Brian Carter didn’t hesitate and spoke up directly: “I don’t know any of you, and you don’t know me, but all you need to know is that we are different from those mutinous soldiers. That’s all you need to know... Due to certain circumstances, we must take a plane to leave this city, but we will return again in one to two months. As for whether you believe this or not, that’s up to you. I can’t make any guarantees...”

When he finished speaking, the entire crowd erupted in loud commotion. Some people shouted to be taken along, and some women began to cry loudly.

Brian Carter steeled his heart and continued: “This decision is a bit cruel, because during this period, you’ll have to survive on your own. But we’re already near the outskirts, and there’s still plenty of food to be found in the airport. If you search the surrounding abandoned buildings or shops, you should be able to get by for a month or two... Now, let me ask: is there anyone among you who is skilled with computers? I mean a real hacker, not just someone who plays around with computers. If you are, we can take you with us and protect you. Of course, no deception is allowed. You all know that our group is capable of killing, and I have several ways to make someone suffer for days without dying. So, please be honest. That’s all. If you’re proficient with computers, please stand up.”

At first, when Brian Carter said the earlier part, some people seemed eager to try, but when he got to the latter part, almost everyone fell silent. The entire scene was quiet; not a single person spoke.

Brian Carter shook his head in disappointment and was about to turn and leave when suddenly a middle-aged, overweight man stood up. He grabbed a young man of about seventeen or eighteen beside him, whose hair was dyed in various colors and who had several earrings, and shouted, “Officer, my son knows computers. He’s very skilled—he’s even a well-known figure among China’s Red Hackers. A few years ago, during the Pentagon hacking incident, my son was one of the main forces. Please take him with you! I guarantee he won’t let you down!”

Brian Carter quickly turned around and, upon closer inspection, could easily tell that this middle-aged, overweight man was quite well-off. Although he looked disheveled now, with a few knife wounds and tattered clothes, it was obvious that he used to be from a wealthy family, and not just an ordinary one.

As for the young man being pulled up, his face had already turned pale with fear. He shouted, “Dad, I just play around with computers, and hacking is just for fun. No, I don’t want to go with them!” As he spoke, he struggled frantically and even started to cry.

But the middle-aged man was ruthless. At some point, he had grabbed a wooden stick, and while the young man was struggling, he struck him hard on the back of the head, knocking him out. Only then did he flatteringly smile at Brian Carter and say, “Officer, believe me, my son’s computer skills are really good. He can even control three computers at once for hacking attacks. I would never risk my own son’s life as a joke.”

Brian Carter walked over to the middle-aged man with interest. He hoisted the young man onto his shoulder and said playfully to the man, “We don’t take family members along. You’ll have to stay here for a month or two. Even so, you still want your son to go with us? It’s not too late to change your mind. I’m not a cruel person.”

The middle-aged man gently stroked the back of the young man’s head and said softly, “Officer, I don’t know what you’re going to do, but you must have a way out. Otherwise, with eight months left, we’d all be doomed together, and nothing we do now would matter. Don’t worry, I’ve already prepared myself mentally. Let my son go with you. His computer skills are really good. Oh, and tell him I’ll be waiting in a safe place—I can wait two months, or even longer...”

Brian Carter straightened his expression and looked silently at the middle-aged man before saying, “Yes, I believe you can do it... Don’t worry, as long as his computer skills are up to par, we will never abandon him. That’s a promise... May I ask your surname?”

The middle-aged man chuckled, tossed aside the wooden stick, and said, “No need to be formal, the surname is Zhang. This is my son, Michael Brooks... Let him work hard for you, Officer. I spoiled him too much before, and he’s picked up a lot of bad habits. You can train him as hard as you want. Also, he’s still using drugs...”

“Hahaha, that’s fine. Once he’s in my unit, he won’t be able to keep any bad habits.” Brian Carter laughed heartily, patted the middle-aged man on the shoulder, and, in one smooth motion, silently slipped a pistol into the man’s clothes.

The man’s expression changed slightly, but he said nothing, only chuckled and watched as Brian Carter carried Michael Brooks farther and farther away, his eyes full of kindness and tears...

Several dozen minutes later, under the gaze of over a thousand people, a plane soared into the sky, flying toward the rising sun in the east...

“Let’s go! Destination: Tennessee, USA!”

Chapter Five: Breakthrough!