Chapter 327: Ninja Art: Kotoamatsukami!
Let's rewind a bit.
While the Chosen Team and the Blood-Armored Team were forced to station in Gaul, providing extra protection to the local government forces, Cheng Tian and his group had already followed the main forces of the Innovation Army, taking a space shuttle directly to Earth.
Cheng Tian had never imagined that his first space journey would be realized in such a peculiar way.
Both the Earth Federation and the Kingdom of Laia had shuttles capable of freely traversing the atmosphere. Cheng Tian didn't understand the principles behind them, but the zero-gravity sensation of floating in space was an indescribably unique experience.
And for Cheng Tian, on his first trip to space, once the spacecraft entered stable cruising, he eagerly tried the action he had been very interested in—
Drinking water from a sealed cup with a straw, then letting go and watching the cup spin 360 degrees in the zero-gravity air!
Cheng Tian knew it was childish, but it was incredibly fun until he got tired of it!
Not just Cheng Tian, but the husky was also shouting excitedly.
Zero One was as taciturn as ever, but the female Iron-Blooded Hyena seemed like an experienced traveler, showing no particular reaction.
Unfortunately, the distance between Earth and Laia was similar to the Earth-Moon distance, and the space shuttles here, which seemed to apply some unknown technology, apparently reached speeds comparable to the third cosmic velocity. So, the entire one-way trip was only six hours. Cheng Tian hadn't even had enough of the zero-gravity state before he was once again strapped into his safety seat by the seatbelt.
Compared to the yellowish Laia Star, the water-blue Earth, dotted with some green, was truly too beautiful. And Cheng Tian, feeling the pull of gravity again, felt as if he had swum for six hours and then emerged from a pool, his body suddenly becoming very heavy.
The shuttle's chosen landing point was approximately 290 kilometers west of New York.
But what was most noteworthy here was the Earth Federation's response strategy.
Despite the Laia Innovation Army's almost undisguised aerial invasion, the Earth Federation did not attempt any interception throughout the entire process. It wasn't until the spacecraft began unloading Gates in large quantities that the Joint Army's Third Unit belatedly appeared and initiated hostilities between the two sides.
Cheng Tian was very clear about this: the Joint Army's Third Unit, along with the citizens of New York City, were actually a group of pitiable sacrifices, and they didn't even know why they were sacrificing themselves.
Just as the husky and the other two players were assigned to the battlefield, preparing to meet the Joint Army's Third Unit with the main force, they found that Cheng Tian was not present. Upon closer inquiry, they learned that Cheng Tian had been assigned an additional, crucial mission.
A mission as important as assassinating a high-ranking enemy leader.
As mentioned before, the Earth Federation outwardly no longer had national distinctions, but the actual dominant power was still America.
And as a nation that, by 2281, had only existed for about five hundred years, there were truly not many landmark buildings that could instantly identify it as American.
The Twin Towers, without a doubt, were the most important landmark, arguably even one of the spiritual symbols of the Earth Federation.
Players' experiences sometimes influence the generation and settings of dungeons, and it was clear that Cheng Tian's "9/11" title had a very serious impact on this dungeon.
It changed from the original setting of "being in the core city of the Earth Federation and never being affected" to a background where "it was bombed ten years ago by an anti-American mercenary, along with the Statue of Liberty."
During the war, the Twin Towers had remained in their bombed state, and reconstruction only began last year after the peace treaty was signed.
And Cheng Tian, possessing the exclusive trait "Enemy of America," was given an independent second-stage main quest: to demolish the Twin Towers once more, and if possible, to also demolish the nearby Statue of Liberty, which was also undergoing reconstruction.
"Do you have experience in naval combat?"
Azrael, who had just assigned the new mission, asked Cheng Tian.
"I have experience operating a regular single-person submarine in combat."
Cheng Tian answered truthfully.
Hearing this reply, Azrael's mechanically modified eyes lit up. He was retrieving and reviewing Cheng Tian's relevant data, and quickly saw the scene of Cheng Tian piloting a single-person submarine to terrain-kill a Blazing Fire Dragon inside a volcano.
This was granted by the Space when Cheng Tian's identity was integrated into the dungeon setting.
"That's perfect, you should have the ability to pilot this unit."
As Azrael spoke, he projected an image of a unit that was different from all standard military mechs.
It was an octopus-shaped mech, constructed from an all-orange spherical fuselage and six mechanical tentacles.
"AVA-13 H Agomis, a VA specialized in naval combat, with powerful firepower.
After this, we will conduct an airstrike on New York City. According to calculations, most areas of New York City should experience seawater backflow, and the Twin Towers, currently under reconstruction, should also be within the flooded area. That will be the Agomis's chance to shine.
Originally, I intended to have other pilots operate it, but I feel you might be more suitable for this VA."
Azrael paused here, then looked at Cheng Tian with a serious expression.
"Speaking of which, aren't you curious about the situation we're currently facing?"
"Not at all. Rather, I've seen too many similar situations. Similar situations repeat themselves in every place and every era."
"Oh? I'm all ears~"
Azrael's face showed some intriguing expressions.
In fact, there were very few people in the Innovation Army who could have such conversations with him. Most soldiers had either voluntarily or forcibly undergone mechanical modifications and dared not defy his will.
But Cheng Tian, an Earthling who was an enemy of America, had absolutely no such emotions towards him; instead, he was able to communicate and converse relatively normally.
"Alright then, I'll make a fool of myself."
Cheng Tian, not in a hurry to immediately retrieve his new unit, briefly organized his thoughts before speaking.
"This current situation is nothing more than the doing of those military-industrial complexes or high-ranking Federation officials who profit from war. I can be 100% sure that we were deliberately allowed in.
And whether or not we are waving the banner of overthrowing the corrupt Laian Kingdom regime, the Innovation Army has indeed invaded Earth and destroyed an important city like New York. This will inevitably reawaken the hatred between Earthlings and Laians, which has already lasted for fifty years.
At the same time, it has already preemptively left the impression that 'the Laians were the first to break the peace treaty,' regardless of whether it's true or not.
And with this banner, the Earth Federation can then legitimately begin to send more troops to Laia Star, eventually achieving the goal of stationing troops abroad, or even turning the entire Laia Star into a colony. Anyway, the Kingdom government is already rotten to the core.
Don't think I'm being a spoilsport. I'm not sure if you're going with the flow or being kept in the dark, but unless some heaven-sent strongman capable of leading everyone emerges from the Laian Kingdom government, making himself and all Laians aware of the future they face and making immediate decisions, otherwise..."
At this point, Cheng Tian's voice suddenly stopped.
Because Azrael's mechanically modified face, which should have had few sweat glands remaining, actually began to stream with large beads of sweat!
...Damn, did I say too much?
Looking at Azrael, whose pupils were trembling, Cheng Tian covered his mouth.