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

What if the next mission fails?

in case……

He dared not think any further!

His lips moved slightly, his voice so low that only he could hear it.

"I thought that once I handed it in, things would be easier, and I'd have a big tree to shelter under. But this is hardly shelter..."

In order to save his own life, he made others go to their deaths with him!

Lin Mo felt as if his throat was blocked, his chest felt tight, and he had difficulty breathing.

His eyes stung, and he blinked hard to suppress the urge.

"Hey! What's wrong with our Tianmen Gate?"

A large hand patted Lin Mo heavily on the shoulder.

Lin Mo's body jolted, and he abruptly raised his head.

Long Fei was already standing next to him, carrying a camouflage backpack in one hand and stuffing a photo into his pocket with the other.

When Long Fei saw Lin Mo's reddened eyes, his brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed, revealing a roguish smile typical of soldiers.

"What's wrong? You seem completely out of sorts as soon as you left the meeting room? Were you intimidated by General Zhao's aura just now?"

Before Lin Mo could speak, a burst of laughter came from the side.

"I don't think our Advisor Lin has been scared out of his wits."

Li Na walked over carrying a large medical kit, a lollipop dangling from her mouth, her eyes gleaming mischievously as she looked Lin Mo up and down.

"His soul must have been bewitched by that sister named Arya! He's physically back, but his heart is still wandering in Fernwall Village, isn't it?"

"Haha! It looks like it too!"

Wang Hao pushed up his glasses and leaned closer: "Lin Mo, this is where you're wrong. Gen Z really knows how to have fun! Interspecies romance is so avant-garde."

"Go away, go away, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Zhang Yi carried the child over, cursing as he walked, but his smile was undeniable.

"Lin Mo was doing it for work, for intelligence! Right, Lin Mo?"

Several team leaders and members gathered around, chatting amongst themselves, and surrounded Lin Mo.

This unique kind of banter between comrades instantly dispelled the gloom and oppression in Lin Mo's heart.

Lin Mo looked at these familiar faces. He couldn't understand it.

This group of people had just returned from the brink of death, and they knew they would be facing an even more terrifying enemy a month from now, yet they were laughing so easily and so openly.

"Alright, alright! Are you all just bored?"

Long Fei suddenly straightened his face, glanced at everyone, and lowered his voice to speak.

"Have you forgotten the confidentiality regulations? This is the family quarters! You all have no sense of propriety; if your families hear anything they shouldn't, you'll all have to write self-criticisms when you get back!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately stopped laughing and subconsciously glanced around.

Fortunately, the family members were busy moving their luggage and talking, and no one noticed them.

"Cough cough..."

Li Na stuck out her tongue and took the lollipop out of her mouth.

"Um... my mom's calling me home for dinner, and the braised pork won't taste good if it gets cold. I'm off!"

After saying that, she slung her large bag over her shoulder and ran off towards a building not far away.

"I have to go too. My dad's a terrible chess player. If I don't go back and give him some pointers, he'll definitely lose all his retirement money today."

Wang Hao adjusted his glasses, waved, and left.

"Son, come on, let's go home and let Grandpa see if you've grown taller!" Zhang Yi bounced the child on his shoulder, nodded to Lin Mo and Long Fei, and strode away.

The group of people who had been surrounding them just moments before scattered instantly.

Everyone found various excuses and quickly disappeared from the square.

On the open ground, only Long Fei and Lin Mo, who was still standing in the same spot, remained.

Long Fei didn't rush to leave. He took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, knocked one out, but didn't light it. He just held it between his fingers and twirled it around.

Long Fei turned his head and looked at Lin Mo, who was standing beside him like a wooden stake.

Lin Mo's gaze fell on the windows of the family building in the distance, but his eyes were unfocused, and he exuded a lifeless feeling, which was completely unlike someone his age.

"Want to take a few steps?"

Long Fei tucked the cigarette behind his ear and patted the back of the bench next to him.

"The view is good from here; we can even see if those brats are going home to get a beating."

Lin Mo snapped out of his daze and nodded somewhat stiffly.

The two walked to a bench under the shade of a tree and sat down.

This place faces the small square in the residential area.

Not far away, Zhang Yi was carrying his son and running wildly on the lawn. The little boy was riding on his shoulders, waving his camouflage hat, and his screams and laughter carried far.

In the pavilion on the other side, Li Na was holding the arm of an old woman, gesturing wildly as they walked, making the old woman laugh heartily.

Lin Mo watched this scene, his hands on his knees twisted together so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"call……"

Lin Mo let out a long breath, lowered his head, and stared at the ants moving their nest on the ground.

"Dragon Team".

Lin Mo's voice was low and slightly hoarse: "Am I... being too selfish?"

Long Fei paused for a moment as he was taking out his lighter.

"Selfish?"

Long Fei chuckled, lit the cigarette with a "snap," took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled the pungent smoke that swirled in his lungs.

"You feel bad about handing over the teleportation portal, hiding in the back, and making us common soldiers take the brunt of the damage?"

Lin Mo didn't speak, but simply lowered his head even further.

The guilt weighed on his chest, making every breath feel heavy.

"Raise your head."

Long Fei's voice suddenly became stern.

Lin Mo subconsciously looked up and met Long Fei's sharp eyes.

"Lin Mo, you're a smart person, why are you getting so hung up on this?"

Long Fei, with a cigarette between his fingers, pointed to Zhang Yi and his son laughing loudly in the distance:

"Look at Zhang Yi, look at those other team members. Do you think they're blaming you?"

Lin Mo followed the finger and saw Zhang Yi tossing his son into the air and catching him steadily, his face full of a satisfied smile.

"They are thanking you."

Long Fei flicked his cigarette ash, his tone softening:

"Without you, the 'Heavenly Gate,' and without the technology and resources you brought back, let's just talk about the 'magic potions' you brought back."

"If the research is successful, how many more brothers will die on our country's borders every year?"

"A hundred years ago, our predecessors went on missions risking their lives, fighting tooth and nail against enemy bullets. And now?"

Long Fei patted his thigh:

"Exoskeleton armor, new types of bulletproof vests, special hemostatic drugs... which of these things is possible today without the help of those predecessors?"

"Now, you have brought new hope and given us the opportunity to become stronger."

Long Fei turned around, draped one arm over the back of the chair, leaned forward, and looked directly into Lin Mo's eyes:

"So put your mind at ease. The country believes in you, and we believe in you. This is not only because you are the 'key,' but also because you bring hope for the future."