Zhou Tianming stood frozen in place.
That was clearly a trap—the enemy didn't want prisoners but complete annihilation.
Anyone with an IQ over 60 could think of the simplest murder method—planting explosives beneath Li Chi's body.
Rescuing anyone? Recovering the body? These were impossible tasks. It would just be joining them in death.
"I..."
Tianming opened his mouth, wanting to say he'd go too, but hesitated, his small fists clenching tightly.
Just then, Wei Jun turned back.
Heart leaping, Tianming was about to speak when Wei Jun tossed his phone over.
Fumbling to catch it, Tianming looked bewildered.
"Almost forgot—give this money to my family and the families of my brothers. Your grandfather can track them down. Don't let the banks take it."
Wei Jun smiled, the expression visible even through his bandages: "I'm about to have a grandson. This is his milk money."
Tianming's nose stung, his eyes turning red.
Seeing this, Wei Jun laughed heartily: "I've been through everything in this life. This is nothing. I'm off."
With that, he turned and strode away with firm steps.
A surge of emotion overwhelmed Tianming, who hurried after him: "I'll go with—"
"Shut up!"
Wei Jun's roar cut him off: "I may no longer see you as a child, but don't overestimate yourself. You're just a civilian. This is war—none of your business! Stay somewhere safe and wait for it to end."
His tone softened slightly: "In 10... no, 20 years, if you forget, then forget. Live well as a civilian. If you still remember us friends, enlist—then avenge us."
"We East Asian soldiers never let civilians die before us. Take care."
An unmanned car stopped by the roadside in the distance.
Wei Jun rushed over, vaulted inside, and the vehicle sped away at tremendous speed.
Tianming watched the departing car, raising the phone in his hand. His thumb hovered over the conspicuous red cancel button on the unmanned car app.
Finally, tears falling, he exited the app.
But moments later, he wiped his eyes, determination shining in his deep brown pupils.
"Don't underestimate me! I'm a transmigrator."
Mental Command [Friendship] activated—Mindpower 96+74=170
Turning around, Tianming ran to where the spilled wild boar meat lay on the ground. Not caring about cleanliness, he grabbed handfuls and stuffed them into his mouth.
He needed nutrition to fuel his superhuman brain.
As he ate, he activated Mental Command [Analyze 1]. A flood of information streamed through his mind—countless deductions, processes, and outcomes unfolding before him.
When Zhou Tianming felt he couldn't eat anymore, he stopped. With the help of [Analyze], after extensive simulations and deductions, he finally found a way out.
The biggest problem causing Wei Jun's death was the bomb that would inevitably appear beneath the hostage's feet. What Zhou Tianming needed to do was neutralize it and create a path to survival for Wei Jun.
Rushing back to the secret base, he stared solemnly at the cloth-covered mounds before him. "I hope there's something useful inside."
He lifted the covers one by one.
Parts, miscellaneous items, food, tools, blueprints, books...
The first few piles contained useful things, but not quite what he needed. The seventh pile was smaller than the others, and Zhou Tianming initially didn't hold much hope. But when he lifted the cover, his face lit up with joy.
Batteries, capacitors, induction coils...
After carefully identifying and counting them, he confirmed there were enough. Then, Zhou Tianming used his phone to look up weapon schematics.
He found he couldn't access the external network, but the Junk Dealers of the Junk Guild specialized in dismantling, modifying, and repairing. From the Junk Guild's internal network, he managed to find the information he needed—the structure of commonly used explosives that had appeared on the Junk Guild.
"Uncle Wei, I'm ready. Now it's up to you."
He then began processing and assembling the materials.
...
Inside a building on the Junk Guild, in a large monitoring room.
Gregg sat in the central seat, surrounded by numerous personnel operating drones to monitor the city.
The door opened, and a short-haired woman approached Gregg, whispering, "Boss, the Junk Dealers from the Junk Guild management office sent a message. The main union is asking why communications have been cut off."
Gregg wore an indifferent expression. "Tell them the communication base station was accidentally damaged and is under emergency repair. Video communication will be unavailable for some time, and only one-way audio will work. Have the management office come up with a good story. If there's any slip-up, I won't mind replacing them."
"Understood."
As the woman turned to leave, Gregg added, "Tell the Hyenas to get ready. Let them know the Atlantic Federation's money isn't so easy to take."
The woman nodded and quickly left.
At that moment, a drone operator shouted, "We've spotted someone resembling Wei Jun. He's riding an unmanned car toward the square."
Gregg's eyes gleamed as he leaned forward. "Send the Hyenas in first. Have the soldiers stand by."
"Sir, the Hyenas are demanding a higher price. They say they won't move until the money is in their accounts."
A disdainful smile crossed Gregg's face as he waved his hand. "Give it to them. This isn't the time to haggle. Once this is over, I'll make sure they regret trying to squeeze me."
One person asked in confusion, "Sir, is it really necessary to waste money on the Hyenas? Why not just lure him into the trap directly?"
Gregg smirked. "No rush. I want to see if Wei Jun has anyone else with him. Anyone who can help him at this point is likely in the know. I can't afford to leave even the slightest flaw for Mr. Mokelberg. There's also that kid who's supposedly dead—I need to be prepared for both possibilities."
"Brilliant as always, sir."
Hearing this, Gregg couldn't suppress the smug grin spreading across his face.
...
On the road, an unmanned car carried a tall figure wrapped in bandages, speeding forward.
Then, two open-top jeeps emerged from side streets, merging with the unmanned car.
The jeep sandwiched the unmanned car between them. A man in his forties in the left vehicle raised a black submachine gun, aiming it at Wei Jun.
"Sorry, old friend. Once I get the money, I'll burn plenty of joss paper for you, just like your East Asian customs."
With those words, he pulled the trigger.
The muzzle spat fire, and bullets instantly pierced the towering figure wrapped in bandages, producing the sound of metal clashing.
The bandages tore apart, revealing a haphazard pile of scrap metal and junk beneath, crudely assembled into a human shape.
"What the—?" The man gasped in shock.
At that moment, the roar of an engine erupted. A massive, heavily built off-road vehicle with enormous tires turned in from another road, accelerating rapidly toward them.
In a matter of breaths, the two vehicles were nearly side by side.
With a deafening crash, the rear of the man's jeep was rammed. He lurched forward uncontrollably, his submachine gun slipping from his grasp and getting crushed under the off-roader's tires.
The jeep's driver slammed on the brakes, trying to suppress the pursuing off-roader, but the latter also braked hard, causing both vehicles to skid backward. Then, the off-roader swerved to the side and surged forward.
As the two vehicles passed each other, a submachine gun emerged from the off-roader's window.
The next instant, gunfire erupted—bullets tore into the jeep's cabin, riddling the man and the driver with holes as blood sprayed. The vehicle immediately spun out of control and crashed to the side.
The other jeep, witnessing the sudden turn of events, extended a gun from the backseat and opened fire on the massive off-roader.
But the bullets merely ricocheted off the off-roader's windshield. Inside, Wei Jun—his face scarred by burns—flashed them a mocking grin.
His large hand retrieved a round grenade from below, yanked the pin out with his teeth, and held it ready.
The men in the jeep frantically swerved to avoid it.
With one hand gripping the grenade, Wei Jun steered with the other, veering the off-roader's front end toward the jeep.
The jeep's driver stomped on the brakes, screeching to a near-halt and narrowly avoiding the collision.
But in the next second, Wei Jun thrust his grenade-holding hand out the window and lobbed it backward. The grenade arced through the air, landing inside the jeep.
His foot slammed the accelerator, and the off-roader's engine roared like a beast as it sped away, putting distance between them.
Then—BOOM!
The jeep behind erupted into a fireball, launching into the air as its occupants were reduced to scattered flames.
Wei Jun stuck his head out the window, grinning at the Drone in the sky.
And flipped it the bird!