67: The first appearance of an effective inhibitor sparks a secret plot in the far seas, hoping for a glimmer of hope.

Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Long-Acting Suppressor Debuts, Deep Sea Schemes Peer into Dawn City

The lights in the Scientific Research Zone of Dawn City had been on for half a month straight.

In the laboratory, the hum of instruments continued day and night. With bloodshot eyes, the researchers worked back-to-back at workstations piled high with data reports. While the work to crack the Skeleton Serpent Doctor's laptop was still ongoing, the upgraded research and development of the Energy Suppressor had been the first to break the deadlock, ushering in a breakthrough.

Clutching a freshly printed test report, the Research Team Leader's steps were trembling. When he burst into the command center, Lin Zhou was staring blankly at an unfolded national map. On the map, seven red markers were eye-catchingly prominent; those were the currently identified branches of the Serpent Skeleton Research Institute. The many blank areas, however, were like crouching behemoths, concealing unknown dangers.

“Commander! It’s done! It’s actually done!” The Research Team Leader’s voice was full of ecstasy as he heavily placed a palm-sized silver-gray instrument on the table.

That instrument was several times more refined than the previous temporary model. Its casing was engraved with fine energy patterns, and a pale purple halo flowed slowly between the lines, emitting a gentle yet non-negligible fluctuation. This was the first-generation long-acting Energy Suppressor they had polished by exhausting the residual energy of shattered Level 4 crystal cores and combining it with the Skeleton Serpent's research data.

Lin Zhou’s gaze instantly froze, and he leaned over to pick up the device. His fingertips touched the cold metal casing, but he could feel the energy surging within, allowing his nerves, which had been tense for many days, to finally relax a little.

“How are the parameters?” His voice carried a trace of imperceptible urgency.

“The effective range has been expanded directly to a twenty-meter radius, and the duration is a full twelve hours!” The Research Team Leader pointed excitedly at the report. “The suppression effect on mature-stage Mutants has increased by 50%. Even for a Level 4 Mutant, as long as they step into the interference field, their mobility and attack power will drop off a cliff! More importantly, the mass production formula has been figured out. As long as we have enough crystal core energy, we can mass-produce them!”

Twelve hours, a twenty-meter range.

This meant that the frontline soldiers no longer had to fight with the mindset of 'half an hour to decide life or death,' and the defensive lines could rely on the suppressors to construct a true safety barrier.

Lin Zhou tightened his grip on the suppressor, a sharp light flashing in his eyes: “Immediately start the mass production plan, prioritizing supply to the frontline combat units. In addition, allocate fifty units each to Jincheng and Yucheng as our support; consider it a favor as well.”

“Understood!” The Research Team Leader responded, turning around with a light step, his dark circles from staying up late even seeming spirited.

Silence returned to the command center, and Lin Zhou’s gaze fell back onto the map. Beyond the red markers, the ‘Harvest Plan’ that the Doctor had repeatedly muttered about during interrogation stuck in his heart like a thorn. That guy was incredibly stubborn; no matter the threats or inducements, he refused to reveal more information about other bases, only saying sinisterly, ‘You will all be uprooted soon.’

“Harvest Plan...” Lin Zhou murmured in a low voice, his fingertips lightly tapping the coastal area at the edge of the map. That area was a total blank, untouched even by the Reconnaissance Squad.

Just then, Chen Hao pushed the door open, clutching an encrypted telegram. His expression was as solemn as if covered by a layer of frost: “Commander, the coastal Reconnaissance Squad has sent back an urgent report! They discovered a Mobile Offshore Platform in the far sea, thousands of miles away. The signal characteristics perfectly match the Serpent Skeleton Research Institute! Furthermore, the waters surrounding the platform are full of traces of unidentified creatures; the underwater shadows are terrifyingly large!”

“A Mobile Offshore Platform?” Lin Zhou’s pupils suddenly contracted.

He walked quickly to the tactical sand table and, according to the coordinates in the telegram, planted a small black flag in the coastal area. Land bases could still be stormed, but a Mobile Offshore Platform had too much mobility; it was practically a war fortress floating on the sea. Not to mention those unidentified creatures—they were most likely Marine Mutants cultivated by the Skeleton Serpent.

Once these things made landfall, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“Did the Reconnaissance Squad capture any clear images?” Lin Zhou pressed.

Chen Hao handed over a satellite photo, his fingertip pointing to the center of the image: “Look.”

In the photo, a massive platform cast from steel floated on the ink-colored sea like a hideous beast. A spire tower stood in the center of the platform, its signal tower at the top continuously emitting electromagnetic waves. Around the tower, dozens of cultivation pods were densely arranged. The seawater surrounding the platform shimmered with an eerie dark green, and massive shadows darted beneath the surface. The occasional dorsal fins that emerged even bore serrated bone spurs, making one's scalp tingle.

“Marine Mutants...” Lin Zhou’s brow furrowed into a deep frown.

The threats on land had not yet been eradicated, yet the Skeleton Serpent had already stretched its claws into the ocean. Fighting on both sea and land fronts was undoubtedly a worsening situation for Dawn City.

“Have the Reconnaissance Squad continue covert surveillance; we absolutely cannot alert the enemy,” Lin Zhou quickly made a decision, his tone steady. “Notify the Naval Detachment to immediately activate all patrol vessels and increase the frequency of coastal defense patrols. As for the Scientific Research Zone, expedite the development of Sonic Weapons targeting Marine Mutants—seawater weakens sonic intensity, so the frequency must be adjusted for specific improvements.”

“Yes!” Chen Hao took the order and turned to leave quickly.

Only Lin Zhou remained in the command center. He gazed at the small black flag on the sand table, his eyes growing deeper.

The mobile platform in the far sea was definitely more than just a Mutant cultivation base. Combined with the ‘Harvest Plan’ the Doctor mentioned, the Skeleton Serpent's next move was likely even more dangerous than they imagined.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away on the far sea, at the top floor of the Mobile Offshore Platform's tower.

A Man in the Suit stood with his back to the floor-to-ceiling window. He held a cigar between his fingertips. Amidst the swirling smoke, his face was obscured, leaving only a pair of eyes that flashed with greedy and cold light in the dimness.

Outside the window, dozens of cultivation pods were slowly sinking into the sea. The pod doors opened, and hideous Marine Mutants, flicking tails covered in bone spurs, silently merged into the dark green seawater. They had streamlined bodies, sharp fangs that could tear through steel, and special gill structures that allowed them to breathe briefly on land.

“Sir, the first batch of Marine Mutants has been deployed and is moving toward the coastline,” a researcher in a white lab coat reported with a bow, his tone full of awe.

The Man in the Suit nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the large screen in front of him. In the center of the screen was a 3D model of Dawn City, its coordinates firmly locked within a prominent red box.

“No rush.” His voice was low and raspy, carrying a hint of amusement. “First, let those little fellows on land taste the flavor of the deep sea. When they are exhausted and unable to look after themselves, we will take the ‘Harvesters’ and go get what we truly want.”

The researcher bowed in agreement, not daring to say another word.

The man’s gaze slowly moved to a photo in the corner of the screen. In the photo, Lin Zhou stood on the walls of Dawn City, facing the morning sun and looking into the distance with a determined gaze.

“The red alert system...” A cold curve hooked at the corner of the man’s mouth, the red glow of his cigar flickering in the darkness. “Truly an interesting toy. Soon, it will belong to me.”

He raised his hand and lightly pressed a red button on the table.

Hidden hatch doors beneath the platform slowly opened, and more cultivation pods sank into the deep sea like dumplings being dropped into a pot.

The dark green seawater churned with undercurrents, surging toward the distant coastline.

Meanwhile, the people of Dawn City were still rejoicing over the birth of the long-acting suppressor. The factory assembly lines roared incessantly, the construction of the new city was in full swing, and the laughter of children echoed in the streets.

They did not know that a crisis from the deep sea had already quietly arrived.

Lin Zhou stood by the window of the command center, looking at the distant horizon. The sea breeze, carrying a salty and damp scent, blew through the gaps in the window, fluttering the hem of his clothes. He faintly felt something cold approaching them.

It was a murderous intent from the deep sea, tinged with the scent of blood.