The "hefty" investment in custom equipment (even with 25% reimbursed, it still made Lin Mo wince whenever he thought about it) only strengthened his resolve to head to the front lines and "earn it back." The Wang Family had clearly attached more importance to this operation than he'd expected.
Before they set out, Wang Qingtian called Wang Keke and Lin Mo over. After once again emphasizing the safety regulations, he formally introduced them to the escort and support team for their trip to the front lines.
"This is Aunt Zhang. You've met her before. She's a Beginner Warlord. This time, she'll personally protect Keke and serve as the strongest fighter in your squad." Wang Qingtian gestured to a middle-aged woman with a brisk bearing and sharp eyes.
Aunt Zhang gave Wang Keke and Lin Mo a slight nod. Her gaze lingered on Lin Mo for a moment longer, tinged with scrutiny and curiosity.
Oh? A War General Level bodyguard? Looks like Old Wang is being pretty generous this time. He's not treating us like kids playing around, at least. Lin Mo gave Aunt Zhang an approving look too. Having another expert around meant an extra measure of safety.
Next, Wang Qingtian introduced the seven-man squad standing at attention nearby. "This is the Wind-Breaking Squad, an elite unit among the Wang Family's auxiliary forces. They specialize in coordinated combat and wilderness survival.
"They'll be handling the operation itself, providing battlefield support, and coordinating with the Outpost. This is their captain, Wang Deshui."
Captain Wang Deshui stepped forward. Lean and fit, with a composed face and eyes like a falcon's, he saluted Wang Keke. "Young Miss!" Then he turned to Lin Mo. Though a flicker of surprise crossed his face, he maintained his soldierly composure. "Tiger King, sir!" He had clearly received special instructions to address Lin Mo with respect.
Tiger King, sir? Now that's a title worthy of me! A million times better than "Mimi"! Lin Mo let out a satisfied, low rumble from his throat in reply.
Wang Deshui began introducing his team members one by one, pride in his voice:
"Wang Tao and Wang Hai, the squad's eyes and fangs. High-Rank Warriors, heavy snipers."
Two young men with athletic builds and focused expressions stepped forward. They carried long metal cases on their backs. When they opened them, they revealed two imposing heavy sniper rifles, built to look as powerful as they were. Their sleek bodies gleamed with cold metallic light, while the complex scopes and attachments spoke to their exceptional quality.
"These are custom-made 'Beast Slayer-III' sniper rifles. Each one costs over five hundred million Huaxia Currency," Wang Deshui explained. "Their specialized Armor-piercing Bullets can severely wound or even kill Beginner Warlord-level monsters or fighters within effective range."
Good grief! Five hundred million apiece? More than a single component of my custom gear! Those bullets can take down Warlords? Now that's some serious hardware! Looks like we'll be even safer this time. When it matters, these two brothers can provide righteous long-range support! Lin Mo stared at the two huge rifles, eyes burning with excitement, as if he could already see a Beast General getting its head blown off on the battlefield.
"Li Ning and Zhang Yong, High-Rank Warriors, scouts." Two agile-looking squad members with restrained auras stepped forward. "They specialize in movement techniques and close-quarters combat. They handle forward reconnaissance, security, and infiltration. They're equipped with the latest Honeycomb drone swarm surveillance system, which can provide us with a real-time view of the battlefield for several kilometers in every direction."
Drones? Now that's handy! It's like having the whole map unlocked! No more getting ambushed by monsters. And they're good in close combat too—a versatile pair.
"Wang Haitao, High-Rank Warrior, heavy machine gunner and the core of our suppressive fire." A burly man with the back and shoulders of a tiger, carrying a multi-barrel rotary machine gun, gave a simple smile. The gun's barrels were frighteningly thick.
This guy's clearly a walking artillery platform! He'll be great for clearing out the cannon fodder! Safety +1!
"Li Kai, High-Rank Warrior, frontline Shield Warrior." The final squad member held a massive Alloy Shield, with a broad-backed Combat Blade at his waist. He stood as steady as a mountain. "He's responsible for building our defensive line and protecting his teammates. That makes him especially crucial when we're dealing with a Beast Tide."
A tank! Every team needs one! This squad's composition is pretty solid: ranged combat, melee, reconnaissance, defense, and suppressive fire, plus Keke's control abilities, Aunt Zhang's top-tier strength, and me, the all-around main force... Tsk, tsk. With a lineup like this, it'd be a waste not to take down a Beast General boss!
After introducing the squad, Wang Deshui led them to the garage. Three heavily modified armored off-road vehicles stood there like steel behemoths.
Thick composite armor covered their bodies, and their tires stood taller than Lin Mo. Weapon platforms were mounted on their roofs. One vehicle had received a special modification: instead of a simple machine-gun mount, its roof featured a recessed, throne-like seat surrounded by handrails. A nonslip, hard-wearing cushion had even been laid across the surface.
"Tiger King, sir, this is your personal spot." Wang Deshui pointed to the "throne." "Considering your size and... dignity, an ordinary vehicle wouldn't be able to carry you. It would also limit your field of vision and reaction speed.
"This seat will let you watch your surroundings comfortably while we're on the move. If we encounter an enemy, you'll be able to jump into battle or take flight right away."
Holy crap! A ride fit for the Tiger King?! Old Wang, you've outdone yourself! Now that's how you get things done! Lin Mo was delighted. He eagerly made a light leap onto the roof and tried out his "throne." It was just the right size, neither too soft nor too hard, and offered an excellent view. It was far more comfortable than being cramped in the cabin! Satisfied, he lay down and let out a contented purr.
Wang Keke also climbed into the passenger seat with a smile and patted the door. "Mimi, now you've got a tiger throne of your own!"
"All right. Now that you've all met and the vehicles are ready, I'll wrap things up," Wang Qingtian said. "You have three days to train together and get used to each other's fighting styles and rhythms. Three days from now, you'll set out for Outpost No. 03!"
Training together? No problem! I'll see what this Wind-Breaking Squad is made of—and show you what Tiger King-level strength looks like!
Standing on his personal throne, Lin Mo looked down at the Wind-Breaking Squad and Wang Keke below. Battle lust and anticipation burned in his golden tiger eyes. The blood and fury of the front lines—and a dazzling array of "menu items"—were beckoning him.
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