Chapter 21: with translation of chapter title

Actually, speaking of this exercise, it's not really a secret, so after Liu Xiaotian guessed it, Chen Shanming also admitted it.

The exercise isn't about keeping it secret from everyone; frankly, it's mainly about keeping it from the trainees to give them a tense atmosphere, and then telling them after the exercise starts that it's an exercise.

It's to test their daily training, specifically their reaction during emergency assembly or first-level combat readiness.

"Can I bring two rifles? One Type 10 and one Type 85 Sniper Rifle." Liu Xiaotian hesitated slightly, then replied in a low voice.

"Oh?" Chen Shanming was somewhat surprised.

Because during the past half month of training, although Liu Xiaotian had also done live-fire shooting with the Type 85 Sniper Rifle, compared to the Type 10 and Type 88 Sniper Rifles, he had done it much less.

He had even practiced less with the Type 95 Assault Rifle.

As the Sniper Instructor of the Wolf Fang Special Forces Brigade and the future Group Leader of the Red Blood Cell Group, Chen Shanming naturally understood the gap between the Type 88 and Type 85 Sniper Rifles.

First is the caliber.

The Type 88 Sniper Rifle uses a 5.8mm caliber, sharing ammunition with the Type 95 Assault Rifle.

The bullet is small and has high muzzle velocity, which is an advantage of the Type 88 Sniper Rifle.

And as the Type 85 Sniper Rifle is gradually being phased out of service, it naturally also has its advantages.

In fact, the Type 85 is a twin brother of the Type 79, belonging to the copycat type, modeled after the former Soviet Dragunov SVD sniper rifle, using 7.62x54mm ammunition.

The bullet's muzzle velocity can reach 830 meters per second, and it is a high-performance sniper rifle proven on the battlefield.

Of course, looking at the data parameters, the Type 85 is completely surpassed by the Type 88.

Perhaps the only area where the data shows the Type 88 falls short compared to the Type 85 is that its small caliber gives strong penetration but insufficient lethality.

But in fact, this rifle has been in service with the military for over fifty years and has not yet been completely replaced, so it must have its merits.

And Liu Xiaotian's reason for choosing the Type 85 instead of the Type 88 is mainly because he also chose the Type 10.

Whether in power or other data parameters, the Type 10 can completely replace the Type 88.

And the Type 85 Sniper Rifle, with only a four-power scope, is fully capable of delivering effective lethal strikes on a single target within 400 to 500 meters.

These two rifles used together pose no functional problems for any sniper.

"Alright, then you can bring two rifles;

but I'll tell you in advance: if your speed is affected during the march because you're carrying an extra rifle, it will be counted as your normal performance." Chen Shanming said with a stern face.

Liu Xiaotian heard this and instead smiled brightly: "Instructor, rest assured, I understand."

Chen Shanming: ……

Carrying an extra rifle is not just about increasing the load.

Firearms aren't bricks; carrying them inevitably involves inconvenience.

Carrying two rifles makes it even more so.

Before Chen Shanming could recover, Liu Xiaotian spoke again:

"Um... Instructor, can I bring live ammunition for my Type 10 rifle?"

Chen Shanming: ……

This kid really isn't an ordinary trouble‑maker!

This is Chen Shanming's most genuine inner monologue.

Damn it, wanting to bring live ammo—what are you planning to do?

However, bringing live ammunition during exercises has happened before in the Wolf Fang Special Forces Brigade.

Of course, live ammunition definitely cannot be used in combat between the red and blue side soldiers.

But for certain equipment, live ammunition can indeed be used.

After all, exercises are meant to start from real combat; this saying is not just empty talk.

In each exercise, there are consumption indicators for some equipment and materiel, meaning artificial damage can be carried out.

Because in actual combat, striking and destroying some of the enemy's high‑tech equipment first is also a basic tactic.

"Alright, you may bring live ammo; but you kid must be extremely careful, because if an accident happens, neither I nor you can bear that responsibility!" Chen Shanming said after taking a deep breath.

"Yes!" Liu Xiaotian replied solemnly.

For this upcoming exercise, Liu Xiaotian did not have the privilege of foreknowing the "plot."

Because the time and environment of his appearance differ considerably from those of the TV drama he has watched many times.

At least, in the TV drama, the three who were finally selected for the Red Blood Cell Group—He Chen Guang, Wang Yanbing, and Li Erniu—had not previously participated in this training.

Also, the timing of this exercise does not match that in the TV drama.

More importantly, although Chen Shanming admitted there would be an exercise tomorrow, he did not specify who would be participating.

Especially after returning to the barracks, Liu Xiaotian asked several veteran soldiers, and they all answered that tomorrow's training would be completely normal.

So, for this exercise, aside from these trainees, who is the other side? While Liu Xiaotian was squatting in the toilet "racking his brains," the voice that had not appeared for three consecutive days suddenly rang out in his mind, extremely abrupt and terribly out of place:

"Not bad, you actually triggered an intermediate task—progress, worthy of praise."

Liu Xiaotian immediately rolled his eyes.

Of course, the system cannot be seen.

"Speaking up at this time, don't you feel a bit embarrassed?" Liu Xiaotian said, obviously helpless:

"And you made me snap off a whole root that was obviously very pleasurable to pull!"

System: ……

Although Liu Xiaotian also cannot see the system's expression, he can feel that this guy, since first appearing, has for the first time been put on the defensive by him.

Although, it's because he disgusted him.

Liu Xiaotian couldn't help but feel a bit pleased.

He originally wanted to add a few more lines to let this guy know he's not someone to be provoked.

But… the other side didn't take the bait.

This is just like when he played King of Fighters as a kid—after finally gathering full energy, even bursting the pipe, he unleashed his super ultimate move, yet the opponent had only a sliver of health left; one touch and they'd be dead…

At that moment, Liu Xiaotian actually had a state of mind like Dugu Qiu Bai.

He even wanted to sing a line: 'Invincible... how lonely...'

Before he could even speak, the system's voice suddenly sounded again.

This time, however, it was replaced by a completely mechanical voice:

System notification: Host triggered intermediate mission;

Content: drill; standard: win in the drill, and also win together with at least four companions; completion reward: Driving Skill Level One Pack;

Additional reward: 120 Mission Points.

Failure penalty: random.

Damn it!

Liu Xiaotian at this moment really wanted to vent his anger.

The mission content, completion standard, rewards—these could be explained clearly, so why can't the failure penalty also be made clear?

This kind of intimidation—does it give you a special sense of achievement? Last time after running five kilometers he pissed his pants, and even now whenever he hears someone whispering he feels they're talking about him; if he embarrasses himself again, even if he could enter the Red Blood Cell Group in first place, he probably couldn't shake off that hat with the two words 'laugh point' written on it…

(End of Chapter)