396: Chapter Three Hundred and Ninety-Four: Simple Task 396: Chapter Three Hundred and Ninety-Four: Simple Task Following the Caqueta River downstream for a while, Gao Yang and the others got into a tributary and changed into military uniforms, fully arming themselves.
Gao Yang slung his rifle across his back, placed his shotgun in the most convenient position for shooting, and hung grenades on his combat vest, ready for combat at the slightest notice—though it was just the barest minimum preparation for battle.
After the small boat entered the tributary, the river became narrow, with dense vegetation crowding both banks and the waterway winding back and forth, greatly limiting the view ahead and to the sides.
When a sharp turn appeared ahead, the boat slowed down.
As it took the turn slowly, an open space suddenly emerged on one side of the riverbank.
The so-called open space was merely an area with sparser low vegetation.
Ivan stood at the bow of the boat, waving his hand towards the clearing and yelling out in a rush in Spanish.
After Ivan’s shout, four people clad in green military uniforms slowly emerged from their hiding spots.
Two of them were armed with old-fashioned M16s, one with an AK47, and another was carrying an RPD light machine gun.
After exchanging a few words with Ivan, the four individuals stood on the bank, watching intently as Gao Yang and his group approached.
The boat came to a stop, and after laying down the boarding plank, Ivan was the first to jump ashore.
He spoke briefly with the four men and gestured towards Gao Yang and his group.
The one with the machine gun nodded and said something in Spanish, then Ivan beckoned to Gao Yang and the others, “They’re here to meet us.
Come on down, bring your stuff.”
Remembering Ivan’s words, Gao Yang was now very cautious.
He made a sign to Cui Bo and the others, and he and Li Jinfang went ashore first.
However, they didn’t carry anything, subtly ready to open fire at any moment.
The rest of the group gradually brought their gear off the boat.
Although Tommy only needed two mortar barrels, Gao Yang and his team had prepared a substantial surplus of materials, so there was a lot to move.
Ivan’s two bodyguards helped carry two boxes of mortar shells, while the four armed individuals who came to meet them also voluntarily assisted with moving the gear.
The four armed guides said nothing, picked up the equipment, and led the way along a cleared path.
After a considerable walk and passing at least three checkpoints, Gao Yang and his companions were suddenly greeted by numerous scattered huts.
The huts were loosely constructed, wedged strategically among the large trees.
Looking up, they could only see the dense canopy, with tiny pieces of sky visible between the breaks.
Several modest thatch-roofed structures formed a sprawling camp, invisible from aerial reconnaissance hidden within the rainforest.
There were quite a few people in the camp, mostly of mixed white and Indigenous ancestry.
The young men and women all wore military green and carried guns, regarding Gao Yang and his group with a mix of caution and curiosity.
Some children, upon seeing them, followed chattering behind the group.
A dozen people followed an old man who looked to be in his sixties, approaching Gao Yang and his party.
When they were still a good distance away, Ivan raised his arms, shouting in Spanish, “Dear Pailano, my friend, how happy I am to see you.”
The old man gestured towards Pailano but wore a serious expression.
After a brief embrace with Ivan, he started babbling agitatedly.
Thanks to his experience in foreign trade, Gao Yang could understand some Spanish but very limitedly.
He knew only basic greetings, so he could follow a few of Pailano’s initial remarks, but soon after, he was completely lost.
After a brief exchange with Pailano, Ivan pointed to Gao and said in English, “He is Ram, the leader of the Satan Mercenary Corps.
Ram, this is Mr.
Pailano Rodriguez.”
Gao Yang shook hands with Pailano, saying with a smile, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr.
Rodriguez.”
Pailano, who could speak English, said emotionlessly, “Hello, Mr.
Ram.”
After his unemotional greeting, Pailano immediately released Gao Yang’s hand and took another look at the people behind him before shaking his head and saying, “You guys are too few.”
Before Gao could respond, Ivan spoke up seriously, “Mr.
Rodriguez, you wanted the best, and I’ve brought you the very best.
You should know they are the Satan Mercenaries.”
Pailano shrugged and said, “It doesn’t matter if there are many or few.
I won’t pay unless my objective is achieved.
Please, gentlemen, follow me.”
Pailano looked deeply aggrieved and seemed indifferent about Gao Yang and his team’s arrival.
Tipping his head to signal them to follow, Pailano turned and entered the largest hut.
Inside the big hut, there was a rough long table and several chairs.
A map hung on the wall; it was set up like a tactical briefing room.
Pailano walked in, sat down at the head of the table without paying attention to anyone, gestured for Ivan and Gao Yang to take a seat, and immediately said, “My enemies are very close; you need to act quickly.”
Gao Yang immediately said, “We can move at any time, as long as we confirm we’re taking your mission.
Now, please give us an overview of the situation.”
With a grave voice, Pailano said, “To be frank, my situation is grim.
My enemies have taken over the town of Santo Onos.
They are now stationed near Santo Onos town, with around two hundred men.
They frequently appear in Santo Onos town, and my enemy Teodulo has been spotted there too.
I have located their camp, but my men have encountered Teodulo’s men twice in a short period.
I believe the camp will soon be discovered, and I have nowhere left to retreat, so your action must be swift.”
Gao Yang said, “Please bring over a map, it will be more intuitive that way.”
Pailano stood up with a somber face and pointed at a spot on the map hanging on the wall, saying loudly, “Here is Santo Onos town, the enemy’s camp is to the west of Santo Onos town.
We are here, about forty kilometers in a straight line from Santo Onos town.”
Gao Yang stepped up to the map and took a look.
It was a small-scale provincial map, basically useless for combat, but it was still possible to make out that their location was not far from a little port town on the Caqueta River, and the enemy’s position was near another town.
However, there appeared to be no road or waterway connecting the two towns, at least not shown on the map.
Gao Yang frowned and asked, “Is there no road between these two towns?”
Pailano shook his head and said, “No, the only connection we have to the nearby town is a river, which has already been taken by the enemy.
The town they occupy has a road leading to another city, but the two towns are isolated from each other.”
Gao Yang frowned and asked, “Does the enemy’s position have GPS coordinates?”
“No, my scouts found Teodulo’s camp, and they can find it again.
I will send someone to guide you there.”
Gao Yang shook his head involuntarily, finding it unreliable to search for a camp hidden in the jungle based on human memory, so he frowned and said, “Are you sure your men can still find the enemy’s camp?”
“Of course.”
After pondering for a moment, Gao Yang coughed lightly and said in a deep voice, “Mr.
Rodriguez, I hope you can tell me honestly what the enemy soldiers’ equipment is like?
How about their combat effectiveness?
And do you have a more accurate count of the enemy soldiers?”
With a grim face, Pailano said, “Their equipment is much like mine, less than two hundred men, and their combat effectiveness is similar to my men.
However, we’ve fought a few battles, and all have ended in my defeat.
Don’t ask me why I lose when the combat capabilities and equipment are the same; I don’t know.”
Pailano’s answer made Gao Yang think the only reasonable explanation was that the enemy had mercenaries participating in the battle, so he immediately said, “Are there mercenaries among your enemies?”
“I don’t know, haven’t seen any, but those damn fools always seem to win.”
Gao Yang thought carefully and then said, “To what extent do we need to go for you to consider the mission fully accomplished?”
Pailano, gritting his teeth, said, “The mission is simple, kill Teodulo.
Just kill Teodulo, and that’s it.
Ten million US dollars, I want Teodulo’s life.
Even if you kill everyone except Teodulo, I won’t pay a dollar, but if you kill Teodulo, the ten million US dollars is yours.”
After saying that, Pailano raised his hand, and after the person behind him handed him a photo, Pailano immediately laid it on the table in front of Gao Yang.
Fortunately, the person in the photo was highly recognizable.
A man in his forties stood on the street, hands on hips, turning his face toward the photographer with slicked-back hair, and a big hook nose beside which was a long scar running past the lips to the chin, making the target’s features very distinct.
After looking at the photo and passing it to Ivan beside him, Gao Yang said in a deep voice, “Mr.
Rodriguez, we’ll take this mission.
So, how will we confirm whether we have completed the task?”
Pailano leaned back and folded his arms, saying, “My men will accompany you.
If their eyes see it, I’ll take it as confirmation.”
Gao Yang immediately said, “Anything can happen on the battlefield, and opportunities can be fleeting.
I’ll try to make sure your men see it, but I don’t want to miss the chance.”
At that moment, Ivan laughed and, holding a small camera, shook it, saying loudly, “I’m already prepared, gentlemen.
If the situation allows, it would be best to take a photo of the corpse.” (To be continued.
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