Around 6:30 in the evening.

　　Dusk was approaching, and a bright moon already hung in the sky. The evening glow illuminated the earth as dozens of military vehicles sped along Highway 405, their tires kicking up clouds of dust.

　　Li Yuan held the intercom, urging repeatedly, "Helicopters, stop hovering over our heads! Fly ahead at low altitude. Don't worry about whose military zone it is. Just announce your passage. I need you to keep an eye on that convoy!"

　　"Roger!"

　　"Roger!"

　　"...!"

　　The helicopter squadron in the air immediately responded, beginning a low-altitude search ahead.

　　Fifteen minutes later, the military convoy reached the end of Highway 405 and arrived at the defense zone of the First Regiment of the 55th Army.

　　"Honk, honk!"

　　The driver of the lead vehicle honked the horn repeatedly, alerting the garrison soldiers at the defense post to their presence.

　　Seconds later, more than a dozen soldiers rushed out of the defense camp, led by the battalion commander of the First Battalion of the First Regiment of the 55th Army.

　　The man, in his thirties with handsome features and fair skin, ran out of the defense area, wiping grease from the corner of his mouth as he shouted, "What's going on?"

　　Li Yuan didn't want to waste time, so he pushed open the car door and jumped out, flashing his credentials. "We're from the Great District Council Investigation Team. We received information that a suspect's family is passing through here. I'm under orders to pursue them. Please open the barricade and let us through immediately!"

　　During non-emergency periods, there's no need for military blockades on highways, nor is it necessary to station camps in remote areas. Control isn't regional; at most, there are just patrol units on duty.

　　But the situation in Dragon City is different now. Internally, The Dragon City Rises, and externally, the Old Mexico region is at war. So, this level of combat-readiness military control has been in place for some time. Whether they're civilians or government officials, anyone passing through a military defense zone must obtain permission from the corresponding departments. In short, the procedures are very complicated.

　　The 55th Army battalion commander glanced at Li Yuan's credentials. "Okay, your Investigation Team can enter."

　　"Thanks!" Li Yuan didn't waste words, turning to wave his hand and shout, "Let's go, keep moving!"

　　"Hey, wait a minute!" The battalion commander, seeing him waving at the convoy, immediately stopped him and asked, "Officer, do the troop vehicles also need to enter the defense zone?"

　　"Of course!" Li Yuan replied.

　　"Well... well, that won't do." The battalion commander immediately responded, "The Investigation Team can enter because we received orders to cooperate unconditionally with your unit. But military units cannot enter our defense zone, especially when they're carrying weapons. That's the iron rule."

　　Hearing this, Li Yuan immediately raised his eyebrows and retorted, "The gangsters are armed. How can we capture them without taking troops in?"

　　"It's like this. First, the general regulations for garrison troops clearly state that no unit can arbitrarily enter the defense zone of a brother unit to avoid military mutiny, military friction, and other situations. Second, the orders we received did not say anything about allowing military units to pass." The battalion commander replied with reason and evidence, "So... I can't let them through unless you can get the Great District Council to notify our military headquarters. If I receive that order, I can let them pass."

　　Hearing this, Li Yuan's lungs were about to explode with anger!

　　How many people are there in the Investigation Team? It would be a fool's dream to stop the family members of the military officers involved with only forty or fifty people!

　　If the troops can't get in, what's the point of pursuing them? Even if they catch them, they might be the ones who suffer.

　　Li Yuan put his hands on his hips. "Do you understand what unconditional cooperation means? Do you?"

　　"I understand!" The battalion commander nodded. "Didn't I allow the members of the Investigation Team to pass?"

　　"How can I catch anyone if the troops don't go in?!"

　　"We haven't received any orders to allow friendly forces to pass! You need to communicate with the higher-ups." The battalion commander said very seriously, "Officer, I'm just a grassroots garrison officer. It's no use making things difficult for me. If I let you pass, and the higher-ups investigate later, I'll not only lose my uniform, but I might also end up in a military court."

　　"Stop giving me that useless crap. You must let us through now, immediately!" Li Yuan pointed at the ground and roared, "Right now!"

　　"Why are you cursing?! I'm politely explaining the garrison regulations to you. What's wrong with you?" The battalion commander glared and roared, "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're from a higher-level department. No matter how powerful you are, you have to respect local rules, right?"

　　"Respect my ass!" Li Yuan didn't have time to waste arguing with him. He turned directly and shouted at the driver, "Charge through, hurry!"

　　After speaking, Li Yuan headed straight for the car.

　　The battalion commander watched his back and directly waved his hand, shouting, "First Battalion, assemble!!!"

　　"Buzz, buzz!"

　　As soon as the words fell, the soldiers inside the sentry post sounded the battle alarm. A large number of soldiers who were eating dinner rushed out and raised their guns at the convoy.

　　Li Yuan turned back to look at the battalion commander, shouting at the top of his lungs, "I'm telling you, my unit has the right to open fire. If you know what's good for you, get out of the way!"

　　The battalion commander ignored him and shouted directly, "Shoot to kill anyone who tries to break through!"

　　"Try it!"

　　Li Yuan replied, then yanked open the door and got into the car. "Charge through!"

　　"Vroom!"

　　The lead vehicle started and charged straight toward the defense zone barrier.

　　"Bang!!!"

　　The battalion commander fired a warning shot. "Come in, and I'll definitely open fire!"

　　Li Yuan leaned out of the window, pointing at the battalion commander and roaring, "Shoot him down!"

　　As the shout fell, more than a dozen soldiers instantly stood up in the truck bed of the military truck behind.

　　They were all grassroots soldiers whose duty was to obey orders. Now that the Investigation Team had given the order, there was no need to be polite.

　　"Bang, bang!"

　　Two gunshots rang out. The First Battalion commander inside the defense zone was shot in the abdomen and leg and fell to the ground on the spot. He really hadn't expected the other side to dare to open fire within the military defense zone.

　　"Get out of the car!"

　　A deputy regimental officer from the 77th Regiment rushed out of the car, waving his hand and shouting.

　　Seventy or eighty soldiers jumped out of the car, guarding the front of the convoy, and began to charge into the defense zone.

　　"Shoot to kill anyone who dares to resist!"

　　"Get out of the way, let us through!"

　　"Bang, bang...!"

　　Sporadic gunshots echoed as the convoy rushed into the defense zone. The First Battalion commander, a deputy battalion commander, and three soldiers near the guard tower of the First Regiment of the 55th Army were all shot.

　　The scene was chaotic. As seventy or eighty soldiers cleared the way in front, physical conflicts broke out with the defense zone soldiers. Someone used a gun butt to knock down two garrison soldiers. As the convoy sped past, it ran over this person, crushing him to death under the wheels.

　　"Faster, faster!"

　　Li Yuan's shouts echoed all around.

　　In the sky, the moonlight was bright, night had fallen, and the road was pitch black.

　　...

　　Tianhong Port.

　　Su Tianyu arrived at the dock and saw a cargo ship slowly docking.

　　More than a dozen coast guard brothers cleared the way, dispersing irrelevant personnel.

　　Su Tianyu stepped forward, stood on the deck, and saw Yao Doudou walking down with a group of people.

　　"Awesome, buddy! Now you can openly welcome me into the city?" Yao Doudou said with a smile.