C10 The First Outbreak of the Virus

At the same time, the leadership of the Recruit Company was engaged in discussions within the confines of the meeting room. The commanding officer, Lee Feng, a strapping man who had just turned thirty, possessed a square jaw and robust physique. He was dressed in a military green uniform adorned with two bars and three stars on his arm patch. Among the attendees was Xia Bing.

"Recently, there have been numerous incidents at the New Soldier Battalion. Thankfully, there have been no fatalities, but how would I explain that to my superiors? I want to reiterate that the safety of the recruits must be our foremost concern. Logistics must keep pace as well, ensuring timely maintenance of all facilities. We cannot afford to overlook any aspect of our duties," Lee Feng stated, his eyes scanning the room and finally resting on Xia Bing.

All present nodded in agreement, except for Xia Bing, who maintained a frosty demeanor as if she were deeply indebted to someone. Lee Feng wasn't perturbed; after all, the Teachers' icy beauty was known for her aloofness, and everyone had grown accustomed to it. However, during a meeting where everyone else had spoken up, her silence stood out.

"Xia Bing, I heard you had a confrontation with some recruits this afternoon. Are you still upset?" Lee Feng asked with a hint of jest in his voice.

"Do I seem like someone who holds grudges? I believe the recent events are more than mere accidents," Xia Bing replied, her voice softening slightly as a hint of concern flickered in her eyes.

Turning his attention back to the plaza, Zhuge Yao noticed a shadowy figure pausing not far off, seemingly fiddling with something on a horizontal bar. Physical training had become rare since the advent of Mecha on the battlefield, leaving the area deserted. After ensuring no one was around, the figure pulled a saw from his bag.

Devil Beast Men were categorized into seven levels, though not explicitly named. They were simply referred to by the number seven, and one could discern their level by the energy they emitted.

"It must be the work of a Devil Beast Man; it's the only explanation for all these accidents," Zhuge Yao mused to himself. He had intended to capture the moment on his phone, but upon reaching into his pocket, he realized it had already been confiscated.

"Snap." While searching for his phone, Zhuge Yao accidentally stepped on a branch, creating a sharp crackling noise.

The Fox Woman, ever alert, heard the noise behind her and immediately sprang into action, fleeing the scene. Her speed was only that of a Level One Wind Soaring, but her stealth skill was her ace in the hole. With just a bit of distance between them, she could vanish into the shadows.

"Think you can escape? Not so fast. Let's settle today's score," Zhuge Yao bellowed, reactivating the Small Mecha on his body and giving chase to the Fox Woman. This was a golden opportunity he couldn't miss; with the Fox Woman's Combat Strength Value at a mere hundred, he had no fear of being overpowered by her.

They weren't far apart to begin with, and with the assistance of the Small Mecha, Zhuge Yao rapidly closed the gap. Just as he was about to apprehend her, a sudden pain shot through his arm—the very spot previously bitten by a Werewolf—sending a numbing sensation throughout his body.

The Fox Woman, drenched in a cold sweat and convinced she was about to be captured, had resigned herself to her fate. As a Devil Beast Man, she lacked combat skills and was no match for even an average soldier; in fact, some were inferior. But just as her luck seemed to have run out, Zhuge Yao didn't reach for her. Instead, he clutched his own arm, contorted in pain.

With a mischievous grin, she kicked Zhuge Yao to the ground and bolted. Had she not hesitated for that split second, the chase might have ended there. But reality offered no such reprieve.

Gritting his teeth, Zhuge Yao suppressed the throbbing pain in his arm and pursued the Fox Woman once more. He was gaining on her when she suddenly vaulted over the wall into the Female Battalion.

As he pondered whether to scale the wall and continue the pursuit, Lee Xinru, returning from a shopping trip, caught sight of Zhuge Yao pacing alone by the Female Battalion's wall in the dead of night.

"Pervert, degenerate, scoundrel! Don't you move an inch, you hear me? I'm going to teach you a lesson," Lee Xinru yelled, her voice echoing in the night. After being insulted three times in one day, her anger was palpable.

The two resumed their fight, but Lee Xinru was no match for Zhuge Yao. Today, Zhuge Yao was in top form, determining the victor in just three moves. He found it odd; he had intentionally pulled his punches, so how could he have struck with such ferocity? Lee Xinru, feeling indignant after being overpowered, called forth her Mecha, hoping to salvage her pride.

"You're out of your mind, girl! Using a Mecha against me? Just don't make things worse. I'm in the middle of hunting a Devil Beast Man. If you're not going to help, at least don't get in the way," Zhuge Yao yelled, sprinting forward and pinning Lee Xinru beneath him.

The Assault No.66 Mecha burst out from the Female Battalion, but before it could launch an attack, it halted abruptly. When the target and the controller coincide, the Mecha's control system is programmed to cut the power as a safety measure.

"You? You're a Devil Beast Man!" Zhuge Yao stammered, looking at Lee Xinru in disbelief. He vividly remembered that in his past life, this girl, Lee Xinru, was a celebrated war hero of the Dawn Empire, with royal lineage to boot. The idea of her being a Devil Beast Man was preposterous; no one would buy it.

"I haven't even transformed. How could you tell? Besides, I'm not a Devil Beast Man; I'm a Super Warrior," Lee Xinru retorted, her eyes brimming with confusion.

"Something's off with my eyes. A mutation, perhaps? You claim to be a Super Warrior? With your level of skill, I'd say you're more of a Devil Beast Man, specifically a Tiger Man," Zhuge Yao admitted, his confidence wavering. In his previous life, his interest lay solely with mechas, leaving him with little knowledge of anything else.

"It's none of your business, and I'm not telling," Lee Xinru snapped back, her eyes wide with anger, clearly wanting to make her irritation known.

Upon finishing her meeting, Xia Bing encountered the scene of Zhuge Yao on top of Lee Xinru. With a cool detachment, she commented, "What's going on here? Could you at least be mindful of your surroundings? You're supposed to be civilized individuals."

Upon hearing Xia Bing's words, Lee Xinru snapped to her senses, realizing a man was still pinning her down. She swung a slap at him in response. Zhuge Yao, ever alert, had already stood up at the sound of Xia Bing's voice. Lee Xinru's slap swiped through thin air, leaving her fuming and stamping her feet in frustration.

Unable to enter the Female Battalion, Zhuge Yao made a swift exit. Within moments, he had disappeared. Xia Bing helped Lee Xinru to her feet and gave her a quick once-over before asking, "What were you doing here with that new recruit? Shouldn't you be asleep by now?"

Feeling wronged, Lee Xinru shook off Xia Bing's arm and recounted the whole story, sticking strictly to the truth.

Since he hadn't actually set foot in the Female Battalion, Zhuge Yao wasn't concerned about Lee Xinru holding the incident against him. However, he was somewhat worried about what trouble the Fox Woman might stir up within the battalion. Lost in thought, he collided with someone and quickly came to his senses.

"Sorry about that, are you okay? I wasn't paying attention," Zhuge Yao apologized before getting a good look at the person. It's generally understood that one doesn't strike a person who offers a smile, so he expected no anger in return.

Despite his hopes, the other person was indeed upset. They grabbed Zhuge Yao by the arm and berated him loudly, "What are you doing running around in the dead of night, kid? Didn't I tell you not to wander off? What if something had happened?"

Zhuge Yao instinctively tried to evade, but he had no time to react. Looking up at the person, his irritation dissolved, and he meekly asked, "Sergeant, are you taking a stroll as well?"