Chapter 534: The Greatest Fear Is When the Air Suddenly Falls Silent

2:49 a. m.

Jiaolong Special Operations Base, temporary command center.

Chief of Staff Zhaohai Shen, together with the 3rd Brigade's Brigade Commander Zheng Chengfeng, personally took station, commanding the joint operation.

Zhaohai Shen shouted into the microphone, "Base calling Lao Mao, base calling Lao Mao, cancel the interception of that fishing vessel, cancel the interception of that fishing vessel."

Soon, Lao Mao replied, "Chief of Staff, that ship appearing at this hour in the same direction as us is really suspicious; do we really not need to investigate?"

Zhaohai Shen: "That vessel does have issues, but this line doesn't require us to follow up. There's a police drug‑trafficking undercover on board; if we act rashly we'll only scare the snake."

"Slow down, shadow it in parallel, make sure they don't notice you yet you stay within surveillance."

Lao Mao nodded, "Understood, Chief of Staff, I'll now report the situation to the squad leader."

Zhaohai Shen removed his headset, slung it around his neck, and looked at Zheng Chengfeng, who was studying a map of the sea‑area islands.

"I never expected the police to have been tracking this line so early, constantly setting up surveillance; yet your men accidentally stumbled upon the drug stash ahead of schedule?"

"That's what they call, 'trying to plant a flower but failing, yet unintentionally planting a willow that provides shade.'" Zheng Chengfeng lifted his teacup and took a sip.

Zhaohai Shen: "Based on the clues we have, this shipment was likely sent from a Southeast Asian country, stored on our training island, awaiting the right moment to be moved inland."

"The police undercover is on the fishing vessel; we've already received intel and set up surveillance; once these guys step onto the island, we can catch them red‑handed."

"Unfortunately, we can only cut off the downstream channel; it does little real damage to the source drug traffickers."

Zheng Chengfeng stared at the southern sea, a dense cluster of islands of all sizes, and sighed helplessly.

"That's the enemy's cunning: they don't transport the goods themselves, they hide them on islands."

"First they put on a show, get someone to smuggle trivial items; once the chain is open, they start coaxing fishermen to take dangerous risks."

"The captain of that vessel has a high chance of already guessing what's being smuggled this time, but luck‑driven overconfidence and the huge temptation are at play."

Zhaohai Shen leaned against the chair back, eyes closed, pondering seriously: "So, if we can't catch the source guys, cutting off any downstream won't solve the root problem."

"How can we strike the source directly? These smuggling fishermen probably know nothing; otherwise the police wouldn't have placed an undercover inside."

Zheng Chengfeng thought there was no need to overthink it.

Following the trail blindly might actually uncover new leads.

Zhaohai Shen stayed silent, but was not very pleased inside.

He had expected that uncovering so much white‑paper would be a earth‑shattering case; instead they could only catch the downstream small fish and shrimp.

Even if the credit were split with the 3rd Brigade's men, the police would still take a share; it feels like firing a cannon at mosquitoes—empty celebration.

Zheng Chengfeng's attitude was fine; the 3rd Brigade is just getting started, the rapid‑response unit is newly formed, and as long as this cooperation goes well, any amount of credit marks a milestone progress.

Don't set expectations too high; catching a few small fish and shrimp is already good enough—take it slow.

Lu Yang's side has no radio; the only means of communication is a satellite phone.

Zheng Chengfeng contacted them and relayed the situation they had gathered.

Lu Yang was also surprised: "There's police business in here too? Add another and we could fill a mahjong table."

Zheng Chengfeng laughed at his optimism: "Don't be cheeky; even if the island‑landing is just a fishing boat, even if the people are a bunch of fishermen blinded by money and profit, you still have to hold the island."

"As long as we catch them red‑handed, we can convict them outright; the rest isn't covered in our report— the police will continue the follow‑up investigation."

"Understood."

He hung up, turned his head, and glanced at Ding Tengfei, who was holding a gun behind him.

"Come up with me."

"What's this place?"

"A lighthouse—can't you see?"

Following Lu Yang to the top of the abandoned lighthouse, the rag on the ground that was once used for concealed‑shooting drills was still there.

Lu Yang explained: "This is the island's highest point and the best lookout; your mission is to lie here, monitor the surrounding sea, and immediately report any suspicious vessels approaching via the walkie‑talkie."

He pulled out a radio walkie‑talkie and handed it to Ding Tengfei.

For short‑range communication, walkie‑talkies are standard; for longer distances you need a radio or a field telephone.

However, the team lacks a dedicated communications specialist, so on this isolated sea island, a satellite phone is the most convenient option.

Ding Tengfei took the walkie‑talkie, calibrated the frequency with Lu Yang, then asked curiously: "Brother Lu, is this real, or like Auntie Kang said, just a live‑fire test?"

Lu Yang: "Do you want it to be real or fake?"

Ding Tengfei shook his head: "I don't know, I just feel a bit… uneasy; I always feel I'm not ready, never having the courage to take that step."

Lu Yang patted him: "No one is born a warrior; circumstances forge them. Once you step out, you've stepped out."

"Alright, stop overthinking, and while we still have a bit of time, I'll teach you combat techniques—you might actually need them later."

"On‑the‑spot math?"

Lu Yang didn't digress; he simply had him lie down holding the gun.

Then he picked up the dust‑covered rag and draped it over his head and the gun.

This was the high‑ground concealed‑shooting technique Bai Yuan had taught him; a sniper on a height is also more easily spotted by the enemy.

The purpose was better concealment, to avoid detection and swiftly eliminate the target.

Ding Tengfei studied earnestly; although ammunition was scarce and he couldn't fire, he practiced simple motions and still gleaned plenty of practical knowledge.

When the brief lesson ended, Ding Tengfei felt a sudden clarity, saying, "Brother Lu, where did you learn such advanced shooting tactics? They're not in any books."

"Even Squad Leader Zhou and Platoon Leader Guo, seasoned veterans, might not know them?"

Lu Yang laughed: "These are battlefield‑earned experiences, not in books; as for where I learned them, it's right here where you stand now."

Ding Tengfei looked down: "This island?"

"Yes."

"Isn't this a Special Forces secret training… huh!"

Ding Tengfei opened his mouth wide, his expression instantly turning exaggeratedly shocked.

Oh!

Oh!!

Oh!!!

I understand, I fully understand; after we go to the Sea Training Base, the two months you disappeared will be spent here undergoing special training with the Special Operations personnel!

No wonder your rank changed after you returned, no wonder you could become an assessment instructor, no wonder you seemed like a completely different person back then; that was never conventional troop training, but Special Operations tactics!

Lu Yang didn't really try to hide it from his fellow countryman; such a thing can be concealed for a while, but not for long.

When the mission is over and Lao Mao and the others set foot on the island, everything will be laid bare.

Moreover, the fact that he could bring people onto the island and smoothly arrange all matters had already been noticed by the discerning, they just kept silent.

Ding Tengfei asked curiously, "Since you trained on the island, were those wooden wedges on the cliff left from your training back then?"

To be precise, I left them.

I recall there was a typhoon during that period; how did you endure it on the island?

The others just gritted their teeth and toughened it out...

Ding Tengfei pressed, "What about you? Did you hide in that cave?"

Lu Yang shook his head, "I was rock climbing then; those wooden wedges are the ones I hammered in during the typhoon."

Ding Tengfei's eyes widened in horror, a picture already forming in his mind; that's still a person, isn't it just pure perversion?

He asked, "So everything Kang Changyi said is true—there really was an idiot hung upside‑down on a tree and whipped?"

Lu Yang's eye twitched, "Could it be that I was the guy hung upside‑down on the tree?"

Ding Tengfei: "......"

The most frightening is when the air suddenly falls silent; the most frightening is a friend's sudden concern...