Chapter 54: The Unknown Third Party-Eu, o Rei dos Mercenários(Yan Qiguan)

High in the sky, two Apache attack helicopters and two Black Hawk helicopters flew side by side in two columns, followed closely by a CH-47D Chinook transport helicopter.

The Apache gunships were providing escort, Colonel Brown's men were seated in the two Black Hawks, and the cabin of the CH-47D was packed entirely with GRS operators.

"Ten minutes to target!"

Fully armed, Thomas checked his watch, raised a finger, and shouted to alert all the operators lined up on either side.

To deal with the "Musicians," Thomas had taken the field himself this time.

He had mobilized the two most elite "Scorpion" operational detachments currently deployed by GRS in Iraq.

"This time... they're finally going to die, right?"

A strange, obsessive thought welled up in Thomas's heart.

He simply had to wipe out Cook and his men.

Even he himself could not fully explain this obsession.

Especially regarding Song Heping.

Although the man had once shared a life-and-death bond with him, whenever Thomas looked at Song Heping, he felt an inexplicable sense of unease, as if a sharp blade were pressed against his back. Though it hadn't even broken his skin, it radiated a lingering chill.

A firearms instructor during Thomas's special forces days had once said: If you ever suddenly feel a chill down your spine for no reason during an operation, it means an expert is watching you nearby.

Perhaps this was that very feeling.

"Five minutes left!"

Time passed quickly.

Thomas walked to the rear ramp of the Chinook, where the exit was located. Behind him, the "Scorpion" operators stood up one after another, pulling up their camouflage scarves to cover their mouths and noses. Doing this served two purposes: first, to conceal their identities, and second, to filter out the rising dust during the helicopter landing.

"Once we hit the ground, form up into combat formations immediately! I will not remind you of this again. Team One, follow me to handle the handoff, and strike the moment we confirm the cargo is secured!"

"Understood!"

The Scorpion operators radiated murderous intent, each of them eager for a fight.

Back at the farm, White Bear ran over to Cook's side and said, "Done. Checked them all, they're all dead bodies. It's safe here."

Cook grunted, nodded, and turned to look at Song Heping beside him.

By now, he had grown accustomed to discussing matters with Song Heping whenever something came up.

Song Heping, however, was anxiously checking his watch.

"Why aren't they here yet!"

"Who?"

"Angel!"

"She's here."

Grey Wolf raised a hand and pointed into the distance.

Song Heping followed his direction and indeed spotted the armored Lincoln speeding toward them.

As soon as the car stopped in front of them, Song Heping hurried over and pulled the door open, asking before Angel could even step out, "Are you sure everything is taken care of?"

"Taken care of! Don't you worry!" Angel said with absolute confidence. "Song, you're underestimating me!"

Underestimating?

Song Heping had no desire to spar verbally with this foreign woman, but he really did look down on her a bit—she fell apart and cried over the slightest inconvenience.

And she claimed to be from a prestigious family, an Ivy League high achiever, and a major newspaper reporter; if you wrung out all the fluff in her background, you could probably fill a bucket with water.

"Where is Saif?" Angel demanded impatiently.

Song Heping cast a glance at Grey Wolf.

Grey Wolf walked over to the pickup truck and dragged Saif out.

Saif was wounded, and Grey Wolf's rough handling caused him to start wailing again.

Upon seeing Saif, Angel's eyes lit up instantly. She walked over, squatted down in front of him, and extended her hand out of habit: "Mr. Saif, I am Angel—"

She suddenly froze in awkwardness.

Saif glared at her.

She stared back at Saif.

Only to suddenly realize that Saif was hog-tied like a dumpling.

His hands couldn't even move; what on earth was she supposed to shake?

"Hehe..."

She withdrew her hand awkwardly.

"I want to ask, can you give me that document?"

Saif glared at Angel with venomous hatred.

In his mind, if not for this woman, he would never have been reduced to this state.

"I only trade with honest people. You are a lying demon!"

Seeing Saif curse her, Angel felt her face burn slightly, but she threatened him anyway: "Give me the document, and perhaps I can carve out a path to survival for you. If you don't hand it over, the people at Langley have plenty of ways to make you talk. By then, you, your secrets, and any chance to clear your names will all be buried in hell."

Saif gave a miserable laugh. "When have you Americans ever kept your word?"

Angel felt another wave of awkwardness.

She wanted to continue persuading Saif, but suddenly heard the dull, heavy thrum of helicopter rotor blades cutting through the sky.

"They're here," Grey Wolf said.

The members of the mercenary squad instinctively clustered together.

Song Heping said to Grey Wolf, "Go to the back and keep watch over Saif."

"Got it."

Grey Wolf complied.

Two Black Hawks and a Chinook slowly descended onto the open ground of the farm.

The powerful downdraft whipped up withered grass and sand from the ground, enveloping a large portion of the farm in a yellowish dust storm.

The horizon was already showing a pale, fish-belly white, though daybreak had not yet fully arrived.

Thomas led the "Scorpion" operators out of the dust and fog, walking slowly toward Song Heping and the others.

Song Heping noticed that as soon as his men got off the chopper, they dispersed. Upon closer inspection, they were operating in teams of four—seemingly casual, but actually occupying the exits and strategic positions around the farm from various angles, intentional or not.

Meanwhile, the two Black Hawk helicopters had landed on either side of the farm. The personnel disembarking from them seemed unconnected to Thomas; they bore no military insignia or rank, displaying only Stars and Stripes patches on their chests.

This array of forces...

There was no telling which secret branch of the U.S. empire this was.

Was it really necessary to pull out all the stops just to deal with a few free-agent mercenaries like themselves?

Judging by their positioning, they had essentially sealed off every possible escape route.

They were true professionals...

Their very first move laid down a crossfire network, leaving zero opportunity for resistance.

It was blatantly an execution squad.

Song Heping could not help but feel extreme contempt for Thomas.

No matter how devoid of sentimentality one might be, there was surely no need to treat him like this.

Did I dig up the ancestral graves of the Thomas family?

"Hey, Zang!" Thomas took the initiative to greet him.

"I told you my name is Song!"

Song Heping gave him no pleasant expression, his words colder than ice.

Thomas didn't take offense and greeted Cook next.

Cook simply ignored him, squeezing a single grunt out through clenched teeth.

"Saif?"

Thomas's gaze landed on Saif standing beside Grey Wolf.

Angel spoke up. "Thomas, this is my interview source."

Thomas replied, "I'm sorry, Miss Angel. He is a wanted fugitive on our bounty list and a high-security classified target. You'd best stay out of our business."

With that, he gave a slight nod. Two Scorpion operators stepped forward, snatched Saif from Grey Wolf's grip, and hauled him back behind Thomas.

"You have some nerve! Thomas, aren't you afraid of hitting tomorrow's newspaper front page by pulling this stunt?!" Angel yelled furiously.

Thomas yanked her over to his side, applying a rear-naked choke to lock her neck.

Angel immediately struggled futilely for a moment, thrashing about like a helpless little lamb.

Cook cursed, "What do you think you're doing?! Is this how you Yankees treat a lady?!"

Song Heping remained silent.

He was well aware of Thomas's intentions.

Angel had a party whip aunt backing her up, after all; if they harmed her, it would be difficult to answer to Langley.

Therefore, Angel should be safe.

"Thomas, we've handed the man over to you. When can we get our five million dollars?"

Song Heping cut straight to the point.

"Five million dollars?" Thomas flashed a sly grin, then looked left and right. "Who can testify to that? Did I ever promise you anything?"

Song Heping pressed on, "Saif is a target on the Playing Card Wanted List, subject to a public bounty."

"Kid..." Thomas wiped the sly grin from his face. "This is Iraq, not Chicago."

With that, he slowly stepped back.

Song Heping knew this meant they were about to make their move.

"Hold on!"

Song Heping suddenly shouted, "If we don't want the money, can we walk away?"

"Zang, I'm sorry..." Thomas shook his head. "No."

Song Heping asked, "Did I murder your entire family?"

"What?" Thomas paused, momentarily stunned.

"Then why must you wipe us out?"

"Does it need a reason?" Thomas smiled again, pointing at the corpses scattered around. "People die here every day, and that doesn't need a reason either."

As he spoke, Thomas suddenly felt that something wasn't right.

Without realizing it, he had wasted far too much time talking nonsense with Song Heping.

Just as he decided to strike immediately without dragging things out any longer, a warning crackled through his earpiece: "Base calling Scorpion, respond if you copy."

Calling right at this moment?

Thomas hurriedly answered, "Scorpion receiving, go ahead."

"A convoy is approaching the farm from the east, less than a kilometer away from your position."

"Who are they?!"

A jolt of shock went through his heart. He whirled around and ordered everyone, "Team D, take defensive positions!"

One Scorpion detachment immediately scattered in all directions, establishing a defensive perimeter around the farm.

"Calling Falcon One, unidentified personnel are approaching from the east, verify identity immediately!"

"Copy."

An Apache hovering in the air immediately banked hard and flew eastward.