Chapter 829 - 472: Asking for Directions

Inside the snow cave, there were no lighting facilities, only a couple of ventilation holes near the snow surface. Elsewhere, it was pitch black, and the flashbang’s effect had reached its peak.

The three of them instinctively turned their backs to cover their eyes. After hearing the muffled sound, they turned their guns to shoot backward.

Their movements were swift and neat, with no unnecessary actions.

After finishing a clip, one covered the rear while the other two dragged their comrade’s body forward at lightning speed.

Gunshots, footsteps, and human voices mixed together and echoed through the snow cave, making their heads dizzy. At this moment, a few figures suddenly appeared in the passage ahead, causing the three to tremble inwardly. They were surrounded by snow walls with no holes or depressions to hide.

The opponents were even more straightforward, raising their guns as soon as they heard the commotion.

The soldier on the left stepped forward, blocking the snow cave completely, and boldly engaged in a firefight.

Bullets snapped and crackled, stirring up sprays of blood mist before embedding themselves into the surrounding fluffy snow walls.

The soldier at the rear dragged his comrade back, retreating to the corner while countering.

"Ahu, Ahu..."

Not hearing his comrade’s response, the sergeant quickly flicked on the flashlight.

The light flickered for a moment, allowing the remaining two to see the bloody hole on their comrade’s face, the bulletproof vest in tatters, and that he had already lost his life.

At this moment, there were people approaching from both front and back, trapping them.

And behind them was a path they had never traversed; they didn’t know where it led.

"Sergeant, I’ll cover the rear, you go back."

The last soldier said.

The sergeant heard his heavy breathing and trembled inside. As he reached to touch the flashlight, his hand was held down.

"Don’t turn it on; it’s my leg, I can’t walk. Don’t worry, Sergeant, I’ve memorized everything you taught me. I won’t leave them any clues. Go take the information back alive, it’s an order."

In the dark, no one could see each other’s expressions.

But the soldier felt the sergeant hug him tightly, pressing on his chest heavily.

The soldier stood in a daze, only snapping out of it after the sergeant had gone far, then curling the corner of his mouth.

First, he fired all the bullets into the snow caves on both sides, then gripped the glory grenade, waiting for the first unlucky soul to arrive.

He desperately tried to recall some memories to ease his tension, but he couldn’t think of anything; there were no life-flashing images or wrenching regrets, just a complete blank in his mind.

’Those creators are just deceivers...’

A silhouette appeared at the corner. As soon as a bit of the opponent’s clothing showed, the soldier pulled the pin on the glory grenade.

"Could you please give directions?"

When the gentle voice reached his ears, the soldier perceived it as an illusion.

Suddenly, a person was crouching before him, wearing a black shirt entirely at odds with the Wind Snow Zone, clearly lacking any warmth capability. His long black hair seemed out of place, paired with a young and handsome face akin to an idol star stepping off the stage.

The soldier was stunned for a moment before he belatedly looked at the glory grenade in his hand.

Threads of light burst out from between his fingers, illuminating the entire snow cave warmly. It also allowed him to clearly see the gentle young man in front of him.

Meanwhile, the noisy sounds and urgent footsteps from the other side of the snow cave seemed to have vanished.

Time appeared to stand still, silently waiting for him to answer the young man’s question.

"You..."

The soldier’s eyes were lost.

"Su Huan, a survivor eager to learn the truth—"

The warped snow cave was forcibly straightened by some power, becoming grand and spacious. Tiny snow powder drifted in the air, and suddenly a point of light emerged a meter away in the tunnel, dispelling the darkness.

It was like a signal; one after another, points of light broke out in the snow cave, like small lanterns, illuminating it brightly.

As for those pursuing them, aside from the ones already shot dead, the remaining ones were like string puppets, kneeling at the sides of the passage with their heads buried in the snow, oblivious to life and death.

Only two men stood firmly, one resembling a fierce black bear, the other as fair and clean as a dandy.

The sergeant who had already retreated stood in shock behind the two.

"They also call me the Conductor."

With this powerful force as a footnote, every word of this simple introduction carried authority.

Compelling belief.

...

After spending five minutes, Su Huan roughly pieced together the truth.

The two were from the troops retreating to Lion Pass, tasked with a material exchange with the Business Alliance. However, Yushu Platform had changed leadership. Upon seeing such a large cache of materials, the new leader’s avarice was sparked, intending to kill them first and keep the goods.

As for retaliation from top-tier forces, for people uncertain even to see tomorrow’s sunrise, why would they care about something that "might happen" in the future?

If Su Huan hadn’t appeared, this plan might have succeeded. By the time Iron Pine Forest and Business Alliance sought accountability, it would’ve become a messy affair.

But luck wasn’t on their side, encountering Su Huan.

After they exchanged the details, the two relaxed considerably. The soldier tossed the ball of light far away, which didn’t explode, but gradually dissipated in the air, akin to bread falling into a hungry stomach.

Naturally, this scene also fell within the sergeant’s sight. Hesitating for a moment, he confessed, "Perhaps there’s an order to liaise with you, but it was only delivered to the platoon leader. I am just an ordinary sergeant and cannot verify your identities..."

"So sorry, I cannot directly lead you to the base."