"High-sounding words! Why the hell don't you go yourself!"
Shi Qiang's eyes instantly turned bloodshot.
"I am one of the commanders of this operation," Chang Weisi replied, staring back into Shi Qiang's eyes without flinching. "The orders from my superiors are to command the battle. I will hold this position until the last moment, until the end of my life."
"Alright, alright! Let us pray together for this hero's sacrifice!"
Jon had been listening for a while and generally understood what these two Chinese soldiers were arguing about. He slapped his thigh, looking like he recognized this script. Mission at the brink of death, a lone hero, dying for his country—wasn't this the classic protagonist of an American blockbuster?
"God will protect him."
But Jon's words didn't end the friction between Chang Weisi and Shi Qiang. Instead, an unfamiliar voice caused them to set aside their conflict.
"Chief Chang."
David used a combat knife to cut the paracord knots securing "Tooth" and "Old Ke" to his back. He greeted the group. "I've brought the targets back."
"Oh my God!" Jon's eyes widened in shock. Even now, he could hardly believe he was seeing the protagonist of an action movie appear right before his eyes. "How did you do it!"
"Just luck," David smiled, offering no detailed explanation. He pointed toward the stretchers being carried by paratroopers into the temporary field hospital set up in a civilian house. "Twelve people. I didn't bring back the weapons. Most were shot in the leg by pistols; I just helped them over some mountain paths, they walked the rest of the way themselves."
"I will request a merit citation for you from the higher-ups."
Chang Weisi's eyes lit up upon hearing David's words. He glanced at the bloodstains on David's arm. Joint operation, outnumbered, capturing the bandits, rescuing comrades—just thinking about it made Chang Weisi take a sharp breath. This was likely worth at least a First-Class Merit.
"By the way."
David looked around. Shi Qiang punched David's chest, muttered "good brother," and then squatted down to check the two assassins on the ground. David noticed no Russians were present in the headquarters, so he pointed at "Old Ke" and spoke to Chang Weisi and Jon.
"This guy seems to have some connection with Russian intelligence."
David pulled an ID card stamped with "CCCP" and a golden shield from his pocket; it was filled with Russian text. Seeing this, Chang Weisi's cheek twitched. Good grief, a former Soviet agent. Jon, standing nearby, had a "confused face" expression, as if he couldn't fathom why the KGB would appear here.
"So it's him." Shi Qiang patted Tooth's face. "Looks like they moved their base to Moscow. No wonder they seemed to vanish into thin air back home."
"Reinforcements are here."
The familiar roar of low-altitude aircraft engines echoed from the horizon. A moment later, Jon's excited voice came from behind. "Air Force! The Kings of War!"
Bursts of fire accompanied the tremors of the earth as the terrible machines of war arrived. When those elegant weapons of destruction turned to leave, they left behind only a pockmarked landscape and countless shattered remains.
On the train back to the country.
"The Russians say they'll cooperate with the UN to wipe out the assassin organization's stronghold in Moscow," Shi Qiang said, sitting across from David. "Who knows if it's true or not."
To facilitate the Earth Defense Security Department's transport mission, the UN had specially modified a train carriage. Inside the compartment separated by green padded cushions, Shi Qiang complained while watching the monitors.
"Who knows?" David shook his head. He looked at his panel; with the release of Black Crusade, his points had begun another round of rapid growth.
[Remaining Warp Salvage Attempts: 7]
Hearing David's response, Shi Qiang looked as if he wanted to say something but stopped. According to the UN investigation, this organization had shady ties with Russian intelligence. Many instructors were simply former KGB members, and the financial backers behind them were closely linked to the Siloviki group. Letting the Russians investigate themselves was, in a sense, like "the thief shouting 'catch the thief'."
"David, your commendation has come through."
During their silence, Chang Weisi knocked on the door and entered with a laptop. "The UN has decided to award you the 'Peacekeeping' medal." He placed the laptop in front of David, displaying the UN resolution.
"Well, you're famous now." Shi Qiang leaned in for a look, then slapped David's shoulder hard.
But David gave no reaction. He was staring dumbfounded at the points rapidly rising on his system panel.
[Remaining Warp Salvage Attempts: 49... 50... 51]
"This is also for propaganda purposes. I apologize for not informing you earlier," Chang Weisi spoke with a refined air, despite being a soldier. "You are the only member of the new generation in the Security Department, so the organization has decided to heavily publicize your existence."
David could roughly guess what the higher-ups were thinking. After capturing Shen Yufei, the existence of Trisolaris was no longer a secret to the top brass. This meant that the various factions on Earth needed to unite as quickly as possible.
However, the awkward part was that due to the two World Wars and the Cold War, many members of old intelligence agencies held deep blood feuds against one another. Promoting David was likely a move to cater to those "Cold War relics," intentionally downplaying past conflicts and asking everyone to look forward rather than dwell on old grudges.
"The medal will likely be delivered after we return. By the way, the superiors asked me to inquire if you'd be interested in filming a few minutes of a promotional video for us later?"
I'm definitely interested. David thought, looking at Chang Weisi's slightly embarrassed expression.
Time passed quickly. Darkness enveloped the world, leaving only the silver moon and the eternal wolves of the grassland.
Tucked under a blanket on his soft sleeper bed, David closed his eyes. Finally!
With the consumption of thirty points, David's psionic level reached Manifest Grade 4. He could finally project his spirit to the moon using only his own power.
[Remaining Warp Salvage Attempts: 21]
"Draw." David did not hesitate.
Shen Yufei had been caught, which meant the plot of the first Three-Body book was about to reach an early conclusion. A direct confrontation between humanity and the Trisolaris Organization was inevitable. War was coming!
"Twenty draws in a row! I don't believe I'll get more junk!" David watched without blinking as the small golden boat slowly left the port. Then, he grabbed the flashing golden sphere.
Suppressing his excitement, David opened the description of the light sphere.
[Gene-Seed Cultivation Technology - No. VIII]
"Holy crap! Konrad Curze! Night Lords!"