Sky-cracking Rider

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It is always difficult to begin, but the pilots from the Aircrew Base 911 registered on the spot (to cause trouble), which effectively broke the ice, prompting the other military contractors to stop pretending they hadn't heard.

Even pilots, who had no professional alignment with the operation, were eagerly signing up, so if the others didn't show any interest, they would come across as insensitive, especially since everyone relied on the Global United Defense Committee for their livelihoods.

However, even a giant within the top ten of the industry like the Merman Brothers Consortium, only had a handful of Ability Users under their wing, and Aircrew Base 911 had wiped out most of them.

Aircrew Base 911 was truly an anomaly, with Old Master Barut guarding the Energy Tower; he was here to retire, counting his days by his fingers, usually harmless to humans and livestock alike, and no one cared about his former identity as a Neanderthal Elite Warrior.

With his old arms and legs, even if he could fight, it was doubtful how effective he would be, and his salary wasn't high, so he was considered a regular employee, not counted amongst the powerful. Then there was the Wind-type Ability User, Hanna Gagel, who came to take on the role of executive manager, a managerial position.

Following that was the Rookie, Chen Fei, who had an Awakening of Special Abilities like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.

Back then, the Merman Brothers Consortium, convinced they had the advantage, ran headlong into Aircrew Base 911 at the peak of their glory with three Ability Users, took a violent beating, and left with bloodied faces without a place to seek justice until this day.

Today, with two supernatural power users stationed at one Aircrew Base, and with an abundance of supplies and plenty of money, this was Manager Hanna Gagel's biggest assurance in her decision to lead Aircrew Base 911 out of the Apocalypse Defense Group.

Even without Chen Fei, with just her alone as the Wind-type Ability User in charge, it was more than enough.

You see, not every Aircrew Base, let alone every military contractor, had the luxury of supernatural power users at their disposal. Even the once 27th ranked Apocalypse Defense only had Hanna Gagel, with no second Ability User to speak of.

Because it was not easy to support Ability Users, the average military contractor couldn't afford it, which is why there weren't many names called out onsite, usually just one or two from each company, and most of them were not even their own employees.

It was expected that they would rely on their extensive network of connections, paying a significant price in favors to enlist the help of these Ability Users.

The preliminary list of registrations was nothing more than an intention, without even names, and no one could guarantee those Ability Users would be willing to join this high-risk mission.

In the end, it had to rely on the Global United Defense Committee to lead and coordinate this reconnaissance mission.

As soon as the meeting ended, the representatives pulled out their phones, dialing as they walked out of the tented meeting area, chattering away on calls outside.

Executive Manager Hanna Gagel's face remained grim as she grabbed Chen Fei by the neck and dragged him away.

Chen Fei cried out, "Wait, Manager Hanna, let's talk this over, a gentleman uses words, not force."

Of course, he knew his "reckless courage" must have angered the One-Eyed old lady, and he quickly considered which posture to adopt for the impending punishment.

"Fine, then. We'll use words, not force. Come on, join me for a drink!"

Manager Hanna maintained her overwhelming aura, without relaxing her grip.

"Drink...drink?"

Chen Fei was thoroughly puzzled; what kind of tricky maneuver was this?

Not beating him up?

Just having a drink?

He didn't believe for a second that this One-Eyed old lady would be so tender-hearted, recalling how Chekhov Big Bear had cried out when mauled by Manager Hanna, a sight to behold and quite satisfying to witness.

The veterans who surrounded the pair were confused: it was only noon; why were they drinking already?

Could it be that the meeting went so well, Aircrew Base 911 came into great fortune, hence the celebration with drinks? Yet looking at both their faces, they showed not a hint of joy.

One was restless, while the other bore a dark countenance; some would believe it more likely they had suffered a great loss rather than reaped any benefit.

As it turned out, Chen Fei was overthinking it—Manager Hanna actually did want to drink.

They downed bottles of Big Mao's 75 proof "Water of Life," and with a few cans opened as simple accompaniments, the meal was complete.

"Here's one!"

Hanna Gagel clinked her bottle with Chen Fei's.

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He tilted his head back, and with two big gulps, guzzled the drink. He gasped for air twice, and his one eye immediately reddened.

"Come on!"

Risking life to accompany a lady, a big man can't show cowardice. Chen Fei braced himself, eyes opened wide, then closed, and downed two big gulps as well, decreasing the liquid level in the bottle by a fifth.

Oh boy! Two ounces of alcohol, both downed in one go.

"Cough cough cough!"

Chen Fei choked and coughed uncontrollably, even tears came streaming down.

The "water of life" burned like fire, scorching his heart, liver, lungs, and stomach enough to be overwhelming. His face flushed crimson, and he quickly stuffed a few bites of food to fight the burn.

Freaking hell, drinking like this is asking for death!

Chen Fei considered himself to have a good alcohol tolerance, but even he couldn't withstand such a drinking method.

In contrast, Manager Hanna only had reddened eyes, her complexion as usual, with a calm demeanor, as if she were drinking water instead of alcohol.

"Another round!"

The executive manager didn't even bother with appetizers, grabbed the bottle, and looked ferociously scary.

"Ah! Okay! Manager Hanna, don't you want to line your stomach a bit first..."

"Cheers!"

Fuck... This one-eyed old dame must be out of her mind!

...

"Hiss..."

Chen Fei slowly opened his eyes, suddenly inhaled sharply as the splitting headache from the hangover hit him like a wave, making him grimace in pain.

He found himself lying on the bed in the guestroom at Aircrew Base 912, fully clothed and reeking of alcohol.

If he wasn't mistaken, he must have blacked out, and the veterans must have carried him back to the room and dumped him on the bed.

Surviving two bottles of the "water of life" per person was a feat in itself; blacking out was trivial in comparison.

"Damn it!"

Chen Fei couldn't help but complain.

Manager Hanna seemed to have gone crazy, forcibly making him guzzle the drinks.

Even with appetizers to buffer the effects and subdue the potency of the alcohol, his head couldn't resist such a manner of drinking.

Fragmented memories started to resurface gradually as the drunkenness faded.

"Hiss, I can't take it anymore, drank... drank too much."

"A man never says he can't take it. Come on, drink with me!"

"Ha, Manager Hanna, let's... let's not drink like this, okay?"

"No way! Today, we drink until we drop, and anyone who tries to desert will be chopped into eight pieces!"

"Why?!"

"I'm afraid I'll submit a resume to the Merman Brothers Consortium."

"I, I was just, just kidding, okay!"

"I took it seriously!"

"I gotta..."

"Drink up! Or I'll cut you, be careful!"

"I wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare!"

...

Careless talk leads to trouble, Chen Fei thought, shaking his head. He got up with a wobble, showered, and changed into fresh clothes before he managed to put himself together.

Thump thump thump!

Someone was pounding on the door.

The force was considerable, starkly different from normal knocking.

"Rookie, open up!"

Oh! It's Manager Hanna's voice.

"I'm coming..."

Chen Fei hadn't finished speaking when he heard a crack, and the door, three fingers thick, split into eight pieces.

He gasped in shock, relieved he hadn't been standing behind the door, or he would've been another addition to those eight pieces.

Manager Hanna was just that impatient.

"Manager Hanna, is there an emergency?"

Chen Fei immediately became alert and looked past the executive manager.

"Departure, back to 911!"

Hanna Gagel's face was calm, seemingly unaffected by the hangover.

"This early?"

Chen Fei saw that outside, it was still dark.

What time was it now?

Picking up his mobile phone, he saw it was only 4:30 in the morning.

If he hadn't been drunk for a day and a night, he should have slept for about ten hours or so.

Even if going back to the Aircrew Base 911, shouldn't we wait for daylight before leaving?

Executive Manager Hanna Gagel said concisely, "Long night, many dreams! You have ten minutes."

"Understood! I'll pack up right away!"

Chen Fei turned and went back into his room to pack his things.

Lucky he had freshened up upon waking; otherwise, the terrible odor would have been too bad.

Unable to wash his dirty clothes, he stuffed them all into his luggage bag in a rush.

When Chen Fei followed the executive manager to the tarmac, the veterans and the small transport plane had already been waiting for a while.

Effortlessly opening the cockpit canopy, Chen Fei climbed into the front seat, tossed his luggage bag in the back, and had just fastened his seatbelt when the aircraft suddenly sank. Turning his head, he saw Manager Hanna had also climbed in and casually threw his luggage bag on the backseat out as if it was worthless trash.

Chen Fei: "... (My clothes)"

You high-born lady, oblivious to the commoner's plight, some of those clothes could've been worn again if they were washed!

Hanna Gagel didn't even bother to give the luggage bag another glance and said in an unfluctuating tone, "Takeoff!"

Alright then!

You're the manager, your word is law!

Chen Fei helplessly pulled down the cockpit canopy and started the ignition.

He wouldn't let the fact that the other person was his drinking buddy lead him to make assumptions with thoughts like "I thought" and such.

Their relationship wasn't actually that close, so it was better to not be too naïve.

As an adult, he understood these social nuances.

An employee who thinks they can get ahead with the boss because they've shared a few more drinks, while forgetting their place, is a foolish child bound to suffer big losses in the workplace sooner or later.

There were no takeoff or landing operations on the main runway of Aircrew Base 912. "Big Mouth Monster", after warming up the engine, slid directly onto it, followed by the small transport plane the veterans boarded.

Chen Fei steadily pushed the throttle while carefully asking, "Manager Hanna! May I ask why we can't wait for daylight to depart?"

"I'm going fishing!"

Hanna Gagel reclined in the pilot seat, completely relaxed.

"Uh! Who's the bait?"

Chen Fei was startled.

"You!"

"Ah!?"

With a pull on the control stick, "Big Mouth Monster" lifted its nose and took off from the ground.

Following close behind was the small transport plane.

The roaring engines of the two ascending aircraft woke many people.

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