Chapter 131: The Campsite
Chapter 131: The Campsite
Obtaining the necessary items from Wei Chang'an was a straightforward process, and by the afternoon of the next day, everything was delivered.
Chen Chuan, with the assistance of Feng Xiaoqi and Luo Kaiyuan, spent a day coordinating and preparing, ensuring that all required equipment was ready.
He Nan had provided them with five off-road vehicles, and with Ren Xiaotian driving his own car, they now had six vehicles, sufficient to accommodate their entire team and the essential supplies and weapons needed for their journey through the wilderness.
At midnight on the second day, everyone involved in the operation gathered in the square outside the gates of Wu Yi Academy.
Chen Chuan's team consisted of five members, while Wei Chang'an brought six people, including himself, and Ren Xiaotian, making a total of thirteen individuals.
Lin Xiaoti, being younger, did not participate in this raid but remained in Yangzhi City, keeping an eye on the exchange delegation and staying in contact with the Foreign Affairs Bureau via radio. They had brought two radios specifically for this purpose, ensuring prompt communication if any issues arose with the delegation.
Before departing, the group conducted a final check, confirming that all their equipment was in order. They nodded to each other, then boarded the vehicles, driving off into the night along the open road.
Wei Chang'an's team included six individuals, all capable drivers, so they took charge of the convoy, replacing the original drivers.
The vehicles left Wu Yi Academy, heading east out of Yangzhi City, and soon plunged into the wilderness. The rough terrain quickly became apparent as the passengers felt the bumpy ride.
Ideally, they could have reached their destination within two hours if they traveled along the National Highway. However, the highway was bordered by remnants of the great expansion era, including protective ditches, barbed wire, and watchtowers, making it impossible to deviate from the road.
The only exception was near the checkpoint, but that area was also heavily fortified, requiring tedious registration and sometimes even detention for verification. It was more efficient to navigate through the wilderness.
Ren Xiaotian, familiar with the wilderness from his frequent commission tasks, had also scouted the Rusty Gang's campsite, so he led the way.
Sitting in the backseat, Chen Chuan examined the assault rifle in his hands. The gun was approximately 1.2 meters long and weighed around 20 kilograms, but for a fighter like him, holding it one-handed was effortless.
The most unique aspect was the ammunition. Chen Chuan estimated the bullets to be 7-8 centimeters long, with sharp tips, and they felt heavy in his hand. They had brought fifteen rounds, which seemed sufficient for their needs.
Such guns were strictly controlled, as they could easily penetrate standard body armor within their effective range, rendering it as useless as paper.
Among Wei Chang'an's team of six, two were vehicle mechanics and telegraph operators, but one member stood out—a skilled marksman.
Despite lacking a weapon permit, this individual had grown up around the Patrol Bureau and often sneaked into the shooting range, developing exceptional marksmanship. Upon hearing about the opportunity to handle the assault rifle, he insisted on joining, even if it meant paying for the privilege.
After putting away the gun, he perused the information Ren Xiaotian had given him, which detailed the Rusty Gang's background.
The gang's leader was named Mitai, nicknamed "Wild Eagle." He was a Makar halfbreed, around forty years old, and had spent his youth running with a gang in the wilderness. Due to his quick wit, he became the gang leader's right-hand man.
However, when the gang leader died in a conflict, Mitai, as the former leader's confidant, was driven out by the new leader.
The primary reason for his expulsion was his Makar heritage.
While those in the wilderness were generally looked down upon by city dwellers, a hierarchy of disdain existed, with Makar halfbreeds and Makar people at the bottom, even below those from Jushan. Escaping this stigmatized position was incredibly challenging.
Since then, Mitai had been doing odd jobs in the wilderness, until a sudden rise to prominence in the past year or two, when he formed his own gang.
This background indicated that he likely had the backing of a powerful force.
Mitai had two key lieutenants: Yu'an, nicknamed "Viper," who served as the gang's strategist and was a pure Makar; and Yatang, nicknamed "Mad Bear," a two-meter-tall Makar halfbreed with apparent combat abilities. Mitai had rescued Yatang during a conflict, suggesting he might possess innate talent.
Chen Chuan pondered Ren Xiaotian's assessment, concluding that aside from Yatang, the gang members' individual combat skills were not particularly impressive, and they relied heavily on weapons and equipment in confrontations.
This was understandable, as those with higher combat prowess typically found success within the city. Unless they were fugitives or had exceptional circumstances, most with sound minds would not choose to live like hyenas in the wilderness. While there might be a few who genuinely enjoyed this lifestyle, they were likely a tiny minority.
Chen Chuan further speculated that if the Makar homeland supported this gang, the presence of skilled Makar fighters was almost certain. This would facilitate the supervision and control of these wilderness bandits.
Discussing this with Ren Xiaotian and Wei Chang'an, they agreed that the Makar fighter was likely of a similar caliber to Du Ma, and if there was someone even more powerful...
It was important to remember that Makar had a small population of just over a million, while Yangzhi City and its surrounding counties and villages had a combined population of over ten million, ten times that of Makar. The average skill level of Wu Yi Academy teachers was likely around the Second Limit, and many teachers and assistants hadn't even reached that level.
After all, one's potential was limited by their innate talent. No matter how rigorous the training, few could surpass their natural ceiling without sufficient talent. Only with a large population could there be a higher chance of finding exceptionally talented individuals.
Given this context, a fighter of such caliber in Makar would be considered a national treasure, and losing even one would be a significant loss. It was unimaginable that Makar would send such fighters to other countries for tasks like this, especially since these fighters, once equipped with body armor and weapons, possessed immense destructive power. Their presence in Dushun would undoubtedly attract attention.
There were indeed individuals capable of withstanding the assault rifles, but they were few and far between, so there was no need to worry excessively.
The road conditions in the wilderness were less than ideal, especially with the need to avoid roaming convoys. As a result, the convoy drove for over three hours before finally reaching the vicinity of their destination.
Given the open nature of the outpost and the clarity of vehicle sounds at night, the group disembarked and parked their vehicles in a concealed area as they neared their destination. They left two technicians to keep watch while the rest proceeded on foot under the cover of darkness.
The wind in the wilderness was strong, carrying sand and gravel. Everyone wore scarves and masks. As they cautiously approached, a camp came into view.
Ren Xiaotian and Wei Chang'an, following the plan, split up and went in two different directions to survey the area. Chen Chuan took out his prepared binoculars and observed the scene.
He noticed that the camp's structures were somewhat disorganized and scattered, but it was located on higher ground, making it impossible to see the entire layout at a glance. Several campfires burned near the pathways, and oil lamp illumination provided by algae oil generator sets dotted the night with flickering lights.
Surrounding the camp were winding ditches and gullies. Closer to the center were ropes and nets laden with various metal scraps. On the north and south sides stood two tall, semi-open watchtowers, and in front of them were two shorter guard towers. From time to time, shadows could be seen moving, likely the patrol guards on duty.
After observing for a while, Ren Xiaotian returned, having circled the area. He informed Chen Chuan, "There are two armored vehicles, and they're all here. They haven't left."
Chen Chuan nodded.
Typically, this was the busiest time for such an armed group. If only a small number of people were left in the camp, it would be a straightforward matter of taking them down one by one.
The current situation wasn't unusual. If they had important business to attend to in the next couple of days, they would undoubtedly stay put in the camp, which was the normal course of action.
Directly attacking this type of camp was out of the question; their numbers were insufficient. The only option was to get close, infiltrate, and engage in close-quarters combat, leveraging their strengths.
In the 619th chapter of the 1-bar-0-look-no-mistake version!
Before that, they needed to take care of the watchtower guards.
After Wei Chang'an returned from the other side, Chen Chuan gathered everyone and briefed them on the situation. He decided that he, along with Ren Xiaotian, Wei Chang'an, and Cai Sai, would sneak inside first. Their task was to eliminate the watchtower guards and, depending on the situation, take out the patrol guards as well, before signaling the rest of the group to enter.
If all went according to plan, they would split up and systematically deal with the camp's occupants while sabotaging the vehicles. If they were exposed, they would throw smoke grenades and immediately launch an attack.
Chen Chuan surveyed the area and said, "I'll take care of the slightly taller watchtower on the north side. Ren, you take care of the one on the south."
Ren Xiaotian nodded.
Chen Chuan then turned to Wei Chang'an and Cai Sai. "The patrol point and guards closest to the front will be your responsibility, Wei and Cai."
Wei Chang'an confidently replied, "As long as we can take care of the watchtower guards, the rest shouldn't be a problem." Judging by the patrol guards' walking posture, they were clearly ordinary people. With their speed and reaction capabilities, once they got close, there would be no chance for the guards to fight back.
Chen Chuan said, "Then let's begin."
Each of them took out a small box and began smearing ointment on their bodies. This oil had the ability to mask scents, a precaution against potential patrol dogs.
After preparing, the group dispersed.
Chen Chuan hung the Xuejun Blade on his back and took a few slow steps forward before bursting into a sprint. His powerful mutated tissues allowed him to almost skim the ground as he moved at incredible speed.
Despite the ditches appearing wide, he effortlessly jumped across them. As he leaped, he could see below, filled with spikes and an unpleasant odor. He surmised that this was likely where the camp's occupants disposed of their daily waste.
Throughout this process, Chen Chuan remained in the shadows. He avoided the scattered debris on the ground—broken glass, metal nails, soda cans, and the like. He sidestepped what he could, and where he couldn't, he pressed on without fear of injury. Only the innermost layer posed a slight challenge.
The ropes and wires crisscrossed, leaving no gaps, and were laden with objects that would make noise if disturbed. They were positioned very close to the edge, leaving almost no room to land.
Chen Chuan considered for a moment before leaping across. He jammed his hand against the wall, suspending himself, and then slowly sidled up to the entrance. With a quick push and a step, he was inside, the campfire's flicker barely noticeable from the guard tower. The guard on duty remained unaware of his presence.
Chen Chuan quickly reached the interior of the camp, avoiding the campfires and light sources. He circled the area and approached the watchtower, waiting. When the guard on the opposite tower turned away, Chen Chuan seized the moment and silently climbed up within a breath or two.
He twisted the door handle, entered, and found the guard meticulously trimming his nails. Startled by the opening door, the guard quickly reacted, reaching for the handgun at his side.
But before he could pull the trigger, Chen Chuan was already in front of him, gripping his wrist. With a gentle squeeze, the guard's wristbone shattered. His mouth opened in a silent scream, and his head slumped softly against the chair.
Chen Chuan glanced at the guard's neatly trimmed nails and thought of the poor hygiene conditions they had encountered along the way. He couldn't help but give a rating: "That's a well-groomed set of nails."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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