Chapter 61: Found

"That's him!" Jim led the three of them to the surveillance room at the south gate and located the Crow who had poured water on David through the monitors.

"Help me check who he is?" Jim turned to the soldier beside him.

All these Crows entering and leaving here every day had to register. On one hand, it was for management; on the other, if someone died and their body was unidentifiable, they could still know who it was. Cruel as it sounded, that was the reality. Crows were less dangerous than Hunters, mainly because they weren't as powerful as Hunters.

A significant portion of Hunters were Armored, and when fighting the Zerg, they could reduce casualties among ordinary Hunters. The larvae near the city walls were not easy to deal with either; their underground attacks were hard to defend against, and the Crows' mortality rate was also high.

"Found him. This is Viper Lofel. Here's his information," the soldier soon reported.

"David, wait a moment. I'll go ask my father for some men," Jim gestured to the group.

He then stepped aside, activating his identity wristband to contact Lieutenant Eaton.

"Jim likes to do things by the book. The military is complicated, and he can't afford to make mistakes," Daly explained quietly to David.

"I understand," David nodded. None of them had law enforcement authority; even if they found Viper Lofel, they had no way to deal with him—no evidence, and no means to force him to talk.

Five minutes later, Jim led the three onto a military transport hovercraft, where a squad of soldiers awaited them, along with two military police Armored in white exoskeletons.

David recognized them—they were the same military police Armored from the city wall that day.

"David, please hand me your jacket," one of the Armored police said in a deep voice.

David unslung his sword sheath, took off his jacket, and handed it over.

The Armored police produced a device and began scanning; soon, a set of data flashed on the screen.

"Gentlemen," the Armored police declared solemnly, "the incident in which Jim, Daly, Dequincy, David, and others were attacked by larvae has been determined to be a deliberate act. The case involves Sergeant Boris, reserve combatant David, and several individuals closely connected to the military. As such, this is now classified as a military case, to be handled by the military police. Please cooperate as needed."

"Of course," Jim replied on behalf of everyone, then added, "What is the liquid on David's clothes?"

Not only Jim, but everyone was curious. That substance was too powerful—a mere drop could drive all the larvae into a frenzy.

"That is the brain fluid of a Bewitching Brainworm," the Armored police revealed, glancing at David.

The Bewitching Brainworm was a level-two Zerg, and one of the most unique. Though it lacked strong physical attack abilities, its psychic assaults were terrifying, and it could ensnare the minds of the weak-willed, including humans.

On the battlefield, the threat posed by a single Bewitching Brainworm was unimaginable. Its psychic attacks were nearly undetectable, and its bewitching power could make comrades suddenly turn their weapons on each other.

The brain fluid of a Bewitching Brainworm was a high-grade material. Using it to attract larvae was one of its most wasteful applications—yet someone had used this precious substance to target a mere student like David.

Thinking of the man behind David, of his father Hans and his title of "National Hero," the military police Armored's expression grew tense.

He quickly typed his assessment into his wristband: "This is an insult to the title of 'National Hero,' a provocation to military authority. Especially after dealing with a group of mercenary Armored who died for this, this incident is even more egregious!"

"Level-two Zerg, Bewitching Brainworm!" Jim and Daly gasped in unison.

David had already guessed that this was the work of that organization. He hadn't expected that a single trip outside the city would give them an opportunity to set such a trap for him.

Clearly, they had underestimated his strength, which was why they failed.

"It's time to deal with Trainer Jeremy," David decided instantly.

Though he had unleashed his killing intent outside the city, wasn't that the process of turning the murderous intent gained from illusions into something real?

Thus, David was now more decisive than ever. Sensing danger, he chose to address it head-on.

Now, he was confident that as long as his opponent didn't use exoskeletal armor, he could face them in direct combat—this confidence born from having battled more than twenty larvae head-on.

"We've arrived," announced one of the military police Armored.

The rear hatch of the military transport opened instantly. The two Armored police led the way, followed by eight soldiers in heavy body armor, bulletproof helmets, and wielding T8 laser rifles.

Laser rifles were exclusively military issue—strictly controlled, and not very effective against the Zerg, so they never gained popularity. However, thanks to their speed and precision, they were widely used for internal affairs within the Federation.

The laser beam had a limited range for lethality, making accidental casualties rare in crowded areas. Using krypton crystals for power, there was virtually no need to worry about recharging.

Jim and Daly jumped down. For David and Myron, it was their first time experiencing such a scene—two Armored police leading a squad of soldiers on a mission was enough to set one's heart racing.

"Military operation! Everyone, remain where you are. Any suspicious movement will be considered resistance and the military is authorized to use lethal force on the spot!" boomed the loudspeaker from the Armored police's exoskeleton.

In the dense cluster of houses before them, there was a brief commotion, but then an uncanny silence fell.

Then, two white figures leaped across several buildings, punched a hole in one roof, and charged inside.

There was no struggle, no resistance—within five seconds, the two Armored police emerged, dragging an unconscious man.

"Why are you taking Lofel?" a voice shouted, as a rugged man in a tattered military uniform, brandishing a heavy machine gun, rushed out of a nearby house.

"Your actions violate the Military Management Accord. It has been recorded," the other Armored police intoned emotionlessly through his loudspeaker.

Just as David thought this was only a warning, all eight soldiers fired their T8 laser rifles in unison. Eight beams struck the man with the machine gun, and his body, along with the weapon, began to melt in places.

"Let's go back," Jim nudged David gently in reminder.

"Jim, don't they even get a trial?" David was still shocked by the scene. He'd heard of the military's ruthlessness, but never imagined it was so absolute.

He had studied this world, and its legal system was quite sound; citizens' rights increased with their rank, but the right to life was a basic right for all.

"David, Rock Planet is entirely within a war zone. Any resistance against the military, as long as there's clear evidence, will be met with the strongest response to maintain deterrence," Jim explained quietly.

David recalled how, after the Armored police gave their warning, the residents who had been about to stir instantly quieted down.

Perhaps only that man, close to Viper Lofel, would dare question their actions—only to lose his own life for it.

But considering this was a gathering place for Crows, some of whom were armed, the military's show of force was more than necessary.

"Jim, David, Myron, take a look—was this the man who bumped into David and poured the liquid on him?" The Armored police set the unconscious man before them for confirmation.

"That's him!" all three confirmed without hesitation.

"Then there's nothing more for you here. I'll inform you of the results," the Armored police said impassively, then ignored them and leapt back onto the military transport, departing.

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