Locke: I rely on intelligence to dominate the world and ensure the survival of my nation.

"I refuse to accept this!"

The air in the conference room froze instantly.

The heads of the other departments looked at each other, none of them daring to speak.

Zhang Guodong picked up his teacup, took a sip of water, and said nothing, nor did he stop him.

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair and looked at Leng Feng.

"so what?"

"So I'm going to test your skills." Leng Feng straightened up, crossing his arms. "Team battle. You bring two people, I'll bring two people. Three against three. Do you dare?"

Wang Hao, sitting next to Lin Chen, turned deathly pale. He leaned closer and whispered, "Brother Chen, he's a special forces soldier, a professional..."

Su Muxue sat on the other side without saying a word, but her fingers were already rapidly calculating something in her notebook.

Lin Chen did not hesitate.

"OK."

He stood up and looked directly at Leng Feng.

"Time and place."

A hint of surprise flashed in Leng Feng's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a deeper scrutiny.

"Now, downstairs at the training ground."

Lin Chen turned and walked towards the door, but stopped when he reached the door without looking back.

"Commander Leng, I have two conditions."

"explain."

"First, regardless of the outcome of this battle, you cannot interfere with my intelligence sources and decision-making authority."

"Second—" Lin Chen tilted his head slightly, "If I win, your three hundred men will have to coordinate with my pace of pioneering."

Leng Feng remained silent for three seconds.

"Can."

The training ground is located on the basement floor of the Administration Building.

The venue is not large, about half the size of a basketball court, and is surrounded by thick explosion-proof glass.

The ground was covered with professional-grade turf for combat, with white border lines drawn along the edges.

Leng Feng had already led three people to stand on one side of the field. The three he chose were all elite special forces soldiers, and each of their pet badges were shining with a light of at least level 20.

On Lin Chen's side, Wang Hao and Su Muxue stood behind him.

Three against three.

Lin Chen glanced at Leng Feng's lineup—a level 30 fire-type pet, two level 28 grass-type pets, a level 29 water-type pet, and the badge on Leng Feng's waist that wasn't showing.

The configuration is well-balanced, with output, control, and battery life, typical of an official team's combat strategy.

"The rules are simple," Leng Feng said, his voice coming through the bulletproof glass from the opposite side. "The game ends when one side is completely incapacitated. There are no rules."

Lin Chen nodded and placed his hand on the Sonic Dog's ball.

But just as he was about to release his pet, a system notification sounded in his mind.

"Ding! Intelligence database refreshed."

"New intelligence detected: [Blue Intelligence - Hidden Entrance in the Deep Sea of ​​Genos]. Exchange Cost: 5 Intelligence Points. Content: In the eastern reef area of ​​the Genos Deep Sea region, there is an entrance hidden by illusion magic, leading to the second level of the Deep Sea Ruins. This entrance has not been discovered by any player and can bypass the sea blockade imposed by Zhao Tianyu's team."

Lin Chen's fingers stopped.

Has Zhao Tianyu already blockaded the sea area?

This news came at just the right time.

He had originally planned to go to the Genos Deep Sea after obtaining the Grass-type Badge, where he would find the second Core Pokémon he needed.

However, if Zhao Tianyu had already blocked the sea area in advance, the conventional route would be blocked.

The hidden entrance was his only passage.

"Brother Chen?" Wang Hao whispered, noticing that he hadn't made a move. "It's starting."

Lin Chen came to his senses and did not hesitate.

Consumes 5 intelligence points.

exchange.

The blue intelligence text transformed into tiny specks of light that merged into his vision. The precise coordinates of the eastern reef group in the Genos Deep Sea, the triggering method of the hidden entrance, and the key techniques of illusion magic—all this information was clearly etched into his mind.

Intelligence points remaining: 0.

But now is not the time to think about that.

Lin Chen raised his head and looked at Leng Feng, who was standing ready for battle.

"Sonic Hound, prepare for battle."

A burst of golden light erupted, and the Sonic Hound landed on the ground, its four paws treading on flames. The oppressive aura of level thirty-six instantly spread out, completely suppressing the auras of Leng Feng's three pets.

"Is this what you call luck?"

Leng Feng's pupils contracted slightly.

He didn't answer, but instead raised his hand and released his pet—a level 32 Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Rock-type Pokémon are known for their defense and attack power, making them one of the most troublesome Pokémon in the early game.

"Tyrannosaurus Rex, Rock Blockade!"

"Triangular attack formation." Leng Feng's voice was concise and powerful. "Front row for defense, middle row for damage, back row for control. Follow the training rhythm."

All five pets started moving at the same time.

Two Rock-type pets stood at the forefront, their heavy bodies like two moving shields. In the middle were two Fire-type pets, flames gathering in their mouths, ready to be unleashed at any moment.

At the very back is a Grass-type Granball, its flower atop its head already in bloom, its Hypnotic Powder ready to be unleashed.

Legion formation tactics.

It's not some amateurish freestyle fighting, but a coordinated battle meticulously calculated and repeatedly practiced. The position of each pet and the timing of every skill release seem to be controlled by the same brain.

Wang Hao's expression changed.

"Brother Chen, this formation..."

Lin Chen remained calm.

He glanced at the opposing team's lineup, his mind racing. Rock, Fire, Grass—a classic trinity, combining defense, offense, and control. An average player would be crushed within three minutes against this formation.

But he's not an ordinary player.

"Mu Xue, Gran Seeds." Lin Chen's voice was calm. "Cover the gap between the front and middle rows with hypnotic powder."

"Wang Hao, Magic Cat, photosynthesis, preparing for continued operation."

"I'm in charge of output."

Su Muxue moved quickly. The Gran Seed leaped out of the badge, the flower on its head bloomed instantly, and a dense cloud of purple powder drifted towards the gap in the opposite formation.

The location chosen for the Hypnotic Powder was very tricky—it didn't directly attack the front row, but rather landed in the gap between Rock-type and Fire-type pets.

This position prevents the front row from retreating and the middle row from advancing, effectively severing the connection between the entire formation.

Leng Feng frowned slightly.

"Advance forward and break through the powder zone."

The two Rock-type Pokémon stepped forward simultaneously, their heavy footsteps causing the ground to tremble slightly. They tried to break through the blockade by using their bodies to withstand the sleep powder, but the concentration of the sleep powder from the Granseed was too high. The Rock-type Pokémon at the front began to slow down, its eyelids drooping heavily.

"Now!" Lin Chen raised his hand and released a firework. "Firework, flame jet, aim at the rock-type pet on the left."

The crimson pillar of fire struck the rock-type pet on the left with pinpoint accuracy.

Rock is effective against fire, but the damage numbers at that moment made everyone present gasp.

The damage is just too high; even against attributes with resistance, it can still take away a third of the opponent's health...

"The one on the right, Sonic Hound, Flame Assault."

The Sonic Hound transformed into a golden streak of fire, crashing into the Rock-type pet on the right from the side. Both front-line pets suffered severe damage simultaneously, and the first crack appeared in the legion's front-line defense.

Leng Feng reacted quickly: "Mid-row fire-type units, crossfire coverage, suppress the opponent's output!"