Because the Security Bureau and their Army Group are in a lateral relationship, mutual contact and exchanges are considered an open secret.
"It seems like I have some good news for you!"
Just as he was about to leave his office, Song Xiangdong saw the number displayed on his dedicated satellite phone and sat back down across from Deputy Commander Wan.
At that moment, Deputy Commander Wan felt as if ten thousand grass mud horses were racing through his mind. Still, he had to force a smile of understanding.
"So you mean you want to talk to your deputy commander?"
Song Xiangdong’s lips curled into a playful smile as he tilted his head and looked at Deputy Commander Wan.
Deputy Commander Wan instantly understood Song Xiangdong’s intent. He took the phone from Song and spoke into it.
"How are your casualties?"
The first question he asked after taking the call made Song Xiangdong nod in approval. This is what a true commander should do.
The fact that they encountered Lin Beichen and needed his help indicated that the mission might not be going well. In such cases, blindly pursuing the task completion would be heartless.
But Deputy Commander Wan’s question showed his concern for his soldiers and comrades, which warmed the heart of the squad leader on the other end. If Lin Beichen wasn’t there watching, the squad leader might have shed tears.
"I have something I want to discuss with you!"
Despite his emotion, the squad leader did not forget his mission. He reported his recent conversation with Lin Beichen to Deputy Commander Wan, including how Lin Beichen had saved his comrades.
After explaining, the squad leader looked at Lin Beichen a bit awkwardly. Lin Beichen just smiled and shook his head, indicating he didn’t mind.
During the call, the squad leader promised not to ramble. However, when facing his superiors, he instinctively reported everything. Lin Beichen’s abilities weren’t really relevant here.
The squad leader was straightforward and didn’t want to report behind Lin Beichen’s back, so he chose to be forthright in Lin Beichen’s presence.
Lin Beichen had anticipated this and didn’t take it to heart.
"I can’t make the decision on this; let me discuss it with Director Song."
Deputy Commander Wan handed the satellite phone back to Song Xiangdong, and they discussed Lin Beichen assisting the squad with the mission.
Deputy Commander Wan hoped Lin Beichen would take part.
Firstly, Lin Beichen’s abilities could ensure the squad’s safety. Secondly, it was an opportunity to assess Lin Beichen’s true strength. Thirdly, eradicating the drug cartel was a shared goal with the squad leader.
However, Song Xiangdong was conflicted since Lin Beichen was there to hone his skills. If foreign forces targeted him, it would be a huge loss.
Though Lin Beichen had supernatural abilities, he wasn’t fully self-sufficient yet in Song Xiangdong’s eyes.
"Don’t worry, Director Song. I have a plan. I’ll use those guys to test my new techniques!"
Whenever a third person was present, Lin Beichen would address Song Xiangdong as "Director Song," respecting his position and displaying his savvy.
No matter how good their personal relationship was, using formal titles in public was proper.
Since Lin Beichen insisted, Song Xiangdong didn’t argue further. He just reminded Lin Beichen to ensure his safety before ending the call.
"Looks like I owe you big time!"
After hanging up, Deputy Commander Wan’s eyes were filled with complicated emotions as he looked at Song Xiangdong. He had always known about Lin Beichen, and the surveillance was his doing.
Lin Beichen wielded tremendous power, so much so that it felt beyond the army’s control. If he remained loyal, he’d be a great asset. But if he turned rogue, he could be a grave danger.
However, Lin Beichen’s actions today were like a slap on Deputy Commander Wan’s face, showing his genuine loyalty.
"That kid isn’t a bad person and is quite the patriotic hothead, or I wouldn’t protect him so much."
While Deputy Commander Wan admitted his mistake, Song Xiangdong felt like schooling this stubborn ox.
Yet, with Deputy Commander Wan admitting fault, Song Xiangdong had to be magnanimous. Both he and Lin Beichen had to be generous.
"But there’s no need to worry about the drug cartel."
While Song Xiangdong and Deputy Commander Wan chatted, the squad moved towards the drug lord’s hideout under the squad leader’s lead with Lin Beichen.
Though they expected the meeting point to be nearby, they didn’t realize how close it was—separated merely by a shallow gorge.
"This is awkward."
Lin Beichen surveyed the destroyed bridge and the enemy’s base across, momentarily at a loss.
The Dragon Army Squad members felt awkward too, having demolished the bridge to delay their pursuers.
While it was effective initially, it now blocked their path to the enemy base.
"Should we scout for another path? Since the pursuers managed to follow us, there must be another way!"
The squad leader suggested, but Lin Beichen shook his head in refusal.
The squad leader felt a twinge of discontent at the rejection. But remembering Lin Beichen saved his comrades and was helping complete the mission, he kept quiet.
The change in the squad leader’s expression didn’t escape Lin Beichen, who smiled and explained:
"In the first infiltration, your plan would work. That time, they weren’t prepared."
Lin Beichen’s insight surprised the Dragon Army Squad. They didn’t expect someone without military experience to be so perceptive.
"But they’ve been alerted, and now they’ll guard every known path to their base. This is the weakest point in their defenses!"
Understanding Lin Beichen’s reasoning, the squad members nodded in agreement and admiration.
"But if this is the weakest point, how do we get across?"
The squad leader gazed at the opposite side of the gorge, about fifty meters away. On flat ground, fifty meters was nothing, but here it was a deathtrap.
"How else? We’ll just walk right across!"
Lin Beichen grinned playfully.