Chapter 123: A Successful Rescue

"Company Commander, the second squad has reached the target building. Shall we enter?"

Captain Xue, monitoring the progress of the other squads, replied, "Second squad, hold your position and wait for the others."

"Second squad, copy that."

The second squad had attacked from the north, where there were fewer enemies. They had arrived at the target area ahead of schedule, while the other three squads were delayed by the need to clear out the majority of the opposing force.

"Helicopter squad, report on perimeter reconnaissance."

Four helicopters hovered five kilometers from the target, tasked with searching for enemy reinforcements.

"Pufferfish here. No enemies detected on the perimeter. All is clear."

"Understood. Maintain your watch."

"Pufferfish, copy."

With no other enemies within a five-kilometer radius, it meant there were only the forty individuals inside the village.

Adjusting to the situation, Captain Xue ordered, "Second squad, stop waiting. Form up and breach the building immediately to rescue Mr. Nie."

"Second squad, copy that."

There were five men remaining in the building where Nie Zihao was being held. Having already mapped the positions of everyone inside, the second squad moved in formation and burst through the entry point.

*Puff... puff...!*

A few muffled shots rang out. The five enemies were successfully neutralized, and the team found Nie Zihao.

"Company Commander, we have located Mr. Nie. He is unconscious. Requesting helicopter extraction."

Through the soldier’s personal camera feed, Captain Xue saw the rescued man and immediately signaled the air support: "Pufferfish Two, proceed to the target site immediately for extraction."

"Pufferfish Two, copy."

As Nie Zihao was successfully rescued, Peng Dongli jumped with excitement. "Thank God!"

Tian Wenyuan patted him on the shoulder, relieved. Mr. Nie had brought the entire group into this project; they could not afford to lose him now.

As the helicopter carried Nie Zihao away, Captain Xue notified Peng Dongli to head to the city central hospital. Hearing the destination, Peng Dongli quickly took Tian Wenyuan and drove toward the hospital—the same one where Zhang Mingyang was currently staying.

The helicopter was far faster than any car, and in less than five minutes, it touched down on the hospital rooftop.

In his room, Zhang Mingyang heard the sound of the helicopter and peered out the window. "Nurse? Nurse!" he called out toward the hallway.

"What is it now?" The nurse walked in, sighing. "How many times are you going to call me today?"

Zhang Mingyang raised his hand apologetically. "Miss, I just heard a helicopter. Has something happened?"

"Oh, that." The nurse replied, "They say it's Mr. Nie from the Northern Group. I don't know what happened, but they rushed him in by helicopter."

"Mr. Nie?" Zhang Mingyang thought back to his senior brother mentioning an attack that morning. They found him that quickly? That’s great! He asked, "Do you know which room they took him to?"

The nurse thought for a moment. "It should be the emergency room on the forty-fifth floor. They have a specialized ward there for helicopter arrivals; it’s closer to the roof."

"I see. Thank you, I appreciate it."

The nurse nodded and left.

Now knowing the location, Zhang Mingyang decided to go up. He didn't bother changing or grabbing anything, simply stepping out in his hospital gown. He checked to make sure no one was guarding his room before quietly slipping out.

As he walked down the hall, other patients and their families couldn't help but stare—or rather, they were staring at his mechanical arm.

"Mom, that big brother's arm is so cool!"

Zhang Mingyang looked at his mechanical arm and agreed it was cool, though the price he paid for it had been steep. He reached the elevator lobby and pressed the button, glancing around.

*Ding!*

The elevator doors opened. Zhang Mingyang stepped inside and pressed the button for the forty-fifth floor. Two minutes later, the elevator arrived.

*Ding!*

As the doors opened, Zhang Mingyang saw doctors rushing down the corridor, all heading to the left. Since the forty-fifth floor was a dedicated emergency wing for helicopter arrivals, there were no other patients there. It was likely those doctors were heading to treat Nie Zihao.

Zhang Mingyang followed them. After a few steps, he saw a dense crowd of people outside a patient room. That must be where Nie Zihao was. Because he was wearing a hospital gown, no one paid him much mind, assuming he was just another patient. Everyone was focused on the room.

Zhang Mingyang tried to squeeze through but gave up, settling against the wall to wait for news.

"Junior brother? What are you doing up here?"

Peng Dongli and Tian Wenyuan had arrived.

Seeing them, Zhang Mingyang asked, "Senior Brother Peng, is Mr. Nie inside?"

Peng Dongli nodded. "He was just rescued. He's still unconscious."

"Rescued?" Zhang Mingyang, realizing it had been a serious situation, asked, "Is he going to be okay?"

Peng Dongli let out a long breath. "Thankfully, he's uninjured, just unconscious."

"That's a relief."

Peng Dongli looked at the crowd and told the two of them, "Wait out here. I'm going in to check on him."

"Right."

With that, Peng Dongli announced his name and squeezed into the room.

Confused by the details, Zhang Mingyang turned to Tian Wenyuan. "Senior Brother Tian, what happened? Was Mr. Nie rescued?"

Tian Wenyuan still seemed shaken by what he had seen. "Junior brother, you have no idea. The scene of the attack looked like a battlefield. There were bodies everywhere. When Old Peng and I arrived, we were sure it was all over."

"How did you find him?"

Tian Wenyuan replied, "It was all thanks to the Commander System. It has a tracking feature, and that’s how Old Peng located him."

Hearing this, Zhang Mingyang touched his chest. He hadn't realized the Commander System had that capability.

"Where was he found?"

"The system tracked him to an abandoned village in the east," Tian Wenyuan continued. "Old Peng had to call in a whole infantry company just to get him out."

"Thank goodness he's safe."

"Wait—how did you even get up here?"

Zhang Mingyang replied, "I heard the helicopter, asked the nurse, and she told me where they went."

Seeing him sneaking around again, Tian Wenyuan warned, "If Director Wang finds out, you won't be allowed to leave your room ever again."

"Surely not?" Zhang Mingyang stretched his limbs. "I feel like I'm almost fully recovered. You know, this Commander System is truly amazing. My wounds are healing several times faster than anyone else's."

Tian Wenyuan couldn't help but agree. It was useful in a crisis, and the recovery speed was incredible. If he had known, he would have accepted the injection himself.