Chapter 134: The Legion That Does Not Exist

Xiao Kaitian’s decision was not made lightly; it was the result of deep deliberation, even to the point of sparing the life of an assassin who had sought to kill him.

Having descended into this dimensional world, his former self had been nothing more than a pampered, foolish playboy. Once he lost his greatest support—his parents—he became a man adrift, without roots. Even now, having reached the pinnacle of the Earth Realm and standing at the threshold of a Grandmaster, his strength could only protect himself. He could not guard those around him twenty-four hours a day.

This was precisely why he worked so hard to develop artificial organs, pushed the Future Century project, and was willing to offer up mecha designs to impress the military; he needed to build his own “sphere of security.”

There were many in this world who wanted him dead, and it was inevitable that if they failed to claim his life, they might turn their attention to those closest to him. Zhao Qixi was safe for the time being, protected by the Grandmaster Bai Kou, but Xiao Kaitian’s sole concern was Jiang Churan.

Though officially the adopted daughter of the Xiao family, Jiang Churan held ten percent of the company’s shares and was a true power player. There was no guarantee that his rival, Xiao Zhenglü, wouldn’t one day turn against her. If anything were to happen to Jiang Churan, it would leave a permanent scar on Xiao Kaitian’s heart—a risk he absolutely could not allow.

As for the others, he could only take things one step at a time. This was why he refrained from acting recklessly; in any world, including the Axis Universe, individual power was never the only deciding factor. Those who relied too heavily on their own strength rarely met a pleasant end.

The White Fox was a bounty hunter—neither purely good nor purely evil—the kind of person who could be swayed. Xiao Kaitian had spared no effort in recruiting her, and he breathed a quiet sigh of relief when she gave a slight nod of agreement. He had witnessed the White Fox’s prowess; while she was no match for a Grandmaster, her covert protection would be enough to buy time should a Grandmaster-level threat ever target Jiang Churan. In turn, his opinion of the bounty hunter organization rose slightly.

With the problem of Jiang Churan resolved, Xiao Kaitian suddenly mused that it might be nice if a few more people tried to kill him. Unfortunately, he did not realize that the White Fox was a B-rank high-level bounty hunter; once she failed, the number of people daring to accept the bounty on his life would become vanishingly small.

For the next few days, Xiao Kaitian had nothing to do but wander around the capital. While this dimension was lower in nature, the simple pleasures of its biological inhabitants were quite interesting. Watching the passersby, Xiao Kaitian tried to understand the principles of their behavior, as if he were experiencing life himself. He found that the meaning of ordinary existence could be found in the smallest details of daily life.

This tranquility ended on the third day with a call from Huang Ming.

“President Xiao, my apologies for not reaching out for so many days. Is this a good time to talk?” Huang Ming’s laughter echoed through the phone. It seemed the negotiations had gone smoothly. “Because the procedures involved are quite complex and require time for approval, I’ve done my best. Haha, President Xiao, are you free tomorrow? Let’s meet and talk in detail.”

Xiao Kaitian, of course, was free. He agreed, and after hanging up, he looked at his reflection in the mirror. He had been in this world for nearly a year, and he seemed to have fully settled into the identity of Xiao Kaitian. Perhaps this experience of dimensional descent would prove helpful to his future self. At this thought, he couldn't help but smile.

The next day, when he arrived downstairs, he saw a discreet black Hongqi 8-series sedan parked at the curb, resting like a dormant tiger. Seeing him, Huang Ming opened the door and stepped forward to shake his hand enthusiastically. “President Xiao, sorry to keep you waiting.” He leaned in and whispered, “The place we are going has very strict security protocols. Please be prepared.”

Xiao Kaitian had already anticipated where they were going and whom they were meeting. He understood Huang Ming’s warning and smiled in response. “Thank you for the reminder, Director Huang.”

“Hahaha, it’s only right—the project you’ve presented is top-tier.” Huang Ming did not mind the flattery in the slightest. He was right to be pleased; the project had been discovered and recommended by him. Once it was officially launched, Huang Ming’s contribution would be undeniable. The title of “Discoverer of Military Innovation Technology” alone would be enough to secure his career for a lifetime. Their goals were perfectly aligned.

Once inside the car, Xiao Kaitian noticed it had been heavily modified. The materials were custom-made; not only could it withstand bullets, but even small armor-piercing rounds would likely fail to penetrate it. He and Huang Ming sat in the back. The driver was a military officer, and Xiao Kaitian noted his rank—a Major General. He licked his lips, growing a bit more cautious about the meeting ahead.

The car moved at a moderate pace. With its military plates, traffic police saluted as they passed. As the scenery grew increasingly desolate, Xiao Kaitian guessed they were heading toward the outskirts.

Two hours later, the car reached a rugged mountain road. The journey was bumpy; Xiao Kaitian was fine, but Huang Ming looked pale, his stomach churning with near-nausea. Fortunately, this section was short, and after winding through the mountains, they returned to a smooth concrete road.

Xiao Kaitian looked out the window. This area had clearly been constructed by human hands. A massive artificial facility had been built, encircling a large mountain, and the ground was paved with concrete, smoothing out the ride. What stood out were the checkpoints spaced at regular intervals, each manned by guards. Xiao Kaitian counted at least ten.

The process began with simple inquiries and identification checks, but grew increasingly rigorous. By the end, Xiao Kaitian even saw several light beams sweep across the vehicle, which he assumed were deep-scans. The short stretch of road took nearly an hour to traverse. Finally, after passing the last checkpoint, the car stopped before a tightly sealed gate.

The gate was embedded into the mountainside, suggesting that the interior of the mountain had been hollowed out to create a space. As Xiao Kaitian watched, the gate slowly opened.

The car drove into a long tunnel. Every few meters, more light scanners swept over them. Xiao Kaitian couldn't help but marvel; not just martial artists, but even a mosquito would struggle to slip through here.

The tunnel was short, lasting only a few minutes, before the space suddenly opened up. The driver pulled into a parking spot, and Huang Ming finally let out a breath, opening his door. “Finally here. Every time I come to this place, I feel a sense of oppression.”

Xiao Kaitian stepped out of the car. Indeed, the entire interior of the mountain had been hollowed out. He looked up at the ceiling, where numerous metal frames provided support to prevent a collapse.

“Welcome to the Thirteenth Field Army, known as the 'Non-Existent Legion,'” the driver said, turning around and saluting as he reported their arrival.