Item Description:
A crudely carved statue of the Emperor, made in secret by a devout peasant. Though poorly crafted, it carries a faint trace of faith.
Function: Can be used to construct an Imperial Shrine.
Hint: Key hideout upgrade item.
---
Li Qinwu's eyes lit up.
A hideout upgrade item.
And not just any upgrade—a shrine.
Once installed, the shrine could convert basic materials into sacred resources. Ordinary water and oil could be refined into holy water and sanctified oil.
Holy water could cleanse corruption.
Holy oil could resist the influence of Chaos—and when applied to melee weapons, it enhanced their effectiveness against corrupted entities.
In a universe like this, that wasn't a luxury.
It was survival.
"…Jackpot."
He carefully stored the Emperor's wooden carving in his backpack.
---
He searched the second dormitory.
Nothing.
Not even scraps.
The place had been completely stripped.
"…Too clean."
He clicked his tongue in irritation.
---
Opening his system map, he reviewed nearby locations.
Two options:
North (3 km): A trench line. Likely to contain weapons and supplies—but currently occupied by rebels.
Northwest (4 km): A grain depot. Previously a logistics hub. Now a rebel stronghold—larger force concentration.
Li Qinwu hesitated.
With only a dagger, even a single armed rebel could kill him instantly.
His preferred strategy was simple:
Arrive after the battle.
Loot everything.
Leave.
---
As if on cue—
Gunfire erupted.
Heavy. Sustained.
Artillery followed.
Li Qinwu immediately dropped flat and took cover among ruined structures, listening carefully.
The gunfire pattern was clear.
PDF weapons.
Automatic rifles.
And something heavier—
Not artillery.
An autocannon.
Likely mounted on an armored vehicle.
"…Chimera."
A standard Imperial troop carrier.
If PDF forces were deploying infantry and armored support, then this was a coordinated night assault.
Li Qinwu's expression shifted.
Opportunity.
---
He didn't move immediately.
Timing was everything.
Entering too early meant walking into crossfire.
---
The battle lasted over twenty minutes.
Autocannon fire thundered continuously—likely a 40mm weapon, consistent with standard Chimera armament in lower-tier deployments.
Eventually—
The gunfire began shifting position.
One side had broken.
Retreat.
Pursuit.
---
Li Qinwu moved.
Fast.
Straight toward the trench line.
---
As expected—
No one remained.
Only corpses.
The smell of blood and burned propellant lingered in the air.
The battle had moved toward the grain depot.
Perfect.
---
He jumped into the trench and began looting.
One rifle.
Two.
Three.
No hesitation.
No wasted motion.
---
This had been a mid-scale engagement.
Rough estimates:
PDF forces: ~100 infantry + 1 Chimera
Rebels: ~200
The ambush had been decisive.
Bodies were everywhere—cut down by gunfire or shredded by autocannon rounds.
---
Within minutes, Li Qinwu was loaded.
Seven rifles.
Twelve magazines.
Total weight: over 50 kilograms.
---
Encumbrance Warning: Yellow Tier
Movement Speed: -30%
---
"…Enough."
Greed killed scavengers.
He already had what he needed.
With the three rifles in storage, this was enough to complete the black market mission.
He climbed out of the trench and immediately withdrew.
---
Lieutenant Rudolph's Mission
Li Qinwu moved quickly toward extraction.
Gunfire still echoed from the grain depot in the distance.
The rebels were likely being wiped out.
He stayed low, moving through depressions in the terrain, constantly listening for movement.
---
Eventually—
Silence.
The battle had ended.
PDF forces would now begin securing and clearing the area.
Too dangerous to linger.
---
Then—
A sound.
Faint at first.
Growing louder.
Behind him.
---
Li Qinwu's instincts flared.
He accelerated.
But the sound was closing fast.
Too fast.
---
Headlights.
Blinding.
A Chimera troop carrier.
Charging directly toward him.
---
"…You've got to be kidding me!"
He broke into a full sprint.
His stamina plummeted.
Seven rifles clattered against his body.
There was no way he could outrun it.
---
Behind him, the turret began to rotate.
Targeting.
Locking.
---
His eyes scanned frantically—
A ditch.
---
With his last burst of strength, he dove into it.
Disappeared.
---
But it didn't matter.
The terrain was open.
Flat.
He was trapped.
---
The rumble of treads grew closer.
Closer.
Closer.
---
Li Qinwu exhaled slowly.
He looked at the rifles on his chest.
Regret flickered in his eyes.
If he died, they'd be gone.
Recovered by the PDF.
Lost.
---
"…So that's it."
Then—
Realization struck.
"Recon sweep…!"
The Chimera had likely scanned the battlefield. He had shown up as a lone signal.
A target.
---
He laughed under his breath.
"…Fine."
If he was going to die—
He'd face it standing.
---
He climbed out of the ditch and stood in the open.
Hands on his hips.
Facing the vehicle.
"Come on!"
"Fire!"
---
Silence.
---
No shot came.
---
The headlights remained fixed on him.
Blinding.
Unmoving.
---
Li Qinwu frowned.
"…What?"
Were they trying to capture him?
That was worse.
He could die and respawn—but torture?
No.
---
He tensed, preparing to end himself—
Then—
The lights shut off.
---
His vision slowly returned.
The Chimera loomed before him.
Steel hull.
Military markings.
Autocannon turret mounted above.
Standard PDF configuration.
---
Then—
A metallic click.
The hatch opened.
A figure emerged.
---
Someone familiar.
---
Minutes later—
The Chimera turned and headed back toward the PDF defensive line.
---
Inside the transport compartment—
Two corpses lay on the floor.
Five survivors occupied the remaining space.
Three wounded soldiers.
And two men facing each other.
---
Li Qinwu.
And—
Rudolph.
---
Li Qinwu glanced at his hand.
No longer flesh.
A mechanical replacement.
Clean.
Functional.
---
His rank insignia had changed.
Promoted.
Second Lieutenant.
Company commander.
---
Rudolph had led the operation.
A company of over a hundred men.
A Chimera under his command.
Two rebel strongholds captured.
---
They stared at each other.
Silent.
---
Li Qinwu broke first.
"…Not bad. Promotion already?"
A grin.
"When's the celebration?"
---
Rudolph's gaze shifted to the rifles hanging from Li Qinwu's body.
"Carrying weapons like that… is a capital offense."
---
Li Qinwu shrugged.
"Then arrest me."
---
Silence again.
---
Neither moved.
---
Li Qinwu understood.
Rudolph remembered.
A life saved.
A debt owed.
---
If this had been Imperial Guard regulars—or worse, a Commissar—
He would already be dead.
---
Instead—
Nothing happened.
---
Li Qinwu leaned back slightly.
Relaxed.
"Drop me off twenty kilometers west."
Casual.
As if taking a ride.
---
Minutes later, the Chimera stopped near his extraction route.
Li Qinwu jumped down, adjusting his gear.
Before leaving, he turned back.
---
"Let me say it properly."
"Li Qinwu. Scavenger."
"I find things. I solve problems."
---
He met Rudolph's eyes.
"So—need anything?"
---
Rudolph spoke after a pause.
"…My men died out there."
His voice was low.
Controlled.
"We don't always get the chance to recover their bodies."
His jaw tightened.
"Without identification… their families get nothing."
---
A moment of silence.
---
"If you find them—bring back their tags."
"I'll repay you."
---
A system notification appeared.
---
Mission Accepted
Objective: Deliver PDF identification tags
Type: Repeatable
Contact: Lieutenant Rudolph
---
Li Qinwu nodded once.
No more words.
He turned and walked away.
---
A new opportunity had just opened.