Chapter 697: How Could I Possibly Fear Him?
After locking in on his target, Su Chen emerged from the construction factory.
Holding the rank of Colonel, he had virtually unrestricted access, save for certain special locations.
Su Chen’s first stop was the barracks. He was curious about how the barracks in this World functioned. To his eyes, the surrounding soldiers were genuine humans, not bio-engineered soldiers.
What purpose did the barracks serve if they didn’t produce soldiers?
Upon arriving, the first thing he noticed was the colossal statue above the barracks. However, the figure the statue depicted was a stranger, unconnected to him.
He then observed soldiers continuously streaming out of the barracks, saluting as they passed him.
“These soldiers seem to be bio-engineered, but why haven’t I seen any around?” he pondered.
Curious, Su Chen stopped a soldier to inquire. Despite his own confusion, the soldier respectfully explained, “Colonel, bio-engineered soldiers aren’t considered true humans. Their battlegrounds aren’t here but at the front lines.”
Understanding dawned on Su Chen. No wonder he hadn’t seen any bio-engineered soldiers; they were all dispatched to the front lines.
Unlike the soldiers he created, these bio-engineered troops were inferior in many aspects, including intelligence and physicality.Only if they could slay enough enemies on the battlefield to be promoted to first-order soldiers would they possibly return from the front.
Such upgraded soldiers were scarce. Most bio-engineered troops remained forever stationed at the front, never returning.
Beyond the barracks was a Cloning Center not far away. For every bio-engineered soldier created, a clone was produced and sent to the front lines, making their consumption no issue at all.
Just observing this base took Su Chen a considerable amount of time. It wasn’t until dusk that he realized he needed food.
In this World, he wasn’t so powerful that he could sustain himself on energy alone, without food.
Upon reaching the base’s cafeteria, crowded with soldiers and non-commissioned officers, Su Chen proceeded upstairs, where meals were prepared for field-grade officers. Generals, however, had their meals delivered directly.
There were significantly fewer people upstairs. Glancing around, he recognized only one familiar face: Colonel River.
“Lieutenant Colonel Su,” Colonel River greeted, waving Su Chen over, which attracted many curious stares.
The base was not extensive, and virtually all the field-grade officers were familiar with one another. A sudden appearance of a Lieutenant Colonel Su was bound to draw attention.
“That’s the newly-promoted Super Soldier Su Chen, right? I heard he wiped out dozens of soldiers and three Grizzly tanks single-handedly in a battle!”
“Damn, is he really that incredible? Wish I could be a Super Soldier too.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
“Dream on. With so many in the four major Camps or Factions, only a handful become Super Soldiers. You think you’re that lucky?”
“Seriously, I’d do anything to be a Super Soldier, even if it means eating shit!”
Su Chen, with his acute hearing, couldn’t help but twitch his mouth in amusement upon catching these murmurs. He silently praised the commitment of this soldier who would go to such extremes.
Nonchalantly taking a seat next to Colonel River, Su Chen listened as he was introduced to various well-known field-grade officers within the Soviet Union base. They were equally curious about Su Chen, the emergent Super Soldier.
“Lieutenant Colonel Su, we heard you suddenly gained the power of a Super Soldier. Can you share how it happened?” an inquisitive officer asked.
The question seemed to dampen the surrounding chatter as everyone awaited Su Chen’s response.
Who wouldn’t want to be a Super Soldier?
Apart from possessing formidable power, you’d immediately be a field-grade officer. If you already held that rank, you could be promoted yet again!
Such was the allure of a Super Soldier!
Su Chen smiled lightly, “There’s no mystery. I just felt that I could fight back, so I did.”
The surrounding officers were somewhat disappointed, feeling that Su Chen was simply brushing them off.
At that moment, a booming voice cut through, “I heard there’s a new Super Soldier. Where is he? I want to see for myself.”
Turning, Su Chen’s expression turned odd. He recognized the newcomer: Boris!
It wasn’t unusual for Boris, a Super Soldier of the Soviet Union, to be here. What puzzled Su Chen was seeing another Boris here when he already knew one elsewhere.
Clearly, this Boris didn’t recognize him.
Following the crowd’s pointing, Boris strode directly toward Su Chen.
Imposingly built, Boris towered in front of Su Chen, resembling a standing grizzly bear!
“So you’re the new Super Soldier? Come out and spar with me. Consider it my way of welcoming you,” Boris challenged.
Worried this confrontation might escalate, Colonel River quickly whispered to Su Chen, “That’s just how Boris is. He’s sparred with every Super Soldier in the Camps or Factions. It’s not personal.”
Of course, Su Chen understood this better than anyone. His subordinate Boris loved challenging all Super Soldiers, relishing even the fights he lost, battered and bruised. He and Guangtou Qiang were indeed a pair of masochistic companions.
“Can it wait until after my meal?” Su Chen gestured to his food.
Boris, initially about to roar in impatience, softened his tone dramatically upon catching Su Chen’s eye, “Of course.”
Colonel River looked on, bewildered. This was uncharacteristic of Boris, who under normal circumstances would never have allowed Su Chen to finish his meal undisturbed.
Even Boris found his own reaction strange. Why did he feel a sense of fear when Su Chen looked at him?
“How could I be afraid of him? I mustn’t like the idea of bullying someone who can’t fight at full strength on an empty stomach. Yes, that must be it,” Boris muttered to himself.
Su Chen ate at a leisurely pace, while Boris waited sullenly.
The wait stretched over an hour. Many officers stayed, anticipation for the sparring match building.
Such duels between Super Soldiers were rare. Seizing this opportunity, no one wanted to miss it, though they were surprised by Boris’s unusual patience.
“Alright, let’s go.”
The sheer power of Super Soldiers meant typical venues couldn’t withstand their combat. Therefore, their battles took place outside the base, any open space sufficing.
As long as they didn’t damage the base’s weapons installations, the Generals wouldn’t intervene.
“Ha, finally someone to spar with! I felt my muscles atrophying from the lack of action,” Boris exclaimed, removing his shirt to reveal robust muscles and... a substantial tuft of chest hair.
With a faint smile, Su Chen faced Boris. Unknown to the onlookers, he was scrutinizing him, pondering whether Boris was his mission target. (To be continued)
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