In truth, the Council’s army couldn’t stand against the Capital Coalition—a paper shield before a steel tide.

One side fielded ordinary soldiers with standard rifles and out-of-date armor, like dull scales against a storm of blades.

The other rolled out battle mechs and starships, iron leviathans drifting like predators through a dark sea.

It was cavemen versus muskets; on an open field, the Council had no edge at all. Their early wins came only because the Coalition’s mech corps wasn’t ready, and they beat regular troops like reeds cut before the wind.

Now, even after the Council seized most of Xinke District, the horizon still looked grim; the cores—the headquarters of Fu Tong Industries and Star Gel Industries—remained clenched in enemy hands like stones in a closed fist.

Those inner zones weren’t like outer factories; loyalists ran the defense systems like keepers at a locked gate, and heavy troops massed like thunderheads to stop a strike from Yue Liuyi and Yue Dier.

A rash assault would be moths into flame, a quick burn and nothing left.

...

On the third floor of a shabby little building, Zixin lowered her binoculars, dust floating like ash around her.

Dusk thickened like ink, and the two-hour battle dimmed with the falling night, the guns sinking into hush like waves after wind.

Zixin weighed the ache in her chest, then thumbed the radio and let her voice cut clean as a blade:

“Tell every assault squad: don’t leave your zones... The enemy’s mech units are spinning up. We switch to defense now.”

“Copy!”

In her last sweep, Zixin had spotted combat mechs blooming like iron flowers around the enemy’s HQ.

There weren’t many yet, but if they lit up one by one like stars, the Council’s line would drift into a storm.

So, per Principal Wang’s plan, she had every squad melt into the factories like shadows into beams. It did three things: first, it nailed down the factories and locked in their gains like stakes in hard earth; second, it smudged their positions, a fog to foil decapitation strikes; third, the factories themselves became cover and hostages, steel ribs wrapped around beating hearts.

Those floors held costly machine tools and precision rigs, gleaming like organs inside a giant.

If the enemy drove mechs straight in, or called starships to rain fire, those organs would tear and bleed; even with a field win, the Capital Coalition would bleed money like an open vein.

What came next would be probing and stalemate, a chessboard under cold moonlight.

...

“Secretary-General Zixin, intel just in—from the underground tunnels.”

A woman in uniform offered a still-warm printout like a fresh loaf out of the press.

“Oh? From Colonel Gao... Alright, I’ve got it.”

She glanced at the signature line and felt a pin of certainty—the sender was Dongfang Chen.

Dongfang Chen

Leader Zixin, I’ve confirmed the message. The girl’s identity might be blown, but a few points in her intel demand attention.

First, for their own convenience and amusements, both Fu Pi’s and Linoket’s HQs have passages straight to an underground café. With the situation shifting, those routes are likely sealed and heavily guarded, like mouths stitched shut.

Second, to cover certain unspeakable experiments, Star Gel Industries’ HQ has a massive power plant belowground; the backup reserves could carry them for roughly a week, a buried sun behind concrete clouds.

Third, Fu Pi is greedy and blustery, a paper tiger; Linoket is greedy and petty, a knife kept under the sleeve. If paid compensation in the hundreds of billions, Fu Pi might leave Winter Forest Star, but Linoket will almost certainly strike back like a scorpion.

Fourth, beside the Star Gel tower stands a hospital for new-drug research. Tonight we’ll break in and steal their data, then proceed to the next step as planned, moving like foxes at dusk.

Fifth, reliable word says the top brass of Teng Assets vanished like mist at daybreak. Stay sharp. Move careful.

...

After reading, Zixin sealed the envelope like closing a fan in still air, then walked into Principal Wang’s war room with a steady, deliberate step.

...

Interlude

Infighting

“Liuyi, I’m back from the dead! I’m back, I’m sorry—I actually fainted.”

Luyao waved, then sprinted toward Yue Liuyi, red hair flaring like a banner in wind.

He’d woken, followed the subway tunnel like a river, and slipped into the underground café’s dim light.

“It’s fine. Everyone has something they’re bad at,” she said, voice soft as dusk.

“Uh, it’s mostly that Purple Illusion’s way too sly, so... Right! Liuyi, do you have any tape? Make sure you seal her mouth. Don’t let her speak!”

“Um, about that...”

Yue Liuyi glanced past him, a little stiff, because a small shadow was gliding up behind him like a cat on felt.

“Huh? Killing intent?”

“Thousand-Year Kill!!!!”

With a single chopstick, Purple Illusion struck from behind like a darting swallow.

“Ah!!”

Cold shot up Luyao’s spine, then an indescribable sting bloomed like ice and fire.

“Hmph! That’s what you get for slandering me in the dark,” she sniffed, voice like a bell with claws.

Before he could turn, Purple Illusion streaked off like a purple wisp, a wind-borne petal.

“Argh! Damn it, I got played again!!!!”

To Yue Liuyi’s surprise, when Luyao and Purple Illusion crossed paths, it wasn’t Purple Illusion who went dark—it was Luyao, eyes storm-black.

The redheaded youth bristled like a tiger and pounced for Purple Illusion in a single, coiled spring.

But the café was Purple Illusion’s den; she popped a hidden switch by the wall like plucking a string, spun, and slipped through a secret door like water.

“Damn it, don’t you run from me!”

“Tch! I’m not fighting you face-to-face. If you’ve got the guts, come catch me!”

Luyao hit the secret panel and couldn’t find the catch; he could only pound the wall while her taunts fluttered back like paper birds.

“Liuyi! Did she break out of the cage? Leave her to me—I’ll catch her!”

“Um...”

Between the two locking horns like rams, Yue Liuyi felt a headache bloom like thunder, because—

“Alright, both of you, cut it out... Luyao, Purple Illusion. Tonight we infiltrate Star Gel Industries’ hospital. We need you two working together.”

“What!?”

“Huh? Together?”

“Mm. Brother Luyao, the intel Purple Illusion brought shapes our next move—it’s the keystone of the Xinke District campaign. And Purple Illusion, Brother Luyao’s here to help rescue your sister. You can’t treat him like this.”

“What, this brat defected? Liuyi, you can’t trust her!”

“I don’t want his help! Even if it costs my life, Purple Illusion will save my sister with my own hands!”

...