Chief Yarif led his elite guard under the cover of pervasive smoke and sand, stealthily approaching the reverse slope of the dune where Captain Don's command vehicle was stationed, like several Poison Snakes.
Near the command vehicle, there were only a few SBS members standing guard.
Don himself was pacing anxiously beside the command vehicle, occasionally lifting binoculars to view the fierce firefight on the high rocky terrain ahead, neurotically cursing.
"Captain! Yarif is coming!"
An SBS guard voiced a reminder.
Don abruptly put down the binoculars, his bloodshot eyes looking at the rapidly approaching pickup truck.
Yarif was the first to jump out of the vehicle, his face striving to maintain his usual calm, yet the deep-seated tension and resolve in his eyes were like needles piercing Don's nerves.
Don's heart sank heavily.
The gambler's intuition told him this was not a report on the battle situation.
"Yarif?"
Don's voice was wary as his hand subconsciously moved to the holster of his L9A1 pistol at his waist.
Yarif quickly walked up to Don and stopped a few steps away.
He did not salute, his voice deliberately calm yet carrying an indisputable formulaic tone: "Captain Don. According to direct orders from General Sai Fu of the Tripoli Military Committee, and clear instructions from London, the 'Operation Slit Throat' has been officially suspended. Given your defiance of orders, acting willfully, causing significant losses to the troops, your battlefield command is hereby officially revoked. Please surrender your weapon and cooperate with the investigation."
Instantly, the air solidified.
The muscles in Don's face spasmed violently, as if he had long expected this moment.
His face contorted into an extreme mix of violence and incredulity.
He stared at Yarif fervently, then glanced at the guards behind Yarif, who had their hands on their weapons, eyes unfriendly.
"Revoke... my command?"
Don's voice was as low as a beast's roar, each word squeezed out as if from Hell, "You? Yarif? That fool Sai Fu? And those bureaucrats in London sipping coffee in their offices?"
Yarif's hand also moved to the grip of his gun, his tone becoming forceful: "This is an order! Captain! Don't force me..."
"Order?!"
Don erupted suddenly, his all-day pent-up frustration, anger, fear, and madness completely bursting at this moment, turning into a will to destroy everything.
He moved like an enraged lion, unbelievably fast!
Drawing the gun, chambering a round, raising the arm, aiming!
A seamless flow!
The cold muzzle of the L9A1 pistol instantly locked onto Yarif's eyebrows!
"Screw your order!"
Don's roar was like a thunderclap!
"Bang—!"
The crisp gunshot was exceptionally piercing in the relatively quiet command post area.
Yarif's expression momentarily froze, transforming from a firm order-giver to one of extreme shock and bewilderment.
A tiny blood hole appeared on his forehead, his occipital bone suddenly bursting open into a fist-sized cavity, red and white fluid and bone shards sprayed forth, splashing onto the face of the guards behind him.
His body swayed, falling straight back, heavily onto the scorching yellow sand, his eyes still wide open, blankly staring at the blinding sun above the desert.
"Chief!"
Yarif's guard soldiers were stunned by the sudden bloody event, subconsciously shouting.
"Take action!"
Almost immediately after the gunshot, the SBS member who had been alert next to Don shouted sharply!
The members were exceptional, their reactions as swift as lightning, their SA-80 assault rifles instantly spewing fire!
Dadadadada—
Bullets accurately swept towards the nearest guard soldiers!
The gunshots ignited the powder keg!
"Protect the Captain!"
The other SBS members also reacted instantly! They were true elites, with mutual understanding and loyalty imprinted in their bones towards their direct commander.
Several assault rifles fired simultaneously!
Precise, deadly, merciless!
Pupupup!
"Ah—!"
The unprepared guard soldiers lamented like cut wheat, falling instantly four or five.
Some had their chests pierced, others had their necks ripped open, agonizing screams echoed.
The remaining guards then woke as if from a dream, frantically seeking cover and returning fire!