Chapter 238: Tip Of The Iceberg
He was very familiar with the armband of the Night Tiger; it was the starting point of his military career, how could he forget it.
“Why is it just you, Chang Ning?”
Although the speaker’s face was covered in thick camouflage, Chang Ning recognized him as Hui Lang from the voice and build; the burly man who had subdued the Blue Team non-commissioned officer with one move must be Gao Zhong Dui.
Besides him, Group A had no one over 1.8 meters tall.
“Chang Ning?”
Before Chang Ning could reply, the Blue Team non-commissioned officer, bound and having difficulty moving, struggled to lift his head and open his eyes wide to confirm if the person next to the private was really Chang Ning.
From that voice, well, it was the Second Squad Leader.
“Forget it, wait until I’m done handling this.”
Gao Zhong raised his hand to signal Chang Ning not to answer his question yet; Blue Team people were still here, it wasn’t the time to talk.
Although the higher-ups repeatedly emphasized that the exercise was actual combat, there was still a gap after all; who knew if the eliminated guys on the ground would reveal intelligence about them to the Blue Team after they left.
So Chang Ning watched wide-eyed as Gao Zhong Dui cleanly knocked out the Second Squad Leader, the movements as proficient as eating or drinking.
Knocking out the Second Squad Leader and that little private wasn’t the end; Gao Zhong Dui and Hui Lang tore off their armbands and put them on, instantly transforming into Red Team.
Chang Ning thought of a serious problem: if Gao Zhong Dui’s behavior was discovered, would they no longer be protected by《 Geneva Convention》.
Speaking of which, are special forces soldiers protected by the convention?
He really hadn’t considered this question before.
“What are you thinking about? Come with us, it’s not safe here.”
Hui Lang chuckled and patted Chang Ning’s shoulder, pulling him back from the jumbled, random thoughts in his mind.
“Oh, okay.”
Coming back to his senses, Chang Ning followed the leading Hui Lang and quickly left the scene.
As for zoning out behind enemy lines, what a joke! That wasn’t an issue at all.
Standing next to him were the “West Line’s Number One Warrior” from back then and now Wolf Fang’s ceiling in overall combat power, the Wild Wolf Gao Zhong Dui; Hui Lang might seem amiable usually, but he was also a tough character.
Being Gao Zhong Dui’s deputy for so many years said a lot in itself.
With these two big shots protecting him, what did he have to fear?
Forget zoning out; he would even dare to strut in front of the Blue Team capture team.
Of course, provided the Blue Team capture team didn’t have too many people; if there were too many, even Gao Zhong Dui and Hui Lang couldn’t cover him.
“Tell us, where are the others? Don’t tell me you’re the only one left!”
Thinking that such a situation wasn’t impossible, Gao Zhong Dui’s expression turned unusually grim.
If the Lone Wolf Special Assault Team was down to just the three of them, that result would indeed be demoralizing.
Turning it over in his mind, Gao Zhong Dui felt a surge of relief.
After all, they had endured a round of intense artillery fire; not being completely wiped out was already good enough, what more could they hope for.
After giving himself some mental preparation, Gao Zhong Dui felt much more comfortable.
Seeing that Gao Zhong Dui seemed to have misunderstood something, Chang Ning quickly clarified, not wanting him to keep imagining things.
Who knew what Gao Zhong Dui had been picturing in his head?
“The others are not with me.
Our plan is to split up and act separately; if we can slip out, we’ll rendezvous at Wolf Head.”
Chang Ning spilled all the details of Group B’s action plan to Gao Zhong Dui like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.
“Going back?
That’s fine too.”
After patiently listening to Chang Ning’s report, Gao Zhong Dui was momentarily dazed; clearly, he hadn’t expected Group B to choose to go back.
For Group B, made up of young guys with an average age of 20, to make such a choice was quite surprising to Gao Zhong Dui and Hui Lang.
In their expectations, Group B might choose to fight head-on and continue staying in the Blue Team’s heartland to cause trouble until captured.
“How many losses?”
After asking about Group B’s plan, seeing Gao Zhong Dui uninterested, Hui Lang took over and continued questioning Chang Ning about Group B’s situation.
“Two, Geng Jihui and the Paratrooper.”
Mentioning the losses, Chang Ning’s expression also turned grim like Gao Zhong Dui’s.
“Only two!”
Unlike Chang Ning’s reaction, Hui Lang’s tone was excited as if losing two people was some huge piece of good news, and even Gao Zhong Dui’s mood lifted somewhat.
Could it be…
Chang Ning’s heart stirred; he thought of a possibility.
Only exceeding psychological expectations would produce such a delighted expression, even if Group B had lost two people, a sniper and a commander.
Hui Lang didn’t give Chang Ning a chance to keep guessing; he stated Group A’s experience in a calm tone, matching Chang Ning’s guess exactly.
“As you thought, everyone in Group A except us two has withdrawn from the exercise.”
At this point, Hui Lang added: “Not taken out by Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company; they were unlucky and got hit by artillery.”
This time, Hui Lang anticipated Chang Ning’s prediction; who in the Lone Wolf wasn’t sly as a fox?
The micro-expressions on Chang Ning’s face were enough for an expert like Hui Lang to “read his mind.”
“What are your plans with Gao Zhong Dui? How about we all go back together.”
Chang Ning was the type with the mindset of “as long as the green hills are there, one need not worry about firewood”; he was always cautious in missions that required seizing opportunities, and this personality was a big advantage in long-term missions.
“Heh, go back?
Group A is down to just us two; going back won’t help much.
Hui Lang and I plan to hit the Blue Team hard here!”
Before meeting Chang Ning, Gao Zhong Dui had considered retreating; he couldn’t let the Lone Wolf Special Assault Team be completely wiped out here.
Such an outcome would be a major blow to both He Da Dui and Wolf Fang.
All that changed after hearing the good news from Chang Ning.
Anyway, Group A was just him and Hui Lang left; whether they went back or not made little difference, better to take a solid bite out of the Blue Team.
Special forces were meant for fighting outnumbered, after all.
“Alright, knowing about Group B is an unexpected bonus.
Your plan is fine; Hui Lang and I will stay here to draw the Blue Team’s attention and tear an opening for you.
This is about all we two can do for you now.”
Gao Zhong Dui’s tone was full of undeniable iron-blooded resolve; what he said now was an order, not a discussion with Chang Ning.
Thinking of Gao Zhong Dui’s other identity, such behavior made perfect sense.
The Wild Wolf wasn’t just Group A’s team leader; he was also the Lone Wolf’s captain.
Team leader of Group A was just a side job; captain of Lone Wolf was his main duty, and even this second lieutenant Chang Ning was under Gao Zhong Dui’s command.
“Not necessarily; He Da Dui still hopes you go back.”
Chang Ning wasn’t giving up and wanted to persuade again.
Mentioning He Da Dui, both Gao Zhong Dui and Hui Lang’s expressions turned odd.
They knew what kind of person He Da Dui was better than Chang Ning did.
Trading the two of them for five young team members, He Da Dui would still do it, especially when they were trapped in heavy encirclement.
“This trap is obviously Lei Keming’s handiwork; without paying something, would he let you leave so easily? Chang Ning, you’re underestimating him too much!”
Chang Ning understood Gao Zhong Dui’s meaning, but for some reason, he felt a stifling sensation in his chest, so oppressive he could hardly breathe.
So this was Lei Keming, a person even He Da Dui had to approach cautiously.
At this moment, Chang Ning caught a glimpse of the tip of Lei Keming’s iceberg.
