav City had suffered significant losses. There were likely spies hidden within the city from either the "Water Bear" or "Sacred Advent" organizations. Even with Psychic Power Users skilled in Mind Reading Techniques on the lookout, it was possible that some might slip through the net.

"I won't ask, I won't ask!"

The always educable giant black figure Apu had also learned his lesson and quickly covered his own mouth, lest he be unable to restrain his excessive curiosity and once again say something inappropriate. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire

The Old Tree Boundary Ape Lulu'an asked, "Adrian, when do we set off again?"

Chen Fei's temporary departure had become a certainty.

If Team 04 received a mission soon, the personnel configuration would no longer be as complete as before.

"I wish it could be postponed for a few more nights!"

Holding a cup of steaming ginger tea, Susanna still hadn't recovered her vitality and her face remained pale, even her voice seeming weak and powerless.

She hadn't attended the barbecue party last night, burying herself in the quilt with a hot water bottle, shivering, and relying solely on ginger tea, mugwort foot baths, and hot baths to sustain her life. She estimated it would take some time off to completely dispel the residual chill within her body.

"We won't have any missions for the time being. Habulav needs manpower for reconstruction, we'll have to get to the construction site tomorrow, the day after tomorrow at the latest," Adrian said, allowing everyone to collectively breathe a sigh of relief.

However, a group of power users acting as temporary construction workers felt somewhat strange; but whether it was killing or bricklaying, work was work, and as long as they were paid, it was all fair and square.

The usually silent Neanderthal Chief Bassan suddenly asked, "What about the vehicle?"

This reticent clan leader rarely spoke, but whenever he did, it always struck the heart of the matter.

"Right! Chen Fei, what about your mobile base vehicle?" Adrian and the others looked towards Chen Fei.

Parked below and still carrying a strong scent of barbecue, the mobile base vehicle was indeed an indispensable mode of transportation for Squad 04, and everyone had grown accustomed to its convenience.

Other action teams had submitted reports to request similar mobile base vehicles, and it was said that the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had already sent letters to some relevant manufacturers inquiring about design proposals.

But if Chen Fei wasn't around and Squad 04 needed to go on a mission, the all-electric mobile base vehicle wouldn't have the necessary driving range to meet everyone's needs.

"The vehicle can stay, but you'll have to figure out how to get a Crystalline Block yourselves, ask for Rossi's help to apply for one."

Without him on board, the presence of the Crystalline Block didn't make much difference; in comparison, Chen Fei needed it more to maintain his own combat capabilities.

Once a need to activate the magic array arose, the consumption of crystal energy would be enormous, and having a Crystalline Block would be a reliable guarantee of combat capability.

The AI assisting in controlling the vehicle was an easier issue to address; they could let "Adam" assist remotely or simply use a different AI.

In the "AI Arena," bustling with thousands of test accounts day and night, there was no shortage of good AIs. One could pick and choose freely, and even if none were as flexible as "Adam," basic operations would be sufficiently manageable.

"Then that's the only way to do it. I'll communicate with Rossi," Adrian nodded in agreement.

The rights to the mobile base vehicle's onboard Crystalline Block belonged to Chen Fei, and if he wanted to take it, nobody else had any say.

"Remember to keep in touch," Kiterley, an A-grade Metal Ability User, gestured a phone call to Chen Fei.

The two men, despite living in the same building, would soon be heading in different directions.

-

The next morning.

No sooner had Chen Fei stepped out of the apartment building with Xiao Jiu than he saw a bald man standing at the entrance to the public lobby on the first floor, holding a box in his hand.

Hearing footsteps, the bald man turned his face towards them, but his eyes remained tightly shut.

Chen Fei recognized the man and exclaimed in surprise, "Babylon?"

The name "Babylon" didn't refer to one person, but to a group of people.

The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had an organized army of soldiers in Hablav City. Part of them had unlocked psychic abilities, sharing the collective name, "Babylon."

"For you!" The tall, dark Babylon handed the box to Chen Fei.

He had been waiting here early in the morning, seemingly for Chen Fei.

"What's this?" Chen Fei looked at the bald man and the box with some confusion.

This soldier wasn't delivering something to him for the first time without any explicit reason, leaving Chen Fei completely baffled.