nycdaug Chapter 407 Trap?
Chapter 407 Trap?
The communications soldier opened his mouth, wanting to say a few words in defense of the participating team, but seeing his superior leaning back in his chair, legs crossed, boots dangling, looking all nonchalant and unprofessional—not at all like a soldier—he couldn't help but...
Then he said:
"Reporting to the commander, there is a team whose performance is...very special."
"What's so special about it?" he asked casually.
The communications soldier carefully chose his words.
"This small team isn't like the other squads, rushing towards their destination. They don't seem to treat this selection as a forced march; their pace is... leisurely, like they're on vacation."
We'll find a place to rest at noon, and stop moving early in the afternoon to find a place to camp.
Moreover, this team encountered the largest wolf pack last night; according to reconnaissance observations, there were at least twelve to fifteen wolves.
"Oh?"
The languid figure on the chair seemed to stir slightly, and the swaying leather boots came to a stop.
Surprisingly, not only were none of them injured, but... they also wiped out the entire pack of wolves that attacked them.
Based on the subsequent on-site investigation and statistics, it is determined that these dozen or so wolves were all killed by the same person alone, in the dead of night, in the vast Gobi Desert!
"Ha, that's interesting!"
The person in the chair clearly became interested this time. He lowered his arms, which had been crossed over his chest, and a voice with a hint of inquiry came from under the military cap covering his face.
"One person? Killed more than a dozen Gobi wolves? Who is this person?"
"Report! It's Zhong Yuemin! The one who made outstanding contributions in the counterattack against Vietnam and captured the commander of the enemy's elite division alive, the former captain of the Mountain Eagle reconnaissance detachment!"
The communications soldier clearly stated his name.
"It turns out it was him..."
The voice beneath the hat brim carried a hint of understanding, even a subtle appreciation.
"Hmm... indeed, his reputation is well-deserved; he does have some real skills."
As soon as he finished speaking, those long legs that had been resting on the edge of the sand table finally came down, and his feet, clad in military boots, landed firmly on the tent's groundsheet.
He straightened up from his slumped chair, then raised his hand and removed the military cap from his face.
In an instant, a stunning face was revealed in the dim light inside the tent.
It was an extremely delicate oval face, with healthy honey-colored skin. Beneath willow-leaf-shaped eyebrows were a pair of bright and sharp eyes, the corners of which were slightly upturned, carrying a hint of innate arrogance and scrutiny.
The bridge of the nose is high and straight, with smooth lines.
Her luscious red lips were slightly pursed, outlining a calm and decisive curve. Her neat, ear-length short hair further accentuated her long, fair neck. Her entire being exuded a powerful and undeniable air of strength amidst her stunning beauty.
The crisp military uniform she wore did not make her look bulky at all; on the contrary, it perfectly accentuated her tall and slender figure, giving her a dashing and heroic air reminiscent of a modern-day Mulan.
She was undeniably a great beauty, but her words were completely at odds with her earlier crude, arrogant, and rude remarks. It was hard to imagine that such words would come from the alluring red lips of such a delicate, fair-skinned beauty.
"But,"
The female commander parted her red lips slightly, her voice remaining steady, yet carrying a hint of playful control.
"There are still two days left in the competition. The wolf packs, lack of water, and harsh environment we encountered before are just appetizers."
He stood up, looked at the sand table in front of him, and lightly tapped the small flag representing the participating team with his finger, his tone playful.
"The main course is ready to be served."
Turning to the communications soldier, he gave the order in a tone that left no room for argument.
"Pass the notice down and start the second phase as originally planned. Are we just going to let them walk to their destination safely, like it's a vacation? That's no fun. This isn't a nursing home. Let's increase the difficulty!"
"Yes! Chief!"
The communications soldier's lips twitched. He felt that this beautiful commander was anything but gentle and kind; she was even more 'cruel' than the wolf from the previous night. However, he certainly wouldn't say anything more, nor would he dare to.
He immediately accepted the order, turned around and quickly returned to the wireless equipment to begin sending encrypted commands.
-
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Meanwhile, Zhong Yuemin's team continued their journey across the Gobi Desert towards their destination, occasionally using a compass for navigation. However, they didn't encounter a single other team along the way; it was as if they had all vanished overnight.
Zhang Haiyang muttered, "Where are they? Where did they all go? Yuemin, do you think the other teams arrived first?"
Unbeknownst to them, most of the participating teams had withdrawn the previous night, leaving only about twenty people in four or five teams.
Zhong Yuemin said, "Haiyang, stop yelling and save your energy." They had been unlucky today; they hadn't encountered a single Gobi rock to shield them from the scorching sun along the way. The blazing sun was making them dizzy. Just then, someone behind the sand dunes ahead shouted for help.
The group immediately ran over, crouching down under the cover of the sand dunes to observe the area ahead. Not far away, a participating team lay sprawled on the sand, their members appearing to have been attacked and calling for help.
Zhang Haiyang and Da Long immediately tried to get up to rescue the person, but Zhong Yuemin pressed them down.
"Don't rush, be careful, it might be a trap. It could be a snare set by the higher-ups, waiting for us to fall into it."
Zhang Haiyang asked, "How do you know it's a scam?"
"Haiyang, you're supposed to be a reconnaissance soldier, don't you have any common sense?"
Zhong Yuemin spoke with a tone of disappointment and frustration.
“Observe carefully, everyone. The voices calling for help sound weak and feeble, but look at the way they're lying down. It looks casual, but everyone's hands are placed as close to their weapons as possible.”
The angle at which his legs were curled up made it seem as if he could push off the ground and get up at any moment. This hardly resembled someone who was truly injured and unable to move.
"second,"
Zhong Yuemin's eyes swept over the seemingly calm sandy area surrounding that spot.
“Look closely at the sand around them. There are several unnatural marks, as if something was lightly buried and then smoothed out. There might be tripwires or traps hidden underneath.”
If they had truly suffered an attack and been routed, where would they have the time and energy to make these arrangements?
"Third, and most obviously,"
Zhong Yuemin snorted coldly.
"Who among you has ever seen a team member's equipment, including water bottles and backpacks, still neatly carried on their backs or placed within easy reach after being 'attacked' in the Gobi Desert?"
If it were a sudden attack, the items would have been scattered all over the place; this is clearly a staged display!
After his analysis, Zhang Haiyang, Da Long, and the others looked more closely and indeed discovered many suspicious points.
Although the groans of the "wounded" were pitiful, their eyes would occasionally scan their surroundings warily, especially towards the sand dune where they were hiding.
Moreover, the area was too "clean," lacking the chaos and bloodstains that should follow a real fight, which seemed intentional.