Chapter 143

Chapter 143

Jack fell silent for a moment, then slowly began: "There's really not much to tell. I was an orphan, lived on the streets as a kid. Then the Foundation spotted me and brought me here."

"Here, they taught us how to kill, how to survive. We had no names, only code names."

"Mine was 'Ghost.'"

"The missions we carried out were all dirty work—assassinating defecting officials, wiping out enemy strongholds, even robbing treasuries of small countries."

"Back then, we thought we were the Foundation's blade. As long as the blade was sharp enough, we'd survive."

"Until that mission..." Jack's voice trembled slightly. "Ronan wanted to suck up to some big shot in the Foundation, so he leaked our location to the enemy. We got trapped in a valley and fought for three days and three nights."

"My comrades fell one by one right in front of me, trying to cover my escape."

"I watched them die, helpless to do anything."

"That day, 'Ghost' died. What survived was just Jack, driven by revenge."

When Jack finished, the hall fell silent again.

Lucy could feel the bone-deep pain in his words. She reached out her hand, searching in the darkness, and grasped Jack's hand.

"This time, you're not alone," Lucy said, looking at him with unwavering determination. "I'll be with you, and we'll send that Ronan straight to hell."

Jack squeezed her hand tight, his lips moving slightly:

"Thanks."

At that moment, in a penthouse suite at a five-star hotel in Cairo.

Ronan stood by the window, looking out at the bustling city nightscape, holding a glass of ice water.

His face showed no expression, his entire being radiating an unapproachable coldness.

"Colonel."

An assistant in a black suit hurried in and respectfully handed over a tablet.

"The target sent an email."

Ronan took the device and looked at the countdown flashing on the screen and those familiar coordinates. His eyes finally flickered slightly.

"Sinai Peninsula... Black Hawk Base."

The corner of Ronan's mouth twitched into an extremely cold and cruel smile.

"Jack, you still chose that place after all."

"Colonel, what should we do now?" the assistant asked. "Should we notify the Foundation?"

"No need." Ronan spoke coldly. "This is my personal business, and that data absolutely cannot be seen by the board."

"Notify War Dog Teams One and Two. Get on the plane immediately. We need to reach the base three hours early."

"Understood." The assistant turned and left.

Ronan drained the ice water in one gulp and casually tossed the glass into the trash.

"Jack, five years ago I could kill all your brothers. Five years later, I can send you to your grave just the same."

He muttered to himself, his eyes flashing with insane killing intent.

...

Three hours later.

Two black armed helicopters flew low over the Sinai Peninsula desert under cover of darkness, heading toward the rocky mountains.

The helicopter cabin doors were open, packed with fully armed War Dog team members.

Each wore night vision goggles and carried the most advanced assault rifles, their bodies radiating intense killing intent.

Leading them was a burly man—the War Dog unit commander, "Mad Dog."

"Everyone listen up." Mad Dog's voice came through the comms. "Our targets are Jack and that CEO woman. The Colonel's orders are: get the unlock code, then leave no survivors."

"Note that Jack is an extremely dangerous opponent. He knows the terrain here and may have set traps. Once inside the base, move in groups of three, cover each other, don't go solo."

"Understood!" the team members responded quietly.

The helicopters soon landed in a clearing at the foot of the rocky mountain.

The team members quickly jumped out and formed tactical formations, surrounding the cave entrance.

Mad Dog walked at the front. He made a gesture, and two team members immediately moved forward to check around the entrance with detectors.

"Report, sir. No electronic mines or infrared sensors detected," the team member reported.

Mad Dog sneered: "Jack's not that stupid. He knows we have detectors. He'll use old-school traps. Everyone watch your feet. Move!"

They formed a single file and silently entered the passage.

At that moment, in the underground hall.

Jack sat in his chair with his eyes closed, appearing to sleep.

Suddenly, his eyes opened.

Though there was no sound, his instinct—honed through countless life-and-death situations—told him the enemy had arrived.

He turned his head and looked at Lucy beside him.

Lucy had also woken up and looked at him nervously.

Jack put a finger to his lips, then pointed toward the hall entrance.

Lucy immediately understood. She took a deep breath, gripped her pistol, and pressed her body tight against a pillar.

Jack silently stood up and retreated to a corner of the hall behind a pile of discarded equipment.

He turned off all light sources and completely melted into the darkness.

From the passage came the faint sound of tactical boots stepping on gravel.

The sound grew closer.

At the blast door entrance to the hall, two War Dog team members wearing night vision goggles appeared.

Rifles raised, they carefully pushed open the half-closed metal door.

"Bang!"

A muffled explosion suddenly erupted at the hall entrance.

It was a claymore mine Jack had planted.

Though he'd deliberately reduced its power, the close-range blast still sent the two frontmost team members flying, their screams echoing through the passage.

"Ambush! Take cover!"

Mad Dog roared and immediately retreated to a corner in the passage.

The other team members also scrambled for cover and opened fire wildly into the hall.

"Ratatatatatatat!"

Dense gunfire hit the stone pillars and equipment in the hall, sending up countless sparks and fragments.

The hall was instantly lit up by the flash of gunfire.