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..."

faded into

However, before they could get close, a helicopter buzzed overhead, raining down bullets like a hailstorm. Leopold

with Thomas, Leopold boosted their firepower and

HQ, Micah shouted into the mic, "Wolf, unidentified forces are attacking from above.

Soren, "Comms are jammed. There's a signal blocker

above, Soren knew staying meant certain

escape and return with

"Captain, wait for

mine, though not without injuries-broken limbs and, for

his headset crackled back to life with Micah's voice urging Wolf

comms are down. Send me the coordinates of

time to consider the consequences. They had to down the helicopters to cut off

cursed and relayed the

fight, downing two helicopters,

rendezvous point, with casualties among them, they

location

his voice a mix of anger and resolve. "First squad, anyone who can still move, on me." Thomas

to follow, dizziness from blood loss nearly

him. "Go back to report and

limping with a cane, stormed over, nearly collapsing.

captain is still in there!" Leopold

up with him. There was no way he would let

men. They're heavily wounded,

Leopold aside and took Soren from Thomas. "Get him treated, then document

with urgent news. "Deputy director, it's the

the handset. "This is

this operation? I told you to wait for satellite confirmation before proceeding. Do you not understand 'stand by"?" Soren overheard

HQ to enter the mine. When were we told to stand by?"

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

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