[COD] Newbie's Rise to Power

He meticulously wiped the bloodstains from your face and neck until he pulled out the silver chain from your neck.

The dog tag and a woman's ring were exposed in Keegan's hand as the chain was pulled out.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, Keegan asked softly in a low, husky voice, "You?"

"Kid, can I have this?"

it is good.

You speak, answering him on 'your' behalf.

As if he heard your reply, he said thank you to 'you', then reached out and unchained 'you', took off the dog tag, and carefully put it into his zippered pocket.

He lifted your injured hand, cleaned away the blood and dirt, bandaged it, kissed the back of your hand, and then pressed his forehead against the back of your hand.

"I'm sorry I'm late..."

"No, I should have insisted on keeping you by my side back then."

"I should...take you with me."

He whispered very softly, but it was unusually clear in the small and quiet carriage.

Merrick, who was driving ahead, had a furrowed brow and kept glancing at the situation behind him through the rearview mirror, but unusually, he didn't make a sound to disturb him.

You sigh deeply, your hand reaching out to stroke his back, but it passes right through him.

Helpless, you could only sit quietly and offer words of comfort he couldn't hear.

Why apologize? It's not your fault.

Yeah, I regret it too. I should have applied to Simon back then.

It's not too late now, I've always been following you.

Keegan looked up, his grey-blue eyes glancing at 'your' face with a watery look.

"You succeeded, and I'm very sad now, but I'd rather things were like before..."

You didn't understand what he meant, so you didn't know how to respond and could only offer a dry, helpless attempt at comfort.

Don't be sad...

Don't be sad.

Please don't cry, I can't wipe your tears right now.

Unfortunately, he couldn't hear.

Wang Zhiqiang was closest to the ghost's location, so they were the first team to arrive at the rendezvous point.

After cleaning the toxic fumes off his protective suits, he told his team to rest on the spot while he went to find Ghost alone.

"Which squad is so capable that they actually captured Reina?"

Wang Zhiqiang asked the ghost with a smile, only to find that the ghost's usually calm eyes were now filled with broken grief.

His tall figure sitting on a low rock gave the illusion that he was a bewildered child.

Wang Zhiqiang immediately felt uneasy, and his tone rose slightly:

"What happened? Where's YN? When will she arrive?"

The ghost's hoarse voice responded briefly:

"soon."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhiqiang paced back and forth a couple of times in a state of agitation before turning and heading towards the intersection.

"I'll wait for her at the door."

The ghost watched his departing figure, her eyes lowered for a long time before she finally stood up, supporting herself on her knees, and followed him.

As soon as he walked away, the seven or eight cigarette butts under his shoes were finally exposed to the dim light.

Wang Zhiqiang changed locations, but he was still pacing back and forth anxiously, making the ghost standing behind him feel a little dizzy.

The silence was broken only when the sky began to glow faintly.

Is it her?

Wang Zhiqiang asked himself this question, then strode towards the unfamiliar white van. But when he got closer and saw the FRF logo on the van, he immediately stopped in his tracks.

FRF, a refrigerated truck that can be cooled to -18 degrees Celsius, what kind of things need to be transported in such a low-temperature refrigerated truck?

Wang Zhiqiang didn't want to think about it, nor did he dare to.

But reality wouldn't let him escape. Keegan got out of the car, still holding a familiar HK417 in his hand.

Keegan lowered his head, his voice muffled: "I brought her back. Want to see her?"

Wang Zhiqiang understood perfectly well. His hand, which had been hanging by his side, trembled slightly before he gripped it tightly again.

The ghost walked past him to the back of the refrigerated truck and reached out to unlock it.

The door was opened a crack, and a chilling draft rushed towards the ghost. Merrick, in the car, turned on the lights inside, allowing him to see clearly...

Inside the train carriage, a girl lay upright.

ch.333: Tears of Helplessness (ノへ`、)

One hour after death, the body begins to stiffen, and two hours later, livor mortis begins to appear, followed by decomposition and foul odor.

Keegan didn't want you to meet other people in that state, so he flagged down a refrigerated truck on the road, gave you a quick cleaning, and then put you in the truck to preserve your body at a low temperature.

You float in mid-air, watching their reactions, feeling empty inside, yet unable to sense anything.

The ghost braved the surging chill and stepped onto the floor of the carriage.

You followed him inside, looking down at your own pale and lifeless face.

In the cramped carriage, he crouched down, his tall body bent, and his fingertips touched the back of 'your' hand first.

He looked at 'you' for a long time before raising his hand and gently taking 'your' hand in his palm. That hand, which he had held, played with, and gently rubbed countless times, was now cold and stiff, and would never again respond to his grasp.

It was very cold, the kind of lifeless, bone-chilling cold.

His Adam's apple bobbed as if he were about to swallow something, but he only made a very soft sound.

His broad shoulders began to tremble slightly, not violently, but like leaves swaying in the wind, subtle yet uncontrollable.

He lowered his head, his forehead resting against 'your' cold hand.

The warm fragrance that once belonged to you is gone; all that remains is the bitter scent emanating from your skin, a scent that seems to belong to death.

There were no cries, no uncontrolled screams, only suppressed, intermittent breathing sounds, like a broken bellows struggling to pull inside the chest.

Don't be sad, Simon.

You squat down opposite him and gently comfort him.

It's too cold in here, you should go out. If you get chilled, you'll suffer terribly when you're old.

You kept rambling on.

But he just squatted there, holding 'your' cold hand, as if trying to transfer his own body heat to 'you'.

"It was my fault. I shouldn't have let you participate."

A deep, hoarse voice sounded, revealing a deep weariness.

You: Are you senile? I wanted to participate myself.

"I clearly said I would protect you, I really failed."

You: You told me to stay in the rear, but things are unpredictable. After all, I didn't expect things to turn out this way.

"I can never... protect anyone."

You: You idiot.

Suddenly, footsteps approached.

Wang Zhiqiang also appeared at the rear of the car, his face expressionless, but the redness in his eyes betrayed his emotions.

He got into the car, sat next to 'you', and asked you:

"Didn't you say you were going to come back to China with me to meet my family?"

"I even got your residence permit approved. Do you know how much effort that took me?"

"Right now, it's still inside the delivery bag and hasn't seen the light of day, so it's already lost its function."

"Baby, did you go back?"

His hand fell to his sides, the back of it gently resting on 'your' cheek. He lightly traced the back of his fingers across 'your' face, lightly brushing against your eyelashes...

Those eyes will no longer look at him with joy.

Then to the pale lips...

She will no longer call out to him with longing.

"But I... don't want you to go back this way. You can disappear, you can even be taken away by some magical pillar of light, but not in such a tragic way..."

"Or rather, did you really go back?"

"Your body is still here, can you go back? Tell me, please..."

When he finally uttered the question, his voice was hoarse and choked with emotion. His lifeless eyes overflowed with glistening tears, leaving streaks on his cheeks.

You float in front of him, reaching out to wipe away his tears, but you can only touch a bit of coolness, feeling helpless.

We could only watch as the watermarks gradually condensed in the low temperature, threatening to turn into ice.

Brother, I haven't gone back yet, but could you go out first? Your face is going to freeze.

Stop crying. Put your sadness aside for now. How about we go outside first?

Unfortunately, they couldn't hear and stubbornly remained in the cold carriage.

Finally, because the temperature in the carriage was too low, Merrick angrily dragged the two men out.

You nodded in satisfaction and thanked Merrick.

Captain Merrick, even though you're bald, you're a really reliable person!