Chapter Forty-One: Positioning (IV)

"Yes!" Yin Sunyang was not one to waste words, and replied directly, "According to Aym Nawal's confession, there are five members of the East Ugu Chat Organization plotting to hijack this plane. Their plan was, once the news broke, to slip into Hanjing amid the chaos and attack the airport, detonating explosives and causing even greater disorder, thus intensifying ethnic tensions. Among the passengers is a delegation of over fifty Sunni clergy from Ningbei Province, en route to participate in a major event organized by the Donisia Sunni community. However..."

"That kid's intuition is truly remarkable!" Everyone in the room turned their gaze to Lei Dong, their expressions tinged with admiration. Sharp intuition is, after all, an essential trait for an outstanding soldier. Yet their eyes soon shifted to An Jing, for it was clear Yin Sunyang had more to say—and they were eager to know whether the situation matched An Jing's analysis.

"What do you mean, however? Are there other forces on the plane, using the boarding as cover?" Lei Tiangang, keenly attuned to the undertones, pressed urgently.

Yin Sunyang was visibly startled, surprise flashing across his face. Still, he answered without hesitation, "Yes! Our technicians accessed Donisia Aviation's airport surveillance system and retrieved footage of Flight 740's boarding. At the same time, our staff urgently tapped into the Interpol passport database, and after cross-referencing, identified seven suspicious individuals."

He moved his arm, as if operating the computer before him. Soon, his image shrank into a small window in the upper right corner of the screen, much like an expert dialed in during a televised broadcast, while the main display filled with photos of five men.

These were five burly men with thick beards and ivory-white turbans, high noses and deep-set eyes—features typical of the Ugu Chat people. Their physiques were robust, their gazes cold and brimming with murderous intent.

Maimajian Tihe! Sugunar! Jabak! Aizmu! Hoshan!

Before Yin Sunyang could elaborate, everyone recognized them—the core members of the East Ugu Chat Organization, fanatical "Holy War" zealots, infamous terrorists with countless blood debts.

"These five boarded Flight 740 forty minutes before takeoff, using stolen or forged documents." Yin Sunyang's tone was harsh, tinged with resentment.

The operations room was filled with clenched jaws. That five notorious terrorists, wanted by Interpol for years, could brazenly board a departing passenger plane with fake credentials—what were the Donisia security staff doing?

"So, does this mean there are also separatist agents and Minia Federation intelligence personnel on board?" Lei Tiangang's voice trembled.

"Yes... ah!" Yin Sunyang replied instinctively, then let out a cry of disbelief as his expression turned strange.

In truth, it wasn't just Yin Sunyang on the screen whose face changed; everyone in the operations room was similarly affected. They understood the reason for his shock: a seasoned intelligence officer, a major general commanding a vast department, had labored to obtain information that seemed already known to someone else—a clear anomaly, unless Lei Tiangang had another, more efficient intelligence channel.

But that made even less sense.

Only those who had just finished the lengthy analysis in the room knew that, in fact, such a channel didn't exist. All of this had been deduced, from almost a blank slate, by a young woman barely in her early twenties, entirely inexperienced in intelligence.

The gaze toward An Jing now brimmed with awe and admiration.

---

"Er... er!" Lei Tiangang coughed gently, breaking the silence and interrupting Yin Sunyang's confused thoughts. Yin Sunyang forced himself to suppress his doubts and pulled up a photo and profile on the big screen.

The man in the photo had an unremarkable face typical of the Chakna people, pale and beardless, his eyes somewhat dull.

"This man's name is Chen Weizhe, thirty-seven years old, a stubborn separatist. During the separatists' rule on Taihua Island, he joined the island's military intelligence department, received special training from the Minia Federation's Central Intelligence Agency, and was hailed as an elite in island intelligence circles." As a leading figure in the Republic's intelligence, Yin Sunyang was well acquainted with such adversaries. "After the separatists lost power, Chen Weizhe disappeared, but our investigations show he actually fled to Donisia, assuming the identity of a wealthy businessman. He secretly liaises with sympathetic expatriates and hostile foreign factions, seeking support for the separatists' resurgence."

After summarizing Chen Weizhe's background, Yin Sunyang quickly brought up a photo and dossier of a Minian.

"The key figure is this man," Yin Sunyang pointed to the image of a slightly older, sharp-featured Minian. "James Sam, forty-six years old, former Minia Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, participated in numerous overseas operations and was decorated with several Silver Stars and bravery awards. He retired in 2020, then joined the Minia Military Intelligence Bureau, where he now oversees the Western Pacific region. According to our intelligence," Yin Sunyang's tone grew graver, "ten years ago, James Sam served as a military advisor at an East Ugu training camp for large-scale terrorist attacks for over a year. After joining the intelligence bureau, he became one of the main instructors for training separatist intelligence agents."

Once more, the prediction was correct! A low hum filled the operations room as everyone exchanged glances.

Lei Dong, watching An Jing's increasingly serene composure, felt a surge of pride.

Why was everyone reacting this way? Yin Sunyang grew ever more perplexed, his eyes flickering behind gold-rimmed glasses.

"Ring-ring-ring—" Before Yin Sunyang could speak, a piercing phone rang in the operations room. Everyone was startled as Yin Sunyang, looking stunned, grabbed a red receiver. In the next moment, many saw his face darken as he leaped to his feet, shouting in a hoarse voice, "What? What did you say? That can't be! Impossible, impossible..."

Moments later, Yin Sunyang slumped into his seat, hung up quietly, muttering "Impossible," his voice growing lower, hoarser, finally tinged with tears.

"What happened?" Realizing something was amiss, Lei Tiangang—the Assistant Chief of General Staff, Director of the Second Department, Commandant of the Reconnaissance Academy, chief of the Furious Dragon Unit, host of this secret meeting and the highest-ranking officer—asked with a rare quiver in his voice.

After a long silence, Yin Sunyang finally regained his composure and raised his head. Everyone saw his eyes were now bloodshot.

Yin Sunyang's voice was husky and low, his words labored as if each was a stone pressed upon his chest: "Mole One... has fallen... We just received an inside report: during the Minia Intelligence Bureau's arrest operation, Mole One committed suicide by gunshot!"

"What?" Lei Tiangang sprang up, then slumped back down. After a moment, he looked deeply at An Jing, nodded, and said, "Understood! Proceed with contingency arrangements immediately!"

"It's already being handled," Yin Sunyang answered, his voice heavy.

Minia Federation... Mole... fallen. Coupled with Lei Tiangang's meaningful glance at An Jing, even the dullest could infer what had happened to make these two senior military intelligence officers suddenly change countenance.

The room was filled with sorrow, silently mourning the nameless hero who had rendered immortal service to the Republic.

---

After a long silence, Lei Tiangang was the first to steady himself. Raising his voice, he declared, "The meeting will continue!"

Yin Sunyang lifted his head nearly at the same moment, his gaze steely. "Just received news: around 5:30 this morning, in a small city in southern New Australia Federation, a woman out for her morning exercise heard the roar of a plane overhead and posted this on her social media. According to our investigation, there were no scheduled flights through that airspace at that time!"

Yin Sunyang's reddened eyes shone with determination. "Based on all current intelligence, we judge that the most probable location for Flight 740's disappearance is—"

Dozens of voices cried out almost simultaneously—

"Saint Emperor Bright Island!"

Yin Sunyang was visibly shaken. "You all already..."

But Lei Tiangang gave him no opportunity to speak further. He stood up abruptly and commanded, "Third Squad, Equipments Five and Six, depart in ten minutes! Squads One, Two, and Three, prepare for combat and stand by for support! We must seize time, recover the intelligence bought with lives, and welcome our heroes home! Dismissed!"

"When the Divine Dragon rages, the world trembles!"

"Kill!"

The soldiers roared, sprang to their feet, and, in fifteen seconds, evacuated the operations room in battle formation.

"Where's An Jing?" As he raced toward the armory, Lei Dong suddenly realized An Jing hadn't left with them at the end of the meeting. She remained seated, unmoving.

With his spiritual sense, Lei Dong saw An Jing slowly rise, salute Lei Tiangang and Yin Sunyang, her face deeply troubled, and say softly, "There is one matter I believe I should report to you, commanders..."