I started with a portal, then turned around and handed it over to the nation.

Zhao Zhenguo held up one finger:

"Get ready. Based on the impact data you brought back, conduct simulated damage assessments and begin modifications! And do it quickly! I need to see your modification plans and prototypes within three days!"

"Once the special forces team returns from their leave, we must ensure they can quickly begin specialized training against the new weapons!"

"Yes, sir! Mission accomplished!"

Chen Yan answered loudly, his eyes gleaming with the fervor unique to engineers.

After arranging everything, Zhao Zhenguo let out a long sigh, leaned back in his chair, and waved his hand:

"Alright, that's all for today's meeting."

"All departments, go back and implement this. Special forces, disband. Go back, take a shower, and get some sleep."

"Comrade Ye Qing will come to the family compound later to do a routine psychological assessment. Please cooperate and don't give the girl a hard time."

"yes!"

Everyone responded in unison, their voices perfectly synchronized.

Zhao Zhenguo nodded, stood up first, and left the conference room through the side door with his thermos.

As soon as the leader left, the tense atmosphere in the meeting room instantly relaxed.

"call--"

Zhang Yi plopped down in a chair, unbuttoned his top button, and gasped for breath:

"My goodness, that scared me to death. Captain Long, you really dare to go up against General Zhao? I thought our holiday was really going to be ruined."

Long Fei glanced at him, picked up the military cap on the table, and straightened it:

"It's better that it's ruined. Didn't you see how that minotaur charged? If a hundred invisible cat demons come next time, with your reaction speed, you'll be dead eight times over."

Despite saying that, Long Fei still adjusted his belt and turned to look at his teammates behind him:

"Attention, everyone! Stand up!"

"Splash!"

"Target: the family compound! Bring them back!"

At Long Fei's command, he led the team toward the conference room door.

Lin Mo silently followed at the back of the group.

Having been through these missions, he was no longer the naive college student he once was.

Although he was still a little tired, his steps were steady and his eyes were calm.

Stepping out of the conference room, the glaring sunlight hit me in the face.

Lin Mo subconsciously narrowed his eyes and raised his hand to shield his forehead.

This long-lost sense of peace finally allowed his tense nerves to relax a little.

"Lin Mo, what are you thinking about? Get in the car!"

Li Na's clear voice interrupted his thoughts.

Lin Mo snapped out of his daze and saw three dark green military buses parked in the square in front of the conference room, their engines idling and emitting a low rumble.

That was a shuttle bus specifically for transporting them between the combat zone and the living area.

"They're here."

Lin Mo quickly followed and boarded the middle car.

The carriage was spacious, and the special forces soldiers sat together in twos and threes.

Perhaps because of Zhao Zhenguo's order to "force a rest," everyone relaxed a lot.

"Hey, do you think my mom will cook extra food when I go back this time?"

"Of course! It's a first-class merit award! There should be braised pork at the very least, right?"

"I want to eat dumplings, especially the sauerkraut dumplings my mom makes. They're absolutely delicious."

Listening to his comrades' discussion about food, Lin Mo found a seat by the window and sat down.

Long Fei sat in the aisle seat next to Lin Mo and took out a slightly crumpled photo from his pocket. It was a close-up of his daughter smiling brightly.

This towering man was gently stroking the photo with his rough thumb, a silly grin unconsciously spreading across his face.

"Lin Mo," Long Fei called out without looking up.

"Hmm?" Lin Mo turned his head.

"When you go back this time, have a good talk with your parents."

Long Fei carefully tucked the photo into his inner pocket and patted his chest.

"People like us risk our lives. Every extra minute we can spend together is a minute gained."

Lin Mo paused for a moment, then nodded:

"I know, Captain Long."

The vehicle slowly started, drove out of the administrative area, and headed deeper into the base along the winding mountain road.

The Great Wall base is huge, so huge that it's like a miniature city hidden deep in the mountains.

Outside the car window, rows of neat barracks, huge warehouses, and towering radar antennas sped past.

About twenty minutes later, the convoy passed through a heavily guarded checkpoint, and suddenly a lively residential area came into view.

Several elderly people dressed in casual clothes were playing chess under the shade of a tree, while a few children chased after a ball, their cheerful laughter carrying far.

"laugh--"

The air brakes slammed on, and the bus came to a smooth stop in the open space in front of the residential compound.

The car door then opened.

The commotion quickly attracted the attention of the people who were enjoying the shade under the trees.

"Checkmate! Haha, Old Li, your horse can't jump out now!"

An elderly man in a white vest was about to place his piece when he looked up and his piece stopped in mid-air.

"Huh? That's... Xiao Zhang, right?"

The old man squinted and pointed at a thin, dark-skinned soldier who had just gotten off the bus.

The shout silenced the surroundings instantly.

The old man playing chess put down his pieces, the neighbors watching fell silent, and even the children playing on the horizontal bar stopped.

Dozens of eyes turned to the bus.

They searched anxiously among the people who had just gotten off the bus, their eyes scanning every face that still hadn't washed off its camouflage.

"dad!"

A child's innocent voice broke the silence.

In the fitness area, a little boy threw down the ball he was holding and rushed over with his short legs.

Zhang Yi, who was just bragging to Lin Mo about wanting to eat dumplings in the car, threw his backpack on the ground, squatted down, and opened his arms.

boom!

The little boy bumped headfirst into Zhang Yi's arms.

Zhang Yi lifted the child above his head and spun him around, rubbing his rough cheek against the child's tender face, making the child giggle.

Immediately afterwards, the crowd began to move completely.

"Gangzi!"

"David!"

Several women carrying vegetable baskets quickly stepped forward and took the luggage from their husbands' hands.

The elderly people also put away their chessboards, put their hands behind their backs, and greeted us with smiles.

The once quiet open space suddenly became lively.

"She's lost weight and gotten darker."

An elderly woman with a full head of silver hair held Xiao Zhang's hand and stroked the back of his calloused hand with her withered fingers.

"Come on, let's go home. Mom's made you some pork ribs."

"Why are you crying? You're back safe and sound." Another young wife wiped away her tears while gently pounding her husband's chest.

Here, these special forces soldiers reverted to their roles as sons, husbands, and fathers.

Lin Mo stood by the car door, carrying a faded backpack, without moving.

The surroundings were filled with laughter and joy as people reunited after a long separation, embracing each other tightly, and the shouts of children rose and fell.

Lin Mo watched as Zhang Yi hoisted the child onto his shoulder. The child, clutching Zhang Yi's camouflage hat, smiled so broadly his eyes crinkled.

He then saw the young wife carefully straightening her husband's slightly crooked collar insignia.

Lin Mo's fingers gripped the backpack straps tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He just couldn't move his feet.

"call……"

Lin Mo's chest heaved, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

As he gazed at the heartwarming scene before him, the cold words on the system flashed through his mind—a mortality rate of ninety-nine percent.

P.S.: You've made it this far, so please give us a good review!

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