Sky-cracking Rider

Whether at the Aircrew Base 911 or the higher-level Apocalypse Defense Group, there was never a shortage of technicians who could operate various instruments and perform simple analyses and tests, but true experts were rare, especially those specializing in the biology of mutants and magical beasts.

High-end professional research mainly relied on the technical capabilities of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, which effectively reduced costs.

Professor Rembrandt Hamming was a senior expert at the Committee's biology laboratory. The mutant sample data collected by Aircrew Base 911 and the live test report of the suspected Rhinoceros Cockroach had all been submitted to him; it was clear he had made some discovery when he initiated the video call so late.

The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee did not merely oversee the clearing of mutants that emerged from time to time at aircrew bases around the globe and handled out-of-control magical beast groups. It also had extensive research on these two major harmful biospheres, providing tactical guidance and special biological potions to help the various aircrew bases.

"…The Rhino Cockroach AA-01 and Mutant BC-2325 seem to have a symbiotic relationship, where the former is a companion organism to the latter, basically that's the situation. I hope 911 can send the sample entities over as soon as possible, given that a professional lab can conduct more in-depth analyses."

Constantly pressing the remote, Professor Rembrandt tirelessly narrated his analyses and research findings.

The two new samples discovered by Aircrew Base 911, based on prior database sequence numbering, were named Rhinoceros Cockroach AA-01 and Mutant BC-2325 respectively, indicating that these were entirely new species, thus receiving new identifiers, especially the Rhinoceros Cockroach AA-01, which was almost the first discovery of this particular type.

From various professional perspectives, he explained in depth yet simplified, addressing every point directly without using obscure technical jargon, allowing even laypeople to understand clearly.

His ability to explain the esoteric and refined matters in such a simple and understandable manner deeply impressed Chen Fei.

This was a true professional, not half-baked like some, who merely use professional terms and jargon to boast their academic levels, putting on airs more than doing meaningful work.

"No problem, I will arrange for the plane to bring them to you tomorrow."

The female executive manager turned to Chen Fei and said, "Rookie, tomorrow you take the items by plane to the public airport, handle the express delivery, and head straight to Aircrew Base 912 to rendezvous on your return flight."

Chen Fei exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Aren't we still at war?"

Going to the airport to send items was no issue, but going to Aircrew Base 912? Wasn't that under the domain of the Merman Brothers Consortium?

On the tablet computer screen, Professor Rembrandt Hamming shrugged his shoulders; the video call then disconnected as he was a researcher who did not participate in conflicts between military contractors and strictly maintained neutrality.

The tablet automatically returned to the communication software's main interface.

Hanna Gagar abruptly downed the drink in her hand and, hitting the table, said, "In this condition, can we still continue fighting?"

The Merman Brothers Consortium had not won, but Aircrew Base 911 had not lost either.

So, there must be a loser, but who?

Apocalypse Defense Group, of course!

A corporate war had seen three shareholders getting wiped out, with McAllen Gager, Hanna's own uncle, being one of them.

Lacking firm stance, they deserved the loss.

The other tangible and intangible losses were even more substantial, not to mention with Aircrew Base 911 increasingly being unresponsive to commands, endangering the industry ranking of Apocalypse Defense Group, almost threatening to drop out of the top thirty, and possibly falling beyond the fiftieth.

Years of hard work gone overnight.

Hanna Gagar was not as blindly loyal as her father and uncle; the passive and compromising behavior of Apocalypse Defense Group significantly lost points in her eyes, making the small shares she held increasingly insignificant.

Chen Fei was still not reassured and tentatively asked, "Manager Hanna, there won't be any danger, will there?"

After all, previously the Merman Brothers Consortium had been openly hostile towards Aircrew Base 911, wishing they could just squash it with a slap; recklessly running into their territory could mean walking into an ambush. What if there was one?

"Haha, you think too highly of them. With the Global United Defense Committee involved this time, the Merman Brothers Consortium wouldn't dare make a rash move."

The executive manager couldn't help but scoff. The investigative team previously sent by the Joint Defense Committee might have been biased in secret, but times had now changed.

Eliminating mutants and out-of-control magical beasts was the primary duty of all military contractors and aircrew bases, who would dare to ignore these critical tasks and focus solely on infighting? Enjoy new adventures at M-V-L

Moreover, Aircrew Base 912 had already been thoroughly slaughtered by a mutant worm swarm, leaving none behind. Perhaps the Merman Brothers Consortium no longer had the resolve to continue the corporate war, just dealing with the loss of materials, compensations, and pressures from the relatives of the deceased were enough trouble for this industry-ranked eighth giant military contractor.

The corporate war that put Aircrew Base 911 in a difficult position was temporarily at a pause, and whether it would continue remained unknown, but being cautious always did no harm.

It wasn't just the Merman Brothers Consortium; the bases near Aircrew Base 912 were also terrified!

One could never predict when the mutant worm swarm might strike again unexpectedly, catching everyone off guard. No one could assure they could repel or even eliminate these ferociously incoming creatures.

"I don't understand!"

Chen Fei wisely shook his head, playing dumb!

This was not something his minor role could meddle with. Without a clear head, he'd likely be flattened in minutes.

They say misfortune shouldn't come upon family members, nonsense!

"Mixing in this crowd, none adhere to the rules of Jianghu, disregarding martial virtue as the way to dominance."

"My great Tang's first reign was named 'Wude,' but did the great Tang really uphold these martial virtues?"

"Hehe, let's drink, let's drink!"

Hanna Gagel pointed at Chen Fei.

This rookie was acting dumb while being fully aware, his intentions condemnable.

Drink, eat, and be merry!

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The next day, before dawn had broken,

Chen Fei piloted an A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, taking off into the sky. After flying a few more times, he was becoming proficient—people are forced out by circumstances, the greater the pressure, the quicker the growth.

The Aircrew Base had planned his altitude and route for him and notified the nearest public airport. With a full tank and light load, the "Big Mouth Monster's" range was sufficient to smoothly reach the destination.

A live Rhino Cockroach AA-01, fragments of the Mutant BC-2325's carapace, and several stones picked up from the site were all packed up and secured by seat belts in the rear seat of the cockpit.

The Rhino Cockroach AA-01 had formidable mandibles, frightening enough to gnaw on items as hard as those with a Mohs hardness of 9. It also secreted a special corrosive digestive fluid, able to corrode what it couldn't gnaw through, be it rock, glass, ceramics, plastics, wood, or metal—almost nothing was rejected.

To properly encase this creature, ensuring it neither damaged the container nor was harmed itself, and needed to be delivered alive to the Global United Defense Committee's biological lab, besides a sturdy titanium alloy container, its body was also secured, preventing its mischievous mandibles from touching anything. Lastly, it was fiercely threatened and warned.

That's right! This creature wasn't stupid, with intelligence comparable to a magical beast. Even if it couldn't understand human language, it should grasp the intent behind the tone of threats and warnings.

Six hours later, as the fuel in the auxiliary tank was gradually depleted, Chen Fei's "Big Mouth Monster" was finally detected by the airport radar. Directed by air traffic control personnel, he circled above near the airport and waited for a landing slot. Seizing the gap between large airliners taking off and landing, he smoothly landed on the runway.

Chen Fei, carrying the securely packed boxes, jumped down from the turboprop, ran all the way to the airport's express service, and sent the packages. He also sent a package to his family.

His personal package contained some gains from his time at work, which were of no use kept in hand. There were over a dozen gemstones left by the elder of the Neanderthal tribe, Barut, and some jade raw stones picked up in the wilderness (authenticity unknown).

These weren't considered valuable treasures; the truly valuable item was the high-purity gold that Chen Fei extracted from electronic products using his special ability, which after refining, was about the size of a palm, weighing about six or seven ounces, enough to make several pieces of jewelry for his younger sister, mother, and sister-in-law, or directly exchange for equivalent jewelry.

Gold was as good as cash and sending it directly posed no issue, except for a higher insurance fee.

Taking a convenient flight for a personal errand wasn't exactly using public resources for personal benefit; no one would fuss over the extra fuel spent for an additional kilogram or two.

After handling the shipment and turning around, Chen Fei's "Big Mouth Monster" was filled up with fuel by the airport ground crew, the auxiliary tank brimming.

After queuing for two hours with a bunch of large airplanes and private planes, it was finally his turn to rush onto the runway for takeoff. At three hundred meters above the ground, he was now able to perform the takeoff without any sloppiness.

As dusk approached, Chen Fei finally saw the brightly lit Aircrew Base 912 on the dimly visible horizon.

Fortunately, Chen Fei had set off before dawn; otherwise, he would have had to rush and would only arrive here in the middle of the night.

The base, initially ravaged by the insects, was barely tidied up by the Merman Brothers Consortium after great effort, restoring both power and lighting.

Otherwise, Chen Fei's "Big Mouth Monster" and other aircraft wouldn't have been able to land smoothly.

The "Big Mouth Monster" had just stabilized on the slightly bumpy apron when the female executive manager, along with several veterans, came to meet him.

Accompanying them was a liaison who clearly looked "annoyed."

The Merman Brothers Consortium, out of courtesy, sent a liaison who didn't hide his frustration, expressing it with displeasure, "Manager Hanna, we've waited half a day just for a fighter pilot?"

He thought some important figure was coming, but it turned out just to be a turboprop.

A turboprop with just one pilot—was that all?

No more!

It was simply absurd to not take this seriously!

"Not only is he the first eyewitness to discover the mutant, but he is also a Metal Elemental Psychic Power user. What did you think?"

The female executive manager of the Aircrew Base, Hanna Gagel, saw through the other party's cunning thoughts and retorted without any courtesy.

Never underestimate someone!

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