Dawn Squad

Lingnan War Zone, Morning Dawn Squad training base.

This was one of the most prominent squads in the Lingnan War Zone, with dozens of buildings standing tall, and in the vast training ground, people were sweating and toiling away.

Inside the squad’s communication room, a message arrived from Baicheng, Xiangnan Province — a very important message.

The communications officer quickly contacted their captain, Su Chen.

In the squad’s conference room, the figure of a man appeared on the projection screen — Captain Chen from the Baicheng Inspection Bureau.

Other than a stern-faced man, there was no one else in the conference room.

The young man faced the projection screen and spoke.

“Captain Chen, may I ask what business you have with me?”

On the screen, Captain Chen first saluted.

“Good day, Lieutenant General Su. The reason I’m contacting you is to request your help.”

Su Chen looked at Captain Chen in the projection without any hint of emotion.

“Please, go ahead.”

Captain Chen immediately said, “There’s a high possibility that a group of cultists is hiding in Baicheng. They’re preparing to recreate the Qincheng Incident! And according to our investigation, your younger brother, Su Xuan, may have been dragged into this.”

After he finished, Captain Chen’s eyes locked on Su Chen through the screen.

Su Chen raised his head, those deep, abyss-like eyes staring right at Captain Chen.

Even though they were separated by a screen, Chen Daocheng could clearly feel that indescribable pressure — the instinctive intimidation exuded by the most ferocious of beasts.

Su Xuan.

How long had it been since that name last reached his ears?

Su Chen was momentarily stunned.

Years of continuous battles and endless travels had long made him forget that he still had a younger brother — one nearly ten years his junior.

By now, that boy should be graduating.

That proud child, so full of his own opinions from a young age — it was because of that nature that Su Chen had resolutely thrown himself onto the battlefield without hesitation.

And in doing so, he had unintentionally forgotten that his brother was still just a minor… still just a lonely left-behind child who had lost his parents.

The energy stones he’d received over the years, Su Chen had never used.

He hadn’t yet been in such desperate need for them.

Only that neatly stacked pile of energy stones could remind him that his only remaining family — his younger brother — was still somewhere out there.

How many years had it been since he last visited his brother?

A slow tide of guilt welled up within him.

After a moment of silence, Su Chen asked, “How… is he?”

Sensing an opening, Chen Daocheng thought for a moment before replying, “He’s still relatively safe for now. But since his name has been linked to this case — even though his involvement is minimal — there’s no guarantee the cult won’t target him. The way cultists think is nothing like ordinary people.”

As he spoke, Chen Daocheng kept an eye on Su Chen’s expression.

His words were somewhat exaggerated, but thinking of the safety of the millions of people behind him eased his guilt.

“Sorry, Su Xuan… but I have to say this. Still, I hope you’ll be safe and sound.”

In his heart, Chen Daocheng silently apologized, knowing this was like putting a curse on someone — unintentional, but still unpleasant.

After a long pause, Su Chen’s voice came low and heavy.

“I accept this mission. I’ll arrange for personnel to be sent over.”

With that, the video feed ended.

Chen Daocheng exhaled deeply, relaxed his shoulders, and muttered quietly with a smile, “Done!”

On the other side of the call, Su Chen sat motionless in his seat.

Old memories surged in like a tide.

How was his younger brother living now?

Had he grown up?

What did he look like now?

He had no answers — only unreliable scraps of memory to piece together an image.

Opening the conference room door, he stepped out from the shadows.

Holy sunlight shone upon his statue-like, chiseled features, and his deep gaze seemed capable of pulling a young woman’s heart right into it.

“Ah Fei, gather the men. We have something to discuss.”

He addressed a wiry, monkey-like man, then walked toward his own quarters.

Ah Fei quickly responded and dashed off toward the broadcasting room.

“Attention all members, attention all members. Put down what you’re doing and gather in the conference room within three minutes. The captain has an important announcement… Repeating — attention all members…”

The broadcast echoed behind Su Chen as he walked, his pace steady and unbroken.

The shadow from the brim of his military cap hid his expression as he entered his quarters.

In the underground training area, the crew-cut twin brothers, who were intensely working their muscles, stopped their exercises when they heard the announcement.

In the back garden, a pink-haired woman, humming a tune while watering pink flowers in the brilliant sunshine, set down her watering can.

In the shooting range, a hawk-eyed man put down his bow, and the young man beside him stopped fiddling with his Rubik’s Cube.

One by one, the squad members halted their individual training and headed for the conference room.

Inside, the pink-haired girl gazed at Su Chen with eyes like peach blossoms shimmering over emerald waves, her heart whispering, “The captain is still so handsome… mmm~”

There were seventeen combat members in the room, including Su Chen, all dressed differently, wielding all sorts of weapons — making it hard to imagine they were part of a super-squad.

Yet they were indeed the famous super-squad.

Seventeen warriors, most of whom had awakened their second form.

Though small in number, their combat power ranked among the best — not to mention their captain, who could single-handedly take on monsters that had awakened their third form.

Seeing everyone was present, Su Chen didn’t waste words.

“Baicheng may soon face a cult invasion. I need one of you to go assist the Baicheng Inspection Bureau and investigate this matter.”

A half-squinting man below asked, “Like what happened in Qincheng?”

“Yes,” Su Chen replied.

Another person spoke up.

“This sort of thing… a regular squad could probably handle it. But if the rats have set up in large numbers, then yes — someone with a second form awakening is needed to keep things under control.”

Another added, “Cultist rats… they really deserve to die!”

The group discussed the matter for about two minutes before turning to Su Chen.

He scanned the room and continued.

“Any volunteers?”

At that moment, the pink-haired woman raised her hand.

“Um, is Baicheng your hometown, Captain Su?”

Su Chen nodded.

The pink-haired woman immediately raised her hand again.

“I’ll go, I’ll go…”

She smiled brightly, inwardly overjoyed.

Another chance to get closer to the captain!

The others, of course, knew exactly what she was thinking.

Though they were tempted to tell her she was overthinking it, they held back.

It wasn’t worth crushing someone’s hopes for something that was clearly impossible.

The captain was perfect in every way — except when it came to romance, where he was like an immovable block of alien steel, utterly incomprehensible.