The Mysterious Soldier of the Anti-Japanese War

In a dark corner of the Shanghai Concession, Ellie was engaged in a dangerous transaction with a black market arms dealer. Holding the generous royalties she had just received, her eyes revealed a mixture of determination and a hint of nervousness. The royalties were earned from publishing a collection of photos she had captured of the brutality of war. Now, she planned to use the money to contribute to the anti-Japanese war.

Ellie stood before the arms dealer. Her tall figure and blond hair stood out in the dim light. She looked at him, her lips curling slightly in a confident smile. "I want a Springfield sniper rifle, a pistol, and plenty of ammunition." Her English was tinged with arrogance, for she knew she had the goods.

The arms dealer was a fat man with a pair of small eyes that gleamed cunningly on his greasy face. He was stunned at first when he heard Ellie's request, but then he smiled greedily. "Miss, these are not easy to get. The price will be doubled." As he spoke, he rubbed his fat hands and looked Ellie up and down, as if trying to read her expression to see her bottom line.

Ellie frowned and cursed inwardly, "This greedy guy is trying to rip me off." But her expression remained calm, her eyes only becoming sharper. "Double? Are you kidding? This price is ridiculous."

The arms dealer chuckled, and that laugh made people feel sick: "Miss, this is in the concession, it's very risky, I have to think about my head. If you don't have money, don't waste my time." His eyes were full of disdain, as if he had Ellie in his grasp.

Ellie was furious, wanting to teach this nasty guy a lesson. But she knew now wasn't the time to act rashly, so she took a deep breath and smiled a meaningful smile. "Oh? Are you sure you want to talk to me like this? Do you know who my brother is? He's the military attaché in China. If he knew you were trying to trick me, I don't think you'd be able to do business with me anymore."

Upon hearing this, the arms dealer's face turned pale, a flicker of fear in his eyes. His eyes widened, cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and his arrogant demeanor vanished without a trace. He stammered, "You...you mean the military attaché?"

Ellie sneered: "Yes, it's him. If you don't want to cause trouble, just give me the thing at a reasonable price." She crossed her arms, her eyes full of majesty, like a proud swan looking down at the toad at her feet.

The arms dealer wiped the sweat from his forehead and put on a flattering smile: "Miss, it's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding. I will prepare what you want for you right away, at the original price, at the original price." As he spoke, he hurriedly took weapons and bullets, glancing at Ellie from time to time, regretting in his heart that he should not have provoked this girl.

Ellie watched the arms dealer panic and smirked inwardly, "Hmph, you're a bit too young to fight me." After receiving the weapons and ammunition, she carefully inspected them, confirming they were correct before nodding with satisfaction. She tossed the money to the arms dealer, then picked up a worn but sturdy suitcase from the side and carefully placed the Springfield sniper rifle, pistol, and ammunition inside. The suitcase was small, and it was quite bulging with all these items.

Ellie lifted the suitcase, feeling its heaviness. She glanced at the arms dealer, her eyes warning, "You'd better keep today's events to yourself. If I get wind of anything, you know the consequences." The arms dealer nodded, his voice sluggish. "Yes, yes, miss, don't worry."

Ellie turned and left, her steps firm, the briefcase swaying slightly in her hands. Her figure gradually disappeared into the dim streets of the concession, leaving the arms dealer alone, still breathing a sigh of relief, secretly glad that the storm was finally over.

Ellie, carrying a heavy suitcase, hurried along the dim, slightly damp streets of the Shanghai Concession. Her pace was quick, yet each step was steady, like her unwavering faith. Inside the suitcase were a Springfield sniper rifle, a pistol, and ammunition—all newly acquired with much difficulty. These weapons seemed to come alive, swaying slightly with her steps, resonating in time with her heartbeat.

Her thoughts had already drifted away, her mind confined to Lei Tao's image. His stern yet determined countenance had left a deep impression on her. Every time she thought of him, Ellie felt an invisible force surge through her. "I really hope I can see him again soon," she muttered silently, her lips curling upwards, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. She couldn't wait to see Lei Tao's expression as he took the weapons—a look of surprise and delight.

Ellie knew only too well that this once-thriving city, now ravaged by war, was now ravaged and devastated. The streets were filled with the smell of gunpowder, and the occasional roar of gunfire and the cries of the people, like the roar of a demon, plunged the city into endless suffering. Here, death was a constant presence, and fear hung heavy in everyone's heart like a gloomy haze.