SCOM - Chapter 66
Chapter 66
Was the test report Zuo Luohuan saw in Hong Tongdao's study definitely about Silver-Green? Ever since Hong Tongdao's easy capture, this question had plagued her. She even revisited the Hong residence, rummaging through his study again. She did find a document with a cover identical to the one she'd seen last year—a report on the presence of Silver-Green in the mines. However, it wasn't about the eastern mine, but one that had already been excavated.
According to Hong Tongdao's transaction records, he sold this pilfered Silver-Green at a high price to Zhang Yongzhen, effectively selling it to the Gashro Empire. The professor who committed suicide was merely a scapegoat, bribed and then pushed out by Hong Tongdao.
The entire Federal Military Council was shocked by the revelation that the Xijiang Exile Star’s governor had been selling Silver-Green ore to the Gashro Empire. Now, only the eastern mine remained; the northern and western sectors had already dispatched troops for joint development, making this area a critical protection zone. The two sectors would next begin relocating the remaining residents, leaving only military personnel stationed there. Silver-Green was simply too crucial. In previous years, the military's light guns and other materials were salvaged from captured Gen 2 Robot Dogs. Now, the Federation finally had its own source, and although a significant portion had been stolen by the Gashro Empire, they couldn't afford to lose any more. There was no room for error.
Sitting in the waiting area, Zuo Luohuan couldn't shake a nagging feeling: Something's wrong. This is all too easy.
While Luo Shaoyuan and Jiang Hong remained oblivious, Ji Yuezhi understood Zuo Luohuan's concern. He stood up abruptly. "Tell Yan Yan to stay put at the hospital. Don't let him bring his mother out."
Zuo Luohuan's eyes flickered. Without questioning, she immediately contacted Yan Yan.
"Senior?" Yan Yan glanced back at his mother, still lying in her hospital bed. "Okay."
"Yan Yan, what's up? Is your senior rushing you?" Lu Hui, who had been called by Yan Yan's father to help, stood nearby.
Yan Yan shook his head. "No, she told us to wait at the hospital for now."
"Wait here? But we'll miss the starship!" Yan Yan's father exclaimed.
Yan Yan pulled over a chair and sat down. "It's fine, Dad. Uncle Lu, you both should rest. You've been busy for days. I can keep watch here."
"Alright." Yan Yan's father patted his son's head. "Your Uncle Lu and I still need to handle the handover this afternoon."
Outside the ward, Lu Hui asked, "Aren't we waiting? Your wife and Yan Yan are going to the Capital. Shouldn't you go with them?"
Yan Yan's father shook his head. "Yan Yan can take care of things. We still need to report back with the team."
Zuo Luohuan and Ji Yuezhi, leaving their luggage behind, left the waiting area and commandeered a flyer from the nearby Winter Army. "G, I'm coming too!" Jiang Hong hurried after them.
Left behind, Luo Shaoyuan took a step to follow, then turned back, grabbed all four suitcases, and ran after them. "Wait!" she yelled at the ascending flyer.
The flyer door opened. Luo Shaoyuan hurled the suitcases inside, then, taking a running leap, grabbed the bottom of the open door. By now, the flyer was fully airborne. Jiang Hong reached down and pulled her in. "Luo, impressive jump."
"So-so. Better than yours," Luo Shaoyuan retorted, settling onto the floor and looking at Zuo Luohuan and Ji Yuezhi. "What are you two whispering about?"
"Yan Yan's mother probably knows something," Ji Yuezhi said, looking at Zuo Luohuan, clearly not intending to enlighten Luo Shaoyuan.
Jiang Hong finally caught up. "Even if there's a conspiracy, and Yan Yan's mother knows something, why is she still alive? Even if she's unconscious?"
Zuo Luohuan glanced back at him. "The hospital is run by the 377th Army. It's difficult for outsiders to infiltrate. Most of the patients are soldiers, and Yan Yan's mother isn't the only one in the ward. Plus, Yan Yan's father rarely leaves her side."
Jiang Hong suddenly understood. He'd almost forgotten that the 377th Army was a branch of the Winter Army. Even if they weren't the strongest, they shared the Winter Army's honor and spirit.
In other words, whoever was behind this couldn't find an opportunity to strike. But now, with Yan Yan planning to move his mother, who knew what methods they might use en route.
"A while back, Fang Yong was looking for some medicine, possibly in the western sector," Jiang Hong said. "Luohuan, should we contact him?"
Zuo Luohuan nodded. "Ask him to come here."
After receiving Zuo Luohuan's call, Yan Yan stayed by his mother's side, waiting for their arrival.
"Senior, what happened?" Yan Yan asked, standing up.
"We've arranged for a doctor to come here. You don't need to take your mother to the Capital," Zuo Luohuan said, looking at the figure in the bed. "Jiang Hong and Luo Shaoyuan will stay with you for the next few days."
While the first part confused him, the second made it clear that something was amiss. However, Yan Yan simply nodded in agreement, asking no further questions.
Outside the hospital, Ji Yuezhi turned to Zuo Luohuan. "Where are we going?"
"The mines," Zuo Luohuan replied, looking up at the perpetually sand-filled sky, obscuring the path ahead.
The mines were now under strict lockdown, with a continuous stream of troops arriving from the port to secure the Silver-Green mine. When Zuo Luohuan's flyer approached, they were immediately warned to halt.
The two disembarked. The lead officer, recognizing Zuo Luohuan, was taken aback. "I want to see the commander of the 377th," Zuo Luohuan stated. "I have some questions."
The Winter Army officer didn't immediately step aside. He informed them that while they could enter, they would be escorted. "Fine," Zuo Luohuan said, unconcerned about being followed.
As they entered, Ji Yuezhi scanned the troops within the mine. There were too many. The northern and western sector armies had not only occupied the undeveloped eastern mine but also stationed soldiers throughout the previously excavated areas. He tugged on Zuo Luohuan's sleeve.
Sensing his movement, Zuo Luohuan turned. "What is it?"
"Too many people," Ji Yuezhi said, a sense of unease settling over him. Logically, more troops meant greater security, but… was that really the case?
Zuo Luohuan stopped, meeting his gaze. "A trap?"
After years of suppressing the Gashro Empire at the border, the various army groups had ample experience fighting Gen 2 Robot Dogs. If the Gashro were setting a trap to wipe out the incoming troops and cripple the Federation, Robot Dogs alone wouldn't suffice. Unless they planned to level the entire Xijiang Exile Star.
But that was impossible. The Winter Army's first priority upon arrival was to check for explosives. This precaution stemmed from past incidents, making it a critical aspect of their protocol.
"Let's see the 377th's commander first," Zuo Luohuan said, turning around.
The commander of the 377th wasn't in a good position. With the Star Governor under interrogation and Hong Tongdao in custody, he was also under suspicion. The 377th had been stationed on Xijiang Exile Star for twenty years, witnessing mine after mine being depleted, the ground dug deep, yet never a trace of Silver-Green. Anyone would suspect the commander's loyalty.
He couldn't defend himself, only wait for further investigation. He truly hadn't found any Silver-Green. The testing process had remained consistent for two decades, but the 377th, focused on mining, didn't handle the refining and testing; that was the research institute's responsibility.
"You wanted to see me?" the commander emerged from his office. Despite being under suspicion, he still managed all handover procedures.
Zuo Luohuan's gaze swept over the row of army-green buildings behind him. She hadn't looked closely before, but now, she noticed how dilapidated they were, offering only basic protection from wind and dust.
"Commander, all the mined ore is sent to the research institute?" Ji Yuezhi asked.
"Yes. There were originally five professors at the institute," the commander said wistfully. "But over the past twenty years, some passed away due to illness, others were transferred. Only one remained. I can't vouch for everything, but the test reports from the first ten years are definitely accurate. Back then, it required five matching reports for confirmation."
"We heard you weren't planning to mine the eastern sector," Zuo Luohuan said, her eyes fixed on the commander.
He nodded. "Many of our men have children around your age. They wanted to leave Xijiang Exile Star early, secure a future for their families. After a full survey, the eastern mine showed no structural difference from the others, so we thought we'd leave it be. But Sun Long insisted on continuing, saying she wouldn't be at ease until we'd mined it completely. I let her take a squadron, and then… the cave-in happened."
Sun Long was Yan Yan's mother.
Something clicked for Zuo Luohuan. "Was that her first mining operation?"
The commander shook his head. "Sun Long had led many mining operations. She was experienced, otherwise I wouldn't have sent her with just one squadron."
Not her first time, experienced, yet a cave-in occurred…
"Commander, do you know the specifics of that operation?" Ji Yuezhi inquired.
"I wasn't on-site. I was in my office. But Sun Long's husband wrote a report afterward." The commander returned to his office. "I'll get it for you."
The report stated that on the day of the incident, Sun Long and six subordinates entered the mine to plant explosives. The others waited at a distance. The explosives were supposed to detonate only after they'd exited, but that day, the waiting team never saw them emerge before the mine exploded. Yan Yan's father immediately led a rescue effort, but it was too late. All six subordinates perished. Only Sun Long, shielded by two of her men, survived, though she remained unconscious.
The explosives detonated before they even left the mine?
Zuo Luohuan raised an eyebrow. "What was the official cause determined in the investigation?"
"The subordinate responsible for the detonator wire had been transferred from another squad. He'd been drinking at his former captain's house the night before and was delayed," the commander said, frowning. "He was one of the two who shielded Sun Long."
"…Let's go take a look at the eastern mine," Ji Yuezhi said, glancing at Zuo Luohuan.
"Alright. If you need anything, come find me," the commander said, guilt evident in his voice.
As they headed towards the eastern mine, Zuo Luohuan checked her optical computer. "Fang Yong is near the western sector. He can arrive tomorrow. An Yingjing has arranged an escort."
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