coobybook Chapter 1053 Getting lost is getting lost. Face and such don't matter!
Chapter 1053 Getting lost is getting lost. Face and such don't matter!
Looking at Company Commander Tang's expressionless gaze and Ru Chuang's embarrassed scratching of his head, Liu Yuncang felt a strange sense of superiority, a feeling he had suppressed since being arrested, quietly resurface and nodded.
"So these two ruthless and well-equipped monsters don't even know their way around!"
This thought gave Liu Yuncang a strange sense of balance. He even subconsciously straightened his bound chest, as if he had regained a tiny bit of "dignity" in an invisible comparison.
However, this ridiculous sense of superiority stems precisely from his severe underestimation of the dangers posed by such areas.
Liu Yuncang operated in Phnom Penh and witnessed the chaos, but he may not truly understand that the dangers of slums in many major cities around the world go far beyond what can be simply summarized as "dirty, chaotic, and poor."
Leaving aside other places, just look at Favelas, the slum of the football kingdom, which is a world-renowned example of an "urban labyrinth" and a "lawless land".
The alleys there are intricate and complex, like a spider web. Drug traffickers hold their own, gunfights are commonplace, and even the police need special forces to clear the way. Ordinary outsiders who break in are either robbed of everything or left with nothing but their bones.
Similar areas are not uncommon in Mexico City, Kolkata, Manila, and other places. This shantytown in Phnom Penh may not be as large, but it is essentially the same in nature, stemming from extreme poverty, chaos, and isolation, resulting in xenophobia, danger, and unpredictability.
For any well-trained soldier, the top survival rule in such an environment is often: avoid going too deep, move through quickly, and never get entangled.
For someone like Company Commander Tang to venture deep into enemy territory in pursuit of a target already carries enormous risks.
Just as Liu Yuncang's absurd sense of superiority had begun to sprout and hadn't even had a chance to fully develop, Company Commander Tang's emotionless voice slowly rang out:
“My dear disciple, I remember we saw a few reports before we came out? Those… about the aftermath of dealing with ‘stubborn nails’.”
"Oh! Company Commander, you mean that? I took a look; it's a summary of several cases forwarded from above. Tsk, there were two of them who wouldn't behave themselves once they got to their destination, rambling on and on, just playing games, and in the end..."
Ru Chuang was frowning, trying to find his way through a pile of rubble. Hearing this, he seemed to pause and recall for a moment. Then, as if he suddenly remembered, he slapped his sweaty forehead and showed a casual "it's nothing special" expression on his dark face.
He deliberately dragged out the tone, his gaze "casually" sweeping over Liu Yuncang. The subtle expression on Liu Yuncang's face froze instantly, and his complexion visibly drained of color.
"Hey, it's nothing big. It just turned out to be a waste of time and resources after the investigation. According to the relevant regulations, we submitted it, got it approved, and that was it... 'bang bang' it. Clean, efficient, and hassle-free."
He said the words "putt-putt" casually, even with a hint of relief after dealing with a troublesome matter.
Liu Yuncang felt a sudden jolt in his calf, almost causing him to collapse. He looked at Company Commander Tang in disbelief, then abruptly turned to stare at Ru Chuang, trying to find a trace of fear on their dark, calm faces.
No.
Company Commander Tang remained impassive, even nodding almost imperceptibly as if in agreement, and added, "Yes, that's true. We're short on manpower and resources. Things that have no value and just take up space are a potential hazard. Our mission waits for no one, and we don't have the time to beat around the bush or play guessing games with some people."
"That's right! We're on a tight schedule with a heavy workload this time, so we can't let some people dawdle. If we run into someone who doesn't know what's good for them, who hides everything we ask, or who talks nonsense, then we have to follow the rules of 'verification is useless, risk is questionable, and appropriate action should be taken.' Once the gun is fired, the trouble is cleared up, and everyone saves trouble. I heard that when we dealt with those two, the scene was very quiet, and after that, everyone went back to doing what they were doing."
How could you, with your 37.8 degrees Celsius mouths, say something like absolute zero?
Liu Yuncang suddenly felt that asking these two murderers for credit was a bit too audacious.
But their conversation continued.
The conversation jumped from "typical examples of non-cooperation" to an example of someone who "was interrogated for two days and nights but couldn't get anything out of him and was eventually dealt with," and then to "the cost-effectiveness of shooting at different distances." Sergeant Ru even seriously "asked" Company Commander Tang whether using "cold weapons" would be quieter and more economical in certain environments.
Their tone remained consistently calm, as if they were discussing a technical issue, rather than deciding the fate of a living person.
Are these the same soldiers who were praised by the other side? You guys are even more ruthless than Zhang Peizhi's master, that guy wearing a straw hat!
"Sir! Gentlemen! You...you should at least ask! You keep telling me to lead the way, lead the way! This godforsaken place would confuse even a god, let alone me! Tell me, have I led the way or not? Haven't I been obediently walking ahead? Haven't I been running away? But this road...it doesn't recognize me!"
His tearful "accusation" actually broke the oppressive atmosphere.
Company Commander Tang and Ru Chuang exchanged a glance, their lips curving into an almost imperceptible smile, their eyes conveying the meaning of "the time is right" and "it's time to close the net."
"Oh," Company Commander Tang seemed to realize the problem only then, his tone teasing with a hint of sudden realization, "Now that you mention it... it seems so. I was so focused on having you, my 'pangolin,' use your special skills to crawl through the tunnels and lead the way that I forgot about the important matter."
Ru Chuang scratched the back of his head in agreement, a smile that was almost "simple and honest" spreading across his dark face, but his eyes remained sharp: "Hey, it really is. Master, shall we... ask him now?"
"Then let's ask?"
"Ask away..."
"Hey, what a scary nickname! Why not just call him Pangolin? Doesn't that just cause trouble?"
Is it my fault? Isn't it said that you earn your own reputation in the martial arts world?
Liu Yuncang looked aggrieved.
……
Not to mention that Company Commander Tang and his men didn't understand the importance of the matter, they even made jokes at this critical juncture.
This was absolutely a stroke of genius.
This is a carefully crafted psychological pressure applied to specific targets like Liu Yuncang.
For intelligence agents who harbor wishful thinking and attempt to retain some leverage and bargain after "turning against their allies," simple promises or harsh threats often have limited effect.
They wanted to use this "routine" indifference to completely shatter his illusion that "I have intelligence, therefore I am valuable, and you must treat me well."
From the very beginning, Company Commander Tang and his men did not expect Liu Yuncang to actually lead them out of the maze. They forced him to lead the way for three reasons: first, to observe his obedience; second, to create a sense of frustration in him due to his "incompetence"; and third, to exhaust his physical and mental strength.
Most importantly, they deliberately "don't ask," creating a sense of unease and anxiety that "your value is not determined by you, and you may not even be needed."
When this anxiety accumulated to the point that Liu Yuncang himself could no longer bear it and took the initiative to "ask questions," cracks had appeared in his psychological defenses as he actively sought dependence and recognition.
At this point, taking the initiative and beginning the interrogation, the other party is often more inclined to cooperate, even eager to prove themselves, in order to compensate for the "incompetence" and "uselessness" they have just admitted to, thus proving that they deserve to "stay." This is the key switching point from "overcoming resistance" to "guiding output."
See, the effect is already visible!
Liu Yuncang is currently gripped by immense fear of being completely deprived of his sense of security.
“I…I know several backup contact points for the ‘Xiangjiang Project’! I also know the aliases Zhang Peizhi might use in Phnom Penh and her habits! Sir, give me a chance, I’ll tell you everything! Everything!”
"Oh, right, he also developed a whole bunch of downlines here, including Old Xiao's whole family at the photo studio in Phnom Penh! And a few Indians, and, and..."
Company Commander Tang ignored his eager declarations of loyalty, seemingly immune to such oaths and vows. He glanced at the sky, then at the unassuming old wristwatch on his wrist, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.
Time was of the essence. With a prisoner in tow, every moment they lingered in this labyrinthine area increased the uncertainty and risk.
"Alright." He briefly interrupted Liu Yuncang's rambling, turned to Ru Chuang, and his tone returned to its usual decisiveness. "Let's not waste any more time here. Call 'home,' give them our location, and have them send someone to pick us up. We can't get out of this place on our own."
"understand!"
Squad Leader Ru began rummaging through the large bag he was carrying, and Liu Yuncang watched in surprise as he pulled out a small radio from the bag.
The entire process—skillfully unfolding, pulling out the antenna, turning on the device, and adjusting it to the preset emergency backup frequency—took only a dozen seconds.
"Cave, Cave, this is the mandrill. The mouse is in the bag, but it's lost in the goat pen. We need a sheepdog to lead the way. Repeat, we need a sheepdog to lead the way. Location... roughly in the western maze area of the city, near the place where three stinking ditches intersect and a tattered blue cloth hangs. Over."
"Roger that! The sheepdog will be here soon!"
"Comrade! Thank you! You've worked hard!"
"You're welcome……"
"Comrade!"