At the heart of the geothermal hub, the faint blue glow from the resonance framework cast Jin Wanchao's face like a sculpture from the deep sea. His eyes were closed, and an indescribably powerful aura lingered around him. His perception no longer confined itself to this space; it surged outward like a tide, instantly covering the entire Lower District. The colossal steel body of the Nursery Factory now lay fully revealed in his mind—every pipe, every steel plate, every turning gear clear enough to touch.
He "saw" the patrol routes around the factory perimeter, the flow of its energy veins, even the material and locking mechanism of every single door. More crucially, he "heard." Countless faint voices rose from the children's hearts—prayers, sobs—and the rhythmic whir of machinery. Together, they wove a dynamic three-dimensional structure, precise to the second.
"Lao Zhong, the turbine pump at the factory's north sewage outlet is worn out, with minor energy leakage. We can infiltrate from there. However, the internal maintenance passage inside releases high-pressure steam every three minutes. It requires precise timing and specially made high-temperature-resistant armor." Jin Wanchao's voice was steady and resonant, each word landing firmly in Lao Zhong's mind.
Lao Zhong shuddered. As he looked at Jin Wanchao, his eyes held not only awe but fervent devotion. He had no time to marvel at how Jin Wanchao could know such details; he simply pulled out paper and pen, jotting down every piece of information word for word.
"Ah Huo, in the factory's eastern industrial zone, there's an abandoned steam pipeline. To cover his tracks, Valerius has set up three outdated scout puppets there, and their sensors have blind spots. We can use that location to stage a large-scale explosion and draw the main force of the Blacksteel Council." Jin Wanchao's voice came again, carrying unshakable command.
Ah Huo clenched his fists tightly. The "flame" within him blazed violently, and the bone-deep killing intent was fully roused.
"Brother Wanchao, I'll go myself! I promise I'll keep them too busy to look elsewhere!" Ah Huo spoke in a low, gruff tone, his gaze sharp as a blade, as if it could pierce through steel plates straight to the corrupt Nursery Factory.
Jin Wanchao did not reply directly, only nodding slightly in approval.
"Ban Shou, the scale and tempo of the feint force will be under your control. Our goal is containment, not a head-on clash. You need to lead the Blackiron Guard's main forces by the nose like dogs, but not let them wipe your unit out too quickly." Jin Wanchao's voice carried a cold edge. He knew Ban Shou was a master at playing such "balances."
Ban Shou smiled faintly, her shrewd eyes glinting with excitement. "Rest easy, Jin Wanchao. I'm an expert at this. I'll make them know what it's like to be plagued by constant irritation." She understood that Jin Wanchao's display of near-omniscience was far more intimidating than any weapon. It meant he was the true "commander" of this war.
Jin Wanchao's gaze returned to the factory blueprint in his mind. He could "see" a separate chamber deep within the factory, where an abnormally powerful energy signal pulsed. Its energy currents were chaotic and massive, like a beating heart, yet shrouded by some unknown force.
He marked that zone as the "Black Box."
"Lao Zhong, install a portable energy jamming device on the Exoskeletons of the Chosen squad," Jin Wanchao ordered gravely. "Focus on improving adaptability to unknown energy fields and electromagnetic pulse protection. We don't know what's inside the Black Box, but we must be fully prepared."
Lao Zhong nodded solemnly. Every order Jin Wanchao gave was precise and timely, as if he had already lived through this mission once.
Jin Wanchao continued his mental calculations, timing down to the second, assigning personnel to every step. Infiltration, assault, extraction—every detail was refined again and again. He could almost "see" the position of each child, "hear" their faintest cries. His heart bore the weight of all the children's suffering inside the factory; his eyes were cold and heavy, as if he carried the entire world on his shoulders.
At the center of the underground base, the light-projected three-dimensional model of the factory shifted and adjusted constantly with Jin Wanchao's words. It was the Nursery Factory's lifeline, his blueprint for vengeance, and the children's path to freedom.
At last, he opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. That unyielding stare could melt the coldest steel.
"The plan is set." Jin Wanchao's voice was not loud, yet it carried the power to shake mountains.
He looked at Ah Huo, his gaze softening for a moment before being quickly overtaken by the chill of revenge.
"Get ready. We're going to bring your sister home."
Ah Huo stood straight at once, no unnecessary words, only a heavy nod. He turned and led his feint force, vanishing swiftly into the darkness.
Jin Wanchao, meanwhile, led the elite "Chosen" squad equipped with custom steam-powered Exoskeletons, slipping like ghosts into the city's vast underground sewage pipes, heading for the Nursery Factory's north sewage outlet. The two teams disappeared into the pitch-black night from separate directions, two sharp blades stabbing straight into the heart of the Blacksteel Council.