Long Zhan and Clay returned to the base, packed their personal belongings, and collected the equipment needed for the third phase of training. Meanwhile, Brian finished his day's training and headed back to the dormitory.
"Hey, look who's here! Welcome back, my heroes!"
Brian walked into the room, his excitement overriding the fact that he was still drenched in sweat from training. With open arms, he approached Long Zhan and Clay enthusiastically.
"I'd love to be a hero, but unfortunately..."
Clay hugged Brian briefly, then trailed off, pursing his lips with a touch of frustration. His gaze involuntarily shifted toward Long Zhan, tinged with envy.
The truth was, Clay wasn't satisfied with his own performance. Compared to Long Zhan's achievements, his efforts seemed lackluster.
"Even being able to fight alongside Team B is an accomplishment. Look at me—I didn't even get the chance," Brian remarked, noticing Clay's low spirits. He could sense that his old buddy must have hit a snag again and tried to cheer him up with some self-deprecating humor.
Turning to Long Zhan, whose massive frame made hugging awkward, Brian offered a fist bump instead.
"It seems like our powerhouse has done something extraordinary again. Come on, share the good news with me!"
Brian had complete admiration for Long Zhan, and his eager eyes betrayed his anticipation of hearing thrilling stories from his exploits.
"You're in no shape to chat right now. That sweat stench of yours could knock out an elephant," Long Zhan teased, feigning exaggerated disgust as he covered his nose. Then, with a glint of anticipation, he suggested, "It's been a while since the three of us hung out. How about hitting up the Sexy Lady Bar? Drinks and stories—what do you say?"
"I think that's an excellent idea," Clay chimed in immediately, his tone carrying a hint of drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
"Oh, sorry! I was so excited to see you guys, I completely forgot. Give me a few minutes. Tonight's expenses are on me—consider it my treat for your return," Brian said with a laugh. He sniffed his clothes, realizing how bad they smelled, then grabbed a fresh set of casual wear from his bed and headed downstairs to the showers.
"Hey, wait up, Brian! I need to clean up too. Who knows? I might run into that hot girl in the spaghetti strap top from last time and finally win her over," Long Zhan said, grinning as memories of the bar's lively atmosphere stirred his imagination. He pulled a change of clothes from his bag, his excitement palpable.
"Yeah, right. When you crash and burn, just watch me swoop in and win her over instead. You may beat me in everything else, but when it comes to women, I have to win," Clay retorted, his competitive streak shining through as he prepared to outshine Long Zhan in this one area.
"Don't forget about our bet. Clay and I are still waiting for you to wash our socks, haha!" Brian joked as he laughed heartily from the doorway.
"Whatever!"
Long Zhan flipped both of them off—one hand for Clay and the other for Brian.
---
By 8 PM, the Green Team's "Three Musketeers" arrived at the Sexy Lady Bar, dressed to impress. They were among the first customers to enter the venue, which, as a nightlife hotspot, was still relatively quiet at this hour.
For the trio, though, arriving early was an advantage. It gave them time to pick a good spot, enjoy some drinks, and chat while scouting for potential romantic interests.
Each ordered their preferred drink and settled in a discreet corner. As they relaxed, Brian's curiosity got the better of him.
Having missed the chance to join Team B as an auxiliary, he felt a lingering sense of regret. This made him especially eager to hear about their experiences.
Brian peppered Long Zhan and Clay with questions: How were the seasoned Team B members toward newcomers? Were they easy to get along with during missions? Were there any notable stories or moments of danger?
Long Zhan and Clay didn't hold back. Since the mission wasn't classified, they answered most of Brian's questions in detail.
Clay, in particular, recounted his takedown of Samir with great enthusiasm, describing the entire process to Brian. He hoped to validate that Jason's criticisms of his actions were unfounded, expecting Brian, his close friend, to side with him.
Unfortunately, Brian didn't see it that way.
"Clay, I've always believed that with your skills, you could easily pass the Green Team selection and become a top-tier operative. But there's a catch—you can't keep acting like a lone wolf, trying to handle everything on your own. That's not a good mindset," Brian said earnestly.
As a true friend, Brian didn't hold back. He pointed out Clay's flaws bluntly, even knowing it might upset him. It was the kind of advice only a genuine friend would give—one who genuinely wanted to see him improve.
If it were just a casual drinking buddy, Brian wouldn't have bothered going to such lengths, preferring instead to avoid conflict.
"Are you joking, brother?" Clay protested. He took a long swig of his drink, then said with bravado, "In the elite circles of the Ocean Team's first tier, teamwork is nonsense.
"They're looking for all-star players—flawless individuals who stand out from the rest. Only by being exceptional can you attract their attention and successfully rise to the top."
Clay's words were clearly directed at Long Zhan, whom he saw as a living example of this philosophy.
But Clay had misunderstood.
What had earned Long Zhan the admiration of Jason and Sonny, the approval of Team B's members in under a week, and the camaraderie of female operatives Diaz and Mandy was not dazzling solo performances.
It was precisely what Clay lacked: impeccable teamwork.
Whether clearing rooms with Jason and Brock or providing suppressive fire with Sonny, Long Zhan seamlessly coordinated with his team, never making even the smallest mistake.
In contrast, during the entire mission, Clay spent most of his time operating solo.
The comparison was stark—and the results spoke for themselves.