Three days earlier.
The Republic of China was bustling with people, and amidst the city's noise, a covert Black Site belonging to the Foreign Intelligence Services of the Ruthenia Empire was hidden. The site, established long before the Nationalist Party's rule, was now a thriving hub of intelligence gathering. The site was home to Ruthenian Special Forces and expertly trained spies, all keeping a close watch on the Republic of China's government and the rebel group of Communist Forces scattered throughout the country.
For the past six years, the Foreign Intelligence Services had been struggling to make any progress in their mission to identify who was supplying Ruthenian weapons to the Communist Forces. The rebels were elusive and masters of concealment, making it almost impossible to pinpoint the source of their weapons.
But, as fate would have it, the goddess of luck finally smiled upon the Foreign Intelligence Services. One of the closest advisors to the Communist Forces' leader, Geng Yuhan, was captured by the Ruthenian Special Forces. The team had cleverly disguised themselves as foreigners and captured Geng Yuhan in the capital city of Beijing.
Once captured, Geng Yuhan has quickly whisked away to the Black Site, his head covered with a black cloth, his hands cuffed with metal chains, and his mouth gagged.
As Geng Yuhan was escorted into the Black Site, he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. The darkness behind the cloth covering his head, the weight of the chains on his wrists, and the inability to speak made him feel completely helpless.
Once inside, Geng Yuhan was thrown into a cold, empty room. He heard the sound of a heavy metal door locked shut, and then silence. The only thing he could hear was the sound of his own breathing and the thumping of his heart.
Hours passed, and Geng Yuhan remained alone in the room, not knowing what was happening outside. He could hear muffled sounds from the other side of the door, but couldn't make out any words.
Eventually, the door opened, and a group of men entered the room. They removed the cloth from his head, and the gag from his mouth, and uncuffed his hands.
There, he found out that he was in a room, and the flickering light from a single bulb cast eerie shadows on the walls. Geng Yuhan's eyes took a few moments to adjust to the dim lighting, but as his vision cleared, he saw a group of soldiers standing in front of him, all dressed in the uniform of the Ruthenia Empire. In the middle of the group stood a tall man with an imposing stature and a piercing gaze. The man looked down at Geng Yuhan as if he were nothing more than an ant.
"We have been tracking down high-ranking officials of the Communist Forces for the last six years. We had intel on everyone. But there was one problem, you see, you ants are good at hiding. Despite our modern technology, you rebels have proved to be a challenge for us," the man said in Hanese, his voice heavy with a Ruthenian accent.
Geng Yuhan listened intently as the words washed over him. He thought back to the moment when he was taken by the Ruthenians. He had been meeting with an official from another region, exchanging intel about the Nationalist's new supply lines when they had ambushed him. Geng Yuhan wondered what had happened to the other official, but he could only guess that they had been taken as well.
The Ruthenian officer continued his lecture, his voice dripping with disdain. "Surprisingly, you showed up in the city we didn't expect. Beijing," he scoffed. "Well, you know what they say, if you are hiding, hide in the place where they least expect you to find."
Geng Yuhan stared straight ahead, refusing to let the Ruthenian officer see any fear in his eyes. "I will say nothing," he declared, his voice firm and unwavering.
The Ruthenian officer sighed and shook his head. "Oh well, you are going to tell us everything you know about the supplier of your weapons. Tell us that, and we will guarantee your freedom."
Geng Yuhan spat on the ground, his anger boiling over. "Do you really think you can sway me with the word freedom? We have been fighting against an illegitimate government who have done nothing but let westerners exploit our country. If I'm going to live under that kind of government, that doesn't care about its citizens, then can you really call it freedom?"
The Ruthenian officer raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by Geng Yuhan's defiance. "As if you commies are going to bring freedom to your country," he scoffed. "Hadn't it occurred to you that your leader is brainwashing and using you for his gains? Have you ever thought of the events if the Communist forces overthrow the internationally recognized government? You will not bring your country freedom, you will ruin it."
Geng Yuhan clenched his fists, his breathing ragged. "You know nothing about our leader or us as a whole," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I would rather die than tell you who is giving us the weapons to achieve freedom."
Geng Yuhan's words hung in the air, and the Ruthenian officer stared at him with cold, hard eyes. After a moment of tense silence, the officer nodded to one of the soldiers. Without a word, the soldier stepped forward and delivered a sudden, sharp punch to Geng Yuhan's solar plexus.
Geng Yuhan doubled over in pain, gasping for air. He had been trained to withstand torture, but this was a brutal and unexpected blow that knocked the wind out of him.
The Ruthenian officer leaned down so that his face was inches from Geng Yuhan's. "I suggest you think carefully about your situation," he hissed. "You can make this easy on yourself, or you can make it very, very difficult."
Geng Yuhan glared up at the officer, his eyes filled with defiance. He refused to give in, no matter what they did to him. He would not betray his comrades or his cause.
"You will learn…nothing…from me…" Geng Yuhan said weakly. "Kill me…"
The Ruthenian officer leaned in close, his breath hot on Geng Yuhan's face. "Don't worry, we are going to kill you, but don't think it'll be an easy way out. We are going to make you suffer, and regret this very moment when you had the chance to die a merciful death. Let's see if you can keep your loyalty once we start breaking your mind and body. After all, human beings are selfish, they'll do things that prioritize their safety. So one last chance, are you going to tell us or not?" The Ruthenian officer whispered menacingly.
"Say what you want Ruthenian, I'm not afraid of you."
The Ruthenian officer chuckled darkly. "Interesting, let's see about that."
The officer stood back up and signaled for the soldiers to take Geng Yuhan away.
Geng Yuhan gritted his teeth and vowed to resist their interrogation tactics with every fiber of his being. He knew that the road ahead would be long and painful, but he was determined to stay strong and fight for what he believed in.
As Geng Yuhan was being taken away, the Ruthenian officer remained in the cell, deep in thought.
"Sir, the Ruthenian High Command is furious and the Emperor is starting to lose patience. How are we going to extract information out of that man?" One of his aides asked.
"We have protocols for certain situations like this man. We will simply implement them. Once we do, he'll give up information about their suppliers in three days," he said, his voice chillingly calm.
The Ruthenian officer's words hung in the air, a warning of the horrors to come. Geng Yuhan's fate was sealed, and as the Ruthenian soldiers led him away to face a new level of torture, he knew that his loyalty would be tested like never before. But he was determined to stay strong, even as the darkness closed in around him, he would fight to protect his cause and his comrades.
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