"The Wyvern Blade's emergency signal?"A warning chime erupted from the small communicators clipped to their waists, causing Zara and Liana's faces to pale instantly. They quickly pulled out the devices —special communication units mandatory for every member of the Southern Wyvern Blade. Utilizing cutting-edge scientific technology, these units relayed signals directly via satellite, making them impervious to standard disruptions.Ordinarily, these communicators were silent. A chime meant only one thing: a member of the Wyvern Blade was issuing an urgent call for help-a distress signal."How can this be?"The sisters exchanged a look, their expressions shifting to disbelief and profound shock. The Southern Wyvern Blade was one of Astria's most elite strike forces; every member was a master operator, capable of overshadowing the world's most formidable special forces. They were, quite simply, mobile killing machines.What kind of crisis could possibly force a Southern Wyvern Blade member to call for an emergency rescue?After only a moment's hesitation, Zara accepted the communication. A string of encrypted characters-the Wyvern Blade's specialized code, with each symbol carrying a different meaning-flashed across the device's interface.As the two women deciphered the message, their expressions grew even heavier."This is impossible."They stood up, momentarily lost in thought. Maeve, standing nearby, looked at them with confusion. "Zara, Liana, what's happened?"Liana's expression was grave as she spoke in a low voice. "It's members of the Southern Wyvern Blade. They were in the Sahar Wastes on a mission to rescue fellow citizens, but they were ambushed by unidentified armed forces. Now, all ten of them are trapped in a border town near Ivoria within the Sahar Wastes, and they're calling for immediate extraction.""What?" Maeve's eyes widened slightly in alarm.She knew instinctively how formidable the Southern Wyvern Blade was-the nation's sharpest fighting edge. Their missions almost always boasted a hundred- percent success rate. For them to be driven to the point of needing emergency backup meant the situation was far more severe than anyone could imagine."What are you planning to do?" Maeve asked the sisters.Zara knitted her beautiful brows, deep in troubled thought. "Ten people are trapped. Besides the three civilians, the other seven are our most elite personnel. That includes our Southern Wyvern Blade's captain."She sighed, a frustrated note in her voice. "If all seven of them, working together, have been forced to a standstill, it means the enemy's military strength is extraordinary. We can't possibly make a difference by going there."Liana looked at her sister's tightly locked brows, anxiety plain on her face, but she couldn't think of a solution either. "And the distress signal from a Wyvern Blade member can only be recognized by other members. We're the closest ones to the Sahar Wastes. Any other member attempting to reach them from Astria will need at least half a day. By then, they might not be able to hold out.""Wait!"Suddenly, Liana looked up, turning to Zara, a flash of insight in her eyes."Zara, the Chief Instructor is right here! We need to ask him for help! With his power, rescuing a few people would be utterly effortless for him."Zara's eyes widened with surprise and joy as the realization hit her, too."You're right! Why didn't I think of that? The Chief Instructor is here!"The two immediately agreed, then simultaneously looked at Maeve."Eve, let's go! You come with us to find the Chief Instructor!"Maeve, still slightly dazed by the sudden turn of events, was nevertheless ushered out of the room by the two determined sisters.In the estate of the Yelem Hotel, Leander stretched, preparing to head out for a walk with Celia, when Zara and Liana, dragging Maeve along, rushed in, looking frantic.Leander settled back in his chair, having just heard the entire situation described by Zara and Liana."So, you're telling me Torre, Vane,Boomer, Brute, and Skyler went to the Sahar Wastes to rescue antheirAstrian medical expert and isply.family, Leander summarized "But during the mission, they were intercepted by a unit of unidentified armed forces and are now trapped in a border town near Ivoria?" "Yes!"Zara pleaded with Leander. "Chief, please, you have to help them! You trained them all; they look up to you as their lifelong role model. You're the only one who can save them now."Liana clasped her hands together in a gentle bow, her eyes brimming with a desperate plea.Leander remained still, resting his chin on his hand, slightly perplexed. He knew Torre, Vane, and Skyler's capabilities intimately and understood exactly what they were capable of.While the Sahar Wastes was a war-torn region with a volatile situation, rescuing three Astrian citizens would be a simple matter for Torre and his team. Any single one of them could handle such a task, let alone seven working together.Their combined force was enough to crush a hundred-man squad of a second-tier mercenary group; their fighting strength was equivalent to a reinforced military platoon. Stopping them should be extremely difficult let alone surrounding and trapping them. For all seven of them to be cornered in an Ivoria border town meant the opposing armed force's equipment and resources must be terrifyingly sophisticated, perhaps on par with the guard detachments of a minor nation.This was the point Leander couldn't grasp. A military force of this magnitude simply wouldn't go to such extreme lengths over seven Southern Wyvern Blade members and three Astrian civilians. It defied all logic."Chief!"Leander was still contemplating the matter, but Zara and Liana, fearing he was refusing to go, grew frantic. Their knees bent, and they started to sink, preparing to kneel before him.The instant they dropped, an invisible force held their bodies up, preventing them from completing the motion."Don't try that with me." Leander's eyes were like stars, his expression cool. "They're my soldiers. Since they're in trouble, of course I'll save them."PetHe stood up and addressed Zara and Liana. " leaving immediately. Both of you; contact the Southern Wyvern Blade training base right away fell, karry to get in touch with General Leon and dispatch an armed helicopter to the Sahar Wastes for extraction. Let them know that I will guarantee the safety of Torre and everyone else until then." "Yes!" Zara and Liana beamed with relief and nodded emphatically."While I'm away, make sure you protect Nathan, Evander, and the others." Leander looked toward Celia, giving his instruction, and was about to bolt out the door whennoveldramaZara suddenly spoke up."Chief, what's your plan?"Leander turned back, his expression calm and assured."My plan? I'm going to smash straight through their lines."With that, his voice trailed off as he became a flash of blue light, rocketing skywardand streaking into the distance."Smash straight through?"The two sisters froze, then their faces went pale with alarm. That meant Leander intended to take on an entire armed military force head-on.