This is really not mechanical ascension

"We still need a safety inspection later, and if there are any violations, don't say I didn't warn you," Yang Peng added, scanning the crowd.

After confiscating the items, Yang Peng waved his hand and all field staff headed to the top floor in batches, while the intelligence and logistics teams were supervised by their group leaders.

Half an hour later...

Everyone was fully armed and boarded the Mimicry Transport Machine, departing from the rooftop of the building.

The number of people involved in this operation was much more than Li Ming had imagined—three teams were acting simultaneously, with nearly a hundred field personnel.

Team Two was led by a squad leader who was a striking woman—Zuo Ling, and Team Five was led by the son of the chief, Wang Zhiheng.

"Don't be disappointed. After a month or two of training, handling a gun definitely won't be a problem," Li Ning, seeing Li Ming in deep thought, thought he was upset about not qualifying to carry a gun just now.

"Here, touch it." He twisted his waist and revealed the pistol at his waist; most men harbor an unusual craving for guns.

He could understand.

Seeing Li Ning's sleazy look, Li Ming was speechless but still touched it—

[Brun S-2 Fully Automatic Pistol—Unranked: A mass-produced basic model, conventional and orthodox.

Control Conditions: 4 points of metal energy

Control Ability: Gun control—Beginner

Control Effect—Fully Automatic Combo: Can continuously deliver punches with an additional 10% strength and 10% speed.]

This effect... rapid-fire punching? Li Ming raised an eyebrow, envisioning the scene in his mind.

"Li Ning!" Yang Peng glared at him, and Li Ning quickly sat up properly.

Yang Peng finally announced the target of this operation.

"Everyone..." he pulled out a three-dimensional model chart, "Outer city—Sand Town, this place should have been abandoned long ago. However, we've recently received a tip that the Fierce Tiger Gang has smuggled a batch of people from interstellar space and is hiding them here."

It was indeed that matter... Li Ming had guessed early on.

This intelligence was supplied by him; when Scar-faced Tiger targeted him, he decided to throw out this information to keep the enemy busy.

By the time the other party could spare their hands, he should no longer have to be apprehensive.

"The report claims that this is a very important batch of... 'cargo' for the Fierce Tiger Gang, guarded by a strong force, thus it's a joint operation between three teams."

"We'll attack from three directions, and the target... is this small building in the very center." Yang Peng pointed at the light blue virtual building, not tall, only six stories.

"Most importantly, prioritize our own safety, followed by the hostages' safety."

Yang Peng briefly introduced the mission. Li Ming actually knew more; this batch was crucial for the Fierce Tiger Gang because some of it was meant for high-ranking officials in the city.

By age, some were even minors.

Scar-faced Tiger was just responsible for receiving the goods; the current guard should be—Pang Wenlong.

Li Ming had reviewed his information: an F grade Life Form, with development progress nearly at 60%, like Scar-faced Tiger, one of the "rising stars" in recent years.

A key surveillance target of the City Guards and also a cadre of the Fierce Tiger Gang, overseeing some underground gambling, nicknamed—Gold-swallowing Tiger.

It's worth mentioning that he also had an ex-wife and son living quite comfortably in Silver Grey City, causing many City Guards to grind their teeth in envy.

"Then he must have quite a bit of money…" Li Ming speculated internally.

Yang Peng began assigning tasks: covering, main attack, support, and on-site logistics... organized and systematic.

"Old Qi, your team will take care of the perimeter; if anyone runs out, they're your responsibility." Finally, Yang Peng looked towards the group where Li Ming was.

These past few days, Li Ming had more or less figured out that Yang Peng was definitely an F grade Life Form, reportedly already applying for an E grade gene seed.

Among the remaining people, there were only four F grade Life Forms, one of whom was Old Dao, who always stuck close to Yang Peng.

Their group was the only one not led by an F grade Life Form, so it made sense for them to guard the gate.

The other group members showed various expressions, knowing that anyone who could flee posed little threat, making this group the least dangerous.

It was clear that this was special care for Li Ming.

Li Ming was too young, indeed a child in their eyes, and furthermore, untrained. He wasn't even allowed to handle a gun but could only serve as an observer.

He wouldn't be of much use on the front lines, and might even be a drag; guarding the gates was better.

"Yes!" Qi Zhengyuan accepted the order solemnly.

"This is your first field mission, remember, don't overthink, just follow orders," Yang Peng specifically instructed Li Ming.

"Understood."

Along the way, everyone was busy preparing their equipment and adjusting the channels, as no one wanted to put their lives at risk due to some oversight.

Soon, after a slight jolt, the cabin door opened slowly, revealing a world of grey sand and dark skies, with a blurred township not far away.

Several small mimicry drones were released on-site; the atmospheric conditions on Silver Grey Star were harsh, rendering orbital satellites almost useless, so scouting had to be done in this manner.

Varieties of voices transmitted through the earphones; Li Ming silently followed the team until they stopped upon nearing five hundred meters. Yang Peng signaled everyone to halt.

"Ten o'clock direction, two o'clock direction..."

The snipers, who had separated from them earlier, started to clear the perimeter guards from their positions.

At the corner wall on the edge of the town, the group split up; the rest moved silently deeper while Li Ming and a few others stayed back.

"Zhang Gong, you head to the road intersection... Wang Zhaoguo..." Qi Zhengyuan thought for a moment and said, "Li Ning, take Li Ming to that house over there..."

Qi Zhengyuan thought it through; the place assigned to Li Ning and Li Ming was safer, as he was worried about any problems occurring.

No one objected; after all, Li Ming was a newbie. If he were to panic and mess up the mission later, it would be bad for everyone.

Ten enemies were less troublesome than one problematic teammate.

In a dilapidated little house, the rest were all more than a hundred meters away, still within sight of each other.

Shortly after, the perimeter snipers moved deep inside, progressively advancing.

"It seems I also got lucky by your side, just picking up the benefits," Li Ning said gravely, yet he also instructed, "You take the binoculars and watch the east. If anyone appears, notify me immediately..."

"Don't be nervous, it's normal for a newbie like this. This time it's still fine; we're just guarding the door. Don't be scared later..."

At first, Li Ming thought Li Ning had some important points to mention, but it ended up being just those few words over and over. His fingers trembled slightly on the submachine gun trigger; he was very nervous.

Li Ming didn't listen to him anymore, guessing that Yang Peng and the others had only advanced a few hundred meters.

He turned his body sideways, picked up the optical binoculars, and started observing.

Whoosh! Boom!

A muffled sound came from the sky; a mimicry drone sparked electrically and then smashed onto the ground like a fireball, creating a cloud of black smoke.

They were discovered!

Li Ning's body suddenly tensed; sure enough, the next moment, gunfire erupted from deeper inside, and the channel became chaotic.

"East side, east side..."

"They have shoulder-fired rockets!"

"Be careful, be careful!"

"..."

"We were discovered so quickly, their guards are not low-skilled!" Li Ning looked somber, "I hope all my colleagues are safe."

"Can we go support them?" Li Ming suddenly asked. Without thinking, he knew the battlefield was in utter chaos; despite the danger, it was a good time to fish in troubled waters.

"I know you're upset about being assigned to guard the door, wanting to prove yourself," Li Ning shook his head. He was all too familiar with Li Ming's mindset, having been the same way in the beginning, unwilling to lose, wanting to prove something.

"However, this place is safe for us, and the battlefield is not a good place. Just stay put."