A helicopter landed on the helipad of the Rose Armed Forces ' stronghold. Three men stepped out, their faces cold and stern, exuding an aura that seemed to be cut from the same mold.
E San, E Wu, and E Jiu were all assassins trained in the same training camp.
"How's the situation?" E San, the team leader, asked directly.
Luo Qing explained the situation.
E San narrowed his eyes and said, "The enemy is Sniping assassin. This ambush was a test. Judging from the trap he used, he has detailed intelligence on you. According to your clues, his hideout is the Farian Group's stronghold, but the Farian Group is not to be trifled with. We cannot assassinate the enemy there."
Luo Qing asked, "So what do you plan to do?"
"The assassin's target is you, so we'll use you as bait. Send people out as usual; he'll definitely make a move. The three of us will ambush and kill him."
Luo Qing immediately ordered, "Ghost Fox, you will lead the team out for the next few days."
The Ghost Fox spirit nodded.
Farrian Outpost.
Inside the room, Han Xiao stroked his stubble with his fingers, a cloud of doubt lingering in his mind.
"The Rose Armed Forces seem too weak to handle..."
Dorothy and the others' performance puzzled him. If the Rose Armed Forces were only this capable, there was no reason why the bounty hadn't been completed after so long.
Han Daji's suspicious nature kicked in again. Feeling that he had missed some crucial information, he went to Antonov for questioning.
Han Xiao knocked on Antonov's office door and peeked through the crack. Antonov was sitting behind his desk reviewing documents.
"What do you want now?" Antonov asked with a smile.
Han Xiao sat down opposite him and asked, "I'd like to learn about the power structure of the Somar Desert."
"Didn't I already give you the intelligence? You already know about their armed forces and territories of influence."
"What I want to ask about are the things that weren't written in the intelligence reports," Han Xiao raised an eyebrow. "You know, the things behind the scenes."
Antonov lit a cigar and chuckled, "It seems you've realized that these armed groups are just tools, backed by financiers who fund their search for Feronya. If they can't eliminate the leader once and for all, their forces will keep coming."
"For example, Gordon is backed by the Chaisrod Family, who are also the ones who issued your bounty. Heh, don't be surprised, the Rose Armed Forces ' bounties are public."
Han Xiao was not surprised. He pondered to himself, "If this is the case, then to complete the mission, we must eliminate all members of the Rose Armed Forces. There can be no survivors. The most important thing is to kill their leader, Luo Qing."
Antonov took a drag of his cigarette and slowly said, "The Rose Armed Forces are backed by a political consortium in Ordifenna. They fund political parties to manipulate politics and secretly operate mercenary and assassin training camps. Their headquarters are in the Western Continent, and they don't have much influence in the Southern Continent, but they are not comparable to ordinary small organizations."
Han Xiao suddenly realized why so many assassins on the Dark Net had failed in the past; it must be that the Rose Armed Forces ' backers had sent people to support them.
"What exactly is Feronya that has attracted so many forces to covet it?" Han Xiao had a premonition that it was related to his special reward.
Since an unknown number of reinforcements may arrive, we cannot act rashly in the next step.
He originally had two plans: one was to wait for the Rose Armed Forces to make their move, and the other was to lure the enemy away from their stronghold. Both methods required the Rose Armed Forces to leave their stronghold and the map/book point. The enemy's reinforcements would also think of this, and would most likely send members of the Rose Armed Forces out on their own initiative as bait to lure him out, and then ambush him.
"What should I do...? Perhaps I can do the opposite?"
Han Xiao's eyes lit up. If he first set up a trap in one place, and then deliberately played along, pretending to fall into the ambush and fleeing in panic, he could lure all the enemies into the trap and perhaps successfully turn the tables.
"This means we need to prepare more weapons."
Ghost Fox led her team out for the third time, wandering aimlessly through the desert. Growing impatient, she asked into the communicator, "Why hasn't that assassin shown up yet? Is he too afraid to come out?"
Over the communicator, E San said calmly, "Assassins are very cautious. After the successful ambush last time, he'll wait a while to observe your performance."
It was another night, and lately Han Xiao had found himself getting into trouble at night.
He loaded West Capital onto the vehicle, drove away from the stronghold, and went to set up traps ahead of time.
The SUV drove out of the gates of the Farrian outpost, its headlights disappearing into the night... at the same time appearing in the lens of a telescope.
A kilometer away on a sand dune, E Jiu, draped in yellow camouflage, watched the off-road vehicle drive away through high-powered binoculars, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"The target left the base late at night, heading north. We suspect they're setting a trap. They may have sensed our presence and are trying to use a reverse psychology tactic to lure us into a trap..."
Now that they knew Han Xiao was on Farrian's territory, how could they not send people to monitor his movements?
"This enemy is a bit inexperienced." E San said calmly, feeling that this mission should be very simple and everything was under control.
At dawn, Han Xiao returned to the stronghold, travel-worn, and went to find Antonov.
You want me to drive you?
Antonov looked surprised.
"Yes, I need to fire the gun. I don't have hands to drive, so I'm counting on you."
"Wait a minute, what does your mission have to do with me? Why should I help you?" Antonov, bewildered.
"We finally get to travel, how can we stay at home? We need to go out, enjoy the scenery, and see the beautiful landscapes!"
Antonov pointed to the endless desert beyond the barbed wire fence, "Sightseeing and recreation?"
"Don't get hung up on these appearances. You might just see a mirage somewhere. Mountains may appear, and water may appear too. Though the desert is vast, sincerity brings results."
"We don't seem to know each other at all," Antonov, a twitch at the corner of his mouth.
"I'll give you a chance to be friends with me." Han Xiao chuckled.
"... Has anyone ever told you that you have a thick skin?"
Han Xiao touched the mask. "Hmm, with two layers, how could it not be thick?"
Although Antonov appears bulky and obese, he possesses formidable fighting prowess. He was chosen as the driver simply because Antonov wouldn't die so easily.
If you choose an ordinary person as the driver, and they happen to be killed by a stray bullet, you'll suffer a massive hemorrhage.
Antonov thought for a moment and said, "If you involve me in the mission, I'm entitled to a share of the profits, according to the rules."
"How about I give you 5% of the commission?"
"Not good, too little." Antonov shook his head.
"Stop joking, you're just driving a car, 5% is already pretty good for you."
"If we encounter the enemy, the first person we'll shoot is the driver... I'll get at least 20% of the profits."
Han Xiao's eyes widened. "Why don't you just rob it?"
"Isn't this exactly what robbing is like?" Antonov's small eyes gleamed with shrewdness.
After much haggling, Han Xiao finally persuaded Antonov to help by offering an immediate payment of 200,000 yuan. Paying immediately was more reliable than an uncertain fee, and the nature of the partnership changed to employment. Hiring a driver for this price, especially for a one-time use, was simply extravagant.
Antonov's bulky body finally squeezed into the driver's seat, while Han Xiao sat in the back, handed over the coordinate radar, and explained the plan in detail.
After hearing this, Antonov grinned.
"Interesting."
Later that morning, under the blazing Blazing Sun, the desert air distorted under the intense heat.
The Ghost Fox Squad, traveling in only two vehicles, was wandering through the desert, observing their surroundings.
"A vehicle is coming!" a mercenary shouted.
In the distance, an armored off-road vehicle appeared on the sand dunes, proceeding parallel to Ghost Fox's convoy; it was Han Xiao and Antonov.
"The enemy is here!" Ghost Fox's face lit up with joy.
E San's voice came through the walkie-talkie, cold and tinged with murderous intent, "The prey has finally stepped into the trap!"