Chapter 196: The East African Kingdom

Chapter 196: The East African Kingdom

After everyone dispersed, Ji Xinghuo didn't go home but instead paid a visit to the Li Jian Bureau base. When he returned home late at night, the Purple Electric Sword that he had always carried with him was nowhere to be seen.

The next day.

Not long after daybreak, Ji Xinghuo received a message from Yuan Chongzhen. He had returned from the Star Realm and agreed to join the team. They could set off at any time.

Ji Xinghuo gathered the whole team into a group chat and announced the time and place of their assembly.

Noon, 12:00 p.m.

Ji Xinghuo donned his composite ceramic-steel armor, which he hadn't worn in a long time. Moyin and Leichi were strapped parallel to his back, along with the Invisible Thorn and a quiver. At his waist were "Iron Hammer" and a chain of bullets, and he carried the Heaven's Fury and Green Blood Spear, hailing a ride to a small takeoff and landing pad not far from home and entering the waiting room.

He immediately spotted Lu Yunhai.

"Xing..." Lu Yunhai stood up and waved, catching himself halfway through calling out his name, "...over here!"

Ji Xinghuo walked over and smiled, "So early?"

"It's my first time on a hunt, and I'm a little nervous. I was afraid of being late, so I left two hours early," Lu Yunhai explained.

His attire was similar to Ji Xinghuo's.

He wore lightweight yet resilient composite ceramic-steel armor with a composite bow on his back and a long and short knife at his waist—a battle knife and a wilderness survival knife.

The most eye-catching was his combat pet beside him. It resembled a wolf or a dog, but it was much larger than an ordinary wolfhound. Crouching on the ground, its head was level with an adult's shoulder, and its body was sturdy and robust. Its dense fur was a mix of black and brown, its canines were large and sharp, its gaze was sharp, and its nostrils twitched from time to time.

This was the Ancient Ferocious Hound.

Ji Xinghuo observed it with a nod.

This combat pet was quite powerful, possessing various abilities that made it top-notch even among elite-level monsters.

On Earth, no combat pet company had yet mastered the method of artificially breeding Ancient Ferocious Hounds. Currently, they were all captured in the Star Realm and then tamed over several years.

Such an elite combat pet would cost about five million Asian dollars.

"Not bad."

Ji Xinghuo nodded, "Your girlfriend's family is quite generous to buy you such a good combat pet."

"Actually, it's also thanks to you," Lu Yunhai shook his head, "If I wasn't your good friend, Yinping's parents wouldn't have spent so much on me, even if they treated me well."

To some extent, he was now relying on a rich girlfriend.

"Anyway, as long as you can improve your strength, don't worry about anything else," Ji Xinghuo wouldn't look down on his friend because of this.

"I understand," Lu Yunhai smiled.

Then he asked in a low voice, "Who are the teammates you've called? I saw that they're not using their real names in the group, so I didn't ask."

Just as Ji Xinghuo was about to answer, several people walked in from outside.

The teammates arrived one after another.

Everyone was fully armed, except for Yuan Chongzhen, who was still dressed simply in a sturdy battle dress.

He was a half-beastman, relying on transforming into a monster to fight and not depending on weapons and equipment.

"Old Yuan," Ji Xinghuo walked up to Yuan Chongzhen and hugged him, patting his back hard.

Old friends were especially happy to see each other.

Yuan Chongzhen looked at Ji Xinghuo, his expression a little excited, and said loudly, "You've had an exciting two months! I've been browsing my phone since the morning, reading your news, and only now do I realize how much I've missed in the Star Realm."

"Haha, then you've really missed out on too much," Jing Ji patted him on the shoulder.

Ji Xinghuo was about to speak when Chi Zhonglin rushed up to him, his eyes fixed on the long spear in Ji Xinghuo's hand, and exclaimed eagerly, "Heaven's Fury and Green Blood Spear!"

Everyone's attention was drawn to the spear.

A superpower three-star weapon worth several billion, listed in the Weaponry Manual, was indeed a rare sight.

"Take it."

Ji Xinghuo threw the spear to Chi Zhonglin, who caught it and held it in his hand, immediately enamored.

"Are you all here?" a voice asked.

Zhuolige Tu rode in on a black bear from the front entrance, immediately attracting the attention of the people around him. Someone exclaimed, "Fierce Battle Bear!"

This black bear stood nearly two meters tall on all fours and was about four meters long. It was clad in specially made metal armor, with bear claws over twenty centimeters long on its limbs. It weighed at least two tons, heavy yet agile, and exuded a fierce and violent aura.

Zhuolige Tu jumped down from the bear's back, landing with a dull thud.

He wore a silver-gray suit of armor today, with a simple design but extreme thickness, wrapping himself up like a tin of canned food. He also had a huge round shield and a morning star mace on his back, and as he walked, the armor plates collided, creating a metallic sound.

This outfit would be a focal point wherever he went, especially since he was riding a combat mount.

Everyone stared at him.

When adventuring in the Star Realm, most White Knights would don armor for protection, but it was uncommon to see one clad in heavy armor like Zhuolige Tu.

"Hehe, I'm a bit afraid of death, and I have plenty of stamina, so I opted for thicker armor." Zhuolige Tu replied, holding his helmet and pointing to the side at his ferocious battle bear, "This is my combat pet, 'Bartle,' we've been partners for several years now."

"Now that everyone is here, let's get going." Ji Xinghuo announced, "Follow me."

With prying eyes all around, it was best not to linger.

The group trailed after Ji Xinghuo into an indoor boarding lounge, where they were greeted by a waiting spacecraft, marveling at the sight.

"I've chartered this spacecraft to take us to East Africa." Ji Xinghuo explained.

"Wow, that's awesome!" Chi Zhonglin exclaimed.

Jing Ji shook his head, "I thought we'd be taking the stargate, would've saved us some money." Chartering a spacecraft for a trip like this would cost at least 500,000 Asian dollars.

Ji Xinghuo smiled, "It's just a small amount, and I'm willing to spend it for convenience and comfort."

His original plan had been to travel through the stargate.

However, stargate exits were easily spied upon, and their conspicuous group would undoubtedly attract unwanted attention upon arrival.

"Let's board."

The group filed into the spacecraft, accompanied by their two combat pets.

The spacecraft's engines roared to life, and the overhead hatch slid open. With a thunderous boom, the spacecraft soared into the sky, quickly breaking the sound barrier as it sped southwest, leaving Chang'an far behind.

The distance from Chang'an to the East African Kingdom's capital, Kakamega, was over 8,500 kilometers. Cruising at 3 Mach in the Earth's atmosphere, the journey would take over two hours.

The spacecraft was automated and navigated itself.

As the six passengers settled in, Ji Xinghuo stood up and said, "Some of you are meeting for the first time, so I'll reintroduce everyone."

"This is Yuan Chongzhen."

"Just call him Old Yuan, he's a good friend of mine and Jing Ji. He's currently a bounty hunter, with a Half-Beastman template, ranked 2743 on the ladder, and aiming for Legend."

Yuan Chongzhen stood and greeted the group.

Ji Xinghuo introduced each member of the team, saving Lu Yunhai for last, "And this is Lu Yunhai, my university classmate and best friend. This is his first time on a hunt, so he's still a newbie. Please go easy on him."

Lu Yunhai quickly stood and greeted the group, "Please take care of me."

Having worked at an archery range for several years, he was no longer a fresh-faced university graduate. He was adept at social interactions, but he couldn't help feeling nervous.

Everyone on the team was a top-ranked player on the ladder.

Even Chi Zhonglin, who didn't have a ranking, possessed formidable strength that placed him among the elite.

Any one of them was a master that Lu Yunhai could only aspire to match. He never imagined he'd have the opportunity to team up with such experts, and now here he was, a part of their crew.

The team members regarded Lu Yunhai warmly.

No one dared to underestimate him.

Even if someone harbored such thoughts, they wouldn't dare show it in front of Ji Xinghuo.

"I'm the weakest in terms of strength, so I'll take care of logistics for this hunt. I'll tend to your mounts, set up camp, keep watch, and handle other miscellaneous tasks." Lu Yunhai suddenly spoke up.

Ji Xinghuo considered this for a moment, "Alright."

In hunting parties and adventuring groups in the Star Realm, such chores were typically handled by the weakest member.

Since Lu Yunhai had taken the initiative, Ji Xinghuo saw no reason to object.

"Then we're counting on you."

"If you need help, don't hesitate to ask. We'll lend a hand."

Seeing Lu Yunhai's self-awareness, the teammates softened their attitudes further. The rest of the journey was spent in relaxed conversation, fostering a sense of camaraderie and easing the initial strangeness.

Two and a half hours later...

The spacecraft smoothly entered the airspace of the East African Kingdom, passed through air defense identification, and landed at an uplift in Kampala.

This was Ji Xinghuo's predetermined destination.

While the capital of the East African Kingdom was Kakamega, where the stargate was located, it was also the most populous and dense city. Ji Xinghuo wanted to avoid attracting attention, especially from the "Black King," the ruler of the East African Kingdom.

Generally, major powers around the world, for safety and strategic buffer considerations, would not place their capitals at stargate locations.

For example, the capital of the Asia-Pacific Community, Chang'an, was more than 800 kilometers away from the nearest stargate, Chaka.

The capital of the American Federation, St. Louis, was also about 500 kilometers away from its nearest stargate in Cincinnati.

However, this rule did not apply to Africa.

The three stargates of Africa, Kakamega, Abuja, and Bloemfontein, were all located in different countries' capitals. These nations sought only to tightly control the stargates, to dominate access to the Star Realm, thereby securing resources, collecting tolls, and solidifying their rule.

Upon disembarking from the aircraft, which promptly took off for its return journey, Ji Xinghuo and his five companions found themselves in a slum-like area just outside the landing pad. The streets were filthy, with sewage flowing freely, and the surrounding buildings were dilapidated. The sky was overcast, and the air was thick with dust. As far as the eye could see, the city seemed to stretch endlessly, with a few towering skyscrapers rising above the sea of low-rise buildings like solitary giants.

Countless humble dwellings lined the streets, and the dense crowd was predominantly of dark-skinned locals. Children played everywhere, and most adults seemed idle. As the group of six walked by, some locals approached them, but a low growl from Zhuolige Tu's battle bear was enough to scare them off.

Occasionally, uniformed soldiers with firearms sped by in open-top vehicles, their presence eliciting a cautious avoidance from the locals.

Chi Zhonglin asked, "Where are we headed now?"

"Just follow me," Ji Xinghuo replied, glancing at the navigation app on his phone.

Soon, they arrived at a vast compound that resembled a factory from the outside. It was surrounded by tall walls with guard posts, electric fences, and mounted machine guns. Sentries kept watch, and locals steered clear of the area. A sign hung over the main gate, written in Swahili.

With the help of their translators, they learned that this place was a mount-training facility.

A dark-skinned man, his age indeterminate, greeted them warmly. He was impeccably dressed in a crisp suit, and two high-ranking, well-built mutant bodyguards flanked him, also dressed in suits.

"Welcome, esteemed guests! I am Ibaraqa, the owner of this establishment. How may I assist you today?" Ibaraqa spoke in the common language of the Asia-Pacific Community, his tone friendly and his expression a mix of respect and eagerness, with a hint of cautious obsequiousness.

His sharp eyes immediately identified the group as formidable opponents from the Asia-Pacific Community.

"What is the best outdoor mount you can offer?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

"Without a doubt, it would be the Velociraptor!" Ibaraqa exclaimed, rubbing his hands together enthusiastically. "Whether it's the highlands of East Africa or the tropical rainforests of Central Africa, rugged mountains, plains, or forests, my Velociraptors are adept at high-speed travel. They possess ample endurance, agile footwork, and a degree of combat prowess. They require only two meals of fresh meat per day to satisfy their hunger, and meat is certainly not scarce in the wild."

Ji Xinghuo nodded, "Show them to me."

The group was led to a training pen where several dozen Velociraptors were kept.

These creatures stood about two meters tall, walking on their two sturdy legs with a pair of short, sharp claws in front. Their skin and feathers varied in color, with vibrant crests atop their heads, large eyes, and erect pupils that exuded a fierce aura. Their long tails swayed from side to side.

This breed of Velociraptor was not native to Earth; they were star-realm creatures that had been domesticated.

Ji Xinghuo did not make a purchase immediately.

Instead, he asked Ibaraqa to introduce other mount options: the Struthiomimus, the Ferocious Bone Bull, the Horned Horse, the Swift Wind Horse, the Iron-Hooved Antelope, and more.

Each mount had its unique strengths, but overall, the Velociraptor remained the best choice for the African wilderness.

"I'll take six of the Red-Crested Velociraptors."

Velociraptor mounts were categorized based on the color of their crests. Blue-crested ones were the lowest tier, followed by green, and red being the highest. The red-crested variety boasted the largest size, capable of bearing the most weight, and had the greatest endurance and the most docile temperament.

Naturally, they also commanded the highest price, with each mount costing 800,000 Asian dollars.

Ji Xinghuo purchased six of them.

Zhuolige Tu already had his own mount, so one of the Velociraptors would be responsible for carrying the team's tents, food, and other miscellaneous supplies.

Ibaraqa was overjoyed, "That will be a total of 4.8 million Asian dollars. Thank you for your patronage!"

"Will this be enough?"

Ji Xinghuo handed over a gold dragon coin worth 10,000 Asian dollars.

The market value of a gold dragon coin was 4.5 million Asian dollars, but in Africa, it could fetch an even higher price. On the black market, it might sell for as much as 5 million.

"More than enough, thank you!" Ibaraqa authenticated the coin and quickly pocketed it, immediately instructing his staff to bring out six of the coveted red-crested Velociraptors.

Each Velociraptor had a saddle on its back and sturdy saddlebags on either side for luggage.

The teammates mounted their new steeds.

However, Ji Xinghuo paused before climbing onto his, asking, "Ibaraqa, do you have any information about the monster that appeared in Masindi?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end