Fatal Strike: Paladins Mercenary Road

Chapter 972 Planning
Ryan Donovan, thinking he had gained Mountain Eagle's trust, sat in the passenger seat watching Mountain Eagle drive intently and asked with some anticipation, "Sir, where are we going next?"

Mountain Eagle glanced at Ryan and said with a smile, "Do you have any reliable friends in the U.S. government?"

Ryan paused for a moment, then said, "What?"

While observing the surroundings through the crow, the mountain eagle said with a smile, "It's alright if you don't have any, I have a few reliable friends."

If we are stopped later, do not resist. No matter who catches you, just answer whatever they ask...

This is definitely beyond the scope of our cooperation, but I will give you sufficient compensation.

"$50, plus the previous $50, I'll have Daria transfer one million into your account!"

Ryan's body bounced twice with the jolts of the vehicle, and then he said with a look of surprise, "Sir, what are you talking about?"
Will we be arrested?

When the vehicle reached a relatively flat area, the Mountain Eagle accelerated again, sending up even more smoke from its wheels...

Seeing Ryan's uneasy look, Mountain Eagle smiled and said, "Don't worry, no one will die!"
I'm just unsure if the people coming are reliable, so I need to lure them away to buy Daria and the others time to secretly evacuate.

Upon hearing this, Ryan realized that he had been dragged into a vortex by Mountain Eagle. He didn't dare to lash out at Mountain Eagle, so he could only painfully cover his head and say, "This is impossible. There are detection radars and patrol drones in the border area. If the other side really had malicious intent, Dalia and the others would not be able to avoid being monitored at all."

Sir, you need to tell me what happened, and who I'm about to face, otherwise…

Mountain Eagle glanced at Ryan, making him swallow his next words...

Seeing that the guy had softened, Mountain Eagle nodded and said, "Our opponents won't use radar and drones to find people, because that would leave traces."

I'm only guessing who they are, but whatever happens later, you have to insist you're an informant for the refugee group and that you just helped them complete their strike mission in Mexico.

Ryan paused for a moment, then said incredulously, "Me? An informant for the Department of Homeland Security's Migrant Squad?"

Mountain Eagle smiled and nodded, saying, "I'm a contracted consultant for the Department of Homeland Security's Migrant Group. I paid you, so you're my informant. In other words, you're a Department of Homeland Security informant. Makes perfect sense, right?"

Ryan realized he might be involved in a very serious problem, and he said helplessly, "Sir, you have to tell me what happened. 50 is enough to make us willingly risk our lives. You don't need to keep me in suspense."

Honestly, I don't feel like I've made any significant contribution to New Laredo, so if I can help you, my buddies and I would be happy to.

The mountain eagle wasn't even sure if what it imagined would actually happen...

The timing and location of the 19th Airborne Task Force's appearance made things very difficult for him, and the two sides even ended up exchanging fire...

The other side fired first, so it couldn't be a misunderstanding.

The only explanation is that someone ordered them to attack...

Who is the other party? Why are they attacking him?
These mountain eagles were unaware of the situation, but since the other side was able to mobilize the resources of the US government, they would certainly mobilize even more after those special forces soldiers went missing.

He had the crows grow taller beforehand, and then kept a close watch on the surroundings...

As he questioned the two surviving soldiers, he noticed several police cars and SUVs driving towards the direction from a nearby town, heading towards where they were landing.

Because there was no road where they landed, the convoy's movements were very obvious.

The Mountain Eagle deliberately created smoke and noise, and it was flying in the direction where Kobe and the others were...

When they were about a kilometer away from the convoy, the other side decisively changed direction, trying to intercept them ahead. Moreover, the Mountain Eagle detected through crows that a drone was taking off from the other convoy...

At times like this, the mountain eagle will not tolerate anyone. The moment the opponent's drone took to the air, a crow swooped down and damaged the drone's propeller with its claws, causing the drone to crash to the ground.

Meanwhile, as the crows flew over the opposing convoy, they took several clear photos...

With one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding his phone, Mountain Eagle sent the photo to Kobe, then waited two minutes before dialing the number...

The moment the call connected, before Kobe could even speak, Mountain Eagle shouted, "Kobe, they've got my eye on me. I need you to send someone to pick me up. I'll share my location with you."

Kobe had no idea what was going on. He exclaimed in surprise, "These are state trooper cars, and the vehicles behind them look like federal government vehicles..."

How do you know they're targeting you?

Mountain Eagle said loudly, "I don't know. Do you remember the group of people I told you about before I crossed the river?"

They attacked us while we were crossing the river, and I fought back and killed them all… Kobe, now you can’t trust anyone at the border!

Upon hearing this, Kobe said in a deep voice on the other end of the phone, "Give me your location, and I'll arrange for someone to take a helicopter there right away..."

"FUCK, these guys are insane! They have no idea what they're doing!"

When Mountain Eagle saw a convoy appearing in the distance diagonally above, he said in a deep voice, "Kobe, if you were them, you would be crazy too!"
Furthermore, I think there might be some things we don't know about here. 'Arthur's' behavior is very abnormal. Logically, she should have run away the moment she received the news that there was a problem with the farm, but instead she stayed by Claudia's side the whole time...

I have some guesses about her actions; it's probably related to money, but it hasn't been confirmed yet...

However, one thing I'm certain of is that 'Arthur' and Los Zetas's smuggling routes for nuclear materials are definitely related to the people you're investigating.

So these people are panicking now!

After thinking for a moment, Mountain Eagle continued, "The team on the other side of the river has a radio, so they should already know that those people are dead."

They will definitely use those people's deaths to their advantage, Kobe. I don't want to go on a killing spree within the United States, or we might fall into their trap.

I'll surrender to those people, and then try to distract them...

When they focus their attention on us, someone will inevitably step forward, and that's when your opportunity will arise.

Kobe paused for a moment on the other end of the phone, then said with a touch of emotion, "Mountainhawk, why did you do this?"

Mountain Eagle chuckled and said, "Because we share the same goal, I'm particularly interested in seeing what the Angel of Death wants us to find after leading us here."
That bastard is hiding in the shadows, manipulating everything and making everyone run wild. I really want to know what this guy is plotting...

Only by figuring out this guy's purpose can we avoid being led by the nose!
"Hurry up, those guys are getting very close..."

After hanging up the phone, Mountain Eagle looked at Ryan beside him and said with a smile, "Buddy, don't be nervous. Remember what I just said: no matter what happens next, try not to resist. Just answer whatever they ask you..."

As a 'cleaner', Ryan could sense the danger in what Mountain Eagle had said on the phone. Faced with this situation, he said with a wry smile, "Sir, what's the point of dragging me into this?"
There's nothing we can do to help!

"nonsense!"

Mountain Eagle laughed and said, "There are many of you, so you're a big target. Without you, how can I attract their attention by myself?"

Moreover, with so many of us, even if the other side wanted to use force, it would take them a lot of time.

Don't worry, I guarantee they won't dare kill you. You'll get 50 for a little suffering—where else can you find such a good deal?

Ryan glanced back at one of the men in the back seat, then said with a complicated expression, "Sir, if we give up and let them detain us, we might face torture. That's no small risk..."

Mountain Eagle was surprised that Ryan could still bargain at this time. He nodded appreciatively and said, "You are a smart man. How about this, as long as you do as we ask, I will give you a part of the business in El Salvador."

Bribery, bribery, negotiation, and occasionally making some people disappear—this job is a perfect fit for both 'cleaner' and 'scavenger'.

After you've done this job in El Salvador, if you don't have particularly high demands for life, then you can retire.

Of course, if you still have further ideas, I can introduce you to my partner, Morrie, who has many friends in Washington, and those friends could potentially become your clients.

Upon hearing this, Ryan nodded decisively and said, "OK, deal!"
Sir, are you trying to stall them by using the rules of the law enforcement system after you surrender, right?

Then you'll need a lawyer, and I happen to be a pretty good one...

"As long as people from the Department of Homeland Security can participate in oversight, I can use the rules to keep them occupied!"

Ryan glanced at the convoy ahead, gritted his teeth, and punched himself in the nose. After confirming that his nose was broken, he forcefully reclined the seat and climbed back into the trunk...

“If you need me to become a lawyer, then I can’t be one of your accomplices…”

As Ryan covered his bleeding nose, he popped a pill into his mouth and shouted, "Remember, I am the hostage you rescued from Mexico..."

I have a very serious heart condition, so I need to go to the hospital immediately!

Mountain Eagle watched through the rearview mirror as Ryan's face turned from white to pale, then his body slumped limply into the trunk...

Realizing what this guy was up to, Mountain Eagle turned to look at the unfazed 'cleaner' in the back seat and said, "If this guy is so hardworking, how come you guys were doing so poorly in the past?"

(End of this chapter)