Chapter 2

Soon after, Lillian, as team captain, received orders from the chief to cancel the mission.

She grabbed me by the collar, her eyes blazing. "You're the one who filed that report, aren't you?"

"Don't you realize my family is in the terrorists' hands right now? Every second we delay puts them in more danger."

"You actually requested to cancel the mission—are you trying to get them killed?"

When she yanked me like that, my freshly bandaged wound tore open again, blood spilling onto the ground.

I pressed hard against the wound on my ribs, enduring the pain as I responded, "We were ambushed midway, which proves the enemy was prepared. Going to rescue them now would be walking into a trap."

"And I've been shot—is there something wrong with requesting backup?"

Before Lillian could respond, Carmen cut in with a sarcastic tone. "Jones, I hate to say it, but you're part of the SWAT team. You want to retreat over a little flesh wound?"

"I'm embarrassed for you!"

"Besides, the hostages we're rescuing are Captain Lillian's family—your future family too. You think you can just decide not to save them?"

"Are you just a coward, or does Lillian not mean enough to you?"

With his instigation, the other team members started criticizing me too.

"Jones, if your skills aren't up to par, you need more training. Running away will only make everyone look down on you more!"

"We have a tradition of light wounds not leaving the front line. You want backup for a little scrape? The other teams will laugh at us."

The searing pain was unbearable, and my teammates' mockery pushed me over the edge.

I released the pressure on my wound and pointed at the blood gushing from it. "Are you all blind, or have you lost your conscience? You call this a flesh wound?"

The other team members fell silent after seeing my injury, except for Carmen, who still wore a mocking, disdainful expression.

"Are you proud you got shot? Showing it off like some kind of honor display."

Lillian walked up with a look of contempt.

"Why is everyone else fine except you got shot?"

"It's because you slack off during training, so you're useless in real combat. And you have the nerve to complain?"

I wanted to defend myself, but the piercing pain made me not want to say another word.

As I continued losing blood, my vision grew increasingly blurry, everything before me swaying.

Fortunately, I had sent out that distress signal in time, or the consequences would have been unthinkable.

Just when I thought Lillian would order a retreat, I heard her command everyone to keep moving forward.

"Everyone, move out. While the terrorists aren't on alert yet, let's take down their hideout in one strike and rescue the hostages."

I struggled to my feet, gritting through the pain. "You... you want to disobey orders?"

The corner of Lillian's mouth curled as she said coldly:

"I'm the field commander for this operation. I have final say!"

"I won't let some coward interfere with the smooth execution of this rescue!"

Seeing her crazed state, I knew arguing was pointless and stopped trying.

"Lillian, I understand you're desperate to save them, but I've been shot. I can't keep moving with you all. I can only wait here for rescue."

"No way!"

Before Lillian could give orders, Carmen spoke up first.

He looked at me sinisterly. "If we leave him here, he'll definitely tell the chief that Captain Lillian deliberately disobeyed orders."

"To clear herself of that charge, we have to take him with us!"

"If he dares talk nonsense, we'll pin the whole disobeying orders thing on him!"