95: Chapter 95 Thunderous Strike

"Haha, Black Bear, you should know that this is China, known as a forbidden zone for mercenaries. Do you think just any peer could take a job like this? But honestly, if the boss hadn't offered such high pay, I wouldn't have taken it either."

Fox Shadow said in a low voice while cautiously observing his surroundings.

"Oh? Why is that?"

"The environment here really isn't suitable for mercenary activities. As everyone knows, China is the country with the strictest gun control in the world. It's very hard to get weapons in through normal channels, let alone big pieces like what we have. The only things left are a few smuggling routes."

"When a massive country has only these few routes left, monitoring them isn't that difficult. Also, mercenaries usually operate in war-torn countries; those are the soils we thrive in. This place is too peaceful; there's simply no place for us to use our skills."

...

Fox Shadow wanted to continue lecturing his subordinates when Big Guy's urgent call suddenly came through his earpiece.

"Boss, I feel like something's not right."

Fox Shadow immediately raised his right hand and crouched down, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

"Big Guy, what's the situation?"

"Nothing specific, but don't you think there's something different about this part of the forest compared to before?"

Fox Shadow's heart sank upon hearing this. Damn it, he had been so focused on showing off his knowledge that he'd neglected the environment.

"My God, Big Guy, thanks to you. Something is indeed wrong. It's too quiet; I actually overlooked this detail."

"Boss, what do you mean? Have we been spotted?"

Black Bear asked in a low voice. Fox Shadow didn't answer, only putting a finger to his lips in a silence gesture. He picked up his assault rifle, looked around through the scope, and then signaled to both sides.

Seeing their leader's signal, Black Bear and Monkey quickly raised their guns and moved out to the left and right. The two snipers found suitable positions in the rear to provide support, leaving only Fox Shadow and Lone Wolf in the center.

"Lone Wolf, we might have walked into a Chinese ambush. Handle this carefully. The situation is unclear; we don't know if they've spotted us yet."

"Boss, are you sure? How could they know we were coming?"

"I'm not entirely sure, it's just an intuition. I haven't had this feeling in a long time. Damn it, this feeling is not good."

Fox Shadow and Lone Wolf moved forward slowly, back to back. Lone Wolf also became cautious; he knew Fox Shadow's record. A man like him escaped death every time mostly by relying on keen insight and this uncanny intuition.

In a hollow pit 1,500 meters directly in front of Fox Shadow's squad, Xu Hu and his comrades were lying in wait.

"Squad Leader, there's an anomaly in the infrared sensors at marker 1-8."

The soldier beside him reported immediately while looking at the flashing red indicator on his electronic information panel.

Xu Hu was looking at the LCD surveillance screen. Hearing the report, he immediately used his right hand to adjust a rotary knob, finding the pre-marked 1-8 position.

As he turned it, a spherical detection device on a distant tree continuously adjusted its direction.

This was a set of remote integrated surveillance equipment.

Xu Hu found marker 1-8 and clicked a few times with his right hand. On the LCD screen, the direction locked, and then he began to zoom in. Xu Hu waited patiently; he had to confirm whether the anomaly was human or just a passing animal.

Soon, the figures of Black Bear and the others appeared on the surveillance equipment. Xu Hu's eyes lit up as he scrutinized the people in front of him.

After clearly seeing the number of enemies, Xu Hu raised his left wrist, where a small LCD information platform was located. He quickly found the Captain's name and dialed. A few seconds later, Huang Jisen's booming voice came through the earpiece.

"Xu Hu, what is it?"

"Reporting to the Captain, my squad has discovered a four-man armed team at marker 1-8 directly ahead. They are advancing in a combat formation. Over."

Huang Jisen spread out a map and quickly found the position Xu Hu reported. He drew a large red circle on it and slammed his fist down.

"Haha, we've finally caught them. Xu Hu, keep an eye on them. I'll immediately arrange for other squads to flank and encircle them. We'll catch them like turtles in a jar."

"Yes, sir! I guarantee the mission will be completed."

Xu Hu hung up the phone, his eyes fixed on the LCD screen.

Fox Shadow and his team were still moving forward cautiously. They were spaced dozens of meters apart, maintaining the same speed, covering each other as they searched and advanced.

1,500 meters, 1,200 meters, 1,000 meters, 900 meters...

Xu Hu gave his teammates a look and slowly raised his sniper rifle. However, the targets in his sniper scope suddenly all stopped and hid behind large trees. Xu Hu spat on the ground.

"Damn, these guys are quite alert. Looking at their tactical movements, they're all veterans. You guys be careful in a bit; don't expose yourselves easily. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Squad Leader!"

The surrounding soldiers replied one after another.

Fox Shadow hid behind a large tree. The sniper squad in the rear had just signaled a warning to them.

"Big Guy, what did you just say?"

"Captain, we found infrared equipment on a tree behind us. This is an ambush zone."

"Shit, we can't be that unlucky, can we? Big Guy, are you sure that's monitoring us? If it is, then we might have already been exposed."

"Boss, I don't understand Chinese characters, but it looks like an infrared alarm device. There are definitely more than just this one around here."

While the two were talking, a flock of birds flew overhead in the distance. Fox Shadow didn't reply; he looked at the birds with some suspicion. His brow furrowed as he suddenly remembered something. He raised his gun and looked at the birds again through his sniper scope.

"Those are Night Herons. Shit! Entire team, listen to my command: retreat immediately. We've been ambushed. Move fast! Big Guy, you two cover the rear. If we're too late, we might not get out."

"Yes, sir!"

Xu Hu's sniper scope was aimed at Black Bear when he suddenly noticed them turning back.

"Not good, they're going to run."

Xu Hu shouted, then half-rose and decisively pulled the trigger when he found an opportunity. The sniper rifle let out a resounding bang in the open forest.

The bullet grazed Black Bear's leg and whizzed into a nearby tree trunk.

"Haha, Boss, it really is an ambush. You truly are our God. These Chinese soldiers' marksmanship isn't all that great."

Black Bear felt a sense of surviving a disaster, and he didn't forget to mock the opponent at this moment.

"Watch your surroundings, don't be careless. We were far away just now. If we had gone another 50 meters forward, you wouldn't be so lucky!"