Chapter Fourteen: The Maiden and the Slaughter

The large German base stood imposing. Surrounded securely by a three-meter-high iron fence, it resembled a fortress, with only the main gate left unguarded by the iron mesh. Even there, artillery turrets and nearly thirty well-equipped German soldiers maintained a vigilant watch.

It was deep into the night. Some of the guards stifled yawns, weary from their shift. Suddenly, the sound of an engine approached, and a German military vehicle drew near to the main gate.

"Stop! Stop!"

Though the vehicle was clearly one of their own, the gate guards lowered the barricade and brought the military car to a halt.

"What's going on?" The gate captain, his beard thick and unruly, approached with a squad of armed soldiers, rapping on the window.

The driver inside, wearing a flat leather cap, quickly rolled down the window and handed over his soldier's credentials, responding in a hoarse, tired German: "Uh, military supplies."

"Routine inspection," the captain ordered with a wave. Three or four soldiers briskly moved to inspect the cargo in the rear compartment.

Within moments, the inspecting soldiers returned, a hint of unease in their movements. They leaned in to whisper a few words to the captain.

Noticing the captain's gaze settle on him, Kyle—disguised as the driver—arched his eyebrow and instinctively pressed the brim of his cap lower, shadows obscuring most of his youthful features.

Had he been exposed?

Kyle kept his expression neutral, but his body was taut with tension. If the German guards realized his true identity, he would immediately use his stealth skill for forced instant movement and escape.

The captain waved the inspecting soldiers back, then stepped alone to the driver's window.

As Kyle remained on guard, the captain's stern expression unexpectedly melted into a smile. He cheerfully fished out a rolled cigarette from his pocket and handed it through the window. "Brother, running errands for the officers at this hour—must be tough on you."

Kyle accepted the cigarette naturally, his cool demeanor unwavering. "Thank you, it's my duty."

"Alright. Let him through!" the captain shouted. The gate barricade lifted at once. Kyle wasted no time, pressing the accelerator, and the military vehicle growled as it entered the base.

Inside was nothing like a temporary front. Especially in a German base famed for its strict discipline, the interior roads were wide enough for two vehicles to pass side by side. Camps, built from wood or tents, lined both sides.

Even within the base, every few dozen meters, lights illuminated the way, and patrol squads of six German soldiers roamed constantly.

Kyle kept a careful watch on the patrols' locations as he drove deeper into the base, heading toward the vast vehicle depot where supplies were stored.

The supply depot was silent and deserted. Kyle took advantage, switched off the engine, and parked.

He didn't rush to activate his stealth. Instead, he walked straight to the rear compartment.

"I was careless earlier, forgot to check what exactly this stolen military vehicle was transporting. To receive such courtesy from the gate captain, just for a driver..." Kyle murmured, pondering. The cardified Nepalese military knife was already gripped in his right hand as he pulled open the iron latch on the rear compartment with his left.

The iron door creaked open, and from within came a faint whimper.

"What—?" Kyle frowned, leaping lightly into the compartment. As his vision adjusted to the darkness, he saw the so-called 'supplies' were, unmistakably, a girl.

Yes, a girl—no more than sixteen, a white girl with dazzling golden curls dampened by sweat. Even in the dim light, her exquisite, doll-like beauty was impossible to conceal.

She wore only a thin white dress; her immature figure was just beginning to show grace. Ropes bound her from head to toe, and tape sealed her mouth. She was curled up inside a large wooden crate.

A white tag on the crate bore German writing: "Collected supplies from Europe, for Officer Leo."

"These beasts," Kyle snarled, his teeth clenched as a wave of uncontrollable fury surged within him.

He did not despise war, but such evil—invading homes, kidnapping young girls as 'supplies'—he had always found intolerable.

The golden-haired girl saw someone enter, her blue eyes brimming with tears and terror. Unable to speak through the tape, she could only utter muffled, desperate cries.

"Don't be afraid," Kyle said, approaching. But the girl only grew more frightened.

He realized something, forced a bitter smile, and switched to fluent English. "It's alright. I'm an American soldier. I won't hurt you."

Still worried, Kyle removed his cap, revealing a young, handsome European face. At last, the girl calmed down.

Indeed, every era is an era where appearances matter.

"Stay quiet. I’ll get you out," Kyle promised. He lifted the Nepalese knife and cut the ropes binding her. When he peeled away the tape, the golden-haired girl could no longer restrain herself—she clung weakly to his waist and sobbed.

"You're safe now," Kyle said softly, gently stroking her beautiful golden hair.

Suddenly, a German voice called from outside, "Who's in there?"

The girl in Kyle’s arms fell silent, trembling all over.

"Don't make a sound. I'll handle them," Kyle whispered. His gentle expression hardened, cold light gathering in his eyes.

In a hoarse German, he replied, "It's Bern. I've got supplies for Officer Leo—could you come help carry them?"

"Understood," the patrol captain outside replied without suspicion, approaching with five soldiers.

The captain and two soldiers entered the compartment first. Their flashlights illuminated only the trembling golden-haired girl curled in the crate.

"Hey?" The captain barely voiced his confusion when, from the top of the compartment, a shadow dropped suddenly.

The Nepalese knife sliced through the darkness—swift, precise, lethal. The blade swept across the throats of all three men, spraying warm crimson blood.

Kyle killed all three in an instant, not even pausing for breath. Like a predatory leopard, he sprang outside toward the remaining soldiers.

Four or five meters—at the apex of human physical ability, it took less than half a second.

Kyle’s blade flashed. The fourth German's head flew high, the powerful knife cleaving straight through the neck and spine.

The last two soldiers stared wide-eyed, terror slowing their reactions.

They wanted to fire their weapons, to shout, to run—but these impulses remained only thoughts. In the next moment, their actions were brutally cut short—

Kyle stabbed one soldier’s heart with his knife; with his other arm, he locked the last soldier’s neck and slammed him forcefully to the ground.

"Die!"

Both soldiers struggled briefly, but in Kyle’s merciless hands, their lives faded quickly, leaving only cold corpses.