Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

```

Bai E had already demonstrated his technical abilities in several operations, and although he would also deploy professional technicians to follow the operation, having a backup option was always more secure.

Furthermore, even if we set aside the technical aspects, the combat power Bai E displayed was at the top of his recognition. With such a person in charge, the success of this first attempt could be ensured.

"No problem."

Bai E accepted the offer without hesitation.

Going on a mission? Of course, that was no problem.

And he could even curry favor with the information department in the process, killing two birds with one stone.

"Just submit the application to the Military Department on your end, and I will accept proactively."

After becoming captain, Bai E had also dealt with a variety of miscellaneous tasks.

A captain had many privileges. In addition to randomly assigned tasks, they could occasionally apply proactively for some yet-to-be-assigned missions. And a captain with the highest level of synergy like Bai E had even greater authority in this realm, allowing for considerable flexibility in action.

His team had been sidelined for a while because of the reorganization, which was time the military gave them to learn to coordinate and adapt internally.

Now, it was about time for them to embark on a mission.

Seeing Bai E agree, Minister Likok's face visibly brightened with pleasure, "Good, I will apply to the Military Department right away."

"I'll go prepare."

There was no need for pleasantries; they were all practical people who got straight to the point.

Within the "Bug Nest Domain" there was a ruin of a signal base station, a certain distance from the Bug Nest in Black Rock District.

Those signal base stations, even in the Golden Age, were considered precious creations. Their main structures were deeply buried underground and isolated with steel. As long as there was no deliberate damage, the main structures should be well preserved.

But since they had not been usable before, the military wouldn't constantly monitor the target base station.

"We depart tomorrow morning. Our mission target is an ancient ruin near the Bug Nest. The enemies may include, but are not limited to, bugs, beastmen, and mutated creatures… Everyone should prepare individually."

In the once familiar tent, Bai E calmly commanded the gathered squad members.

"Yes, Captain!"

The atmosphere relaxed slightly as Rose approached with a smile on her face, "This time, you just stand back and let me see how much those bugs and beastmen are worth."

Rose's development trajectory had been much safer compared to Bai E. Before joining the special squad, she had always trained in the military camp, and even missed the previous major battle with the Bug Race because of severe injuries she suffered the day before.

Having heard so many stories of Bai E's encounters with alien races, she was itching for a fight.

Moreover, since they were in the same special squad and even trained in the same armored camp, Rose had plenty of time to interact with and even spar privately with Bai E. She believed no one else in the camp knew how strong Bai E was at this moment, except for her.

If Bai E took action, what fun would there be in this mission?

Bai E shook his head with an amused smile, "As you wish..."

Unless he encountered the same Overlord as before, ordinary opponents now hardly caught Bai E's eye.

In these calm days, not only were players furiously learning skills from him, but he was also rapidly increasing his own strength.

[Your Insight +0.4, Stamina +0.6, Reflex +1.0, Mystery +0.2, Light Weapon Mastery Experience +154, Light Firearms Mastery Experience +72, Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience +90, Combat Mastery Experience +60, Knowledge - Human Body Modification Project 1.0 Experience +312, Universal Experience +600, Expertise - Mechanical Rhythm Experience +1200, Spiritual Energy limit +3.]

Through his own training and feedback from player missions, his strength steadily increased over these days.

The efficiency of this improvement naturally wasn't as dramatic as from life-and-death battles, but the results were undoubtedly pleasing.

Expertise differed from specialization; training it required a large investment of experience. Without harvesting experience from players, with his own reserves, he wouldn't have been able to sustain such spending.

Meanwhile, his basic attributes were also progressing bit by bit; there was no shortcut for such things. The basics were always the hardest to improve but also the most reliable.

And now, nearly all the attributes of his body were approaching the limit of an ordinary person without genetic optimization, roughly equivalent to the level of the original 'Blood God'. Coupled with Bai E's unthinkable specializations, expertise, and skills for a commoner, those were the core elements composing a person's combat ability.

[Stamina]: 15.5/24

[Insight]: 13.2/24

[Reflex]: 14.2/24

[Mystery]: 10.8/∞

The only regret might be the 99-point limit on Spiritual Energy.

According to Yue Ying, he had reached a bottleneck.

Training in Spiritual Energy wasn't smooth sailing. An overly large Spiritual Energy could oppress one's own spirit; without a moment of sufficient determination, the ordinarily calm Spiritual Energy might not support further increases... or more accurately, sustainable increases.

He hoped to encounter an opponent in this mission stimulating enough to inspire his spirit…

...

The next day, Bai E, along with his team, waited early at the agreed-upon gathering site.
Explore more at empire

This mission naturally wasn't just Bai E's own team; such a relatively large-scale mission generally required multiple special combat squads to join forces.

Three squads, totaling fifteen people.

A standard size for a joint unit.

Before Bai E's arrival, one squad was already waiting at the gathering point.

```

Everyone sized each other up, not too familiar to greet warmly.

Another squad arrived swiftly amidst the silence between the two teams.

Seeing everyone had assembled, Bai E cleared his throat softly, garnering everyone's attention, "I'll be leading this mission, and I believe everyone has reviewed the relevant information in advance. Of course…"

Suddenly, someone interrupted Bai E.

The good-looking man with a sunny demeanor scanned the faces of the youthful-looking soldiers before him, and with insincere aplomb, asked, "Excuse me, is this…the captain?"

Bai E pursed his lips and nodded at the other, "Yes."

"You're the captain?" The man asked formally, but his eyes betrayed a lack of respect. His gaze swiftly passed over the badges on their chests and finally settled back on Bai E's face, "Judging by their numbers, they all seem to be synthetic humans from the latest batch?"

If it were not for the fact they were in a military camp, seeing the little girl and boy in this squad, he would have thought it was some kids playing outside.

The blond woman and the simple-looking, grinning large man appeared slightly more mature, but not by much.

The gap between battle-hardened veterans of many missions and fresh recruits was stark, and those chosen for special units were usually the elite who had clawed their way up through the ranks, their bloodied essence discernable with a single breath.

But this bunch... was really too green.

Young in looks, immature in demeanor, "fresh off the assembly line"... too green.

Only this "captain" carried a somewhat composed air, and unlike the others, he bore no identifier of artificial humanity... Maybe that's why he could be the captain of this special squad, even the captain with the highest authority to coordinate?

Privilege of natural humans?

...Why should a bunch of wet-behind-the-ears kids lead this joint squad?

"Yes." Bai E simply responded expressionlessly.

The captain of the other early-arriving squad, who had been observing, now stepped forward, "Brother, let's make a deal. How about you give us command this time, and you guys can take a back seat? What do you say?"

Bai E frowned slightly, "You should know that I have the highest coordination authority."

The first captain to speak wore a smirk of assured victory, resorting to regulations generally meant a guilty conscience.

Yet another natural-born high and mighty looking to gild their resume?

But he did not want to entrust his life to a bunch of rookies.

"We say that... but in practice, there are always unexpected situations, right? Brother, don't worry, just follow our lead. We'll ensure this mission goes off without a hitch."

"…Ah!" Bai E just sighed, disheartened, and put down the files he was holding.

The two captains exchanged meaningful glances, both slightly smug.

To wrestle command from a privileged captain, the boasting rights would last for years.

"Rose." Bai E suddenly spoke up.

"Present!"

"Convince them."

"Yes!"

Rose clenched her fists and walked towards the biggest guy among the two squads, beaming with enthusiasm.

"Hey! Fancy a spar?"

"Huh?" The big fellow was momentarily stunned by the radiant woman approaching him, then replied in a daze.

"Norwitz, she looks down on you, wants to beat you up," the large man's captain saw the intent behind the green captain's command.

A show of force?

Fine by him.

In any place, fists are always the most persuasive truth.

"Roar!" Norwitz let out a ferocious shout, looking angrily towards Rose; nothing infuriated him more than being looked down upon!

"Norwitz is going to hit you!"

Norwitz raised his hefty fists.

The large man's captain's lips curled into a cold smirk.

Let them understand the disparity in strength, for the better...

"Ouch! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts…" Pinned to the ground with his arm twisted back, Norwitz was on the verge of tears, "I give up! I give up!"

Still beaming with her bright smile, Rose stood up and even gave Norwitz's butt a pat, her voice brimming with enthusiasm, "Train harder, you're wasting all that physique."

She turned to the two captains, "How about you two? Want to join in? Our captain is in a hurry."

"…"

The two captains glanced at each other, instinctively turning to Bai E.

Bai E was looking into the distance, not sparing them a glance, with his arm around "Zero," walking towards a parked off-road vehicle, his voice trailing from afar.

"If you're afraid of losing face, I'll leave three. Knock down any one of them, and I'll follow your lead for this mission."