Chapter 809 - 748 Heading North

"Thirty-five million did actually arrive?"

As soon as Song Heping finished the call, Jiang Feng eagerly inquired.

"The funds really did arrive. I confirmed it with Ferrari. He was just as puzzled."

Song Heping turned to Nura and Antonov, "The current situation is that someone has paid 35 million US Dollars, and it has already arrived. The requirement is for us to act as mercenaries for Dr. Maria. I suppose you're aware of her wishes, which are to rescue all these villagers. Now I need manpower. Since you are not my employees, I can't force you. If you want to withdraw, you may leave on your own."

Antonov was the first to react, "How much is the reward?"

Song Heping smiled, "The reward will be equally divided among those participating in this operation. I won't take more than my share."

Antonov turned around and started counting heads.

"Me... Nura, Song, Jiang... Hiss—"

He gasped, delight spreading across his face.

"Four of us, each gets over eight million dollars?"

"Stop daydreaming!"

Nura interjected, dampening the excitement.

"You need to survive to spend it! In this situation, if we run into a rebel force along the way, getting entangled would leave us no chance to escape. Look at them..."

Nura pointed at the unarmed villagers.

"There are only four of us! Over two hundred villagers with no experience, plus twenty with varying degrees of injury. Do you think we can break through?!"

Antonov's enthusiasm was quickly quenched by Nura's tirade.

"Count me in."

Danny's voice came from behind, and Song Heping wasn't surprised at all.

For both emotional and logical reasons, he would help.

"Alright, you'll get a share."

Song Heping turned around and saw Danny, who had already geared up with a gun slung over his back and an old marching pack, fully armed and ready.

"Our biggest concern right now is the wounded. Maria, immediately check on the injured. Those with minor injuries who can walk on their own should do so; those who can't, have someone use a stretcher or assist them."

"Okay, I'll arrange it right away."

Seeing that Song Heping accepted the job and was already making arrangements, Maria didn't dare delay. She immediately called the villagers to assign manpower and gather the stretchers.

"Everyone, listen to me, look here!"

Song Heping raised his hands and waved them, shouting to get the villagers' attention.

The villagers' eyes all turned to Song Heping.

"Raise your hands if you've ever handled or fired a gun! Especially the young people!"

Swish, thirty hands shot up from the crowd.

"Quite a few..."

Song Heping was surprised.

But he thought about it and understood.

This is Africa.

In Africa, it's rare for someone not to have handled a gun, especially in conflict zones.

In this wretched place of Sudan, conflicts erupt every few years, and the locals more or less learn to shoot for self-defense.

"Any professional military training?"

Song Heping continued to ask.

This time, no one raised their hand.

"Hiss—"

Jiang Feng's face turned grim, and he couldn't help but rub his chin.

"We're screwed, just a bunch of amateurs, maybe okay for hunting but fighting in a war, no way."

Song Heping said, "It's better than nothing."

Then he added, "You and Antonov quickly take them around the village to scavenge weapons and ammunition from the dead. Also, ask the young and strong to carry more water and food, and see if any rebel vehicles are still usable. We need to organize and head north immediately."

"Got it."

Jiang Feng took the task and immediately led Antonov and the villagers to collect scattered weapons.

This time, over a hundred armed fighters were killed, all carrying weapons.

And there were two armed pickups, each mounted with Desheka heavy machine guns.

But the biggest issue was ammunition.

After the earlier battle, the ammo left on the corpses was quite limited.

The two pickups had less than two boxes of Desheka heavy machine gun bullets left, likely insufficient to fend off another attack.

The situation wasn't optimistic.

But given the circumstances, Song Heping had no choice.

Securing weapons and ammunition was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

Without these, Song Heping, no matter how skilled, couldn't do much.

After about ten minutes, everything was arranged.

The armed fighters had arrived in five trucks and two pickups, plus Song Heping's Jeep, giving enough space to cram in the 200 people, though packed like sardines.

Seeing the situation, Song Heping frowned.

If an attack occurs midway, a burst of bullets would tear through them.

"This won't work..." Jiang Feng also realized the problem, "Any attack, and the casualties will be heavy."

"Hmm..."

Song Heping furrowed his brows, pondering while looking at the bodies of the armed fighters around.

"I have an idea..."

After another ten minutes, a Jeep and an armed pickup left the village, heading north along a dirt road.

A minute later, five trucks followed, clattering along the dirt road.

Lastly, another armed pickup.

In the lead Jeep, Song Heping wore the red beret from the dead armed group commander, which he had plucked onto his own head.

He was now wearing the upper garment taken from the dead commander, covering his original clothes.

Paired with his Type 56 assault rifle and Type 63 ammo belt, from a distance, he looked indistinguishable from a member of the armed group.

The lead vehicle had Nura and Song Heping.

The second vehicle, the armed pickup, had Antonov and Jiang Feng, who manned the machine gun in the truck bed.

The rear armed pickup had Maria driving, and Danny manning the gun.

The thirty-some villagers capable of handling weapons were dispersed among the five trucks, sitting in or on top of the cabs for easy shooting if needed.

This was the best Song Heping could come up with.

"Nura, don't be nervous."

Looking at the sweat forming on Nura's forehead, Song Heping tried to reassure her, "If we see armed personnel ahead, we stop immediately. If they notice us and there are few, I'll let you keep going; if there are many, we'll have the machine gun take care of them."

"Got it..."

Nura nodded, her face covered, hiding her expression from Song Heping.

But her eyes showed little fear.

"You didn't have to stay, you know. You could have gone to Ethiopia," Song Heping said, "No need to risk it with us."

"I was heading to Ethiopia to get to Somalia. I need to go there because you promised me revenge."

Nura's logic was clear.

"If you die, who will help me? Our tribe? They can't take down Abdul..."

It made sense.

But Song Heping knew Nura wasn't being entirely truthful.

"Do you have a thing for that woman?"

Seeing Song Heping remain silent, Nura asked an abrupt question.

"Huh? Which woman?"

"The lady doctor."

Nura didn't even want to mention Maria by name.

"Oh... You mean Maria?"

"Yes."

"How could I? We just met a few hours ago."

"Then why are you taking such risks for her?"

"Didn't I take her money? It's about credibility, you know? A man's credibility!"

"I don't believe you."

"Wait... Why are you asking this?"

"Ah..."

Nura was at a loss for words.

She suddenly realized she had gotten too involved.

What was her status?

What right did she have to ask such questions?

"Attention, people ahead!"

In the passenger seat, Song Heping issued a warning, gripping his Type 56 assault rifle.

About a hundred meters ahead, several armed figures appeared in view.