The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 489

With a creased map in hand, Percival trekked alongside Soren to a nearby abandoned mine.

At the mine's entrance, they stumbled upon a covert mark of White Tiger etched into the rock face, its meaning unclear yet undeniably significant. And there, scattered nearby, lay a cache of critical documents belonging to CK.

"Base, this is Soren. We've found the mark," Soren hollered into his headset.

A different voice crackled back, not Micah's as expected, but that of the HQ commander. "Copy that. Proceed underground."

Exchanging a glance, Percival and Soren strapped on their oxygen masks and descended into the bowels of the earth.

Markers bearing White Tiger's emblem appeared sporadically along the mine's tunnels—faded, but a trail they could follow nonetheless.

As they ventured deeper, the air grew thin, and a faint, metallic scent of blood wafted from the depths.

Suddenly, a clod of earth tumbled from directly above Percival.

"Run!" Percival barked, his eyes dark with urgency.

With lightning reflexes, Soren signaled to the team behind them, and the third squad retreated in a disciplined dash toward the exit.

Then, a thunderous collapse echoed from behind Soren.

"Captain!" He yelled.

"Get out of here. That's an order!" Percival's voice crackled through the headset as Soren could only glimpse his silhouette through the narrowing gaps in the debris.

"Captain, I'll get you out!" Soren halted along with a few others.

Percival's voice was icy. "Get lost. After you're out, find Vivienne!"

Leopold and Thomas, sensing the gravity of the situation, called out, "Captain, report your status!"

"Mine... Collapse... Get out..."

Percival's voice faded into static.

Ignoring the danger, Leopold and Thomas led their teams back toward Percival's last known location. However, before they could get close, a helicopter buzzed overhead, raining down bullets like a hailstorm.

Leopold and Thomas fought back while retreating to HQ. But unfamiliar with the terrain, the front squad often stumbled into collapsing tunnels, with some members falling into the abyss.

Regrouping with Thomas, Leopold boosted their firepower and rescued the wounded.

Back at HQ, Micah shouted into the mic, "Wolf, unidentified forces are attacking from above. Evacuate now!"

In the mine, Percival tossed aside his useless headset, shouting to Soren, "Comms are jammed. There's a signal blocker somewhere. Go support Husky."

Hearing the battle above, Soren knew staying meant certain death for all.

The only chance was to escape and return with reinforcements for Percival.

Tears streaming, Soren vowed, "Captain, wait for my return."

They narrowly escaped the mine, though not without injuries—broken limbs and, for Soren, a gashed head.

Once outside, his headset crackled back to life with Micah's voice urging Wolf to pull back.

Gritting his teeth, Soren radioed, "HQ, Wolf’s comms are down. Send me the coordinates of the hostile fire. Now!"

There was no time to consider the consequences. They had to down the helicopters to cut off the attack and minimize casualties.

Micah cursed and relayed the information.

The three squads swiftly ended the fight, downing two helicopters, while the third vanished.

Regrouped at the rendezvous point, with casualties among them, they awaited further orders.

Soren, his head hastily bandaged, relayed Percival's location to Leopold, insisting they had to go back.

"Damn it!" Leopold took two rifles from the other members and strapped them on, his voice a mix of anger and resolve. "First squad, anyone who can still move, on me."

Thomas echoed the sentiment. "Second squad, with me."