First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 205
Chapter 205: Lance
Lian Sheng had already reached the door on the third floor of the hotel.
She pushed the door open and carefully entered sideways. Inside the room lay only one man on the floor, around forty or fifty years old, his face extremely pale.
The room's air purification system was running at maximum capacity, so there was no smell of blood, but a large bloodstain was clearly visible on the stranger's abdomen.
Lian Sheng spoke into her communicator: "No issues here, come retrieve him."
Lance visibly relaxed.
Lian Sheng then asked: "What's the situation at the club? Fang Jianchen?"
"They still seem to be searching there. With so many people inside, it's easy to hide—we can buy some more time," Fang Jianchen replied. "I've transferred the feed to Zhou Shirui and the others—they'll guide that kid to evade."
Lian Sheng took a photo of the man's face and sent it to Hundred Meter Flying Dagger before crouching down to examine his injuries.
When she lifted his clothing to check, he woke.
The man groggily opened his eyes, recognized Lian Sheng, and murmured: "Lian Sheng?"
Lian Sheng was certain she'd never met him before, yet he knew her identity. She asked: "How did you know we're students from the Alliance?"
"We came from the Alliance ourselves," Lance said. "We... saw you before. Though you've changed somewhat, knowing you're exchange students from the 14th District and that you brought Cornell and Harry along confirmed it."
Lian Sheng tore open the man's clothes and saw a gunshot wound: "Why did you go to the Alliance?"
Lance continued quietly: "To find Cornell. We wanted to bring him back, but the Alliance refused us."
Lian Sheng said: "Now we're giving you a chance."
"Really?!" Lance grew excited before sobering again. "No... we've been ambushed. It's too dangerous to take Cornell now."
Lian Sheng: "No no no. Giving you a chance to hear Cornell reject you personally."
Lance: "..."
Even in such a situation, she still had the mood for jokes.
While clumsily bandaging the man, Lian Sheng inquired about the situation outside.
"Only two of you here, one injured and being pursued. In a place like the port, without any backing, life must be hard, right? You participated in that chess tournament earlier—were you trying to meet the Professor?" Lian Sheng said. "So the Professor is one of yours. The pacifist faction? Whoever it is, no one from Gelen is taking Cornell."
Cornell's face and his upbringing could both become tools to sway public opinion and manipulate sentiment. But more than that—his identity itself was leverage.
Lian Sheng currently had zero trust in either the military or political factions of Gelen. A group that had long survived through violence, strengthening themselves by consuming others like a virus—if they could crush their opponents, they wouldn't hesitate to use any underhanded tactic.
If Cornell returned to Gelen, nothing good awaited him.
Zhao Zhuoluo and the other two had already entered.
Lian Sheng removed the man's coat and had the tall Ye Buqing change into it. Zhao Zhuoluo helped the man up, preparing to leave the room.
Hundred Meter Flying Dagger's communications were severely delayed, making direct contact risky. Since Lian Sheng's location was under tight surveillance, any signals from the Alliance—even disguised—could easily be detected.
Just as they were about to exit, a message finally came through.
"Get him out! He's important!" Hundred Meter Flying Dagger directly cut into their channel, his voice urgent. "Take him secretly back to the rental first. He's General Barite's old rival. With so many people infiltrating the port this time, it must be because of him! Damn!"
Like chanting a slogan, Hundred Meter Flying Dagger declared: "Capture him, then sell him!"
Lian Sheng: "..."
Lance remained silent for the moment.
"I can't guarantee signal security here—it's risky. I'll keep it brief based on your current situation," Hundred Meter Flying Dagger said. "The entire street around you is surrounded. All exits are being checked—improvise as needed. The person who brought you in might not be reliable. He's a Gelen native, but you don't know his political leanings or how brave he is. I don't recommend taking that gamble. Follow Lian Sheng's lead—I trust her. Once you're somewhere safe, I'll find a way to contact you."
Hundred Meter Flying Dagger was blunt: "The man you have there—Barite's former subordinate, Maxwell—has considerable influence in Gelen. If you can't extract him, prioritize your own safety and kill him. His death will be pinned on Barite, likely causing internal chaos in Gelen. Then we attack from outside. Pincer movement—honestly, that's not a bad option either."
"No!" Lance shouted before remembering his circumstances and lowering his voice. "He can't die! Gelen's civilians are innocent—will the Alliance just stand by and watch so many people die? Even if we're from different nations, we're all human!"
Lian Sheng sneered: "Naïve. We can say that—but would you dare believe it?"
"If you disagree, then figure it out yourself, brother," Hundred Meter Flying Dagger said. "We have zero obligation to sacrifice our own soldiers to save an enemy who'll turn on us later. The farmer and the snake didn't end well."
Lance insisted: "It won't happen! Maxwell will change Gelen! Barite doesn't control everything—it can still change. Maxwell helped and accepted us—I believe he'll keep his word. He truly wants peace!"
"A brainwashed man. You can believe, you can let faith guide your actions—but I won't. The Alliance must stay rational. We won't blindly trust some smooth-talking man who lacks real power in Gelen," Hundred Meter Flying Dagger said. "I stopped believing I could single-handedly change the world long ago. Our goal is just to protect our own people. If Gelen keeps pointing blades at us, we'll return the favor tenfold."
Hundred Meter Flying Dagger suddenly sounded rushed: "Gotta go—this call isn't safe. Lian Sheng, handle it. Out."
Lian Sheng: "Got it."
Lance said nothing further.
Zhao Zhuoluo had already helped the man out of the hotel.
With guards and surveillance on all surrounding streets, their only path was the route from the club.
"You can believe—I'm not mocking you. You really can believe in this man, even if I don't know him," Lian Sheng said. "Our positions differ—we lack the luxury of such faith. Every Alliance decision represents countless civilians. But our disbelief doesn't make it impossible. You must have your reasons for following Maxwell and joining this godforsaken nation. If so, then keep believing. Believe change will come, that it'll happen—and keep going."
Hundred Meter Flying Dagger had deliberately cut into their channel to deliver that harsh, rushed speech for one reason: time was limited, and he needed to make one thing brutally clear to Lance. If he couldn't help Lian Sheng's group escape, then prepare to die together inside.
That was reality's cruelty.
If possible, the Alliance would save more people too. But if the cost was their own lives? Then no.
War had twisted this world beyond recognition. Even the most precious lives became disposable. It made humanity selfish, let despair take root and spread.
Was the world wrong?
No—the world wasn't wrong. War was always humanity's doing.
Lance blinked hard.
He understood.
Everyone wanted a path to survival—but not everyone got that chance. Someone always stood blocking the way.
Just like Fengse City. Its people had done nothing wrong. Nothing at all.
Lance could only pin his hopes on Maxwell—his sole lifeline.
Fengse City was already gone, but he couldn't bear to see a second. He hated Gelen, yet... he didn't want it to collapse either.
Watching more people suffer wouldn't bring him joy. Never.
Lian Sheng's voice came through the comms: "Cornell? Cornell! Bring people toward the restroom. Preferably a big group—something eye-catching."
Thanks to his manager's aggressive promotion, Cornell had already attracted a crowd of fans. Even with his sharp hearing, it took him two tries to catch Lian Sheng's words.
He then dragged his manager and the trailing crowd toward the restrooms.
"Good. Before they start openly searching, let's get out of the club," Lian Sheng said. "Zhuoluo, carry him out first to confuse them. Stop somewhere along the way. Ye Buqing and Cheng Ze—put on Maxwell's clothes, follow behind, then blend into the crowd to exit and draw those black-clad pursuers away."
"Cornell, attack any black-clad people on sight. You're not from the port—just say you were being followed and play dumb about who they are. Harry—Harry? Be ready at the entrance."
Clearly, General Barite's influence here far outstripped Maxwell's. As Hundred Meter Flying Dagger said, even if Maxwell had ideals, he was still just an underdeveloped fledgling.
But he was still one of Gelen's leaders. Even if his enemies wanted him dead, they wouldn't do it openly—that could ignite the already volatile public sentiment.
Best case: discover him quietly, extract him quietly.
If quiet wasn't an option, "accidents" were permissible too.
A large group moving together would draw attention—especially with Cornell at its center.
Their pursuers quickly noticed and closed in.
As the crowd neared the men's restroom, several suspicious figures swiftly merged into their midst before the whole group turned toward the exit.
"Something's wrong!" The pursuers tried pushing into the crowd, but with everyone packed together, identification at close range was impossible. "They're using the chaos to escape! Seal the exit! Check everyone leaving!"
"What were they wearing? I think I saw identical outfits."
The black-clad operatives rushed the exit while Zhao Zhuoluo carried—
Once outside, Ye Buqing removed his coat, rolled it up, and casually tossed it aside amid the crowd.
Cornell's manager kept chattering as they walked: "Where exactly are you trying to go? The restroom? Or heading back already?"
Cornell said: "I think we should go back."
Manager: "Sure, sure."
Zhao Zhuoluo maneuvered the man closer to Cornell. He wore Ye Buqing's clothes, with a coat partially obscuring his face, head bowed to hide his expression.
Cornell and his manager walked ahead, the latter still animatedly recounting the day's events, clearly in high spirits.
Black-clad operatives at the exit stopped Cornell: "Hold on."
Without a word, Cornell grabbed the man's arm and flipped him over his shoulder onto the ground.
The smooth motion drew cheers from onlookers, who applauded the impromptu performance.
The operative scrambled up, wary: "What was that for?"
Cornell coldly replied: "What do you want?"
As the operative raised a hand to speak, another interruption came.
"Hey—!" Harry charged over, shouting: "You again! Last time it was robbery—what now? Our boss isn't someone you can mess with!"
He immediately threw himself into the fight.
"Whoa—!"
This made for excellent nighttime entertainment.
The crowd cheered, their drunkenness fading as they pressed forward for a better view, drawing even more passersby.
The manager flailed nearby: "Misunderstanding! They're not from the port—no harm meant!"
"No violence! Nobody move! Listen to me—it's all a mistake!"
Harry yelled: "Call the cops! Call the cops!"
Zhao Zhuoluo seized the moment to slip past, flagging down a taxi and bundling the man inside.
Driver: "What's wrong with him?"
"Drunk. First time drinking, first time here," Zhao Zhuoluo said. "Gelen University of Finance and Economics."
Driver: "Got it."
They drove off, nearing a checkpoint on the main road.
Zhao Zhuoluo checked his optical computer: "Actually, pull over. A friend's coming to pick us up—we'll go with him instead. This one gets carsick—wouldn't want him puking in your car."
As if on cue, his "friend" shuddered and let out a nauseated groan.
The driver quickly said: "Sure. That'll be fifteen for the ride."
Zhao Zhuoluo paid, then helped the man out.
The two successfully escaped the club, sitting down outside a drink shop.
"This won't work. There are checks outside too," Lance said. "Unless something changes, he won't get past the main district checkpoints."
Lian Sheng: "One last option—Ji Ban, hack their system."
"..." Ji Ban said, "Let me cultivate a bit more—maybe I'll ascend to immortality. Then one snap of my fingers will do it."
Lian Sheng: "Great, I'll wait."
The others: "..."
Lian Sheng said: "When there's no way forward, wait for an opening. One might appear—the world works in mysterious ways, you know? We're safe for now, so relax."
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