Everyone's equipment was ready, but there were still thirty minutes before the plane officially took off.
In the lead-up to departure, there were numerous last-minute tasks to handle. At this moment, the core members of Team B were busy, leaving Long Zhan, an external reinforcement, as the most relaxed among them.
"Hey, Long, come help us out. Give Dr. Death over here a quick field lesson—he's scared out of his wits. Since you're tandem-jumping with him later, you might as well start communicating with him now."
Sunny, occupied with coordinating with two explosive specialists, handed over the task of mentoring Dr. Lucien, who had never performed a HAHO jump, to Long Zhan.
"Sure, leave it to me," Long Zhan replied without hesitation.
Not one to shirk responsibility, Long Zhan strode over to the clearly uneasy Dr. Lucien.
Researchers like Lucien, who spent most of their time in labs, often lacked physical fitness, so it was no surprise he didn't know how to skydive—even if he was from the CIA.
HAHO, a high-altitude high-opening jump, was an extreme sport unsuitable for beginners to attempt solo. Letting Lucien jump alone would essentially be sending him to his death.
Tandem jumping was the only viable solution.
Among military traditions stretching from the Navy SEALs to DG teams, the youngest member was always expected to take on the toughest tasks. Since Clay wasn't participating in this operation, the responsibility naturally fell on Long Zhan.
HAHO was already one of the world's top ten extreme sports, with undeniable risks. Adding a tandem jump doubled those risks. For the sake of both their safety, Long Zhan felt it necessary to thoroughly train Lucien.
"Hi, I'm Long. Nice to meet you," Long Zhan introduced himself with a smile, doing his best to appear approachable and not intimidate the thin and nervous Dr. Lucien with his muscular build.
"Nice to meet you," Lucien replied, tilting his head upward to meet Long's gaze. Despite his polite words, there was still a trace of fear in his eyes. The stark contrast in their physiques made Long's presence overwhelmingly imposing.
Standing before Long, whose physique resembled that of a grizzly bear, Lucien felt as fragile as a piece of tofu.
"Relax. There's no need to be so nervous," Long Zhan said, placing his massive hands gently on Lucien's shoulders and giving them a reassuring squeeze. "Loosen up. Don't tense your muscles so much.
"We're partners now, and we'll be completing this HAHO jump together. If you don't want us both to end up as a splatter on the ground, the first thing you need to do is relax. Don't stiffen up like a rock."
Long Zhan's powerful presence, though initially intimidating, gradually instilled a sense of trust. In the logic of survival, strength often equated to safety. Under Long's calming words, Lucien finally began to relax.
Deep down, Lucien believed that someone as competent as Long Zhan would undoubtedly ensure his safety, bringing him from the plane to the ground without incident.
With the first step—relaxation—achieved, Long Zhan moved on to the second.
"Come on, over here," Long said, motioning for Lucien to follow him to the rear hatch preparation area. He positioned Lucien in front of him, simulating the tandem jump stance.
"Let's practice the entire exit process in advance," Long explained. With his hands on Lucien's shoulders, he gently pushed him forward as they walked. "When the time comes, we'll wait in this prep area. Once the jump ramp opens, we'll slowly move forward like this.
"Keep walking steadily, no stopping or rushing. Maintain a stable pace and keep your body balanced.
"When you reach the edge, stop and close your eyes. Don't look down. Just stand there and do nothing.
"When I tap your shoulder twice, keep your eyes closed and tilt your body forward.
"You'll feel a strong sense of weightlessness, but don't panic or move. If you accidentally mess up the equipment, one of us might end up meeting our maker.
"Just keep your eyes shut and leave everything to me. I'll tap your shoulder twice again when we're about to land. That's your signal to open your eyes and prepare for the impact of landing.
"During landing, remember to keep your knees slightly bent. Never lock them straight, or you'll break your legs. Don't say I didn't warn you."
Long Zhan explained everything in meticulous detail, covering all the critical points.
For Lucien, the process boiled down to taking a few steps, then essentially closing his eyes and letting Long handle the rest—arguably the easiest HAHO experience in history.
"I think I got it," Lucien replied, though his tone lacked confidence. Despite being a CIA senior expert with an excellent memory, his nerves still got the better of him.
Long Zhan understood Lucien's anxiety. Stripped of his title, Lucien was no different from an ordinary person. Asking a regular person to jump from 10,000 meters was terrifying, and for someone with acrophobia, it was a nightmare.
Determined to build Lucien's confidence and ensure a successful landing, Long Zhan patiently rehearsed the jump process with him over a dozen times.
Watching the entire process, Sunny was deeply impressed by Long's patience. If it had been him, he'd rather crash like a human cannonball than hand-hold Lucien through each step like a child.
Sunny was also glad he had wisely delegated this task to Long.
After about six more rounds of practice, Lucien finally felt familiar with the process and had mostly calmed down. Sincerely, he said, "Long, thank you so much. I think I'm ready now."
"Good. Next, let's get acquainted with the equipment for the jump," Long replied, leading Lucien to the equipment crates on the left side.
Picking up a breathing mask with a thick tube, Long explained, "This is the pre-breathing mask. You'll use it before the jump to maintain your body's pressure balance.
"We're jumping from nearly 30,000 feet—higher than Mount Everest. Without pre-breathing to regulate pressure, you could pass out as soon as we exit the hatch, lose control, and end up spinning in freefall. Worst case? The parachute cords entangle you like a burrito, and you slam into the ground."
Long's vivid description sent a chill down Lucien's spine. Just as he'd started to relax, he reflexively grabbed a pre-breathing mask, opened the valve, and took a deep breath.
"Ha! Doctor, you're way too nervous," Long teased with a laugh. Using his signature dark humor, he added, "The odds of that happening are slim—lower than winning a $100 million jackpot in Powerball.
"And even if it does happen, you wouldn't feel any pain. You'd peacefully pass out and meet your end in unconscious bliss."