With the frustration of having thrown a full-force punch into thin air weighing on them, the Patrol Hunting Squad returned to Outpost 05, all dejected. Although the threat in the Western Gobi had been resolved in an unexpected way, the whole process had left them with no sense of accomplishment. Instead, everyone felt frustrated—Lin Mo most of all.
Liu Zhen, the commander of Outpost 05, took it in stride. He gathered everyone in the plaza for a brief ceremony.
"Brothers!" Liu Zhen's voice rang across the plaza through the loudspeaker. "I know the outcome of this operation in the Gobi was somewhat... unexpected.
"But! The result is what matters most! The threat to the passage through the Western Gobi has been eliminated. That Poison King has crawled into some crack in the ground and won't dare come out to cause trouble again anytime soon! This is a great victory for our outpost!"
His gaze swept over the members of the Patrol Hunting Squad before finally settling on Lin Mo, who was sulking off to one side. His tone turned solemn. "We owe it all to our heroes—the members of the Patrol Hunting Squad! Your strength, your wisdom, and your unyielding spirit put that cunning Poison King under unprecedented pressure, until it fled at the first sign of trouble!
"This wasn't a failure. It was a show of strength that made the enemy yield without a fight! On behalf of all the officers and soldiers of Outpost 05, I offer you my highest respect and my most heartfelt thanks!"
With that, Liu Zhen brought his feet together and gave the squad a solemn salute. All the officers and soldiers behind him raised their hands in unison, their eyes filled with sincere gratitude.
It was a beautifully delivered speech. It affirmed the