newbobooks Chapter 32 The Hidden Master
Chapter 32 The Hidden Master
The harsh white light in the interrogation room shone on Karl's face, making the scar look even more grotesque.
Lin Zhe had been sitting opposite him for two hours. Karl was indeed professionally trained and possessed extremely strong mental fortitude; conventional interrogation methods were largely ineffective against him.
"Name, rank, unit, mission objective," Lin Zhe repeated the questions calmly.
Karl grinned, revealing a mocking smile: "Is this all you Chinese are capable of?"
"We have many capabilities," Lin Zhe said, looking at him. "For example, we can hand you over to the border guards—the very same men you killed last night. What do you think they'll do to you?"
Karl's smile froze. He remembered the young soldier killed by the grenade, and the angry looks in the eyes of the border guards.
"You wouldn't dare," he said, trying to remain calm. "You have discipline; you can't mistreat prisoners."
"Yes, we have discipline." Lin Zhe stood up and walked over to him. "But we also have courage. You killed our comrades, so you have to pay the price. That price could be legal judgment, or... other ways."
He paused. "Besides," he continued, "you think you're the only ones with special forces? You think we can't find out your identity?"
Karl's eyes flickered. He did have a trump card—his country had no diplomatic relations with the Dragon Kingdom, so even if he were captured, he could exert pressure through diplomatic channels and eventually be repatriated.
But Lin Zhe's next words shattered his illusions.
"Karl Miller, 42 years old, leader of the 3rd Squad of the 'Grey Wolf' Special Forces, has participated in three cross-border operations, and is skilled in mountain warfare and intelligence gathering," Lin Zhe read out. "Your wife's name is Elena, and she's a teacher at a primary school in the capital. Your son is eight years old and likes to play soccer. Should I continue?"
Karl's face turned deathly pale. How did the Chinese know all this information?!
"How...how could you..."
"You think you've done a great job keeping things secret?" Lin Zhe sneered. "In our eyes, it's full of loopholes."
That's true, but not entirely—Lin Zhe received information from the Second Department of the General Staff when he left the interrogation room. Clearly, China's intelligence system had been keeping an eye on this "Grey Wolf" squad for some time.
Carl's psychological defenses began to crumble. He might not be afraid of death, but he had family.
"I said..." he finally began, "We were ordered to infiltrate, our target being the newly built H-7 radar station, to obtain its technical parameters. The plan was to enter from Eagle's Beak Cliff, bypassing the main defenses, and then..."
He explained the mission plan, rendezvous point, and retreat route in detail. Lin Zhe listened and took notes.
But halfway through his speech, Carl suddenly paused.
"Anything else?" Lin Zhe keenly sensed the anomaly.
"No...that's all." Karl's eyes darted away.
Lin Zhe stared at him for a few seconds: "What are you hiding? Is there... another group?"
Karl was startled.
Lin Zhe understood. Sure enough, there was more than just this one team.
"Speak," Lin Zhe's voice turned cold. "Where is the other team? What's their mission?"
Carl gritted his teeth: "I can't say... if I do, they'll..."
"What will happen? Will they kill your family?" Lin Zhe asked. "And if we fail to capture you and the mission fails, how do you think they will treat your family?"
These words struck a nerve with Karl. In his unit, the punishment for losers was brutal.
"About fifty kilometers to the northwest," Karl finally said. "Another team, their target is...the research base."
"Which research base?" Lin Zhe pressed.
Carl said a name. Lin Zhe's pupils constricted sharply—it was an important military research base of the Dragon Kingdom, with an extremely high level of secrecy!
He immediately rushed out of the interrogation room and found Chen Jianfeng: "Commander, there's another infiltration team targeting the Northwest Research Base!"
Chen Jianfeng's expression changed drastically: "Report this immediately!"
The news was reported up the chain of command and quickly reached the highest level. Two hours later, several unmarked black SUVs drove into the Southwest Military Region.
Five people got out of the car, all dressed in ordinary training uniforms, their shoulder insignia indicating they were all officers of the rank of colonel—two majors and three lieutenant colonels. But they all looked very young, the oldest being no more than thirty.
These people walked almost silently, their movements perfectly coordinated, like a single person. More importantly, Lin Zhe sensed a familiar aura emanating from them—the feeling of Qi cultivation! Though subtly present, it was undeniably there!
The leader was a lieutenant colonel, who looked to be in his late twenties, with a stern face. He walked up to Chen Jianfeng and saluted: "Commander Chen, I have been ordered to come and receive the prisoners and related intelligence."
Chen Jianfeng returned the greeting: "Everything is ready. Lin Zhe, take them to the interrogation room."
Lin Zhe led the five men to the interrogation room. On the way, he tried to observe them, but they kept their eyes fixed straight ahead and walked steadily, giving him no chance to observe them.
Upon arriving at the interrogation room, the head lieutenant colonel glanced at Karl, then said to Lin Zhe, "Thank you, you can leave now."
"I need to be involved in the follow-up..." Lin Zhe didn't finish his sentence.
"No need," the lieutenant colonel interrupted him, his tone calm but unquestionable. "This is our mission."
Lin Zhe looked at Chen Jianfeng, and the commander shook his head slightly. He had no choice but to leave the interrogation room.
The door closed, and what happened inside was completely inaudible outside. Half an hour later, the five men left with Karl and the other prisoners, without exchanging a single word.
Watching the SUV drive away, Lin Zhe was completely bewildered: "Commander, who are they?"
Chen Jianfeng looked at Lin Zhe, remained silent for a few seconds, and said, "Come to my office."
In the office, Chen Jianfeng closed the door, his expression serious: "Lin Zhe, what you saw today is a top state secret. Normally, someone of your rank shouldn't know this. But because of your contributions to the country, you are qualified to know a part of it."
Lin Zhe sat up straight and listened attentively.
"That unit is directly under the leadership of the Central Military Commission. It doesn't have an official designation, only the internal code name 'Hidden Dragon,'" Chen Jianfeng said slowly. "It has a very small number of members, but each one is an elite selected from among thousands."
He paused for a moment: "They are selected and trained by the state from a very young age, receiving the most rigorous training. It's not just military skills—combat, shooting, and tactics are just the basics. They also need to master multiple languages, be proficient in operating various vehicles, and understand international politics, economics, and culture... They are all-around special talents."
Lin Zhe was shocked. In his previous life, he also knew that the country had a secret force, but at that time he was focused on scientific research and had no access to core information.
"They carry out overseas missions year-round," Chen Jianfeng continued. "Intelligence gathering, personnel protection, elimination of special targets... In short, they are the country's sharpest knife and its strongest shield."
He looked at Lin Zhe: "This infiltration incident involves foreign forces and may not be just a simple reconnaissance operation. Therefore, 'Hidden Dragon' has intervened, and the rest is up to them."
A complex mix of emotions welled up in Lin Zhe's heart. There was shock, longing, and... resentment.
He thought Hunter Blade was already the top special forces unit in the Dragon Kingdom, but he didn't expect there to be an even more powerful force above them.
"Commander, how can I join 'Hidden Dragon'?" Lin Zhe suddenly asked.
Chen Jianfeng was taken aback, then smiled: "I knew you'd ask. But Lin Zhe, the selection criteria for 'Hidden Dragon' are extremely strict. It's not just about ability, but also background checks, psychological tests, loyalty assessments... Moreover, they generally don't select directly from the military; they start training them from adolescence."
"But it's not absolute, right?" Lin Zhe's eyes were firm. "As long as there are exceptions, I can fight for them."
Chen Jianfeng looked at the young man, a hint of admiration in his eyes: "There are indeed exceptions. Three people joined after they came of age. But each of them is an unparalleled genius in a certain field."
He stood up and walked to the window: "Lin Zhe, you are now a key talent being cultivated by the country. In Hunter Blade, you can play a greater role. Although 'Hidden Dragon' is strong, their stage is overseas, in the shadows. You are in the open, and you can contribute to the country just as well."
Lin Zheye stood up: "Commander, I understand what you mean. But... I want to become stronger, I want to go to a broader platform. Moreover, my knowledge, language skills, military skills... should be able to meet their standards."
He wasn't exaggerating. In his past life, he was a top-tier scientific researcher, fluent in three foreign languages; in this life, he possesses the physical and mental enhancements brought by his time travel, the Qi cultivation techniques taught by Chen Qingshan, and the combat experience of a special forces team...
As for operating airplanes, tanks, and ships—he had designed these machines in his previous life, so theoretically he had no problem with them; he just lacked practical experience. But that could be learned.
Chen Jianfeng gave Lin Zhe a deep look: "I can't make that decision. However... I can relay your wishes to higher authorities. As for the outcome, that's up to your own fate."
"Thank you, Commander!"
Leaving the office, Lin Zhe was filled with excitement. He had originally thought that becoming the deputy captain of the Hunter Blade team and leading the strongest special forces team in the entire army was his goal in this life. Now it seemed that there were even higher peaks waiting for him to climb.
"Hidden Dragon"... This name reminded him of Chen Qingshan. Could that old man have been one of them back then?
Back at the Hunter's Blade camp, the team members surrounded him, asking what had happened. Lin Zhe didn't say much, only that the prisoner had been taken away by higher command.
That night, he lay in bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time. His mind was filled with the images of the five "Hidden Dragon" team members—their aura, their presence, their unfathomable depths...
"I want to join them." Lin Zhe clenched his fist, making a silent decision in his heart.
But this is not easy. First, we need to improve our own capabilities, develop the Hunter Blade technology, complete the tasks assigned by the Central Military Commission, and make greater technological contributions...
The road ahead is long, but he is confident.
The next day during training, the team members noticed that Lin Zhe had become even stricter. He was not only strict with the team members, but also even tougher on himself—while others ran ten kilometers, he ran twenty kilometers; while others trained for eight hours, he trained for twelve hours.
"Team Leader Lin, what's wrong with you...?" Old Ma couldn't help but ask.
"I want to become stronger." Lin Zhe wiped his sweat. "You guys too. Hunter Blade can't just be the strongest in the Southwest Military Region; it has to become the strongest in the entire army. And then... there are even higher goals."
Although the team members didn't understand what "higher goals" meant, seeing how hard Lin Zhe was working, they all started to work hard too.
During training breaks, Lin Zhe began to study on his own—foreign language textbooks, vehicle operation manuals, books on international politics... He made use of all his spare time.
Zhang Xueying called and noticed he was always studying, so she asked curiously, "Why are you suddenly working so hard?"
"I want to learn more," Lin Zhe said. "Xueying, if... if my job changes in the future, and I might be busier and see you less, will you...?"
"No," Zhang Xueying interrupted him. "Lin Zhe, since I chose you, I've made all the preparations. No matter how high you fly, I'll support you; no matter how far you go, I'll wait for you."
These words warmed Lin Zhe's heart. With such a supportive lover, what reason did he have not to work hard?
A week later, Chen Jianfeng called Lin Zhe into his office, his expression serious: "Lin Zhe, there's been a response from above."
Lin Zhe's heart raced: "What do you mean?"
"The 'Hidden Dragon' team knows about you," Chen Jianfeng said. "They're paying close attention to your performance. But... to join them, you need to pass three tests."
"What test?"
"First, a strength test—individual combat ability, tactical command ability, and teamwork ability. Second, a knowledge test—language, professional skills, and intelligence analysis. Third..." Chen Jianfeng paused, "...a loyalty test."
"I accept!" Lin Zhe said without hesitation.
"Don't rush," Chen Jianfeng waved his hand. "The test is scheduled for three months from now. You need to prepare during these three months. And... the test is risky. The 'Hidden Dragon' test is not child's play; you can really get injured, even..."
"I understand." Lin Zhe's eyes were firm. "Commander, I'm ready."
Chen Jianfeng looked at the young man, a sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, mixed feelings) running through his mind. At twenty-two, he had already reached this point. Where would he go from here?
"Alright, go ahead. These next three months, Hunter Blade's training can't slacken, your research can't stop, and you still have to prepare for the tests... You'll be busy enough."
"yes!"
Stepping out of the office, Lin Zhe took a deep breath. In three months, he needed to complete the training syllabus, advance the technological research, and prepare for the "Hidden Dragon" test...
It was a big challenge, but he enjoyed it.
In this life, he will climb the highest mountain and become the strongest soldier.
And "Hidden Dragon" is the next stop.