108 Ace Evaluation (3/?)

The surroundings suddenly seemed to fall into a dead silence.

Opposite Li Changjiang, Zheng Hai glared at the man as if he were breathing fire. Had Li Changjiang been a soldier, Zheng would have undoubtedly smashed his fist into the bastard’s face, consequences be damned—a few days in the brig would be a small price to pay for a soldier who feared nothing. But the damnable truth was that this guy wasn't a soldier in their unit.

"Major Zheng Hai, please remember, I am not a soldier in your unit. Furthermore, I have no intention of joining it."

"You!"

Zheng Hai’s face shifted, his composure wavering. Li Changjiang was genuinely angry. This man had repeatedly shown contempt for him; beyond this confrontation and the earlier one in front of Hu Dayou, Zheng had been glaring at him for days. He was even the one who leaked the news that Li had rejected Xiang Guofang’s invitation. He might be an excellent soldier, but his mistake was looking down on others. What of it if he were a special forces soldier? Special forces should possess the magnanimity to match their status.

Moreover, Li had been stuck at this military base for nearly a week, and Xiang Guofang still showed no signs of letting him leave, which was beginning to make him anxious. The situation in Libya was deteriorating by the day. Recent reports detailed the latest progress of the conflict: although the Americans hadn't launched new operations against the government forces, the French President and the British Prime Minister had both delivered speeches indicating that they might soon deploy their air forces to bomb military installations in Tripoli. This was clearly an attempt to pressure the armed forces commanded by Khamis, with the Americans and rebel leaders desperate to recover the lost intelligence, thus temporarily easing their offensive against the government troops.

Li understood perfectly well that if it weren't for the Americans and their Western cohorts constantly suppressing the tempo of the government's advance, the rebels would have been crushed. The 32nd Brigade and the Silver Eagle Guard commanded by Khamis were no mere displays; while they lagged behind elite American and European units, they were in a completely different weight class compared to the rebels. But the longer this dragged on, the thinner the patience of the rebels and the Americans would wear. No one could guarantee that if this continued, those bastards wouldn't actually harm Eliza and the others.

"Zheng Hai!"

"Sir!"

Xiang Guofang suddenly appeared behind them. Zheng Hai immediately snapped to attention and saluted, but Li Changjiang’s expression remained indifferent; he was clearly displeased.

"What are you doing? Get out of here!"

"Yes, sir!"

Zheng Hai retreated with a stony face, though his stubbornness and frustration were evident, undisguised. Li Changjiang actually respected that. A soldier should be that way! He hated those who harbored conspiracies and malice in their bellies, and at least Zheng Hai wasn't that kind of person. Li, however, overlooked one thing: if Zheng Hai lacked such character, Xiang Guofang and Hu Dayou would never have appointed him as their confidential secretary. The military was more unique than any other organization, but soldiers were never meant to be slippery; an army without integrity and character would have no combat effectiveness.

"Li Changjiang, come with me."

Feeling helpless, Li still followed. He knew that General Xiang was a man of his word, and even though he wasn't part of this unit, that didn't prevent him from obeying orders. Besides, Li had a premonition that even if this place wasn't his final destination, it wouldn't be the last time he stood here.

"I am giving you five minutes to read this document. If you have questions, ask them after you finish. I will grant you three opportunities to ask."

Sure enough. The issue remained the same, but with Xiang Guofang involved, Li didn't dare say, "I'm not reading it." He obediently flipped open the two-page document. His attention was immediately seized by the title, and he froze, stunned.

"Ace Qualification Application!"

It was for an Ace Sniper!

This was the first time since leaving the training camp that Li had seen this title—which made his blood boil—presented in such an official capacity. He didn't ask any questions; instead, he suppressed the turmoil rising within him and forced himself to read the document from start to finish, absorbing every word and even every punctuation mark clearly.

Then, he stood there, momentarily dazed. If he understood correctly, this was an application for the Ace Sniper qualification, and the name to be filled in was his own. Li naturally guessed that since Xiang had shown him this, it was prepared specifically for him.

"Finished?"

Li nodded, somewhat mechanically. Even now, it felt unbelievable.

"If you have questions, ask them now. If you don't ask now, there won't be another chance."

"Chief, is this truly prepared for me?"

"Yes. You have two questions left."

Ugh! Li was taken aback. His big mouth had already wasted one question. However, after receiving confirmation from Xiang, his mind began to race. He had already read the specific requirements for the Ace qualification, so he had to make the remaining two questions count.

"What are the benefits if I pass?"

The question was broad, but crucial. Li needed to determine the value of this endeavor immediately.

"There are many benefits. You can learn about them slowly in the future."

The response left Li frustrated; it was as good as saying nothing. But from Xiang's tone, he deduced a great deal: at the very least, passing wouldn't be without its rewards.

"If I pass, am I required to stay in the military?"

Predictably! Xiang Guofang glared at him. This kid was too slippery! If his answer weren't satisfactory, Li certainly wouldn't sign that application. It seemed Hu's hunch was correct: the boy wasn't against joining the military, but rather against being constrained by its rules. If that was the case, things would be easier.

"No, you don't have to stay, but you will still be required to execute certain special combat missions."

"Then I’ll sign it!"

To Xiang's astonishment, Li didn't hesitate to pick up the pen and scribble his name and the date. His handwriting was ugly, but at least he didn't write "Li Yellow River."

"Aren't you worried I'm setting you up?"

Watching the boy, Xiang was genuinely surprised. He had expected Li to drag his feet for half a day before signing. What he didn't know was that this wasn't the first time Li had heard about the Ace Snipers; he had only promised Lin Jianyong that he wouldn't reveal anything until he reached that level.

"How could that be, Chief? I just want to see how much I'm really worth."

This brat! Xiang Guofang was momentarily stumped. He, a Major General of the Army, had actually been bested by a mere boy. If he had known, he wouldn't have gone through all this trouble.

"Now that you've signed, get out. The qualification assessment starts tomorrow."