Special Forces: At the beginning, An Ran pulled him to get his certificate.

Chapter 1382 Special Talent Lao Fan

"Old Commander, long time no see..." Fan Tianlei stood tall and straight, giving Chen Jun a standard military salute. In reality, it had only been two months since they last parted ways. Back then, Chen Jun had arranged for them to go on a year of advanced studies, but due to a temporary assignment, Chen Jun had suddenly vanished without a trace. Now, Fan Tianlei hadn't expected Chen Jun to urgently summon him home from the University of Science and Technology of China. Confusion and surprise filled his heart, and a look of astonishment crossed his face.

"What old chief? I'm much younger than you. Look at what you look like. Don't call me that anymore." Chen Jun said with a smile. Although he said that, there was a hint of kindness in his eyes.

"No, no, no, you're my old commander, my father and mother. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have the opportunity to attend military academy at my advanced age, and even have the possibility of becoming a general. Old commander, you're the continuation of my life, my reincarnated benefactor." Fan Tianlei spoke with unwavering sincerity, as if he were about to kneel and swear an oath. He knew full well that his current opportunities were entirely due to Chen Jun's support. After years of experience in the military, he understood the importance of connections and opportunities, and Chen Jun was the benefactor in his life.

It must be said that Fan Tianlei's flattery was perfectly executed. Although many knew he was prone to exaggeration, the ability to flatter someone so well was truly not something everyone possessed. Chen Jun had his own agenda when he summoned Fan Tianlei. As a general, he desperately needed excellent soldiers, but given his status, he couldn't personally select them one by one. And Fan Tianlei possessed a unique talent for this.

While Fan Tianlei may sometimes be a bit of a jerk on the battlefield, he possesses a remarkable eye. Just the fact that he was able to spot Li Erniu while passing by a construction site is proof enough of his skill. Not to mention the politically savvy Wang Yanbing; the three individuals he selected would later become key members of the Red Blood Cells. This ability to judge people is not something that ordinary people possess. Simply put, Fan Tianlei is a skilled social figure. Those who can effectively trick others are usually con men themselves. Yet, Fan Tianlei excels at those things where Chen Jun struggles—a true example of the saying, "Specialization is the key."

"After I left, I heard that Zhan Ge reused you. Not only did he make you the logistics minister, but he also appointed you as the deputy division commander. This treatment is really great!" Chen Jun said casually, but his eyes were observing Fan Tianlei's reaction.

Hearing this, Fan Tianlei was slightly stunned. He quickly glanced at Chen Jun's face and immediately said, "Old Chief, I think it's better for me to follow you. When you are not in the hacker base, I have no motivation to do anything. When you were the division commander in the hacker base, I would be happy even if I raised pigs!" Fan Tianlei's words were half true and half false. On the one hand, he was indeed grateful for Chen Jun's kindness, and on the other hand, he also knew that following Chen Jun might give him greater room for development.

Hearing this, Chen Jun couldn't help but give Fan Tianlei a thumbs-up. He thought, this old man is truly talented; look at the quality of his words. If it were Goutou Laogao, he'd probably just straighten his back and solemnly thank Chief Instructor Zhan Ge, like thanking CCTV—a boring, unoriginal gesture. And then he'd probably be hard-pressed to be reappointed. But Fan Tianlei was different. He had completely screwed He Weidong, yet he remained impassive, even rising to become Langya's Chief of Staff.

Chen Jun shook his head slightly and said, "I called you out of the military academy early because I have a mission for you. I wanted to ask you if you are willing to follow me."

Hearing this, Fan Tianlei didn't hesitate at all, his eyes lit up instantly, and he nodded and said, "That's great, I've always wanted to follow you, even in my dreams. Commander, I'll do whatever you say. That's great, that's great..." As he spoke, he rubbed his palms excitedly, looking like a primary school student who had got his favorite toy.

"Think about it first, then you can answer me. If you follow me, you will start from scratch. You will not have the treatment of logistics director of the hacker base, nor the position of deputy division commander. You will have to go all the way to the end." Chen Jun said with a serious expression. He wanted to see if Fan Tianlei was really determined.

"Old chief, look at what you said. Everything I have is given by you. As long as I can work under you, why should I care about these false reputations? Only by following you can I realize my dream." Fan Tianlei's face was full of excitement, and his eyes revealed a firm determination.

Chen Jun narrowed his eyes, carefully observing Fan Tianlei's expression, chuckling inwardly. He knew Fan Tianlei was a shrewd man. He must have understood that Fan Tianlei, now a general, had a bright future. Following him was definitely better than staying at the hacker base. At the hacker base, Fan Tianlei could only reach the rank of deputy division commander. Even after graduating from the University of Science and Technology of China, his hopes of becoming a general were slim. Following him, however, might offer him a chance to realize his dream of becoming a general. Fan Tianlei had long understood the stakes involved, so no matter what Chen Jun said, he agreed without hesitation, without even a second's hesitation. To him, hesitation would be disrespectful of his own future.

Seeing Chen Jun staring at him without saying anything, Fan Tianlei realized something.

In a flash, he stood up and saluted Chen Jun again, his expression as resolute as a warrior in the cold wind and the cold Yi River. He said in a firm tone: "Old chief, I will do whatever you say and follow your steps. Even if I have to wash toilets with you, I am willing to do so. As I said, my career is given by you, including my current studies in the military academy, which was also fought for by you. I am willing to do it." He was so excited that his body trembled slightly, as if he was even a little unsteady on his feet.

An Ran, who was standing nearby, saw this and quickly came over to pour tea for Fan Tianlei, hoping to calm him down. As a result, Fan Tianlei shot up like a rocket.

"Sister-in-law, you're welcome, you're welcome. I still have the children to take care of, so don't worry about me." Fan Tianlei said quickly, with a very respectful attitude.

An Ran smiled helplessly: "Come to think of it, we were colleagues in the past, and you were my old boss..."

Fan Tianlei quickly interrupted An Ran: "The old chief is my benefactor. I would rather follow him to clean toilets. And you are my sister-in-law, so you are naturally my benefactor as well. Don't call me old leader in the future. I have always been grateful and clear about gratitude and grudges. Don't mess things up, otherwise, I will feel uneasy." These words were so sincere that An Ran felt a little embarrassed.

Chen Jun said leisurely from the side, "Forget it, An Ran, go do your thing and ignore him. The more polite you are, the more nervous your old leader will become."

"Yes, that's the truth. Don't be polite to me, so that I can treat this place as my home. If you want tea, I can come by myself. Thank you, sister-in-law." Fan Tianlei said with a smile.

"Okay, you guys chat, I'll go play with the kids." An Ran smiled wryly and turned to leave. She really didn't understand how people could be so two-faced. When she had met Fan Tianlei before, this old leader hadn't been so easy to talk to. Now, at his age, he was acting so humble in front of her husband. It was a little ridiculous to think about it.

An Ran was about to leave when Fan Tianlei called her. He took out something from his briefcase and handed it to An Ran.

"I almost forgot. I brought some six-piece sets for children. They are not valuable, but they can ward off evil spirits. You can try wearing them on your child when he is feeling uneasy." Fan Tianlei said with a smile.

An Ran looked around and found that they were all silver jewelry. There was indeed a folk belief that silver jewelry could ward off evil spirits, but she felt embarrassed to accept it.

The two of them blamed each other for a while, and Fan Tianlei said righteously that if An Ran didn't accept the gift, it would be like forcing him to die. An Ran was so scared that she had to accept it.

After An Ran left, Fan Tianlei returned to Chen Jun's side, and his face was full of smiles again, as if nothing had happened.

"Old leader, tell me how to arrange my future work. I will follow your arrangements and obey your orders. If you frown, I will not be Fan Tianlei." Fan Tianlei looked at Chen Jun expectantly.

"You've been in the hacker base for so long. Have you learned even 50% of Zhan Ge's ability to lead troops? Or have you just been raising pigs?" Chen Jun asked with a smile, a hint of ridicule in his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Fan Tianlei immediately nodded and said, "Old leader, you know I aspire to be a general. With an instructor as good as Zhan Ge, why wouldn't I learn? You don't know that besides raising pigs and handling logistics, I also study with the army. I dare say I've learned most of Chief Instructor Zhan Ge's leadership skills. It's a pity that I never had the opportunity to lead troops again."

"I have to say that Commander Zhan is really good at leading troops, especially in training new recruits, positioning them from a young age, creating direction, and cultivating elites..." Fan Tianlei spoke incessantly, and he sincerely admired Zhan Ge's ability to lead troops.

Chen Jun listened and nodded slightly. "That's fine. Remember this: from now on, every word I say will be classified as a top-secret SSS file. I haven't signed a confidentiality agreement with you, but if you leak any information, you and your family will be invited to a drinking party by the National Security Bureau, and you'll never be able to leave."

"Holy crap...someone important is thinking about me...now it's my turn..." Fan Tianlei was secretly excited. His thinking process was indeed different from others. When others heard Chen Jun say this, they might immediately swear not to leak the information, but Fan Tianlei's first thought was that this time, he was finally going to be promoted.

"Don't worry, if I say any word, I will commit suicide on the spot. There will be no need for the National Security Bureau to kill me." Fan Tianlei said confidently.

"You don't have to stand up all the time. Sit down and wait for me to finish speaking." Chen Jun said helplessly.

"Yes, Chief, thank you for your attention to me." Fan Tianlei sat down quickly with an excited expression on his face.

After Fan Tianlei sat down, Chen Jun's expression turned serious. He said, "Recently, the country has entrusted me with the establishment of a military unit. This unit is very important, but it's still understaffed. Currently, there are only a few dozen elite members, and I'm in charge of training them. Since you have the ability to select soldiers for training, it's just right to use this ability. You select the soldiers for me and train them in basic skills first. I'll train them in other special skills later."

Upon hearing this, Fan Tianlei nearly leaped for joy, thinking, "Holy crap! It's true! I finally get the chance to select and train people!" He could already see himself showcasing his talents in his new position, his eyes filled with anticipation and fighting spirit...

"Is the new department responsible for obtaining it?"

"The agency responsible for implementing the country's foreign policy is called the National Strategic Security Bureau. It's similar to the National Security Bureau, but perhaps even more powerful. We can do whatever they can do, and whatever they can't do, we can do as well. Therefore, every mission designed for us will be SSS-level."

Damn, National Strategic Bureau... The name sounds awesome, no wonder they are all SSS level.

Lao Fan knew very well that at the national level, there was the National Security Bureau, which was known as the King of Hell under the Earth, and an independent judicial institution, whose power was truly boundless.

Now he has joined a department that is even more powerful than the National Security Bureau. This is terrifying. How could he have ended up like this?

Lao Fan silently recited the name of the department several times on the spot. His eyes kept getting bigger and bigger, and his mouth never closed. He looked tall, majestic, and absolutely domineering. In addition, Chen Jun was a general and had a bright future. He personally founded a department, and even the hacker base couldn't be closed. This new department was absolutely awesome!

No wonder, no wonder...

"Chief, what position did you delay in asking me to come over?"

"As you know, when it comes to national strategic security, no matter how trivial it is, we are a department independent of the judiciary. Together with the military and the National Security Bureau, we form a trinity to ensure national security. Since you are willing to come..."

Chen Jun paused and stared at Lao Fan seriously: "Do you still remember that I promised to make you a promise?"

"What...what promise?" Lao Fan's breathing became rapid.

"Haha, I told you, if you work hard, I'll make you a general if I have the chance. Now that you're at the National Strategy Bureau, I'll promote you to major general. You'll enjoy the treatment and authority of a division commander, just like the battle song at the hacker base. Are you satisfied?"

Satisfied... Oh my god, I must be satisfied...

Old Fan was so excited that he seemed to have eaten ginseng fruit. Every pore of his body was filled with life. In his excitement, he was so restless that he was like a monkey, and he rubbed his legs together.

Holy shit, did I hear that right? I’m… a general now???

Old Fan was too excited and had a bit of the out-of-control feeling of a middle-aged man. He was speechless for a moment and did not answer Chen Jun's questions.

"You mean, you need to think about it?"