First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 226
Chapter 226: Finale: Secret Letter
The string of code was composed of letters and numbers, handwritten rather than typed, likely to avoid being tracked.
Lian Sheng brought it close to her nose and sniffed—nothing unusual.
The paper was ordinary, with yellowed and curled corners, as if torn from some random notebook.
She ran her fingers over the handwriting.
AS256-287-08:00
The ink showed smudges where it hadn't fully dried before being handled.
The script was hurried and sloppy—either habitual or written in haste.
Lian Sheng examined the paper from every angle, scrutinizing every corner, but found no clues. Only then did she turn her attention to the content.
She truly couldn't decipher what it meant. As someone without specialized knowledge of Alliance codes or computational ciphers, she mentally reviewed possible interpretations before decisively abandoning further analysis.
Lian Sheng slipped her shoes back on and went out in the dead of night to summon help.
Everyone was exhausted. After the day's events, most had fallen asleep early. Awakened by knocking, they were irritable and bleary-eyed, burying their heads under pillows to stubbornly cling to sleep.
Not daring to make too much noise, Lian Sheng retrieved spare keys, unlocking doors and physically dragging people out.
The first room she entered belonged to Fang Jianchen.
Startled, he recoiled, curling into a defensive ball. "What the hell are you doing?"
Lian Sheng said, "Get up. I've got a little secret to show you."
"Holy shit, what's wrong with you?" Fang Jianchen clutched his blanket, taking in her menacing expression. "It's the middle of the night! Give me a break! Even reincarnation lets you pick an auspicious hour!"
Lian Sheng replied, "The underworld doesn't offer that service. Get your ass up!"
Fang Jianchen twisted toward the wall and yelled, "Zhuoluo! Hey, Zhuoluo! You alive over there? Yeah, go wake him up first. If he's up, I'll get up."
Lian Sheng waved him off and headed for the door. Just as Fang Jianchen sighed in relief, she added, "Never mind. Keep sleeping. Your IQ probably wouldn't contribute much anyway."
Fang Jianchen's head snapped up, eyes blazing. "Bullshit! You're all useless without me!"
Lian Sheng diverted to Zhao Zhuoluo's room.
He lay in bed with his eyes closed, wavering between enduring until dawn or embracing an early demise. Ultimately opting for delayed execution.
Hearing his door open, he looked up in surprise just as someone rushed in and yanked his blanket away.
"......" Zhao Zhuoluo. "......"
Lian Sheng casually patted his bare thigh. "Up, up, up! Move it! What's wrong with all of you?"
"Let me put on pants first," Zhao Zhuoluo said flatly. "Get out."
Lian Sheng said, "Don't worry. Everything below the waist is the same between us—just your legs are thicker."
"......" Flushing darker, Zhao Zhuoluo gritted out, "Stop talking and leave. I'll help wake the others. You're in your room, right?"
"Yeah," Lian Sheng said, touched. "Such a thoughtful little angel. I knew you'd understand. Hurry up, and keep it quiet."
Thoughtful little angel: "......"
Lian Sheng returned to her room. About ten minutes later, the group—hastily dressed—trickled in.
"Zhuoluo, you bastard!" Cheng Ze hissed while struggling out of his shirt. "What the hell did you put on me? Damn it! You gave me two pairs of underwear, didn't you?"
Lian Sheng sat cross-legged on her bed, sipping coffee with an air of serenity.
Cheng Ze asked, "What's going on?"
Lian Sheng pointed at the paper in Cornell's hands.
Lu Mingyuan took it and asked, "Where'd this come from?"
Lian Sheng pointed at her nightstand.
Fang Jianchen barely glanced at it. "Who delivered it?"
"Do you even need to ask?" Cheng Ze shuddered. "If we knew, we wouldn't be puzzling over a note. A verbal message would've been way better."
Ye Buqing snatched the paper from him. "Be careful. Don't crumple it—there might be clues."
Zhao Zhuoluo asked, "So we've got no idea when it appeared? Could it have been days ago?"
Lian Sheng: "I know this much—it wasn't here last night. Must've shown up after 8 a.m."
Cheng Ze rubbed the back of his head and pulled up a chair. "This place has surveillance. Whoever went through this much trouble has serious intentions. Combined with yesterday's... was it yesterday? The assassination attempt—I think we should stay sharp."
Zhou Shirui asked, "Which side is this from? Could it be Maxwell's people?"
Lian Sheng cradled her cup. "Since they specifically delivered it to my room, they probably don't want others knowing. I'll assume their intentions are more good than bad."
She tapped her chin. "Our mystery person could bypass surveillance to deliver this, yet chose handwriting and seemed rushed. That suggests they're not in a good position."
Zhao Zhuoluo nodded. "Makes sense. Printed text could be traced through paper stock or printer logs. Probably limited mobility or unsafe conditions."
In this era, evading digital trails was harder than avoiding human detection. Any electronic device used would leave evidence.
Ye Buqing: "Could also be to conceal their identity."
Lian Sheng said, "Handwriting and fingerprints reveal more. They're not hiding from us."
Fang Jianchen's eyes widened. "You're sure there are fingerprints?"
"Not necessarily," Lian Sheng said. "But it doesn't matter either way."
The group fell silent.
Harry whispered, "So... who is it?"
Lian Sheng: "I didn't call you here to analyze the paper. I want you to analyze these numbers."
Thus, the group collectively stared at the note in deep contemplation.
Harry pointed. "The last part's definitely a time—8:00. That's obvious."
Ji Ban said, "Not necessarily. Codes usually require conversion."
"Don't overcomplicate it," Lian Sheng said. "If someone risked delivering this, the message should be straightforward, not cryptic. So it probably does mean 8:00."
Ye Buqing: "Then what about the front part? Room number? Channel code? Mech model? Or some street designation?"
Zhou Shirui directly input the numbers into his optical computer. After hitting enter, he exhaled. "Might be really simple."
Everyone crowded around to look.
AS256-287 referred to zoning codes assigned during the 16th District's construction.
The airport was located nearby, and last night's incident had occurred perilously close to this area.
Everyone: "......"
Everyone: "......"
Fang Jianchen asked, "Can I go back to sleep now?"
Lian Sheng: "Maybe we should discuss this note further."
The group turned to her.
Lian Sheng gestured apologetically. "Had coffee. Can't sleep now."
Ignoring her, they dispersed back to their rooms.
The next morning, Lian Sheng dressed early to head out.
Ji Ban asked, "You're really going? Who knows what kind of people are there. Could be a trap since they couldn't act at the airport."
"I'll play it by ear and stick to crowded areas. If things look bad, I'll retreat immediately—no need to worry." Lian Sheng fastened a monitor to her chest and put in an earpiece. "Keep watch. Nobody moves unless necessary. Alert me if anything seems off."
Zhao Zhuoluo: "Want company?"
Lian Sheng: "I'll make it quick. No need for backup. You're more valuable here. If things go south, prep the mechs for extraction."
The group nodded, activating their optical computers to begin surveillance.
Lian Sheng stamped her feet and left with her bag.
By 8 a.m., the 16th District was already bustling.
Lian Sheng kept her collar raised, blending into foot traffic as she slowly navigated the sidewalks.
Checking her map, she approached the coded zone.
The area was expansive, but much had been repurposed for commerce—inaccessible without authorization. She had no immediate plans to enter, opting to circle the perimeter first.
From 7 a.m. until nearly 11, Lian Sheng traversed shopping districts, commercial zones, and even a university area. Her stomach growled, yet she'd found nothing.
As morning crowds thinned, she remained adrift.
"Maybe they left? Or we misinterpreted?"
"Would their coordinates really be this vague? Doesn't feel right."
Zhou Shirui said, "Lian Sheng, hold on. Look at your 10 o'clock, about 100 meters ahead—man in front of the office building. See him?"
Lian Sheng paused. "Yeah."
A figure in an overcoat and black hat watched her intently.
Initially assuming mistaken identity, she realized his gaze never wavered—he was unmistakably observing her.
Her first instinct was flight, but after a few steps, she noticed he hadn't pursued. He simply stood there, watching.
Sensing something amiss, she turned back and approached.
The man nodded slightly and began leading the way.
After a moment's hesitation, Lian Sheng followed.
They stopped beneath a deserted bridge.
In the shadows, the man removed his hat and bowed slightly. "Hello."
Lian Sheng: "Who are you?"
The man cut straight to it: "General Barite is my father."
Lian Sheng froze.
Now she could see him clearly—early forties, clean-shaven but pallid, as if recently ill.
Zhou Shirui scrambled to pull up records. Barite's family details were conspicuously absent from public sources—the general guarded his privacy fiercely.
Only by accessing Alliance databases did Zhou Shirui confirm the man's identity through facial recognition.
Lian Sheng waited for verification before Zhou Shirui said, "It's him."
Her pulse jumped. "So?"
He said, "I know you're Alliance operatives with mechs stationed here. I lack armed support and need your assistance."
The scenario felt eerily familiar.
Last time this happened, the man's name was Maxwell. He'd later turned two of their comrades and now sat comfortably in a government building—after scheming against them multiple times and indirectly costing Lian Sheng a hand.
Lian Sheng thought: Are we Gelen defectors' safe harbor now?
Since when did we earn this reputation?
Lian Sheng said, "We only have a few mechs here—nothing compared to the 16th District's defenses. But if provoked, we can fight back."
"Know why you were targeted yesterday? Your identities and those mechs." The man adjusted his hat. "Everyone assumes Barite's in the 3rd District, but he's here. After Alliance forces withdrew, he deemed this the safest location. He didn't expect you to remain."
It was indeed secure.
With all attention on Districts 1 and 2—where Maxwell and Alliance forces were concentrated—the 16th District, nestled in Gelen's center behind defensive lines, was easily overlooked.
The man continued softly, "Though nominally under Maxwell's jurisdiction, Barite now controls the military here. Your presence makes him nervous—it risks exposure. Given the chance, he'll eliminate you. He's paranoid after the recent assassination attempt."
His chuckle carried ambiguous undertones.
Lian Sheng's ears pricked.
His speech was oddly measured, as if restraining labored breathing—unusual for his build and age. She suspected injury.
Lian Sheng asked, "Is this a warning? If you're sincere, how about Barite's current location?"
"I don't know," the man said, replacing his hat. "I came alone. As for his whereabouts... I believe he no longer trusts me."
He added, "My authority's limited, especially here. Maxwell's stretched too thin. So I thought... I'd try you."
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