The two new troop types, the Fire-Splitters and the Snare-Grapplers, had just entered live combat testing, requiring only minor adjustments before moving into full production. Yang Ying spent half the day listening to the researchers detail the characteristics of these two novel units.

These new troop types would not render flamethrower troops obsolete; in the future, they would appear on the battlefield alongside all other existing units.

Leaving the floating continent, Yang Ying proceeded to the base's command center, finding Katerina already inside. She smiled when she saw him enter, and two small dimples immediately appeared on her cheeks.

Yang Ying approached her, kissed her lightly on the face, and asked, "Any news while I was away?"

Katerina nodded. "One major development: the evacuation of the Jupiter orbit colonies is becoming increasingly arduous. There are reports that the Ancient Legion has deployed another main fleet to the outer edges of Jupiter. Consequently, the military has issued a new war mandate: hiring mercenary corps to escort ten empty space cities to Jupiter orbit to receive the evacuated populace. That’s the broad summary; the specific details of the mission will only be known upon acceptance."

"Empty space cities?" Yang Ying lowered his head, pondering for a moment, muttering to himself, "A space city's defenses are disproportionate to its size; they are too easy to destroy. Wouldn't using them for evacuation be extremely dangerous?"

This suggested the military’s measures had reached their limit; supply and energy fronts probably couldn't be sustained much longer. Only this kind of all-or-nothing approach remained.

During this period, Yang Ying had gleaned from various reports that although the frontline military bases were all destroyed, the various fleets could still receive provisions and energy replenishment from the colonies.

However, these colonies still held millions of people who needed support, and the resources they could offer were limited.

Yang Ying shook his head, seemingly sympathetic to the military’s plight: "How many people are still left unevacuated in the colonies around Jupiter?"

Katerina thought for a moment and replied, "The latest figure is 8.2 million people, spread across ten colonies on four Jovian moons. There were originally twenty-two colonies; twelve were emptied in the most recent withdrawal operations."

"One space city corresponds to one colony," Yang Ying nodded. "That sounds manageable enough."

Just then, the communication device on the desk emitted two soft beeps.

Yang Ying walked over and pressed the answer key. Kalia and Howard simultaneously appeared on the holographic screen.

Both men snapped to attention and saluted. Kalia spoke first, "Sir, we intended to find Colonel Blade, but checking the time, your cultivation should be complete by now."

"It makes no difference whether you find me or him. What's the matter?" Yang Ying inquired.

"Have you heard about that Jupiter war mission?" Kalia asked.

Hearing this, Yang Ying exchanged a look with Katerina. "We just did. Alright, what about the mission?"

"Howard and I discussed it and feel this is an excellent opportunity for troop training. Given the current external environment, we are bound to clash with the Ancient Legion sooner or later. Instead of passively waiting for them to push the front line beyond the Asteroid Belt, it’s better to proactively seek a chance to understand them and familiarize ourselves with fighting the Apes," Kalia stated.

"The Jupiter War Mission will be the best opportunity we’ll see in the near future," Howard agreed. "I believe we should seize it."

"Explain your reasoning." Yang Ying did not immediately agree or disagree; he wanted to understand Kalia's thought process.

Howard explained, "It's clear that the military requires mercenary intervention now due to insufficient troop deployment. However, for an operation this massive, the military won't completely hand it over to mercenaries."

Kalia picked up his thread, "Evacuating cities is a task requiring immense organizational capacity. For mercenaries who only know warfare, this presents a formidable challenge. Therefore, there is a ninety percent chance that the military will collaborate with the mercenaries to jointly face the pressure from the Ancient Legion. This is a prime opportunity for us to gain combat experience."

Yang Ying listened, nodding. "The military has fought the Ancient Legion for several years; their understanding of them is indeed invaluable."

Howard’s expression turned grave. "In total, both sides have positioned over ten main fleets around Jupiter's periphery. That scale of deployment hasn't been seen since the fall of the Dual-King Star Defense Line. It will likely take another decade before we encounter a scene like this again. Observing this battle up close will provide critical reference points for formulating our future tactics and plans."

Kalia added, "Of course, even if we miss this chance, we will gain equally valuable experience in future actual combat. But by then, we might have to pay a much higher price."

Yang Ying observed their expressions and nodded. He understood Kalia's caution and Howard's command capabilities; a suggestion brought forward by both of them was clearly the result of deep consideration.

Yang Ying also knew that the General Staff’s theoretical research into the Ancient Legion had begun long ago. The theoretical knowledge base in the base was now rich—it just needed validation in real combat.

Having received Yang Ying's permission, Kalia and Howard immediately began preparations separately. Kalia contacted Robin, represented by Cyriel, instructing him to secure this war mission.

The mission was issued open to the entire mercenary faction. Once Robin accepted it, other mercenary corps could still join, with no upper limit.

However, not every corps was qualified to accept missions issued by the military. There was a rigid rule established between the military and the Mercenary Alliance: only corps at the level of a Major Mercenary Corps or above could accept military war missions.

Robin was highly efficient; within an hour, he finalized all applications and sent back confirmation contacts.

"Sir, some representatives of mercenary corps were dissatisfied that we are still only deploying three heavy cruisers, believing we aren't acting like a Super Mercenary Corps..."

Robin recounted what happened when he accepted the mission. Because the Trant Mercenary Corps had consistently only deployed three capital ships, others couldn't gauge their true strength.

After all, any rational person wouldn't believe a Super Mercenary Corps could achieve those victories that shook the Asteroid Belt relying solely on three heavy cruisers.

Some even shouted that a Super Mercenary Corps fielding only three heavy cruisers in a war mission might as well not participate at all.

Yang Ying was aware that his unit's advantage lay in the stealth capabilities of the Ghost Fighters and the reconnaissance prowess of the Observers. His own lineup of grand, heavy capital ships was still on the production line; showcasing them would likely require another year or more.

Until the Behemoth-class Battlecruisers were ready, such criticism was inevitable.

"Truthfully, we are slightly in the wrong here. But being talked about won't cost us flesh. Just ignore them," Yang Ying said after hearing Robin’s report.

As the Trant Mercenary Corps prepared for deployment, beneath the Gray Harbor administrative building, a hulking figure draped entirely in a black robe, wearing a gold-inlaid jeweled mask, suddenly materialized upon the entrance steps.

His appearance was utterly without preamble, like a frame cut from a film; one moment there was nothing, the next he was standing there.

Yet, the bustling crowd on the street outside, and the Royal Marines standing guard before the building, seemed completely oblivious to this sudden event—it drew no attention whatsoever!

The dark silhouette glanced up at the building. The ruby eyes of the mask were cold and lifeless. He took a single step and vanished again into the suddenness, as if he had never existed.

"Halt."

A magnetic, aged voice materialized from empty air. The burly black shadow found himself several paces inside the ground-floor entrance of the administrative office.

Before him stood an old man dressed in a gray monastic robe, possessing a long, snow-white beard.

"Merlin, what brings you out with such cheer? Why aren't you staying put in your last remaining Ceres base, taking a constitutional stroll here?" the massive black figure asked, his ruby eyes fixed intensely on the old man before him.

"This city falls within the defensive perimeter of Ceres. My strolling here is quite ordinary. The question is, H’Rath, what brings you here?"

Master Merlin made no imposing gestures. His posture and the tone of his voice were commonplace, yet within this very ordinariness lay an indescribable, profound peculiarity, as if nothing could stir the spirit of Master Merlin.

The location of their standoff was the ground floor lobby of the office. Those nearby finally reacted. Those armed quickly drew their weapons, pointing the Gauss rifles at the masked shadow—the Ape Master H’Rath.

H’Rath ignored the dozen or so Gauss rifles pointed at him, treating the weapons as if they were baby bottles held by infants, posing no threat whatsoever.

"Why I am here should be obvious. The eyes of the Trant Mercenary Corps are too sharp. Without their reconnaissance capabilities, the Pirate Allied Fleet could regroup."

H’Rath had come with the intention of cutting the root to stop the branches—to sever the rope around the Pirate Allied Fleet’s neck.

He removed the mask from his face, revealing a shaggy ape visage. His pair of fiery red eyes seemed to contain flames capable of burning through the sky, instilling in any viewer the sensation of plummeting to the deepest layer of hell, being seared by endless fire, soul and viscera consumed.

Master Merlin addressed those closing in around the office lobby: "You cannot harm him. Staying here is merely offering your lives in vain. Leave quickly."

Meanwhile, on the top floor office, Blade received the report from downstairs and was profoundly shocked. He never expected H’Rath, the one everyone kept in mind, to appear in Gray Harbor!

He immediately ordered all units to evacuate through other exits, moving away from the ground floor lobby.

Seeing everyone begin to retreat, Master Merlin said to H’Rath, "I imagine that's so. Since you cannot deal with that thing tracking you, you came directly to eliminate the one controlling it."