76: Luring the snake out of its hole to catch it in the net, then swiftly turning the tables and annihilating the remaining foes.

Chapter 78: Lure the Snake Out of Its Hole, Reel in the Net, and Thunderously Counter-Kill the Remnants

The night on the Western Plains was eerily quiet.

Moonlight spilled onto the winding highway, stretching the convoy's shadows long. Ten trucks loaded with 'grain' drove at a steady pace, their canvas covers flapping loudly in the wind. The Bud Hunting Squad members responsible for escort duty wore ordinary soldier uniforms, but their eyes were sharp as eagles, vigilantly scanning the dense forests on either side of the road.

Inside the truck's cab, Lin Zhou observed everything around him through the red alert system's shared vision. His fingertips lightly tapped the steering wheel, a cold smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

These trucks weren't carrying grain at all. The bottom layers were piled with Magnetic Storm Mines and Sonic Traps; the upper layers were red alert system Energy Detectors disguised as sacks. The so-called 'Grain Route Gap' was merely bait to lure the snake out of its hole.

Deep in the dense forest, dozens of dark figures lurked in the shadows. They were all undercover agents from the Serpent Skeleton Research Institute. After receiving the Man in the Suit's orders, they had quietly assembled, preparing to ambush the convoy on this desolate plain.

Leading them was a tall, thin man codenamed 'Viper.' Watching the convoy slowly approach on the highway, a glint of greed flashed in his eyes: 'Wait until the trucks enter the ambush zone, then everyone attack together! First blow up the truck cabs, then release the enhanced pupa spores! Make sure not a single blade of grass remains from these supplies!'

The undercover agents nodded one after another, tightening their grips on the explosive packs and Mutant Virus Canisters in their hands.

The convoy's trucks gradually entered the forest's encirclement.

'Attack!' Viper gave the order.

Dozens of dark figures pounced out like starving wolves, hurling explosive packs fiercely at the truck cabs.

'Boom!'

Explosions rang out one after another, flames shooting into the sky.

But strangely, the trucks didn't explode and disintegrate as expected. Instead, the cab shells fell away, revealing thick alloy armor underneath.

'Not good! It's a trap!' Viper's face changed dramatically, and he turned to flee.

'Think you can run? Too late!'

Lin Zhou's voice suddenly blared from a loudspeaker.

Before the words faded, faint blue lights suddenly lit up on the ground on both sides of the highway—the Magnetic Storm Mines had been triggered!

Powerful electric currents instantly swept through the entire ambush zone. The undercover agents, struck by the electricity, convulsed and collapsed to the ground, their virus canisters smashing on the ground, dark green liquid splattering everywhere.

'Bud Hunting Squad, reel in the net!'

At Lin Zhou's command, the truck cargo doors slammed open. Warriors clad in magnetic storm infantry armor descended like divine soldiers, charging out. Blue light glowed from the pulse cannon barrels on their arms, shooting streams of electricity at the still-struggling undercover agents.

Viper watched the scene before him, his eyes filled with despair. He knew he was completely finished.

He suddenly pulled out the last virus canister hidden in his clothes, wanting to go down together. But before he could pull the detonator, an electric current accurately struck his wrist. The virus canister fell to the ground and was crushed under a warrior's foot.

'Capture him! Keep him alive!' Lin Zhou's voice came through.

Two warriors immediately pounced, pinning Viper firmly to the ground and cuffing his hands with special handcuffs.

This ambush battle was fought cleanly and efficiently. In less than ten minutes, all the undercover agents were captured alive.

The warriors searched the undercover agents' bodies, finding a large number of communication devices and virus samples. Even more delightfully, on Viper's person, they found an encrypted chip containing a complete list of all Serpent Skeleton Research Institute undercover agents infiltrating the Five Great Army Groups' defense zones.

'Division Commander, a great victory!' a Bud Hunting Squad leader reported excitedly. 'We captured thirty-seven undercover agents alive, seized over twenty canisters of virus samples, and obtained a complete list of undercover agents!'

Lin Zhou stepped down from the truck, looking coldly at Viper being escorted over. 'Speak, what is the Man in the Suit's next plan?'

Viper gritted his teeth and snorted coldly. 'I won't tell you! Lord Serpent Skeleton will avenge me!'

Lin Zhou couldn't be bothered to waste words on him. He waved to the Researchers behind him. 'Take him back and use the red alert system's Mind Probe to pry open his mouth.'

Upon hearing the words 'Mind Probe,' Viper's face instantly turned deathly pale. He knew that kind of instrument could directly read a person's memories, leaving no room for resistance.

'No! You can't do this!' Viper struggled frantically but was held firmly in place by the warriors.

After the battle, the convoy continued toward the direction of the Western Granary. This time, however, their cargo holds carried thirty-seven prisoners and a precious list of undercover agents.

On the Mobile Platform far out at sea, the Man in the Suit watched the screen showing the undercover agents' complete annihilation, his face ashen like the bottom of a pot. He violently kicked over the control console in front of him and roared, 'Incompetents! A bunch of incompetents!'

The Researchers trembled in fear, not daring to make a sound.

The Man in the Suit panted heavily, his eyes filled with venomous hatred. He knew that the leak of the undercover list meant his spies planted in Dawn City would be uprooted entirely.

'Lin Zhou...' the Man in the Suit's voice was as cold as a venomous snake's, 'you ruined my adult insect project. I'll make you pay!'

He turned, looking at the light point on the screen representing the Red Alert Base, a flash of madness in his eyes.

'Activate the 'Annihilation Plan,'' the Man in the Suit said word by word. 'Release all Level Six Mutants. Target—Dawn City!'

The Researchers' bodies shuddered violently, expressions of terror appearing on their faces. 'Sir! The Level Six Mutants aren't fully controllable yet! Recklessly releasing them might...'

'Execute the order!' the Man in the Suit sharply interrupted, his eyes full of ferocity. 'What I want is mutual destruction!'

The Researchers didn't dare argue further and could only tremble as they pressed the red button on the control console.

The bottom hatch of the Mobile Platform slowly opened.

One after another, massive Level Six Mutants slowly walked out. They stood over ten meters tall, their scales as hard as steel, bone spikes capable of easily tearing through tank armor, and crimson eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

These were the ultimate killing machines the Serpent Skeleton Research Institute had poured all its resources into cultivating.

The seawater around the platform began to churn violently.

The Level Six Mutants jumped into the sea one after another, swiftly swimming toward Dawn City.

A cataclysmic-level crisis was quietly approaching.

Meanwhile, in Dawn City, Lin Zhou looked at the undercover list, a relieved smile appearing on his face. As the list was disclosed, the undercover agents in the Five Great Army Groups' defense zones were rooted out one by one. The threat of the pupa spores was finally completely eliminated.

Inside the command center, everyone cheered and rejoiced.

Lin Zhou looked out the window at the myriad lights of the city and softly let out a sigh of relief.

But he didn't know that an even greater storm was brewing far out at sea.

The figures of the Level Six Mutants had already appeared on the Radar screens along the Eastern Coast.

Their target was Dawn City.