This wasn't even the largest land-based war machine. To counter the formidable Insect Race, humans had crafted an even more massive "Land Battleship," whose main cannon bore an outrageous caliber of 1,000mm!

Inside the land cruiser's main control room, the seat of highest authority, akin to a throne, was perched high upon a platform.

Surrounding it were twelve seats, with another eight seats in each of the four directions further outward.

In the central position sat a young and promising officer, Nan Minghuo, the brigade commander of the Chu-Xiang Mixed Brigade.

The thirty-two individuals on the outermost layer were the drivers of the land cruiser and were also responsible for the weapon systems of the entire massive war machine.

Naturally, authorization from Nan Minghuo was required for attacks such as firing the main cannon or launching nuclear missiles.

Around Nan Minghuo, the twelve seats were occupied by mid-tier staff officers of the mixed brigade. They compiled all intelligence and operational data for the entire brigade, reporting crucial information to Nan Minghuo; they could handle other matters on his behalf.

Many high-ranking military officials knew Nan Minghuo was Old General Nan Zhendong's grandson. However, among the many grandsons, he wasn't the most favored.

Therefore, the Chu-Xiang Mixed Brigade was not considered a main force unit. This land cruiser, a prized asset, had been acquired through Nan Minghuo's own efforts after his assignment to the brigade.

This was achieved not with Nan Zhendong's support, but rather with the aid of Nan Minghuo's maternal family.

Among the men of the Nan family's current generation, Nan Minghuo's appearance... well, how to put it? There was a rather face-saving way to describe it: he was "unconventional."

The chair seemed too small to contain his massive, robust frame; he stood two point two meters tall, with a full beard, looking as mighty as a brown bear.

His troops rumbled over the corpses of the Insect Race, and his staff officers continuously reported victories, putting Nan Minghuo in high spirits.

However, because of his "unconventional" appearance, when he got excited, his eyes seemed to flash with a fierce light and his grin looked like a "bloodthirsty, gaping maw," making him appear exceptionally ferocious.

But his subordinates were already accustomed to their leader's appearance. Some even took the opportunity to flatter him: "Commander, whether we're part of the main force or not, with a fierce general like you in command, we are even stronger than the main force."

"Where has the Confederation Mechanical Corps advanced to now? By the time we've cleared out this Insect Nest, they'll probably still be over a thousand kilometers away."

Nan Minghuo had always been "active and restless" since childhood. Although he'd changed some habits after joining the military, he still couldn't sit still—it was as if he had ants in his pants, and that wasn't his fault! He twisted and turned in the seat of highest authority, causing the sturdy composite material to CREAK under his considerable weight.

"Enough chatter! We're still hundreds of kilometers from the Insect Nest. Everyone, push harder! We'll take it down within twenty-four hours! With the merits from this operation, we'll have accumulated enough for expansion. I'm going to lead you all, fighting our way forward, until we expand into a full army—a main-force army!"

"Yes, sir!" his subordinates cheered. A few of the junior staff officers felt a little uneasy. We're supposed to be a regular army of the Confederation, so why does this suddenly feel a bit like we're a band of outlaws?

Could this be the legendary... charisma of a true commander?

But these were thoughts the junior staff officers dared not voice aloud.

Just then, a series of urgent BEEPS rang out, and Nan Minghuo's expression immediately turned serious.

He *was* serious, but in the eyes of others, that translated to "a terrifying demon about to wreak havoc."

A staff officer reported, "Commander, a call has come through from the Central Operations Room. Old General Nan Zhendong wishes to speak with you."

A holographic image flashed before Nan Minghuo. He snapped to attention, saluted, and greeted loudly, "General!"

Nan Zhendong's expression was grave. "Dispatch a reconnaissance cavalry unit thirty kilometers northeast of your brigade's current position. I'm sending you the coordinates now. Immediately!"

Then the communication cut off. Nan Minghuo was puzzled. What was that abrupt order all about? The old man never shows me any particular favor.

He secretly curled his lip but faithfully executed the order.

Meanwhile, in the Central Operations Room, the request from Nan Zhendong and Bai Yunpeng was also being handled with utmost gravity. The operations staff were already tasking one spy satellite after another to sweep over those coordinates. A wealth of images and reconnaissance data was being transmitted back. Bai Yunpeng, banging his fist on the table, demanded, "Why wasn't anything detected before?!"

"The Chu-Xiang Mixed Brigade almost suffered complete annihilation!"

Nan Zhendong felt a wave of lingering fear, but his face remained cold and solemn, betraying none of the affection he held for this grandson to those around him.

In this era, reconnaissance cavalry came in two types: one utilized heavily armed magnetic levitation motorcycles, and the other employed single-soldier propeller-driven flyers.

With Nan Minghuo's bear-like demeanor, the reconnaissance cavalry under his command, naturally, used the heavily armed magnetic levitation motorcycles!

Soon, accompanied by the heavy HUM of their magnetic motors, a twelve-member reconnaissance cavalry unit detached from the main brigade and sped towards the coordinates.

Nan Minghuo stroked his thick beard, considered for a moment, then ordered, "Temporarily slow your advance. Maintain a speed of thirty kilometers per hour."

"Yes, sir!"

For the swift magnetic levitation motorcycles, thirty kilometers was a distance covered in mere minutes. Real-time footage was patched directly into the land cruiser's main control room. Nan Minghuo, perched high on his "throne," watched, dumbstruck, at the valley carpeted with Insect Race corpses!

The entire main control room was deathly silent. Hundreds of Troop Nest Beetles, dozens of Skyrocketing Insects, and countless Ghost Claw Insects, Armored Beetles, and more lay dead...

Nan Minghuo felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly asked his scout, "Are you certain this Insect Nest has been eradicated?"

The scout confidently replied, "Confirmed, Commander! The site has indeed been cleared!"

Before he could finish, an insect resembling a massively enlarged flea suddenly leaped into the video feed, roaring and howling, looking as if it were about to devour someone.

The reconnaissance cavalry were elites among elites, their heavily armed magnetic levitation motorcycles equipped with top-notch gear. This huge insect's appearance startled the staff officers watching in the control room, but the cavalrymen on site remained calm and collected. They strategically retreated to create distance while unleashing a continuous barrage of focused fire. Under a relentless barrage from vehicle-mounted missiles and ray grenade launchers, the giant flea shrieked in agony and soon collapsed.

Seeing the creature, several dozen meters long, collapse, the reconnaissance cavalrymen could hardly believe it. Is this beast feigning death? Playing a trick?

But after they tested it a few times with their ray grenade launchers, it was confirmed: truly dead!

The captain drove his motorcycle forward, kicked the giant insect, and remarked disdainfully, "So it was just a flashy weakling, all bark and no bite."

But Nan Minghuo, observing on the main screen, had a different take. Although that large insect looked ferocious when it lunged, it didn't seem like a genuine attack... More like... it was terrified!

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