The woman at the conference table was none other than Mandy, the exclusive foreign intelligence officer for Team B.
Long Zhan wanted to laugh because his nickname "Violent Boy" had been earned by knocking out this CIA senior intelligence officer with a single punch, an incident that had led to his inexplicable acquisition of the name.
The awkward part was that, unless something unexpected happened, the two were highly likely to become colleagues and comrades in the future.
From the look in Mandy's eyes as she glanced at him, Long Zhan could easily tell that she hadn't let go of that incident yet.
Even though it had been just training, and even though it had been nearly three months since it happened.
"It looks like I should find a chance to buy her a drink and ease her mind. I need to resolve this woman's lingering grudge. Whether it's now or after I retire with the money, professional intelligence personnel like her are incredibly valuable to me. It would be even better if we could become friends."
Long Zhan understood the importance of information and connections when working away from home. To build a fortune from nothing, he wasn't about to let any opportunity slip away.
So, instead of avoiding Mandy's gaze, he raised his hand and waved in greeting with a smile.
"Hi!"
Mandy hadn't expected Long Zhan to take the initiative and greet her despite the unfriendly look in her eyes. For a moment, she almost didn't know how to react.
Fortunately, as an intelligence officer who relied on her wits, she quickly composed herself and responded.
Her previously displeased mood seemed to improve inexplicably, and she no longer felt as repulsed by this bulky, violent man.
Instead, there was a faint trace of...
That damn manly charm!
Long Zhan's ability to read microexpressions was sharp, and he immediately caught the change in Mandy's gaze.
Recalling their only prior interaction, he couldn't help but indulge in a mischievous thought: "Could it be... that Mandy is one of those SM enthusiasts?"
"Hey, kid, we meet again."
Long Zhan's wandering thoughts were interrupted by a call.
"I knew you had the strength to make it up from the first floor, but I didn't expect you to do it so quickly. Well done."
Sonny raised his hand to greet Long Zhan, using his foot to pull over a chair and set it beside him. "Come sit here."
"No, thanks. I don't want to just sit once."
The best things are always the ones that are hardest to get. Long Zhan declined Sonny's invitation and deliberately asked with implied meaning, "Can you tell me where B6 is? I think that position is better suited for me."
Well, well!
The moment Long Zhan said that, he became the center of attention.
He had only just joined Team B as a one-time foreign recruit, and yet here he was boldly claiming the vacant B6 position.
The sheer courage to speak those words alone defeated all previous newcomers.
Even Clay, who usually had little respect for Long Zhan, found himself stunned!
Even though he had been chasing after Long Zhan as his target, at this moment, he couldn't help but admit, "Haha, well played."
Sonny was amused by Long Zhan's words. He pointed to the lower right corner of the desk. "B6 is that position. If you think you can handle it, if you're confident enough, I don't mind letting you take it."
"This kid is still as arrogant as the first time we met him," Ray said to Jason.
"No, no," Jason shook his head, smiling. "I think this is confidence. The B6 position has been vacant for a while. Maybe it's time to consider him."
"Maybe," Ray shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, his gaze drifting toward Clay.
"Alright, everyone, quiet down," Diaz clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention.
After the atmosphere had calmed, he introduced, "These two newcomers from Green Team will be joining us as foreign recruits for this operation. I hope you all can work well together. Now, introduce yourselves."
"I'm Long 'Jibolon.' I'd prefer it if you just called me Long. I'm glad to be working with you all."
"I'm Clay Spencer, from SEAL Team 2 Alpha, Helicopter Squadron 2, DEVGRU has always been my goal, and it's an honor to be part of this operation."
Long Zhan and Clay introduced themselves in turn, but no one applauded or stood to greet them.
The atmosphere was awkward for a moment.
Clay felt a bit uneasy about the scene and even slightly nervous.
In contrast, Long Zhan didn't seem bothered at all. He knew that the veterans here were all proud, and gaining their respect would depend on his strength—flattering them wouldn't help one bit.
After the introductions, he stood up and walked over, plopping down into the B6 seat.
He also pulled over an iron-backed chair and placed it next to him, calling out to Clay, "Why are you standing there like a fool? Come sit."
"Jason's judgment is spot on."
Long Zhan's confident behavior since entering caught the attention of the captain, who sat at the left front of the desk. He tapped the table and said, "Everyone's here, let's start the meeting. Mandy, it's all yours now."
"OK!" Mandy nodded and addressed everyone, "Gentlemen, I know some of you might be tired of hearing this, but this is a very important HVT operation. The target is of high value, so I need to reiterate some key points."
After a brief opening, Mandy picked up the remote and began operating it.
She dimmed the lights and activated the projector...
"Finally, the first real DG mission. Whether I get into Team B depends on this one. I hope the reality matches the drama I know," Long Zhan thought, feeling a bit excited.
"Abu Samir Masri."
Mandy pointed to the photo that appeared on the projection. "He is a senior commander from Iraq and the Levant, the true mastermind behind several attacks on coalition forces in Iraq.
In the past few months, we've discovered that Samir has been frequently meeting with local jihadist leaders in Central Africa.
According to reliable information, he will meet with some Boko Haram members in two days. The department believes this is a great opportunity to capture him."