1094: Chapter 1038: Teammates Like Pigs!

1094: Chapter 1038: Teammates Like Pigs!

Lights blurred, music boomed.

At nine o’clock in the evening, nightlife had just begun.

Tonight, the bar was especially bustling.

Amidst the dazzling lights, scantily clad dancers shook their heads and gyrated their hips.

Waiters darted back and forth, bringing customers drinks, snacks, and fruit platters.

A mixture of indescribable scents spread as the light intermittently brightened and dimmed, with voices and laughter adding to the noisy atmosphere.

The place was abuzz with people and thriving business.

Thanks to the prosperous economy brought about by import and export trade, Seleck is considered a wealthy area in Nabiya.

And with the recent no-fly and no-sail orders, regardless of the vessel’s tonnage, they could only enter the port, not leave.

Long-term seafaring crew were inherently lonely and isolated, and they grasped at the chance for indulgence whenever possible.

Thus, it wasn’t just the Reaper Bar—all nearby entertainment venues were exceptionally lively.

Those who came here for leisure, of course, weren’t just here for drinks and dances.

Just by looking at the heavily made-up women of various skin tones coming and going busily, one could tell what the men desired most.

Reaper Bar had the bar area on the first floor and private rooms on the second.

Four disguised mercenaries, indistinguishable from ordinary people.

When in Rome, the four found an empty table, ordered some beer and snacks, and sat down.

Before they even got comfortable, a group of heavily made-up women approached, laughing and joking, initiating conversations.

They took initiative to sit close, throwing arms over shoulders, with toasts and laughter, as if they couldn’t wait to be whisked upstairs.

But what mood were the four men in to flirt?

After several seconds of silence, the women tactfully left.

Had it been before, these mercenaries who lived dangerously would have whisked them upstairs in a minute.

But now…

The four men sat, staring at each other while eating and drinking, casually chatting as they waited.

The four of them, following Lemur, had sold the nuclear warheads to Wu Jie in Xikelse just after midnight yesterday.

As team leader, Lemur gave the five brothers over thirty million each while he kept only over twenty million for himself.

By doing so, he wanted his brothers to unite and work together for one last big score.

To let the other two mercenary squads strike it rich as well.

The plan was beautiful.

Two squads deserted the Auxiliary Business Association, quickly relocated and hid the nuclear warheads.

Lemur took charge, also contacting several countries that wanted to purchase the warheads for deterrence and self-protection.

According to the original plan, some were responsible for completing the auction, others for delivering the warheads.

Once safely out of Nabiya, Lemur would give the nuclear codes to the buyers and then…

Everyone would split the fortune and step onto the peak of life, living as the wealthy.

But what happened?

Plans couldn’t keep up with change.

The auction wasn’t even completed when Lemur, the central organizer of the plan, was crushed to death by a concrete-guided missile, and the plan was instantly disrupted.

What now?

The four of them, plus the brother sent to coordinate with the other two squads, all had money in their accounts.

They could simply wash their hands of the matter, find a place to hide, wait for the storm to pass, then leave Nabiya to live out their days in comfort and wealth.

But the two squads that had taken great risks to agree to cooperate—twelve angry mercenary brothers—were left with two seemingly powerful nuclear warheads that were useless without the codes.

Numerous intelligence agencies from various nations, along with plenty of international crime syndicates and radical terrorist forces, were frantically searching for those two nuclear warheads.

The situation was too tense to sell them off.

What was supposed to be an extremely profitable transaction had turned into such a mess.

The expressions on all four faces were utterly miserable.

Around nine-thirty.

The Reaper Bar, bustling with patrons, received a visitor.

After entering and looking around, he quickly made his way over upon spotting the four brothers.

Phantom, of course, recognized him—he was one of Lemur’s five men, which meant they were all now accounted for.

His arrival meant that the other two squads of mercenaries, along with those two nuclear warheads, were definitely in Seleck.

“What do we do now?

The boss is dead, and without knowing the nuclear codes, those warheads are pretty much useless!”

“Useless?

Can’t they still be used to make dirty bombs?

They can still fetch a good price!”

“Easier said than done, but who the hell would dare to buy them at this critical moment?

Even if there are buyers, there’s no guarantee we won’t get double-crossed!”

“What kind of plans do those two squads have, then?”

“What other plans would they have?

These warheads are hot potatoes; of course, they want to sell them off quickly!”

“Sell, my ass!

Without the nuclear codes, how much can they even be worth?

And who would buy them?”

…

While drinking, the men muttered and vented in hushed tones.

In this noisy bar, it was impossible to monitor or eavesdrop using conventional methods.

However, Phantom was sitting right next to them, allowing Wu Jie to observe and listen in, as clearly as if he was part of the conversation.

In a nutshell.

This was a classic dilemma—caught between a rock and a hard place.

Without the nuclear codes, they knew the risks were high and buyers were hard to find, yet they still hoped to sell the warheads for a good price.

Where on earth do such good deals exist?

Wu Jie was not interested in listening to their drunken nonsense.

The other two squads of mercenaries were hiding in Seleck city or its nearby suburbs with the nuclear warheads.

The next steps would then be much easier to handle.

For the Star Federation, the theft of the warheads was the most concerning issue, and they were also the most eager to recover them.

The collaboration inside and outside of Perrio led to the dismantling of intercontinental missiles and the theft of nuclear warheads.

This incident had not been exposed yet, but if it were made public, it would undoubtedly be a massive scandal.

Countless individuals would be forced to step down in disgrace, and some might even be held accountable.

Therefore, recovering the three nuclear warheads was the most urgent mission for the intelligence agencies of the Star Federation.

Wu Jie had already helped them recover one, and although it wasn’t in their hands yet, it significantly reduced their workload.

The remaining two warheads were relatively safe for the time being; with the death of Lemur, the dozen mercenaries didn’t even know the nuclear codes and couldn’t create a nuclear explosion if they tried.

The only risk was if they forcibly destroyed the warheads, causing a leak of the nuclear materials and resulting in nuclear contamination.

But these mercenaries weren’t fools; the irreversible damage caused by nuclear radiation was akin to suicide.

Thus, once the Star Federation’s intelligence agencies received intelligence sharing from Wu Jie, they reacted like sharks that had smelled blood, instantly baring their dangerous intentions.

The Star Federation quickly sprang into action, planning to collaborate with multiple countries for a major sea, air, and land blockade to encircle Seleck.

They didn’t believe the mercenaries would be able to escape underground with the nuclear warheads!

Of course.

The proclamations reverberated loudly, but what about the action?

Securing a complete blockade of Seleck’s airspace and maritime territory wasn’t difficult, with patrolling fighter jets and warships enough to manage.

But what about the land?

Seleck, after all, is a seaside metropolis with numerous roads, a dense population, and a steady flow of traffic.

How much military force would it take to implement a land blockade?

And this is Nabiya, not the Star Federation; even if multiple countries took joint action, it would be downright unrealistic.

However, their ostentatious maneuvers could effectively stimulate those mercenaries.

Only when you startle the snake in the grass does it begin to move!

Otherwise, in a city like Seleck–not too big, yet not too small either–if they really decided to hide, it would be quite difficult to find them.

…

Time slowly passed.

Unwittingly, the five men had finished off a case of beer.

Without someone as crafty and calculating as Lemur, they were nothing but a bunch of brutes who only knew how to fight and kill.

Completely clueless about how to judge the situation and make the most beneficial decisions based on current circumstances.

So the five men decided that instead of just sitting around idly, they might as well meet up with the other two squads.

Put their heads together and think of what to do.

The sale of the nuclear warhead was imperative, but how much to sell it for and to whom needed to be hastily agreed upon.

The five men settled the bill, stepped out, and hadn’t been on the road for long, when a ringtone sounded from inside their shoulder bag.

Sifting through a pile of second-hand phones, they found one to answer.

“Seleck is going to be under martial law.

We need to get out fast, or we’ll be trapped here!”

“What?

Are you sure?

Who’s imposing martial law?”

“Who else could it be?

Of course, it’s the Star Federation!

Move out, let’s meet at Point C!”

Ending the call, they tossed the phone out the car window, where it hit the ground with a crack of shattering screen.

The pickup truck roared away in haste.

The discarded phone was soon found and joyfully picked up by someone.

Inside the pickup truck.

The five mercenaries, upon hearing the news, were instantly filled with rage.

“Damn it!

There must be a mole!

There must be!”

“Could it be a coincidence?

Our auction in that small fishing village could easily make people think the nuclear warhead is hidden in the city!”

“Coincidence my ass!

Without a mole tipping them off, could our boss have been precisely bombed with a cement missile?

Could the Star Federation lock down the city area so quickly?”

“There’s no need for us to meet up.

Let’s just leave.

We all have money in our accounts; why continue to get involved?”

“Not meet up?

What about them and the nuclear warhead?”

“What about them?

They can fend for themselves!

As for me, I’m planning to bail.

Cash in hand is safe.

The thirty million I’ve made is enough for me!”

“I… I won’t go either!”

“Should we notify them?

Tell them we’re no longer cooperating, let them figure it out on their own?”

“Why the hell do you care so much?

Are they your parents, or your kids?”

…

A ruckus erupted inside the pickup truck.

As they crossed a large bridge, the driver suddenly slammed on the brakes.

Grabbing the shoulder bag with the phones from the passenger side, he threw it out of the window.

With a splash.

The bag sank into the river, creating ripples.

Now things were settled.

With no phones left, there was no way to contact the other two mercenary squads.

A brisk and efficient move indeed.

The noise inside the truck quickly returned.

Soon, the topic shifted.

“We’re not going to look for a place to sleep this early, are we?”

“I think the women at Reaper Bar are no good, too ugly!”

“That’s right!

We’re all rich now, why not enjoy the best food, best accommodations, and the best fun?”

“Hey buddy, this is Nabiya, where do you find beautiful women?”

“Go to the top hotels and splash the cash!”

…

Banter and filthy jokes filled the air.

These five mercenaries had completely let loose.

What cooperation and integrity?

What sense of duty and morality?

For mercenaries who only recognize money and not people, none of these exist.

They are the lapdogs of money, consumed with thoughts of how to indulge in pleasures once they have earned it.

If a job is too dangerous, no matter how much money it offers, they would never risk their lives for it.

What’s the point of making money if you forfeit your life in the process?

Live for today, drink for today, who cares about who gets killed tonight!

The conversation among the five men grew more animated as they spoke.

Eventually, they simply picked a classy hotel and threw bundles of cash on the counter.

They asked the manager to arrange a group of the prettiest girls, the best suite, and the finest food and wine.

Damn!

Money sure does talk.

Phantom following them was now utterly useless.

Instead of wasting energy on killing them, it might be better to turn this into an opportunity and report their position to the Star Federation.

Just get them to spill the beans on where Point C is during an interrogation, wait in ambush, and catching those two mercenary squads would be easy.

Phantom quietly retreated to the port area to look for a shipping container truck.

Every day in Nabiya, numerous ships bring in domestically produced, cost-effective goods.

A plethora of container trucks move back and forth between Seleck’s port and the bustling city of Xikelse, enabling Phantom to catch a ride back.

As for Tang Xiao and her team…

Wu Jie had them pull back and leave the internal clean-up to the Star Federation.

After all, this nuclear warhead theft incident was a result of their own internal mismanagement.

To ensure the peace of mind for billions of people worldwide regarding the threat of a nuclear blast, offering information for free was the most generous act.

However…

Around ten o’clock.

The Star Federation dispatched a large number of troops to raid the hotel and ended up not only failing to catch anyone but getting beaten instead.

The five naked and merry mercenaries managed to turn a sneak attack into a frontal assault.

After a hard fight, with over a dozen sacrificed, the opposition was finally taken down.

All wiped out?

Wu Jie received the Star Federation’s report and was momentarily speechless.

Truly, there is nothing to fear from a godlike opponent but everything to fear from pig-like allies!