Chapter 39: We Need a Hero!

After receiving a confirmation, Qin Hu put down his phone and glanced at the unpowered temporary command center.

In the dim room, several senior officers and Qin Hu's old superior paused their heated discussion.

One of them spoke:

"You know well that we can't attribute the victory solely to an ordinary civilian awakener."

Qin Hu frowned:

"But the fact is, I abandoned him, and the explosion in the suburbs has nothing to do with me... I'm practically a deserter..."

"Bang!"

Qin Hu's old superior, the commander of the Thirteenth Army, slammed the table, his sharp gaze piercing through his subordinate:

"Lieutenant! You have responsibilities and considerations! Remember your identity and position!"

Qin Hu remained silent.

The bigwigs quickly concluded their discussion, more concerned about extracting benefits from the victory than its truth, ensuring all parties were satisfied.

After the federal capital's visitors left, Qin Hu's superior stopped at the command room door, turning to pat Qin Hu's shoulder, his tone deep and firm:

"Remember, the Federation needs a hero."

"We need a hero!"

"He can be any one of us, but he cannot be a civilian, especially not an unexplainable civilian awakener. This victory earns him a place with us, and next time, it will be his turn."

Qin Hu sighed deeply, resigned:

"This victory was a fluke, but what will we rely on next time?"

"Those damned bugs won't negotiate with us."

His superior looked outside, where soldiers recently withdrawn from the front lines busied themselves, most wounded, lying on the ground or on stretchers, missing limbs, now disabled.

The troops were severely depleted, locked in combat with the swarm.

"We have a few days to prepare; new recruits will arrive soon."

"Submit your report, then take a couple of days to rest, Major Qin."

…

Lin Feng looked at the phone screen, a slight smile on his lips, now certain the victory stemmed from the gasoline explosion.

But he knew the military wouldn't credit him, understanding the synergy between their frontline resistance and his daring gambit.

Besides, he didn't need the fame; relying on charity while weak would only make him a pawn, a puppet.

Turning the superficial achievement into tangible benefits was Lin Feng's priority.

Qin Hu's call reassured him.

He guessed Qin Hu was about to become the celebrated hero of this victory.

His rewards would follow naturally.

Lin Feng sent a message to Rain Sister to assure his safety, then set his phone down, announcing:

"Put the Red Armored Shield away; we're entering the refugee traffic. Rest up, everyone."

The two women nodded, relief in their smiles.

The battered camper drew curious glances from nearby refugees as they drove along the emergency lane.

After several checkpoints, they reached the highway service area, where vehicles followed the main convoy in an orderly retreat.

Lin Feng instructed Chen Yanyan to park the camper in a vehicle repair shop.

Previously Hu Fei's property, it was now deserted, tools and mechanics nowhere in sight.

Chen Yanyan released the brake, removed the key, and exhaled deeply. After a night of extreme driving, only the warmth from her seventh enhancement kept her going.

Lin Feng exited the vehicle, directing Chen Yanyan to guard it against theft, then helped the unsteady Liu Yueqi outside.

Seeing Zhang Xuan's car still parked, they approached it.

In the dim streetlight…

Liu Ruojiao sat in the back, hugging her knees, crying, tears soaking her dress and chest, her sobs audible through the car window.

Lin Feng realized Qin Hu's early retreat might have spread false news of their demise.

No wonder Liu Ruojiao was in such distress.

Seeing her aunt's sorrow, Liu Yueqi hurriedly opened the car door:

"Aunt... we're back..."

Hearing the familiar voice, Liu Ruojiao looked up sharply, her tear-streaked face showing shock and disbelief.

Seeing the familiar girl, her surprise turned to overwhelming joy and relief.

Liu Ruojiao rushed out, embracing her niece tightly.

"Sob..."

Tears filled Liu Yueqi's eyes, the terror of near-death finally releasing as she held her loved one close.

Seeing this, Lin Feng quietly left, giving the women space. On his way to the inn's office, he encountered Zhang Xuan emerging.

His face bore a bruise, as if from a punch.

Zhang Xuan, his right eye swollen, barely recognized Lin Feng, freezing in fright.

Lin Feng smiled, nodded, and continued inside.

Once Lin Feng entered the office, Zhang Xuan squinted back, confirming Lin Feng was indeed alive.

Earlier, he'd tried to retrieve Liu Yueqi's reward of sixty canned goods from the management bureau staff...

But they said Mr. Lin instructed that only Ms. Liu herself could collect them, two cans per day.

Angered, Zhang Xuan insisted they were dead, demanding Liu Yueqi's belongings as family.

The staff ignored him.

Zhang Xuan's tantrum resulted in a buttstock blow, knocking him down. In these times, no one cared about his professor status.

After recovering, Zhang Xuan staggered out, not expecting to see Lin Feng, supposedly dead, alive and well.

He looked towards his car, where Liu Yueqi had returned!

They were alive, unharmed!

Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, adjusted his demeanor, and approached Liu Ruojiao with a feigned kind smile.

…

At the office, the night-shift receptionist showed surprise at Lin Feng's appearance but quickly resumed a professional demeanor with a friendly smile.

"Hello, Mr. Lin."

Lin Feng asked directly:

"I see everyone is retreating. Are you abandoning this place?"

The receptionist paused, nodded:

"I just received word: Wu City will become a frontline staging area, and all logistics personnel must move to Jin City."

"Expected to fully withdraw by tomorrow afternoon."

Lin Feng nodded, inquiring about purchasing giant insect materials and the current federal currency to gold exchange rate.

Red Armored Beetle carapaces and Black Spinal Bug mandibles could be traded for food and fuel.

Federal currency had depreciated significantly, despite official efforts to stabilize markets amid the coastal city's fall.

Refugees were eager to convert paper money into gold or precious metals, even food and weapons, for peace of mind over worthless paper.

With the information gathered, Lin Feng left, returning to the camper in the repair shop.

The three Black Spinal Bugs under the tarp still hissed, but they were too far from Haicheng for it to matter.

Lin Feng sat in a chair beside the camper, instructing Chen Yanyan to clean the chaotic interior, shower, and rest.

He then took Hu Fei's card, dialing the private number.

"Hey, it's your turn."