Chapter 19 (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“You too,” Nicole said.

“Oh, yeah. This should be returned to its rightful owner.” Qin Hao took the alloy sword from his back and handed it back to Nicole, who was the owner of this standard-issue weapon. It was part of her infantry body armor.

“Keep it. Treat it as my gift to you.” Nicole smiled at him, seeing that the sword was more useful in Qin Hao’s hand than hers.

“Thanks!” Qin Hao was happy to keep the sword. Since he got his body enhanced by the insectoid gene, he found that the sword was a better weapon in combat than the electromagnetic rifle.

After saying goodbye, Nicole boarded the landing craft. Although the aircraft carrier’s squadron had cleared out an area for the landing craft, staying on the ground for too long was still a hazard. Nicole did not want to take up too much time on the ground.

The landing craft took off with a loud rumble as it carried Nicole and Lucia back to the mother ship in orbit. Meanwhile, Qin Hao would still have to continue to serve on the frontline on land.

After the carpet bombing killed all of the insectoids surrounding High Ground Z3, it gave the 106th Mechanized Infantry Division a much-needed respite. Soldiers finally lay back in the trenches in exhaustion. The constant alertness and combat were stressing them physically as well as mentally. If they did not have time to rest, they would break down soon.

Taking this short respite, Qin Hao started to replenish his energy. His appetite for food had grown tremendously after obtaining the insectoid gene. He was not only eating a lot more but also getting hungry a lot quicker.

After eating yet another huge bug’s leg, he finally satiated his hunger—for now.

“What did you just eat, Commander?” A soldier came up and asked.

People had been noticing the bundle on his back when he returned. Not wanting to attract attention, Qin Hao had wrapped it with a tarpaulin before he returned to High Ground Z3. People saw him carrying a bundle of something on his back, but no one knew that it was a bunch of giant beetle’s legs.

“Mind sharing it with us, Commander?” a few veteran soldiers asked unsolicitedly. All they had were combat rations; it was not easy to get anything else on the battlefield.

“These things look rather familiar to me!” A soldier with a keen eye saw the leftover shell on the ground.

“Are these insectoid shells?” Others had started to notice.

“Did you just eat the insectoid meat, Boss? Is it edible at all?” Those soldiers were struck dumb.

Knowing that he could no longer hide it, he opened up the bundle and revealed the bug legs.

“Are these things edible at all?” Those soldiers looked at each other in astonishment. It might have been harmless to Qin Hao, but not everyone could accept it as food. Even if it was non-poisonous, its hideous appearance and the greenish mucus alone were enough to make their stomachs churn.

“Message from the frontline!” Right then, all of the soldiers’ battlefield recorders lit up at once.

“What’s happening?” Everyone quickly checked their devices.