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

The pungent smell of gun oil mixed with the sour stench of dirt and sweat wafted into Lin Mo's nose.

He closed his eyes, his fingers moving rapidly between the metal parts.

These hands no longer look like those of a recent college graduate.

His knuckles were large, his thumb and forefinger were covered in calluses, and there was a band-aid on the side of his index finger with black grime seeping out from the edges.

"Click".

The sound of the firing pin resetting rang out.

Lin Mo suddenly opened his eyes, pulled back the bolt, and completed the action in one smooth motion.

Thirty-eight seconds.

Long Fei stopped the stopwatch, and his voice echoed in the tactics room.

He threw the stopwatch on the table, picked up the newly assembled Type 95 rifle, and without even looking at it, aimed the gun directly at the surveillance camera in the corner.

"It's two seconds faster than yesterday."

Long Fei put down his gun, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and without lighting it, smelled it under his nose.

"But on the battlefield, those two seconds are enough for you to die three times over."

Lin Mo didn't say anything, silently disassembling the gun. His fingers were still trembling slightly from the excessive force.

"continue."

Long Fei's voice was devoid of emotion.

"This time, we'll add tactical interference."

As soon as he finished speaking, the lights in the tactics room suddenly went out.

A sharp alarm and a simulated explosion sounded simultaneously, and red strobe lights made everything in the room flicker.

Lin Mo's breathing became erratic, but his hands didn't stop moving.

In the darkness, the sound of metal clashing rang out again, faster and more urgent than before.

……

Ten thousand meters above the clouds.

The cabin was filled with the roar of the massive engines.

This is a Y-20 transport aircraft. There are no airline seats in the cabin, only two rows of simple folding chairs.

The air conditioning was on full blast, making people feel chilly.

Sun Dehai clutched the metal box tightly in his arms, his knuckles turning white from the force.

The box was sealed with a red "Top Secret" sticker.

"Old Sun, have some water."

Wu Qian handed over a military water bottle, his voice sounding somewhat indistinct amidst the noise.

Sun Dehai shook his head, his eyes fixed on the box as if afraid it would run away.

"The stuff in here... is too heavy."

The old professor spoke in a low voice, his voice trembling slightly.

"What if the plane experiences a jolt, or something unexpected happens..."

"The aircraft has a missile jamming system, and there are two J-20s escorting it."

Zhao Zhenguo sat opposite him, his eyes closed, the mud still on his military boots.

He opened his eyes, glanced at the nervous Sun Dehai, and forced a smile.

"Our current security level is even higher than mine."

"In the past, I would sit in the office and wait for people to bring me documents."

Zhao Zhenguo twisted his stiff neck, and his bones cracked.

"Now look what's happened. For a few sheets of paper and a few stones, I, the commander-in-chief, have become the gofer."

The plane suddenly dipped and began to descend.

The clouds outside the window dispersed, revealing a dense array of city lights below.

That's Kyoto.

Raindrops pattered against the porthole, leaving streaks of water.

……

The hatch opened, and a wave of damp air mixed with the smell of exhaust fumes hit us.

On the tarmac, three black Hongqi sedans were already running, with water droplets hanging from their hoods.

Several bodyguards in suits stood beside the car, their headsets flashing blue light.

As soon as Zhao Zhenguo and his group got off the plane, they were taken into a car.

"Go to Courtyard No. 1."

After Zhao Zhenguo finished speaking to the driver, he raised the soundproof panel between the front and back seats.

The convoy exited the airport expressway at a high speed, even without its police lights on.

It's rush hour now, and the ring roads in Kyoto are jammed with cars, their red taillights forming a long line.

The traffic police ahead had already received instructions and were using hand gestures at each intersection to forcibly stop the flow of traffic on the main road.

Countless private cars were stuck at the intersection, and the drivers stuck their heads out to watch the inconspicuous convoy speed by.

"That's what privilege is."

Sun Dehai looked out the window at the rapidly receding street scene and sighed.

"This is not a privilege."

Zhao Zhenguo straightened his collar and fastened his top button.

"This is because what we have is more valuable than all the cars on this street."

The convoy turned onto a quiet street.

There is no urban hustle and bustle here, only tall plane trees and armed police sentry posts.

The heavy iron gate slowly opened, and the wheels rolled over the wet asphalt road, making a soft sound.

……

The conference room was large, and the thick carpet absorbed all footsteps.

The air was filled with the scents of jasmine tea and old furniture.

The long conference table was already full of people.

These people, who often appear on the evening news, are sitting quietly now, their teacups steaming beside them.

Zhao Zhenguo, Sun Dehai, and Wu Qian were led to sit in the last seats.

Sun Dehai felt his heart was about to jump out of his throat. He reached for his glasses and realized his palms were sweaty.

"Da, da, da."

The sound of unhurried footsteps came from the side door.

The meeting room fell silent instantly, without a sound.

Everyone stood up, and their movements were very synchronized.

An elderly man wearing a dark jacket walked in.

His hair was gray, and he had a kind face, but his eyes were so deep that people dared not look directly at him.

The old man walked to the chair at the front, but did not sit down immediately. Instead, he looked around.

His gaze swept over Zhao Zhenguo, paused for a moment, and then he nodded.

"Please sit down."

The old man's voice wasn't loud, but it was very clear.

Everyone sat down again.

"Time is precious, so let's skip the formalities."

The old man picked up his glasses from the table, put them on, and opened the documents in front of him.

"There's quite a commotion in the Northwest; I heard they've emptied their coffers."

He looked up at Zhao Zhenguo.

"Zhenguo, tell me."

"What's the current status of your Heavenly Gate Project and that young man named Lin Mo?"

Zhao Zhenguo took a deep breath and stood up.

He didn't use a manuscript; he memorized all the data and information.

"Reporting to the commander."

"Currently, the first phase of the Tianmen Project's exploration mission has been completed."

"Lin Mo, a key member, is in stable condition."

Zhao Zhenguo paused for a moment, then raised his voice slightly.

"After these few days of special training, he has initially acquired the tactical skills of a special operations soldier."

"For the next operation, we have developed an operation codenamed 'Prairie Fire'."

"We will deploy assisted exoskeletons, carrying heavy firepower, with the goal of completing the mission and finding a suitable safe house to establish an outpost."

At this point, Zhao Zhenguo glanced at Sun Dehai beside him and pushed the silver box to the center of the table.

"As for the results..."

"Inside are purified samples of the otherworldly anti-cancer plant, green moss, and smelting data for high-strength alloy fire-patterned steel."

A soft murmur arose in the conference room.

The expressions on the faces of several leaders in charge of science and technology and health changed.

The old man didn't look at the box, but instead placed his fingers interlaced on the table and looked at Zhao Zhenguo.

"Is that Lin Mo reliable?"

This question is very straightforward.

All eyes were on Zhao Zhenguo's face.

Zhao Zhenguo answered without hesitation.

"He gave his life to the country."

"He did not back down when faced with a mission that would result in certain death. He did not complain when faced with intense training."

"He's not strong enough yet, but he already sees himself as a warrior."

"I think he is reliable."

The old man was silent for a few seconds, then tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"it is good."

The old man uttered a single word and turned to look at the others on either side.

"What are everyone's opinions on Zhenguo's plan?"

A general with three gold stars on his shoulders shook his head.

"The tactical arrangement, though radical, is reasonable. Faced with an unknown environment, firepower coverage is the safest approach. I agree."

Another leader, who wore glasses, also spoke up.

"If that plant sample really does have the effects reported, it would be a strategic breakthrough for the country."

"I suggest that we should not only provide financial assistance, but also personnel. The Institute of Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences could be relocated there entirely to provide support."

After asking around, not a single person objected.

Faced with this choice that will determine the future of the country, everyone expressed their support.