Chapter 130: Full of Confidence

Although the price was a bit steep, the quality was fortunately quite good. Besides, Kang Bao had stated plainly that since this was our first transaction, the price would be much lower for any future needs.

Just as I was about to get into the car to return, I received a call from Liu Dong. He told me that the three semi-trailers had arrived at their destination, but they had first stopped at a restaurant to eat, so I shouldn't be too anxious.

Because of the volume of equipment and the number of people, I asked Kang Bao to help me get a pickup truck. It was a simple request, and Kang Bao agreed immediately. His efficiency was high; after making a single phone call, he told me it would be delivered that evening.

Back at the hotel, we unloaded the gear and armaments into the SUV until it was packed to the brim. I rented three more rooms from the landlady. Since it was the off-season for tourism, there were plenty of vacancies and almost no other guests, so the landlady was naturally very welcoming.

I had my five men take turns monitoring the trailer drivers. They discovered that after eating, the drivers had checked into a nearby hotel. I had my people secretly inquire about their plans and learned that their delivery was scheduled for tomorrow morning. Still, I dared not be careless and kept the shifts running around the clock.

Next, I asked Guo Fan to start scouting the county town to see if any other unfamiliar groups had arrived recently. Just then, my phone rang. Seeing it was Anna, I realized I had almost forgotten about the foreign girl.

I hurriedly answered. Anna told me she had arrived. After clarifying her location, I sent Tian Hu to pick her up and rented another room for her at the hotel; I had effectively booked out the entire place.

Before long, Anna arrived. To my surprise, she was dressed in a camouflage uniform, wearing large sunglasses and knee-high leather boots. She looked dashing and heroic, with a striking, vibrant elegance.

Seeming to notice my astonishment, Anna laughed, did a little spin, and asked, "Yun, what do you think? Do I look cool?"

I nodded with a smile. The other men nearby were mesmerized; after all, she was a beautiful foreign girl. I gave a cough, and they quickly returned to their tasks.

I gave her a brief overview of the situation. Since we had so many people, introductions were necessary. Anna was the type who made friends easily and quickly fit in with the group. Being a beauty, she was welcome everywhere, and the fact that she was outgoing and lively helped.

At night, I gathered everyone. I had already discussed the general situation with Tian Hu and the others, but I went over the details again, omitting the more sensitive parts. They only knew that my main goal was to find—or rather, rescue—someone. To them, this was a minor job; for people who scraped by on the edge of life and death, such tasks were simple.

Moreover, the pay was high, and I had been generous, which boosted their confidence. The plan was quickly finalized. The main breakthrough point would be the drivers of those trailers; I was certain the cargo they were transporting was closely linked to Li Ling’s situation.

At this point, Guo Fan reported on what he had gathered during the day. The story began half a month ago. After hearing his report, I frowned; the situation seemed much more complex than I had imagined.

Half a month ago, an expedition team arrived in Wuming County. The group included several foreigners, and the local government attached great importance to it, as it was a rare event for a small county to host an international scientific research team.

The team leader was Chinese and possessed documents issued by the state, claiming they were surveying the mountain ranges for mineral deposits. This was a positive endeavor—if they discovered a vein of ore, it could benefit the whole region. Consequently, local officials cooperated actively, providing both manpower and resources.

However, once the team entered the mountains, they encountered many difficulties. Lacking advanced equipment in such a remote area, they were forced to bring in supplies from elsewhere.

When Guo Fan reached this point, he looked perplexed. I asked him what was wrong, and he replied, "I also picked up some rumors from the mountain foragers."

Guo Fan explained in detail. "Mountain foragers" were people who went into the mountains to collect wild goods like herbs and fungi to sell. With the recent rise in tourism, the trade had become quite lucrative, and many foragers also engaged in poaching, selling animal pelts alongside their forest goods.

These foragers knew the terrain better than anyone. When Guo Fan asked them questions and slipped them some money, they naturally told him everything they knew, even consulting their peers for information they lacked. Through this, they had uncovered something.

It was said that half a month ago, a team set up camp near Longtou Mountain. The commotion had drawn the attention of several foragers, though they generally worked alone and didn't pay much mind to others. However, one night, a forager nicknamed "Three-Flat-Melon" injured his foot and was delayed, only reaching the base of the mountain as night fell.

There was a small clearing there, which served as the expedition team's campsite. It was already dark, and Three-Flat-Melon, struggling with the pain in his foot, thought he would head to the camp to beg for food or, better yet, some medicine.

As he approached the camp, however, he grew suspicious. It was far too quiet, and there wasn't a single light to be seen. This was highly abnormal. He had seen the team before—there were about twenty of them; it was impossible for there to be absolutely no activity. Even if they were resting, it wasn't late enough for everyone to be asleep, and surely they would have at least one night light, especially since wild beasts frequently roamed near Longtou Mountain.