Strongest Soldier King

In a spacious wooden house near the square, Luo Zheng and his team were observing the negotiation from inside a room. Hook was equipped with an earpiece, belonging to the injured Lei Jian, who didn't need it for the time being. It was discreet and hard to notice when placed in the ear. The team could clearly hear the negotiation content but didn't intervene. If Hook wanted to raise the stakes, so be it. As friends, Luo Zheng chose unconditional support just as Hook had unconditionally supported them.

The negotiation succeeded, and the middle-aged man was detained under tight security. The helicopter pilot who brought him also carried away the injured in haste. After Hook settled everything, he came to the wooden house but hadn't yet sat down to discuss the negotiation when a voice urgently came through the earpiece: "Unknown armed personnel detected, advancing toward the tribal area at nine o'clock direction, approximately thirty kilometers away, thirty people, well-equipped, please advise."

"Hmm?" Luo Zheng paused, exchanged a grave glance with Lan Xue, and turned to Hook. It was Zhou Gang, leading the patrol outside, speaking Huaxia language. Although Hook wore an earpiece, he wasn't aware of the situation. Seeing Luo Zheng's troubled expression, Hook was about to inquire when Luo Zheng preemptively said, "Enemy movements spotted at nine o'clock direction, thirty kilometers away, thirty people, well-equipped."

"These bastards, do they not want to negotiate anymore?" Hook angrily cursed, his face frosty.

"Negotiations will definitely take place, and I'm sure that middle-aged arms dealer has a camera on him. So I instructed everyone to go on with their lives, hide all weapons, and not let him see anything, except for the injured. Fight while negotiating, it's something anticipated. I reckon the arriving team won't act immediately. Once the exchange is complete and the captive is secure, they'll act swiftly. We have two choices, wait or launch an attack." Luo Zheng chuckled.

"What's your opinion then?" Hook knew his overall strategic view wasn't great and understood Luo Zheng wouldn't harm him, so he outright asked seriously.

"Attack, why not? They would never expect us to strike proactively. Concentrate our forces, deliver a thunderous blow, disrupt their rhythm, and capture more prisoners; that's beneficial." Luo Zheng spoke with a murderous intent, quickly picking up the sniper rifle to inspect it.

"Makes sense, how should we attack?" Hook instantly grew excited. Capturing prisoners could exchange for many supplies, enhancing the tribe's combat effectiveness.

"Take two hundred people, let's go together. Besides, the upcoming battle might be very intense. I suggest you send people to contact surrounding tribes and unite as many as possible to strengthen our forces. But be careful to prevent enemies from infiltrating us during this time. Don't accept non-local tribal people." Luo Zheng advised.

"Alright, I'll arrange it immediately." Hook replied quickly and hurried off.

"Are we going together?" Lan Xue looked at Luo Zheng questioning.

"Sure, the enemy won't attack right away, this place is safer. Lei Jian, Zhang Fan, Wei Gang, Liao Zhi, and Chen Jun's injuries are almost healed, so self-defense is not a big issue. They'll stay to guard the captives, protect the launch device, and eliminate any threat at first sign. Liu Xun, Zhang Bin, Wu Yuan, Meng Zhu, Ghost Hand, Mountain Eagle, Xue Er, we'll all go and strive to annihilate this enemy force." Luo Zheng contemplated for a while and decided earnestly.

"Yes!" Everyone responded quickly, morale high, having rested for several days, they were all back in top shape.

Everyone packed their gear, checked their weapons, and carried ammunition outside, as Hook assembled a team of two hundred elite soldiers. Hook approached quietly and said, "You're right, I found a bug and a pinhole camera on that middle-aged man."

"Don't let him send any more messages out. Have someone watch him, don't give him food or drink, starve him first without causing trouble after he's full. We'll set off immediately." Luo Zheng whispered.

Hook summoned someone and instructed briefly, then led the team rushing with Luo Zheng and his men toward the valley, sprinting toward the direction where the enemy was spotted. On the way, Luo Zheng constantly kept in touch with Zhou Gang. After running for an hour, twilight descended, and Zhou Gang sent word that the enemy started resting, seemingly preparing to camp overnight.

The night in the primitive forest is extremely dangerous, with deadly creatures everywhere. Sometimes even a mosquito could be lethal, so unless absolutely necessary, troops don't generally march at night. Luo Zheng urged the team to hasten, hoping to rendezvous with Zhou Gang and his group before dark. Hook understood and issued a forced march order.

Minutes later, gunfire suddenly burst through the earpiece, startling Luo Zheng, who quickly asked, "What's happening?"

"Bad news, we've come under attack, there's another enemy force, the previous ones were just bait." Zhou Gang exclaimed urgently, his voice brimming with endless anger, as gunfire rang continuously, indicating the battle had already started.

"Retreat towards us, quick." Luo Zheng was shocked, urgently shouted. To facilitate Hook's understanding, they communicated in international lingua franca.

Hook listened clearly, his face turning dark, brows furrowed, and asked Luo Zheng, "What should we do?"

"Charge forward, rescue them." Luo Zheng decisively shouted.

"Alright," Hook agreed, commanding loudly in local vernacular, "Brothers, our people are under attack, everyone speed up, rescue our brothers, hurry!"

The team accelerated again, Luo Zheng's expression grew grim as he glanced at the team and told Hook, "You lead the others, I'll take my people ahead first." Without waiting for Hook's response, he abruptly accelerated forward.

Lan Xue, Ghost Hand, and others understood, quickly followed, soon separating from Hook's group, sprinting forward. Luo Zheng worried about Zhou Gang's situation, inquiring while running, finding out the ambush team also numbered about thirty. Together, the two enemy forces totaled sixty, while Zhou Gang had about a hundred men, not enough against these sixty well-trained adversaries.

Fortunately, they weren't far off. After running for several minutes, Luo Zheng and team heard dense gunfire ahead, quickly speeding to the frontline. Soon, they saw a group stationed on a hill, engaging in a crossfire with ambushing opponents on both sides. The attackers were fierce, advancing rapidly, with one group just two hundred meters away from the hill defenders.

Seeing this scenario, anger surged through Luo Zheng. He promptly contacted Zhou Gang and learned that the hill defenders were indeed Zhou Gang's men, relying on terrain for a desperate hold awaiting reinforcements. The enemy was strong, Zhou Gang dared not lead his team into a fighting retreat, risking quicker death, choosing instead to defend strategically, but still on the brink of disaster.

"Kill them!" Luo Zheng roared angrily, charging forward, holding the sniper rifle level, swiftly aiming at a target's back, and pulling the trigger decisively. Saving lives was urgent, there was no time to wait.