Volume 2, Chapter 40 – To Deceive the Enemy, First Deceive Yourself

Those eyes were as deep as a bottomless trench. Even though they were dark blue, they were not hidden by the night.

Their owner was a tall woman in a skintight outfit, all curves in front and back.

She only gave Anran a casual glance, yet it made Anran feel as if she were facing a great enemy. Alarm bells rang in her heart. This woman had to be incredibly powerful!

Far beyond anything Anran could handle right now.

Fortunately, the woman soon looked away. Taking a group of people with her, she swiftly swept across the rooftops and vanished into the night.

“Let’s hurry and go,” Anran said to Aila.

It was too dangerous outside. For now, she really did need to keep lying low.

Anran had also made a judgment in her heart about Aila’s strength. Although she usually acted a bit dense, as a robot, Aila was absolutely very powerful. Anran definitely could not beat her.

She just did not know how Aila compared with the woman who had just passed by.

Forget it. That question was not important. Even if Aila was strong, in her current hazy, uncomprehending state, never mind whether she could protect Anran from that woman, it was questionable whether she would even protect her at all.

Aila nodded and, following Anran’s urging, started forward.

Anran walked quickly, but she did not relax her guard.

Though Aila’s steps were small, she followed steadily at Anran’s side the whole time.

They moved through the night. The sky to one side was lit crimson, and the clamor only grew more intense.

…

Boom.

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Crash.

The instant the artillery sounded, dust came drifting down from above. A man in a suit standing directly underneath immediately jumped aside. Covering his mouth, he coughed twice, his face full of terror.

“What do we do, Minister Wu? If this keeps up, we’re all going to die!”

Minister Wu, the head of Twinmoon City’s Security Department, was still standing in front of a large screen.

The scene displayed on the large screen was the battle outside.

They were currently in the air-raid shelter beneath City Hall. Minister Wu had already retreated here an hour earlier.

There had been no helping it. Not only had the Morningstar Resistance used sound tactics, every one of them fought like madmen who did not care whether they lived or died.

Although Morrison’s and Wang Luo’s troops had ultimately arrived, they still had not managed to hold out for long before they were driven back into the central district of Twinmoon City.

At this point, the entire Security Department command had no choice but to withdraw.

Fortunately, after entering the central district, the Morningstar Resistance was greatly restricted by the terrain. Once they had weathered the initial assault, the Security Department’s forces finally managed to steady themselves.

Minister Wu frowned. “Mr. Mayor, this place is quite safe right now. Our forces have already successfully held back Morningstar’s offensive. The longer this drags on, the worse it is for them instead. There is no need for us to worry.”

The mayor nodded to show that he understood, but his expression kept shifting, and he cursed inwardly.

Shells are already exploding overhead. City Hall has already been reduced to ruins. Held them back, my ass.

He felt that Minister Wu was just keeping up appearances.

For people in political and military circles, face was something that absolutely could not be lost, and even if it was lost, it had to be regained.

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Minister Wu paid no attention to the changes in the mayor’s expression. He had no time to care what that sanctimonious man was planning. His eyes were fixed on the monitor in front of him.

At the fiercest point of interwoven firepower, Morningstar’s people were utterly unsparing with their ammunition. There were even fearless ones Leading the Charge, as if they were trying to hack a gap straight through a round shield with a knife.

But what exactly was the point of doing this?

They were only forcing themselves down a path of slow death.

Their tactics at the beginning had clearly been well arranged, so why had they suddenly lost their heads at the critical moment?

Minister Wu could not make sense of it. Something had to be going on here!

…

“%!?[*/%”

Inside Morningstar’s temporary field command post, after hearing the report, Heloise tapped the tabletop with her middle finger. Once everyone’s eyes had focused on her, she slightly parted her red lips.

“Now have the Second Battalion withdraw and attack the data center.”

“What, withdraw?”

Someone below immediately stood up with a shocked expression.

“We’ve already fought to this point. If you tell the Second Battalion to pull back now, then what about the other units on the front line?”

“We’re already at a disadvantage to begin with. Pulling back the Second Battalion now, are you trying to send everyone else to their deaths?” A middle-aged man stood up and pointed at Heloise without the slightest courtesy.

The quiet command post instantly erupted into chaos.

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The same thought flashed through everyone’s mind at once: What kind of idiot command is this?

So she really is all chest and no brains.

Smack.

Heloise slammed her hand down on the table. The loud sound stunned everyone for a moment. Especially after they saw the dent in the tabletop, all of them swallowed nervously.

That was an iron table.

“This is an order, not a request!”

The suddenly forceful Heloise made the people below involuntarily recall what meetings at the base had been like.

This newly arrived Branch Director was not someone easy to provoke.

But now, this was the critical turning point that would decide life or death.

Someone still stood up. “Even if it’s an order, I can’t accept it. This is treating our brothers’ lives like a joke! And if we can’t take City Hall, then what is the point of this operation?”

Heloise gave a cold smile. Her deep blue eyes slid toward the man. “Do you really think the purpose of this operation is to capture Twinmoon City?”

“What do you mean by that?” The man froze, then his expression changed abruptly. “Don’t tell me the target of this operation is Twinmoon City’s data center?”

Heloise smiled, but did not answer directly. “This is an order from above. You need to remember that you are Morningstar people. Think about what Morningstar’s principles are.”

“Why attack the data center? Why not tell us the real purpose of this operation?”

That was the final question.

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“Why do you think I turned a blind eye when the soldiers under your command threw discipline aside? If you want to deceive the enemy, you first have to deceive your own people.” Heloise stood up. “Hurry and have the Second Battalion change the direction of their attack. We don’t have much time.”

“…”

After a stretch of silence,

“Yes!”

Though the answer was given, the bitterness on their faces could not be concealed.

For the final victory!

Heloise walked out of the command post. After the order had been successfully passed down, she suddenly called over the vice-captain of the guard.

“Branch Director, what is it?”

In a distant tone, Heloise said, “Bring your weapons and come with me to the signal tower.”

“Huh?” The vice-captain of the guard stared with his mouth open in shock.

“No more questions. Just carry out my order.” Heloise waved her hand.

She had brought this vice-captain with her herself. He was useful.

The vice-captain understood at once and immediately withdrew.

Heloise raised her head and gazed toward the center of the battlefield in the distance, murmuring, “For the final victory!”