“Yes, sir!”
Li Xiaoniu immediately led the distraught female guests away.
On the training ground, only Lu Mingyu and Zhou Chenguang remained, along with the photography team still working in the distance.
Zhou Chenguang walked over to Lu Mingyu and couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
“Captain, why did you tell them about ‘Viper’?”
“They are just ordinary people participating in a show; I’m afraid they can’t handle such immense psychological pressure.”
Lu Mingyu’s gaze was not on him, but rather on the several camera lenses not far away.
His voice was very soft, yet it carried an undeniable power.
“These words and this video are not just for them.”
Zhou Chenguang was stunned by his words and followed Lu Mingyu’s gaze to the operating cameras.
He understood instantly.
The Captain’s words, through these lenses, were for all the viewers across the country who were watching this show.
The red indicator lights on the cameras were still flashing.
Lu Mingyu’s gaze remained fixed on the distant cameras.
After a while, he slowly withdrew his gaze and turned to look at his two capable subordinates.
“My real concern is not this show.”
Lu Mingyu’s voice deepened, carrying a chilling gravity.
Zhou Chenguang and Wu Tianlong exchanged glances, both seeing surprise in each other’s eyes.
“Then what are you worried about?”
Zhou Chenguang pressed on.
Lu Mingyu walked to the railing at the edge of the training ground, leaned his hands on it, and looked towards the Air Force base in the distance.
“The Air Force’s latest generation of fighter jets will undergo its final full-function test flight next week.”
This news was not top secret; as brother units, they had heard about it to some extent.
“What does this have to do with ‘Viper’?” Wu Tianlong asked, puzzled.
“It has a lot to do with it.”
Lu Mingyu’s tone grew even colder.
“‘Viper’ has been dormant for nearly a year, and suddenly making a high-profile comeback at this time—don’t you think it’s too much of a coincidence?”
“Their targeting us for revenge is just a cover, a smoke screen.”
“I have a premonition that their real target is our new aircraft’s test flight.”
Zhou Chenguang and Wu Tianlong’s expressions instantly changed.
They were both battle-hardened special forces elites and immediately understood the seriousness of the matter.
“But… why would they do that?”
“A drug trafficking organization attacking the nation’s top fighter jet test flight? What’s the motive?”
Zhou Chenguang still couldn’t understand the logic.
Lu Mingyu took a deep breath and revealed a deeper secret.
“Do you still remember the two leaders we captured alive during our sweep operation last year?”
“Of course, I remember. The current leader of the ‘Viper’ organization is the son of that old guy from before.”
Wu Tianlong replied immediately.
Lu Mingyu nodded.
“The two who were captured alive are the new leader’s biological father and his biological uncle.”
“Both of them are currently imprisoned in the First Military Region’s highest-security prison.”
This news was like a thunderclap, exploding in Zhou Chenguang and Wu Tianlong’s minds.
They instantly connected all the clues.
“The Captain means… ‘Viper’ wants to cause trouble during the test flight.”
“And then use this as leverage to threaten us into releasing his father and uncle?”
“Exactly.”
Lu Mingyu confirmed Zhou Chenguang’s speculation.
“They know very well that going head-to-head with our Macrophages, they have no chance of winning.”
“But if it’s disrupting the new aircraft’s test flight, or even capturing one or two special forces members involved in the test.”
“Then the nature of the situation changes completely.”
“They can then use the hostages to threaten and force us into an exchange.”
The atmosphere on the training ground became incredibly oppressive.
Wu Tianlong frowned, thought for a moment, and then said.
“Isn’t this security mission entirely handled by the Air Force First Military Region?”
“Their Wolf Fang special forces will be stationed there, responsible for the ground security of the core area.”
“Wolf Fang is also our ace unit, very strong.”
“And aren’t the core members of the ‘Viper’ organization all Myanmar mountain people?”
“Even if they have some combat power, they won’t amount to much, right?”
His words represented the ingrained impression many in the military had of “Viper.”
Lu Mingyu shook his head and said.
“Old Wu, your thinking is too complacent.”
“‘Viper’ has suffered five major losses at our hands, with heavy casualties.”
“Do you think they would still naively send a mob to their deaths?”
His words left Wu Tianlong speechless.
“According to the latest intelligence from our department.”
“Over the past six months, ‘Viper’ has, through the dark web and various underground channels.”
“Recruited a large number of retired special forces soldiers and experienced mercenaries.”
“These people come from all over the world, all kinds of people, the only commonality is that they will risk their lives for money.”
“The current ‘Viper’ is no longer the armed gang composed of mountain people it once was.”
“It has transformed into a well-equipped, complex international criminal organization.”
After listening to Lu Mingyu’s analysis, Zhou Chenguang and Wu Tianlong’s last shred of hope vanished.
In their hearts, just like their Captain, a strong sense of unease arose.
“Then what can we do?” Zhou Chenguang asked anxiously.
“We can apply to the higher-ups to participate in this security mission!”
Lu Mingyu shook his head again, a helpless expression on his face.
“No.”
“The First Military Region is the lead party for this mission.”
“Performing missions across Military Regions is procedurally very complex and carries the suspicion of overstepping boundaries.”
“Unless… the First Military Region actively requests our assistance, specifically naming our Macrophages.”
Otherwise, they could only watch helplessly, no matter how worried they were.
4:00 PM.
Northern Territory, First Military Region Headquarters.
A military off-road vehicle with a special license plate sped in and stopped steadily in front of the main office building.
The car door opened, and a middle-aged man in Air Force uniform, with general’s stars on his shoulder, stepped out.
He was Lu Wei, the Commander of the Air Force First Military Region.
Lu Wei, with a serious expression, walked hurriedly into the building and took the elevator directly to the top floor.
He did not return to his own office.
Instead, he directly knocked on the office door of Zhou Pingcang, the Commander of the First Military Region.
“Come in.”
A steady, strong voice came from inside the office.
Lu Wei pushed the door open and saw an old general with graying hair sitting behind the desk, handling documents.
Zhou Pingcang, the Commander of the First Military Region, was also Lu Wei’s long-time colleague and superior.
Seeing Lu Wei, Zhou Pingcang put down his pen and took off his reading glasses.
“You brat, didn’t you go to a meeting at the Army Second Military Region? Why are you back so soon?”
His gaze swept across Lu Wei’s face, and he immediately noticed something was amiss.
“Looking at how flustered you are, has there been a security breach?”
