Then, that was it. His whole body still hurt. He even wondered if it wasn't for the mission, and if Freya had gone easy on him, he might not have been able to get up at all today.
Sigh, there's always someone better out there. Just because someone is a young woman doesn't mean she's easy to bully. Otherwise, you wouldn't even know how you died.
"Someone's coming." Freya kicked the distracted Mr. Zhao. How did this guy even become a brigade commander? He was zoning out at a time like this.
Oh no, maybe she really did hit him too hard and made him dumb? No, she didn't use full force!
Freya thought to herself, feeling a little guilty.
Neither Freya nor Mr. Zhao noticed that behind them, Officer Ying's eyes were wide like brass bells, and his jaw almost dropped.
It was really eye-opening.
This female comrade was incredible. She actually dared to kick the cold, iron-blooded Mr. Zhao, the man of legends.
"They've finally arrived. At least those mosquitoes last night weren't in vain.
Officer Ying, take two men and bring that person in. Everyone else, stay alert," Mr. Zhao ordered the soldiers behind him, who were already in position.
"Yes, mission will be completed!" Soldier Zhen withdrew his gaze, replied quietly, and turned to leave.
Ten minutes later, three people brought over a woman around thirty years old. Her mouth was stuffed, and her hands were tied.
"How many people are involved in your operation?"
Mr. Zhao removed the cloth from her mouth, his eyes cold as he stared at the woman who looked like an ordinary villager. Who would've thought someone so plain and forgettable was actually a spy?
"I don't know anything. Just kill me if you want." The woman lowered her eyes, her tone flat, like a robot with no emotions.
"You…" Mr. Zhao was furious. Their discipline was strict, and they were not allowed to abuse prisoners. Otherwise, he would've already given her a beating.
"Didn't you bring someone who knows how to interrogate?
Forget it. I'll do it." Freya looked up at the sky in frustration, seeing this rough man get stomped on by just a few words.
"Raise your head!" Freya stepped forward and spoke gently to the woman who was about the same height as her.
"You don't need to waste your time. I won't say anything." The woman raised her head and looked at Freya with a blank expression.
"Oh, you've got a tough mouth. You don't want to talk? Then I'll guess. Let's see if I'm right.
You've got twenty people?
No, that's not it… Thirty?" Freya stared into the woman's eyes, which showed no emotion, and tossed out a number.
"I don't know anything." When Freya said "thirty," the woman's pupils shrank for a split second before returning to normal. She quickly lowered her head to hide her reaction.
But that tiny change didn't escape Freya's eyes.
"Confirmed. Around thirty people. Give or take," Freya said to Mr. Zhao.
"You're lying. It's not thirty!" the woman denied.
"Oh?
Alright then, let's talk about something else. Like your husband, your child?" Freya forcefully lifted the woman's chin and continued to observe her expression while probing further.
"You've been undercover for so long. You can't possibly live alone, right? You have family, don't you? That would help you blend in. Do you really have no feelings for them?
Think about it. If the villagers found out their wife or mother was a spy?
Tsk tsk… You dying would be the easy part. What about their lives afterward?"
"So pitiful!" Freya said slowly, looking into her eyes.
The woman broke down instantly. She thought of her lively and cute child and her honest, simple husband. Although she had married him just to cover for herself, over the years, no matter how hard or exhausting life was, the man never let her or the child suffer.
She had already forgotten her identity as a spy, but a few days ago, her superiors contacted her and promised that if she completed this mission, she could continue living the life she wanted.
Otherwise, her man and child would be doomed.
"As long as you tell the truth, I can't promise everything, but I can ensure your family won't be harmed. After all, they're innocent.
Right, Mr. Zhao?"
"Yes. If the information you provide is useful, we'll handle your case with leniency and guarantee your family's safety," Mr. Zhao promised. That much was within his authority.
Last night, they had secretly captured the young widow Lina, but she turned out to be just a messenger and knew nothing useful.
"Alright. You must keep your word. If not, I won't let you off even if I die.
My superior told me that there are 33 people involved this time. That's all of them hiding in this area.
But I don't know how many of them are still here. It's been so long since we contacted each other, and my superiors don't fully trust me anymore.
Our superior is Commune Chief Guang. He uses grain delivery as a cover to transport items out. Then we're supposed to meet outside the city and head to the island.
He's waiting for us at the foot of the mountain to the west." The woman didn't hesitate anymore and confessed everything she knew.
"Good. Thanks for cooperating." Freya quickly pinched her chin and pushed a pill into her mouth. The woman immediately lost consciousness. Freya laid her gently on the ground.
"Hey, what did you give her? It's not poison, right?
We're proper soldiers. We can't go around killing people to silence them!" Mr. Zhao jumped when he saw the woman being thrown to the ground.
"Mr. Zhao, you're overthinking it. This pill knocks people out for 24 hours. It's just to avoid complications."
Freya adjusted her clothes as she explained.
Then she took out a small porcelain bottle from her cloth pouch and handed it to Soldier Zhen. She had to make sure nothing went wrong.
"Take it. Those spies are too cunning. If you can't get any information, just knock them out. Easier that way." Mr. Zhao looked at Soldier Zhen, who was waiting for orders.
Soldier Zhen took the medicine and led two people to capture another spy who had appeared under a tree.
By 8 a.m., they had captured 28 people one after another.
Mr. Zhao looked at the pile of people they had caught, filled with a strong sense of accomplishment.
"Report, Commander, that man involved with Widow Lina has also been captured," Soldier Zhen came to report.
"Good. Leave 20 people here to keep watch. The rest, follow me. We're going into the tunnel.
Freya, you come too!" Mr. Zhao naturally included Freya.
"Commander, isn't that a bit much? Freya already helped us with clues and led the way. She's been very cooperative.
We can't expect a woman to go into a dangerous tunnel too."
Soldier Zhen looked at Freya's slim arms and legs with disapproval.
"Enough, I have my reasons. When this is over, you can go spar with Freya yourself!"