Chapter 269: It’s An Opportunity (2)
“What time is it?” Kang Chan asked.
“Uh, it’s ten o’clock,” Seok Kang-Ho answered.
“Let’s go talk to the old man first.”
Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho headed to the benches together.
“Hahahaha!”
Akrion’s laughter was so rambunctious that Kang Chan immediately knew that Gérard’s show had reached its climax.
“Fucking idiot,” Seok Kang-Ho criticized. Kang Chan couldn’t have said it better himself.
If anyone saw Gérard now, they wouldn’t be able to tell that he was the commander of the Foreign Legion and the same man who had beaten Andrei to a pulp earlier. While Andrei had gone mad over the red light, it looked as if the scorching heat of Africa had done it for Gérard.
When Gérard’s great performance ended, Akrion passionately applauded him with enthusiasm. Perhaps this memory would stay with the child for the rest of his life.
“Roberre. Ask the old man if we can go to the cave right now,” Kang Chan ordered.
“Oui.”
As commanded, Roberre talked to the elder in Somali. The elder glanced at Kang Chan before replying.
“He says we can,” Roberre said.
Kang Chan steeled his resolve.
“Gérard. I want you, Roberre, and two more of your men armed and ready to move out. I’ll meet you back here in a bit.”
“Roger that, Cap.”
Gérard and Roberre dashed over to the barracks.
Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho also went back to their barracks to get ready.
“Who are you bringing with us?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.
“Jong-Il and Dong-Gyun,” Kang Chan suggested.
“Doo-Hee’s better if we want to ride comfortably, don’t you think?”
“Then let’s bring him too.”
“Got it.”
Upon reaching their barracks, Kang Chan immediately started barking orders.
“Choi Jong-Il, Cha Dong-Gyun, Lee Doo-Hee. We’re heading out. Get ready.”
The three sprang to their feet.
“You won’t need helmets, but bring handheld radios and plenty of C-rations and water,” Kang Chan instructed. “Kwak Cheol-Ho!”
“Yes, sir!”
“I’ve got Blanchet in charge of the outer perimeter. If there’s a problem, talk it over with him and deal with it together. If you get raided, inform me over the radio ASAP and retreat to the village in the mountains. You don’t have to defend this base,” Kang Chan added.
“Yes, sir. We’ll keep ourselves armed until you get back.”
Kang Chan simply nodded in response.
Click!
He zipped up and buckled his vest and wore the radio earsets into his ears. Afterward, he wrapped a bandana around his head and slung a military boonie hat around his neck.
Clunk!
Before leaving the barracks, Kang Chan examined his rifle.
“I don’t know how long we’ll be away,” he said.
“Understood.”
With their current capabilities, the South Korean team could calmly and wisely handle any situation that could come their way.
By the time Kang Chan had walked out of the barracks, Gérard, Roberre, and two French soldiers were already waiting for them.
“Let’s go.”
Kang Chan went to the entrance with the rest of the men. While they prepared two Humvees, Blanchet walked over.
“We’re going to take another look at the tribe’s village. Continue guarding the perimeter,” Kang Chan told him.
“Yes, sir.”
Vroom. Vroom.
Roberre helped the old man into the French team’s vehicle. With the size of their group, it would be best to keep him around someone who could understand what he was saying, especially since they might have to change directions somewhere down the line.
Akrion glanced over at Kang Chan and nervously shifted on his feet.
“Do you want to come with us?” Kang Chan asked in Korean as he nodded toward the Humvee. When Akrion walked over to him, he added, “Let’s get you in, then.”
Kang Chan lifted the child into the vehicle. The expression on Gérard’s face was almost as good as the show of a lifetime that he had put on earlier.
Vroom. Vroom!
The two Humvees soon drove off.
Noticing the sun glaring down right above them, Kang Chan removed the boonie hat from around his neck and put it on Akrion’s head. He then secured it by tightening the chin strings, preventing it from falling due to the car bumping up and down.
Akrion tightly held onto the hat with his white arms.
Clunk! Clunk!
Is this really that fun?
Gérard’s show seemed to have put Akrion at ease, considering he laughed every time the car shook. It was a shame that the first Western culture that he had encountered were weapons and military vehicles, but one wouldn’t be able to survive even just a day in Africa if they let such things bother them.
“Captain, if there really is a Blackhead there, won’t it put you in danger?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.
“I’m not sure. I’ll only know when I get there,” Kang Chan replied.
“Let’s withdraw the moment you feel something is even just a bit off.”
Kang Chan nodded.
Akrion’s laughter died down as they got closer to the mountain, the eagles hovering above it coming into view. When they finally reached the foot of it, they found human bones scattered among the trucks that had been turned into scrap metal.
Kang Chan couldn’t really do anything about this sight.
Creak!
The car screeched to a halt, and everyone stepped out.
“Where do we need to go?” Kang Chan asked.
Roberre spoke to the old man, then turned back to Kang Chan. “He says we have to go straight over the ridge.”
“Daye, scout ahead with Choi Jong-Il,” Kang Chan ordered.
“Got it.”
As the two climbed over the ridge, Cha Dong-Gyun and the French soldiers swiftly moved into positions they could provide cover fire from.
Upon reaching the top, Seok Kang-Ho climbed over the ridge. He came back up a few moments later.
Chk.
“All clear,” he said.
“Let’s go.”
Kang Chan crouched down with his back to Akrion. If the enemy launched a surprise attack on them now, Akrion would be like a wildebeest calf surrounded by a pride of lions.
Kang Chan inevitably felt a rush of heat run down his back when the child got on his back.
Tat. Tat.
He slung his rifle over his shoulder and put his index finger on the trigger guard. Afterward, he began climbing up the ridge.
“Lead the way, Roberre. Gérard! Form an advance party with your men and recon ahead,” Kang Chan ordered in French.
“Oui!”
Kang Chan then turned to Seok Kang-Ho.
“Daye, bring up the rear with Cha Dong-Gyun. Choi Jong-Il, protect our left flank. Lee Doo-Hee, our right. Eliminate any threat you see.”
“Yes, sir,” Choi Jong-Il replied.
“Got it,” Seok Kang-Ho responded.
They were off.
As the old man guided them, Roberre pointed Gérard and his men to their next positions. The tactic they employed was stupid and uncomfortable, but to survive in Africa, one always had to proceed with as much caution as they could muster and then more.
With the sun right at the zenith, the heat grew quite intense. The tribe’s village was up the ridge to their right, and to their left was where the Green Berets had fought.
The old man led them straight over the ridge and down, stopping at the foot of another mountain. When the old man pointed to the waist-high bushes in the middle of it, the group resumed walking.
Rustle! Rustle!
The dirt being swept away sounded different than before.
After about half an hour of walking straight back up the mountain, the old man turned right, leading them to a big loop around the lower half of the mountain. Since there was no path, they had to go around the mountain on the crumbling dirt.
“Would you like me to carry him?” Choi Jong-Il quietly asked.
Kang Chan shook his head. If his stamina was that low, he wouldn’t have been nicknamed “God of Blackfield.”
They walked for another half hour.
Chk.
“Roberre, ask how much further we have to go,” Kang Chan directed.
Chk.
“Until the sun tilts about one more palm,” Roberre replied.
Damn it! Is that an hour? Two?
Chk.
“Gérard. Find a place to rest but keep your guard up.”
Chk.
“Understood.”
After about ten more minutes, they saw Gérard waiting up ahead in an area recessed into the cliff face, giving them a clear view of everything below. It wasn’t a bad spot to rest in.
“Let’s take a short break,” Kang Chan stated.
He set Akrion down in the recession. The part of his back that had been in contact with the child was soaked with sweat.
Cha Dong-Gyun and Lee Doo-Hee pulled out water and C-rations from their packs. The water was lukewarm, but it was still refreshing.
“Daye, you and Gérard eat first,” Kang Chan said.
“Got it.”
Kang Chan and Cha Dong-Gyun stood near the cliff to get a better view of the area below.
They heard rustles coming from the men eating biscuits, chocolates, and the other food in the C-rations, the contents of which differed for every country.
The food was laid out in groups, sorted by type and Akrion ate it steadily, going through the groups one by one.
After about five minutes or so, Seok Kang-Ho and Gérard got up and switched with Kang Chan and Cha Dong-Gyun.
In this kind of terrain and during missions like these, nothing was more important than vigilance. Hence, regardless of their rank, their more outstanding soldiers would always have to stand guard unless they had a good reason not to.
Kang Chan tore open a C-ration and ate some chocolates and biscuits. After finishing it all in about five minutes, he drank some water and stood up.
“Let’s get going.”
They didn’t have much time to spare.
Only the South Korean and French teams were left at the base. There was no knowing what might happen, so he wanted to return as soon as possible.
Kang Chan carried Akrion on his back again, then ordered his men to set out in the same formation as before.
I wonder what’s waiting for us in the cave that the old man’s talking about.
Rustle. Rustle.
The longer they walked, the more Kang Chan’s chest tightened in frustration. He felt as if he was doing something wrong.
It would be bad if there was nothing there, but it would also be a problem if they found a Blackhead. If it tried to suck the energy out of him, he wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.
Thirty minutes into their walk, Kang Chan’s heart began pounding against his chest.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Damn it!
Kang Chan immediately realized that things were finally starting, putting him on edge.
It seemed today wouldn’t be any easier than the days before.
Fuck these warnings.
He had no idea if it was telling him that the base was under attack, he was about to face impending danger, or someone he cared about was in danger.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
When his heartbeat grew even stronger and faster, he immediately pressed a button on his radio.
Chk.
“Gérard, stay on your toes,” Kang Chan ordered.
Chk.
“Oui.”
Chk.
“Daye, keep your guard as high up as you can. Shoot anything suspicious on sight.”
Chk.
“Got it.”
Kang Chan’s eyes glinted.
Fine. Let’s do this, you fucking rock! I’m fucking coming for you.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Ignoring the warnings that his heart was giving him, Kang Chan pressed on. However, due to his orders, their progress slowed down. If they let down their guard during moments like this, they could regret it for the rest of their lives.
Rustle! Rustle!
As they proceeded, they scanned the area as if they were in enemy territory, making sure not to miss anything.
Haah. Haah.
Kang Chan’s senses sharpened so much that he could now see the tips of the bushes’s dry branches and hear even the dirt crunching under Roberre’s boots.
They’d gone on for about twenty minutes when Roberre raised his fist.
Kang Chan immediately raised his left fist as well, causing the entire group to stop and lower their stances. They seemed to have spotted something suspicious up ahead.
Haah. Haah.
It was Gérard’s call—a pullet that had been through all kinds of wars in Africa and just recently beaten up a Spetsnaz commander. Kang Chan waited for the next signal, ready to run forward at any moment.
What is it, Gérard?
After about a minute of stifling silence, Roberre gestured ahead of him with his index and middle finger.
Forward.
The vanguard had likely just found a animal in hiding.
Rustle! Rustle!
Amid their torturously slow and frustratingly intense march, Choi Jong-Il swerved his rifle toward every crunch of the dirt under their feet.
It was a laborious and tiring advance for the man in the lead, a position Kang Chan never had entrusted to anyone but Gérard.
After about forty minutes, they had finally gone around the bottom of the mountain.
Chk.
“He says we have to go down,” Roberre radioed.
After a moment of collecting their bearings and getting a rough direction, they pushed onward again.
Akrion, who was still clinging to Kang Chan’s back with his hands and feet, did his best not to make even the faintest sound. He acted as if he had experienced hiding this way before.
They walked for about twenty more minutes. They were only twenty meters away now from getting out of the mountain and meeting up with Gérard.
From there, they would either have to climb up the mountain in front of them or walk between the mountain they had just descended and the mountain in front of them
Roberre spoke over the radio again.
Chk.
“He says we have to walk up the mountain in front of us and go right.”
Before heading down the last few meters of the mountain they were on, Kang Chan stopped for a moment and quickly scanned their surroundings. If hostiles were lying in wait for them on top of the mountain, they would be sitting ducks out there.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
His heartbeat had become even heavier.
Gérard had been at the front for over an hour now. Making him stay in the same position any longer than that would put him in danger. However, it would also be quite dangerous for everyone to descend the mountain all at once.
Chk.
“He wants you to stop there,” Roberre radioed first.
Chk.
“Gérard! Check the area above us,” Kang Chan commanded.
As Gérard responded affirmatively, Kang Chan waved to get Lee Doo-Hee’s attention.
“I want you on a nearby vantage point.”
“Roger that.”
“Choi Jong-Il, cover Lee Doo-Hee.”
“Yes, sir.”
Choi Jong-Il and Lee Doo-Hee headed back up the mountain.
Kang Chan still hadn’t given any signal to the rear yet. The old man and Roberre were already quite near Gérard.
Chk.
“The old man says this is the place. This cave apparently ends at the pit in front of the village,” Roberre said on the radio.
Chk.
“What about the cave?” Kang Chan asked.
Chk.
“I don’t see it from here.”
Chk.
“I’ll hold this position. Gérard, check the cave. Secure it as well while you’re at it.”
Chk.
“Copy that, Cap,” Gérard replied.
Once Kang Chan was done issuing orders, Lee Doo-Hee informed him on the radio that he had found a good vantage point.
Kang Chan was currently looking down from twenty meters up the mountain. However, no matter how closely he looked, he couldn’t see the entrance to the cave near Gérard.
He wondered if the old man was starting to go blind, but the description about the pit in front of the village was too convincing.
The old man pointed to the mountain several times. He then took Roberre’s hand and walked headfirst into its side.
Huh?
Frowning, Kang Chan narrowed his eyes at where the old man had just disappeared.
Did he just walk into the mountain?
Gérard briefly looked up at Kang Chan and then turned back toward the mountain.
Chk.
“Roberre!” Gérard shouted into the radio.
No response.
Chk.
“Gérard, what happened?” Kang Chan asked.
Chk.
“I don’t know, sir... It’s like the mountain swallowed them.”
Gérard sounded quite shocked.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Go back! Let’s go back!
As Kang Chan’s heart pounded even harder, Roberre and the old man walked out of the mountainside. They then spoke to Gérard.
Chk.
“That was amazing! It looks like it’s just another part of the mountain, but when we pushed through like the old man said, we found ourselves in a cave.”
“What the fuck?” Kang Chan swore.
What in the world is happening?
Chk.
“Captain, what should we do?” Gérard asked on the radio.
Kang Chan glared sharply at their surroundings.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Shit!
Kang Chan’s heart was beating so hard that it was almost unbearable.
Chk.
“Gérard, head inside with the others and make sure the cave is clear. If you don’t find anything suspicious, come back outside and give me a signal,” Kang Chan ordered.
Chk.
“Understood.”
After asking Roberre a few questions, Gérard walked toward the mountainside with the two French soldiers.
His face crumpled right before impact. However, like before, he and the two soldiers just mysteriously disappeared.
Huh?
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
The heavy pounding of Kang Chan’s heart had caused his chest to tighten. After a few torturous moments, Gérard walked back out of the mountain.
Rustle.
Chk.
“All clear,” Gérard radioed.
Fine! Since you insist on calling me out, I’ll fucking go! I’m the one who told you to wait in the first place anyway!
Kang Chan looked back for a moment.
Leaving only the sniper team out here would be no different from telling them to die.
Chk.
“Sniper team, regroup with Gérard. You too, Daye, but keep covering our rear as you do,” he instructed.
Chk.
“Roger that,” Seok Kang-Ho responded.
Given the situation, their best option was to go in together.
Kang Chan started his descent, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings. A moment later, Seok Kang-Ho and the sniper team also reached Gérard.
“This is the place,” Gérard said as he nodded toward the mountainside. The old man nodded in agreement.
“What’s all the fuss about?” Seok Kang-Ho grumbled.
“We’ll be getting in through here,” Kang Chan answered.
“How long do you think it’ll take us to dig through this? We didn’t bring any equipment,” Seok Kang-Ho complained.
Having to drill a hole to get inside would have made Kang Chan feel a lot more at ease than just running headfirst into it.
“Gérard, go in,” Kang Chan said.
“Understood.”
Gérard rushed in toward the mountain.
“Huh?” Seok Kang-Ho exclaimed the same way Kang Chan did earlier. “What in the fucking voodoo shit just happened?”
“Roberre! Go inside with the old man!” Kang Chan commanded.
“Yes, sir.”
Roberre relayed Kang Chan’s words to the old man. Soon, they disappeared into the mountain as well.
It was truly an absurd and incredulous sight.
“Daye!”
Receiving a look from Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho glared at where Roberre disappeared with glinting eyes.
“Fuck!” Seok Kang-Ho cursed as he dashed forward.
All Kang Chan could do was laugh in disbelief now.
Choi Jong-Il, Cha Dong-Gyun, and Lee Doo-Hee went inside right after.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
What do you want me to do? Want me to go back now even though I’ve already gone this far?
Kang Chan looked over his shoulder to check on Akrion, who just looked exhausted.
How can he make that kind of expression after seeing something like this?
Fine!
Kang Chan charged toward the mountain.
Swoosh!
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