Gu Zheng said solemnly, "Acting commander of the 7th Regiment, 13th Army, Southwest Military Region. Deputy regimental rank."
Dong Yuan immediately stood at attention and saluted him again. "Greetings, Regimental Commander Gu!"
Then he said gravely, "As a regimental-level officer, you should know the military's protocols for special handling of special cases and case-by-case authorization! It's not that I don't trust you! It's just... what I obtained today is highly sensitive. I need to report it to my superior first!"
Gu Zheng's brows drew into a deep frown.
"Dong Yuan! Are you saying... what you obtained involves a military special case?"
"Yes!"
Gu Zheng asked no further questions. He lowered his head and paced back and forth across the office.
Suddenly, he looked up and asked, "Do you know where the first light of daybreak comes from?"
Dong Yuan jolted, looking at Gu Zheng in surprise.
Then he answered quietly, "From the cracks in the darkness!"
Gu Zheng smiled faintly. "What is that light called?"
"Dawn!" Dong Yuan answered, a little excited.
Then he studied Gu Zheng in disbelief.
"Regimental Commander Gu! You... you're involved in the Dawn Project too!"
Gu Zheng held out his hand.
"What a coincidence! I'm Gu Zheng, the head of the Dawn Project authorized by the General Military District!"
Dong Yuan hurriedly reached out and shook his hand.
Now, without any further hesitation, he took a glowing blue badge from the pocket close to his body.
"Regimental Commander Gu! I found this as soon as I opened the safe! I never expected to find a Blue Shield here!"
Gu Zheng's expression grew serious. He quickly took the Blue Shield and held it up to the light.
The three digits "072" were clearly visible on it.
"055 and 072! The Blue Shields belonging to the two