Chapter 69: Zhang Jiating's Fragrance

Southwest Base, underground chamber. The red-haired enchantress sat on the chair with a dark expression, her taut leather suit tracing seductive curves, yet not one of the burly men before her dared to raise his eyes.

"Get out! From today onward, everyone's training intensity is doubled! The research department will operate around the clock!" Her icy voice sent a tremor through the ranks of the base’s upper echelon.

Exchanging glances, they hastened to nod in agreement.

"Go! And remember, Dragon Qianwen’s brother’s security must be handed over to Wang Ji’s men!" she said irritably with a wave of her hand.

Upon returning to the base, she had only then grasped the gravity of the consequences wrought by Dragon Qianwen’s escape. The thought of Qianwen’s terrifying power now made her clench her teeth in frustration.

She quickly moved to a corner of the chamber, summoned the mysterious machine, inserted the key, and pressed several buttons.

Soon, the communication indicator lit up.

"Number 17. The incident at the F City Base has been reported. When will you deliver my nuclear crystals?"

Her cold voice resonated in Wang Jiancong’s shelter, and the undertone sent a chill through him, making him tremble uncontrollably at the memory of her terrifying presence.

"Ahem... Number 3, I’ve already given your people the two nuclear crystals. They should be on their way back," Wang Jiancong tried to keep his voice steady.

She chuckled coldly. "Very well. But this operation, thanks to your lack of intelligence, got me into massive trouble and cost us ten thousand level-1 crystal nuclei! What do you propose we do about that?"

Wang Jiancong leapt to his feet in panic, stammering, "Number 3! You can’t blame me. This was an assignment from Number 1, and you know my hands are tied—Headquarters provides all the intel."

Sparks sputtered from the machine, and after a few seconds of silence, her voice returned.

"I don’t care. You’re responsible for the losses this time! Send me another crystal, or I’ll send someone to your filthy den to fetch it myself!"

With those words, the communication signal flashed, indicating she had hung up unilaterally.

Wang Jiancong cursed furiously for a while before dejectedly leaving the chamber.

Back at the Southwest Base, the red-haired enchantress exhaled deeply, her mood marginally improved. She poured herself a glass of red wine, stretched her long, beautiful legs, and reclined in the chair, eyes closed for a brief rest.

After some time, a knock came from outside.

"Come in," she said languidly.

Her deputy, Ren Chang, entered, his face grave, a report in hand.

"Commander! News from the southwest: Zhang Xiong of the Rhino Base was attacked by Ruan Jinyong. His Beast Corps is now out of control, and a beast tide is rampaging across the region. Zhang Xiong is requesting military assistance."

She sipped her wine, unruffled. After a moment, she spoke, "Such trifling matters shouldn’t disturb me. Handle it yourself."

"Yes, ma’am!" Ren Chang saluted, left the room, glanced at the report, sneered, and tossed it into a nearby trash can.

…

Inside an armored vehicle, Zhang Tingfang sat imperiously, binoculars trained on the distant camp.

Through her lens, she saw the camp’s patrol had spotted their convoy and sent a vehicle over to intercept.

Zhang Tingfang put down the binoculars and declared haughtily, "Keep moving forward. And send someone to negotiate with the base leader—tell them Zhang Tingfang is here to take over."

Accompanying her was a direct line unit from the Zhang family, commanded by Li An. This assignment under Zhang Tingfang was a promotion for him.

At the Jiangbei Base, he’d held little real power, with only a personal guard platoon. Now, granted a full company by the Zhang family, he, like Zhang Tingfang, was filled with newfound confidence.

Thus, he flattered her incessantly along the way, never once contradicting her orders.

At her command, he immediately dispatched trusted men, carrying documentation from Jiangbei Base, to meet the approaching patrol.

Soon, the convoy rolled into the camp.

At the garrison’s headquarters, Chen Yukai, upon receiving the news, gathered his men at the building’s entrance to await Zhang Tingfang’s arrival.

After the disaster, Chen Yukai had stepped up as commander by necessity. Now, by higher command’s arrangement, he was obliged to yield the position to Zhang Tingfang.

Yet in times of chaos, when warlords with private armies mushroomed everywhere, everything depended on personal choices and character.

"Uncle Chen, this Zhang Tingfang doesn’t seem like someone easy to deal with. Are you really letting her into the base?" Lin Hanya, standing nearby, frowned with concern.

"Ah, Xiaoya, we must obey the military district’s orders, no matter what. We still have to uphold the last of our principles," Chen Yukai sighed.

"But Uncle Chen! Why must you be so stubborn? Just look at the Zhang family’s ways—what has Zhang Tingfang done to deserve this, besides relying on Zhang Zhenbei? You don’t know the scandals I heard about her back in Beidu!" Lin Hanya raised her voice.

Sun Guoyao and Liu Tao nodded in agreement.

But Chen Yukai’s face hardened, and he snapped, "Enough, Xiaoya! This must not be discussed again. Commander Zhang’s actions have their reasons; in these chaotic times, we must adapt as needed."

No one dared speak further, though Lin Hanya huffed in defiance and turned to leave the building.

Chen Yukai could only smile bitterly and shake his head. Given Lin Hanya’s influential family in the north, they had nothing to fear from Zhang Zhenbei of Jiangnan.

But he himself had little choice. He sighed inwardly, thinking, "The Zhang family is not to be trifled with, for now."

Soon, Zhang Tingfang’s car pulled up outside the building.

Yu Bo stepped out first, opened the door for her, surveyed the surroundings, and only then allowed her to alight.

"Ah, Captain Chen, thank you for your trouble," Zhang Tingfang beamed as soon as she stepped out.

Chen Yukai stepped forward, saluted, and said, "Welcome, Commander! Chen Yukai and Liu Tao, company commander of First Company, report to you."

She waved her hand with a smile. "No need for such formality. But I heard there are three companies here, plus your personal guard—why so few people present?"

Chen Yukai forced a laugh. "Commander, this is Sun Guoyao, currently commanding the camp’s guard company. As for Third Company… its commander, Cao Muhua, is presently with the independent company, and their commander, Wang Ji, has been away on business."

"Heh, it seems Captain Chen’s men are all quite busy," Zhang Tingfang remarked with a faint, tightening smile, then led the way into the building. "Come, let’s not stand out here."

Chen Yukai bowed. "Yes, Commander, your office is already prepared—the best room in the building."

"Mm," she replied loftily, striding inside.

Upon entering what had been Chen Yukai’s office, Zhang Tingfang immediately wrinkled her nose. "Is this my office? What’s that smell? It’s disgusting!"

Chen Yukai smiled awkwardly. "Commander, my apologies—this was my previous office. I’ll have the smell dealt with right away."

Her face frosted over. "Hmph! Fix it, and put some flowers in here. I want a fresh, clean office tomorrow!"

With that, she turned into the adjacent conference room, the others trailing silently behind.

"What a disappointment, Captain Chen," Zhang Tingfang sneered, chin raised. "You knew I was coming, yet only one company commander is here to greet me."

"N-no, Commander, the others genuinely had urgent matters and couldn’t make it in time," Chen Yukai replied, his mood souring at her overbearing manner.

"Hmph! If they’re not here to report within five minutes, they’re all dismissed!" she declared, slapping the table. She intended to make a strong impression with her first order.

Chen Yukai replied bitterly, "Commander, truthfully, the independent company’s commander Wang Ji really is away, and I don’t know when he’ll return. But I can have his men report to you. As for Third Company’s commander, Cao Muhua, he recently defied orders, secretly mobilized troops to ambush the independent company during a monster-hunting operation, and was detained by Commander Wang at their camp."

His words made Zhang Tingfang erupt. "The independent company! Them again—who are they, to detain a fellow officer? And you, Captain, can’t even control your own men?"

Chen Yukai said nothing, keeping his head bowed, his face dark.

Zhang Tingfang had hoped for a smooth takeover, only to find the base in chaos. She vented her frustrations in a tirade before finally subsiding.

"Commander, you and your entourage must be tired from the journey. Why not rest a while before making further arrangements?" Liu Tao, from First Company, stepped forward to smooth things over.

Zhang Tingfang grunted. "Lead the way, then. I hope my quarters aren’t as wretched as this place."

"And you, you’re First Company’s commander, right? Take your men to the independent company and bring back Cao Muhua. Under my command, there must be discipline—no one acts on their own whims!"

Liu Tao wished he could slap himself for speaking up. "Yes, Commander! I’ll do my best."

"Hmph! ‘Do your best’—are the independent company so unruly that you can’t even carry out a simple order?" she stopped and glared at him.

Chen Yukai stepped forward. "Commander, the independent company is rather special—they’re not regular army, but a civilian unit I authorized temporarily. Their combat strength—"

"Enough! So they’re just a rabble," Zhang Tingfang waved him off. "Li An, take your men and fetch Commander Cao. And take over command of the independent company while you’re at it!"

"Yes!" Li An’s eyes lit up as he saluted.

"Wait, Commander! Please, you can’t just—" Chen Yukai called after her in protest.

She ignored him, striding quickly to her quarters surrounded by military police.

Chen Yukai stamped his foot in frustration, catching sight of Lin Hanya approaching. He muttered regretfully, "Now things are really about to explode."