110 Sovereign Over Libya (5/5)

(Fifth update! Although today’s monthly votes didn’t quite reach one hundred, they came very close. When I returned and saw this number, I was truly surprised and deeply moved. I never expected to have so many brothers supporting me. Thank you all! Here’s the fifth update for you! Additionally, in response to many readers’ requests, I am once again sharing the book’s reading group number: 121162553.)

“Amanda! Amanda Anderson, born in 1984 in Paris, France, later immigrated to the United States. She graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine with a doctorate in medicine. In 2010, she joined the United Nations Humanitarian Relief Center—”

Inside the command center.

The full background and most recent activity details of an American named Amanda Anderson were retrieved and projected onto the massive integrated information screen before them.

Li Changjiang quickly caught sight of several sensitive keywords on the screen.

Libya!

Benghazi!

Egypt!

Just as expected.

According to the information found, Dr. Amanda Anderson joined a medical team under UNESCO last year. In February of this year, she went to Libya to carry out a humanitarian aid mission. She remained there until the outbreak of war, at which point she evacuated Benghazi and entered Egyptian territory. She is currently staying in a small border town called Ansaris within Egypt.

The timing and route of her departure from Libya perfectly matched the time and place described by Li Lin. In other words, the American doctor Li Lin mentioned must be this Amanda Anderson.

“Li Changjiang, what are your thoughts?”

“Send me to Egypt!”

Egypt??

The situation in Egypt now seemed unstable as well. Since the beginning of the year, turmoil there had not ceased. Although the transitional government repeatedly tried to regain public support, overwhelming social problems made these efforts extremely difficult. The domestic unrest, while not escalating into civil war, was almost as severe as Libya’s.

Going to Egypt at this moment was likely not a wise choice.

“Egypt’s internal situation is very unstable right now. Going there could be extremely dangerous, and the U.S. command stationed in North Africa is based in Egypt. We cannot allow you to take such risks.”

“If I don’t go, will you send someone to capture Amanda?”

Li Changjiang abruptly stood, fixating intensely on the photo of the American female doctor on the screen.

Xiang Guofang and Hu Dayou immediately fell silent.

Sending their own people into Egypt? That was simply impossible. Not even worth considering. The last operation had left a huge mess that the diplomatic department was still handling. Sending more personnel into the country now could lead not just to trouble, but outright war.

Egypt was not Libya.

Even American operations in Egypt faced constant obstacles, let alone the Chinese military without deployment rights.

“Commanders, since I managed to break out of Libya alive, I’m confident I can return from Egypt alive as well. But I have one condition: you must first send me to Tunis. I need to go to Libya.”

To Libya?

“No! Why would you go to Libya?”

“To save someone!”

Li Changjiang’s expression was resolute. Going to Libya was naturally to save someone. To successfully reach Egypt, find Amanda, and retrieve what she carried, he could not do it alone; he needed help. In Africa, the best help was mercenaries.

And the only people Li Changjiang trusted were all in Libya! He also didn’t believe he could move freely in Egypt, but with the help of the Eagles and Lions and Elisa, things would be different.

Xiang Guofang and Hu Dayou fell into silence. They clearly understood Li Changjiang’s intentions.

They exchanged a glance and seemed to reach an agreement.

“We can send you to Tunis, but you must agree to one condition: maintain constant contact with us. No disappearing acts. You should understand that although we currently lack the powerful deployment capabilities of the United States, the strength of a nation far surpasses that of any individual.”

Li Changjiang could hear the helplessness behind Xiang Guofang’s words.

Compared to the United States, China’s navy was indeed inferior in many ways, but this was not something to regret. From having nothing to achieving what they have now, the Chinese had shocked the world. What China needed was time.

Perhaps five years.

Perhaps ten years.

But it would not take more than twenty years before they possessed global strategic deployment capabilities.

Two days later.

At the training ground located on the western side of the base.

The deafening roar of the helicopter’s rapidly spinning rotors drowned out Xiang Guofang’s shouts to Li Changjiang and stirred swirling clouds of dust so thick that no shadow could be discerned.

Taking off and landing deep in the northwest Gobi Desert was a nightmare for passengers, yet as the helicopter soared into the sky, Li Changjiang couldn’t help but feel a twinge of reluctance.

He was neither born nor raised here, yet it was here that he had encountered countless things never seen before.

No one knew that a brand-new star-shaped pendant rested over Li Changjiang’s chest, containing his new identity.

Watching the helicopter disappear into the sky, Xiang Guofang turned away after a long moment.

“Zheng Hai!”

“Here!”

“Immediately contact the Southern Fleet and transmit this report to them.”

“Yes!”

Taking the documents from Xiang Guofang’s hand, Zheng Hai promptly set off to fulfill the task.

Tunis!

After a long journey, when Li Changjiang finally landed in Tunis following a domestic transfer, it was already past 1:00 a.m. local time.

Upon disembarking, he immediately sought the contact provided by the domestic intelligence agency for his rendezvous on this side. When he saw the person who came to meet him, Li Changjiang was taken aback.

“It’s you?”

“Why? Surprised to see me?”

“Not surprised, just curious. Is the intelligence agency really that short on people to accept anyone?”

Turning his face away, Li Changjiang paid no attention and sidestepped past Wu Sisi.

Had he known this woman would be the one to meet him, Li Changjiang would never have chosen this route. Recalling the amused expression on Xiang Guofang’s face when he was sent off, Li Changjiang realized this was a trap—one long set and waiting for him to fall into.

Behind him.

Hearing Li Changjiang’s words, Wu Sisi’s face flushed with anger, her lips pressed tightly as her delicate features reddened. In truth, she had volunteered for this mission.

Wu Sisi’s identity was simple: she was indeed a journalist, but since entering the profession, the intelligence agency had been cultivating her to carry out intelligence work under the cover of journalism. The last mission to Libya had served as a kind of trial run. Although the results were less than perfect, Wu Sisi had performed admirably. However, the appearances of Li Lin and Li Changjiang had introduced variables into the operation.

Wu Sisi’s curiosity about Li Changjiang was immense. From his breakout in Misurata to the intelligence files she had seen, this individual highly prized by the intelligence agency fascinated her.

With a slam, the car door closed.

The early morning road was quiet, with only the occasional vehicle speeding past and no pedestrians in sight.

“These are your documents. From now on, you are a soldier dishonorably discharged from the Chinese military, registered as a freelance mercenary in Israel since 2010. Here is your identity information; study it carefully. After crossing the border, contact this number. Someone will provide what you need. But remember, once you enter Libya proper, this number becomes invalid.”

“All right!”

Li Changjiang responded simply, then fell silent, lowering his head to examine the information by the light inside the car.

Through the rearview mirror, Wu Sisi glanced at Li Changjiang in the back seat, pursing her lips as if pondering something. It was not until they neared the Tunisian-Libyan border that she finally slowed the car.

“When you get there, just go straight ahead. Ignore the soldiers. Don’t look back—keep moving forward. This is as far as I can take you. Good luck!”

Suddenly braking.

Li Changjiang looked out the window with a slight frown.

Even at dawn, the border was crowded with many people—mostly Libyan refugees. Apart from waiting for aid at the border, they had no other options. Naturally, the Tunisian government would not allow a mass influx of refugees.

Methodically, Li Changjiang stuffed his documents and credentials into the backpack behind him, then pushed open the car door.

“Thank you!”

With those words, he strode toward the noisy entrance of the border crossing.

Inside the Geely car behind him, Wu Sisi cast a glance out the window, a faint, alluring smile playing at the corners of her lips. (To be continued.)