Chapter: 2679

Charlie Wade noticed Hamid limping up the stairs and felt curious. He casually asked, “Brother, did you hurt your leg?”

Hamid turned to look at Charlie and then glanced down at his left leg. With a sigh, he replied, “I was seriously injured in a battle. Fragments from a bomb hit my leg. At one point, they thought they would have to amputate it. Luckily, I managed to keep it, but it was damaged beyond repair. After I recovered, the muscles atrophied and now I can’t use it well, which is why I limp.”

He sighed again and added, “In a place like Syria, being a lame commander brings many challenges that are hard to explain.”

Although Hamid’s limp isn’t a severe disability, he is the leader of an armed force, and it affects how others see him and his authority. The biggest change was in his self-confidence.

Once, Hamid was an ambitious general wanting to make a mark in the chaos of battle. He even dreamed of becoming the supreme commander of all the opposition forces. But after he became lame, his influence waned, and his self-confidence took a hit.

At one time, his team had nearly 10,000 members, making them a strong force among the opposition. However, a few of his close allies noticed his limp and took advantage of his weakened state. They encouraged some of his subordinates to leave and form their own groups, causing his strength to plummet.

Reality can be harsh. When a leader has enough power, their followers are often obedient and loyal. But when that leader’s strength declines, their followers may turn against them. It’s easier for them to think about their own interests and break away.

Some people, driven by their own ethics, might even take the chance to eliminate their boss and take their position. This kind of behavior has been seen throughout history. For instance, Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin was inspecting the palace of the Hou Zhou when the young Emperor Zhou Gong, just seven years old, had recently taken the throne after the death of Zhou Shizong. In a shocking turn of events, Zhao Kuangyin staged the Chen Qiao mutiny and overthrew the young emperor. There are countless stories like this in history.

A similar situation is happening with Hamid in Syria. The region where he lives is economically underdeveloped, with many mountains and limited transportation options. Most of the time, the troops rely on walking, mules, and horses. This makes Hamid’s physical disability an even bigger issue. When soldiers fight in the mountains, he can’t go to the front lines to support them. And when the troops move across the mountains, he is unable to join in at all. The opposing soldiers are bold and expect their commander to lead them, but Hamid’s disability is a significant disadvantage.

At this time, Hamid limped out of the cellar, followed by Charlie Wade and He Zhiqiu. As they stepped outside, they saw an armed helicopter in the yard. All the armed personnel had already left. The weapons and ammunition that were once attached to the helicopter had mostly been taken off, and all the cannon ammunition had been removed to prevent any surprises from Hamid during their meeting. The Ye family had arranged for civilian planes, so they would definitely be sending civilian helicopters to pick them up.

The pilot stood next to the helicopter, watching as Hamid emerged with two strangers, Charlie Wade and He Zhiqiu. A sense of unease washed over him, and he instinctively reached for the gun at his waist.

Hamid quickly said, “Drop the gun! These two are my friends!”

The pilot hesitated for a moment, unsure, but he didn’t want to make a mistake. He immediately tossed the gun to the ground.

“Hurry up and start the helicopter!” Hamid ordered.

The pilot quickly climbed into the cockpit and began starting the propeller. Meanwhile, Hamid took a seat in the cabin next to Charlie and He Zhiqiu.