Chapter 412: Obtaining the [Veteran] Identity Template: The Dawn Consortium's True Purpose |
Bang—
"Not a single enemy left alive?"
Robur's eyes practically shot flames.
Frustration, it was just too damn frustrating!
His current mood was a tangled mess of anger, confusion, and bewilderment.
He had no idea where these enemies came from, how they knew their location, or why they launched a surprise attack.
The only possibility he could think of was Dead Mine Town.
But...
Even if there was a mole inside Dead Mine Town, they couldn't possibly know they were hiding here!
"Battalion Commander, the casualty report is in. 78 personnel KIA, 243 wounded, of which 53 are critically injured and likely won't make it to dawn."
Hiss—
Hearing these casualty numbers, Robur felt his heart bleed. Each one was a vibrant life!
And they were all snuffed out in just those few short minutes.
"Also..."
"Just say it!"
Robur slumped into his chair and lit a cigarette.
Right now, only nicotine could calm his mood.
"Also, our combat vehicles... the damage ratio exceeds 78%. All tanks and assault gun vehicles are destroyed. The only ones left are troop carriers... including the targets of the enemy's two rocket salvos, which were also exclusively these special combat vehicles.
The enemy's objective was very clear: to destroy our positional firepower and strike capabilities..."
Hearing this, both Robur and the Deputy Battalion Commander understood in their hearts.
The enemy this time was almost certainly Dead Mine Town.
Given this situation, the moles they had bribed had most likely been discovered.
"Have we figured out how the enemy managed to get so close?"
"We have!"
"The enemy's scouts are formidable. Not only are their infiltration and reconnaissance skills top-notch, but their assassination abilities are also terrifying. All the sentries we posted on the south bank of the canyon were discovered and assassinated by them without making a single sound. The wounds were clean and precise, instant kills..." The Deputy Battalion Commander's voice trembled slightly.
"Then they entered the camp, planted bombs on the special combat vehicles, and carried out targeted demolitions..."
"So, if their target hadn't been the special vehicles, but a direct decapitation strike instead..." Robur also grasped the unspoken implication in the Deputy's words.
His heart also trembled faintly.
"Exactly! If they had gone for a direct decapitation strike, we would likely have been killed in the first wave of the attack..."
Inside the tent, the two fell into silence.
After a long while.
"Report to headquarters! Give a detailed report of the situation and await headquarters' next instructions."
Robur walked outside the tent and looked in the direction of Dead Mine Town.
"Is this your true strength?"
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"King, for this operation, all enemy special vehicles have been destroyed. They can no longer pose a threat to our defensive fortifications. Shadow is continuing surveillance with the scout team."
Yu Yuan listened to Alpha's report, but his gaze was fixed on the Virtual Light Screen, his heart overflowing with joy.
For this operation, aside from the Jackal squad, the Pioneering Group deployed fifty people in total.
All fifty were members who had not yet obtained the Elite Recruit identity template.
Yet, after that recent battle, 38 of those fifty directly obtained the Elite Recruit template.
This ratio was simply outrageous.
"As expected, obtaining the Elite Recruit template isn't just related to probability; it also has a direct relationship with the results and scale of the battles the soldiers participate in."
"According to the intel just now, the Dawn Consortium personnel will arrive within the next two days. Although we destroyed the Reyes Legion's special combat vehicles today, it's unlikely the Reyes Legion will just give up on the operation, given it concerns their cooperation with the Dawn Consortium."
"Then the reinforcement troops are also a good target."
Yu Yuan looked at the information on the Recruit Training Camp page.
The number of Elite Recruits had reached 78.
The Pioneering Group's two batches only totaled 150 people, so the proportion was already over half. By the time this Regional Event task is completed, raising this number to 100 shouldn't be a problem, and perhaps we could even push for something higher.
In Yu Yuan's eyes, the Reyes Legion had already become wild monsters to farm for experience, a rare treat indeed.
Such a precious experience piñata isn't easy to come by normally.
Then, Yu Yuan's gaze focused intently on Eagle Eye and Shadow.
The reason was that the identity template behind the two of them had actually changed again.
——Veteran
In the recent battle, the two of them directly obtained the Veteran identity template.
——Veteran: Firepower +15, Defense +12, Movement Speed +8, Unit Morale +8, Recognition of Civilization Leader & Civilization +30
This was an extremely powerful enhancement buff.
Although the two still couldn't rival Bronze-tier combat power, the gap between them was no longer an insurmountable chasm.
They could even handle weaker Bronze-tier creatures now.
Everything was developing in a positive direction.
When news of the Second Mechanized Infantry Battalion being attacked by Dead Mine Town reached Reyes Legion headquarters, they were somewhat incredulous.
After all, this operation was extremely covert; they had only just finalized the plan two days ago.
Yet, the Second Mechanized Infantry Battalion had barely arrived near Dead Mine Town when it was attacked.
Not only were all special combat vehicles destroyed, but personnel casualties were also significant.
How could they not be shocked?
Forget about how Quis of Dead Mine Town knew they were about to attack; just the formidable combat capability of this assault force alone made the Reyes Legion high command take serious notice.
They didn't possess combat squads of this caliber, even within the Reyes Legion.
Naturally, they also didn't believe Quis of Dead Mine Town had the ability to cultivate such a force.
If he truly had that capability, he wouldn't be stubbornly holed up in Dead Mine Town, afraid to move.
But regardless, the rare earth mineral source within Dead Mine Town had to be secured. They had given their word to the Dawn Consortium.
Although they didn't understand why the Dawn Consortium placed such importance on Dead Mine Town, at this critical juncture, the course of events was no longer something the Reyes Legion could decide.
Therefore, the Reyes Supreme Commander immediately issued the order.
"First Battalion, Second and Third Companies, immediately reinforce the Second Mechanized Infantry Battalion. Simultaneously, synchronize the situation at Dead Mine Town with the Dawn Consortium."
"Yes!"
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Merry City
This was an activity plaza. A convoy consisting of ten special armored vehicles was making final preparations.
In the adjacent waiting area.
A thirty-man combat squad was also reviewing the operation log.
Beside them were five researchers.
"Researcher Maguire, Dead Mine Town merely discovered a rare earth mine. Is it worth us making such a big fuss?"
Combat Squad Leader Rook looked curiously at the person beside him.
This person was looking at the crystal projection computer in his hand, which displayed all intelligence related to the Dead Mine and Dead Mine Town.
The most crucial part was the currently discovered mineral types and scale of the Dead Mine.
Hearing the question, he looked up at the other man, his expression extremely professional and serious.
"Leader Rook, based on our projections of the Dead Mine's rare earth deposits, this is likely a rich rare earth vein, crucial for the production of chips for many of our weapons. However, our focus on Dead Mine Town is not because of the rare earth ore..."
Rook was somewhat taken aback.
"Not because of the rare earth ore? Then why..."
Hearing this, Maguire's lips curled into a faint smile, a glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes.
He said softly:
"According to existing intelligence, the Dead Mine not only produces large quantities of coal and iron ore, but now rare earth ore has been discovered. This kind of 'concentrated mining area' is very rare, possessing extremely high exploration value and strategic significance.
That mountain range likely experienced multiple tectonic movements in its geological history, 'pushing' together deposits from different eras and origins. In such circumstances, there is a not insignificant probability of finding... uranium ore in the deeper strata!"
Rook's eyes instantly lit up.
"What? Uranium ore!"