“Commander, you’re awake?!”
An eagle-eyed soldier spotted Lin Mo and immediately stood up from his chair to shout.
Hearing this, the other soldiers turned their heads to look at Lin Mo as he emerged from the shadows.
Every face was filled with surprise and confusion.
‘Commander? It seems the Death Realm has arranged a reasonable identity for me…’
Lin Mo stopped in his tracks and raised a hand to rub his temples, feigning weakness.
“Ugh… what’s the current combat situation?”
The soldier who had stood up first saw his expression darken slightly.
“Commander, the Line 01 and Line 02 defenses have completely fallen. Two of the forward outposts for Line 03 have also been taken. We just received word that Sentry Post Three is likely…”
“What about the others?”
Lin Mo nodded slightly and asked about the rest of the unit.
“Are these the only people left in our company?”
As soon as he said this, the soldiers in the lounge lowered their heads, their expressions filled with grief.
The soldier who had stood up first remained silent for a moment before slowly looking up.
His eyes were rimmed with red, and his voice trembled.
“Commander, not a single man in our company is a coward! After you collapsed from overdrawing your Oracle, the instructor led us to hold the line. We fought from Line 01 all the way back to Line 02.”
“Our company didn’t pull back until yesterday afternoon… The instructor, the first platoon leader, the second, and the third have all fallen. Aside from us few with light injuries, there are ten more brothers lying in the hospital with heavy wounds. Commander, when will this war ever end?!”
“The… the instructor…” Tears rolled down the soldier’s cheeks.
He suppressed a sob and whispered, “We couldn’t even bring back his body.”
Hearing this, Lin Mo felt a heavy tightness in his chest.
Although he knew clearly that he was currently inside the Death Realm and that these soldiers and the sacrifices happening outside weren’t “real,” these people and events had once existed in history.
Every drop of blood they spilled on this land and every tear they shed should not be buried by the dust of time.
Lin Mo took a deep breath and remained silent, quietly processing the complex emotions surging within him while quickly summarizing the key information revealed by the soldier’s words.
First, the soldier mentioned that the company had only retreated “yesterday afternoon.”
This meant this brutal blocking action had lasted for at least one full day, if not longer.
Second, he mentioned the three defense lines — Line 01, Line 02, and Line 03 — as well as the outposts on Line 03 that were currently lost or in danger.
This indicated that the commander of the 103rd Division, Major General Su Xiji, was not incompetent.
He was seriously arranging his forces and attempting to establish an effective defense in depth; he truly wanted to win this battle.
This seemed to be a massive discrepancy compared to the scattered rumors in the headquarters database, which suggested Su Xiji might have “defected before the battle,” leading to the missing records.
At least from the perspective of the rank-and-file soldiers he had encountered so far, this division commander was still organizing resistance.
The truth of those rumors remained to be verified.
Thinking of this, Lin Mo sighed softly, suppressed his chaotic thoughts for the moment, and asked in a heavy voice, “What is the specific situation now? Are there any new arrangements from above? What is… our company’s next mission?”
Hearing this, the soldier wiped the tears from his eyes and tried to make his voice sound steadier.
“Commander… the third platoon leader died while covering our retreat. Currently, the leader of the second squad from the first platoon has taken temporary command. When news about Sentry Post Three came in just now, the higher-ups urgently summoned the company commanders for a meeting. Squad Leader Two… hasn’t returned yet.”
Just as he finished speaking, a series of rapid and heavy footsteps echoed from outside the lounge.
Everyone looked toward the sound to see a man covered in soot and grime, his uniform torn in multiple places, walking in hurriedly.
It was the second squad leader of the first platoon, who was currently in charge.
He scanned the room, and his gaze immediately locked onto the awakened Lin Mo.
He froze for a second before a complex expression flashed across his face — a mixture of relief and even deeper worry.
“Commander! You’re awake!” Squad Leader Two’s voice was incredibly raspy.
He walked quickly to Lin Mo, and without even stopping to salute, he lowered his voice and spoke urgently.
“The situation is bad! Sentry Post Three on Line 03 is confirmed to have lost contact. It’s likely been…”
He didn’t finish the sentence. However, everyone present knew exactly what he meant.
Their comrades at Sentry Post Three had likely been killed.
He took a breath, his eyes carrying a trace of disbelief and lingering fear.
“Division Staff issued an order. They want our regiment to form a vanguard team to investigate the situation at Sentry Post Three. The second and third battalions are both at the front. Currently, only our first battalion is still mobile. Even though we just pulled back from the front yesterday and every company is basically crippled, the battalion commander said… we have to squeeze out a team somehow.”
Squad Leader Two stared intently at Lin Mo and revealed even more shocking information.
“Furthermore, from the way the battalion commander was talking, the reason we fell into such a disadvantage in this battle is that the higher-ups might have been infiltrated!”
He paused, his voice dropping even lower.
“Right now, Division Staff has completely lost contact with the frontline command post. The staff officers don’t even know what’s happening with the division commander and the political commissar.”
Lin Mo’s pupils contracted suddenly.
‘The higher-ups were infiltrated?’
‘Division Staff lost contact with the frontline command, and the status of the commander and commissar is unknown?’
Setting aside how disastrous it was for a division-level unit to lose contact with its command post during combat, just look at how much trouble the communication interference had caused in the Binhai rescue operation.
If the top commander were confirmed dead, it would be fine; the next-in-line officer could take over command according to wartime emergency protocols.
The danger lay in the loss of contact and the unknown situation.
The battlefield changed in the blink of an eye.
From making a decision to issuing an order, a delay of even a few minutes could lead to a completely different outcome.
For the soldiers, such consequences were catastrophic!
Beep — !
While Lin Mo was thinking, the indicator light on Squad Leader Two’s radio suddenly lit up.
After a sharp prompt, a raspy male voice came from the other side.
“Is Luo Yong of Third Company there? Reply immediately upon receipt!”
Squad Leader Two, Luo Yong, immediately unclipped the radio, held the talk button, and responded, “Luo Yong of Third Company receiving. Please advise, over.”
“Your unit is to immediately inventory personnel and equipment,” the male voice on the radio arranged the moment he received the reply.
“Assemble outside the barracks in 10 minutes. You will be reorganized on the spot with First Company to perform a reconnaissance mission, over!”
Hearing this, the expressions of the soldiers in the lounge changed.
At this critical juncture, being reorganized for a reconnaissance mission almost certainly meant going to Sentry Post Three to investigate.
But Sentry Post Three…
In an instant, everyone’s eyes were fixed on the first platoon’s second squad leader, Luo Yong.
Luo Yong’s face darkened.
After a moment of hesitation, he held the radio and slowly reported, “Report, our company commander has awakened. Should the command authority currently…?”
The radio was silent for dozens of seconds.
While waiting for the battalion headquarters to respond, the air in the lounge seemed to freeze.
The soldiers exchanged glances, their faces showing varying degrees of subtle resistance and anxiety.
Recce Sentry Post Three?
That place had just been washed in blood by an unknown, powerful enemy.
Going there now was no different from walking into a dragon’s den.
Beep — !
The radio indicator light lit up again, breaking the suffocating silence.
The previously raspy male voice finally made a decision, his tone carrying an unquestionable firmness.
“Your company’s combat mission remains unchanged. Inventory personnel and equipment and assemble outside the barracks in 10 minutes. Furthermore, for this reconnaissance mission… command will be transferred to your Third Company Commander, Zhu Yanqing. Over.”
The order echoed clearly in the silent lounge.
‘Zhu Yanqing…’
A flicker of understanding passed through Lin Mo’s eyes.
After being awake for so long, he finally understood the identity the Death Realm had given him.
Zhu Yanqing, male, age unknown, likely holding the rank of Captain.
Serving as the company commander of the Third Company, First Battalion, of a certain regiment in the 103rd Division.
He had been transferred to the rear after falling into a coma due to overdrawing his Oracle.
This identity was neither too high nor too low.
If he wanted to directly investigate whether Su Xiji had defected or the core secrets behind the battle’s failure, he might lack the authority.
However, it was perfect for understanding the true state of the front lines, soldier morale, and unit casualties.
His thoughts cleared instantly.
He had to make good use of this identity and blend in to uncover the mists of history from the inside.
Thinking of this, Lin Mo’s expression turned solemn.
His gaze swept over the soldiers with their varying expressions, and he spoke in a deep voice, his words carrying an unquestionable power.
“Did you all hear that? The order is clear. Since they called for the soldiers of Third Company, then we must complete the mission!”
He paused, his voice rising a few notches, carrying a sense of resonant conviction.
“If even we, the soldiers, are afraid and retreat… then what about our parents, wives, and children behind us? Who will protect them?!”
These words were like a stone thrown into a still lake, causing the soldiers’ expressions to shift.
That trace of hesitation and resistance was slightly suppressed by a sense of responsibility and duty.
Lin Mo immediately straightened his body like an unsheathed sword.
He raised his volume and barked:
“Everyone, hear my order — !”
As soon as he finished, the remaining eight soldiers in the lounge, including Luo Yong, reflexively snapped into formation.
Although fatigue and worry remained on their faces, their military instincts made them stand perfectly straight with serious expressions, their focus returning to Lin Mo.
Lin Mo’s sharp gaze swept over every young face as he continued to issue commands:
“Check your weapons and equipment! Make sure everything is flawless! In five minutes, I want to see the same howling Third Company I knew before I collapsed! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!”
“UNDERSTOOD!”
The soldiers replied in unison.
Their voices were fairly synchronized, but they lacked a certain edge.
Lin Mo took a half-step forward and tilted his head slightly as if listening.
He frowned, his tone filled with strong dissatisfaction.
“Did you all forget to eat?! Give me more volume! Let the people outside hear that the bones of the Third Company haven’t gone soft yet!”
“UN-DER-STOOD — !”
This time, everyone practically roared at the top of their lungs.
The sound waves made the lounge vibrate, as if they were shouting out all their previous fear and hesitation.
A tragic and determined aura began to coalesce.
Only then did Lin Mo nod in satisfaction and utter two words: “Dismissed!”
With the order given, the soldiers immediately became like gears wound tight. they scattered and rushed back to their dorms to begin intensely prepping their gear.
The lounge was instantly filled with the clinking of metal and the rustle of equipment being organized, as a heavy air of killing intent permeated the room.
Lin Mo rubbed his still-throbbing temples and turned back to the room where he had first woken up.
He remembered there was a wardrobe in the room; this body’s — Zhu Yanqing’s — clothes and equipment should be inside.
Back in the room, Lin Mo closed the door behind him, sealing out the noise from outside.
He then walked quickly to the old wardrobe and pulled the door open.
Sure enough, a neatly folded standard service uniform and a set of black-and-gray camouflage combat fatigues were hanging inside.
In the corner sat a black metal equipment box, the handle heavily worn from frequent use.
Time was short.
Lin Mo quickly took down the camouflage fatigues and began changing with practiced efficiency.
284 years ago, the Huafu Army was issued the New Type 35 combat uniform.
Since the 103rd Division was stationed along the southeastern coast, the autumn/winter combat fatigues they were issued were not the desert camo common inland, but a black-and-gray camo better suited to the region’s characteristics.
After changing into the combat uniform, Lin Mo bent over to drag out the heavy weapon case and flipped the latches.
The equipment inside came into view: a standard New 31B pistol issued to officers, a triangular military bayonet with blood grooves, and a compact submachine gun with obvious modular design features — the HC570-A.
This was one of the first mass-produced automatic weapons issued to the military after the success of the Industrial Recovery Plan.
From Lin Mo’s perspective as someone from the future, this equipment seemed a bit crude, but for an era nearly 300 years ago, it was considered quite a fine configuration.
Besides, Zhu Yanqing was an Oraclist, so his reliance on firearms was relatively low.
Lin Mo skillfully slotted the pistol into the quick-draw holster at his hip, secured the bayonet into the sheath on his outer thigh, and finally hung the HC570-A submachine gun across his chest.
With his gear organized, he took a deep breath, feeling the restriction of the combat suit and the weight of the weapons.
He hesitated no longer and walked quickly out of the room, rejoining the tense atmosphere of combat preparation outside.
Meanwhile, outside the Death Realm, in the Binhai Swordwielder Branch meeting room.
“I absolutely do not agree!”
Blacksmith slammed his hand on the table and stood up, staring directly into Gu Qiancheng’s eyes without yielding an inch.
Under his palm, the solid wood table immediately showed a hand-shaped indentation, and the cups on the table wobbled.
“This is a notification, not a consultation,” Gu Qiancheng looked back at Blacksmith and said coldly.
“No one has ever handled a Death Realm of this scale. Wait for headquarters’ orders? Heh, if we wait any longer, who can guarantee the lives and safety of the personnel who have already entered the Death Realm?”
“Branch Director Lin Mo, Provincial Branch Action Team Leader Gao Yuan, Branch Security Deputy Chief Du Qiang…”
“Who knows what their situation is inside the Death Realm?”
“And who is going to guarantee their safety? You?!”
Hearing this, Blacksmith took a deep breath and said with a serious face, “I can’t guarantee it, but the risk of trying to force entry into the Death Realm is too high. It’s absolutely out of the question.”
“I didn’t say I was asking you to go!” Gu Qiancheng stood up abruptly.
Even though he had to look up at Blacksmith, who was over two meters tall, his presence didn’t falter in the slightest.
“It was my suggestion, and I can carry it out myself. Do you have anything else to say?”
This statement immediately provoked Blacksmith.
He leaned his hands on the conference table, his gaze toward Gu Qiancheng turning a few degrees colder.
“Gu Qiancheng, do you think you’re the only one worried? Do you think you’re the only one with guts and everyone else is a coward?!”
“I never said that,” Gu Qiancheng replied dismissively, crossing his arms.
Blacksmith snorted coldly and lowered his voice, speaking through gritted teeth.
“Gu Qiancheng, even if I don’t like your way of doing things… we are comrades.”
He slowly clenched his fists, his shoulders trembling slightly from the force.
“I can’t just stand by and watch you go to your death!”
“The SGR concentration at the edge of the Death Realm is already pushing 4,000. The repulsion against Oraclists is getting more and more intense. You’re a damn Space-type; how is trying to break through any different from suicide?”
Gu Qiancheng’s expression softened slightly upon hearing this.
He lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.
After a while, a sigh echoed from the corner of the meeting room.
“Sigh…”
“Stop arguing. I’ll go.”
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone in the meeting turned toward the source of the voice.
Hua Yao, who was sitting next to Blacksmith, turned her head to look at Chu You, who had already stood up.
An unreadable emotion flashed through her eyes.
Chu You looked at Gu Qiancheng and then at Blacksmith across from him before slowly speaking.
“The Death Realm is repelling the entry of Oraclists. Although the specific reason is unknown, there is a definite link to the abnormal rise in SGR concentration.”
At this point, she took a deep breath and continued.
“…I should be able to avoid the repulsion from the Death Realm.”
“To put it another way — SGR concentration should be ineffective against me. Or rather, the impact is very small.”
“Right now, this is the most appropriate arrangement. What do you two think?”