Chapter Sixty-Two: A Heart-to-Heart Conversation
Lin Fan’s voice carried a chilling, unyielding coldness. As soon as he spoke, the tension in the command center thickened palpably.
“The mission objective: kill.”
It was clear what Lin Fan intended to do.
Old Jin burst out laughing, “Good! I’ve wanted—”
“Don’t make trouble!” Chen Yan, usually mild-mannered, shouted sternly, his face darkening as he turned to Lin Fan. “Do you realize what this means?”
“You’re going to the Free Nation to kill.”
“If your actions are exposed, or if you fall into danger... it could trigger a public crisis, and we would be hard-pressed to help you.”
Chen Yan spoke the truth.
If Lin Fan and the First Squad of the Godslayer Army were to come to harm, they couldn’t very well send troops into the Free Nation to rescue them. That would be tantamount to war.
Lin Fan looked at Chen Yan, his voice cold. “I understand all the reasoning.”
“But they tried to capture our gifted individuals in Great Summer, tried to take our people.”
“And they destroyed a police station—I’ve seen the reports: three severely injured, one dead.”
“I know everything you’ve said. But I also know this: a blood debt must be repaid in blood!”
Chen Yan was silent for a long time, then said, “We could protest, expose them on the international stage...”
“Useless,” Lin Fan replied coldly. “A thief steals, gets caught, you scold him, but next time he’ll still covet your belongings, never giving up.”
“You have to hit him, and hit him hard enough that he won’t dare think of you again!”
“This time, in the Free Nation, not only must we kill, but we must wipe out the so-called Phoenix Society, so that the mere mention of Great Summer chills their blood and they never dare covet us again!”
Chen Yan paused, then said, “This is a grave matter—if things go wrong, it could lead to direct war between our nations.”
“We must report to the Head of State and let him decide.”
Lin Fan nodded.
Chen Yan picked up the red phone on the table and dialed.
Soon after, he handed the phone to Lin Fan. “The Head of State wishes to speak with you.”
“Sir,” Lin Fan said, his tone full of heartfelt respect as he took the call.
“I’m aware of the situation. The fight is inevitable,” said the Head of State, his voice brooking no argument. “A fist may not stand for justice, but it can stop evil intent!”
“You may go forth—and make them tremble!”
“But... this matter is sensitive. Mishandled, it could spark outright war between our countries.”
“Lin Fan, I give you two choices.” The Head of State sighed. “You may go, but once you cross the border, you no longer represent Great Summer officially. Should you fall into danger, Great Summer will not acknowledge your identity.”
“Or, you may choose not to go.”
The Head of State fell silent.
Lin Fan smiled. “What do you think I’ll choose?”
On the other end, the Head of State slowly rose and rendered a formal military salute to the phone, his voice solemn. “Take care!”
Lin Fan hung up and strode out.
Facing the expectant faces of the First Squad of the Godslayer Army, Lin Fan’s smile was grim as he drew his short knife. “Let’s go—follow me to kill!”
That night, at midnight.
A jet, unregistered and untracked, took off silently.
When the aircraft reached the Free Nation’s international waters, several black figures leapt out into the night.
Bang!
Bang!
From fifty meters up, they plunged directly into the sea.
No parachutes.
They relied entirely on superhuman physical prowess to withstand gravity and the brutal impact with the water!
Splash!
Lin Fan swam to the surface and called quietly, “All members, report!”
“First Squad of the Godslayer Army, Dao Wanqian!”
“First Squad of the Godslayer Army, Gongshu Ming!”
“First Squad of the Godslayer Army, Mo Buzhi!”
“First Squad of the Godslayer Army, Xing Ye!”
“First Squad of the Godslayer Army, Bei Min!”
“First Squad of the Godslayer Army—all present!”
Everyone swam in this foreign sea, responding to Lin Fan’s call.
“Good.” Lin Fan nodded and quietly pressed a signal transmitter.
Ten minutes later.
Boom!
A speedboat raced toward them.
“Where are you?” A young man of Chinese descent called softly from the boat.
“Here!” Lin Fan’s voice was subdued, and the light of a waterproof flashlight flickered.
The boat pulled up beside them, and the young man reached out to drag Lin Fan aboard, his voice tense. “Hurry up, the patrols here are strict. Let’s get moving!”
Ten minutes later.
The boat vanished into the night.
The moon hung cold and clear.
Five hours later.
The young man drove a nondescript sedan, speeding down the road.
To the east, fields glowed red as the sun rose.
Dawn.
The day was breaking.
Lin Fan looked at the young man and smiled, “You’re from Great Summer?”
“Of course—how else could I pick you up here?” The young man lit a cigarette as he drove, glancing at Lin Fan. “Want one?”
“No thanks, none of us smoke,” Lin Fan shook his head.
The young man paused. “That’s good... Ha, I didn’t smoke when I first came either.”
“But later, being alone here for so long, every time I missed home, I’d remember the smell of my father’s pipe—so I’d light one up.”
“Gradually, I couldn’t quit.”
He smiled to himself, words tumbling out. “I came here for university, stayed after graduation. Never went back.”
“My parents don’t say much, just call every holiday and ask if I can come home.”
“My relatives aren’t so polite—they say my parents raised a traitor, accuse me of forgetting my roots, call me a banana, yellow skin, white heart.”
He gazed at the eastern sunrise. “Honestly, I want to go back too, but isn’t this what the organization needs?”
“I dream of having a bowl of hometown noodles, damn it.”
“Everyone thinks I’ve settled here, married and had kids, but truthfully, there are things I keep locked inside—even from my wife and children.”
“When you left, did anyone tell you that if you fall into danger, Great Summer won’t acknowledge you or rescue you?”
Lin Fan nodded. “Yes.”
The young man smiled. “Sounds harsh, doesn’t it?”
“Mm.” Lin Fan nodded.
“It’s normal—ha, not just you, all of us live like this.” The young man grinned, half consoling Lin Fan, half mocking himself.
Yet his eyes held no regret.
Suddenly, he straightened, a little embarrassed. “Sorry, I’ve talked a lot on this drive... I just don’t get to say much, and it’s rare to meet someone from home.”
Lin Fan sighed, looking at the young man with deep respect. “It’s fine. When you return to Great Summer, let’s have a drink together—talk things over.”