Chapter 83 Parting and Reunion

The intense bombing by the Soviet army had just ended, and the brave ship that had sought refuge offshore returned to the dock. Civilians who had hidden from the air raids emerged like determined ants, flocking back to the pier. Soldiers stationed in the dock area promptly appeared, some busy treating the wounded and carrying corpses, others arriving at the pier ahead of the civilians, coordinating with sailors on the ship to re-tie ropes, stabilize gangways, and maintain order.

This time, Lynn and the White Goatbeard family boldly secured a very forward position. As the soldiers began allowing passage, Lynn, with his robust physique, shielded the family of three from behind, moving them forward. To save time and speed up the process, the soldiers maintaining order indeed refrained from checking the refugees' identification tags again. But just as Lynn thought he would smoothly board the ship, a soldier wearing a boat-shaped cap stepped forward, blocking him and loudly exclaimed after scrutinizing him, "You're not wounded!"

At this moment, the White Goatbeard and his wife had already climbed aboard with their luggage. Lynn hurriedly explained, "I've been tasked with escorting them onto the ship!"

The soldier, looking cold and indifferent, said, "The girl can board, but unless you have official documents, your escort mission ends here!"

"I only have verbal orders from my superior!" Lynn attempted to deceive, but the soldier remained unmoved, shaking his head coldly.

Seeing himself and little Karis about to be pushed aside by the civilians behind them eager to board, Lynn tried to squeeze onto the gangway. However, the soldier's strength was no less than his own, and sensing the situation changing, he raised his rifle and firmly blocked Lynn. Another soldier beside him also turned around, slightly shorter but no less intimidating.

With no other option, Lynn shouted loudly to the soldier in front of him, "Let the girl go with her mother, they are on the gangway!"

The stern soldier nodded, released his grip on the rifle with his right hand, and took Karis from Lynn's arms. "You step aside, I'll take her up!" he said.

Perhaps startled by the crowded crowd around her, Karis showed no resistance as the soldier carried her onto the gangway. The mother, eager to reunite with her daughter, had almost been pushed over by the people on the gangway and hurriedly picked up her daughter.

Overwhelmed by the force of the crowd, Lynn was pushed aside, forced to watch. He could only shout to the mother and daughter on the gangway, "Alice, you go first, I'll find you!"

The mother held her daughter tightly—Lynn had never seen her hold Karis so tightly before. She seemed to nod at him, but she didn't speak, nor did she have time to speak, as her weak body followed the anxious crowd up the gangway.

Pushed back a step by the crowded crowd, Lynn felt helpless. He raised his right hand and shouted with all his might, "Alice, take care, take care of Karis! I'll find you!"

With the White Goatbeard family safely boarding the ship, Lynn finally breathed a sigh of relief. He thought of the unfinished pieces of bread, all of which he had stuffed into their luggage. Despite his disappointment, there was some comfort in knowing that he had safely escorted the family of three onto the ship.

"Dad! Daddy!"

Only now did little Karis wake up as if from a dream, unable to see her father's figure. She cried out anxiously, her childlike screams piercing through the noisy environment, reaching Lynn's ears.

"Karis, Karis!" Lynn shouted loudly, shaking his hands, but the chaotic environment interfered with the child's vision, leaving her helpless. The mother and White Goatbeard, after meeting at the ship's side, had to walk towards the stern because of the surging crowd.

Lynn finally lowered his hands, feeling a sense of loss. His gaze fell on the soldier who had prevented him from boarding the ship, and he suddenly lost control, cursing in Chinese, "Bastard! You bastard! Breaking up families, you bastard!"

As the words came out, even Lynn himself realized how powerless they were. These soldiers were only adhering to a civilian-first, military-last order, what was wrong with that?

Unable to see the White Goatbeard family anymore, Lynn felt drained of energy, extremely tired. He bent over, hands on his knees, breathing heavily.

"It's over!

Be it dewy romance or war love, it ended just like that… well!

Despite the rational voice saying so, as the ship filled with evacuating civilians and wounded sounded a long whistle, announcing the start of a new journey, he still stood on the dock, unwilling to leave, watching it slowly disappear from sight along with those who couldn't board.

Everything happened so suddenly, and the end was equally abrupt, leaving Lynn feeling somewhat dazed.

Under the soldiers' advice, the civilians and wounded who couldn't board slowly retreated to the area outside the dock to continue waiting. Perhaps they mistook Lynn for a member of the guarding troops, as no one asked him to leave or called him to help. Thus, amidst the bustling soldiers, he felt particularly lonely.

The White Goatbeard family sailed away, but where should he go? Lynn suddenly realized he had never considered this question. Since he had made up his mind to sell his special pass, he had always thought he would definitely stay or leave with them.

Walking back with his head down, thinking that he might go back to the Kyle Hotel to reapply for a special pass to return, Lynn suddenly saw a group of soldiers walking towards him and quickly stepped aside. Hearing their exceptionally neat footsteps, reminiscent of a parade, he wondered if they were...

Surprisingly lifting his head, indeed, they were the "Night Raiders." Dark-colored helmets with mesh covers, dark pea camouflage, and assault rifles equipped with infrared night vision equipment—all of it exuded their mystery and extraordinariness.

Counting them roughly, this group of "Night Raiders" totaled more than thirty people, and about half of them were carrying square battery boxes on their backs. Several of them had bandages wrapped around their arms, and their neat footsteps couldn't hide their exhaustion and dishevelment.

Recalling the battle he had fought with the "Night Raiders" raiding the Soviet camp, Lynn was both terrified and excited. Although it was dark now, he still tried to find one or two familiar faces among them. Unfortunately, when everyone had passed, this futile wish remained unfulfilled.

With a sigh, he continued walking with his head down. As everyone had already left the dock, Lynn suddenly heard a familiar voice. When he looked up, the person happened to pass by from the side. Perhaps remembering Lynn's figure, the person also turned his head, and their eyes met.

"Hey, it's you!"

Both of them spontaneously spoke, but neither could recall the other's name.

The sergeant in front of Lynn was the "Night Raider" he had participated in the night raid with. During the final stretch, Lynn had even helped him carry a heavy battery box. Although the impression wasn't as deep as that of the tall officer, as it had only been a few days, coupled with minimal changes in their appearance and attire, recognizing each other at a glance wasn't surprising.

Rarely meeting again, the sergeant didn't rush to exchange pleasantries with Lynn but instead said to the officer beside him, "Sir, this is the soldier I mentioned to you!"

Lynn then noticed the young officer in black leather standing next to him. He was about the same height as Lynn, with a lip mustache that didn't quite match his age, and a handsome, sharp-faced look with piercing eyes exuding a sense of sharpness.

Upon hearing the sergeant's words, the young officer politely took off his gloves and extended his right hand. "Hello, soldier! Eric says you are not only brave and skilled but also level-headed and have a broad view of the situation!"

The tone of this sentence didn't carry the superiority of an officer over a soldier, nor did it have the coldness of formal compliments. It felt comfortable to hear, without any sense of mocking or disdain.

Lynn quickly took off his woolen gloves and shook hands with the officer. Out of courtesy, he introduced himself first. "My name is Lynn Gagor, belonging to the Waffen-SS 'Nordland' Division. It's an honor to meet you, sir!"

"Oh, Nordland Division!" The officer pondered for a moment. "It withdrew to the homeland half a month ago, didn't it? So, what brings you here..."

"We got separated in the battle, and I followed the corporal and some other companions as we fought and retreated to East Prussia. Most of them died, and I'm now preparing to return to my unit!" Lynn had long thought of this explanation to face possible inquiries from sentries when boarding the ship, and he remembered it well, fitting the situation perfectly.

"I see!" The young officer nodded slightly. "Waffen-SS Private Lynn Gagor, I am SS Special Action Force Commander, First Level, Laurenz Bach. In the name of the Great Führer and the National Leader of the SS, I now summon you to join my unit. Of course, you are completely free to refuse!"

If it were ten minutes ago, Lynn might have considered it, but now, being alone and helpless, he couldn't wish for anything more than to join such an elite unit. Where would he refuse?