Chapter 131: The Empire's Fortress!

Jingmen Safe Zone, Northern Suburb Transport Center.

Following the successful establishment of various safe zones, the creation of a large-scale transport center became an inevitable necessity for maintaining contact with the outside world.

In Jingmen, the transport center was built around the former railway station. By reconfiguring several railway lines and highways radiating outward, a core logistics hub was established, which has played a vital role over the past thirty years.

At this moment, on a large platform surrounding the transport center, Zhan Yu and Qi Lei were already waiting. Even Li Rongsheng and Qin Zhishu, the current president of Jingbei Industrial, had arrived ahead of schedule.

They were not gathered in the passenger waiting area of the station, but rather in a secluded, flat expanse—a specialized area of the Northern Suburb Transport Center that was rarely used. It was reserved exclusively for high-profile arrivals.

There was only one reason for this: it served as a temporary landing strip, not for passenger planes, but specifically as a runway for fighter jets.

Due to the varying threat levels of monsters across different regions following the Great Mutation, the skies remained teeming with hostile creatures that would spontaneously attack humans. As a result, aircraft had largely been relegated to history.

However, this could not suppress humanity’s yearning for flight. After extensive research and the development of specialized materials, the "Beidou" fighter jet was officially deployed. Utilizing advanced composite materials, it could maintain a stable cruising speed of Mach 3.

Naturally, such transport was not accessible to everyone; it is currently known that fewer than twenty such aircraft remain in all of China.

"Captain Song just sent a message. He will arrive in about ten minutes," said Xiao Ge from the Bureau of Statistics and Investigation (BSI), updating everyone present. The news caused a subtle shift in the expressions of those gathered.

While many personnel from the BSI had visited recently, they were mostly researchers or support staff. Combat personnel like Xiao Ge were rare, and their visits were usually limited to investigations regarding secret realms.

This time, however, the gravity of the visitor was immense. It had been confirmed that Song Yangcheng, one of the BSI’s permanent captains, was arriving.

The name Song Yangcheng might be unfamiliar to the general public, but his moniker, "The Imperial Bastion," was legendary among the top explorers in China and across the globe.

His class was the rare "Shield Guard." He was stationed along the Shanghai coastline, single-handedly ensuring the safety of the entire eastern seaboard.

In the current world, while core areas on various continents had been largely reclaimed, the oceans remained inaccessible to humanity, with sea-dwelling beasts occasionally launching raids on coastal regions.

Thus, the existence of the Imperial Bastion was of paramount significance. His most famous battle involved leading his team to hold off a million-strong beast tide, steadfastly defending Shanghai for over ten days without yielding an inch.

Shanghai’s location was arguably the most critical defensive front in the central coastal region, representing a hub of civilization from the old world. Guarding it was of monumental importance to the entirety of China.

Furthermore, Song Yangcheng held the third rank on China’s power leaderboard, with a level of 81. While level does not equate solely to strength, the sheer magnitude of his experience was enough to inspire awe. At his level, his prowess was beyond question.

Song Yangcheng was among the first generation of elite explorers to participate in the construction of the BSI and was one of its three permanent captains.

His objective for this visit was not the recent secret realm. According to Xiao Ge, he had come primarily for the "Black Mage." He intended to conduct a series of evaluations, with the high probability of inviting the Black Mage to join the BSI.

Song Yangcheng’s arrival was abrupt and spontaneous; even Xiao Ge had only received notification that afternoon. Nevertheless, out of respect for such a high-ranking figure, Qi Lei had personally led the welcoming party. Regardless of official standing or past connections, such an individual demanded a formal reception.

Soon, a streak appeared in the sky, rapidly approaching before circling to decelerate and touching down on the runway. It was a pitch-black fighter jet that radiated a sense of dread even from afar. As it landed, a blue light shimmered around it, forming a protective energy barrier.

Three people disembarked from the aircraft. Leading them was a tall man clad in custom-made armor, followed by a pilot and a woman in a specialized uniform.

"Brother Song," Zhan Yu greeted first as they approached. He had spent time with Song Yangcheng while searching for a cure for Qi Lei’s condition.

Song Yangcheng, a middle-aged man with a resonant voice, smiled at Zhan Yu.

Qi Lei and Xiao Ge stepped forward to offer their greetings. Although Qi Lei had never met Song Yangcheng, some of the medicine Zhan Yu had previously brought back had been provided through this man’s influence. Xiao Ge, being a direct subordinate of Song Yangcheng, stood slightly closer to him, finding a sense of belonging.

After leaving the jet, Song Yangcheng boarded the vehicle prepared by Qi Lei and headed toward the Jingmen Safe Zone.

Along the way, Song Yangcheng did not immediately bring up the Black Mage, instead asking about the situation in the Jingmen Safe Zone.

The recent incident had caused quite a stir, and the Moon-Goddess dimensional gate remained under strict control. The BSI would soon dispatch personnel to be stationed there permanently to investigate the civilization of this other world.

Only when the conversation had settled did Song Yangcheng finally broach the main topic: "Why don't you share your impressions and thoughts on the Black Mage? Actually, I have another mission for this trip: to meet this Black Mage."

"As far as I know, the Black Mage only appeared within the last two months. The current situation outside is quite unstable; signs of civilizations other than humanity have been discovered in many areas. The information currently in the system regarding the Black Mage seems somewhat inaccurate, so I have come to see for myself."