Cthulhu America, I can see the kill line.

"Is it raining again?"

Feeling the cool raindrops falling on his nose, Kong Jiu slowly raised his head and looked up at the gloomy sky.

The climate in Hills is always so humid, with a damp smell in the air, and it's either snowing or raining.

The sky remained a hazy gray, with thick clouds resembling waterlogged sponges, as if they could be squeezed dry with the slightest touch.

"Are these drones...were they rainproof?"

Kong Jiu shifted his gaze from the swarm of drones hovering in the gloomy sky to Wendat, his tone calm yet carrying a hint of probing.

the answer is negative.

These drones are made of anti-psychic materials, have no psychic technology, are entirely powered by circuits, and have never been waterproofed.

Wintert's lips moved, but he didn't dare to answer, nor did he want to.

Within just ten minutes, three drones, which were supposed to be crucial for saving his life, had self-destructed in order to cover for him.

Kong Jiu's moves were too bizarre, simply unbelievable.

A mace that can cause the entire power armor to vibrate and hum when it strikes it; a slender, sharp armor-piercing spike that resembles a giant nail; a lance held horizontally in the hand, full of impact and destructive power...

The dark, flowing light was like a dancing ghost. Whenever Wendart thought he could barely withstand a blow, the light would suddenly transform into another weapon and slam into his heavy armor.

This illogical and unpredictable fighting style left Wintert completely defenseless. He could only detonate drones one after another to buy himself a moment's respite, barely managing to turn his head away to dodge the fatal attack.

However, even the heavens seemed unable to bear seeing him struggle so miserably.

Cold raindrops fell on his ear, which had been cut in half. The modified organ had stopped bleeding and was now burning hot as it repaired every wound.

But Wendart's heart felt as if it had sunk into an ice cave, chilled to the bone.

"How about... we put all the drones away first? It would be such a waste to let so many of these precious things get wet and damaged."

Kong Jiu curled his lips into a slightly mocking smile, and with a flash of black light from the lance in his hand, the old book quietly returned to his palm.

The neck guard was 21% damaged, the left shoulder armor was 91% shattered, and the knee guard was completely punctured and rendered unusable...

The reports of damage to the nerves continuously transmitted by the power armor terrified Windat.

Comparing this to Kong Jiu's relaxed, even slightly lazy, expression, this ten-year veteran was completely convinced: let alone suppressing this Easterner like he had a month ago, even if ten of him in full power armor attacked together, without drone cover, they would be smashed to pieces like opening a can.

"Not going to speak? Still trying to struggle?"

Kong Jiu's composed expression gradually faded, and his eyes revealed undisguised impatience and disgust.

"I only took one day off; I have to go back to work at the clinic tomorrow..."

He spoke in a low voice, a black light flashing in his hand, and a machine gun was silently mounted on his shoulder.

Wendart's pupils constricted sharply, and his heartbeat almost stopped.

Firearms?

That thing... can actually be turned into a firearm?

Wouldn't that mean...?

boom!

A gunshot pierced the rain, and a drone was precisely shot through its capacitor, emitting acrid smoke as it fell from the sky like a bird with broken wings.

The only hope is to take the initiative, maneuver flexibly, and even suppress any chance of a comeback...

Wintert's greatest asset in this battle was completely wiped out by a single, casual shot from Kongo.

What if we continue firing?

"Give up resistance and hand over control of the drone. I'll give you thirty seconds to say your last words."

Kong Jiu's voice was as cold as iron, each word striking Wendart's ears.

What to do, what to do, what to do!

Years later, Windat once again felt the suffocating feeling of facing death on the battlefield.

This time, however, he no longer possessed the composure of his youth when he thought, "I would die for my country without regret." Instead, he was filled with intense fear of his unfulfilled ambitions.

For the second time in his life, the heartless Wendart was gripped by genuine fear.

"I'll hand it over! I'll hand it over!"

Wendart's voice trembled as he hurriedly raised the deformed power claw and frantically rummaged through the mech's surface, finally managing to pry out a control module, which he then hurled at Kong Jiu.

Kong Jiu raised his hand and caught the remote control-like device steadily.

This should be an access control module, similar to a remote control or management key, while the actual control terminal may be located somewhere remotely.

However, it doesn't matter anymore.

Kong Jiu pressed a few buttons, and the sky full of drones immediately receded like a tide, flying back in a mighty procession to the warehouse in the direction of the dock.

"Very well, say your last words."

Kong Jiu put away the book, his tone calm and even.

Wintert and Farah must die here; this was the ending he had planned from the beginning.

Wendart's Adam's apple bobbed violently a few times. He opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything. His face was filled with resentment and struggle.

"There's no need to waste time with 'begging for mercy,' it's disgusting to hear."

Kong Jiu interrupted indifferently.

After a moment of silence, Kong Jiu spoke again, his voice revealing the last vestige of patience:

"Ten seconds left. You really don't have anything to say?"

Wendart swallowed hard, his voice distorted with extreme tension:

"Hoffman Chad...is in my hands..."

Before he could finish speaking, the calm expression on Kong Jiu's face suddenly froze.

His face darkened, and his eyes turned so cold they seemed to shards of ice.

Seeing the dramatic change in Kong Jiu's expression, Wendart's heart skipped a beat—he had made the right bet.

"Hoffman Chad, that security guard from Carnation Community... This morning, my men 'invited' him to the Whirlpool Gang under the guise of a 'veterans' gathering'..."

Even though he was the one threatening the other, when he met Kong Jiu's eyes, which were sharper than the blade of a lance, Wendart's words involuntarily choked in his throat.

Are you threatening me?

Kong Jiu finally spoke, his voice eerily calm, devoid of any emotion, yet it seemed to freeze the surrounding air.

"As long as I return to the Great Whirlpool alive, everything will be alright, Dr. Kong."

Wintert spoke nervously, his words carrying a threat yet utterly devoid of confidence.

Because he was seriously considering the possibility of Kong Jiu single-handedly breaking through the entire battle gang to rescue people.

Kong Jiu's gaze, sharp as a spear tip, was ten or a hundred times more terrifying than that unpredictable book, piercing into Wendart's power armor.

The gang leader was certain that if he hadn't just said the condition that "everything would be fine if I returned to the Great Vortex alive," he would already be impaled on some sharp weapon.

"Why should I believe you won't kill the hostage, or pull this trick a second time?"

With a cold glint in his eyes, he stared intently at his opponent. A black light flashed from the book, and a giant axe dragged along the ground, sparks flying as he walked step by step toward Wendart.

"With your... with your sheer strength, you could absolutely wipe out the entire Great Vortex Warband..."

In a moment of extreme tension, Wintert blurted out what was on his mind.

Are you going to use threats a second time, against this kind of killer?

He's not that stupid.

"roll."

Kong Jiu finally spat out a word through his clenched teeth.

Without the slightest hesitation, Wendart scrambled toward the exit, completely disregarding his status as the leader of the War Gang. He only focused on running wildly, not even daring to look back, and his figure disappeared at the dock.