048 Mongrel Dog

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A sharp intake of breath—

He opened his eyes.

This time, Li Changjiang did not see Eliza in the room. It was empty, and faintly, he could hear the distant clamor from outside.

He shifted slightly, and a sudden sharp pain shot through the back of his head, making him gasp and instantly clear-headed. Only after the pain eased did he climb out of bed.

The door wasn’t closed; he tried pushing it.

With a loud crash, the cacophony from outside rushed in, flooding his ears with a barrage of sounds.

Bugles.

Shouts and cries.

And from afar, the intermittent crack of gunfire and explosions.

Libyans hurried past him, barely sparing a glance at the stranger who had burst out. Li Changjiang realized he was not in a prison, but in a camp—an outdoor military camp.

He turned to look at the building behind him, then at the Libyans training under the scorching sun not far away. His mind began to spin.

If he wasn’t mistaken, this must be the Silver Eagle Guard’s military camp.

“How are you? Let me see your wound!”

A voice, somewhat familiar, reached his ears. Li Changjiang spun around suddenly.

It was her!

Behind him, Eliza appeared dressed as she had been outside Benghazi, her face shrouded with a veil.

“No need,” he replied coldly.

Seeing Eliza, Li Changjiang felt a surge of anger for no apparent reason.

He hated being deceived, especially by someone he ought to trust. His experience with the Benghazi Lion Eagle Mercenary Corps had taught him the principle of survival on the battlefield.

On the battlefield, the only thing he could trust was the gun in his hand.

He turned and returned to the room, slamming the door shut.

Eliza wanted to follow, but seeing the door so close to her nose, she felt a pang of disappointment in her eyes.

She understood well.

Li Changjiang was truly angry.

Not far away, Hamis sat in a wheelchair, watching Libyan soldiers training with firearms in the distance. His expression was tightly drawn and severe. As the supreme leader of the Silver Eagle Guard and nominal commander-in-chief of the Libyan military, the weight on Hamis’s shoulders was immense.

The tide of war was growing increasingly dire.

Western powers had repeatedly issued public calls for war mobilization, urging the international community to unite against the Libyan government forces.

The United Nations had recently passed a resolution to impose sanctions and blockade Libya. Although the resolution did not authorize Western countries to deploy ground troops, air strikes had become ever more frequent. Since the French launched their first air raid, coalition warplanes and missiles appeared almost daily over Tripoli.

Now, less than half of the government’s air defense systems remained; the rest had been destroyed by coalition bombing.

Hamis even suspected the coalition’s next target would be the Libyan government forces, and the Silver Eagle Guard might be first in line for attack.

“General Hamis!”

“Hmm? He’s awake?”

Hamis looked at Eliza, his tone revealing nothing.

“He’s awake, but not happy. General Hamis, I don’t understand why you kept this Chinese man. His strength alone won’t change the course of the war.”

Eliza suddenly seemed bold; even the Libyan soldier standing beside Hamis glanced at her in surprise.

“Eliza, you ask too much.”

His gaze tightened.

Eliza immediately fell silent.

“Return his belongings to him. Also, tell him I’ve found the Lion Eagle Mercenary Corps. He’ll understand.”

Li Changjiang indeed understood.

With a loud crash, he kicked the metal rack before him, sending its contents clattering to the floor.

His face was grim.

“Damn!”

“Tell Hamis I accept his terms. Remember, two months!”

Two months would be enough.

Eliza smiled.

A few days later, when Li Changjiang appeared again on the training field, his expression was clouded.

Hamis had kept his promise, avoiding trouble with the Lion Eagle Mercenary Corps, but what infuriated him was seeing members of the Caesar Mercenary Corps in the mercenary quarters north of the camp.

How could Caesar’s people be here!

Damn it.

“Well, if it isn’t that damned yellow-skinned monkey, ha ha ha!”

“Looks like you’re lucky, actually walking out of Benghazi alive. Hope your luck holds.”

Barty Sanchez hadn’t expected to meet this Chinese man again so soon.

The battle in Benghazi had revealed Li Changjiang’s terrifying prowess.

Precision marksmanship.

Unyielding endurance.

All of these showed the Chinese had potential to become a true master.

“Barty Sanchez?”

It was the first time Li Changjiang called him by that name.

“You can call me Barty.”

“I’d rather call you something else.”

Damn!

“Fuck you!”

Hearing Li Changjiang’s words, Ivanka and Cock Levin behind Barty rushed forward, but Barty stopped them.

He had hidden it well, but could see the Chinese man was deliberately provoking him. Until he understood his opponent, he wouldn’t make a move.

But Li Changjiang was clearly not about to let this slide.

“Ha ha ha, Chinese, you’re interesting. I look forward to seeing you again.”

“No need, you mongrel dog.”

At those words, Barty’s face finally darkened.

Mongrel dog!

This struck at his most sensitive nerve. William had told Li Changjiang that Barty was mixed race—white and Asian—but his Asian features were not prominent.

That was one reason Barty hated Asians so much. He always believed Asian blood tainted his identity, yet he could not deny it was part of him.

“You’re looking for death!”

Barty’s tone was icy.

But Li Changjiang remained unmoved, his eyes fixed on Barty with a mocking smile.

Everyone has their pride.

Especially since he was already seething. Though he hadn’t confronted the killer directly, Louis’s death was certainly at the hands of Caesar’s people, and Barty had provoked him repeatedly. If he had the chance, Li Changjiang would not hesitate.

“Li! Mr. Barty, so you know each other.”

Hamis’s sudden appearance was accompanied by a sly smile.

He was well aware of the conflict between the Lion Eagle Mercenary Corps and the Caesar Mercenary Corps.

He certainly disliked the Lion Eagle Mercenary Corps, who had snatched him from Tripoli to Benghazi. If not for his agreement with Li Changjiang, he would have eliminated them.

As for hiring Caesar’s mercenaries—

It seemed a profitable deal.

Caesar’s people brought news too tempting to refuse. Most importantly, they were at odds with the Lion Eagle Corps, and Hamis did not hide his murderous intent.

But he would not make it obvious in front of Li Changjiang.

He valued not only Li Changjiang’s abilities, but also what lay behind him.