The architectural style of Asia starkly contrasted with that of Europe. In the aftermath of the Great Purge, Asian buildings appeared far more dilapidated than their European counterparts. Within the entire protection zone, there were scarcely any intact houses—only ruins of collapsed walls, tangled vegetation, and crumbling roads.
Perhaps due to the remoteness of this protection zone, the decay was even more severe. Were it not for the electrified fences encircling it, even Xiao Feng would find it hard to believe this place was officially designated a protection zone.
As Xiao Feng, Tugou, Rush, and Pandora—the trio of men and one woman—trudged toward the zone, everyone but Xiao Feng had already cursed the desolation countless times.
Yet Xiao Feng remained optimistic. "Look at those verdant hills in the distance—lush vegetation, a sure sign of edible game. There's also a clear, flowing stream here; with some treatment, its water is perfectly drinkable, though of course not as safe as deep underground aquifers. This place is a scenic haven. If we could take proper control of this protection zone, it would become a veritable paradise."
Tugou and the others shot Xiao Feng exasperated glances, convinced he must be running a fever again.
Clad in heavy mech armor, Tugou was the most conspicuous among them, projecting an imposing presence. From afar, it was evident Tugou was a formidable combatant.
Two Alliance soldiers stood atop the protection zone's defense wall, momentarily stunned to see the four figures emerge under the blazing sun. Raising binoculars, they scrutinized the strangers before exchanging bewildered glances.
"What kind of oddballs are these?" one muttered.
"One's Asian, the others must be foreigners. What could they want here? This place's a ghost town—no birds lay eggs, no rabbits leave droppings."
Their conversation was conducted in Chinese, revealing them as native Z-country soldiers. "We don't know their purpose, but we'd better be cautious. Report this up the chain—if anything happens, we don't want to bear the blame."
Without delay, the two soldiers used their radios to inform their superiors.
Upon receiving their report, a commanding officer instructed, "Transmit images of these four immediately."
"Understood, sir."
The soldiers relayed the video feed of Xiao Feng and his companions to the officer.
Seated in the command center, the officer accessed the alliance database through satellite-linked terminals, searching the archives for any information on the unfamiliar quartet. Upon retrieving the data, he was taken aback.
Detailed dossiers on Xiao Feng, Rush, and Tugou appeared on the screen. Pandora's file, however, contained only a terse note marking her as "extremely dangerous."
Having reviewed their profiles, the officer swiftly exited the command center and hurried toward the protection zone's gate.
At that moment, Xiao Feng and his group were approaching the entrance.
The officer shouted to the sentries, "Open the gate at once!"
The guards hesitated briefly before swiftly granting access.
As Xiao Feng and his companions entered, still debating whether to capture any hostile soldiers if denied entry, they were taken aback that the gates were opened without resistance.
The officer emerged with a warm smile. "Ah, as the old saying in Z-country goes, 'Is it not a delight to have friends come from afar?' You've traveled far to reach us—I fear I have been a poor host."
Xiao Feng initially could not comprehend the officer's words, but a sudden sharp pain struck his mind's depths, and miraculously, he grasped the meaning.
Tugou and Pandora, advanced mechanical beings with extensive language databases, understood the Chinese perfectly. Rush, however, was utterly lost—not a single word made sense to him—and bombarded Tugou with incessant questions, much to Tugou's annoyance.
Having understood the officer's greeting, Xiao Feng responded in fluent Chinese, "Greetings. We have come to your protection zone seeking someone—my younger brother."
"Oh? Your brother is here?"
Xiao Feng nodded. "Yes, right here."
The officer gestured invitingly toward the interior. "Let us talk inside. Please, rest for a moment."
Tugou and Pandora immediately sensed the officer's courteous demeanor indicated he recognized their identities. This politeness either stemmed from genuine respect or a desire to keep them calm until reinforcements arrived.
Yet with Xiao Feng, Pandora, and Tugou—three overwhelmingly powerful individuals—even the arrival of a division would not guarantee control. Reinforcements would take over a day to muster, easing their concern. Rush, meanwhile, remained clueless and kept pestering Tugou about the conversation.
The officer led the four toward the Alliance garrison within the protection zone, asking, "Do you have a photograph or any other information about your brother?"
Xiao Feng shook his head. "I only know his exact location is within this zone, and he bears a tattoo identical to mine." He extended his arm toward the officer. "See this tattoo on my arm? Mine ends with the number 9; his ends with 6. Beyond that, I don't even know his current name."
The officer frowned deeply. "That's hardly enough information. Searching for someone based solely on a small tattoo means we'll have to check everyone, one by one."
Xiao Feng was momentarily stunned. "You mean you'll help us find my brother?"
The officer nodded firmly. "Yes, we will assist you."
Puzzled, Xiao Feng asked, "I don't understand. You've been very courteous—surely you know who we are. You know we belong to the X Legion, currently locked in fierce conflict with the Alliance. Why show us such kindness? Aren't you afraid of repercussions from above?"
The officer smiled gently. "It is precisely because of that that I have decided to help you. Since you are Xiao Feng, a senior figure within the X Legion, I won't withhold the reasons behind this..."