novelhk Chapter 611 The Security Bureau is on its way
Chapter 611 The Security Bureau is on its way
Dozens of special operations armored vehicles with flashing lights sped past on the highway leading from Metropolis to Zone 59.
Inside the carriage, the air felt like solidified lead, so heavy it was almost suffocating.
The fully armed Plant Spirit operators sat upright, and a chilling aura immediately filled the air.
They remained quietly in their respective positions, letting the few LED headlights above them continuously emit a pale white light.
Apart from the low growl of the vehicle's engine and the loud thud of the armored vehicle's tires rolling over the road, a deathly silence enveloped the entire compartment.
This was not ordinary silence, but a silence that had been compressed and was poised to explode at any moment.
The operators deliberately kept their breathing low behind the masks, making it appear steady and long.
But beneath this calm surface, the hearts of all the operators were pounding wildly.
The all-black tactical exoskeleton gleamed with a cold metallic sheen under the headlights.
Sweat trickled down their temples, leaving dark stains on their collars.
Several tall operators rested their gleaming shotguns on their shoulders, their fingers occasionally stroking the trigger guards.
The movements were gentle, as if comforting an old friend, or perhaps performing some kind of final farewell ceremony.
Beside them, several even more burly operators stood motionless like rocks, holding their sturdy tower shields upright beside them and gripping the handles tightly.
The thick shield was covered with marks of both old and new, each one silently telling the story of past life-and-death battles.
No one spoke or made any unnecessary movements. The operators remained on edge, not daring to relax even for a moment.
His muscles bulged through the fabric of his combat uniform, like taut bows, and his gaze, peering through his dark goggles, pierced straight into the tightly closed gate at the far end of the carriage.
The personnel involved in this operation were primarily special agents belonging to the Metropolitan Division of the Federal Security Service.
They are mainly composed of three-line Peashooter Plant Spirits and Tall-nut Plant Spirits, and can be called the most capable elite force of the Metropolitan Division.
In order to rescue the kidnapped Ice Princess and other innocent women and children from the Redemption Path, Cronus spared no expense.
At this moment, the branch chief even personally drove a small special operations jeep, leading the entire team.
In the passenger seat of the jeep sat Chi Yuan, her face serious.
The busy federal law enforcement officer was looking down at his personal terminal, his fingers flying across the virtual keyboard.
In the back corner of the jeep, there was a plant spirit hero with his head bowed, not daring to utter a word.
It was none other than Cathy, the "Frozen Vanguard" who, due to a momentary lapse in attention, caused the Ice Princess to be abducted by the Redemption Path.
"Director Kronos, how much longer will it take us to enter Theater 59 and reach the Federal 59th Army's base?"
Chi Yuan's voice rang in Kronos's ears, but her tone still carried an undeniable sense of urgency.
"Maintain the current speed, and you will arrive at your destination in about thirty minutes."
Cronus's answer was brief and dry, as if squeezed out from between his teeth.
He gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning white from the excessive force, and his gaze, like that of a hawk, pierced through the rebounding windshield, fixed on the black highway ahead.
Chi Yuan raised her head and looked at the wilderness and ruins passing by to the side. A trace of solemnity flashed in her eyes: "Redemption Path... They are not ordinary criminals, but extremely dangerous terrorists. Director Kronos, this operation may be more troublesome and larger than we expected before we set off."
“I understand, Enforcer Red Kite.”
Kronos's lips curled into a cold, hard smile: "That's precisely why we cannot afford to back down. The peace of the Metropolis must never be built on compromise with evil!"
He slammed on the gas, and the jeep sped forward like a swift cheetah, leading the armored convoy behind it across the edge of Zone 59.
Listening to the conversation between the two people in the front row, Cathy in the back row lowered her head even further.
Her breathing became rapid and shallow in the cramped carriage, as if her lungs were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.
Cathy pulled her ski hat down, almost covering most of her face, with only a few messy strands of hair trembling slightly on her forehead.
Every jolt in the carriage felt like a hammer blow to Cathy's increasingly fragile nerves.
She bit her lower lip hard until her tongue tasted a slightly metallic, sweet flavor.
Those once vibrant, icy blue eyes were now empty and lifeless, as if one could see the fear and helplessness that filled the little princess's eyes when she was taken away by the Path of Redemption.
Self-blame, shame, fear, despair...
A flood of negative emotions overwhelmed Cathy, making her hate herself for being so incompetent.
As a plant spirit hero chosen by the World Tree and ranked by the Alliance, Cathy, who should have fulfilled her duties, became a sinner for dereliction of duty.
With each breath she took, a thin layer of white frost would condense on her goggles.
If I could be faster or stronger, would the outcome have been different?
Cathy didn't dare look at Chi Yuan and Kronos in the front row; they were busy making amends for their mistakes.
But she herself, as a member of the Plant Spirit Heroes, could only cower in a corner like a coward, unable to do anything but pray that the little princess was safe and sound.
The biting cold air spread uncontrollably in all directions, heading straight for Chi Yuan and Kronos.
Fortunately, these two were not ordinary people. They silently activated their plant spiritual power to dispel the chill coming from behind.
Neither Chi Yuan nor Kronos intended to blame Cathy, but their worries were no less than hers.
Tears turned into ice crystals and did not fall from Cathy's eyes. She knew that now was not the time to cry.
If she couldn't save that young princess, Cathy wouldn't be able to forgive herself.
Just then, a rapid beeping sound came from the in-vehicle communication device next to the driver's seat.
Kronos took one hand off the steering wheel and answered a communication call from afar.
"Unidentified convoy, this is the 66th Military Zone Border Post of the 59th Army of the Federation. You have entered the Level 1 Military Alert Zone. Please immediately state your identity and purpose, or we will intercept you!"
A cold warning came from the other end of the communication line, but Kronos did not slow down at all; instead, he floored the accelerator.
"This is the special operations vehicle fleet belonging to the Federal Security Service. I am the director of the Kronos Division in Metropolis."
He identified himself through the communications device: "We are on an urgent mission and request entry into the war zone to the 59th Army's base to meet with Supreme Commander Raymond Sators!"
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the communication line, presumably as they were verifying the situation with their superiors.
Before long, the cold voice turned respectful, and then the outline of the outpost came into view.
The barrier gates leading to the 59th Army's base have been raised, allowing the armored convoy that had traveled a long way to pass smoothly.
"Young Princess...please wait for me..."
Cathy murmured softly, her hands clenched into fists, the emptiness in her eyes replaced by a resolute flame.
"This time... the Frozen Vanguard will absolutely bring you back safe and sound... even at the cost of our lives... we will not hesitate to die..."