Spy Wars: Strong Agents Who Are Ruthless and Talk Little

Chapter 390 Middle-aged Officer Li Sheng

The man nodded, a complex glint in his eyes. "This isn't just intelligence. It concerns everyone's fate, the choices we make. You think everything you do is about changing something, but in reality, you've been a pawn being manipulated."

Su Ming's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, as if a bolt of lightning had split the sky, striking his soul. He stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with anger and confusion. "What are you trying to say? Are you threatening me?"

The man sighed, his eyes still filled with that unfathomable complex emotion. "I'm not threatening you. I'm simply telling you that all actions and decisions have been pre-arranged. You're standing here now, seemingly making a choice, but in reality, you have no choice at all."

Su Ming felt like he was trapped in a giant net, unable to move. His chest heaved violently, a mixture of anger, confusion, and fear nearly driving him mad. "You said I had no choice, but what about you?" His voice was low and challenging. "What choice do you have?"

The man was silent for a moment, a look of pain in his eyes. He lowered his head, as if making a firm decision. "I don't have a choice. I can only do what I have to do." He gently put down the documents in his hand, his eyes determined. "You can choose to stay or leave. No matter what you do, you can't change what has happened."

Su Ming's heart was shaken. He couldn't believe his ears, couldn't comprehend the person before him. Was he, who had once seemed fearless, really just an unwitting puppet?

He looked back at the warehouse door. The night outside was still deep, as if an endless darkness swallowed everything. His heart was filled with a struggle: leave, or stay? To him, these two choices no longer seemed important. What mattered was whether he could finally emerge from this long darkness and find his former self.

Su Ming's pace gradually slowed, the scene before him intertwined with the memories that kept surfacing in his mind. He recalled his days in the training camp. Back then, he was young, ignorant, and full of ideals, throwing himself into battle without hesitation. Back then, he and other soldiers stood before the enemy, fighting bravely for a single belief: justice.

However, after so many years of ups and downs, the cruelty of the battlefield, and the inner struggle, that belief gradually faded. He once believed that he was fighting for a higher ideal, but as the truth was revealed bit by bit, he began to wonder if he was just being pushed around by some higher-level people, becoming a pawn.

"Let's go." The man said in a low voice. There was no emotion in his tone, but these words seemed to pull Su Ming back from his thoughts.

Su Ming took a deep breath, stood up straight, and reorganized his thoughts. No matter what, he had to face the predicament before him. He knew there was no turning back. Although his heart was filled with doubts and struggles, he knew clearly that this battle was not just about his own fate, but also about the fate of those innocent people. The sacrifices made for faith and mission still inspired him.

They walked out of the warehouse and into a desolate ruined area. Explosions and the distant roar of intense gunfire echoed from time to time. Su Ming felt his heartbeat pounding in his chest, every nerve on his body tense. Ahead, the battle had reached a fever pitch. The man said nothing, simply motioning for Su Ming to follow him.

Su Ming pondered rapidly: What was their mission in this battle? Destroy the enemy? Rescue their trapped compatriots? He wasn't sure, but he knew that no matter what the mission was, he couldn't avoid it. He had always faced every challenge with a fearless heart, but now, the burden and sense of responsibility within him made him almost breathless.

The two men crossed the dilapidated streets and entered a makeshift command post. The room was filled with the smell of smoke and potions. Several soldiers in military uniforms sat at a table, discussing the battle situation in low voices. Su Ming walked into the room, his eyes quickly scanning each person's face. Each one held a different emotion: tension, anxiety, and helplessness.

"Su Ming, you're here." A middle-aged military officer looked up at him with a frown, as if he had been waiting for him for a long time.

"Report." Su Ming walked to the table and stood firmly.

"The enemy's attack today is more fierce than expected. Both the eastern and western fronts are under heavy pressure. Our troops are insufficient and we must make adjustments." The officer's voice was low, but with an unquestionable deterrent.

Su Ming nodded, silently unpacked his backpack, and set it aside. He took out a map from his backpack and quickly analyzed the current battle situation.

"Our logistics have been cut off. We are running low on supplies and have too many wounded. We must consider retreating," the officer's voice grew more serious. "But retreating would expose our weaknesses, and the enemy would seize the opportunity to launch an all-out counterattack."

"We can't retreat." Su Ming suddenly spoke, breaking the silence in the room. "If we retreat, the enemy will know our weakness, and the next attack will be even more ferocious. We must fight back with all our might."

His words were like a shot of adrenaline, instantly rousing the courage in everyone's hearts. Everyone's eyes were focused on Su Ming, his determined gaze seemed to bring a glimmer of hope to others.

"Counterattack?" The middle-aged officer looked at Su Ming calmly. "Are you sure? The enemy's strength should not be underestimated, and our troops are not that strong either."

"That's why we can't retreat." Su Ming's eyes flashed with determination. "Only by repelling the enemy can we hold our position. We can't let the enemy continue to break through our defenses."

The officer looked at him, silent for a moment, as if contemplating something. Finally, he nodded. "Okay, in that case, we will follow your plan. Prepare to counterattack."

Immediately, the atmosphere in the command post grew tense. The soldiers quickly assembled, frantically organizing their equipment. Everyone knew the next move would be a matter of life and death. Su Ming stood by, his heart racing. Though he tried to remain calm, he knew this battle would be a matter of life and death.

Just a few minutes later, a large number of soldiers had gathered in the open space outside the command post, ready to go. Su Ming and the officer led the troops, rapidly advancing towards the eastern front. The smoke of battle filled the air, explosions and gunfire echoed one after another, and every inch of the battlefield was shrouded in smoke.

They rushed into the heart of the battle, the air around them ripping apart, each step heavy and dangerous. Su Ming coordinated seamlessly with the team ahead. The constant crackle of gunfire rattled his heartbeat. Every shot fired, every charge, seemed to determine life or death.

"Forward!" he shouted, leading the team to advance towards the enemy position. Following his voice, the team members' steps became more determined, and they rushed forward without hesitation.

However, the battle did not go as smoothly as expected. The enemy's firepower was far greater than they had imagined, even more ferocious than the planned battle plan. Su Ming's heartbeat was like a drum. He knew that only by overcoming the enemy's strongest defenses could he have a chance of survival. Even though he was filled with fear and anxiety, he remained determined to charge into the enemy camp and meet the challenge.

The battle gradually descended into a stalemate, the air thick with smoke and the smell of burning. Su Ming stood in his makeshift position at the command center, his gun tightly gripped, his gaze gazing out the window at the distant battlefield. The smell in the air suddenly grew stronger, each second seeming to drag on for a thousand years.

"The enemy's firepower is overwhelming us. The eastern front is completely blocked," a signalman rushed in with an urgent report in his hand. "Commander, how should we respond?"

Su Ming didn't answer immediately. He pondered for a moment, a sense of unease rising within him. The enemy's offensive was fierce, and their resources and soldiers far outnumbered his own. More importantly, in this situation, how could he maintain his team's morale and find a glimmer of hope in this extremely complex situation? This was his primary concern.

"Hold the line," he finally said, his voice deep and powerful, with a hint of nervousness he couldn't conceal. "Send in reinforcements, but proceed with caution. Don't give them an opportunity to exploit."

The signalman nodded, turned, and hurried away. Su Ming watched him depart, his heart still refusing to relax. His words, though simple, concealed a deeper worry. The stronger the enemy, the more they needed to be patient. On the battlefield, he faced not only the test of gunfire, but also the undercurrents lurking behind the scenes.

In this battle, the enemy wasn't just the army outside, but also those within his own camp, those who were ostensibly his allies. As time went on, Su Ming increasingly felt that the environment he was in was no longer just a simple battlefield. Here, there were complex interpersonal struggles, hidden exchanges of interests, and extremely delicate issues of loyalty.

Inside the command post, besides Su Ming, several other senior officers were discussing the current situation. While the atmosphere remained serious on the surface, a complex emotion shone through everyone's eyes. This was especially true for the middle-aged officer, Li Sheng, who was the only one Su Ming didn't fully trust.

Li Sheng was once Su Ming's colleague. The two fought side by side in training camp and developed a close relationship. However, as the battle progressed, Li Sheng's attitude grew increasingly suspicious. Su Ming vividly remembered overhearing a low conversation between Li Sheng and a stranger during a break, their tone hinting at a potential exchange of interests. At the time, Su Ming dismissed any suspicions; after all, on the battlefield, everyone carried varying pressures and responsibilities. However, as the enemy drew closer, Li Sheng became increasingly hesitant, seemingly less eager to engage in battle.