75 DISGUSTED BY THE SIGH (1/2)

The soldiers left the aircraft in a quick and efficient fashion. They clutched their weapons to their chests tightly, ready to deal with any eventualities. They were not foolish, so they understood that the matter would not be so easy to handle. Their enemies had to have their own power.

Unfortunately, once they were outside, they could not find the entrance to this underground lab even though the information clearly indicated that this was the precise location of his base. The commander also seemed confused by the absence of anything that indicated human presence. It was not that he expected a beacon; it's just that there was nothing.

The situation seemed dire, and they did not have the equipment to automatically detect the structure. If they had underground penetrating radar, they might still not be able to find the entrance of the base. After all, it would need to be powerful and suitable for the environment. Moreover, thermal imaging did not seem to work due to thick ice cover or external technology.

The commander felt that they should have waited for longer and prepared more for this mission. But after thinking about Mr Zhong, he knew that this was impossible.

When he was about to order his men to spread out and look for the entrance in the larger area, Mr Zhong walked towards the hill overlooking the low area on which the jet had landed. The commander felt that this man was being wilful, but he did not say anything.

Again, he remembered that this refined man had been the key that had helped the international taskforce find this place. Who knew what he knew? He indicated for the others to follow him as he followed Mr Zhong. Before long, they reached a strange place where the low slope hill became flat but seemed to have a smaller but steeper hill on top, almost like a pile.

The handsome man looked around it and touched the icy sides of this smaller hill. Just as the soldiers were getting impatient, the white wall of the small hill slid to the side like magic. If the military men were not well trained, they would have gasped in shock. Behind the hill was a wide door that seemed at odds with the environment.

Zhong Feng stood back, not sparing these people a glance. He did not care about their thoughts. Right now, all he cared about and hoped for… She was definitely here. And she would be alright. It had been three years since he had seen her. Three years of searching. She had to be here.

The soldiers used a small explosive to force the heavy door open before they entered the hidden base. These people were not called the elite for nothing. Once they gained access to the structure, they systematically checked every area of the large ground floor until they found an elevator. It seemed that they did not expect company in this remote place because there was no security personnel.

The group entered in formation into the lift. The buttons indicated that there were six floors. They would need to stop on each floor on their downward descent, checking for signs of human life and handling the situation as needed.

The first three floors did not have a single person. The first floor was completely empty. The second had discarded equipment, a combination of household appliances like heaters and strange lab machines. The next seemed to be a storage room filled with rations, toiletries, clothing and other random things.

When they descended to fourth floor, things changed. As soon as the elevator doors opened, they faced a group of people with firearms holding guns to their faces. However, this did not stop the elite soldiers or deter them for a second. Unlike the private military, they did not need to confirm whether the other group was friend or foe. They assumed that everyone they faced within this illicit structure was an enemy.

The seconds of hesitation cost the mercenaries the battle. The soldiers subdued these guards quickly using various means. Though one or two people were injured, there were only surface wounds. With this obstacle out of the way, they cleared the floor and captured all the personnel on the floor, including a woman in a pantsuit who looked like the person in charge. It seemed that the fourth floor was where the people rested, ate and slept. The soldiers were surprised to find that the place was well-equipped and had a gym, a library and a media room with a large screen.

Zhong Feng became tenser as he looked at the situation. Though his face remained neutral, he was terrified deep within. He was afraid that she was not here or worse. However, he did not crumble. He remained unmoving and outwardly calm between two soldiers who were tasked with protecting him.