With a creased map in hand, Percival trekked alongside Soren to a nearby abandoned mine.

At the mine's entrance, they stumbled upon a covert mark of White Tiger etched into the rock face, its meaning unclear yet undeniably significant. And there, scattered nearby, lay a cache of critical documents belonging to CK.

"Base, this is Soren. We've found the mark," Soren hollered into his headset.

A different voice crackled back, not Micah's as expected, but that of the HQ commander. "Copy that. Proceed underground."

Exchanging a glance, Percival and Soren strapped on their oxygen masks and descended into the bowels of the earth.

Markers bearing White Tiger's emblem appeared sporadically along the mine's tunnels-faded, but a trail they could follow nonetheless.

As they ventured deeper, the air grew thin, and a faint, metallic scent of blood wafted from the depths.

Suddenly, a clod of earth tumbled from directly above Percival.

"Run!" Percival barked, his eyes dark with urgency.

With lightning reflexes, Soren signaled to the team behind them, and the third squad retreated in a disciplined dash toward the exit.

Then, a thunderous collapse echoed from behind Soren.

"Captain!" He yelled.

"Get out of here. That's an order!" Percival's voice crackled through the headset as Soren could only glimpse his silhouette through the narrowing gaps in the debris.

"Captain, I'll get you out!" Soren halted along with a few others.

Percival's voice was icy. "Get lost. After you're out, find Vivienne!"

Leopold and Thomas, sensing the gravity of the situation, called out, "Captain, report your status!"

"Mine... Collapse... Get out..."

voice faded into

like a hailstorm. Leopold and Thomas fought back

their firepower and rescued the

at HQ, Micah shouted into the mic, "Wolf, unidentified forces

headset, shouting to Soren, "Comms are jammed.

knew staying meant certain

only chance was to escape and return with

Soren vowed, "Captain, wait

without injuries-broken limbs and, for Soren, a

headset crackled back to life with Micah's voice

his teeth, Soren radioed, "HQ, Wolf's comms are down. Send me the coordinates

the consequences. They had to down the helicopters

cursed and

fight, downing two helicopters, while the third

the rendezvous point, with casualties among them, they awaited further

relayed Percival's location

of anger and resolve. "First squad, anyone who can still move, on me." Thomas echoed the sentiment. "Second squad,

turned to follow, dizziness

caught him. "Go back to report and heal. Or

limping with a cane, stormed over, nearly collapsing. "Everyone, back to base

is still in there!" Leopold

his dear friend who grew up with him. There was no way he would let Percival be buried down there without

heavily wounded, and

shoved Leopold aside and took Soren from Thomas. "Get him treated, then document everything about the mine. Hand it to

urgent news. "Deputy director, it's the

the handset. "This is

operation? I told you to wait for satellite confirmation before proceeding. Do you

to enter the mine. When were we told

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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