Seventeen: Dawn of the Pioneer

Le Gang instructed me to select two people from the Rangers of Dawn for my squad. Lamia was certainly not an option. After a brief consideration, I smiled and said, “Le Gang.”

The room fell into an oppressive silence.

Bella chuckled, “You want to command Le Gang? He’s your superior, at least seven or eight ranks above you!”

Le Gang said, “I don’t mind going out, but there are still important tasks to handle within the Black Coffin.”

I said, “Michael—” Lamia swiftly covered my mouth and nose and said, “We’ll have the list ready before we depart.”

Bella laughed, “Make it quick, noon tomorrow is the final deadline.”

Lamia and I took our leave. In the elevator, she said, “Because you’re traveling in Yune, the journey is unlikely to be dangerous, but your choice of companions will influence Le Gang’s assessment of your abilities. You’re a lieutenant now—you need to show some leadership.”

I didn’t know if lieutenant was a high or low rank. I simply replied, “Among my many excellent qualities, leadership is the most outstanding.”

Lamia smiled, “I can’t tell if you’re blindly confident or just good with words. Still, choose carefully. You’re not familiar with the Valkyrie Regiment. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you to pick out some promising soldiers.”

I said, “I have a discerning eye for talent. Just one look and I can see a man’s abilities and strength. You needn’t worry about me, madam.”

Lamia replied, “Just don’t make a fool of yourself by picking someone higher-ranking than you.”

I asked, “How did you know? I was thinking of selecting Jiu Nan.”

Lamia burst out laughing. “Absolutely not.”

When we got home, Salvador and Betty were still awake. It had truly been a long day. Betty asked, “How was the exhibition? Did you meet any important figures?”

Lamia sighed, “All lofty nobles, far beyond our reach.”

Betty said, “If we could just catch the favor of one of them, we’d finally make it.”

I said, “From the looks of it, the nobles would only treat you like beasts of burden.”

Betty laughed, “I wouldn’t mind, but no one’s interested in me.”

As I changed clothes, I recounted our expedition to the museum. Salvador called out, “Brother-in-law! You must pick me!”

Lamia immediately objected, “Absolutely not!”

Salvador protested, “Why not? I’m also a lieutenant, same rank as him. I can take his orders.”

Lamia said, “It’s too dangerous outside. Last time, I almost lost you. Besides, you’re not as experienced as your brother-in-law.”

On reflection, bringing Salvador along was essential. He was gentle, though a bit reckless, but he was family—I could trust him and train him as my confidant. As my power grew, I would need a reliable deputy, and Salvador was the perfect candidate.

I smiled, “Lamia, my dear, don’t be so nervous. Letting him gain some experience is a good thing. I’ll watch over him—nothing will happen to him.”

Betty chimed in, “Yes, sister. It’s a great opportunity—he’ll make a name for himself, and there’s not much danger. Why let outsiders benefit? Or do you think Salvador isn’t up to the task?”

Lamia said, “Fishbone, you decide. But if you insist on taking him, you must guarantee he comes back alive!”

Betty exclaimed, “That’s an unpleasant thing to say—so unlucky!”

Lamia just looked at me. My heart softened, and I almost changed my mind, but Salvador pleaded, “Longji, trust me! I’ll do really well!”

I nodded. “It’s settled. Don’t worry, dear, we’ll be fine.”

Lamia said no more, and nothing else was discussed that night.

The next day, Salvador introduced me to a tall giant, nearly two meters high and heavily built. The regiment called him “Target”—the implication being that on the battlefield, he’d draw the enemy’s fire. He had undergone numerous modifications and was said to have drawn enemy fire during a demon attack, miraculously surviving. He was a bit slow-witted, a friend of Salvador’s, and currently held the rank of sergeant major.

Salvador guided me to collect our squad’s equipment. I let Target carry a large pack containing three magazines—eighteen sacred sword rounds in total—plenty of rifle ammunition, some rations, medical injectors, night-vision goggles, a short-handled shovel, a toolbox, oxygen masks, and daggers.

The two of them quickly gathered the supplies. Having never undergone basic training, I was at a complete loss.

Target asked, “Sammy, how come the officer’s even slower than me? And I’m supposed to be the slow one.”

I bristled and reprimanded him, “How dare you criticize your superior? That’s a breach of military regulations!”

Target was startled. “I wouldn’t dare, sir.”

Suddenly, someone behind us said, “Are you the Fishbone Squad?”

I turned to see a black man with dreadlocks walking toward me, followed by two other burly men. He shook my hand, “You can call me Sissus. I’m a lieutenant, but for this mission, we’re both squad leaders.”

He was rather courteous—perhaps useful to me in the future. I said, “Let’s assemble.”

Sissus glanced at my pack, his expression odd. “Lieutenant, you’ve never had march training, have you?”

Feigning nonchalance, I replied, “I don’t pay much attention to such details.”

As we walked toward the rendezvous point, Sissus said, “There are twelve of us this time. The other six are from the Maizong Laboratory. Miss Bella is our primary protection target; you’re second.”

I was surprised. “Why?”

Sissus said, “You don’t know? Apparently, only you can retrieve the target item from the museum.”

I answered loftily, “You needn’t protect me. Before you ever stepped out of the Black Coffin, I’d already trekked tens of thousands of kilometers across the wilds.”

Sissus smiled, “Everyone knows you’re Officer Lamia’s husband.”

I stared at him, wondering if he thought I’d risen by relying on a woman. Even if that was true, saying it to my face would have been disrespectful. Fortunately, he left it unsaid, merely flashing a faint smile.

We took the elevator to the lobby. Soon the Maizong Laboratory team arrived—Ferhael among them, and also Perst, who had caused trouble at my and Lamia’s wedding. Yet now, they showed no hostility. Ferhael even winked at me when no one was looking.

After all, they believed my mind had been wiped and that I was one of them. Since that was their fantasy, I saw no need to dispel it.

Bella arrived late, dressed in a Ranger uniform but looking more like a glamorous model in disguise. Her heavy makeup and striking beauty turned the uniform into a fashion statement, accentuating her allure. She strutted over, swaying her hips. “Why is everyone so indifferent? Don’t I look good?”

Sissus replied, “Ma’am, you look wonderful, but we need to depart.”

Bella yawned, “All of you are as dull as Le Gang.”

She led us into a small house in the plaza. Inside was a black coffin. She opened the lid, climbed in, and said, “You know the rule: do not open it before nightfall. Understood?”

I shuddered involuntarily, recalling the legends that bloodfolk feared sunlight. Like Michael, who lurked by day and prowled by night, Bella could not bear the touch of sunlight.

With a click, the coffin locked from within—only Bella could open it.

One member from each squad gripped the handles at the sides and lifted it. The coffin was sturdy and heavy—impossible to break easily—and none of us dared defy her orders.

Sissus ordered us to cover the black coffin with a cloth, so the townspeople wouldn’t see what we were carrying. We left the skyscraper, walking down the Rangers’ private avenue flanked by high black walls like the inside of a prison. Soon we left the special road, walked another kilometer, and reached the city outskirts.

The main gate was being expanded to allow Yune to one day enter the city for construction support. But the work was massive—it would require demolishing many buildings near the wall.

For now, they’d built a giant temporary hangar for Yune outside the city. Yune’s only weakness was that greasy storms could obscure its vision; this hangar would keep it clean for now.

A withered old soldier stood before Yune. Seeing us, he smiled and said, “I’m Warden, Yune’s driver. Your journey is in my hands.”

He reminded me of Old Wei, polite and courteous, shaking hands with each of us. When he reached Salvador and me, he said, “I heard you two recovered Yune?”

I nodded. He sighed, “A marvelous machine—such a pity about Old Wei.”

Salvador and I exchanged glances. I said, “Yes, it’s a shame. He was a good man.”

Warden had us climb the ladder onto the transport. “Yune’s maiden voyage begins!” His voice rang out through Yune’s broadcast system, echoed by a cheer from inside the city walls. Fireworks flared inside the Black Coffin, their light drowned by the sun, but perhaps this was truly the dawn when humanity challenged the apocalypse.

They had even refitted the cargo hold with a lounge. My squad and Sissus’s were tasked with guarding Bella’s coffin. I’d long ceased to fear death, yet the presence of a black coffin among us still felt uncanny.

The vehicle jolted over the wilderness, at times smashing through ruins that blocked our path. We could faintly hear the howls of demons as dusk fell and night descended. Usually, demons avoided Yune to escape being crushed, but if a horde attacked, I truly didn’t know how we’d cope.

I thought of all the days I’d spent trekking alone through the wilds, yet now I was a pioneer soldier—it all seemed like another lifetime.

Salvador asked, “Brother-in-law, will it go smoothly?”

I replied, “Of course, silly boy. I refuse to believe every expedition will be so fraught.”

Target asked, “Sir, do you think this mission could get us promoted?”

I hoped so, but had no answer. Sissus said, “This expedition is more about honor—the symbolism outweighs practical benefit. If we bring back plenty of supplies, the Governor will be more confident in deploying Yune.”

I said, “One Yune won’t be enough. I’ve heard that in the north, demons swarm like the sea.”