Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 183 - 179: Helros

Chapter 183: Chapter 179: Helros

After making preparations, the group was ready to head for Helros. They arrived at the airport with the pass mark given to them by the headquarters before departure for inspection.

The High-peak people’s security check system was learned from Earth. Since the end of the Otherworld War, Ronisca had become a relatively open country, attracting countless visits from outsiders. Hence, they adopted the security check system from Earth to ensure airship safety.

Of course, after nearly thirty years of development, their security check system had somewhat deteriorated, or else the Advance Team and the Zhuyan People wouldn’t have been allowed on the airship at the same time. It’s believed that after the investigation of this matter is completed, the High-peak people would surely reform their related systems.

However, all of this was irrelevant to the Advance Team. Their current mission was to infiltrate Helros, complete the task assigned by the Headquarters, and then return safely.

Although the High-peak people’s reputation in the Otherworld was not bad, they were not of the same kind. While the Advance Team was composed of sub-races, they all grew up on Earth, and in principle should be unconditionally loyal to the Earth rather than the Otherworld.

During the check, their weapons were wrapped in cloth bags. Although weapons were also allowed within Helros city, like Holy Heart City, all weapons had to be wrapped up before entering the city, otherwise, they would only be met by guards.

In the airport’s security hall, the members of the Advance Team saw the soldiers of Ronisca. They were dressed in black uniforms, with metal chest armor on their chests and lower abdomens, engraved with Defense Runes.

The High-peak people were generally around 1.3 meters tall, so their weapons were also relatively light. Equipping only the 7.62 version of AKS74U short assault rifle and the bee sting rifle replicated from it, as this rifle also used the 7.62X39 rifle bullets, which were produced by the High-peak people.

The consequence of using a short barrel assault rifle was a reduction in initial speed, but it was not a significant problem for the High-peak people. In the combat system of the High-peak people, the main task of the infantry was to control and occupy the area, and the task of firepower was handed over to the accompanying airship and ground support firepower. Thus, the weapon in their hands only needed to be accurate within two hundred meters.

Although their tactics were surprisingly similar to those of Earth, it was the result of their repeated summarizing and studying.

Ronisca might be the fastest developing country in the Otherworld since it came into contact with Earth. If it weren’t for their extremely low birth rate, they might have unified the entire Aels Continent long ago.

Of course, if the birth rate of the High-peak people was the same as that of the Human Race, their fate would not be much different from that of the other peoples. After all, for the Earth, a fractured Otherworld country is much more difficult to deal with than a completely unified Otherworld country. What’s more, if the birth rate of a tech-climbing race like the High-peak people were similar to the Human Race, it would’ve been on the United Nations’ blacklist long ago.

Due to the crash of the Valan airship, the Advance Team members noticed that the security checks had become much stricter. Fortunately, the pass marks from the Headquarters were of great help. Everyone managed to pass through security without issues and boarded the airship heading to Helros.

Once everyone was onboard, the airship slowly began to climb, then gradually left the airport. The size of this airship was about the same as Valan’s; it seemed to be on the same level.

With four anti-gravity engines running at full capacity, the airship quickly reached cruising altitude, and headed towards Helros. It would take at least three hours to reach Helros, which was quite a distance from the airport.

This time, they finally got to leave the cargo hold. Everybody headed to the open deck, enjoying the high-altitude breeze. Leaning on the railing, overlooking at the tiny buildings below, Tangmo, who was initially relaxed, thought of Yila and her daughter again, followed by thoughts of Luo’er, and his mood sunk immediately.

"You’re still worried about what happened that day, aren’t you?" Seeing her distress, Luo’er asked.

"Of course, after all, it’s because of me that you had to suffer so much." Tangmo bowed his head, saying guiltily.

"I volunteered that day." Luo’er chuckled.

"No, you didn’t. If it weren’t for my recklessness, how could you have volunteered?" Tangmo became more distressed as she spoke.

"Anyway, I feel better having done a good deed. As for the hardships, they really don’t bother me." Luo’er looked at the distant mountains.

"Our mission is not to do good deeds." Tangmo pouted.

"Well," Luo’er sighed, "Since what happened with Yaning, I’ve felt a lot of guilt, and pressure."

"We’ve already said that it wasn’t your fault," Tangmo turned her head to glance at him, speaking guiltily, "I shouldn’t have lashed out at you. We all felt horrible, none of us expected this outcome. Yet, I blamed everything on you."

Luo’er shook his head, lightly patting her shoulder, "I’ve never blamed you, I also think I deserved the beating. While from a rational perspective, I made the right choice, morally, I’ve caused the deaths of so many. I’m not a cold-blooded animal, I have feelings too. I’ve never dared to say that killing so many people for our survival was the right thing to do. Remember when we first arrived in the Otherworld, I feared nothing here, but the nights following the incident with Yaning were the hardest for me."

"Enough, it’s all my fault!" Tangmo quickly interjected.

"I ..." Luo’er was about to speak when he noticed Hu Daoke and Cheng Ziang staring at him, with Baiyue sulking beside him.

"What’s with you two, you seem a bit odd?" Hu Daoke looked at the two and couldn’t help but ask.

Luo’er and Tangmo exchanged a glance, immediately turned away, and stopped arguing after clearing their throats.

"Come on, let’s strike a pose from Titanic!" Looking at the rolling mountains below the airboat, Hu Daoke excitedly said to Cheng Ziang.

"No, don’t touch me, or I’ll throw you off!" Cheng Zi’ang quickly stepped back and warned.

"Oh, you’re refusing and threatening me. Come, let’s see what you’ve got!" Hu Daoke said, walking towards him.

"Stay away, you big, boorish brute, stop being so juvenile!" Cheng Zi’ang dodged him while dishing out verbal assaults.

"You two, stop running around or you might get taken away by the air patrol officers!" Luo’er said helplessly, looking at their antics. Though Hu Daoke was being accused of immaturity, both men were equally childish.

After about two hours of lingering on the deck, a city silhouette appeared in the distant mountains following Tangmo’s gasp of surprise.

"Look, it’s Helros!" Tangmo pointed at the warehouse, exclaiming excitedly.

"Gosh, they built the city on a mountain." Hu Daoke couldn’t help but be astounded when he saw the city on the mountain.

As the airboat gradually approached, the city’s silhouette became increasingly clear. It was a city built on the side of a mountain, formed by levelling numerous mountain tops around the tallest peak.

Helros may not seem large to the people of Earth, but it is already the largest city in Northeast Earth. The city’s northeast corner houses Ronisca’s biggest air force base. Rows of aircraft were neatly lined along with several airships docked in the air harbor.

Airboats and airships must dock when their anti-gravity engines are not in use, which means closing all passageways in the lower structure and stopping in a water-filled air harbor. The weight of airboats and airships is massive, and the High-peak people’s current technology is insufficient to make a landing gear that can bear a whole airship’s weight, so they have chosen this compromise.

Seeing Helros’ air force base, Luo’er immediately became alert. He subtly signaled Hu Daoke and Cheng Zi’ang, who understood and helped him surround Baiyue.

"Yue’er!" Luo’er said softly, signaling Tangmo, who nodded and turned around to monitor the people on the deck.

Baiyue then pulled a mechanical camera from her waist pack and pointed it at the air force base, repeatedly pressing the shutter.

With each snap, the camera emitted a dazzling flash, eliciting Hu Daoke’s loud praise: "Oh, your magic is impressive!"

A High-peak flight crew member who noticed the commotion ran onto the deck to see a group of people huddled together. He approached them politely, and said, "Gentlemen, please refrain from using magic on the airboat!"

He spoke in Tasta, although not very fluently. Hearing his words, Hu Daoke turned around, frowned, and shouted: "Why can’t we use magic? Is your airboat that fragile?"

"I’m sorry, the disturbance of magical forces would interfere with the engine operation. So, we ask you to please refrain from using magic again!"

Just as Hu Daoke was about to speak, Luo’er kicked him. He stepped forward with a guilt-ridden face and said: "I’m very sorry, it’s our fault, please forgive us!"

"No worries, just don’t use magic again!" The flight crew member showed no disdain for the half-elf. Seeing Luo’er’s sincere demeanor, the crew member’s tone also softened.

After sending away the crew member, Luo’er turned around and gave everyone a smiling nod. By now, Baiyue had already packed away her camera, and Tangmo was also collecting his magic wand without changing his facial expression.

"Bah, I always get scolded." Hu Daoke shrugged and groused.

"Why don’t I take it next time?" Luo’er suggested.

"Nevermind it, it’s alright. If it were Old Cheng, I could slap him into the sea!" Hu Daoke dismissed, waving his hand.

"All you have is a sharp tongue." Cheng Zi’ang turned around and retorted dismissively.

"Why don’t you try it then!" Hu Daoke threatened, showing his palm.

"You dare!"