Chapter 4: Chapter 04 Sniper’s Life and Death!
Arthur couldn't believe how crazy his life had become.
Just over an hour ago, he was your typical otaku, sitting at home, watching movies, and playing video games.
And now… he had become a member of the US soldier Decapitation squad on the battlefield of World War II? Who could tell him how this glamorous transformation had been achieved?
So, it seemed that one shouldn't take lightly this "crossed over" business!
Do you think you can have a perfect life? In reality, your life might become a complete mess because of crossing over!
At this moment, Arthur was largely pessimistic.
Mainly because the experiences from movies and lessons from novels were silently conveying a message: Decapitation operations like this are mostly one-way journeys!
Moreover, on their side, they had only… five people!
Just as Arthur thought about this, the sound of gunfire erupted.
Five people… became four!
"Lie down, take cover! We've got a sniper!"
"Hide behind those rocks!"
"Where is he?"
As the shouts of his teammates filled the air, Arthur had already hit the ground.
His eyes observed the surrounding environment through the gaps in the grass. The experiences from movies and novels had taught Arthur that gunshots could help estimate the general direction of the enemy, and the glare from a sniper scope could be used to precisely locate the enemy.
Then… he didn't see anything at all!
"Do we have a sniper?" he whispered.
"Yes," The sergeant replied in a hushed tone, "But he just died!"
"…" Arthur.
At long distances, the only one who could contend with a sniper was another sniper. And their one and only hope… was gone!?
"Arthur!" A woman's voice suddenly reached his ears, and Arthur turned his head to see Agent Carter, the special agent, standing right next to him.
Huh? Wait a minute! What did she just call him? Arthur?
"If you can pinpoint the enemy's location, do you have confidence in making a headshot?" Agent Carter asked, her question direct and resolute for some reason.
So, Arthur's response was equally cautious as he pondered, "Within 500 meters, I'm confident of a headshot. At 600 meters… 70% certainty! At 700 meters, it drops to 50%. At 800 meters, the effective range of my rifle is 730 meters. If the enemy is beyond 800 meters… it would depend on a different shooting technique!"
"What kind of technique?" Agent Carter asked.
"A 'go-with-the-flow' technique!"
"What does that mean?" Agent Carter was puzzled. She had never heard of such a shooting technique.
"It means… whether I can hit the target, or where I hit, it all depends on the will of God!"
"That's enough!" Agent Carter smiled and said, "Arthur, I take back what I said earlier; you're a very skilled soldier!"
Huh? What did she mean by taking back what she said? We've only just met, and we've only said a few words, right? This taking back what she said makes me quite uneasy!
Arthur thought quickly. Based on the typical pattern of being "crossed over," if he hadn't been reincarnated, he had most likely directly replaced someone else. Moreover, if it were reincarnation, it should come with inheriting memories.
But he had no such memories, so the latter seemed more likely. Had he taken on another person's life? And this person's name was Arthur? Were they acquainted with Agent Carter, the special agent?
Arthur felt that things were about to get complicated.
However, right as he was contemplating this, Agent Carter did something that left him dumbfounded.
"Stay observant!" The moment these words reached Arthur's ears, Agent Carter, with an acrobatic leap, rolled away in another direction.
Bang!!!
The crisp sound of a gunshot almost coincided with her movement, and a splash of blood burst into the air.
Arthur needed only a fraction of a second to realize Agent Carter's intention.
Taking a deep breath, he paid no attention to Agent Carter's life or death and locked his gaze in the direction from which the gunshot had come.
The sound of Agent Carter landing nearby and the sergeant's calls were all naturally blocked out.
In that instant, Arthur entered an unprecedented state of focus.
He raised his M1 Garand rifle, and in the next moment, he whispered, "I've spotted you!"
Arthur took another deep breath. "The distance… about 750 meters!"
The effective range of the M1 Garand rifle was 730 meters, so the additional 20 meters would have to rely on fate.
In his mind, all the knowledge about rifle shooting, including types and characteristics, raced through his thoughts.
Suddenly, he took a deep breath and pulled the trigger.
Bang!!!
The slightly deeper gunshot sounded, and almost simultaneously, a streak of crimson passed through his line of sight.
On the battlefield, life and death hinged on a split second.
Arthur took another deep breath, his eyes slightly fatigued. This level of intense concentration, combined with his upgraded Battle Soul-enhanced physical condition, allowed him to spot the hidden sniper at nearly 800 meters away.
Even if the enemy had remained concealed within the foliage the entire time, his enhanced physique would have made it difficult to locate the enemy.
There were too many elements of chance involved. In the same circumstances, Arthur didn't even know if he could replicate the shot he had just taken.
But there was no time to celebrate. He hurried over to where Agent Carter, the special agent, was.
To his surprise, he found her crouched on the ground. "Are you okay?"
"Just grazed me a bit. Quick, get down! We don't know if there's another sniper hiding nearby. You're too exposed like this!" Agent Carter whispered.
Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. He then heard the sergeant not far away exclaim, "Well done, soldier! You're like a savior sent by God to rescue us!"
Agent Carter whispered, "The danger isn't over; everyone should be cautious."
Then she turned to Arthur. "You've truly impressed me with your performance!"
"I thought you took the risk because you were confident," Arthur said, looking at Agent Carter in surprise.
Agent Carter smiled faintly. "If there was confidence, it wouldn't be a risk. In the situation we just faced, we had no other choice."
Arthur was at a loss for words. Was this woman… insane? Nevertheless, he felt a slight urge to laugh.
A woman so daring on the battlefield was something he had never encountered in his original world, within his original circle of life. But… why did Agent Carter, the special agent, seem so familiar?
This thought emerged just as Agent Carter spoke, sending a shiver down Arthur's spine. "Have you ever heard of the 'Super Soldier Plan'?"
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