Lan Zhan saluted. "Colonel, we have a new assignment."
Rubick told the two elders, "I need to go to the military region. I won't be back for lunch."
Old Hu said, "Shouldn't you change first? Something more formal would be better."
Lan Zhan said, "Please don't worry. He'll change into his uniform at the base."
Rubick understood. The things he wanted must be ready.
Sure enough, Lan Zhan handed him an elegant gift box about the size of a notebook. "Colonel, these are the things the military has been holding for you these past two years. You left in a hurry last night, so I brought them today."
Rubick opened the box. The first thing that caught his eye was a booklet. One glance told him it was his military ID, and he handed it to Old Hu.
The two elders turned it over and over, though all they could make sense of was the writing.
Next came two ID cards, one for Rubick and one for Robin. The address on Robin's card was, astonishingly, the military family compound. Beside the cards lay two marriage certificates.
Rubick had rushed Robin's photo over the night before.
After that came a medal for first-class merit and a bank card.
Smiling, Rubick handed the box to the two elders. "I have something to take care of, so I'll be off."
Old Hu patted Rubick's arm excitedly. "Good. Do your best and contribute to the people and the country."
They left the residential complex, took the ring expressway, and reached the North Mountain Military Region half an hour later. Rubick also learned the soldier accompanying them was named Liu Zhuozhi.
Liu Zhuozhi knew quite a bit about that world. The night before, he had joined a meeting full of top brass as one of