In the past few days, Jin Yi Ye Xing, the popular streamer whose traffic has more than tripled, has been taking viewers exploring caves, climbing mountains, and driving around the camp's surroundings in the game, successfully exploring the Stormwind Gang's northern and southern camps.
Ye Xing pushed the door open, got out of the car, and walked towards Lu Yuan confidently and calmly.
He wore a flowing robe over his combat uniform, looking quite dashing. His demeanor was completely different from when he first came online, appearing sharp, capable, and highly adaptable to the environment.
Furthermore, perhaps it was an illusion, but it felt like the guy had grown two or three centimeters taller.
In short, he was increasingly living up to the title of "Chief Investigator" and wasn't embarrassing the Executive Officer.
"Team Leader, the Stormwind Gang's forces have started moving. A large number of vehicles left the northern camp today."
Lu Yuan: "Did you record a video?"
Ye Xing: "Yes! Many clips. I'll upload them now."
He uploaded several video clips to the camp's intranet, some he filmed himself, and others taken from the air by drones.
In the videos, a column of armored vehicles was marching across the Desert. There were troop carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, wheeled assault guns, and truck-mounted artillery. This single column already totaled over 10 vehicles.
"Also, the Stormwind Gang has started scouting Red Iron Town. I saw all-terrain vehicles of unknown forces loitering outside the town twice today, and the people in the vehicles were even looking at the town with binoculars."
"Hmm..." Lu Yuan nodded.
"The enemy is very cautious and has excellent military training. They are definitely not some ragtag army."
"Should I go chop down their scouts?" Guo Li Cheng asked with an expectant look.
You're really bold...
"Calm down. Doing that is too reckless and will only alert the enemy," Lu Yuan said.
"It's fine. Let them scout as much as they want. Red Iron Town is peaceful now. The deeper they scout, the easier it will be for them to underestimate the forces needed."
"Instead, the employees who are out farming dungeons need to be more vigilant and careful not to be seen by the Stormwind Gang's scouts."
"You don't need to worry too much about that," Nan Guo de Xue stepped forward and said. "After our drone network detects the enemy, it will immediately send alerts to nearby employees, guide them to take detours, or go to other wild cave dungeons."
"Very good."
I have to say, the drone base station system developed by Nan Guo de Xue has been a great help.
Nan Guo de Xue: "There's one more thing to report. Previously, by monitoring the secret calls between the Oasis City and Red Iron Town informants, we've confirmed the location of the Oasis City relay signal tower. Should we attack it?"
Lu Yuan thought for a few seconds in the evening breeze.
"Not necessary for now. Let them speak freely. The more they talk, the more intelligence they leak to us."
He sent the videos Ye Xing filmed to Caoyuan and Chang Kong. Working together, they would soon be able to analyze the weaknesses of the Stormwind Gang's combat vehicles, making drone attacks more efficient.
...
At the same time, in the Stormwind Gang's main camp.
The blond-haired Hart, accompanied by his adjutant, was checking the preparation progress of his subordinates.
In the vast warehouse, shouts and machine noises were clamoring.
Stored ammunition boxes were moved out, combat vehicles were undergoing concentrated inspections, engines were cleaned and refilled with engine oil and lubricant, and artillery pieces were disassembled for maintenance, ensuring they could go into battle in optimal condition.
In the yard, taking advantage of the cooling evening temperatures, hundreds of Raiders were shouting uniform slogans, running laps enthusiastically, and doing adaptive training.
Throughout the entire camp, drinking and gambling have been explicitly forbidden and will only resume on the day of victory.
In the distance, more troops were being transferred from other camps, with combat vehicles entering one after another.
"There are no signs of reinforced defenses in Red Iron Town, Lieutenant Colonel Harte. Are we... perhaps a bit overprepared?"
The adjutant asked cautiously.
Hart did not have a real military rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Legend has it that the earliest founder of the Stormwind Gang was a Lieutenant Colonel who survived the apocalypse and fled to Li Star. Therefore, subsequent warband leaders, whether they rose through bloodline or by killing their predecessors, were also called "Lieutenant Colonel".
The two words "Lieutenant Colonel" here are equivalent to "awesome great leader".
The first Lieutenant Colonel brought military tradition and discipline. Relying on these two valuable legacies, the Stormwind Gang gradually accumulated strength over three centuries and developed into the most powerful Raider warband in the Desert.
But this also made the Stormwind Gang a thorn in the side of Oasis City. Oasis City has long wanted to cultivate another Raider force in the western Desert that could rival it, but has never succeeded.
Across the dry river valley, ruling the eastern side of the Desert are two large, mutually hostile warbands, each only half as strong as the Stormwind Gang, and eager to curry favor with Oasis City, hoping to gain "patronage".
That was the state City Lord Cole desired.
"You listen carefully. Even a lion hunting a rabbit must use its full strength. Moreover, Red Iron Town has over three thousand residents and is one of the largest settlements in this Desert besides Oasis City." Hart glanced coldly at the adjutant.
"Yes, Lieutenant Colonel!"
In fact, mobilizing so many troops, besides attacking Red Iron Town, was also to guard against potential small actions from Oasis City.
He would absolutely not leave an empty camp. As for how many people should be left to defend it, that depended on the situation.
"Right, how is the progress on collecting grain?"
"It's 80% complete," the adjutant said. "Those villagers are disgusting. To pay less grain, they'd rather wrap food in clothes and hide it in their own latrines! Truly greedy and despicable!"
"Don't tell me they weren't punished."
"No, of course they were punished! Their ears were cut off on the spot, a severe punishment!"
"Very good. Smoke the dried food to remove the smell and distribute it to the Soldiers."
...
In the Cangyuan camp, tense production and training continued for four days.
Late on the fourth night, the fixed routine was broken.
"Executive Officer!" Jubian woke up Lu Yuan, who was resting. "The Stormwind Gang has contacted Oasis City again!"
Lu Yuan quickly followed him into the airship. Other players, upon receiving the news, also followed.
"Lion's Den calling Oasis, please respond!"
Coffee Cat, who had previous experience, picked up the walkie-talkie and calmly imitated a female secretary's tone.
"This is Oasis, please speak."
However, when the communication rang again, the speaker had changed.
"This is Lieutenant Colonel Harte. I want to speak with City Lord Cole himself."
Lieutenant Colonel Harte? The leader of the Stormwind Gang?
Coffee Cat turned to look at the Executive Officer, a bit flustered.
We can't imitate City Lord Cole's voice yet...
Lu Yuan raised a hand, signaling them not to panic.
"Tell him to wait a moment, then use the recording of those two sentences just now to call the real City Lord of Oasis City. Jubian, pay attention to recording the City Lord's voiceprint characteristics. I'll need them later."
"Understood!"