When Tang Zelong mentioned Lafayette's background, his eyes revealed a sense of wariness.
As a special member of the Dragon Team, Tang Zelong possessed more information and therefore had a deeper understanding of Lafayette. He had been observing Lafayette and believed that Lafayette's strength exceeded expectations. He was likely more than just a Seven-Star War God; there was a possibility that this old man had been hiding his true abilities.
"How powerful is he? Could he be more influential than our sharpshooter, Yang Yue?" Bai Yang felt quite displeased and cast a glance at the woman with the bow and arrow.
Among the three of them, Yang Yue had the most formidable background. Under her family's guidance, she had never missed a shot, with her arrows possessing greater power than a Barrett rifle. Her strength was truly terrifying.
In an era dominated by airplanes and cannons, the fact that an archer still possessed such killing power was nothing short of a miracle.
"Bai Yang, don't bring me into this." Yang Yue glared at Bai Yang.
Bai Yang recoiled, not daring to mention Yang Yue's background again. He turned his gaze towards Lafayette's mansion, feeling quite displeased. "I can't stand this old man. He dabbles in both the underworld and the righteous path, and he treats members of our Dragon Team the same way."
Tang Zelong's expression turned grave as he spoke in a low voice, "Enough with the complaints. This person is more formidable than we imagined. He has connections with our team leader, and who knows if he is in contact with other high-level figures as well."
"Regardless, the three of us can't afford to provoke him."
Having been observing Lafayette all this time, Tang Zelong noticed that Lafayette showed no reaction when their team leader was mentioned. This indicated that Lafayette possessed a trump card even stronger than the Dragon Team's leader and was not someone to be trifled with.
With that, Tang Zelong left directly.
Bai Yang and Yang Yue followed suit.
The three of them got into their car and left Lafayette's villa, speeding through the city.
On the way, Bai Yang suddenly asked, "Considering Lafayette's formidable background, how powerful must Wang Chao be to suppress him?"
"Boss, I request permission to monitor Wang Chao. I have a feeling that he is more dangerous than Lafayette," Yang Yue suggested.
Tang Zelong gave her a stern look. "Didn't I already say it? If there's no need, don't provoke that person!"
"Alright, the issue is resolved now. The foreign mercenaries have been dealt with, and our mission is complete. Let's go our separate ways."
With that, he stepped on the accelerator, quickly speeding away. Finally, he stopped at the entrance of a university and turned to Yang Yue. "Alright, Yang Yue, you can go back to continue your studies now. I will notify you when there's a mission."
Yang Yue nodded, shouldered her bow and arrows, got out of the car, and walked into the campus.
"Hello, Senior Yang."
"Senior Yang, practicing archery again today? Are you aiming for an Olympic gold medal?"
"Senior Yang is truly beautiful, a modern-day Galahad."
"That's amazing. I also want to become someone like Senior Yang, bringing glory to our country."
As soon as Yang Yue entered the university, she immediately attracted the attention of many students, sparking lively discussions.
Almost everyone looked at Yang Yue with envy and jealousy.
Inside the car, Bai Yang gazed at Yang Yue's figure and sighed, "Yang Senior Sister is truly a winner in life. She comes from a noble background, possesses exceptional talent, joined the Dragon Team at a young age, and even became an Olympic archer. She has so many fans."
"Even if she retires from the Dragon Team in the future, she could become a star, do endorsements, and take on advertisements, earning a lot of money."
He paused, as if remembering something, and sighed again, "Fate treats everyone differently. I'm also a member of the Dragon Team, yet I can't even afford a house in the center of Canton."
His tone was filled with a mixture of emotions, including a sense of resentment.
Tang Zelong furrowed his brow slightly and said, "How about I lend you money to buy one?"
"No need. I can differentiate between work and personal matters. If it's not arranged by the organization, then I'll pass."
Bai Yang let out another long sigh and said, "A house in the center of Canton costs at least three million, with a down payment of nearly one million. The monthly mortgage starts at ten to twenty thousand. Even if you're willing to lend me money, I still can't repay it, let alone afford the monthly payments."
Tang Zelong remained silent, driving away from the university towards a specific direction.
Bai Yang looked at the tall buildings along the way, his eyes filled with sorrow and unwillingness. He lamented, "Tell me, as members of the Dragon Team, we sacrifice our lives and shed blood for the country, achieving remarkable military feats."
"Why is it that I can't earn the bonus to buy a house?"
"In ancient times, warriors were rewarded with gold and titles for their achievements. I've done so much."
"And yet, all I've received is honor. I still can't afford a house."
He paused and continued, "Sometimes I really don't understand why housing prices are so high."
Tang Zelong glanced at him and sighed as well, saying, "Enough with the lamenting. The bonuses the country gives you are actually quite substantial."
"If you didn't donate that money to impoverished areas, you would have already bought a house in the city center with full payment."
"You have a kind heart and can't bear to see those children in poverty-stricken areas suffer."
"Captain, as members of the Dragon Team, shouldn't we do more than just defend against foreign invasions? We should also contribute to society. Don't be fooled by the country's prosperity; there are still many impoverished places," Bai Yang said.
"But your way of helping isn't a solution," Tang Zelong responded.
"Doing a little is still something, sigh~"
Bai Yang sighed deeply, his eyes filled with love but also a sense of powerlessness.
Tang Zelong fell into silence as well.
He was well aware that there were many poverty-stricken areas and people in the country, and that the lives of the residents in some of these areas were extremely difficult.
However, personal capabilities are limited.
As members of the Dragon Team, they had to monitor various forces, be vigilant against foreign mercenaries' invasions and threats, and be prepared for combat at all times. They simply didn't have the time to personally improve the situation in those areas.
After each training session or battle, Bai Yang would use the money he earned to support impoverished areas. Unfortunately, his personal capabilities were limited, and he could not handle so much on his own.
It was precisely because of his philanthropic endeavors that Bai Yang could not make ends meet each month and couldn't afford a house in Canton. He could only live in the dormitory provided by the company.
After a moment, Tang Zelong spoke up, "People should do what suits them. I believe the country will have its own arrangements."
Bai Yang looked out the window, chuckled self-deprecatingly, and remained silent.
Soon, the car arrived at the entrance of a restaurant.
Bai Yang put his knife in a long box and walked into the restaurant.
Upon seeing Bai Yang, the waiter immediately showed a respectful expression and greeted him, "Hello, Chef Bai."
Bai Yang nodded and, with his combat knife on his back, entered the kitchen. He placed the box down, picked up a chef's knife, and began cutting vegetables and cooking.
Hidden in plain sight!
Many members of the Dragon Team did not live in training bases but instead worked or studied in the city center, appearing as ordinary members of society.
Tang Zelong left the restaurant and drove straight to a government agency in Canton.
While driving, he made a phone call to the high-ranking members of the Dragon Team. "Captain Liao, I request a salary increase for the team!"
"How much do you desire to increase?"
"An additional 100,000 per person per month!"