Chapter 129: A Formidable Character

After boarding the vehicle, I discovered there were five people inside. One was driving, the young man who had guided me to the car sat in the passenger seat, and three men occupied the back row. Two of them were burly, dressed in distinct local attire, while the third was a lean man in a navy-blue shirt. It was clear at a glance that these three were no ordinary men; they possessed the disciplined air and physical presence of people with specialized training.

The man in the passenger seat spoke up: "Mr. Gao, hello. My name is Kang Bao. Mr. Wei put me in touch with you; we are good friends of his. These three gentlemen behind you are the help Mr. Wei entrusted us to find for you. You can discuss the specific wages shortly. Your equipment is in the trunk, also purchased at Mr. Wei's request. I will provide you with an itemized list of the costs soon. Would you like to inspect the goods now?"

I nodded to indicate that I wanted to inspect them immediately. Kang Bao nodded in return, then whispered something to the driver, who started the engine. I had left Liu Dong back at the hotel, primarily to await the arrival of the tractor-trailers.

The minivan drove swiftly, reaching an abandoned forest park within a short time. The park was one of those projects halted halfway through construction; neglected for years, it had lost all its charm, likely abandoned because the local county lacked the funds to complete it. With no scenery to speak of, visitors were rare. We drove deep into the park without encountering a single soul.

Once we parked beside a few large trees, Kang Bao opened the door, and everyone climbed out. With a smile, he introduced the three men from the back seat.

The first was Tian Hu, nicknamed "Tiger." He was a man of the Miao ethnic group, in his thirties, remarkably robust, with a uniquely shaped dagger tucked into his waistband and eyes that shone with intensity.

The second was also of the Miao people, named Lei Jun, nicknamed "Army." He too wore a dagger at his waist and was as stout as Tian Hu.

The last man was Han Chinese. He was lean with a dark complexion. As I looked at him, Kang Bao smiled and introduced him: "Boss, this is Zhang Feng, nicknamed 'Madman.' Don't let his thin frame fool you; he is a formidable character."

Kang Bao went on to explain that this "Madman" had been active in volatile regions, working as a mercenary. He was highly skilled, particularly adept with equipment, and served as an expert in tracking and reconnaissance. Furthermore, Zhang Feng spoke several foreign languages. He had only come to this area to make a living after offending certain powerful factions elsewhere.

I nodded, satisfied. I offered them the same generous terms and deposits I had given Guo Fan and his group. The three men seemed surprised; the local going rate was significantly lower than in the capital, and my offer was exceptionally munificent. The way they looked at me warmed noticeably.

Once terms were settled, Kang Bao gave me a grin and opened the back of the minivan. The trunk had been modified for extra space and was currently packed with supplies and several large wooden crates.

Kang Bao began unloading them, opening one crate to reveal an array of gear. There were various types, including two very menacing-looking pieces that I had only ever seen on television; this was my first time seeing them in the flesh.

Although Kang Bao had introduced Zhang Feng and the others to me, I was now their employer and they were to follow my orders. In truth, Kang Bao was merely an intermediary, and he and the men were not particularly close.

I directed Zhang Feng and Guo Fan to inspect the gear. Guo Fan, having served as a reconnaissance squad leader, was intimately familiar with such equipment. As for Zhang Feng, this was his specialty—he claimed he could assemble a complete unit from parts in ten seconds.

The two men carefully pulled out each item, examined them, and toyed with the mechanisms before nodding at one another. Guo Fan leaned in and whispered, "Boss, these were made in small workshops, but the quality is quite good."

Kang Bao chimed in with a smile, "Don't worry, Boss. These tools are top-notch; we sell quite a lot of them every year."

I offered him a faint smile. The remaining crates contained basic parts and consumables, as well as specialized tools for quarries and mines, along with several homemade items. These latter pieces made Zhang Feng’s eyes light up; he told me that with these, he could fashion all sorts of interesting things, such as timed devices.

The rest of the gear was extensive, chosen specifically for the dense local forests. What Kang Bao had brought was clearly premium—the kind of professional equipment rarely found on the open market. I couldn't help but wonder how he had acquired it.

From tents to clothing, everything was there; it was enough to form a small, well-equipped expeditionary team, complete with significant defensive capabilities. Some of the equipment, particularly the advanced detectors, would be nearly impossible to purchase even in a major city, as those available to the public are usually inferior civilian versions.

I sighed, realizing that with the progression of technology, even tomb robbers were beginning to upgrade. The days of the Luoyang shovel and traditional geomantic tools were fast approaching their end.

I was thoroughly satisfied with the preparations. Mr. Wei had proven himself to be incredibly reliable, and since he hadn't asked for any favors in return, I now owed him a significant debt of gratitude. Nonetheless, my mood was lightened; having both the men and the gear gave me a sense of security.

After paying the deposits, I opened my travel bag, counted out the remainder of the money, and handed it all to Kang Bao. It was two hundred thousand, as we had agreed. I had confirmed with Guo Fan earlier that while the price was high, the gear was essentially priceless in the current market. In any other region, one couldn't even dream of obtaining such professional-grade material; it was truly a case of "money cannot buy what is not available."