Chapter 73: A Fateful Encounter on a Narrow Path
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“Quick, get out of the way!”
Nicholas’s arm strength was astonishing. With no warning, Li Changjiang was hurled toward a tent at the roadside, smashing into it with Nicholas.
Bang bang bang!
A burst of bullets swept past, barely missing them by a hair. Cold sweat broke out on their backs.
“Damn it! It’s the Americans!”
Following the direction of the gunfire, Li Changjiang looked around and was immediately dumbfounded.
It really was the Americans! Libyans, damn them all! Of all people to provoke, why did they have to pick the Americans?
Boom!
Not far from them, a plume of black smoke rose. The Americans must have infiltrated under cover of darkness and launched a direct attack inside the camp.
This was a tactic the Americans always favored—penetrating deep behind enemy lines for special operations, rescuing hostages, and carrying out decapitation strikes.
“What now? That side is already blocked!”
The eastern side of the camp was completely sealed off by the Americans. Li Changjiang could see clearly: all the Libyans had shrunk back against the facade of a low building, mounting a counterattack, while the Americans established a simple defensive line right there.
As for the mercenaries—
Li Changjiang quickly realized where they had gone.
“One American, five hundred thousand dollars!”
“The commander, one million dollars!”
On an open space at the westernmost edge, outside the firefight, about a hundred Libyans swiftly cleared the entire camp, gathering all the mercenaries together.
Before the war, a bounty of five hundred thousand dollars for a single life would have been considered an extravagant sum. After all, a typical combat mission paid only about a thousand dollars a day, sometimes even less.
The world of mercenaries was not paved with gold.
Yet the Libyans soon realized no one was moved by their offer.
“Why isn’t anyone willing to take the job?”
Li Changjiang was puzzled.
Nicholas glanced sideways at him.
“Do you Chinese love war so much? Five hundred thousand dollars to buy an American’s life—Libyans are dreaming.”
As expected, when no one responded, the Libyan commander seemed to make up his mind.
“All Americans, one million dollars each!”
Boom!
Instantly, the Libyan registration desk was swamped. Li Changjiang couldn’t help but click his tongue—money truly is humanity’s original sin. One million dollars for a life; if the Americans knew, would they laugh or cry?
Soon enough, all the mercenaries, after receiving their registration tags, rushed back into the camp, charging at the Americans. Li Changjiang and Nicholas, however, remained motionless, only emerging from their hiding place in the tent once the Libyans themselves plunged into the battle zone.
“Why didn’t you go? One million isn’t exactly a small amount.”
Li Changjiang could see the excitement gleaming in Nicholas’s eyes, but he was more surprised that the man didn’t act on it. Such restraint was remarkable.
“One million? Hmph!”
Nicholas’s reaction surprised Li Changjiang—he almost scoffed at the bounty, which was quite unexpected.
From Louis, Li Changjiang had gained more than just clumsy English and gun skills; he had also learned much about the Eagle Lion Mercenary Corps. Nicholas, before him, was the corps’ most skilled sniper, and was known for his greed—exceptionally greedy, in fact.
“Chinese, if you don’t want to die here, follow me. If luck is on our side, I might even help you find the two Chinese you’re looking for.”
With that, Nicholas dashed toward the eastern side of the camp.
“Go! Go! Go!”
Even before they approached, Li Changjiang could hear the Americans’ voices.
The two slipped swiftly into another alley, hardly daring to breathe. Only when the footsteps faded did Nicholas poke his head out to observe.
“The Americans aren’t targeting us, but if they see us, we’ll become their enemies.”
He turned to Li Changjiang, saying something rather enigmatic. Nicholas’s beard-shadowed face looked severe, even a bit ruthless. Russians’ impression of Americans was rarely favorable—a fact hardly surprising.
Up ahead, the gunfire grew more intense.
This American squad, though not large in number, was undoubtedly formidable in combat.
Those mercenaries hoping for bounty money would find it far harder to claim that million.
Boom! Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!
“Damn!”
Following Nicholas, they rushed forward at breakneck speed, but at a crossroads, a barrage of bullets forced them to retreat.
Nicholas spat, his face covered in grit; sand sprayed up by bullets had cut a line across his cheek, leaving him looking fierce.
“What?”
“We can’t get through here—damn it, these idiots.”
Li Changjiang quickly realized who Nicholas meant by ‘idiots.’
The Libyans!
It had to be said, in war, Libyans were the most inept fighters Li Changjiang had ever seen—if they could even be called warriors.
Besides pulling the trigger, they lacked even basic military discipline. Yet, even so, Nicholas had no desire to engage these fools.
The two quickly looped around to another entrance.
Meanwhile—
The gunfire made Guan Hu tense as he entered the city.
“Tiger Squad! Fighting’s broken out ahead!”
“You think I’m deaf?”
He glared fiercely at the machine gunner and immediately began assigning new combat tasks.
“We shouldn’t split up anymore. We need to concentrate our strength. We don’t know who’s fighting up ahead, but remember one thing: find Li Changjiang first, then withdraw immediately. Understood?”
“Understood!”
“Good. Let’s move out!”
Not far away, aboard the Jiangzhou ship, Lu Qian and Luo Yaocheng wore grave expressions.
“Are you sure?”
“Reporting, we’ve confirmed these American soldiers likely set out from the North Africa Command in Egypt—about forty men.”
“Old Lu, the Americans really picked the worst time! Contact Guan Hu immediately, have him abort the mission, and return at once!”
“Yes!”
The intelligence officer received the order and prepared to carry it out.
“Wait!”
Lu Qian’s words stopped him cold.
“Old Luo, I’ll say it again: soldiers who only bully their own are no good. Steel that’s fast and strong must weather wind and sun, never changing color.
What about the Americans? Our Chinese soldiers are no worse than theirs. Since we’ve stumbled onto such a rare opportunity, let them stretch their hands and test each other’s strength.”
Lu Qian’s face flushed crimson.
“Go, tell Guan Hu his enemy may very well be the Americans. Tell him this: born a Chinese soldier, even in death, never lose a soldier’s honor.”
“Yes!”
The intelligence officer turned to carry out the command.
Boom!
Within Misurata’s borders, a rocket landed not far from Guan Hu and his men, billowing smoke and obscuring their vision.
Yet Guan Hu quickly spotted several figures in camouflage uniforms charging toward them ahead.