Star Gate

Chapter 451: The Twelfth Troop Takes the Field (II)

At the same time.

Over the city gates.

“Troop Leader Jiang,” Li Hao asked curiously. “Can we not utilize our defensive system? The aerial defense system is very strong, if we can use it...”

“It can only be used passively due to a lack of energy!” the seventh troop leader’s voice rang hollowly. “Battle Heaven needs energy, we are severely short at the moment. The death of so many is why we have awoken slightly. The more that die, the more energy that is absorbed, the faster our reawakening. Otherwise, we remain in a quiet state of inertness!”

So the ground absorbing energy is to hasten the city’s awakening! Li Hao took in the new information.

“Then those who’ve gone through the second passageway—the small house with the net—can they evade the aerial defenses?”

“Yes,” the troop leader responded emptily once more. “That is the Visitor Pavilion and all those who come through it are guests. These people however, do not wish to be guests. They desire to be bandits instead, but the Visitor Pavilion gave them certain privileges. Our authorization level is insufficient to revoke them. The city lord and commander-in-chief are not in the city. The Visitor Pavilion’s authority matches ours. No one can revoke the privileges unless the guardian awakens!”

The guardian? So the city lord isn’t in the city? Then who’s the Gold Armor?

Li Hao was very confused. That meant the Gold Armor in the city lord manor was likely not the city lord. Who was? And who was this guardian?

“Troop Leader Li, a moment of silence before battle!” commanded the seventh troop leader when Li Hao wanted to ask more questions. The newcomer talked too much, he could barely think through it all!

They were dead, after all. Recalling memories took a lot of effort. All they had now were some instincts and pitiful scraps of memory. Each question that Li Hao asked required them to expend mental strength to relive the past. As time went on, that would facilitate their complete awakening and premature return to their peak. That, in turn, would lead to a quick death.

Li Hao was morose, but he asked no further. It looked like these soldiers had awakened, yet didn’t have access to many memories. It was sufficient for them to answer some of his questions. He walked to one of the city walls. His two men were here—it was very obvious!

The young man had thought that he wouldn’t be able to identify them after they stood among the Black Armors. Reality once again proved how incredible the armor system was. When he scanned the rows of thousands of Black Armors, one of them glittered with some light.

Some information appeared when he focused his gaze on the sparkles.

“New receipt He Yong of the First Company of the Twelfth Troop!”

“......” Li Hao was somehow amused. These Black Armors were easily identified by their officers, but this authorization extended only to his men. Scanning the other soldiers didn’t bring up any information.

“New recruit He Yong!” The line suddenly appeared in He Yong’s voice. Hidden in a mass of Black Armors, he quickly turned his head in Li Hao’s direction. As expected, the young man was staring at him from a few dozen meters out.

He Yong blinked. You can tell that I’m hiding here? Da hell? Why? Do you have full control over me just because I’m wearing armor? Damn my black armor is pitifully low level!

His only available function was to hail his company leader, and that was because he was granted more authorizations as the only soldier in his company. Otherwise, he might be limited to just his captain.

A resigned He Yong stepped out, quickly joined by Hong Yitang. The three congregated on the city walls.

“What are you calling us over for?” asked a dejected He Yong.

“I’m thinking that we may not be able to stand up to the people outside...” Li Hao frowned as he looked out. “To be honest, they’re very strong. They have a lot of Novas and Solars. You guys saw it too that we may not be able to hold them off if they bring their full strength to bear. These remaining units of the Battle Heaven Army might not be able to either.”

“Then let’s run...” He Yong suggested, but Li Hao shook his head.

“No, I want to protect this city!”

The man paused in his tracks, why? As fired up as he’d been in the barracks, he was back to normal once outside. It didn’t matter to him whether or not the city stood. In fact, it was just as well if it fell, there might be more loot he could swipe in that case. Safeguarding the city might not have much of an effect.

“Why do you want to protect the city?” Hong Yitang asked as well. You have no friends or family here, what’s the point of taking a stand for an empty city? Those guys outside are not people you want to provoke!

“I don’t want the three great organizations or anyone else to gain anything!” Li Hao responded calmly. “I’ve given it some thought... This city might belong to me!”

“......” The two were at a loss for words. Why??

“It also belongs to you two! Isn’t it better for one person—no, three people to enjoy the benefits, as opposed to everyone? The soldiers here are dead and don’t further consume resources. They appear only when there’s fighting. How nice would it be to have them as our guards? Why should we let them die?

“Think about the Pool of Life and all those treasures inside the city. I’d rather the three of us split them up than share them with so many.

“Strictly speaking, this place belongs to no one because they are ruins. But as the city of the Wangs in the eight families, I have more of a right to lay claim to it than anyone else. Of course, that isn’t the point at the moment, but it’s obvious that sharing with just three people is much better than sharing with a couple of thousand.”

“But...” He Yong wanted to say that it was impossible to hold off everyone outside, even with the three Silver Armors awakening!

“This city won’t be so easily conquered!” Li Hao continued. “There’s another Gold Armor inside the barracks and that might not be the only one. There could be more apart from the one inside the city lord manor. They just don’t seem to be willing to awaken ahead of time as that will lead to their death.

“We might be able to use the opportunity to accrue some military merits! Maybe we’ll receive additional rewards. The weaponry seems to be in good order. When I collected my equipment, a Silver Armor walked into the back to retrieve my allotment. I feel that there’s a lot of treasure in those depths...”

“So what’s your plan?” Hong Yitang asked plainly. “We stand almost no chance against them.”

“Why not? This is our home ground!” Li Hao smiled. “Don’t forget that I’m the troop leader! As a troop leader, I have a special combat identity and can enter the homes of residents. I can enter the closed homes in the outer city!

“Not only do I have the privilege, but I can give you similar authorization. We can conduct guerrilla warfare in the outer city or even direct combat. If we hide in the houses, they can only wait outside to be ambushed by us. Remember how passive we were last time after the Bronze Armors took shelter in the houses?”

Bronze Armors had entered the ancient houses on the last expedition. Black Armors could as well, but they seemed to have lost their sentience and couldn’t act voluntarily. The Bronze Armors seemed to retain a bit of their minds.

Both men blinked at the suggestion. Enter the ancient houses to ambush the powerhouses around them? That would be a position easy to advance and retreat from!

The ancient houses were one with the ancient city; one should not enter without an invitation. If a trespasser barged in, they were attacked by the city’s entire defensive system. This was something that Li Hao had newly come to understand—the people who entered the ancient houses on the prior expedition had been killed by the city’s defensive system!

Thieves were unequivocally sentenced to death by the city’s rules, even if they’d passed through the Visitor Pavilion.

“Also, there are thirty Bronze Armors outside that also possess the same sentience,” Li Hao continued. “I’m going to try and borrow some of them, then hide in the ancient houses with you guys. We’ll be like fish in water if we conceal our presences. If our ambushes are successful, killing some powerhouses will be an easy task!

“You two are so powerful that you’ll kill with one strike. You can dash back to the ancient houses afterward, not even Novas will be able to do anything against you. We hold a complete advantage, there’s no need for direct combat!

“The three remaining army units have their duties and obligations to fulfill. They remain so long as the city stands. We are a mobile unit and just need to help their efforts, but they must safeguard the city. Not to mention they’re not as intelligent as they were when alive, so they only know to dig in their heels. We’re different!”

He Yong stroked his beard—there was no beard to stroke anymore, more was the pity. “Is this a good idea? Li Hao, we’re on the same side as those outside... Do we kill even the Silver Moon authorities?”

“......” Li Hao cut off mid word. The fuck dude? This is what you’re really thinking, isn’t it?

Hong Yitang roared with laughter and also transmitted, “It’s feasible, I’m just worried of drawing suspicion! The Battle Heaven Army is an army of dead souls in people’s eyes. If we start ambushing...”

“It happened last time too. The Bronze Armors started ambushing us toward the end, remember?” Li Hao reminded. They wouldn’t be setting a precedent, and so what if they drew suspicion?

“Not to mention, you two only have the strength of Solars outside the city. Who will think that much? No one will know if the people you attack die and it wouldn’t amount to much if they did!”

“Then what about the official authorities?” Hong Yitang grinned.

“What does Martial Uncle Hong think?”

“What do I think? Does what I think matter? You’re the troop leader.”

Li Hao looked at the man wordlessly. So now you say that?

“Forget it, we don’t attack them. If the official authorities are weakened, that might cause some trouble for the province...”

“Do you care whether or not trouble finds Silver Moon?”

“I’m not a sociopath,” Li Hao transmitted with a laugh. “Even if I don’t, I don’t want unrest to rock the province. The stronger the authorities are, the more stable Silver Moon is. Martial Uncle Hong, I may not be a saint and wish to save the world, but I’m not in the habit of creating unnecessary disturbance. Are you thinking a bit too much?

“I kill the three great organizations because they are evil and we share a grudge. It’s not like I go around killing everyone.”

Was the man truly considering him a demon? Even if I don’t help the official authorities, I have no need to kill them.

Hong Yitang was startled into laughter. That was true! His thoughts had gone off on a tangent!

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