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墨書 Inktalez
The struggle was brief, as I needed to make a decision before Li Squad Leader returned.
My adventurous side took the lead, and I turned to exit the Sealed Chamber. In that moment, facing Xiao Guolin, I noticed a change in his expression. However, I had no time to consider his thoughts or explain anything to him. I needed a solution from Li Squad Leader.
All four Hatch doors of the Sealed Chamber were open, and dim light spilled out from within. The lights in the transition pod were also off. I jumped down from the pod and saw that Li Squad Leader was already heading back. I hurriedly took a few steps to catch up with him.
Li Squad Leader’s tall figure became clear, his red face displaying a serious and cold expression.
I approached him with my back to the light, trying to step further into the shadows, so my face was deeply buried in darkness, making it impossible for him to see my expression.
What intimidated me most about Li Squad Leader was his strong presence. Since I took over the Excavation Pit from Song Guilong, he rarely showed himself, and whenever I did see him, he always wore a serious demeanor. At that time, due to our limited interactions, he left me with the impression of being merely a stern soldier. However, during this unexpected incident, his authoritative side was fully exposed without any pretense. Even when faced with orders from command, he responded without hesitation; after all, he was not just a step below One Commander in rank—he was leagues apart, like the difference between Mordor and a thatched cottage.
Later, when discussing matters with Xiao Team, his tone was polite, yet his words were assertive. He would convey decisions alongside reasons that left no room for rebuttal.
From the moment this search team departed from Bunker One, it was entirely under Li Squad Leader’s control; higher commands could no longer be executed accurately. Negotiating with someone like him without pressure was impossible; managing that pressure required both mental fortitude and negotiation skills.
My strategy was to let him know my stance without revealing my true thoughts. I could express my attitude verbally while concealing my intentions, but I knew that under his strong pressure, my expression would betray me. Hiding my face in the shadows became a prerequisite for our conversation. Additionally, I needed to maintain a firm tone—at least not allowing any tremor of fear to escape—and keep my words concise and focused on the key points.
These decisions were made in a short span of time; I lacked negotiation skills and wasn’t sure if these choices were correct, but I resolved to proceed as such.
Even though Li Squad Leader couldn’t see my face, he recognized me immediately. He called out loudly, “Comrade Zhang, it’s dangerous here; get back now.”
As the youngest in the Archaeology team and one of the larger soldiers among them, my title was often confused. Out of habit, Li Squad Leader continued to refer to me as Comrade Zhang. This form of address was still quite common at that time and held no other connotations.
I walked towards him, knowing that if he wanted to return to the Escape Pod, he would have to go around me or make me turn back. I was certain he wouldn't leave me outside, so I stood my ground decisively. Sure enough, Li Squad Leader stopped right in front of me.
"Being inside isn't necessarily safer than being outside," I decided to pursue this topic and cut straight to the point, giving him no time to think. "Why does Liu Squad Leader need a weapon? Who is it aimed at?"
My voice was loud and stern. There was no worry about being overheard; aside from the two of us facing each other, anyone coming out of the Escape Pod wouldn't hear us unless they got close.
Li Squad Leader's brow furrowed slightly, clearly caught off guard by my discovery. The doors of each Sealed Chamber were very low, making it nearly impossible to see outside unless one deliberately bent down. However, Li Squad Leader didn't waste any time; he seemed to have prepared his words in advance or had a reasonable explanation. "Some Guard Company soldiers were injured, and their weapons have been redistributed. Each Sealed Chamber is supposed to be equipped with weapons, and Liu Squad Leader is a suitable candidate."
"Then why doesn't our chamber have weapons?! Your reasoning is contradictory; why are you deceiving me? Who are you targeting?" Amidst the thunderous sound of the Sandstorm, my mind was unusually active, and I shot out questions sharply and swiftly.
Li Squad Leader's expression suddenly changed—not in an exaggerated way, but there was a subtle shift in his features. His eyes widened slightly, his eyebrows adjusted a bit, and his nostrils flared just a touch. All these minor adjustments combined gave me the impression that his anger was boiling over, ready to tear me apart at any moment. The person standing before me was no longer just a man; he had transformed into a ferocious beast.
His voice came through coldly into my ears. "Because the weapon in Liu Squad Leader's hands belongs to your injured Guard Company soldiers. And since weapons can only be handed to soldiers, your Sealed Chamber has no weapons. This decision is based solely on this situation, not aimed at any individual. I will not allow you to question me or provoke my limits; this is the last time I will permit such behavior!"
Li Squad Leader's final words were slow, dragging out more and more until the last few words reached my ears almost one by one. At that moment, besides fear, I felt a hint of admiration and an impulse to blurt out: how could he stretch a sentence so long amidst such loud and chaotic Sandstorm noise while articulating each word so clearly?
I felt the pressure coming from him contorting my face; sweat stubbornly dripped into my eyes. I struggled to control the urge to wipe my sweat away, even though it made it hard to keep my eyes open. My legs felt weak, and I had an overwhelming impulse to turn and flee. Yet I held it all back; I knew that any slight unconscious movement would expose my cowardice and undermine all my efforts to appear strong.
I tried my best to control my voice, which was about to crack from dryness and fear, as I stated my ultimate goal for this negotiation: "I demand to be in the same Sealed Chamber as Song Guilong."
"No."
"Why?!"
"This is an order from above."
"Nonsense." I finally lost control of my emotions and exploded, "I don't believe the higher-ups would make such an arrangement. I demand to speak directly with the One Commander."
At present, only Li Squad Leader's Walkie-Talkie could contact the command center; the others lacked sufficient power. I knew he wouldn't agree to my request, but it was the only leverage I had at that moment.
As soon as I finished speaking, Li Squad Leader suddenly stepped forward. The proximity made his face come into sharp focus, and under the light, his expression was terrifying.
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