The Rise of a Special Forces Soldier Abandoned by a Wealthy Family

Professor Lin and his wife returned safely to China.

A seemingly routine conversation gradually unveiled the mystery surrounding Squad Zero.

The presence of Minister of State Security Li Weiguo made this conversation anything but ordinary...

In a confidential meeting room of the Ministry of State Security of China, Professor Lin Zhenhua and his wife Su Wan sat facing each other.

Despite having just experienced a terrifying kidnapping by terrorists, the couple's faces showed undisguised joy and relief.

"Professor Lin, Professor Su, thank you both for your cooperation."

The young security official opened his notebook:

"This is just a routine inquiry, please don't be nervous."

Professor Lin nodded gently:

"We understand, please feel free to ask any questions."

Halfway through the questioning, the meeting room door was gently pushed open.

A middle-aged man dressed in a Zhongshan suit, with a calm demeanor, walked in.

The attendants behind him gestured to the official who had been questioning them:

"Minister Li is here. Leave this to us."

The questioning officer immediately stood up and saluted.

Then he and the attendant who had just spoken quietly left the room.

Minister Li Weiguo sat down opposite the couple, a gentle smile on his face:

"Professor Lin, Professor Su, I am Li Weiguo, Minister of the Ministry of State Security of China."

"First of all, on behalf of the country, I welcome you back safely."

Su Wan bowed slightly: "Thank you for your concern, Minister."

"The following conversation is classified as top secret."

Li Weiguo's tone became serious:

"But please don't misunderstand, this is not an interrogation, but a sincere conversation between the three of us."

He opened a folder, looking at the couple with a sharp yet respectful gaze:

"First question: Is Little Sparrow, the information expert for Team Zero, your long-lost daughter Lin Xiaoya?"

Professor Lin and Su Wan exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

After a moment of silence, Professor Lin slowly nodded:

"Yes, she is our daughter Xiaoya, whom we have been separated from for eleven years."

Tears welled up in Su Wan's eyes instantly, and she added:

"Although she initially tried to avoid me and changed her voice, my maternal instincts told me that it was our child."

"And...she later admitted it herself."

A complex look flashed across Minister Li Weiguo's eyes as he continued to ask:

"Second question: You should have met with the members of Squad Zero. Are they all from China?"

"Approximately what age group?"

"Of the four core members we met, the other three are Chinese."

Professor Lin replied:

"Captain Zero, Information Expert Little Sparrow—that's our daughter, Xiaoya!"

"And those players named Tiedun and Lengci are both from China."

Su Wan continued:

"Surprisingly young age."

"Xiaoya is 16 years old this year, Zero looks about 20 years old, but he said his actual age is 18."

"Coldthorn and Iron Dun are 17 years old, they said it themselves."

Minister Li noted down this information and moved on to the third question:

"Did they explicitly state the purpose of this rescue operation?"

The couple looked at each other again, and Professor Lin smiled wryly:

"At first we were also confused, and even doubted their motives."

"We didn't understand until Xiaoya admitted her identity—"

"This operation was entirely to save us two old bones."

Su Wan wiped her eyes:

"That child...she's right in front of me, but we can't acknowledge her because of security reasons. How painful that must be for her..."

Minister Li Weiguo paused for a moment before asking the last question:

"Are you familiar with the backgrounds of the other three members who are of Chinese nationality?"

Professor Lin shook his head: They were very cautious and didn't reveal much.

All we know is that Zero was an orphan who was abandoned at birth and was adopted by Baroque, the leader of Hellfire.

Like Little Sparrow, Iron Pit and Cold Thorn were all trafficked to Africa and rescued by Hellfire along the way!

But none of them mentioned their family background.

Perhaps it's out of worry.

So they demonstrated what they could say.

What cannot be said will not be shown to us.

Su Wan added:

"However, I can sense that although these children have experienced many hardships, their hearts are with China."

"Zero repeatedly emphasized 'We are Chinese from the Dragon Kingdom'—"

"Moreover, they took meticulous care of us during the rescue."

Minister Li Weiguo closed the folder and let out a long sigh of relief:

"Thank you both for your candor. This information is very important to us."

He stood up and bowed solemnly to the couple:

"On behalf of the nation, I thank you for raising such an outstanding daughter—"

"Thank you for providing us with crucial information to protect these heroes."

Professor Lin quickly stood up:

"Minister, you flatter me."

"We should say we are grateful for the country's commitment to protect Xiaoya and the others!"

"They were so young, yet they experienced life and death in the flames of war every single day!"

"Although...although her path to adulthood was somewhat unique."

"But I can imagine how cruel and difficult their childhood must have been..."

"My heart aches whenever I think about these things."

"Every era needs different heroes."

Li Weiguo said meaningfully:

"Some heroes stand in the light to receive applause, while others must hide in the darkness to protect the light."

He walked to the window and gazed at the bustling capital city outside:

"The members of Squad Zero are such guardians of darkness."

"They chose the most difficult path and undertook the most dangerous mission."

Turning around, Li Weiguo's eyes were firm:

"But now that the country knows about their existence and identity, it will do everything in its power to protect them."

Even if they are far overseas, even if they are in the shadows.

Su Wan asked worriedly:

"Minister, are Xiaoya and the others... in danger?"

"You all know their situation and the nature of their team, so there's danger at any time," Li Weiguo frankly stated.

"But knowing their Chinese heritage and age characteristics will allow us to provide better covert protection."

"For example, by exerting pressure through international cooperation, or by providing assistance under certain 'coincidences'."

He smiled slightly:

"Sometimes, a sudden diplomatic note, or an unexpected joint military exercise—"

"They can create a safe space for them without them even realizing it."

Professor Lin seemed thoughtful: "That's why you need to know these things..."

"Knowledge is power," Li Weiguo nodded.

"The more we know, the more we can do."

"For example, I now know that the core members of Squad Zero are all young Chinese people—"

"Then any action taken against them will be considered a threat to the citizens of the Dragon Kingdom."

After the meeting, Li Weiguo personally escorted the couple out of the Ministry of State Security building.

Before parting, he solemnly promised:

"Rest assured, the content of today's conversation is known only to a few people at the very top."

"We will protect this information as if it were a national treasure—"

"We will protect these children as we would protect our own family members—"

"No matter where or where they are abroad."

Watching Professor Lin and his wife leave by car, Minister Li Weiguo stood on the steps for a long time without leaving.

The assistant behind him asked softly, "Minister, are we really going to use national resources to protect these...mercenaries?"

Li Weiguo turned his head, his gaze sharp:

"Those are no ordinary mercenaries; they are heroes with the blood of the Dragon Kingdom flowing through their veins."

"No matter where they are, or what they are fighting for—"

"As long as their hearts are with their motherland, they are family members we must protect."

Back in his office, Li Weiguo signed a top-secret document, the title of which was:

Implementation Plan for the Protection Program for Special Overseas Personnel with Dragon Nationality

In the file, the codename of Squad Zero was quietly added to the protected list.

Meanwhile, Ling Ye and Lin Que were far away at Harvard University!

And the members of Squad Zero scattered around the world are still unaware of this.

But what they didn't know was that from this moment on, they had a powerful protector behind them—the motherland, the Dragon Kingdom.

And this guardian's gaze will always be fixed on these young people who protect the light in the shadows.