Chapter 21, The Wind Ballad

The Governor said there was no need to worry, then there truly was no need to worry.

No matter how great the heavens or earth may be, the Governor holds the greatest sway.

The exceptional training results and performances triggered a significant shift in the mentality of all one hundred men in the Abandoned Cave Company. Upon learning they were going to war, they mustered their strength, eager to achieve a resounding victory and proclaim their loyalty and bravery to the Governor.

Indeed, they went to do battle, but it didn't quite play out as Perbov initially thought.

After completing the encirclement of the manor, he requested the honor of leading the first assault to the esteemed Governor but was denied. He could only follow behind the armored vehicles as part of the second wave of the attack.

Of course, this was easier than leading the first wave, with fewer casualties, but he and his warriors felt it lacked honor.

Now, as his youngsters were shouting before the Governor, Perbov felt it was quite embarrassing.

After chastising the young warriors, he turned to Gu Hang, saluted him militarily, and asked, "The enemy has rejected our offer of surrender, may we proceed with the attack?"

Company Commander Perbov appeared eager, just waiting for the Governor to nod, and then he would lead his brothers into the fray.

He had the attack planned out: mortarmen were to bombard the first and second floors' windows while the squad machine guns strafed the main entrance; after this routine, the most skilled infantry squad from training would charge through the battered main entrance and windows to secure the lobby...

"An attack is to be launched, but you don't need to move."

"What?"

"I'll take care of this myself," said Gu Hang before calling out, "Yan Fangxu! You too, bring two assault teams."

"Yes, sir!" the Captain saluted, then turned to select his men.

"Governor..." Perbov was starting to feel anxious.

But Gu Hang raised his hand to prevent him from continuing, "I know you're eager, but hold off on that for now."

The Governor's gaze returned to the building in front of him, his eyes changing to a blue-white in this moment. He saw a swirl of wind, gathered inside the house.

"There's a formidable enemy inside."

"We, the people of Abandoned Cave Company, fear nothing!" Perbov's chest puffed out boldly, "You gave us new life, Governor, and we are willing to prove our loyalty with our lives!"

"That's commendable," Gu Hang said with a smile, "but loyal warriors shouldn't sacrifice needlessly. Your lives have greater value to fulfill."

Watching Perbov about to speak again, Gu Hang waved his hand, "Carry out the order."

"Yes, sir!"

The commander, though reluctant, returned to his troops. Seeing several warriors crowding around him, eagerly inquiring if they could charge in, he relayed the Governor's order once more.

Like him, the warriors were reluctant and tried to encourage him to ask for permission again, but he scowled and sternly sent them back.

Gu Hang didn't concern himself with what the commander was doing; he continued to observe the situation inside the building with his Spiritual Vision and calculated how much Spiritual Energy he had left.

He had used some previously, but it wasn't severe, and it should suffice for the upcoming conflict.

By this time, Yan Fangxu had readied his elite marine squads, and he too would join the battle.

All told, this team that had descended from the Quintet lived up to their elite reputation. Their equipment was exceptionally good, and their tactics and skills were high-level, making them reliable allies.

Even so, they wouldn't simply break through the doors or windows head-on.

It's a sign of idiocy to forsake available advantages in favor of brute force.

The Abandoned Cave Company still had a role to play in this battle. The company's mortars, as well as those from the servo-company and the squad machine guns, had been individually deployed.

The machine guns strafed the windows and the main entrance for a sustained suppressive fire; mortar shells were lobbed through the windows. With the distance being short, well-trained warriors could accurately hit their mark. Even the occasional misfire that hit the exterior wall wasn't an issue; just reload and keep bombarding.

Although the territory now under Gu Hang's control still lacked the capability to produce and replenish ammunition, the current stockpile, which was essentially pilfered from the starship, was sufficiently ample and not yet to the point of needing to be conservatively managed.

After two bombardments, Gu Hang and Yan Fangxu, leading the marine troops, made a sudden intrusion.

They were not attacked the moment they entered.

The areas they attacked had all been subjected to a barrage of fire, and no mercenary dared to stay in rooms covered by machine guns and artillery.

Next, the Marines began to rapidly sweep outward.

They were well trained and split into multiple small groups, kicking down doors one by one after ensuring no one was outside or in the corridors. They strictly followed the tactical requirements for breaching: use a battering ram to open doors, toss in tactical grenades, engage with crossfire to seal the room, then enter...

Whether the rooms were empty or not, they followed the same fixed procedure each time.

If no one was there, it just meant spending a bit more time and wasting a grenade; if there were people, they often didn't stand a chance to resist before being swiftly taken down by the Marines' efficient and deadly action.

That's how they cleared each room inside the villa.

Gu Hang walked up the stairs, hearing the sporadic sound of gunfire from various parts of the house that quickly subsided.

The situation had been settled.

He could see that swirl of wind, always concentrated in one particular room, remaining motionless.

"Not even daring to resist? What a waste of my caution..."

After the Marines had cleared each room, one by one, Yan Fangxu came to Gu Hang's side and reported softly, "All the rooms in the villa have been cleared. Only this one ahead remains."

"Good," Gu Hang ordered, "proceed with the breach as usual."

"Yes, Sir!"

The prepared Marines began their operation.

However, this time it wasn't as easy and calm as before.

The very instant the wooden door of the room was smashed open, a dense, visibly white spiral of Storm Bullet blasted from inside out.

The Marine who had just broken down the door was caught off guard and was about to be hit without any means of defense.

But in that instant, the Storm Bullet suddenly dissipated.

At the critical moment, Gu Hang intervened.

The collision of spiritual energy shattered the spiral Storm Bullet.

The residual force still amounted to a strong wind that blew the breaching soldier backward, quite in disarray; the wind swept through the corridor outside, causing everyone to stagger.

Disheveled but unharmed, at least no one was injured.

A man's voice came from inside:

"Don't come any closer! Stay back, all of you!"

His voice was filled with panic.

Clearly, the person inside was not a strong warrior.

But the Marines outside wouldn't weaken because of this.

Although they realized the enemy possessed extraordinary energy, they continued their operation without the slightest hesitation.

Amidst the wind, Yan Fangxu was the first to react; he personally leaned in and immediately saw a middle-aged man with a pale face, surrounded by two bodyguards.

The black-clad bodyguards attempted to shoot at him, but Yan Fangxu's actions were much faster than the bodyguards'. As their guns were just being raised, the captain's electromagnetic rifle had already fired first. The metal spikes accelerated by electromagnetism instantly killed the two men.

Immediately after, he turned the rifle towards the middle-aged man. When he saw the other party raise his hands to attempt something again, he did not hesitate to fire once more.

A mini-storm flickered around the man, the power of Spiritual Energy flashing, blocking the metal spike bullets.

But following Yan Fangxu, several soldiers entered and fired together.

The Storm Shield's defenses became precarious in an instant.

Finally, Gu Hang entered.