24: Ark Project Execution Team: Hand over your ship!

The rain had stopped, but the night remained as thick and impenetrable as ink.

The black iron ghost hovered on the undulating surface of the water, looking like a black leopard on the hunt.

All lights had been extinguished; only the Bio-active Metal on the hull's surface pulsated with a faint, rhythmic breath, swallowing all surrounding light.

Inside the cockpit, the red alarm lights did not cause Jiang Ran to panic; instead, they stirred a trace of bloodlust in the depths of his eyes.

“Report target status.”

Jiang Ran's voice was steady and cold.

“Yes, Commander.”

zero's emotionless synthetic voice echoed in the cabin: “Target count: 3.”

“Distance: 1200 meters, approaching at high speed.”

“Vessel analysis: Fast assault craft modified based on the old era 'Type 056' escort boat chassis. Displacement approximately 80 tons.”

“Although the heavy missile silos have been removed, they retain 30mm automatic naval guns and heavy machine gun turrets.”

“These aren't civilian modified ships.”

Jiang Ran squinted at the three red dots surrounding them in a triangular formation on the screen. “This is a regular military configuration.”

In these wasteland waters, there was only one power capable of fielding such a configuration.

Other than that 'Official Shelter' that had been broadcasting non-stop, Jiang Ran couldn't think of a second one.

“They're here for the things beneath the museum.”

Su Qingyu adjusted her glasses and looked at the radar screen, her tone certain. “The energy fluctuations when the stone tablet was activated just now were too large; their sonar must have heard it.”

“More than that.”

Jiang Ran sneered, pointing at the opponent's course displayed on the screen. “Their current heading has been fine-tuned.”

“They were originally heading for the museum, but now... they're coming for us.”

“It seems that while this ship's stealth coating can absorb radar waves, the active sonar beam used to release the nautilus just now exposed our position.”

Before his voice could fade...

Three blinding searchlight beams suddenly lit up on the originally pitch-black river surface.

Those were military-grade high-power xenon lamps.

Like three sharp swords piercing the night sky, they converged precisely on the location of the black iron ghost.

Although the black iron's light-absorbing coating made it look like a black hole...

Its twenty-meter-long streamlined silhouette was still revealed within the interlacing beams of light.

Immediately after, a burst of harsh static came through the public radio channel.

Then came a male voice that was extremely arrogant and carried an undisguised tone of command:

“Black vessel ahead, cut your engines immediately! Repeat, cut your engines immediately!”

“This is the Eastern Theater 'Ark Project' Special Task Force.”

“We have detected prohibited high-energy reactions in your waters.”

“We now suspect you are in illegal possession of state-controlled materials.”

“All personnel, put your hands behind your heads immediately and walk onto the deck for inspection! Any resistance will be met with lethal force!”

Accompanied by the broadcast, the three black assault boats had already closed in to a distance of 500 meters.

With the help of the scattered light from the searchlights, Jiang Ran could see the opponent's appearance clearly.

They were painted entirely in matte black, with a white geometric logo resembling Noah's Ark sprayed on the gunwale.

Below it was a serial number: Ark-Enforcer-09.

The 30mm single-barrel machine cannon at the bow had already had its cover removed.

The pitch-black muzzles...

Were slowly rotating under the drive of servo motors, making a grating mechanical sound as they locked onto the cockpit of the black iron ghost.

On the deck stood seven or eight fully armed soldiers.

They wore uniform black tactical exoskeletons and held not crude hunting rifles, but brand-new standard-issue assault rifles.

“Ark Project...”

Jiang Ran chewed on the words, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. In his previous life, he had heard of this name.

It was one of the largest superpowers in the late apocalypse, said to possess the top technology and resources of the old era, styling itself as the final spark of humanity.

He hadn't expected to encounter them so early in this life.

“Jiang Ran, what do we do?”

Su Qingyu looked at those dark muzzles, her face turning slightly pale. “Those are machine cannons; they can tear a person in half.”

“Should we... talk first?”

“Talk?”

Jiang Ran leaned back in his chair, watching the decreasing distance of the opponent on the screen, a mocking curve hooking the corner of his mouth.

“In this world, people with guns never negotiate with people without guns.”

“The reason they haven't fired yet isn't because of mercy, but because...”

Jiang Ran's fingers lightly tapped the console. “They've taken a liking to my ship.”

Sure enough, that arrogant voice came through the radio again, this time with a hint of greed in its tone:

“Final warning! This is an ultimatum!”

“Your ship appears to be well-modified.”

“If you cooperate with the investigation, we can consider granting you 'Level 2 Requisition Compensation' and give you a ticket to the Ark's outer perimeter.”

“Don't do anything stupid; you only have one ship. And we represent order.”

Represent order?

Jiang Ran laughed.

The laugh was somewhat cold.

If he were still Lv2, facing three escort boats equipped with machine cannons, he might have had to avoid their edge and use his speed to escape.

But now?

He was a Lv3 black iron ghost.

“zero.”

Jiang Ran spoke indifferently, his voice without a ripple. “Present, Commander.”

“Connect me to their channel.”

“Since they want to represent order, I'll teach them what truth is.”

“Zzt—”

The communication channel was connected.

That arrogant male voice rang out again, carrying a sense of condescending charity:

“Smart move. I am the leader of the 'Ark' Special Operations Group, Li Sen.”

“Now, shut down your power systems immediately, and all personnel walk onto the deck to surrender.”

“Don't make me say it a third time.”

Jiang Ran sat in the command seat, even holding his unfinished coffee cup in his hand.

He didn't respond immediately, but instead looked at the lead command boat through the screen with the eyes of one looking at a dead man.

“Group Leader Li, is it?”

Jiang Ran's voice went out through the speakers, eerily steady.

“Regarding that 'requisition compensation' you just mentioned, I'd like to ask for some clarification.”

“If I hand this ship over to you, what kind of treatment will that so-called 'Ark ticket' get me?”

Hearing Jiang Ran bargaining, Li Sen sneered on the other end of the radio.

In his view, this was a sign that the opponent had already softened and was trying to secure some benefits.

No matter how tough the bone, it would soften before a 30mm machine cannon.

“Hmph, quite greedy.”

Li Sen's tone was laced with undisguised contempt. “Listen well. 'Level 2 Requisition' means you can be exempt from the death penalty and enter the Ark's outer living area.”

“You will be given a position as a 'Class D Maintenance Worker,' working 14 hours a day, with two liquid meals and a communal dormitory provided.”

“As for the woman on your ship...”

Through high-powered binoculars, Li Sen had clearly seen Su Qingyu's stunning silhouette in the cockpit, and his tone became somewhat playful:

“If she's sensible, she can go to the inner zone for housekeeping service.”

“That's a blessing many people couldn't get even if they begged for it; only the beautiful ones are qualified to serve the big shots.”

Inside the cockpit...

Su Qingyu's face instantly turned ashen, her fingers gripping the handrail turning white from the force.

“housekeeping service? This is the so-called officialdom?”

She gritted her teeth, her eyes full of fury.

She naturally knew what those two words meant in the apocalypse—they meant being a legal sex slave.

The expression on Jiang Ran's face did not change.

But in that instant, the temperature in the cockpit seemed to drop ten degrees.

He gently set down the coffee cup in his hand, the bottom hitting the table with a soft 'clack.'

“Class D laborer, plus housekeeping service.”

Jiang Ran repeated in a low voice, then looked up at the screen.

“It seems your order is indeed quite 'humane.'”

“Enough talk!”

Li Sen had clearly lost his patience. “I'll give you ten seconds to consider! Either surrender the ship, or be turned into a sieve to feed the fish!”

“Ten, nine...”

Jiang Ran ignored his countdown.

He just calmly extended a finger and lightly tapped the activation key for the [Intelligent Fire Control System] on the holographic fire control interface.

“zero.”

“Present.”

“Some people, when given the chance to be human, insist on being dogs.”

The three red dots on the radar were reflected in Jiang Ran's pupils, his voice like a cold wind from the underworld:

“No more talking.”

“Sink them all.”