Chapter 175: Kang Tao Civil War
Deep within the Badlands manufactorum, the indicator lights on the main console flickered rhythmically, illuminating Joric's motionless metal frame.
His crimson optical lenses steadily scanned the interwoven multi-dimensional data streams before him. His processing core was simultaneously running several high-priority tasks: continuously parsing the massive amount of information acquired from Mikoshi, optimizing the complex parameters of the dimensional teleporter, and reviewing the preliminary equipment improvement plan drafted for the Barghest troops.
According to the preliminary cooperation framework reached with Militech, an elite advance team belonging to the NUSA, designated as "Barghest," had arrived at the perimeter of the Badlands manufactorum as planned and begun establishing a preliminary defensive line.
With the intervention of this external force, the sensor network Joric deployed around the abandoned town automatically increased its scanning frequency and surveillance level to ensure absolute control over the surrounding environment.
Just as he was efficiently allocating computational resources to synchronize these tasks, a communication request accessed the manufactorum's main control system through a newly established secure link—originating from the Barghest advance team that had just deployed.
"Badlands Command, this is Barghest Recon Team Alpha. We have detected unidentified armed engagement approximately five kilometers southeast. One side is a six-man squad, tactical movements refined, suspected corporate elite. The other side numbers about fifteen, equipment mixed, identified as local mercenaries. The engagement zone is moving toward the Badlands manufactorum. Requesting instructions."
The voice on the comms channel was calm and professional, carrying the typical reporting style of military units.
Almost at the same moment, another encrypted message from Mower arrived at Joric's processing core.
Her intelligence was more precise: "Master, identities of engaging parties confirmed. The pursued party is using standard-issue Kang Tao equipment; their encryption signature points to Kang Tao CN (China) Headquarters. The pursuing party consists of hired local armed personnel; funds are traceable to Kang Tao NC (North America) Branch."
The two intelligence streams corroborated each other, quickly completing the information puzzle within Joric's processing core.
His crimson optical lenses flickered slightly, and multiple operations were initiated synchronously in an instant.
Surveillance satellite overhead views and real-time data streams from ground sensors were accessed simultaneously, weaving a three-dimensional perception of the battlefield.
Although the image was slightly blurred due to electronic countermeasures in the combat zone, the overall situation was clear enough.
The six-man squad, despite being at an absolute numerical disadvantage, displayed extremely high tactical literacy.
They flexibly utilized scattered cover on the Badlands, returning fire with precise short bursts, and maintained formation integrity and movement through skilled alternating cover.
After processing by image enhancement algorithms, the facial features of several members were highlighted—distinct East Asian contours.
Simultaneously, Joric's consciousness silently immersed itself into the battlefield's electromagnetic spectrum.
The fragile communication encryption of the warring parties was useless before him; invisible data channels were established effortlessly.
Communication streams from both camps were instantly intercepted, decrypted, converted into clear dialogue, and fed directly into his processing core.
From data capture and signal cracking to intelligence analysis, this entire complex information processing flow was completed synchronously in a split second, supported by his era-transcending technological capability.
The pursued party was indeed the six-man squad composed of East Asian faces.
Their internal communication channel, though concise, revealed a high degree of discipline and clear tactical purpose.
"Director Li, the mercs hired by NC are biting hard! There's at least double our number!" A slightly urgent young voice rang out amidst gunfire.
"Copy. Keep moving. Use abandoned vehicles and terrain for cover. Alternate retreat to pre-set blocking point B-3." The responding voice was steady and decisive—Commander Li Wei. "Their goal is to prevent us from approaching the Badlands manufactorum, or even capture us. Remember the core mission: reach the destination, state identity and purpose. Avoid unnecessary entanglements."
"Understood! But their suppressing fire is too heavy; the right flank is pinned!"
"NC Branch really spent a fortune this time. They're afraid of us establishing direct contact with the Badlands faction and shaking their position in North America."
"That's why we must reach it. Even if just to convey goodwill and establish initial contact, it's better than being strangled in the cradle by their underhanded tactics."
They communicated efficiently while executing rapid tactical maneuvers.
In pairs, one group provided precise short-burst suppression against pursuer fire points, while the other quickly retreated to new cover. Then roles reversed, the entire process fluid and orderly.
The Kang Tao standard rifles they used spat steady tongues of fire in the Badlands dust. Every shot was highly efficient, demonstrating the users' exquisite marksmanship and calm psychological quality.
In contrast, the other side's communication channel was filled with chaos and agitation.
This group of hired gunmen relied on numbers, attempting to suppress their opponents with fierce firepower, but lacked effective coordination.
"Fuck! These guys from CN are slippery as eels! Don't let them get away! The employer said dead or alive doesn't matter, just absolutely don't let them touch the edge of the manufactorum!" A raspy voice roared in the channel.
"Boss, their aim is sharp, and their coordination is too good. They don't look like ordinary corporate security!"
"Bullshit! Otherwise, would those bastards sitting in air-conditioned rooms pay this much? Everyone wake the fuck up! Pull off this job, and we can live large for a good while!"
Their attack method was cruder, relying on numerical advantage for saturation fire. Bullets swept like water toward areas where the Kang Tao squad might be hiding, shattering rocks and kicking up dust.
However, this lack of precision often yielded half the result with twice the effort. Instead, it exposed their positions. Members of Li Wei's squad seized opportunities to counterattack. Mercenaries peeking out to fire were frequently hit with precision, screaming as they fell, further intensifying the attackers' chaos.
Joric parsed these communications instantly.
The message was clear: there was a sharp internal division within Kang Tao. The special envoys sent by Kang Tao CN (China) Headquarters aimed for friendly contact, while the Kang Tao NC (North America) Branch spared no violent means to obstruct them.
The crimson optical lenses adjusted their focal length slightly.
Kang Tao... this corporate giant originating from the East touched a dusty tag in his database, creating a faint association with memories of that land before his transmigration.
Although rational analysis indicated that the East of this world was not the same concept as the homeland in his memory, a certain latent inclination stemming from cultural roots was still assigned a non-zero weight in his logic core.
More importantly, the "friendly exchange" intention expressed by Kang Tao CN, compared to Arasaka's extreme dominance or Militech's pure interest exchange, appeared more... reasonable in its behavioral pattern.
Emotional variables needed strict control, but a "preference" based on efficiency and long-term cooperation potential could serve as a legitimate parameter in decision-making.
"Maintain surveillance. Do not intervene yet. I will handle this." He issued instructions to the Barghest advance team via the encrypted channel.
"Copy."
The command was immediately transmitted to the most suitable executor: "Mower, deploy. Objective: Rescue the pursued Kang Tao CN squad and ensure their safe arrival at the manufactorum. Use of necessary force to clear obstacles is authorized."
"Command confirmed." Mower's response had zero delay, cold and efficient.
The next moment, a blurred figure shot out from the shadows somewhere on the perimeter of the abandoned town. Its speed was so fast that it left only a fleeting distorted trail in the air, like a bullet piercing the atmosphere, shooting straight toward the engagement zone several kilometers away.
(End of Chapter)