Chapter 272: Mutual Scheming

After dinner, Liu Xiaotian arrived punctually at He Zhijun's office.

As he had guessed, He Zhijun and Fan Tianlei had summoned him; their main purpose was not because he had mentioned the "Lone Wolf B Team" matter, but because of the exercise the next day.

Regarding Liu Xiaotian's personality, He Zhijun and Fan Tianlei believed they still understood him, so they felt it necessary to do this.

Since this kid could bluntly expose the "Lone Wolf," regardless of whether Old Comrade Zhou had leaked it, Liu Xiaotian surely knew that Xiao Zhuang's people were not actually the kind of "just-formed" special forces team they claimed.

As for the Fire Phoenix wanting to win this exercise, that was simply impossible.

Consequently, Liu Xiaotian would inevitably feel he had been set up; given this kid's habitually competitive nature, he might even stir up some trouble.

Therefore, they had to talk with Liu Xiaotian, lest he cause any trouble during the exercise.

Of course, such a talk, in Liu Xiaotian's view, was actually just "cajoling."

Doesn't the meaning of that remark just refer to their "cheating behavior" during the exercise before the Red Blood Cell Group was formally organized? Do you understand respecting elders and loving the young? Do you understand giving superiors some face?

At one, one look`nothing, one mistake version%!'

This kid, damn it, is he here to settle old scores?

He Zhijun withdrew his gaze and looked at his old partner, smiling mysteriously:

"Could this really be what Old Zhou told him? Should we go find Old Zhou to confirm?"

Damn it, this kid is clearly here to sabotage things!

But this is the actual situation in a real army.

Although he had just graduated early from Warrior School and returned after serving two months as an instructor, if he lacked the expected formidable strength, his and Fan Tianlei's latest plan would likely have to be postponed.

"Yes!"

The purpose of this confrontation exercise he organized was not only to train the eight female soldiers of Fire Phoenix, but also to probe Liu Xiaotian's true strength.

It is quite evident that Brigade Commander He's approach is a standard ploy, also known as a goading tactic.

Moreover, after speaking he turned and left, giving He Zhijun and Fan Tianlei no chance to call him back.

He Zhijun, seeing Liu Xiaotian's expression, immediately knew what the kid was thinking; he stood up, his finger almost pointing at Liu Xiaotian's forehead: "You brat, quit putting on an act in front of me! That little scheme of yours, I can't miss it? You just think letting Xiao Zhuang's small team go up against your Fire Phoenix is bullying you, huh? Well, I'm now temporarily appointing you as captain of the Fire Phoenix Women's Special Forces Team, having you, the instructor, join in—does that work? But let me say this up front: if you participate and Fire Phoenix still loses embarrassingly, then sorry, not only will you, the instructor, be dismissed, but Fire Phoenix itself will be demoted from the originally planned Second-Class Special Forces Team to a Third-Class Special Forces Team."

Although Liu Xiaotian didn't yet realize he had been marked by He Zhijun and Fan Tianlei as their guinea pig, he could still see through this basic-level goading tactic.

Immediately, Liu Xiaotian also couldn't be bothered to show that he had seen through Brigade Commander He's ploy; he kept his original "angry" expression and readily agreed: "Fine! But I'll also put my warning up front—if, in this exercise against Zhuang Yan's team, the other side still has cheating equipment, I will definitely report it to the superiors!"

Naturally, He Zhijun's top choice remained Liu Xiaotian.

"Get lost!"

But as previously said, for a young person, and a young and somewhat capable officer, if he lacks drive and spirit, can he still be considered young? "Reporting to the Brigade Commander and Chief of Staff, temporary instructor Liu Xiaotian of the Fire Phoenix Women's Special Forces Team presents himself for duty; please give orders, commanders!"

If he succeeds, he will rise above the rest; if not, he can only slink away in disgrace, leaving behind nothing but a cold, yellowed discharge certificate years later.

Just a lowly lieutenant—how many people ride on some staff officer's name, drifting along until forced to return home? Real strength, in the army, is forever an unavoidable topic.

He Zhijun: ……

It wasn't that Liu Xiaotian lacked respect for these two direct superiors; rather, this itself wasn't a formal talk, so the conversation naturally relaxed.

He Zhijun and Fan Tianlei's old faces flushed slightly, and in unison they cursed.

As long as you have ability, you will qualify for "special" treatment—Liu Xiaotian is exactly that.

At that moment, Fan Tianlei had just lifted the cup of coffee he himself had brewed; this shout startled him so that Old Fan's hand trembled, nearly spilling the coffee onto his clothes.

If he didn't possess that unique skill others lack, not only would speaking to He Zhijun and Fan Tianlei without regard for rank be unthinkable, but even seeing them in person would require a prior appointment.

"What he can guess are exactly what we want him to know; this kid, after all, is still young!"

"Get lost inside!" He Zhijun shouted, displeased.

All this time, they simply hadn't found a suitable opportunity to verify Liu Xiaotian's actual strength; if they went ahead with it now, any bad outcome would be more than his Wolf Fang Brigade Commander—or even Deputy Commander Gao—could bear.

Fan Tianlei: ……

Liu Xiaotian's response was clean and decisive, to the extreme of being a lone bachelor.

"Bang!" The office door was shoved open hard; Liu Xiaotian nearly marched in with a goose step, stood before them, and rendered a salute.

"Report!" Liu Xiaotian, standing at the door of He Zhijun's office, sank his qi to the dantian and shouted so loudly the whole floor could hear.

As for the thing you said about him knowing Zhuang Yan's team's previous designation, I see this kid simply never gave it a thought.

Moreover, one would even need to retrain a new target……

One could even say it was a bit presumptuous.

Watching Liu Xiaotian's back disappear at the door, Fan Tianlei seemed to catch on, turning to He Zhijun and asking: "Old He, I feel this kid had already figured out what we were going to say before he came—have we been reverse‑ployed by him?"

As for the Lone Wolf matter, whether or not Old Zhou said it, it's irrelevant; the important thing is whether Liu Xiaotian himself has any issues.

If not, then before long that burden will surely fall on his shoulders.

Speaking of which, the two of us together are nearly a hundred years old; scheming against a youngster just to let him gain a verbal advantage—what's the point?

Fan Tianlei's face immediately showed a wry smile; he lightly sighed and said nothing more.

(End of chapter)