27: Chapter 27 Meeting an Old Acquaintance in a Foreign Land 27: Chapter 27 Meeting an Old Acquaintance in a Foreign Land Fedor held his 98k, aimed at the window for a long time, but Gao Yang could see that Fedor’s hands trembled incessantly, making it impossible to keep the barrel steady.
After a while, Fedor placed the rifle on the counter in front of him, sighed deeply, and said, “I’m ninety years old now, too old.
My eyes can still see clearly, but my hands can’t stay steady.
This won’t do, Malik.
You’ll have to do it yourself.”
Malik looked distressed and said, “Sir, I have never fired a gun before.
I am not a coward, but I am afraid I might not even be able to hit a person standing right in front of me.”
With another deep sigh, Fedor said, “What a pity.
I hope the sound of gunfire will scare those thugs away.
It’s such a shame.
I’ve run this shop for over forty years, and you’ve worked here for me for twelve years, Malik.
I had wanted to leave this shop to you, but now I only hope those thugs won’t burn down our store.”
“Mr.
Brauchitsch, if you don’t mind, may I use this rifle?”
Looking at the eager Gao Yang, Fedor slowly said, “You’re just a guest.
It’s not your responsibility to defend our home.
You must understand, if you shoot, you’ll invite trouble.”
“I’m not afraid of trouble, and I’ve already got plenty of it.
Besides, we Huaxia people have a saying, ‘people in the same boat help each other out.’ The situation now is exactly that, Mr.
Brauchitsch.
If we want to survive, we have to work together.”
“Very well, then.
Do you know how to use a gun?”
“Sir, I’ve never seen anyone with better marksmanship than him.
He will certainly not disappoint you,”
Bob said.
Looking at Bob’s confident expression, Gao Yang smiled and said, “My marksmanship is not bad, although I’ve never used a Kar98k before.
I’m very familiar with this rifle, but there is a problem.
I’m quite confident with close-range shooting, yet I have no experience with shooting beyond two hundred meters.”
Fedor shrugged and chuckled, “Obviously we don’t need to shoot targets beyond two hundred meters, so you don’t need any experience.
Now it’s yours to use, just handle my old friend with care.”
Fedor picked up the rifle that had been on the counter and solemnly handed it to Gao Yang.
Gao Yang understood a true sniper’s affection for their beloved gun, so he received Fedor’s rifle with the utmost respect; in the moment he took the rifle into his hands, Gao Yang felt it was not just a rifle he was taking, but an inheritance.
“It’s nothing to boast about, and it was in a wrongful war, but I have to say, I killed one hundred and thirteen people with this rifle.
Don’t let it be disgraced in your hands, young man.”
On hearing Fedor’s record, Gao Yang was enormously shocked, accepting the beloved rifle of a real World War II ace sniper made him extremely excited.
The rifle in Gao Yang’s hands bore signs of use, looking as weathered as its owner, but it was precisely this sense of age that made Gao Yang feel the seemingly outdated rifle in his hands was filled with a subtle yet fatal aura.
As a military enthusiast, Gao Yang was very interested in World War II arms and equipment, although previously he could only read about WWII weaponry in books and online.
Now, having an authentic old gun in his hands—and one with impressive service at that—made him feel his blood boiling with excitement.
Seeing the highly excited Gao Yang, Fedor smiled and, pointing at a box, said, “My opinion is to give all the resources to the most suitable person to use, that’s how you make the most impact.
So assemble the pistol and clean the remaining bullets.
That’s your job, you’ll be busy for a while.”
Gao Yang nodded repeatedly, hung the rifle on his back, picked up a clean cloth, and after meticulously cleaning each pistol part, under Fedor’s guidance, assembled a P38.
No one would object to Gao Yang handling both guns.
Malik couldn’t shoot, and Bob, having witnessed Gao Yang’s skills, certainly wouldn’t argue with Gao Yang over the guns.
While Gao Yang carefully assembled the pistol, Malik’s phone suddenly started to ring.
Malik pulled out a phone, answered the call, and after only a brief greeting, suddenly lowered his voice, urgent, speaking rapidly in Arabic.
Shortly after, he hung up the phone.
After hanging up, Malik looked nervously and said, “My friend told me the shooters are foreigners, probably mercenaries.
They’ve taken the restaurant as a stronghold and killed everyone inside.
Only my friend hid in the storage attic unnoticed.
He warned us not to let anyone in, as those mercenaries would kill anyone they see.”
Fedor frowned and asked, “Is it that Huaxia friend of yours?”
Malik swallowed and said anxiously, “Yes, him.
I have to figure out how to help him.
I can’t just watch him get killed.”
On hearing a compatriot was in danger, Gao Yang stopped his work, furrowing his brow and said, “Is it the Huaxia restaurant at the corner?
Its location is crucial as it can control two streets.
No wonder it was taken as a stronghold by the mercenaries.
But how are we going to rescue him?”
Malik knew what he was saying was futile.
To attempt a rescue in a location occupied by armed forces was more a job for a special forces team.
Fedor pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, “I like that kid, we’ve got to think of something.
Come with me to the second floor; from there, we can see the restaurant’s attic.
Let’s check out the situation.”
Just then, Bob suddenly said, “Mr.
Malik, may I use your phone?
I have a very important call to make.”
Gao Yang, Malik, and Fedor went upstairs, while Bob stayed behind to watch for anyone barging in, and also tried to call his dad.
The two street-facing rooms on the second floor were Fedor’s and Malik’s bedrooms.
After entering Malik’s bedroom, Malik hurriedly stood in front of the window, pointing in a direction and saying, “That rooftop attic over there, do you see it?
My friend is hiding there.”
While speaking, Malik was about to draw the curtains, but Gao Yang stopped him and instead pulled the heavy drapes back, leaving only a narrow slit, and then stood behind the curtains, slightly cracking open the sliding glass window.
“This is enough, there’s no need to open the curtains all the way.”
After speaking, Gao Yang took a few steps back from the window and raised his binoculars to observe the attic Malik was referring to.
From Gao Yang’s position, he could see most of the attic, but he could not see the door leading to it, nor the staircase to the second floor.
After observing for a while, he noticed that the houses on this street were all quite similar—old two-story buildings, with not too much space between them.
Gao Yang considered the locations he could use.
Just then, Fedor, who was sitting on the bed, said softly, “It’s two hundred and sixty meters from here to the Huaxia City Restaurant, not far beyond the range you’re good at.
If you’re confident, I have an idea.”
“Mr.
Brauchitsch, please share your idea.”
Fedor shrugged with a relaxed expression and said, “The houses here are all similar, so the Huaxia City Restaurant is no different.
If we get to the rooftop, we’ll have an excellent view and can control all the rooftops in the area.
If it were me, I’d go up there and shoot anyone who dares to show their head.
It’s that simple.
Isn’t Malik’s friend in the attic?
If no one can get up there, he’ll be safe.”
Fedor’s suggestion was quite bold, and perhaps he was confident enough to control the entire area within shooting range, but Gao Yang dared not agree since he had no experience with long-range shooting.
After hesitating, Gao Yang shook his head and said, “No, I’m not confident I can shoot everyone who shows their face.”
Fedor nodded and replied, “I was just saying what the old me would have done in such a situation.
Now, we don’t necessarily have to do that.
The kid just needs to stay hidden until those mercenaries leave.
However, to be on the safe side, I suggest you go up to the rooftop to familiarize yourself with the environment and test-fire a few shots.”
Malik nodded repeatedly and said, “Cui Bo is safe for now; we don’t need to alert those who have trapped him.
If those mercenaries leave, Cui Bo will naturally be safe.”
After hearing Malik’s words, Gao Yang felt the name sounded very familiar, but since Malik pronounced Huaxia names a bit oddly, Gao Yang wasn’t quite sure.
“That friend you mentioned, what’s his name?
I mean, do you know how to say the two characters of his name?”
“Oh, his name is Cui Bo, that’s how it’s pronounced.
However, his nickname is Rabbit, and that’s what his friends call him.
He’d rather people call him by his nickname than Cui Bo.”
“Does he wear glasses, about this tall, always has a goofy smile, and looks rather silly, and also, he seems really sleazy?
Uh huh, and he’s from Ji Province in Huaxia, right?”
“My God, do you know him?”
Upon hearing Malik’s response, Gao Yang could hardly believe his ears, because if the Cui Bo Malik was talking about was indeed his friend, a very good friend with whom he initially became acquainted while playing wargames, but they later became very close friends.
Even the nickname Rabbit was one Gao Yang had given him.
In a foreign land, to encounter his best friend seemed too coincidental for Gao Yang to believe.
However, he now thought Malik’s Rabbit had to be his friend.
“Let’s go to the rooftop right away; I need to see for myself.
Also, Malik, is it safe to call Rabbit now?
Would it be too dangerous?”
Malik shook his head and answered, “I’m not sure about his situation; he just said a couple of words before hanging up.
I think it’s better not to call.”
“Alright, I’ll go to the rooftop with Gao Yang.
Malik, there’s no point in you going to the rooftop.
Go downstairs and help the young man keep watch.
Let’s move.”
After speaking, Fedor stood up shakily and with Gao Yang’s support, headed to the rooftop.