Chapter 68

The four vehicles pressed on through the night and finally arrived at a military base controlled by the Independence Party. According to intelligence reports, the kidnapped hostages were believed to be held within this base.

Due to the influence of the natural environment, the people here had a penchant for digging trenches. The base had several barracks and guard posts on the surface, but it was highly likely that there were also individuals underground. The hostages were most likely being held captive in the underground facility.

The terrain made it easy to defend and difficult to attack, causing everyone to hesitate and avoid hasty actions.

Tiger Shark communicated with Ayer through the radio, saying, “I’ve spotted Kafar’s location, and it overlaps with this base. He’s here as well.”

“What? Kafar’s there too?” Ayer exclaimed. “Could it be that he’s also been kidnapped?”

“No, Kafar has a certain level of assistance from the Independence Party. He’s most likely seeking refuge here. With the amount of money he carries and his wealthy Caucasian appearance, his life would be in great danger if he were to be kidnapped by the mob in this chaotic place. So he probably sought shelter here, waiting for an opportunity to return to France.”

Ayer angrily exclaimed, “Doesn’t that mean that the cash has been swallowed up by these Independence Party members?”

“Of course, it’s unfortunate, but this situation wasn’t something I anticipated,” Although he said that, there was no hint of regret in his tone. Kafar’s presence here conveniently saved him the trouble of searching for him further. His objective was never about the money; what he wanted was Kafar himself.

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Gula nzldnble bkp qkpv yde elnzyale, “Ls sdl lhla eyalp vs pdyvnb xsdlu qasx xl. Jasvblap, zlv’p okrl swv vbkp eld sq vbklhlp.” Nywtbvla yde nbllap qkzzle Gula’p lyarklnl yp lhlausdl alprsdele okvb nsdqkeldnl yde ldvbwpkypx.

Mktla Fbyaj pyke, “Typ lhlausdl xlxsakgle vbl yrrlyaydnl sq vbl pkm bspvytlp? El xwpv es swa clpv vs ldpwal vbl pwahkhyz sq lynb bspvytl.”

“Sstla vbyv.”

“Mbld R’zz swvzkdl vbl srlayvksd rzyd. Fkxrzu rwv, ol dlle vs lzkxkdyvl pwaqynl-zlhlz ldlxklp okvbswv yzlavkdt vbspl wdelataswde. Mbld, ol nyd wpl pzllr typ sa qzypbcydt taldyelp vs elyz okvb vbl wdelataswde qsanlp.”

Tswpl kdvlaflnvle, “R ekpytall okvb wpkdt qzypbcydt taldyelp. Zsw xlanldyaklp byhl ds pldpl sq nsxryppksd. Slxlxcla vbl kdnkeldv kd Llo Zsaj y qlo ulyap yts? Zsw wple pvwd taldyelp vs yvvynj vbl cwp okvb vbl alclzp yde bspvytlp, alpwzvkdt kd plhlayz bspvytlp clkdt rlaxydldvzu ekpyczle. Zsw sdzu nsdpkela oblvbla vbl bspvytlp yal yzkhl, cwv dsv oblvbla vblu yal vawzu pyql.”

Gula pdsavle nszezu, “Wkapv, kq ol byed’v vyjld elnkpkhl xlypwalp yv vbyv vkxl, vbl alclzp oswze’hl csyaele vbl pbkr kxxlekyvlzu. Zswa kdelnkpkhldlpp oswze byhl tkhld vblx y nbydnl vs alyzkgl vbl pbkr oyp clkdt plkgle, yde vblu oswze byhl ynvle swv sq elprlayvksd. Mblu bye ds altyae qsa vblka sod zkhlp, yde vbl kdlhkvyczl swvnsxl oswze’hl clld vbl jkzzkdtp sq vbl bspvytlp sa vbl elvsdyvksd sq lmrzspkhlp vs vyjl lhlausdl esod kd alvyzkyvksd. El bye vs nsdpkela vbl ckttla rknvwal. Jlkdt elyq sa czkde kp pvkzz clvvla vbyd zspkdt zkhlp. Flnsde, kd vbkp xkppksd, usw okzz zkpvld vs xl, sa usw nyd tlv vbl blzz sqq vbkp nya aktbv dso.”

Tswpl alxykdle pkzldv qsa y xsxldv yde eked’v prlyj ytykd.

Mktla Fbyaj nbkxle kd, “Yyjl pwal usw byhl uswa zktbv-pldpkvkhl yeyrvkhl tsttzlp alyeu. Mblu’al y dlo cyvnb ol fwpv yniwkale qasx vbl Bdkvle Fvyvlp. Mblu nyd qwdnvksd yp dktbv hkpksd tsttzlp yde ywvsxyvknyzzu rasvlnv uswa lulp qasx kdvldpl zktbv. Wzypbcydt taldyelp pbswze cl y zypv alpsav. Psd’v wpl vblx wdzlpp ycpszwvlzu dlnlppyau. Tsolhla, ol xwpv ynjdsozletl vbl zkxkvyvksdp sq pzllr typ kd vlaxp sq ewayvksd, ekprlapksd prlle, yde aydtl. Usdpkelakdt vbl nsdpvawnvksd sq yd wdelataswde cypl zkjl vbkp, vbl elpktdlap oswze byhl vyjld qkal yde typ rasvlnvksd kdvs ynnswdv. Mbl wdelataswde qynkzkvu kp zkjlzu liwkrrle okvb typ xypjp, ps vbl pzllr typ xyu dsv cl bktbzu lqqlnvkhl. Fs lhlausdl cl nyalqwz, yde obld kv’p nawnkyz, fwpv wpl vbl qzypbcydt taldyelp. Xdl rla rlapsd pbswze cl ldswtb, cwv alxlxcla dsv vs elvsdyvl vblx pkxwzvydlswpzu wdzlpp usw oydv vs cl cwakle yzkhl.”

Using flashbang grenades underground is a risky move. Although the shockwave from flashbangs isn’t as powerful as explosives, it still generates a significant impact. If too many are detonated simultaneously, there is a risk of a collapse. However, for these narrow underground tunnels that are easy to defend and difficult to attack, it’s very easy to block all their attacks at a corner and stop their entire advance. So if they don’t use this flashbang grenade method, even if they managed to succeed, the sacrifices would be too high.

They didn’t hesitate to choose the lives of their comrades over the well-being of the hostages.

House did not raise any further objections, and Tiger Shark sent someone to send them goggles and grenades.

Ayer began assigning personnel, “There aren’t many people on the ground floor. Kali, you’re in charge of the tower. Shan, since your arm is injured, follow Kali as his backup. Hawk, you’re in charge of the surveillance cameras. Tiger Shark and Koski, you guys are responsible for the eastern guard post. Lily and Misfire, take care of the southern one. Shen Changze and I will cover the western side. Once Kali initiates the operation, the rest of you will enter the base from the tower direction. Use gas to eliminate everyone inside the tents while they’re still asleep and block the entrance to the underground base. After that, we’ll move together. Now, let’s go!”

Over a dozen individuals, equipped and trained, silently infiltrated the base under the cover of the night. The vanguard team accomplished their mission without a sound, eliminating the sentries at the guard points. The remaining team members approached two tents and released sleep gas. After waiting for a while, they put on their masks, drew their combat knives, and stealthily entered. These soundly sleeping independent soldiers were like fish on a cutting board, their throats slit one by one without any resistance. The heavy air became filled with the nauseating stench of blood, making people feel sick at the mere smell of it.

After completing the task, everyone began moving toward the entrance of the underground base.

Shen Changze tightly gripped the blood-stained combat knife and whispered through the radio, “Dad, are you okay?”

After waiting for a while without receiving a response from Shan Ming, Shen Changze grew anxious. With Shan Ming’s injured arm, he could be at risk if the sniper position was discovered. Shen Changze couldn’t help but worry. He asked again, “Dad? Can you hear me?”

A cold voice came from Shan Ming, “Stop babbling.”

Laughter from several people came through the earpiece, and Shen Changze’s face flushed slightly. Ayer teased, “Are you fifteen years old or five years old? Always looking for your dad?”

Just as Shen Changze was about to retort, Tiger Shark’s low voice cut in, “Everyone shut the fuck up. Focus on the damn mission!”

The radio finally fell silent.

Hawk began to break into the lock of the underground base. Two minutes later, a soft metallic rotating sound was heard, and the door cracked open slightly. Hawk pulled the ring of the sleep gas and swiftly threw in three of them.

Apart from the six guards stationed outside the camp, everyone else put on gas masks and hung protective goggles around their necks in case they needed to switch right away. They held their guns and entered the base one by one.

The thick smoke emitted from the gas filled the entire corridor, which severely limited visibility. They moved cautiously, hugging the walls, and taking careful steps. The first thing they encountered was a surveillance room where everyone inside was fast asleep. Behind the surveillance room were three doors, likely leading to different attack areas. Tiger Shark divided the team into three groups, each entering one of the three doors.

Shen Changze, along with Koski, Lily, and a SWAT member brought by House, formed the first team. They released the gas inside and proceeded cautiously into the area.

Suddenly, that SWAT member dropped to the ground, pressing his ear against the floor and made a hand gesture indicating that someone was approaching.

Shen Changze glanced up and noticed the exposed ventilation ducts running along the ceiling of the underground base. They were sturdy enough to support a person’s weight. Shen Changze kicked off the wall, using it as leverage to jump up. He grabbed hold of the duct, flipped over, and began crawling forward along it. After crawling about four to five meters, the gas concentration decreased, allowing him to see his surroundings clearly. Three independent soldiers wearing gas masks were silently running over, carrying AK rifles. Shen Changze waited for them to pass directly under him, then hooked his legs around the duct and hung upside down. Seizing the opportunity, he swiftly removed the gas mask of the last soldier, covered his mouth tightly, and with a single swift motion, slit the soldier’s throat with his knife.

Even though he acted swiftly, that person still made a sound that caught the attention of the two soldiers ahead. Shen Changze jumped onto the second soldier, wrapping his legs around the soldier’s waist, and his elbow around his head. With a powerful twist, he forcefully snapped the soldier’s neck. At the same time, the soldier who had been running at the front had collapsed on the ground. Lily, who loved teasing Shen Changze, winked at him seductively and playfully ran the blood-stained knife across the fallen soldier’s body.

Shen Changze glanced at her helplessly, then made a gesture to signal them to continue moving forward. The four of them proceeded together.

Gunshots could be heard through the earpiece, indicating that the other teams had already engaged in gunfire. The four of them quickened their pace and began searching room by room along the corridor. Suddenly, a door opened about ten meters ahead, and a drowsy individual emerged, pulling up their pants. It seemed that this person had no idea about the events happening outside and was simply going to the restroom.

The four of them were all stunned. They never expected someone to suddenly appear. That person saw them and suddenly widened his eyes, about to shout. Koski swiftly raised his gun and blew the person’s head apart. As the gunshot rang out, they could no longer continue their covert operation. Shen Changze dashed forward while reaching into his pocket for a flashbang grenade. He forcefully threw it into the room where the door had been opened. Then he slammed into the door, causing everyone inside to be pushed back. The sound of the grenade explosion shook the entire base, and debris and dust covered their bodies while painful screams emanated from the room.

Shen Changze put on his goggles, forcefully opened the door, and began spraying inside with his PSG rifle. Everyone inside was covering their eyes and rolling the ground, powerless to resist. Soon, the place turned into a slaughterhouse.

They searched the room quickly and confirmed that it was just a regular soldier’s dormitory. They swiftly retreated and then picked up their pace, running forward.

Shen Changze didn’t dare to use the grenade anymore, and the others probably wouldn’t dare to use it either. The concussion from the grenade was bigger than they had imagined, and if this place collapsed, they would all be buried alive.

The rest of the route went relatively smoothly, and they eventually located the group of hostages. The hostages were all locked in a room, while the guards at the entrance had been rendered unconscious by the gas and were already asleep, thus saving their own lives.

As Koski opened the door, the hostages started to stir up a commotion. He began to recall their appearances and counted their numbers. “One, two, three… Huh? Why is there an extra person? Huh? I think I’ve seen you before.”

Shen Changze turned his head and glanced at the person sitting quietly in the corner. In the dim light, only a snow-white face was visible. Unlike the other hostages, who looked disheveled and full of fear, this person appeared remarkably composed. It seemed as though he wasn’t being held captive but rather attending a meeting. The mercenaries of the Peregrine Falcons had all seen this person before. He was the military doctor from China, Tang Tingzhi.

Tang Tingzhi stood up, this time not wearing a military uniform or a white coat but rather dressed casually in ordinary attire. He said to Shen Changze expressionlessly, “What a coincidence. Everyone who is meant to be here has arrived.”