All-out: Starting with the Awakening Special Operations Unit, search, attack, and withdrawal.

Chu Hong stopped in his tracks.

Meanwhile, Donald, who was sitting at the counter listening to the bartender's persuasion, suddenly slammed a glass heavily on the table.

"Snapped!"

"I'm struggling with myself?! You think I'm struggling with myself?!"

"Do you know what happened in the secret realm that day? My old buddies, if I hadn't promised the City Lord's Mansion to assist in the investigation, how would they have ended up coming in with me!"

"How could they have died so tragically in the secret realm! Not even a corpse could be brought out..."

Tears mingled with snot, and Donald's heart felt like it was convulsing with frustration and pain.

He poured himself another glass of strong liquor.

"I don't care if those people are afraid of death. This old guy still considers himself to be worth something. With the strength of the seventh stage of the Energy Gathering Realm, plus my two skills, I can find an annual salary of 50 million Source Energy Points in some pioneer teams."

"Now, as long as someone dares to come with me to the [Clifftop Plague Hospital], find out everything there, and bring out the intelligence so that my old comrades don't die in vain, I'll stick with him from now on!"

"Write this down! I'll give you the publication fee right now!"

Donald, reeking of alcohol and with red eyes, slammed a Source Energy Crystal Card onto the table amidst the complex gazes of the bartender and the surrounding pioneers.

Xu Daili stood behind Chu Hong.

Looking at Donald's pitiful appearance, he sighed and shook his head with pity.

"There are too many people like that, especially in a squad like the Falcon Squad, whose core members are veterans who have known each other for decades. Once someone dies in battle, it is a huge blow to the morale of the entire team, let alone when it is almost a total annihilation..."

"This guy is basically finished."

"The 'Clifftop Plague Hospital' is a place where even our base city's strongest Rose Flower Team and the 'Overlord Dragon Team' were wiped out. How could anyone risk going to the secret realm for him alone? I... Captain, Captain, what are you going to do?!"

As Xu Daili spoke, her eyes suddenly widened.

Chu Hong silently walked straight up to the drunken Donald.

Under the bartender's astonished gaze.

Suddenly, a hand pressed down on the energy crystal card on the bar.

Donald suddenly turned his head.

Then I saw Chu Hong's smiling, handsome face.

"I heard everything you said. As long as I go with you to the [Clifftop Plague Hospital], and then safely evacuate, bringing back information about the secret realm, you'll wholeheartedly follow the new team from now on, right?"

"I can go with you!"

These words were spoken.

In the "Pigeon's Garden" bar, which sells information about secret realms, all the pioneers who were drinking their glasses stopped what they were doing.

Even their conversation stopped instantly.

Everyone stared at the handsome but young Chu Hong with suspicion, as if he were a madman.

Unfamiliar faces...

Donald squinted, and when he saw Chu Hong's appearance clearly, he also immediately showed a suspicious look.

"Do you know what you're saying? What's your strength?"

"Don't worry about that. I think I've said enough. You join my team, and I'll go with you to the top-secret 'Clifftop Plague Hospital' to bring out the intelligence. From now on, you'll be a member of my team forever."

"make a deal?"

Chu Hong was decisive and quick, extending one hand with a smile.

Although that's a bit inappropriate.

But... the heavy blow to the Falcon Squad actually gave him the opportunity to build a team using the identity of "Yanzu".

"Hiss! Captain, are you crazy?!"

Xu Daili, realizing what was happening, rushed in and grabbed Chu Hong.

She originally thought that this "Captain Yanzu" was ambitious and that the members must be those awesome pioneers who had just entered the Qi Origin Realm or even the Qi Gathering Realm.

Unexpectedly, this guy immediately set his sights on the captain of the renowned Falcon Squad in Huangshan Base City!

Donald!

That person has the strength of the seventh stage of the Energy Gathering Realm!

Would someone crazy join your ranks?

however.

After staring at Chu Hong for a long while, Donald's drunkenness gradually subsided, and his bloodshot eyes once again revealed that familiar shrewdness.

"Are you sure? Don't try to fool me with delaying tactics, young man. I remember you; we've met before."

Chu Hong nodded: "Indeed, this isn't our first meeting. As for the delay you mentioned... wouldn't departing in three days count as a delay?"

three days?

With this red collectible, the Masked Worm, as a cover.

Even a seasoned pioneer like Donald, with his keen insight, couldn't fathom Chu Hong's strength at this moment.

But having seen countless people, he could tell that what Chu Hong's eyes revealed was not arrogance born of ignorance, but genuine confidence backed by solid foundations, which made his heart pound with excitement.

His gaze fell on Xu Daili behind Chu Hong.

He knew this person.

The woman who was expelled from the Crossing River Dragon Squad.

"Besides her, who else is in your team?"

Chu Hong shook his head.

"She's not a combatant and won't enter the secret realm. That was the promise I made to her when I invited her to join the team... Only two people will enter the secret realm: you and me!"

This caused everyone else present to gasp in shock.

They looked at them like idiots, but most people looked at them more like madmen, staring blankly at the two talking to themselves.

Donald opened his mouth.

"I'm prepared to die in there, so don't expect me to cover your retreat—that's stupid..."

Chu Hong smiled, his right hand still outstretched in front of the other person, waiting for a handshake.

Hearing this, he smiled confidently.

"That's a pity. I'm not prepared to die in battle, because... I won't die! And you won't die either! If you agree, meet me at the [Clifftop Plague Hospital] secret camp in three days!"

The two hands are clasped together.

Donald, who had been listless all day, suddenly had a glint of light in his eyes.

His stubble-covered face once again revealed that familiar, composed smile.

"What's your name, Captain?"

"My surname is Wu, you can call me Yanzu... the captain of Thunder Hakimi Squad. As for you... from now on, your codename in the squad will be 'Hakimi Wing'!"

They ignored the bewildered look on Donald's face when faced with the brainwaves of the younger generation.

Chu Hong gave a few brief instructions, telling the other party to adjust their condition and prepare their equipment in the next few days.

Without looking back, he led the anxious Xu Daili out of the Pigeon Whistle Court.

"Captain, Captain, oh my, my Captain..."

Xu Daili followed anxiously behind Chu Hong: "Are you really going to the [Clifftop Plague Hospital]? That's a top-secret secret realm! Even Rose and the Crossing-the-River Dragon perished there. Aren't you just sending yourself to your death?"

Chu Hong smiled.

I simply strolled around the counters on either side of me.

"What? Are you worried I'll get myself killed, or are you worried you'll lose a comfortable job?"

Xu Daili blushed.

"This, this is not contradictory. If you want to recruit excellent pioneers, we can first upgrade the pioneer squad's level. Once it reaches the Silver level, even in the Upper City base, it's possible to recruit quite a few good pioneers to join us..."

Xu Daili tried to persuade him earnestly, but Chu Hong nodded while not listening at all.

He certainly wouldn't rashly enter the top-secret "Clifftop Plague Hospital."

The reason he agreed to Donald's conditions was because... just last night, while running around with knives, he had also completed several tasks for the operations department.

Finally, it's unlocked! The mission [Clifftop Plague Hospital - Top Secret] can now be unlocked.

[Operations Department - Operation Domination]: Proceed to the investigation area "Clifftop Plague Hospital - Confidential" [Beast Research Laboratory] to receive and complete the benchmark mission "Operation Domination," and then safely evacuate. (You will need your own "Core Laboratory Access Card")

[Mission Rewards]: Action Department Authority Points, Unlock "Clifftop Plague Hospital - Top Secret", 20 Energy Points

[Logistics Department - Self-Sufficiency (V)]: Proceed to the operation area "Clifftop Plague Hospital - Confidential", search for [Project No. "Kraken" Matrix] and [Project No. "Fenrir" Matrix], and retrieve the mission items "High-Energy Kraken Tentacle (Gold)" and "A Row of Fenrir (Gold)".

[Mission Reward]: Unlocks the Cooking Area and unlocks the recipes for "Kraken Stew (Gold)" and "Braised Wolf Steak (Gold)".

【Source Energy Department - Source Energy Research (IV)】: Head to the operation area "Clifftop Plague Hospital - Confidential" and conduct an investigation in the third basement level of the 【Beast Research Laboratory】.

[Mission Reward]: Energy Space +1 slot

......

Huangshan Base City under the cover of night.

Donald left the homes of several comrades looking exhausted, and it was already past midnight when he returned to his own residence.

Looking at the identity token he had just received from the Pioneers Guild today.

It also features a cat wearing a military combat helmet and bulletproof armor, holding a fully modified assault rifle, with its mouth open as if it's shouting something.

This strange aesthetic of young people left Donald, an old man who prided himself on not being old-fashioned, speechless for a moment.

【Thunder Hakimi Squad】: Bronze One Star.

[Captain]: External Pioneer, codename "Yanzu", no further information available.

[Team Member]: Xu Daili, logistics staff, codename "Chef", Qiyuan Realm Level 7, former member of the Crossing-the-River Dragon Squad.

[Team Member]: Donald, combatant, codename "Silver Wing", seventh level of Energy Gathering Realm, former captain of the Falcon Squad (now deregistered).

"Fine, I guess I've gone mad. So be it. Dying in the secret realm like you guys is better than living like this, all crazy..." Donald murmured softly, stroking the disassembled sniper rifle on the table in front of him.

Meanwhile, Chu Hong returned home.

"Enter the Special Operations Division!"