Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2489 Beirut's New Guest (First Update, Please Subscribe)
The fate of a journalist has captivated the world and garnered global attention. It's undeniable that celebrities are treated differently from ordinary people.

At Downing Street's request, the British SAS in Beirut began the corresponding preparations.

Any rescue operation requires extensive intelligence support, and while the coalition's intelligence agencies were gathering intelligence from various sources,

A steady stream of reinforcements continues to be transferred from the mainland to Beirut.

After a C141 landed at Beirut International Airport, as the cabin door opened, squads of soldiers emerged, including two men in civilian clothes.

Inside Beirut International Airport, there are quite a few people dressed in plainclothes like this, mostly intelligence agents from various countries.

However, it was immediately obvious that these two people were not intelligence agents, but reporters.

"I never expected we'd actually end up in Beirut."

Wang Jianguo looked around in astonishment. Even now, as he set foot on Beirut soil, he still couldn't believe it was real.

"Yes, I really didn't expect that."

Yang Song nodded. Two days earlier, at the end of the interview in Gwadar, Chen Jianming asked them if they would be willing to go to Beirut.

Go to Beirut for an interview!

We went directly to the front lines of the war to conduct interviews. Such an opportunity, if missed, would truly be lost forever.

"Can we go?"

Yang Song still remembers Chen Jianming's laughter when he asked that question.

"Of course. I think we can squeeze in two seats on the plane."

Without the slightest hesitation, Yang Song agreed. However, he needed to report to his superiors first.

After he made contact with Islamabad, the agency quickly responded, agreeing to let them conduct interviews in Beirut.

Thus began their trip. Unlike other foreign journalists who had to travel a long and complicated route to Buton in Beirut, they arrived directly in Beirut on a military transport plane that had taken off from Gwadar.

Such "free-riding" is very common, but it requires the right opportunity.

What came into view when they stepped off the plane?
It was a very busy scene – there were guests everywhere, soldiers everywhere, airplanes everywhere, and vehicles coming and going everywhere.

Just as they were still somewhat bewildered, a Warrior off-road vehicle stopped in front of them, and an officer in combat uniform got out of the vehicle and looked at them, saying...

"You two must be Mr. Yang and Mr. Wang."

Then he introduced himself:

"I am Zhang Yunlei, the liaison officer of the Joint Forces Headquarters Press Office."

After a brief introduction, they got into the car and drove to the hotel. Yang Song kept looking at Zhang Yunlei the whole time.

Perhaps sensing the curiosity in the other person's gaze, Zhang Yunlei explained directly:

My mother is German.

Looking at them in the rearview mirror, Zhang Yunlei said:
“You might think it’s rare, but in SEA, mixed-race people like me are very common: German, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and even Russian…”

Zhang Yunlei's answer made Yang Song feel awkward, after all, he had been staring at the other person since they first met.

However, from the other person's words, he could tell that SEA was different—there were too many foreigners there.

However, to be fair, that place is a foreign country.

After the car left the international airport, it continued driving along the road. Besides the airport, there were also many walls that looked like they were made of cloth.

There are also a large number of military personnel, and the international airport is clearly their main base.

On the way to the hotel, Zhang Yunlei explained some precautions regarding news control and other matters to them.

Yang Song and Wang Jianguo both expressed their cooperation. They didn't think it was a big deal.

These are all perfectly normal requests.

More than half an hour later, the car stopped in front of the hotel. As they got out of the car, Zhang Yunlei looked at the simple luggage the two people were carrying, thought for a moment, and then asked.

"By the way, do you guys have bulletproof vests?"

"Body armor?"

Yang Song and Wang Jianguo were taken aback; they clearly hadn't expected that reporters would need bulletproof vests.

Even now, their understanding of bulletproof vests comes only from what they've heard about them when interviewing people at military bases.

How could we possibly give them such advanced equipment?
"That means there isn't any left."

Zhang Yunlei thought for a moment, then opened the back door, took out two bulletproof vests, and handed them to them, saying:

"You can wear these two bulletproof vests for now, and submit the application form later."

Both Yang Song and Wang Jianguo were deeply moved after receiving the heavy bulletproof vest.

Even after arriving at the hotel room, Yang Song couldn't help but pick up the heavy room slip and start talking.

"I never expected this. I never expected them to be so hospitable!"

"yes,"

Wang Jianguo nodded, deeply agreeing. "Look, ever since Gwadar, they've been so good to us. They've taken care of us in every way. Sigh..."

With a sigh, Wang Jianguo added:

"Why didn't we get along better in the past?"

Faced with this question, Yang Song pursed his lips and remained silent.

Wang Jianguo seemed to understand what was going on and didn't ask any further questions. He simply took out two cigarettes, one for each of them, and silently smoked them. After about half a cigarette, Yang Song finally spoke.

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. We've arrived in Beirut now, and we'll definitely be doing interviews next. We need to cooperate fully and not cause them any trouble."

It must be said that some people have a very high level of awareness.

The greatest benefit of having high awareness is that it can help avoid many dangers.

Those who lack awareness often pay the price for their actions.

In the cellar of an abandoned church in northern Lebanon, Haberstam, who has been kidnapped by terrorists and is being held hostage, is unaware that a cross-border rescue operation has been quietly launched.

He was curled up in a corner, covered in dust, with Daniel's blood on the ground not far away. The last cries for help from Daniel and the sound of a dagger slicing through his throat kept echoing in his ears.

That voice always woke him from nightmares. He had experienced fear before, but he had never felt fear like this.

"God, please bless me, please let me live."

Looking at the dim light above him, he had only one thought in his mind: to survive.

No matter the cost, I must survive. I must survive to return to my loved ones. As for the truth or anything like that, it doesn't matter at all.

In fact, he himself knew very well that he had never truly sought the truth.

It is the truth that has been fabricated all along.

Thus, praying in the cold cellar, Halberstam could only place his fate in God's hands.

Because he was very clear that Washington would absolutely not get involved in any regional conflict, nor would it demand that the SEA withdraw from here simply because he was kidnapped.

Even if the White House made such a request, Chang'an would not agree.

In this situation, all that awaits you is death.

Whenever Halberstam thought about this, all he felt was endless frustration and regret.

Why? Why do I have to leave the hotel?
You must put yourself in a dangerous situation.

Sometimes, people are too well protected. Halberstam is one such person.

But what's the point of regretting and feeling remorse now?

Meanwhile, 5 kilometers north of Beirut International Airport, at a British military base, SAS commander John was listening to an intelligence officer's analysis.

The photos posted on the blackboard were all of armed groups and their members.

At its core, this is an abandoned church.

"According to intelligence, the hostage is currently being held in the church's basement. He is being guarded by approximately 20 to 30 armed guards."

John asked as the intelligence officer briefed him.

"Is the intelligence accurate?"

"Very accurate."

The intelligence officer continued.

"However, the difficulty of this mission lies in the fact that the armed group that carried out the kidnapping operation is itself an uncontrolled local warlord."

The organization has approximately 2000 armed personnel and controls the surrounding area, engaging in drug trafficking and human trafficking for many years.
The local terrain is complex; the church itself is located in a valley, and the helicopter flew over mountainous terrain after takeoff, which undoubtedly increased the risk and difficulty of the operation.

The intelligence officer then explained to them the difference between these armed groups and ordinary armed groups, because they had received foreign aid to varying degrees, and therefore possessed a large number of heavy weapons.

"In other words, what you are facing is not just a group of armed personnel with AK47s and RPGs, but a group of armed personnel equipped with heavy mortars, recoilless rifles, anti-tank missiles, and even portable anti-aircraft missiles. These armed personnel have even received military training from foreign advisors. Therefore, the mission is extremely risky and difficult."

When the intelligence officer finished speaking, the special forces members in the operations room simply smiled.

They are used to these risks; their training is designed to accomplish tasks that seem impossible.

Finally, John stood up and looked at his men, saying...

"Alright, gentlemen, now you all understand what we are about to face and our mission—to bring the hostages home safely."

Alright, let's go.

With a command, the twenty-odd special forces soldiers departed, their expressions relaxed, as if heading to a banquet. There was no pressure; this mission was, to them, just one of many insignificant tasks.

The only difference is that they are trying to rescue a celebrity.

This also means that once the rescue operation is successful, they will become famous as a result.

That's why they seem to have some expectations.

Soon, three British Black Hawk helicopters roared into the air and took off from the base, heading north.

(End of this chapter)