115 In the Name of Victory

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“What?”

Li Changjiang seemed to have missed some words the boy said, but when he saw the Russian’s eyes suddenly widen, as if caught in a sluggish haze, his own mind immediately snapped into rapid motion.

“Damn it!”

“We don’t need a child, do you understand?”

“I’m not a child! I’m already fifteen!”

The room fell into an utter silence.

Neither Li Changjiang nor the Russian spoke; they simply stared intently at the boy standing before them.

Fifteen years old!!

In their country, a child of that age should be living carefree under their parents’ care, not like this boy, hands stained with fresh blood, waiting to become a mercenary.

Both Li Changjiang and the Russian knew very well that in this war-shrouded land, fifteen was no longer young. Yet, they clearly could not fathom taking a fifteen-year-old boy with them to fight.

This was their war—but not a war for someone their age.

“Sorry, we can’t agree to this!”

Li Changjiang cut off the Libyan boy’s plea without waiting for the Russian to respond.

“Damn it!”

The Russian cursed under his breath, his mood growing suddenly irritable.

Realizing the two would never accept him, the Libyan boy stopped pressing them. Nearly noon passed before Jin slowly regained consciousness.

Jin’s injuries were not severe, just severe blood loss. Under better conditions, it wouldn’t have been a big issue, but now it was clear he couldn’t keep moving forward with Li Changjiang and Nicholas.

After a brief discussion, Li Changjiang had no choice but to approach the Libyan boy again.

Unsurprisingly, this gave him the chance to make his request once more.

“Sir, if you agree to let me come with you, I believe it won’t be a problem.”

Exchanging a glance with the Russian, Li Changjiang suddenly felt a headache coming on.

Damn fucking Karzafi!

And these damn Libyans!

Everyone involved in this damned war was a bastard!

No matter how much he cursed, the problem remained. Jin had to stay behind, but neither he nor the Russian could stay to care for him. Their only option was to find someone else.

And right now, the only one available was this Libyan boy.

“Do you know that people die in war?”

Li Changjiang’s eyes snapped wide open as he stared fiercely at the Libyan boy, whose terrifying aura made even the Russian shudder.

What shocked them both was that the boy met Li Changjiang’s gaze without a hint of fear. After a moment, he spoke words that left them both stunned.

“Sir, I know! I know people die in war, but I’ve already killed someone!”

He pointed behind him to a wall. Li Changjiang and the Russian stared fixedly at the bloodstains on the wall, falling into silence.

Li Changjiang didn’t even know how to describe his feelings at that moment.

Numbness?

Shock?

Fear?

But certainly not excitement or admiration. What kind of terrible circumstance could push a fifteen-year-old to raise a gun and kill? He neither wanted to know nor imagine.

Yet the boy’s resolute gaze struck a chord deep within him.

“Li, we have no other choice! I think you should give him a chance. This is war, not a game. People die in war, and he will be responsible for his own choices. Right, buddy?”

Hearing the Russian’s words, the boy nodded firmly, gratitude and hope flashing in his eyes — a look that seemed to touch the softest part of Li Changjiang’s heart.

By an odd impulse, he nodded.

“Okay! What’s your name?”

“Russell, sir. You can call me Russell!”

“Good. Russell, I’m telling you, we have an important mission ahead. But our comrade is injured, and we can’t take him with us. I want you to take care of him until we return. If you can do that, when we meet again, you’ll be one of us. Can you do that?”

Unsurprisingly, Russell quickly agreed without hesitation.

“Nicholas, give him some money. Looks like we have a new member. Russell, welcome to the Eagle Lion Mercenary Group—that’s our name. From now on, you’re one of us.”

Russell’s face immediately broke into a broad smile, the earlier steely determination gone. Li Changjiang felt a pang of regret for his decision. He had no idea if it was right or wrong.

But the Russian was right. They had no other choice.

“Remember, once you join us, you have to obey my orders. Can you do that?”

“No problem, sir. I’m a devoted man; I won’t disobey your commands.”

Li Changjiang nodded.

Without hesitation, the Russian pulled a thick wad of US dollars—over ten thousand—from his backpack. Li Changjiang had no idea where the Russian had gotten so much money, nor did he really believe the man carried cash.

“This is your first paycheck. Your job is to take good care of Jin. Understand?”

“I understand, sir! I’ll do exactly as you say. But when will you come back?”

Li Changjiang paused.

When would he come back?

That was a damned hard question. Even he didn’t know when he might return.

“When victory comes.”

The Russian’s voice made Li Changjiang glance at him. After a moment’s thought, he echoed the words.

“Yes, when victory comes.”

Russell nodded, half-understanding, then took the money from the Russian and ran into a room. After a long while, he emerged, the money nowhere to be seen.

“Hey, buddy! Good luck!”

After giving his instructions, Li Changjiang and the Russian slipped out through the back door without hesitation under the growing dusk. They marched toward Tripoli for hours until the city lights ahead shone as bright as daylight.

Tripoli, at last!

After more than a month away, Li Changjiang returned to this city filled with so many memories.

He gazed toward the city center.

“Let’s go!”

They did not enter Tripoli but skirted its outskirts, heading east. Their true target was Misrata, east of Tripoli.

Williams and the others were all imprisoned in the rebel-held Misrata prison. Li Changjiang and Nicholas had to infiltrate Misrata a second time and rescue them.

This was undoubtedly no simple task.

Both Americans and Libyans knew they would come for the prisoners. The defenses would be far tighter this time, nothing like the laxity they exploited before. Most importantly, the Americans and Libyan rebels were now secretly allied, so there would be no chance to muddle through as before.

Yet for Li Changjiang and the Russian, this was their war, a new war, an unavoidable war.

All they could do was hold their breath and charge forward.

In the name of victory!

In the name of Eagle Lion!

And in the name of mercenaries!

(To be continued.)