Chapter 63 The Agreement
Chapter 63 The Agreement
Yuri pulled Lu Ye along, quickening their pace as they passed the area, and warned in a low voice, "Lu, curb your curiosity. Not everything on the second basement level is open to the public."
"That place we just saw, which didn't even have a sign, was a forward outpost of the GRU (Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces). It was full of high-ranking agents engaged in military intelligence and counter-espionage."
"That one with the skull and crosshair symbol is the Wagner Group's exclusive command center. They're extremely xenophobic; anyone who gets close except one of their own will die. There are some doors here you absolutely cannot even look at, understand?"
"Understood." Lu Ye nodded and looked away.
The two turned down a corridor and came to a door with a sign that read "The Undertaker PMC".
Pushing open the door, you'll find a typical office layout.
Several office workers were typing on their keyboards in front of their computers, and the air was filled with the smell of cheap instant coffee.
"Hey, Ratmir!" Yuri greeted a balding middle-aged man sitting at the desk at the far end of the room, leaning on his cane.
The man named Ratmir looked up, adjusted his glasses, and forced a smile when he saw Yuri: "Yuri, I heard your squad pulled off a big heist in Kalinovka. What happened, broke your leg?"
"It's just a minor injury." Yuri smiled, then stepped aside to let Lu Ye stand in front of him. "I'll help him with the onboarding process. The approval from headquarters should be ready by now."
Upon hearing this, Ratmir immediately turned his gaze to Lu Ye.
His somewhat cloudy eyes scanned Lu Ye from head to toe, a hint of undisguised surprise flashing in them.
"Is this the recruit you strongly recommended in your post-war report?" Ratmir asked Yuri, looking at him with disbelief as he retrieved the file on his computer.
"The report says he'd only been on the battlefield for less than a month. He was originally just cannon fodder, but during the assault at Kalinovka, he sniped the enemy's highest commander?"
"That's right." Yuri nodded repeatedly, his tone of affirmation tinged with happiness.
"He not only took out the commander, but also saved us several times. His sniping talent is the best I've ever seen."
Lu Ye stood there, listening to Yuri's undisguised praise, and lowered his head slightly, looking a little embarrassed.
Ratmir looked at the green "Approved" message on the computer screen, nodded, took a black combination lock box from the drawer, and opened it.
"Good. Young man, you've chosen the right person to follow. Yuri has always treated his men very well; among the Undertaker, there aren't many captains as protective of their own."
As he spoke, Ratmir printed out an identification card with Lu Ye's photo and magnetic stripe.
Lu Ye nodded seriously. Indeed, without Yuri's protection, he might have been shot dead on the spot by Vorov.
Yuri had nothing but praise for him.
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After completing the identity verification process, Ratmir handed Lu Ye a brand new armband and uniform.
Lu Ye tore open the packaging and took out the armband.
A jet-black skull against a backdrop of crossed scythes and a sniper rifle, crafted with exquisite detail.
Below the skull, a line of blood-red Russian text is embroidered: "The Undertaker".
"Here's your dog tag and armband. From today onwards, if you die, the company will pay you a pension," Ratmil said half-jokingly.
Lu Ye put the ID card into his pocket and stuck the armband directly onto the Velcro on his left arm.
The two bid farewell to Ratmir, left the Undertaker's office, and prepared to return the way they came, taking the elevator to the first floor.
Walking down the quiet corridor, Lu Ye had already given up all hope of meeting Vasily.
After all, the second basement level is so large, and there are so many confidential areas that he can't enter.
However, just as they were about to reach the elevator, a group of people suddenly walked out of the corridor ahead.
Yuri's eyes sharpened, and he quickly pulled Lu Ye to the wall, making way for a wide passage.
Lu Ye raised his head.
She was the same female officer from yesterday, wearing Russian military uniform and with her blonde hair pinned up under her military cap.
She walked very fast, her eyes fixed straight ahead, without even glancing at Yuri and Lu Ye who were standing against the wall making way for her, and walked right past them.
The fat man who had been following her around humbly yesterday was gone today; in his place were several fully armed guards.
From the guard's side and behind, Lu Ye spotted the figure immediately.
Vasily!
Just as Vasily passed in front of Lu Ye, he seemed to sense something and subconsciously turned his head.
Their eyes met in the air.
Vasily's pupils dilated suddenly, a clear look of excitement and shock flashing in his eyes.
He clearly hadn't expected to see Lu Ye, the cannon fodder who should have been dead, here.
Vasily seemed to want to call out Lu Ye's name, but he immediately realized that the occasion was inappropriate.
He glanced at the female officer walking ahead and forcibly suppressed the excitement on his face.
Then, as he continued walking forward, Vasily slightly raised his right hand, making a gesture as if he were raising a glass and tilting his head back to drink.
He immediately lowered his head and followed the group of people into another high-rise-only elevator.
Only after the elevator doors closed completely did Yuri turn around, look at Lu Ye who was staring intently in the direction of the elevator, and frown slightly: "Do you know that person?"
Lu Ye hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "I know him. His name is Vasily."
Lu Ye briefly explained Vasily's situation.
Yuri frowned even more deeply after hearing this.
He stroked the stubble on his chin, a hint of strangeness in his voice: "A suspected spy taken away for questioning by the military police or intelligence agencies, how could he walk out unharmed? And even followed by a female officer of great importance? This is not in accordance with military regulations."
Yuri shook his head: "However, I've been out of the regular army for a long time, so I can't really judge the dirty dealings within the military."
"But Lu, take my advice. Regardless of whether he was your comrade-in-arms before, he's involved in very complicated matters now. You'd better be careful and not get yourself involved."
Lu Ye nodded without refuting.
He changed the subject, asking, "Boss, who was that female officer walking at the front just now? Which way did that corridor they came out of lead?"
"Yesterday I saw a fat man in the camp following her around, bowing and scraping."
"The command center for the entire camp is at the end of the corridor. As for that fat man?" Yuri scoffed, muttering to himself, "He's the highest-ranking person in charge of this camp."
"She's usually incredibly arrogant in front of us mercenaries. It seems this female officer has quite a background; she might be a powerful figure directly sent down from Moscow."
After hearing the explanation, Lu Ye didn't say anything more, but just looked thoughtfully in the direction where Vasily disappeared.
That gesture of drinking was an invitation to meet him.
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