Chapter 51
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Chapter 51: Shadows beneath Peace
“Oh! You have a good eye; you took notice of my Da Hong Pao tea.” Commander Ma chuckled softly, as if he had found a fellow tea lover. He poured some bright orange-yellow tea into a mini tasting cup, rinsed it, and then filled it properly.
Lin Mo didn’t hold back either. He picked up the cup and took a sip. The rich aroma lingered on his palate, leaving a lasting aftertaste. In the other world, there weren’t many drink options—mostly juices and various alcoholic beverages. This brewed drink was something Lin Mo had never even encountered in the imperial palace of the Su Lan Empire. The delightful taste refreshed him like a clear sky after the rain, and he even felt a faint boost to his mental fortitude.
Compared to expensive alchemical recovery potions with similar effects, tea had no side effects and had numerous advantages that many potions couldn’t match. After experiencing the magic of tea for the first time, Lin Mo inevitably became a loyal tea enthusiast. This beneficial beverage for mages was now a staple for him in his training to recover essential minor spells.
“How is it?” Commander Ma watched Lin Mo sniffing and sipping, clearly indicating he was no novice. He spoke with a hint of pride, “This Da Hong Pao may not be the finest, but it’s still worth over three thousand yuan a pound.”
“Good!” Lin Mo nodded. The soft stimulation it provided made him confident that he could successfully unleash the Light Mirror Technique he had struggled to cast a few days earlier.
Lin Mo set down his cup, but Commander Ma filled it again before putting down the small teapot and settling into the sofa opposite Lin Mo. He continued, “Hehe, glad you like it! There’s no need for the three-cup rule here—feel free to drink as much as you want!”
“Thank you, Commander!” Lin Mo was careful not to get too carried away. This was his direct superior, and no matter how approachable he seemed, he couldn’t forget his current position.
“You joined the base in November, right?! How’s it been? Are you getting used to it?” Commander Ma asked, holding a small cup of tea while observing Lin Mo.
“Report, Commander, my colleagues and comrades at the base have treated me very well. I’ve had a fulfilling and enjoyable experience!” Lin Mo responded with the standard formulaic politeness. However, he knew Commander Ma was only laying the groundwork for the next topic.
“How’s the training going? It must be time for live-fire exercises soon!” Commander Ma smiled, casting an appreciative glance at Lin Mo. The young man’s upright military posture resembled that of a seasoned soldier, calm, serious, and with a strong sense of discipline.
Commander Ma felt he had only seen this kind of presence in the most elite warriors, the "kings of soldiers." Only those who have deeply trained their military qualities and have faced the tests of blood and fire can become warriors of such stature. However, Lin Mo had only joined the base for two or three months. According to his resume, he had been in the military for just six months, without any family background in the forces. It intrigued Commander Ma that this quality was already evident in Lin Mo.
All those accepted into flight school and selected for this base were young socialists with a clean record, robust political mindsets, and healthy psychological qualifications—innocent as blank sheets of paper.
“Report, Commander! I have not yet begun live-fire training, but I do have combat experience!” Lin Mo replied honestly. According to the training schedule, he had been learning about formation attacks and strike theory, with actual live-fire courses starting next month. However, he had enjoyed some thrilling action on a recent outdoor assignment.
Live-fire training was no joke; one careless mistake could result in fatalities. Just a single missile costs at least hundreds of thousands of yuan, not to mention deploying a disposable target drone. Each live-fire exercise equated to expending a luxury car’s worth of resources. Fighter jets, like Giant Dragons, were too expensive for ordinary people to own!
The regulation of live ammunition was notably strict; even within the military, not everyone had easy access to firearms. There had been incidents where soldiers, harboring resentment towards their superiors, shot their commanders during live exercises.
“Oh! Colonel Jiang mentioned this!” Commander Ma’s curiosity intensified. “How did you feel during your first special mission with real combat? Were you nervous?”
Lin Mo replied honestly, “I didn’t think about much and wasn’t nervous. I aimed at the target and attacked until all enemies were cleared.” His response sounded more like that of an experienced soldier than a new recruit, delivered calmly as though it were an insignificant task.
Typically, the first act of killing would create negative psychological shadows, and the political officer at the base had once tried to conduct a psychological intervention after Lin Mo returned from a mission. However, Lin Mo, seemingly like a veteran accustomed to life and death, demonstrated an alarming level of mental resilience, showing no aversion to taking lives.
“It seems the information from the ‘Night’ Special Operations Team is true. Your cannon shots were precise, like those from a sniper. How did you train for that?” Commander Ma’s remarks revealed valuable information to Lin Mo about the recent search and rescue mission, which had been codenamed “Night,” a rather cool name.
“Report, Commander! Since my first flight, I have always been observing the targeting sights and practicing aiming and attacking. So, I am prepared to strike at a moment’s notice while flying.” Just like in his time with the Dragon Knight Corps in another world, Lin Mo had faced numerous hardships on his journey to becoming a Dragon Knight. What he recalled most clearly was that one must never show flaws and must always observe and exploit others’ weaknesses. Those who lacked this vigilance might become targets for those who viewed Dragon Knights as eyesores.
“Good! You’ve done well. A true soldier must always stay vigilant!” Commander Ma was very satisfied with Lin Mo’s response and refilled his tea again. “I have a mission for you. I wonder if you’re interested. Of course, you can refuse, and I can send someone else!”
Lin Mo’s heart raced. The logical flow of Commander Ma’s questions made him suspect that he could guess the nature of the task being offered.
“Report, Commander! Lin Mo guarantees he will complete the mission.” Lin Mo remained composed, like a true professional soldier, standing at attention decisively.
Commander Ma nodded, clearly pleased. This young man was teachable and had a quick reaction time. He got straight to the point of why he had called Lin Mo in.
“With the current international situation, the likelihood of large-scale war is minimal, and small-scale conflicts are rare. However, competition between nations has become more covert, with methods growing increasingly insidious.” Commander Ma began, pointing at the world map hanging on the wall. “China’s international standing is rising. In the face of global challenges, we strive for peaceful and stable development. With a land area of 9.6 million square kilometers and a large population, once China moves forward, it will inevitably impact the world economy. Many people are envious; after all, the struggle between nations ultimately comes down to national strength. Even countries that are closely allied may not sit idly by as China advances. Therefore, petty actions behind the scenes are inevitable. Some organizations create chaos under the pretense of lofty ideals. In reality, they are driven by interests, willingly accepting sponsorship from certain countries or organizations for their survival. To prevent a thousand-mile dyke from collapsing due to an ant hole, many special departments have been established domestically to handle such matters. For example, the team you cooperated with last time, ‘Night,’ is one of those teams.”
Commander Ma revealed this hidden aspect of the world and country to Lin Mo.
This world was indeed frightening; on the surface, it appeared peaceful and bright, but beneath it lay actions that were best kept secret, sending chills down one’s spine.
Lin Mo was taken aback by Commander Ma’s words. After all, he had only been in this world for just over six months and hadn’t considered things in such depth. Ordinary people only knew about the prosperous times filled with celebrations; there hadn’t been many days of real peace throughout human history.
Noticing Lin Mo’s contemplative expression, Commander Ma explained, “Currently, the national military mainly consists of active-duty conscripts and volunteers. If conflict arises, they will be replaced by volunteers and reservists. Typically, most individuals undergo standard military training and have not participated in actual combat, as special military operations do not directly deploy them. Even during the 1979 self-defense war against Vietnam, to maintain combat readiness across military districts, the forces were sent in rotation. Although this method allowed for the quick selection of elite soldiers, the casualties could be significant and brutal. Therefore, the special combat teams established to handle international challenges are comprised of those who have been rigorously selected, with the highest military qualities.”
Commander Ma glanced at Lin Mo, noting that Lin Mo’s unflappable demeanor since entering the office did not match his age.
Lin Mo understood Commander Ma’s message; the team he was to join was a combat unit ready to engage in battle, made up only of the most elite soldiers. Ordinary people would only end up being cannon fodder.
On another note, this confirmed that both the base and Commander Ma recognized Lin Mo’s capabilities.
“I understand! Thank you, Commander, for giving me this opportunity. I will not let you and the leaders down!” Faced with this challenge, Lin Mo showed no hesitation or retreat. His battlefield experiences had taught him that those who feared the most were often the first to fall.
