Negotiations began.
Ashraf, holding his Mosin-Nagant, sat against a stone on the ground, his face wrought with distress but still trying hard to squeeze out a smile, much like an old farmer who toiled all day but could not sate his hunger.
Atiq wore a white robe, a new one; he didn't carry a rifle on his shoulders, nor did his son accompany him, but there were two extra young men in camouflage behind him.
Judging by the bulging clothes of the two young men, they were either carrying grenades or bombs underneath, clearly prepared to part ways in a blow if the talks failed—that is, ready for everyone to perish together.
As for Andrew, he donned a camouflage uniform but with military rank insignia, and it was the rank of brigadier general.
Gao Yuan, acting as the intermediary, stood in the middle, with Atiq on the left and Andrew on the right, and facing him was Li Yang.
