Chapter 71
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Chapter 71: My Name is Chu Zhongtian
In the lower sleeper of the train, Lin Mo gazed out at the scenery. After passing through a long underground tunnel and emerging from a warehouse’s secret path, Lin Mo mixed seamlessly with the crowd, nonchalantly grabbing some metal from several makeshift steel plants. He had to make sure Gold Coin was well-fed; otherwise, it would start causing trouble again.
As he headed towards the train station, the gold giant dragon followed Lin Mo, simultaneously complaining and searching for nearby metals.
When Colonel Xie first introduced the main executors of this mission, the twin stars of the Intelligence Group, Lin Mo nearly mistook them for identical people. The calm and natural demeanor of the twins, dressed in the exact same outfits with matching hairstyles, along with their synchronized speech and movements, completely shattered Lin Mo’s previous impression. He remembered the impulsive and aggressive mannerisms of the younger sister, contrasting sharply with the rational and composed nature of the elder sister. Truly, it was correct that women were naturally excellent actors.
A pair of such twins who deliberately concealed their identities to perform specific tasks could easily create an alibi, like casting a shadow clone spell.
If it weren’t for the occasional glint of provocation in one sister’s gaze towards Lin Mo, he wouldn’t have been able to tell which was which. In comparison, the elder sister, Li Muxin, appeared more mature and steady, as if nothing happened, shaking his hand casually with a neutral expression.
After Lin Mo left, Colonel Xie, an experienced intelligence officer, likely perceived some underlying motives and would certainly seek retribution for him.
Upon catching sight of the twin sisters in the Intelligence Group’s office area, Lin Mo guessed that the so-called plan might have some flaws. Judging by the introduction of the twin stars, he was merely a cog in the wheel, relegated to pushing buttons while others took on the more action-oriented roles. It appeared that numerous expendable pawns would be involved, including one with a questionable title of "agent."
The Intelligence Group deployed many elite personnel to engage in operations across various targets, executing the entire plan as a team to activate the situation and reach the ultimate objectives.
Fighter pilots had limited operational assignments; continuous combat was not feasible. Only through experiencing battles and life-or-death situations would a pilot’s aerial combat skills develop rapidly. After arriving in "Night," such opportunities became even rarer. When missions were initiated, they were actual battles rather than drills. Eager for experience, Lin Mo decided to use this chance to unwind and see if he could gather enough food for Gold Coin for the entire year. So far, the gold giant dragon’s power hadn’t even recovered to a fraction of what it was in the other world.
Given that the twin stars would be covertly supporting this operation, Lin Mo imagined the journey ahead wouldn’t be smooth.
Only he, the twin stars from the Intelligence Group, a few action heads, Colonel Xie, some members of the Staff Group, and Captain Feng knew the detailed specific action plans. The other participants would only learn their tasks when the plan was activated.
Lin Mo packed a simple bag containing a brand new Mark II DSLR camera, an iPad, an iPod, a high-magnification telescope, a laptop, a large-capacity water bottle, beef jerky, dried rations, a compass, an e-book, a Swiss army knife, outdoor flint, and a decent supply of toiletries, along with several travel guides and a few changes of clothes.
Posing as part of the Chinese delegation for a petroleum project, Lin Mo found this role to be no challenge. Aside from documents from before his school graduation until he earned his college degree, everything else had been specially processed. His authentic records had been moved to a military personnel archive and sealed, where regular public security could only find misleading information in the publicly available data. As for framing friends, classmates, and fake girlfriends, everything was seamlessly arranged.
There was no need to conceal anything from his family. Once someone was recruited by a special department, a designated official would inform their parents that their child had entered a special department (though details on their assignments wouldn’t be disclosed). Afterward, they would seal the mouths of immediate family members and provide basic counter-surveillance training. All relevant materials would then be collected and stored away, making it seem as if that person had vanished without a trace.
“Wow! Brother, how much did you pay for that DSLR? Canon’s Mark II, the unbeatable ‘Rabbit,’ that’s a great piece! If only it were the Mark IV, that’d be perfection!” said a young man wearing sunglasses, sitting across from Lin Mo in the sleeper cabin. He stared with envy at Lin Mo’s handling of the camera, and it was just the two of them in the soft sleeper compartment.
Lin Mo had yet to figure out how to use this so-called lavish camera. Holding it in one hand while reading the manual left him bewildered. Hearing the young man’s admiring remarks, Lin Mo thought for a moment and replied, “This thing probably costs around twenty-one thousand!” Lin Mo had no concept of money; his monthly stipend would easily cover the cost of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR.
The camera, iPad, and other items were all generously sponsored by the Intelligence Group, and he wouldn’t need to return them after the mission. Since their task in the vast Gobi desert was considered a one-time consumable use, their survival was uncertain. They were merely cover identities.
There were also two or three lenses that weren’t much cheaper than the camera body, appearing quite complex, but it was all funded by the state. Even if the equipment had to be used in defense, it would still have to have the best gear.
Not only was this equipment as precise as a computer, but it also maintained exquisite optical standards. Gold Coin had just begun exploring electronics and hadn’t yet delved into optics. Even Gold Coin lacked the capacity to comprehend this expensive luxury. It was among the few products that it couldn’t analyze well.
“Can I have a look?” the young man across from Lin Mo asked excitedly, visibly inexperienced as he clumsily fidgeted with the camera that cost more than a few months of his salary.
“Do you know how to use it?!” Lin Mo asked, unfazed, as he handed over the camera. The young man, not particularly tall but lean, had fair skin that was somewhat rough. He seemed more like a well-to-do tourist than a native southerner.
“I usually like to play around with photography! I’m Ma Jun! I’m from Beijing, heading to Yining to visit a classmate.” The young man excitedly accepted the camera, removed his sunglasses, and held it like a treasured possession. He skillfully turned it on, adjusted the settings, and began testing the lens while taking aim at the scenery outside the train. With such an expensive device in hand, it lightened his spirit.
“My name is Chu Zhongtian!” Lin Mo said, using one of his new aliases. The Intelligence Group had prepared several identities for him to use before and during the operation. The identification card for “Chu Zhongtian” was securely tucked in his wallet; no public security bureau could trace any issues with it.
Ma Jun nodded, flashing a friendly smile, having made acquaintance, but his obsession with the camera kept him busy as he constantly adjusted it, pretending he was already familiar with it.
“Sorry, I got a bit carried away!” After playing for a while, Ma Jun finally came back to his senses and noticed Lin Mo staring wide-eyed at him, skillfully toying with the Canon DSLR nicknamed “Invincible Rabbit.”
“This camera is new; I don’t quite know how to use it. You seem to handle it well; could you teach me?” Lin Mo observed how adeptly the other young man used the camera, feeling somewhat envious. Though Lin Mo was no longer part of the technology-challenged group, he only knew how to operate basic electronics and fighter jets. Anything beyond that left him at a loss.
Ma Jun emerged visibly envious and jealous, handling such a fine piece of equipment, only to discover it was in the hands of a novice. Lin Mo, being generous, offered no reservations and responsibly took on his role as a teacher, explaining how to use the camera to this newfound friend.
Lin Mo absorbed the knowledge quickly. If he had relied solely on the manual, it might have taken a while to master. But with a skilled DSLR user to guide him, he found joy in the learning process and preferred this direct experience.
“Chu Zhongtian, where are you headed with such a nice camera? That lens is impressive too!” Ma Jun casually asked Lin Mo as he continued tweaking the camera settings, adjusting the focus toward the scenery outside the train.
The Intelligence Group had already prepared a full set of detailed scripts for Lin Mo, ensuring he could respond flawlessly to any inquiry. Lin Mo recited from the script, “I’m heading to Kazakhstan for a China National Petroleum aid project, picking up odd jobs while traveling to see the scenery of Central Asia. If all goes well, I might even head to Europe for some sightseeing.”
“That’s a great outlook! Traveling thousands of miles is like walking the Silk Road; you really are on an adventure!” Ma Jun remarked, impressed by Lin Mo’s pronounced photography skills during their hands-on session. He quickly got Lin Mo to operate the new camera, taking a few shots that, when reviewed on the laptop, showed decent quality for a beginner.
“Seems about right! Ma Jun, your skills are impressive! Thank you for teaching me!” Lin Mo responded with genuine delight. It was a pleasant surprise to meet someone on the train who could solve his little problem.
“No problem! Your camera is fantastic; just take care of it and don’t let wind and sand ruin the lens; it’s quite delicate,” Ma Jun kindly reminded him. He willingly offered to teach Lin Mo, partly because he wanted to explore the sturdy equipment, and partly to ensure it didn’t fall into the hands of an inexperienced user who would misuse it.
