Lin Wei's gaze was still as sharp as a surgeon's knife. She suddenly spoke, her voice trying to remain calm, yet with a barely perceptible tremor:
"Is Captain Lin from Shengjing? Your accent sounds a bit familiar..." She was probing.
Ling Chen responded calmly, even a faint, slightly self-deprecating smile playing on his lips:
"I suppose so. I grew up in an underground city, so my accent might be a bit mixed. Why, did that traitor also have a Shengjing accent?"
He cleverly tossed the question back, again emphasizing his unfamiliarity with the "traitor."
Lin Wei was silent for a moment, then slowly shook her head:
"No, he was from Jiu'an City."
She couldn't find a flaw, but the doubts in her heart hadn't lessened in the slightest. It was too similar, suffocatingly similar.
His explanation was reasonable, once again emphasizing the "authenticity" of his identity.
Gao Zhan also spoke at the opportune moment, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority:
"Captain Li, Dawn Squad, rein in your emotions! Officer Lin Chen is a collaborator assigned by headquarters for this operation. I do not wish to see any further hostile actions against our personnel! Understand?"
Li Fan took a deep breath, finally slowly releasing his tightly clenched Dragon Claws, the dark red scales gradually receding. He straightened his back, saluted Gao Zhan and Ling Chen, his voice hoarse but calm again:
"Understood! Officer Gao, Captain Lin, we were out of line just now, I apologize! Thank you, Central Army, for the rescue!"
Although he temporarily suppressed his doubts, a deep thorn was planted in the depths of his sharp eyes.
Coincidence? He absolutely refused to believe such a coincidence existed in the world! This Lin Chen... there was definitely something wrong with him! He had to investigate thoroughly!
Ling Chen nodded slightly, as if accepting the apology, but the sense of detachment in his eyes remained. He turned and waved to Su Qing and the others:
"It's nothing, just a misunderstanding. Return to your posts and maintain vigilance."
"Yes, Captain!"
Su Qing and the others finally relaxed a little, but their gazes towards the Dawn Squad still held wariness and ill will.
Although they didn't know who "Ling Chen" was, the other party's hostility towards their Captain was very real.
Especially Su Qing, a very subtle hint of doubt flashed in the depths of her pupils.
— The Captain's reaction just now seemed... too calm? So calm that it didn't quite match his usual state of carrying a hint of "weariness" and "sadness"?
But this hint of doubt was quickly suppressed. Perhaps the Captain was just good at controlling his emotions.
The crisis seemed to be temporarily averted.
Yet, the other party's performance was flawless, and the identity of a Central Special Operations Bureau officer couldn't be faked. Was it really a coincidence?
Chen Xue bit her lower lip, lowered her head, not daring to look at Ling Chen again, her body still trembling slightly. Zhou Yunguang curled up in the corner, trying to calm the pain and fear within him.
Li Fan's dragon eyes were still locked onto Ling Chen, but he also couldn't find any evidence.
The other party's aura (Ling Chen's perfectly simulated Energy Condensation Stage ability user aura), demeanor, tone, and even eyes were completely different from that insane and cruel Ling Chen! More importantly, the other party was from the Central Army and had just saved them... Finally, he forcibly suppressed the surging killing intent and doubts, slowly released his clenched fists, the dark red dragon scales gradually receded, his voice still cold:
"Perhaps we were too sensitive. I apologize, Captain Lin, I lost my composure just now. Thank you for your rescue."
"Understood. Experiencing a major battle, emotional agitation is inevitable."
Ling Chen waved his hand magnanimously, as if unconcerned, then his gaze turned to the fallen medicine and the extremely poor condition of Zhou Yunguang and Chen Xue, his tone shifting to serious concern.
"It seems your injuries are not light, especially these two. Miss Chen Xue, Brother Zhou Yunguang, please take your medicine and rest immediately. Upon arrival at the forward base, a professional medical team will examine and treat everyone."
He performed flawlessly, maintaining a sense of distance while also showing concern from a superior unit to a subordinate unit.
He personally bent down to pick up the mental stabilizer, wiped it with a clean handkerchief, and handed it back to Zhou Yunguang, his movements natural and smooth.
Zhou Yunguang trembled as he took it, mumbling his thanks, but still not daring to look into Ling Chen's eyes.
Ling Chen sneered inwardly. The seed of fear had been planted, and that was enough. He didn't need them to be convinced; he only needed this doubt and unease to exist, which could influence their judgment at many critical moments.
The vehicle continued its journey in a silent and eerie atmosphere.
Everyone harbored their own thoughts.
Li Fan closed his eyes to rest, but his tense body revealed his extreme inner turmoil.
Li Mingyu's chest heaved violently, clearly still angry.
Lin Wei's gaze still secretly swept over Ling Chen from time to time, trying to find any subtle flaws.
Chen Xue buried her face in her knees, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Zhou Yunguang huddled in the corner, trying to digest the medicine, but felt the pain in his body intensify due to that fear.
Ling Chen, on the other hand, was like an old monk in meditation, expressionlessly watching the desolate landscape outside the car window, the Soul Jade Physique's cold will enjoying this carefully orchestrated, cold drama of tormenting his enemies.
He knew this was just the beginning.
When the clues of "Lin Chen" and "Ling Chen," through their mouths, gradually returned to Panshi Fortress, and reached Commander Qin and Chu Hang... that was when the real storm would begin.
And he was very much looking forward to that day.
The vehicle finally drove into a temporarily established, heavily guarded Central Army forward base.
A bigger storm was brewing here.