Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

Following the male Academician's lead, the two arrived at the testing site.

Time was tight, and the task was heavy.

Because nearly ten thousand soldiers in the military camp had to be tested within a short period, and those who met the requirements needed to be injected.

The Scientific Research Institute, upon receiving the order to fully cooperate from their superiors, could be said to have emptied its coffers, moving all available devices capable of testing whether the body data met the standards to the military camp's site.

More than a dozen machines started working together, with soldiers lining up and completing a comprehensive body check one batch after another.

However, when Bai E and the male Academician arrived, the site seemed a bit quiet.

"What's the specific situation?" the male Academician glanced at the somewhat quiet site and then asked his assistant student, "Why has everything stopped?"

"It's like this, teacher, we have already tested about three hundred people, but based on the current testing ratio, nearly 10% of the body data meets the injection requirements. This is a ratio that is very difficult to achieve normally." The assistant student glanced at Bai E following behind the Academician, and cautiously reminded, "And according to the list of personnel they provided, the final number needed will likely exceed a thousand... Could that be a bit...?"

"I understand," the Academician interrupted his student, striding toward the machines that had momentarily stopped, "Let me see what the issue is."

However, after several checks and additional testing manpower, the machines did not show any signs of problems.

That is to say...

"Everything is normal?"

The Academician looked at Bai E, then his thoughts turned to Helen, who was entrusted with the task because he did not know where she had gone.

Because of their familiar relations within the institute, he had heard of the topics Helen had previously researched.

Among them was a plan named "Advanced Physical Training 3.0," which was said to be far more powerful than the earlier promoted 2.0 plan.

Perhaps it was that plan that had greatly improved the average physical fitness of the soldiers in this batch.

And in fact, regardless of the reason, he needed to comply with orders.

The requirement from his superiors was to fully support all the demands of the military camp.

All he had to do was to strictly speak according to the data, and no one could find the slightest fault with him.

As for the "slightly" higher numbers...

Full cooperation looked like this.

"There is no issue with the machines; proceed according to standards."

"Yes, teacher!"

...

Two days later, the last batch of artificially created soldiers came into being.

Three days afterward, all of the basic training for the last batch of artificially created soldiers was also completed.

At dawn, the fluttering flags led the way.

Many of the higher-ups from Blackwater City who accompanied the troops looked at the Eagle Flag with strange expressions in their eyes.

Since when did their military camp of Blackwater City carry such things when they went on a campaign?

These were only seen in the days of the Empire, among the battle groups that held the glory of the Empire as their life, which would use this as their flag.

What did it mean to display this flag now?

Could it be that someone among the higher-ups, who knew about their plan to ally with the Imperial Capital, had informed the military camp to give a sign to the messenger?

Sitting in the armored vehicle at the rear, the various higher-ups exchanged glances, but no one spoke up.

The messenger was on the side; they couldn't conspire in his presence.

Clearly, seeing the banner of the Blackwater City military leading at the front, a few members of the messenger squad looked at each other, satisfaction flickering in their eyes.

This kind of display was without a doubt a form of sincerity.

In situations where other squads were not being very cooperative, it was rare for Blackwater City, with whom they were in contact, to show such sincerity.

But since there was such sincerity, why delay them until now?

Although the man who proposed this mission did not demand a specific timeframe for each squad to complete their tasks before they set out, who would want to linger in a place far from their hometown if it wasn't necessary?

After exchanging glances, a gentle-voiced woman from the messenger squad asked, "Excuse me, my Lords, may we know where we are preparing to go now?"

These high-ranking officials from Blackwater City clearly didn't want them to know too much about the local internal affairs; even the so-called guides only took them on meaningless strolls around the city.

As a result, during the days they had been here, they had hardly received any useful information, nor had they received any feedback on their intentions.

But today's mobilization of the army must be intended to convey some message to them.

"To the Black Rock District Hive," replied the Blackwater City diplomat with a smile, opening the electronic map inside the car, and highlighting their destination on it.

"The Hive?!" echoed through the messenger squad with some surprise.

The messenger woman covered her mouth, asking in astonishment, "What are you going there for?"

Each squad had its own fixed mission objectives.

Naturally, every member of the messenger squad memorized all the details about the target city and its surroundings before setting out.

Of course, much of that intelligence was outdated and vague.

But a fixed disaster like the Hive wouldn't change too much even over decades, if not a hundred years.

The Hive, that was a terrifying enemy!

Inside it dwelled the "Dominators," giant insects that even the Imperial Capital found troublesome.

Even with the strength of the Imperial Capital, up to now, they had only managed to clear two Hives closest to the Capital.

And it cost them dearly.

According to the intelligence, the Blackrock District Hive near Blackwater City seemed to be no smaller than those two Hives destroyed by the Imperial Capital.

With an adversary of that magnitude, why would Blackwater City provoke them for no reason?

"The envoys are not aware..." explained the Blackwater City diplomat with a smile on his face, "The reason we left this Hive intact previously was to observe their habits and racial characteristics, in the hopes of developing effective ways to strike against their racial traits. Recently, we have obtained comprehensive information about the Bug Race, so there's no need to leave this harmful Bug Race Hive any longer. Coincidentally, it happens to be at the same time the envoys are visiting Blackwater City. We were making final preparations for the campaign a few days ago, and now that we're ready, we invite you to witness the complete destruction of this Hive."

"..."

The words of the smiling Blackwater City diplomat undeniably sent shock waves through the hearts of every member of the messenger squad.

Say keep, and you keep; say annihilate, and you annihilate.

Even the Imperial Capital wouldn't dare to assert such confidence with every Hive; how could this small Blackwater City pronounce such bold words?

Was it an exaggeration, or did they truly possess such strength?

Instinctively, they were reluctant to believe that these peripheral small cities could have power comparable to the Imperial Capital.

Yet the other party took them directly to the scene...

Did they intend to flex their muscles to gain a more important position in the upcoming alliance?

This was a reaction they had anticipated before they set out.

But to choose the Hive as an opponent to display their power...wasn't that a bit overconfident?

The five of them exchanged glances, reaching consensus with their eyes—

Seeing is believing, hearing is uncertain.

The real cannot be faked, and the fake cannot be real.

Since the high-ranking officials of Blackwater City had brought them to the front line, they would watch closely how they managed to win this battle.

Even if Blackwater City lacked the ability to manipulate the Bug Race as they claimed, and could only eradicate the Hive after incurring heavy losses, it would still be worth their respect and an important report to return to the Lord of the Imperial Capital.

In this day and age, there weren't many cities that could independently battle a Hive!

They had already braced themselves for the lowest expectation—

No matter how dire the fight, even if only the last soldier remained, as long as the Eagle Banner could finally be planted atop the Hive, that would count as... Blackwater City's victory!