Dark Ruins Dawn

Chapter 125 Rectification
Chu Ningyan nodded slightly, not particularly surprised.

"Harbenson's rise to this position is certainly more insidious than that of a fool like Harry; he's playing with fire... I thought of that a long time ago."

"So what do you plan to do?" Zhuang Fan asked.

"My appointment as captain of the second team has been approved. The team is a mixed bag, and there are definitely spies planted by Soren and Habenson."

Chu Ningyan pondered for a moment, then continued, "I need to reorganize the team first and weed out these spies."

How do you want to eliminate them?

"We can take him out for some practice."

Chu Ningyan revealed her true thoughts: "I will keep taking on the highest-risk bounty missions, luring them into the wilderness, into hordes of zombies. This is a method an old hunter taught me."

“In a comfortable environment, they are docile sheep, but on the brink of life and death, their true nature will always be revealed.”

"I understand."

Zhuang Fan nodded. "You want to use blood and fire as a touchstone to both unite people's hearts and eliminate spies."

"Well, what do you think?"

Zhuang Fan approved of the method, but felt it was not enough.

"High pressure can indeed force some people to reveal their true colors, but those who have received professional training can disguise themselves more effectively. You can't test everyone out, not even with a lie detector."

"..."

Chu Ningyan's tone was somewhat helpless: "I'm afraid there's no better way."

"You forgot again."

Zhuang Fan looked at her, his voice very soft.

Chu Ningyan was stunned for a moment, then realized: "Your ability to sense the eerie mist, you use it to detect lies?"

"correct."

Chu Ningyan suddenly realized something, and a hint of surprise, even envy, flashed in her eyes.

"no side effects?"

"No, I can tell as soon as you get close."

"So you can detect lies in everyone...?"

"Almost all of them."

Zhuang Fan leaned forward slightly, getting closer to her ear, and lowered his voice even further.

"Except for the Demon Detective."

As her breath brushed past his ear, Chu Ningyan's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

"...There is no eerie mist in my body." Her voice was a few decibels weaker than usual.

"So I don't know what you really think."

The two were very close, and Chu Ningyan's fingertips twitched subconsciously before she looked away.

"I have always told the truth."

She added, "I mean what I said to you; for others... it's not necessarily the case."

"Me too."

Zhuang Fan nodded in response, "I only tell you the truth."

The atmosphere in the carriage became a little strange for a moment, and the trust that was unique to fellow villagers became even clearer at this moment.

Chu Ningyan was not used to this subtle atmosphere, so she looked at the car's light screen.

【Edge Radio】is still broadcasting noisily.

"Guys, last night's fire in the industrial park was a real blast! Our Captain Qiu was wiped out, with heavy casualties, but he didn't dare utter a single word, hahaha!"

The host was filled with schadenfreude.

"I bet Captain Qiu must be really frustrated right now. He didn't do a good job with fire prevention, and none of his men escaped. This guy is really... how should I describe him? Useless piece of trash, haha!"

"Oh, by the way, speaking of useless snacks, the famous rock singer 'Meat Grinder' was recently exposed by fans for using a clone, while his real body has long been fat as a mountain of meat! I heard that Odin Entertainment has intervened in the investigation. I hope this guy can hold on and not be forced to pay up his entire fortune."

"Finally, a reminder to all you scavenging folks: those lunatics from the Apocalypse Cult are holding another rally in the north of the city. Pray that the gods will help them drain the water from their brains! These lunatics even fought with the Blue Blade Gang, and the cowards from the Blue Blade Gang actually ran away. What a disgrace."

"Alright, enough of the chit-chat for today. This is your old friend Diego. I hope you all get a good night's sleep and live to see tomorrow!"

The jarring music started playing, and Chu Ningyan turned off the light screen.

The cabin returned to silence, with only the faint hum of the hovercar's engine remaining.

"By the way, where were you thawed?"

Chu Ningyan was silent for a moment, then said in a soft voice, "My cryo-chamber was hidden in a secret compartment of a shelter, and was later discovered by the residents there."

"Mezzanine?"

"Yes, there's enough space in the mezzanine to fit three cryogenic chambers, but my father didn't lie down in one; he disappeared hundreds of years ago."

"The other one..."

"The other one is my mother. Her cryogenic chamber ran out of batteries and more than two hundred years have passed... um."

The words stopped abruptly.

She paused for a moment, unable to speak, then turned her head away so that Zhuang Fan wouldn't see the tears streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked those questions."

"It's ok."

After a while, her voice gradually returned to normal: "Would you like to come to the camp with me?"

"OK."

Zhuang Fan didn't hesitate. "Tonight, we'll take care of those veterans. The first step must be a resounding success."

"I know."

How many people are in the second team?

Chu Ningyan truthfully said, "The second team has ten group leaders and more than two hundred people... I have never led so many people before, and there are many who would cause trouble."

Zhuang Fan was not surprised at all. "That's why we need to make an example of someone to warn others."

He kept piecing together fragments of Xu Renyi's memories about military control, which gradually emerged and were pieced together.

Although the old man was paranoid and tyrannical, his iron-fisted methods of controlling his subordinates were indeed highly efficient and terrifying, and Zhuang Fan only absorbed some of the usable parts.

"You don't need everyone to like you, but they must respect you and obey you completely, so the first step is to establish your authority and show them your iron-fisted methods."

Chu Ningyan looked into his eyes and listened attentively.

"The second step is disassembly."

"The team reorganization cannot be done once and for all. There will definitely be old hands sticking together, troublemakers, and spies that Soren and Habenson keep planting. You can't just pull them out one by one; that would be too much of a waste of time."

“But you can break them up and reorganize them, regardless of whether they are old or new, close or distant, and periodically shuffle their numbers and assign them to different groups, so that they can monitor and check each other. In this way, the old interest groups are broken up and a new order can be established.”

Zhuang Fan paused for a moment, then continued:
"The third step is the rules."

"We set the strictest rules and offered the most generous rewards. Those who obeyed would be rewarded with food and money; those who disobeyed, no matter how senior or powerful they were, would be punished in public without any leniency."

Zhuang Fan looked at her and said, “You have the strength of an S-class hunter, the covert support of the nuclear forces, the banner of Habenson, and our intelligence sharing. You lack nothing. All you need to do is let them see your fangs.”

Chu Ningyan pondered these words for a long time before slowly nodding, "I understand."

The hovercraft landed smoothly at the second team's base.

In the empty camp, dozens of mercenaries gathered in twos and threes, some standing against the wall, others sitting around several iron tables.

Equipment was carelessly tossed on the ground, and belts hung loosely around the waist, showing absolutely no discipline expected of a regiment.

The former captain of the second team was drinking with someone at a bar last month when he ran into "Scarface" from Xunlong. The two got into a fight over a word and he was shot dead by Scarface.

The deputy captain, who was originally the most likely to be promoted, was found to have embezzled funds and pocketed a large sum of mission rewards. He was also dismissed and investigated.

The group is leaderless.

This team of over two hundred people stayed in the camp for more than a week, their morale low and their hearts filled with anxiety.

When Chu Ningyan's black hovercar landed, the noise in the camp subsided considerably.

The veteran mercenaries looked up, their gazes fixed on the newly appointed "parachuted" captain.

They had already received the appointment notice from headquarters, but when they saw that the person who got out of the car was a tall woman wearing a tactical mask, their contempt was almost undisguised.

"Just her?"

"S-rank hunter Grey Goose... I've heard she's very strong, but she's never led a team before."

"He skipped the vice-captain position and became a captain directly?"

"Letting a woman manage us? We'd better all pray for our own safety. Survival is the most important thing."

Even though Chu Ningyan is an S-class hunter, her intimidation factor is greatly reduced in the eyes of this group of old thugs who only recognize fists and seniority.

Only a few young mercenaries who had just joined the group would stand at a distance and nod slightly as a sign of greeting.

The other veterans leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching coldly without saying a word.

Zhuang Fan followed behind her, taking in the reactions around him. He felt that the overall quality of these mercenaries was probably not even as good as his own scavenging team.

Chu Ningyan looked around, her gaze sweeping over the faces of the defiant veterans one by one.

The entire stronghold had fewer than a hundred people, and at least half of them were out fooling around.

She looked at the group leaders and said, "Go and tell those of you who left the camp to be back within half an hour. I'll be waiting here."

As soon as he finished speaking, a senior team leader with a goatee stepped forward. His tone was somewhat obsequious, but his manner was deliberate and evasive:
"Captain, this... I'm afraid it's a bit difficult."

He met Chu Ningyan's gaze. "I have a few brothers drinking in the north of the city. They're probably all dead drunk. At this hour... they probably won't be coming back."

Chu Ningyan's eyes remained calm: "The Sharp Edge Regiment has clear regulations that anyone who leaves the camp without permission on non-rest days or during missions is committing a serious violation."

The goatee's smile froze for a moment as he realized that this new captain was a bit difficult to deal with.

“I know the second team has a special situation. I just took office today and I am willing to give them a chance.”

Chu Ningyan's tone became more serious, "I need to see everyone within half an hour. Those who can't come back don't need to come back. I will report this to the discipline group and handle it according to the group rules."

"Yes! I'll notify them right away!" The man with the goatee didn't dare to hesitate for a moment and immediately used the communicator to call for help.

Half an hour later, nearly two hundred members returned one after another, while three were on sick leave and seven did not return on time.

Chu Ningyan reported the seven people's numbers directly, "These seven people don't need to come back. Let them rest well."

Some of the mercenaries who rushed back were completely disarmed and disheveled, some still panting.

Without exception, they were all very dissatisfied with Chu Ningyan.

"Hey, Captain!"

A drunken mercenary staggered over, reeking of alcohol, with a mocking expression on his face.

"Now that we're all family, the brothers will definitely follow you from now on. You have to let everyone see your true colors, right? Take off your mask and give us a laugh?"

His companions behind him burst into laughter.

Another mercenary, sitting on the wooden crate, tugged at him and said in a strange voice:

"You old hag, are you out of your mind? Don't you know the captain's face can't be shown in the light of day?"

"Oh? Why?"

"Haven't you heard? Our new captain's face is covered in spider fungi!"

The man deliberately raised his voice to make sure everyone present could hear him.

"What if she takes off her mask and her face disgusts you? We're going to eat barbecue later, so we don't want to spoil everyone's appetite."

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Laughter erupted again, harsh and unrestrained.

The six old subordinates following behind Chu Ningyan instantly flew into a rage, gripping their weapons tightly at their waists.

Chu Ningyan raised her hand to stop their impulsiveness. These provocateurs were trying to anger her so they could cause more trouble.

"Captain, please don't shoot. I'm just a chatterbox, just kidding. Please don't get angry." "Remember, from now on, we can only talk about your physique, understand?"

Chu Ningyan's eyes turned cold. Just as she was about to speak, a figure moved faster than her.

Everyone only saw a blur before their eyes, and then two crisp, explosive slaps rang out.

The drunken mercenary was spun halfway around by the force before collapsing to the ground.

Before anyone could react, the mercenary sitting on the box was also slapped hard across the face, sending him flying and spitting out teeth and blood all over the ground.

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

Zhuang Fan stood still, slowly withdrawing his hand as if he had merely swatted away two flies.

The two men were stunned by the slaps; half of their faces were swollen, they felt dizzy, their ears were ringing, and a trickle of blood was flowing out.

"You...you fucking dare to hit me!"

They struggled to their feet, their faces contorted with rage, and drew their daggers to lunge at Zhuang Fan.

Chu Ningyan's six old subordinates were already filled with rage and rushed over instantly.

Two thugs were pinned down by several pairs of iron clamps, and their knees slammed into their backs, forcing them to the ground again.

"If you dare move again, I'll break your legs!"

"Let me go! You bastards!" The two were still cursing wildly, but dared not move an inch.

Zhuang Fan stepped back half a step, giving up the space.

Chu Ningyan walked up to the two men, but instead of looking at them, she scanned all the mercenaries in the courtyard who were listening intently.

Her voice was clear and bright, cutting through the noise of the camp.

"I am Grey Goose, your new captain. I have only one requirement for you, which is to completely obey discipline and not to talk back to your superiors."

“We’re going to be carrying out a lot of high-risk missions, and any fool who acts on his own could endanger the entire team. I won’t allow anyone like that in the team, understand?”

Chu Ningyan's words were reasonable, and some veteran mercenaries who had experienced bloodshed nodded in agreement. They understood the importance of discipline better than anyone else.

The two mercenaries who were pinned to the ground sneered, their faces full of disdain.

"Captain? You really think you're something special, huh?!"

The drunken man twisted his body, trying to break free of his restraints, and spat a mouthful of bloody saliva onto the muddy ground.

"Have you forgotten that just a few days ago you were a prisoner, like a dog on a leash!"

Another thug chimed in with a mocking laugh: "Heh heh, you little girl, I even helped arrest you. You looked so pathetic back then, you didn't look like a captain at all!"

A cold glint flashed in Chu Ningyan's eyes. "You two have committed serious violations of discipline and have been expelled from the team. You are no longer members of the Vanguard. I will also report this to the guild to revoke your mercenary status. Now, drag you out."

Without the slightest hesitation, the six men grabbed the two men by the collar and dragged them toward the camp gate like two dead dogs.

The two men's expressions changed drastically. They hadn't expected the new captain to be so ruthless. Not only were they expelled from Fengmang, but they were also no longer allowed to be official mercenaries.

"Let me go! What right do you have to expel us!"

"You bitch! Who do you think you are..."

The two struggled violently, hurling even more vulgar and offensive insults.

Zhuang Fan glanced at Chu Ningyan, knowing that her status was different now and that she had to consider the captain's magnanimity.

But he wasn't one to stand out, nor did he care about being the villain, so he raised his pistol.

"Bang bang bang bang!"

Four gunshots rang out, and the dragging sound abruptly stopped.

The knees of the two thugs burst open simultaneously, spraying blood, and their screams instantly rose in intensity.

"Bang bang bang bang!"

Four more shots were fired, and their elbows were pierced as well.

With all four limbs crippled, the two lay paralyzed on the ground, convulsing and emitting inhuman wails.

"Filthy language, free purification."

After Zhuang Fan finished speaking, he fired the last two shots, hitting them between the legs.

"what--!"

The two were in so much pain that they almost fainted and foamed at the mouth.

The entire camp was almost deathly silent, with only two people lying on the ground, groaning weakly.

Zhuang Fan lowered the muzzle of his gun.

He glanced around at the mercenaries who seemed frozen in place, his voice calm but carrying a hint of warning.

"I'm annoyed by noise."

He paused, then brought up the name of the black-boned chicken:

"Manager Wu said that during the rectification period, anyone who dares to disrespect the captain will suffer this fate."

Director Wu? The black-boned chicken of the nuclear group?
The veteran mercenaries present narrowed their eyes, realizing that this man was not Chu Ningyan's subordinate, but someone from Nuclear's side. No wonder he was so ruthless!
When they looked at Chu Ningyan again, they suppressed the disdain in their eyes and revealed a deep sense of apprehension.

Chu Ningyan regained control of the situation.

Her voice remained cold: "My management style has always been one-size-fits-all. If you can't accept it, you can bring it up now, and I will help you with the transfer procedures."

A stir ran through the crowd as they exchanged glances.

In the end, thirty people walked out with cold faces, and after their identities were verified, they left the camp directly.

Chu Ningyan did not stop her.

The remaining people remained motionless, all watching her intently, waiting for what would happen next.

Chu Ningyan glanced at the team leaders with their various expressions, then her gaze swept across the entire room.

"Now that you've chosen your team leader, it's my turn to choose your teammates."

Ten minutes later, at the outpost office.

The mercenaries lined up outside the door, and one by one they were called in.

Zhuang Fan sat next to Chu Ningyan, remaining silent throughout as he observed the mercenaries who entered one by one.

"Name."

“Buck.”

"serial number."

"B-207".

Chu Ningyan looked up, referring to the data panel in her hand, and said, "The file shows that your mission evaluation last month was only 'B-', due to poor coordination, which resulted in injuries to three team members, is that correct?"

Buck hurriedly explained, "Yes, sir, but that's because..."

After listening attentively, Chu Ningyan continued, "What do you think of Director Soren?"

Buck was stunned, not expecting the new captain to ask that.

He hesitated for a moment, then said vaguely, "Director Soren has a lot of personal charisma."

"And what about Harbenson?"

"Director Habenson...is also very visionary."

"But I'm more optimistic about Harpenson."

"Then...me too!"

"Okay, you can go now. Next."

Chu Ningyan didn't look at him again, and drew a line on the data panel, "Next."

Zhuang Fan immediately realized that Buck was lying and that he was one of Soren's men, so he noted it down on his panel.

Chu Ningyan doesn't have Zhuang Fan's lie-detection abilities, but she's observing in her own way.

The other person's evasive gaze, unconsciously clenched fingers, and overly hasty declaration of allegiance all made her put a small question mark after Buck's name.

A strange sense of rivalry rose within her.

She was curious to see just how much of a difference there was between her intuition, honed over years of hunting, and this man's bizarre abilities.

One by one, the mercenaries entered the room, and one by one, they left with a belly full of suspicion.

"What's going on? Just asking a few stupid questions."

"I wonder what this captain is up to?"

Did she ask you about Soren and Habenson?

"I asked! Damn it, how was I supposed to know how to answer? I could only give a random answer."

"Her questions were designed to be so stupid. Could she be trying to find spies using them?"

"What a joke!"

In a corner of the courtyard, five mercenaries who had just finished their "interviews" quietly met up and discussed the questions they had just been asked.

"She asked you that too?"

"I was asked, and I answered exactly as I had prepared before."

One of them scoffed, lowering his voice: "This woman is too naive. She thinks she can dig us out with these childish questions?"

"This S-rank hunter is overrated."

Soon, the new captain's "loyalty test" spread like wildfire throughout the other teams in the team.

Many people are waiting to see the joke, curious about what kind of trouble this female captain, who rose to power through nuclear weapons, can cause.

Meanwhile, at another temporary stronghold of the Sharp Edge.

"Useless piece of trash... How dare you call me useless!"

Qiu Shan had just finished listening to the rebroadcast of "Edge Radio" when he grabbed the projector on the table and slammed it against the alloy wall with all his might.

The light screen flickered a few times and then went out completely.

"I must file a complaint! I must make that Diego disappear from the city!"

He paced back and forth, his chest heaving violently.

Last night's crushing defeat had already humiliated him, and this morning's trial was another disastrous slap in the face. Now, he's being publicly executed by [Edge Radio], and he's completely enraged.

Just then, another backup communicator rang; it was an encrypted request from Director Soren.

Qiu Shan took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and connected the call.

Soren's face emerged from behind the smoke: "That woman, Grey Goose, is checking the entire team for spies."

"Yes, I just received the news too."

Qiu Shan's anger turned to contempt, and he sneered, "She called everyone over and briefly discussed some idiotic questions; it was incredibly stupid."

He strode back to the table, his face contorted with rage: "I admit this woman is strong in combat and a competent hunter, but when it comes to manipulating people and judging character... she's far from it!"

"is it?"

On the other side of the light screen, Sauron's voice was unreadable.

"But this 'idiot' you're talking about wiped out your base that you've built up over a decade ago. What do you, the 'people-savvy' captain, have to say about that?"

Qiu Shan's face froze, and the arrogance that had just risen within him vanished.

"Director, that was an accident..."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Soren interrupted him, "Your task now is to recruit people as soon as possible to fill the gaps in the third team. As for the debt we lost last night... we'll settle that later."

The threat in the words was self-evident.

　There will be a free bonus chapter early tonight. Thank you to all the readers for your support.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)