Suppressed anger and immense grief surged in Zhang Mingyuan's chest. He slammed his fist on the metal control panel next to him, making a dull thud that drew the astonished gazes of several staff members in the distance.
He was completely oblivious, staring intently at Mingzhao, his eyes bloodshot, filled with grief, anger, and, more profoundly, a desperate, almost hopeless expectation.
——
Mingzhao closed the folder, the thin paper in her hand feeling like a branding iron.
She didn't look into Zhang Mingyuan's fiery eyes, but instead turned her gaze to the huge screen in the main control room.
On the screen, three "Galaxy" satellites silently overlook the blue planet, their orbits stable and data flowing smoothly.
These "sky eyes" can detect signals from thousands of miles away, but they cannot stop the steel raptor from wreaking havoc in their own airspace.
“Galaxy…” she murmured the two words, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
The moment the satellite network was successfully established, the glory that everyone was watching stood in stark contrast to the tragic moment when the pilots shed their blood in the sky.
She slowly stood up and gently placed the thick "Compilation of Basic Industrial Materials" on the repaired signal amplifier.
Her movements were meticulous. Then, she handed the battle damage report, marked with the bright red "Top Secret" and the cold "3," back to Zhang Mingyuan.
Her face remained expressionless, but deep within her overly calm eyes, something dormant seemed to be ignited by the blood-soaked report.
"What do you need me to do?" Mingzhao's voice returned to its usual coldness, without any impassioned rhetoric or angry roars, only the most direct question.
It was as if the report just now was merely conveying a technical parameter that urgently needed to be addressed.
Zhang Mingyuan stared intently at her.
He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, to forcefully suppress the grief and anxiety that threatened to burst from his chest.
He took the report, his fingers still trembling, but his eyes became incredibly sharp and solemn.
"We have received the highest order!"
Zhang Mingyuan's voice was extremely low, yet it carried a power that pierced the soul, "There is a project... a project that is expected to break these damned shackles and stop our pilots from risking their lives to complete projects! It needs you! The country needs you!"
He carefully took out a black token, about half the size of his palm, that was neither gold nor wood, from a very hidden compartment inside his briefcase.
The token has an ancient design and no text on its surface, except for an extremely abstract, distorted shadow pattern that seems to devour light.
A heavy, cold, and menacing sense of impending doom washed over us.
"This project is codenamed Mystic Shadow!"
Zhang Mingyuan solemnly pushed the token toward Mingzhao, his voice deep and resonant.
The token lay quietly on the cold metal workbench. The distorted shadow pattern seemed to come alive, writhing silently in the dim light and exuding a chilling aura.
Mingzhao's gaze fell on the token, and for the first time, the shape of the shadow was clearly reflected in his eyes, which were as cold as a deep pool.
Her fingertips twitched almost imperceptibly.
"Mysterious Shadow!"
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