chapter 1 final mission

Snapped!
In the dimly lit room, Tyrone Qin slowly extinguished the cigarette butt.
With the faint light, you could see that the ashtray in front of him was full of cigarette butts, two empty cigarette boxes were strewn on the ground, and the entire room was hazy with smoke, as if it were on fire.
One night, he smoked two packs of cigarettes.
Before that, he had never smoked a cigarette.
To be precise, he had never smoked a cigarette since donning the military uniform.
Because the smell of smoke could be lethal to a special operations team member, especially a sniper!
"Phew."
Tyrone Qin took a breath of the murky air, stood up, and walked to the window. He opened the curtains, and the morning light streamed into the room through the glass.
The sun was dazzling, and his determined face momentarily appeared slightly dazed.
Immediately, he slowly shifted his gaze and looked at this special operations base, renowned as the most mysterious military base, with deep reluctance in his eyes.
After a moment, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath of the fresh air outside the window, then turned around, walked to the bed, squatted down, and gently touched the neatly folded military uniform.
The military uniform was exclusively worn by special forces members, with a "sword" embroidered on the armband.
Because of this armband, this special operations force, which had no unit number and unknown ownership, was referred to as the "Sword" special forces unit by foreign military.
It was China's most enigmatic special forces unit.
None other like it!
But within the Chinese Military, this unit was known as the "Dragon Corps," and it was the ultimate aspiration for all special forces members to join!
Tyrone Qin gently caressed the creases of the military uniform, his movements were gentle and deliberate, as if he were caressing a loved one.
Finally, his fingers brushed against a golden medal, sending a jolt through him. His body trembled slightly, and then he carefully picked it up, cradling it in his hands as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.
"Knock, knock..."
At that moment, there came a knock on the door.
Hearing the sound, Tyrone gently placed the medal on the military uniform, then picked up the uniform, stood up, and walked toward the door.
Click!
The door opened in response, revealing four individuals who stood in his path. They appeared anxious. "Team... Captain!"
"What are you doing?" Tyrone Qin asked with a smile, though it seemed somewhat forced.
"Are you really leaving?" The four individuals had reddened eyes as they stared at the military uniforms and medals in Tyrone Qin's hands. They spoke in unison.
"It's not about leaving; it's about being fired," Tyrone Qin smiled bitterly.
"Captain, let's go plead with the chief and see if he'll let you stay!"
"That's right, Steven has left; you can't leave too!"
The two individuals standing at the forefront spoke consecutively, then fell into a brief silence. The mention of "Steven" touched the pain in their hearts and made Tyrone Qin's body tremble violently.
Steven Chen had once been their comrade-in-arms, a brother in life and death whom they could trust with their backs on the battlefield. And now, Steven Chen was gone, forever departed from this world.
This incident had occurred just a few days ago, and Tyrone Qin's dismissal was directly related to it.
"It's a soldier's duty to follow orders. The higher-ups have made their decision, and it can't be changed," Tyrone Qin said, regaining his composure and speaking firmly.
"Captain, if you insist on leaving, we'll go with you..." The four of them looked resolute, as if they were prepared to follow him to the end.
"Quit fooling around and get back to training immediately!"
Tyrone Qin interrupted them.
No response.
The four of them stood firm like a wall, blocking Tyrone Qin's path.
"I haven't been officially discharged yet. Are you all defying orders collectively? Or do you no longer consider me your captain?" Tyrone Qin scolded loudly upon seeing this.
"Team leader..."
Facing Tyrone Qin's reprimand, the four of them felt their noses stinging and their eyes welling up with tears.
As members of the Dragon Corp, they had strong hearts and unwavering determination. Even if they shed their last drop of blood on the battlefield, they would not shed a tear.
But at this moment, they couldn't help but cry.
"When did you all become so emotional? If you still see me as your captain, then get out of here and continue your training!"
Tyrone Qin reprimanded them loudly again, his voice trembling.
This time, the four of them responded in unison with a resounding "yes!" They saluted, then turned and ran away, their synchronized footsteps echoing throughout the dormitory.
Watching them depart, Tyrone Qin's eyes welled up with tears, but he quickly regained his composure and hurriedly left the dormitory.
"Salute!"
As Tyrone Qin stepped out of the dormitory, a chorus of salutes sounded from outside.
"Uh-huh!"
"Uh-huh!"
"Uh-huh!"
...
The sound echoed as ten of the most exceptional special forces soldiers in China, including the previous four, saluted Tyrone Qin.
Together with Tyrone Qin and the late Steven Chen, they formed the Dragon Corp, a force that struck fear into foreign armies.
"It has been my greatest honor to fight alongside all of you. I look forward to seeing a new generation of Dragon Corp among you!"
"Uh-huh!"
Tyrone Qin said hoarsely, slowly raising his right arm and delivering a textbook-perfect salute. He then lowered his arm and made his way toward the base's exit, all while under the watchful and reluctant eyes of the ten individuals.
"Master..."
Observing Tyrone Qin's departing figure, the sole woman among the ten bit her lip, her expression conflicted, before ultimately restraining her impulse to speak.
At the base's gate, a military vehicle with a license plate was waiting. Seated in the back was a major general, who watched Tyrone Qin approach with a complex expression.
His last name was Wang, and his first name was Hucheng. He was the leader of this secretive military organization.
"Report to the chief, Tyrone Qin reporting in!"
Under General Wang's complex gaze, Tyrone Qin walked up to the vehicle, saluted, and reported.
"Get in."
General Wang put aside his complicated emotions and got straight to the point.
"Yes, Chief!"
Tyrone Qin responded loudly, then walked to the other side of the car and opened the door.
Before he could say anything more, General Wang interrupted him: "Present it to the old chief yourself. Only he can decide whether you stay or go."
Clearly, he knew well that as long as the old leader chose to retain Tyrone Qin, no one in the military would dare to oppose it. Similarly, if the old leader insisted on expelling Tyrone Qin from the military, no one would dare to dissent.
"The outcome has already been determined; why bother seeking him out again?"
Tyrone Qin spoke in a deep voice but didn't retrieve his military uniform and Dragon Corp Tooth Medal. Vic Wang remained silent.
"As the squadron leader of the Sharp Sword Special Forces and the captain of the Dragon Corp Teeth Special Forces Team, I crossed international borders without authorization and infiltrated foreign countries to engage in combat. This not only violated military regulations but also contravened international law. It may even risk triggering a war and cast me as a traitor to our nation," Tyrone Qin said solemnly.
"If you had another chance, would you make the same choice?" Vic Wang asked almost instinctively. After posing the question, he realized its futility.
"A blood debt must be repaid with blood. Those bastards killed Steven. I must exact revenge," Tyrone Qin responded coldly, confirming Vic Wang's assessment. He couldn't help but recall the events of that day, his heart filled with a strong desire for vengeance, as if he wanted to eliminate those mercenaries once more.
"There's a fine line here. If you eliminate those mercenaries within our territory, not only will you avoid being discharged, but you'll also earn commendations and be hailed as a hero. What a missed opportunity..." Vic Wang sighed, a tone of regret in his voice. He also found himself perplexed. Which organization would dare to target Dragon Corp, and why?
Up to now, despite employing all available information channels, the military had yet to uncover any information about this mysterious organization.
Vic Wang shook his head, deciding to put aside these thoughts. Instead, he repeatedly pressed Tyrone Qin, "Are you absolutely certain you won't visit the old chief?"
"I know him better than you do, and I understand certain things more clearly," Tyrone Qin's response didn't directly address the question but conveyed his intentions.
"Very well..."
Vic Wang sighed once more, reluctantly accepting the Dragon Corp Special Forces combat uniform, coveted by special operations soldiers, and the Dragon Corp Tooth Medal, symbolizing honor and glory.
As the car started moving, Tyrone Qin watched his "home" and his comrades in life and death slowly recede in the rearview mirror, his emotions mixed.
"Will the captain return?" The ten Dragon Corp members couldn't help but wonder as they watched the car disappear into the distance.
There were no answers, but they knew that once Tyrone Qin left the military camp, the organization responsible for Dragon Corp's destruction would surely be eradicated from the face of the earth.
...
"Chief, I have a request."
After the car had distanced itself from the base, Qin Feng withdrew his gaze and spoke up again.
"Name it."
Vic Wang was taken aback, more perplexed, wondering what Tyrone Qin's request could be.
"Can you please inform Steven's family of the true circumstances of his departure?" Tyrone Qin withdrew his gaze and fixed Vic Wang with an especially earnest expression.
"No, that's against protocol!"
Vic Wang shook his head firmly. The Dragon Corp Special Forces Team represented the cutting edge of China's Special Forces. Not only were members' files kept confidential, but when they died, official death notices concealed the true circumstances, attributing their deaths to training accidents instead.
"I understand that this is protocol, but have you ever considered that in their devotion to protecting the country and its people, they face life and death situations? Not only can they not be recognized as martyrs after death, but we also have to hide the true cause of their demise. Isn't that excessively harsh?"
Tyrone Qin felt a twinge of restlessness.
"It may indeed seem harsh, but rules are rules. Moreover, you must understand that this also serves as a protective measure for the families of our team members. Special operations team members engage in year-round border skirmishes with ruthless adversaries, their hands stained with blood. If their identities were revealed, it would be a living nightmare for their families," Vic Wang said in a deep tone as he handed an envelope to Tyrone Qin. "This envelope contains Steven Chen's death notification and pension. The card's password is all sixes. You are responsible for delivering it to Steven Chen's family. This is your final mission."
Tyrone Qin hesitated for a moment and quietly accepted the envelope.
"After completing this last mission, what are your plans?" Vic Wang asked as they both exited the car upon reaching the city.
"This task won't be as straightforward as it seems," Tyrone Qin's words carried an air of surprise.
"Well..." Alan Wang appeared puzzled without knowing why.
"Farewell, Chief!" Tyrone Qin saluted, turned, and departed.
On that day, he didn't reveal to Vic Wang that when Steven Chen died, even though he had crossed the border without authorization and eliminated twenty-eight mercenaries single-handedly with a gun, some of the mercenaries had managed to escape.
He also didn't disclose that Steven Chen had violated regulations by always carrying a photo of his sister during missions. Yet, on that fateful day, neither Steven Chen's body nor those of the deceased mercenaries bore any photos.
In the afternoon on the day Tyrone Qin was discharged, in Yanjing City, on the top floor of an exclusive club that dandies could only dream of accessing.
A young woman in a business suit stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the densely packed skyscrapers and the ceaseless flow of traffic below, lost in thought.
The setting sun's warm glow filtered into the room through the glass, casting her breathtaking appearance and graceful figure in a golden radiance, making her appear stunningly beautiful.
"Bang...bang..."
After a moment, a knock at the door shattered the room's silence, drawing the young woman's attention back to reality.
"Enter."
The young woman uttered the command with no need for the word "please." Her once calm eyes suddenly turned piercing.
"Sister Luna, I heard that Tyrone Qin was discharged from the military."
A bespectacled young man entered the room, keeping a three-meter distance from the young woman as he spoke.
"I never expected you to return like this..."
The young woman gazed toward the distant sky, her response laced with a complex tone that seemed to convey both mockery and lament.
"Sister Luna, are you still in doubt?" The young man in glasses frowned slightly, hesitated, and continued, "In truth, from the moment he chose to become a special soldier, your fate was sealed – you would become the King's consort, while he, just a border soldier."
"The King of Soldiers is still a king."
The dazzling sunset filled the room.
The young woman closed her eyes slightly and spoke softly, as if she were responding to the young man and conversing with herself.
"But now, he's not even the King of Soldiers."
The bespectacled young man argued, "In plain terms, without the prestige of the Qin Family, he wouldn't even be qualified to carry your bag now!"
"You underestimate him."
The young woman shook her head slightly, her resolve strengthening. She stated firmly, "Once, he ruled over Yanjing Courtyard and had the audacity to publicly break Xavier Yang's legs. Later, he became the sole member of the Republic's Dragon Corp. Who dares to say he won't achieve greatness?"
"It's not that I doubt his capabilities; I just question whether he's worthy of you," the bespectacled young man replied hesitantly.
"A person's worth becomes evident as time passes. I believe that the man I, Luna Li, love will not disappoint me."
The young woman stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gripping the frame with both hands, gazing at the distant horizon as if she were glimpsing the future. Her tone remained steadfast, her voice resonant and powerful, "Moreover, even if he were to tarnish the reputation of the Qin Family, if I allowed others to vie for him, I would be picking scraps from the eagle's talons!"