188: Shadow of Buenos Aires

Argentina!

Those three words shattered the dead silence in the office!

All the previous depression, gloom, and frustration of being lost were instantly ignited and blown to pieces!

The atmosphere of the entire team suddenly came alive!

"Holy crap! Argentina?! For real?!"

Wang Dalong was the first to react. He sprang up from the cold floor as if he had springs attached to him! Just moments ago, he had been trembling like a quail, but now his eyes were wide open, his face flushed with excitement.

"Those Nazi bastards really know how to pick a place! They went to South America?!"

Shitou also looked shocked, but he was much calmer than Wang Dalong. Years as a Mercenary had conditioned him to analyze intelligence first.

"It's highly likely!" Shitou nodded heavily, the Argentine pistol in his hand creaking under his grip. "After World War II ended, the whole world was hunting Nazis. South America, especially Argentina, was their biggest rat's nest! Many high-ranking officials fled there!"

"Exactly! Exactly!" Wang Dalong slapped his thigh, chiming in excitedly. "I've seen documentaries! The Mossad, who captured the designer of the 'Final Solution' Eichmann, snatched him right from Argentina! These bastards are like cockroaches you can't kill, with one hideout after another!"

In the office, the atmosphere instantly grew noisy because of this shocking discovery.

Nerves that had been suppressed for too long finally found an outlet to vent!

However, Lin Feng did not join their discussion.

His actions instantly silenced the two excited men.

He didn't look at the pistol, nor did he think about the distant affairs in Argentina.

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze returning to the Nazi officer who had turned to white bones in a seated position.

This man, who chose to stay at the final moment of the base's destruction and ended his own life with a bullet.

Why didn't he leave?

He must have known something.

Lin Feng slowly walked over and crouched down.

Without a trace of disgust, he moved calmly, his fingers steady, like an old forensic examiner with years of experience.

His hands, clad in tactical gloves, gently reached into the long-dusty, stiff Schutzstaffel uniform of the corpse.

The fabric made a crisp "rustling" sound, as if it would crumble at a touch.

Both Shitou and Wang Dalong held their breath, watching Lin Feng's movements. They knew Lin Feng must have noticed details they had overlooked.

Soon, Lin Feng's fingertips stopped at the position of the inner chest pocket of the corpse.

There was the outline of a hard object.

He didn't rashly pull it out but carefully used his fingertips to slowly peel the hard object from the pocket.

It was a small, tightly wrapped oilpaper package, square and rectangular, like a little notebook.

Lin Feng held it in his palm, gently brushing off the dust that had accumulated over who knows how many years.

The oilpaper had turned yellow and brittle, its edges even charred.

He carefully used his fingernail to slit open the seal.

Inside was a small metal photo frame.

The corners of the frame were carved with intricate patterns. Though dusty, the craftsmanship of its time was still visible.

Lin Feng turned the frame over.

A yellowed black-and-white photo lay quietly behind the glass, appearing before everyone's eyes.

In the photo was a happy family of three.

The man wore a well-fitted civilian suit and gold-rimmed glasses, looking gentle and refined—utterly incongruous with the Schutzstaffel uniform he wore, which represented slaughter and terror.

That face was exactly what the skeleton on the chair looked like in his youth.

In his arms, he held a blond little girl, about four or five years old, with a bow in her hair. Beside him, leaning against him, was a beautiful wife with a gentle smile.

All three faces radiated that kind of unrestrained, heartfelt happiness.

Sunlight bathed them, freezing that warm moment in time.

"A family portrait?" Wang Dalong leaned over to take a look, his face full of confusion. "Brother Shitou, what's the use of this thing? The man's dead, his wife and kid probably..."

His words were cut off by a sharp glare from Shitou.

"Look at the background."

Lin Feng's voice was soft, yet like a needle, it precisely pierced the core of the issue.

His finger, through a thin layer of dust, gently pointed at the background of the photo.

It was a corner of a building.

It had a distinctive arched portico, with wrought-iron railings on the balcony carved with intricate patterns, full of rich Southern European charm.

Beside the building was a lush, leafy tree. Even in the black-and-white photo, the outline of its clusters of flowers was visible.

"This isn't Germany," Lin Feng's tone was resolute. "German architecture isn't this style. More importantly, this tree..."

He handed the photo to Shitou.

Shitou took the photo, glanced at it, and nodded.

"Jacaranda," he said gravely. "This tree is native to South America, a typical subtropical plant. And the style of this building does resemble Buenos Aires, especially the old neighborhoods in the San Telmo District, full of these old Spanish and Italian-style houses."

Buenos Aires!

San Telmo District!

The scope narrowed once again!

A light of insight flickered in Lin Feng's pupils.

"A person preparing to commit suicide, at the last moment of life, holding a gun, must be thinking of the most important, most unforgettable thing in his life."

"This photo is his only concern."

Lin Feng's voice echoed in the office, each sentence sinking into the hearts of the two men.

"This family likely lived in Buenos Aires. And the location where this photo was taken must have held extraordinary significance for him. Perhaps it was their home, or maybe a place he loved most, a place he frequented."

He paused, pointing at the man's suit in the photo.

"Moreover, look at his attire—it's civilian clothing, not a military uniform. This photo was most likely taken after the war ended in 1945. Although we don't know why he later returned to this base and chose to commit suicide here, Buenos Aires must have been the new beginning he meticulously chose for his family."

His words were logical and progressive, layer by layer!

Lin Feng slowly stood up, looking at his two teammates, his tone steady and reassuring.

"We have our next target."

"To Buenos Aires."

"Find the building in this photo."

"Perhaps we can find his family, or find the latest clues about the remnants of the Nazis after this base was relocated!"

As his words fell, the goal became clearer than ever!

To Argentina!

Find this building!

All the fog dissipated at this moment!

"Good!" Shitou clapped his hands heavily, a long-lost excitement on his face. "Let's do it!"

The flame of hope reignited in everyone's heart.