Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

Zhongnanhai, a top-secret conference room at the deepest part of the sea.

There were no windows, and the walls were made of explosion-proof and soundproof materials. The cold light from the overhead lamps shone on the mahogany oval table, reflecting the extremely solemn expressions of the dozen or so military and political leaders present.

On the holographic projection screen in the center of the conference room was a satellite topographic map of the southwestern border.

The flashing red dots were alarming.

"The situation is worse than expected."

A major general from the Second Department of the General Staff stood up, holding an infrared laser pointer, and drew a circle heavily on the area on the screen known as "Death Valley".

"Just three hours ago, our scientific expedition team, consisting of thirty top scientists and fifteen armed police officers, sent to Area 3 to explore for 'superconducting rare earth elements,' completely lost contact with the rear. The last images transmitted back showed that they were attacked by a fully armed unidentified force and forced into a group of caves at the bottom of the valley."

"Unknown forces?"

A high-ranking national leader, seated at the head of the table, slammed his fist on the table, his voice carrying an imposing authority. "What kind of unidentified forces are these on our border? What are our border troops doing?!"

"Boss, this is precisely the most difficult part."

The major general's face was grim as he pulled up a blurry intercepted video. "The enemy wasn't wearing any country's standard military uniform, but the weapons they used were all active-duty special forces equipment of the U.S. military, including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and Javelin anti-tank systems."

"Judging from their tactical maneuvers and communication frequencies, this is a top-tier mercenary group secretly supported by a certain major power. They not only cut off communications but also laid minefields at the only exit of the canyon."

"Their objective is clear: to seize the exploration data from the research team and, by using hostages, force us to abandon that strategic mineral deposit that could change the fate of our nation for the next century!"

A deathly silence fell over the conference room.

Everyone is aware of the power struggle behind this.

Superconducting rare earth elements are strategic resources that could reshape the entire Western semiconductor and military industries. Those few bald eagles hiding across the Pacific will absolutely not stand idly by and watch China acquire such a crucial national asset.

"Immediately mobilize the rapid reaction forces of the Southwest Theater Command! Send in armed helicopters! At all costs, we must rescue them!" roared a hot-tempered military region commander.

"No!"

A senior minister from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately retorted, his brow furrowed, "Sir, that area is a buffer zone where the three countries meet."

International opinion is currently focused on us. A certain major power has already been lobbying at the United Nations, claiming that our troop deployment on the border is a "regional threat." If we were to use regular troops to cross the border, we would be giving them ammunition! They would immediately intervene, potentially even triggering a local war!

"What can we do? Are we just going to watch our scientists die inside? Watch those foreign devils steal the treasures left by our ancestors?" The commander's eyes were red with anxiety.

The issue is an international dispute.

To retreat would be to lose sovereignty and national dignity, and to lose the very foundation of the nation.

This is an extremely vicious and almost unsolvable dead end.

Old Lin sat in his wheelchair, silent. His eyes, which had once rolled among piles of corpses, were fixed on the topographical map on the screen.

And to the diagonal rear of Elder Lin.

As the Director of the High-Tech Industry Department of the National Development and Reform Commission and the chief reviewer of this rare earth exploration project, Liu Ming, as a civilian representative, quietly sat at the end of the table.

He wasn't wearing a suit, but a simple white shirt.

He had been staring at the satellite map ever since the major general's report.

That's Death Valley.

This was also the place that Liu Ming, or rather "Shura," had plowed inch by inch with his knife.

Ten years ago, it was there that he led the Dragon Tooth Squad and, with just three Nepalese kukri knives, single-handedly took down an armed company that was trying to cross the border to smuggle drugs.

He could draw every tree, every underground river, and even the course of every poisonous miasma there with his eyes closed.

"What if it's a small-scale, specialized infiltration?"

Old Lin suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse but carrying an undeniable power.

"Instead of using the regular army, send in a shadow squad without any unit designation or uniform. Quick in and quick out, and bring them back."

"Sir, we've considered this plan too." The major general gave a bitter laugh, his tone tinged with deep helplessness. "But the enemy is too professional. They've set up a crossfire network at the valley entrance, and Stinger missiles are locking down low-altitude targets. And..."

The major general sighed. "The leader of this mercenary group is codenamed 'Deathstroke.' He used to be an elite SEAL instructor, and in that terrain, he's more troublesome than a ghost. The two special forces teams we sent to scout didn't even reach the valley entrance before... they were killed."

The meeting room fell into a suffocating silence once again.

Even the most elite special forces soldiers were defeated and killed; this was almost a mission with certain death.

Where can we find a ghost unit that is familiar with the terrain and capable of annihilating this group of top international assassins without alerting anyone?

The leader rubbed his temples, a hint of weariness and determination flashing in his eyes.

"No matter what, people must be saved. Even if it means losing lives, we must forge that path!"

Just when all the military leaders were preparing to sign pledges and forcibly send people to their deaths.

"Smack."

A very soft yet extremely clear crisp sound rang out in the corner of the conference room.

That was the sound of a fountain pen being snapped in two.

All the big shots instinctively turned their heads.

The young director, who had been sitting quietly at the end of the table and whom they assumed only knew how to read reports and data, slowly stood up.

Liu Ming lowered his head slightly, and the wisps of hair on his forehead obscured his eyes.

But the instant he stood up, an extremely terrifying, almost tangible, bloodthirsty aura swept out from his body like a hurricane!

What kind of civilian cadre is this?

This is clearly a primordial beast that has been lurking in the darkness for too long, finally smelling the blood and tearing away its disguise!

The generals present had all fought their way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, but the moment they sensed this murderous aura, they couldn't help but feel a chill run down their spines.

"Director Liu?" The leader paused, then said, "You..."

Liu Ming raised her head.

Those eyes, which were originally gentle and refined, were now completely filled with a cold, wild, and even bloodthirsty scarlet color.

He did not look at any of the leaders.

He walked straight to the huge holographic projection map, his finger precisely landing on a black shadow behind Death Valley that even satellites couldn't scan.

"Going in from the valley entrance is suicide."

Liu Ming's voice was terrifyingly low, as if sandpaper was rubbing against his throat.

"Deathstroke's habit is to deploy crossfire on both flanks, but behind the 'Devil's Sorrow' waterfall, there is an underground river that has been carved out by the water flow."

"That's the only blind spot not covered by thermal imaging."

The Major General of the General Staff was shocked: "How did you know? That underground river isn't even on our latest survey maps!"

Liu Ming smiled.

His smile was both chilling and incredibly proud.

He turned around, looked at the shocked bigwigs in the room, and slowly unbuttoned the collar of his white shirt.

"Because this road was dug out by me, one cut at a time, with a military bayonet."

He ripped off his tie, took off his suit jacket that symbolized his high-ranking bureaucrat status, and casually tossed it onto the mahogany table that represented power.

His jacket slipped down, revealing the tight black vest underneath.

Under the bright lights of the conference room.

His two strong arms and chest were covered with crisscrossing, grotesque scars, resembling centipedes, which were displayed without reservation to all the highest-ranking officials of the Republic.

Knife wounds, gunshot wounds, penetrating wounds.

It was a painting of hell and loyalty, drawn with blood and flesh.

"Liu Ming..."

Looking at the scars all over his body, Old Lin's hand holding his cane trembled violently, and tears streamed down his face.

He knew that the wolf was finally going back.

"Distinguished leaders."

Liu Ming stood there ramrod straight, her posture like a pine tree, her eyes like knives.

He did not salute.

Because at this moment, he was no longer the director of the National Development and Reform Commission, but the Asura who guarded China in the darkness.

"This is a job that regular troops can't do."

"But I can."

Looking at the flashing red dots on the map, Liu Ming's lips curled into a cruel smile. He spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice filled with a rage and confidence that could crush everything.

"Leave this to me."