Time to Part

The evacuation order came just in time. The transport plane was taking off that night.

When Song Zhi returned to the dormitory, the members of Group A were already packed and ready. She quickly took a shower and changed into clean clothes. She had no extra belongings; she was wearing all her gear.

After a simple dinner, the squad prepared to board the plane and evacuate. The open ground in the outpost's camp was brightly lit, with military searchlights illuminating the airfield as if it were broad daylight.

The fully armed mercenaries were all bustling about in an orderly manner. The other groups had already boarded one after another.

Song Zhi followed behind Hill, her movements a little stiff with nerves. She was afraid that one moment of inattention would lead her to follow the wrong group and miss the new world she had gained through her "deal."

Sri Lanka was a beautiful island, with ample supplies, mercenaries stationed there, reliable logistical support, and jobs available. She longed to go there.

She had never been on a transport plane before and felt nervous and ill at ease.

When people were extremely nervous, they became easily distracted. Just as her mind was wandering, Hill suddenly stopped in front of her. Song Zhi reacted too slowly and ran headfirst into the pack on his back.

"Ah!" she cried out. Pain shot through her nose; she had nearly broken it. Tears sprang to her eyes.

"Pfft!"

A snicker came from behind her. It was Lu Yu.

"Clumsy..."

Wilk chimed in with a reprimand of his own.

Kelante came over and bent down to check Song Zhi's injury. After making sure there was no actual wound, he patted her on the shoulder and reminded her, "Don't get distracted."

Hill turned around and stared at the tearful Song Zhi, who stared back at him. Clearly, he didn't think he was at fault, because people couldn't have eyes in the backs of their heads. Still, he said, "Sorry."

Song Zhi rubbed the tip of her nose, feeling even more awkward. Even she, oblivious as she was, sensed something unusual in the unexpected encounter-Group A's attitude toward her had clearly changed...

Song Zhi startled herself with the thought!

The little incident came to an end as soon as Lai'en walked over. The five of them naturally formed an incomplete circle, and five pairs of eyes turned to Song Zhi at once, as if waiting for a teammate to rejoin them.

Song Zhi raised an eyebrow and stepped forward, filling the gap to complete the circle with them.

"An assignment just came in. Algiers. We leave in ten minutes," Lai'en relayed the orders coldly.

Then the five pairs of eyes turned once again to Song Zhi, who had nothing to do with it.

Song Zhi pursed her lips. Why are you looking at me? It's not my assignment. I'm not a member of your Group A, either! I'm still a special target myself!

The atmosphere grew inexplicably tense. She cleared her throat and said, "I don't know how to do anything... I'd only hold you back..."

A perfect excuse!

Lai'en was the first to look away. He then continued giving coordinates and task details that Song Zhi couldn't understand.

Three minutes later, Lai'en looked at Song Zhi again and said, "Hill will see you onto the transport plane. No one will be responsible for you tonight. Someone will meet you when you reach the base, and the target assignment will automatically end."

"Got it." Song Zhi nodded to show she understood.

But the five pairs of eyes didn't move away. They remained fixed on Song Zhi. The atmosphere was a little awkward. Perhaps she should say something else... What should I say?

Come on, brain, work!

"Um... well... stay safe and come back in one piece..." Song Zhi finally managed a passable farewell, though the words came out awkwardly.

Only then did the other five look away.

Hill led Song Zhi onto the transport plane and settled her in. These were Group A's designated seats, and Song Zhi was the only one sitting in them now. Hill taught her how to fasten and release the seat belt, as well as how to use the emergency kit and oxygen mask.

Under Hill's watchful gaze, Song Zhi demonstrated each one in turn, until he gave her an approving look.

She relaxed. See? I learn everything quickly. I have what it takes to survive. The transport plane hadn't even taken off, and she was already looking forward to a new way of surviving.

Hill handed her a kraft paper bag containing a stack of colorful banknotes.

"You'll need money at the base too. It's from us. The lieutenant contributed the most... This should be enough to last you a while at the base."

Hill's meaning was clear: the five of them had pooled these colorful banknotes of various denominations.

Reason told Song Zhi she couldn't accept the money. Once the plane landed, the target assignment would end, and she would have nothing more to do with them... At least, that was what she thought.

"I... mmph..."

As soon as Song Zhi opened her mouth, Hill leaned down and came close, cupping the back of her head and kissing her on the lips. When he sensed her pulling away, he held her head in place.

Unable to escape, Song Zhi could only let Hill pursue her and slip inside. He was doing it on purpose!

Lai'en's cold voice urged Hill on through his earpiece, and only then did the kiss end. He took off his tactical glove and brushed Song Zhi's reddened, swollen lips. "Stay alive," he said quietly, then turned and left.

The cabin closed up quickly at that moment.

Song Zhi sat in her seat, dumbfounded, both cheeks burning. Wasn't the deal over?

Song Zhi looked down at the banknotes in the kraft paper bag and had the illusion that a big shot was keeping her in the apocalypse.

Apocalypse survival: being kept by a big-shot mercenary?

You've got to be kidding!

Hill's inexplicable kiss did solve quite a few problems for Song Zhi. All the ill-intentioned looks from inside the cabin disappeared.

Group A was gone, but its lingering deterrence remained. No team dared take anything from Group A.

Song Zhi caught a faint, fleeting gaze from someone in the cabin. It was the girl from that night in the rainforest. The girl sat cautiously in her seat, her long hair covering her face, but there were several obvious constriction marks on her arms.

Their eyes briefly met across the cabin, and the girl quickly looked away.

The engines roared, and the transport plane began to taxi and take off. After a bout of violent shaking, it climbed into the night sky.

Song Zhi looked down through the plane's window. A military helicopter took off the next second, the warning lights on its rotor blinking before growing increasingly blurred.

Song Zhi let out a sigh and slowly fell asleep against her seat, clutching the kraft paper bag.

She didn't know how long she had slept before a jolt woke her instantly. Then a string of English she couldn't understand came through her headset, but when she saw the relieved expressions on the faces around her, she relaxed too.

The transport plane landed safely. They had reached the base.

Sri Lanka's night breeze was gentle, carrying the freshness of the sea. She deftly unfastened her seat belt and followed the crowd out of the cabin.

The long-absent air of modern civilization greeted her. The sounds of people talking and laughing and cars honking came to her ears on the night breeze. Brightly lit high-rises stood in the distance, and the asphalt road underfoot was smooth and clean.

Song Zhi took a deep breath. The familiar yet unfamiliar atmosphere left her momentarily dazed. Everything looked especially unreal under the bright searchlights. This place was like a paradise amid the apocalypse and war.

The people assigned to receive Song Zhi quickly found her in the crowd. The officer leading them was a Frenchman named Miller. Looking at Song Zhi, who seemed both excited and bewildered, he gave a little snort. Group A brought back a mascot?

Because the "mascot" was still wearing Group A's restraint collar around her neck. (This was military equipment meant to restrict freedom, not a sex toy!!!!)

He pressed one hand to the wireless earpiece at his ear and reported quietly, "I've picked up the target. She's safe and sound, but she looks a little overexcited... and a little dazed. Are you sure she didn't injure her brain during the fighting in Zone C? She needs psychological support..."

Lai'en's voice came through the other end of the earpiece. "Hill will send over her health data. Arrange another comprehensive examination for her, as well as psychological counseling. The course schedule will be synced to your tablet later. Its contents are classified at level A."

Level A classified? Even the target is classified? Interesting!

"Should the restraint collar be removed? If it's your idea of a kink, forget I said anything." Miller shrugged, indicating that he understood.

"When it comes to being perverted and bizarre, you Frenchmen take the cake," Hill's mocking voice came through the earpiece.

"No, no, no... When it comes to bizarre, it has to be your great and beautiful America's lgpt. After all, there are 112 gender options. Does a restraint collar count as one of them?" Miller shot back.

"Fuck!" Hill cursed in exasperation.

"Remove it after landing," Lai'en ordered.

"Copy."

With the report finished, Miller strode over to Song Zhi, wearing an exceptionally warm, friendly, and handsome smile. "Hi! Welcome to the Sri Lanka base, Song."