The system handed me over to the state.

With tests conducted every three days, and even daily within the military, where exactly is the problem? Once the restraint barrier is erected, it's impossible for anyone from the Shadow Empire to infiltrate. And even if they did, the high-intensity daily testing would expose them completely.

"General Tang Huan, the situation is very serious. I hope you can report this to Su Su immediately. I will request some scientific research resources from the Superbody Laboratory to support the large-scale testing operation in the Western Military Region."

Tang Huan nodded. "I understand... The Western Military Region will now temporarily suspend its planned counter-offensive to ensure that there are no more traitors before proceeding."

With that, the communication ended. Bronya bit her thumb, a sense of panic washing over her. What was it? What kind of ability did the Shadow Empire use to control the resolute warriors within the military district? Is magic... really that powerful?

..............

Three days later, in the United States capital, the original White House had been destroyed in the previous explosion, and in its place stood a massive palace shrouded in dark shadows.

Inside the palace, bright but cold sunlight streamed into the room. A pale-skinned maid opened the door and began to call out to the figure still sleeping soundly on the luxurious bed.

Half an hour later, the Empress, dressed in a magnificent pale gold dress, slowly walked out of the room, while the Imperial Chancellor, who had been waiting outside, bowed and said, "Your Majesty."

"Rise, Prime Minister. You woke me up. Has something serious happened?"

The Queen extended her hand, and the Prime Minister took it and held it as they slowly walked down the corridor.

"Our intelligence agents who have been infiltrated into our minds have been discovered. Within three days, China, the Soviet Union, and Britain have arrested all those whose thoughts and wills have been altered."

The Empress frowned slightly. "What's going on?"

"A fool whose mind has been distorted, arrogantly believing that he could use his power to make a contractor from Shenzhou back down, only to expose the problem and lead to the capture of all the infiltrators."

"Now, a special kind of mental power has been added to the barrier erected by the Three Kingdoms, and we can no longer project your thoughts and will into it."

The Queen snorted coldly, "Humans are indeed foolish creatures. Even if their thoughts and wills are altered, they cannot be saved. It doesn't matter!"

"Furthermore, the last message the intelligence team transmitted before being cut off indicated that China, the British Empire, and the Soviet Union would launch a counterattack within the next week. They... were about to begin expanding and compressing the areas under our control."

The Empress suddenly stopped, her shadowy scepter tapping the floor. "I've been waiting for this... A counterattack, is that it?"

"Prime Minister, issue my decree: order all the armies, air forces, land forces, and navies in the world to surround those three countries!"

"Want to resist expansion? Then let's see if your mortal technological army is more powerful, or our shadow magic is more potent!"

The Shadow Scepter slammed into the ground, and instantly the surrounding shadow magic began to tremble rhythmically, like a silent shriek, a war cry.

The Prime Minister nodded. "Your Majesty, we will surely conquer this world completely. That barrier can protect them for a time, but it cannot protect them forever. Before the shadows, all light will surely submit to us!"

Chapter 324: The Battle Is About to Begin

"I never imagined that the Shadow Empire would possess the ability to directly alter will and thought..."

Tang Huan covered his head. He had never expected this. No wonder this matter was so strange. Fortunately, the person whose thoughts and will were invaded and modified became extremely brain-dead. Otherwise, if he hadn't done this, they really wouldn't have been able to find these guys hiding among us.

“Otto and I have already incorporated the functionality of the Mind Barrier into the Restraint Barrier. During the subsequent Expansion and Counterattack War, everyone wore the Mind Barrier, so we did not need to modify the Restraint Beacon.”

"The counterattack can proceed as planned, but our operation may have already been exposed."

"It's not a possibility, it's already been exposed."

Su Mengyao suddenly interjected, "I have received a detailed report. Satellite images show that the troops stationed in Europe and the Americas have all set out. The air force has airdropped into the area near our three countries, and the navy has surrounded parts of our three countries' territorial waters."

"Some of the army is still on its way, but it won't be far."

"The Shadow Empire is aware of our counterattack plan and has begun a reverse encirclement to prevent our expansion."

Tang Huan's expression was somewhat ambiguous. He suddenly spoke up, "The responsibility for this matter lies with me. If I had noticed it sooner, this wouldn't have happened."

“It’s pointless, General Tang Huan. Magic is something we’re facing for the first time. Besides, there’s no point in taking responsibility now. What’s lost can’t be recovered.”

"Maintaining the original plan, our operation may have been leaked, but the details of our operation have not been leaked. The mental barrier, the brand-new weapons and armaments, and our specific route of advance are all unknown to the Shadow Empire."

"This is why they need to mobilize the world's military forces to surround us, because they only know that we will launch an attack, but they don't know when or where we will launch the attack."

Su Mengyao wasn't particularly concerned about the information leak, since the leaked information wasn't important, but rather insignificant.

Knowing how to attack versus not knowing how to attack simply means that advancing is slightly more difficult.

Moreover, eliminating the Shadow Empire's modern army now will reduce the difficulty and pressure on their subsequent advance.

What Su Mengyao was most worried about was the Shadow Empire's traditional, primitive magic army. They had no idea what these strange magic armies, enhanced by shadow magic, would look like.

"In short, all plans will proceed as scheduled, and the original schedule will remain unchanged. From now on, each military region will be tested every 6 hours to ensure that no one becomes a slave or spy for the Shadow Empire."

"Your Majesty, what about... those whose records were altered?"

Bronya asked worriedly, "What about those soldiers whose thoughts and wills have been altered? On the surface, they seem unchanged, but their inner minds have become slaves to the Shadow Empire. Everything they do is for the Shadow Empire, not for their country or themselves."

"Let's keep them locked up for now... We'll have to make do with them a little until we find a solution."

"Moreover, I can foresee that it will be very difficult to completely restore something like mind manipulation. Even if they recover from such manipulation in the future, the aftereffects will likely seriously affect their lives."

Su Mengyao sighed, "Tang Huan, make sure these soldiers are properly compensated, and don't leave anyone out!"

"Understood, Your Majesty, I will certainly do my best."

The meeting quickly ended with Su Mengyao giving instructions one after another. However, before Bronya could disconnect, Su Mengyao stopped her.

Do you know why Tang Huan seems to have a slight aversion to you?

"what happened?"

"His father, an ordinary soldier on the battlefield, took action without authorization because he wanted to become a hero who could save his entire battalion and even the entire army."

"He sacrificed himself, which is why he hated individual heroism. The teamwork of the military region he led far surpassed that of the other three military regions. It can be said to be the military region with the strongest team combat capability."

"In his view, contractors are the embodiment of individual heroism."

Bronya shrugged. "I thought that as an elder, he would have already come to terms with these things."

"Sometimes elders are more persistent about certain things. Imagine if your whole family and all your relatives were constantly asking you when you were going to get married and when you were going to find a proper job. Could you handle that?"

Bronya rolled her eyes. "I've already started getting pressured to get married, but I already have a girlfriend. The problem is, when are we going to get married?"

"Hey! Aren't your parents pressuring you to have a baby?"

Bronya looked speechless, then covered her face and said, "I think we should go back to our previous topic..."

"Oh, anyway, Tang Huan is very clear about his identity and status. His emotions are all personal, so you don't need to care. If you're really upset, you can just talk back."

Bronya rested her chin on her hand and said, "You, the dignified emperor of Shenzhou, the most beloved person in Shenzhou, would actually encourage your best friend and your general to argue and quarrel?"

"Arguing is a good thing! It allows both parties to vent all their emotions and thoughts, and after calming down, it's easier to become friends, isn't it?"

Bronya sighed. That's true... but the problem is, if they really start arguing, they're more likely to fight. And if things get physical, things can get out of control, making things even more complicated...

Therefore, Bronya still prefers to sit down and talk things out rather than argue.

If all else fails, why not just threaten them with something small?

After exchanging pleasantries with Susu, Bronya inquired about the situation with Heishi, and the answer she received left her somewhat helpless.

"Huh? There really are people here, but I declined. I think this is fine. I just go to the nearby towns every day, and then go into the quantum space to catch a lobster or crab or something to practice. That's basically enough."

"I'm doing pretty well like this, and I don't really care what happens."

Well... I guess I'm just giving up... There's nothing I can do about it. After all, given Hei hope's personality, she's not particularly good at dealing with large groups of people, and her unique fighting style makes it difficult for her to adapt to fighting against unfamiliar teams.

"Well... alright then, as long as you're happy with your life, that's fine. If you encounter any problems again, remember to come to me!"

"Is it okay to satisfy my physiological needs?"

"...You can talk to me after you get here! You pervert!"

Chapter 325: The Counterattack Begins

"Tsk tsk, this thing called a cell phone is really comfortable to use. With just a few taps, the whole world opens up to you!"

"Hahaha! That's for sure! Such a convenient thing should of course be used by us. But speaking of which, I once wanted to possess the body of a beautiful woman! But the Empire wouldn't allow it, what a pity."

A soldier in full armor, wearing a steel helmet, looked at his phone and laughed loudly. A soldier next to him punched his comrade, saying, "You wish! I've been a man for hundreds of years, now I want to try being a beautiful woman too!"

"Haha! Why don't you apply? I heard that people who have applied before are eligible?"

"What are you thinking? My wife is still at home watching! If I were to possess the body of a beautiful woman, she'd skin me alive! After all, this concerns... her own sexual happiness! She hasn't experienced human pleasure in almost a century!"

"Hahahahaha!"

On the western defense line of China, these soldiers who once belonged to the United States became soldiers surrounding the Shadow Empire after being taken in by soldiers of the Shadow Empire.

They devour the remaining consciousness in the souls by absorbing the memories stored in the bodies they inhabit, and quickly learn everything about this world. This is why they completely control the army just a few days after completing their inhabitation.

After the joke ended, the soldiers remained committed to their duties, but they appeared very relaxed. The reason was simple: they were in an area shrouded in black mist. This special shadow energy would pass through the bodies of ordinary people the moment they appeared, directly eroding the minds and souls of the intruders.

For them, this black fog is actually a nourishing environment, which is why they are so relaxed in it.

The Empire's attitude toward the three kingdoms' counterattack was clear: to block it out completely. However, instead of deploying its most elite magical army, it used the world's conventional army to prepare for the response.

This also highlights Her Majesty the Empress's confidence in this war; this time, the Shadow Empire will once again conquer a world!

"Hey, don't you think it'll be interesting to watch those Chinese people struggling and resisting in the black fog, only to be assimilated into our race?"

A soldier nearby let out a sinister laugh, "Hahaha, of course it'll be a sight to behold! When they come in, they'll first find themselves disoriented, then they'll feel like their bodies don't belong to them, then their consciousness will begin to blur, they'll convulse on the ground, their souls will be transformed into shadow souls, and their wills will be altered to pledge allegiance to the Empire and Her Majesty the Empress."

"In the end, they will become our slaves. Perhaps they will have to work hard for a hundred years before they have a chance to become official citizens of the empire."

"Hahaha! This scene is just too wonderful, I can't wait!"

The soldier on the armored vehicle burst into laughter. After laughing for a while, he turned his head, about to say something, when he suddenly realized that his comrade beside him was gone.

He looked around the armored vehicle, somewhat puzzled, but couldn't find anyone. "Strange, where did they go? They disappeared in the blink of an eye?"

The soldier got off the vehicle, somewhat confused, and stood on the ground. He looked around, but didn't notice the red light that suddenly appeared behind him.

"Strange...hmm?"

Suddenly, his soldierly instincts alerted him to the problem around him. He raised his weapon, but before he could take a step, invisible hands dragged him into the shadows.

A few minutes later, a golden beacon was deployed on the ground. A golden barrier began to form within the beacon and slowly expanded. At first, the expansion was very slow, but after a few minutes, the golden barrier suddenly began to expand rapidly!

The black shadow energy was directly repelled by the barrier, and the beings within the black mist revealed their true forms.

"Command, this is the special forces team. The beacon has been deployed and the concealment devices have been activated. We are awaiting further instructions."

.......

"Received, all personnel, hold your ground. We need to hold for 15 seconds."