After a couple of days of careful planning, Kai finally confirmed that Haven‑45 was stable and that all injured people were healed...

In any case, the Haven-45 shelter had endured the Global Event without any significant casualties, and the survivors were already rebuilding their defenses and repairing damaged structures, so Kai didn’t really have any concern just yet.

He felt really relieved at that time, knowing that his people were safe. It gave him the confidence to move forward with the next phase.

With preparations complete, Kai gathered his trusted companions. Claire, Ralph, Sera, Althea, and Alfie were all summoned to Freedom Shelter, ready to join him in the raid. Each of them had trained really well...

Claire, Ralph, and Alfie were all Level 20 and above, so their usefulness was obvious.

As for Althea and Sera... They had also improved thanks to the event....

Kai himself stood at the center of the group...

His A‑Grade Sentinel, Atom, stood nearby like a silent guardian.

Mei was at his side with her rifle slung across her shoulder, while looking at the rest of the group.

"Nice lineup... I think this is enough." She muttered as she looked behind.

There were trained workers ready to join them.

They were now equipped with rifles and other weapons that Kai had taken out of his inventory.

"We’re ready!" Noli, the leader of the group, shouted.

Apparently, the ten workers weren’t laborers anymore... they were fighters! 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

After surviving the global event that lasted for seven days, it wasn’t surprising that Kai included the group.

They were all capable of protecting themselves for now.

Soon, they learned their mission...

The atmosphere was tense but they were resolute to finish this...

Everyone knew the risks of targeting Angelo’s Haven‑28, but they also understood the necessity.

They couldn’t let a hostile group linger around their shelter or they might regret it...

Soon, Kai asked everyone to take out one off-road motorbike for their own transportation... Well, their warehouse has enough of them since he opened a lot of Transport Gift Pack main to obtain the emergency thruster pack, and compact grappling launcher...

Furthermore, he had them wear the protective riding gear included in the pack.

"This is nice..." Mei muttered as this was her first time wearing them.

"They’re a lot more comfortable than I imagined." Sera agreed as she flexed her body...

The protective riding gear from the Transport Gift Packs was more than just clothing, it was survival equipment.

Each set came complete with a reinforced helmet, padded jacket, gloves, pants, and boots. The material was rugged, layered with shock‑absorbing plates and resistant to tearing.

When the group suited up, they immediately felt the difference.

Claire flexed her arms, testing the jacket’s mobility.

"Not bad... I think it adjusted to my physique... Anyway, it’s not too heavy... I can move freely." Ralph said as he knocked his knuckles against the helmet.

"Feels solid..."

Even Alfie, usually quiet, muttered, "This will keep us alive if we crash for sure..."

The workers, too, were satisfied. They never had anything like this before...

Needless to say, the gear gave them confidence, and Kai could see it in their eyes.

Once everyone was equipped, Kai gestured toward the motorbikes. The off‑road machines had sturdy frames built for swamp and mountain terrain.

Each bike came with bulletproof tires, fuel reserves, and compact repair kits. They weren’t flashy, but they were reliable.

Soon, engines were turned on one by one...

The sound echoed through Freedom Shelter’s yard.

Then, the strike force mounted up with helmets secured and rifles strapped to their backs. Atom moved to the front, towering like a sentinel, while Kai revved his own bike and looked back at the group.

"Good job, Noli... Let’s go."

Noli grinned, clutching his digi‑cam. It was thanks to him that they knew where to head.

He had captured photos of the foggy swamp near the mountain... Those images revealed faint outlines of structures hidden in the mist and those pictures had given Kai the coordinates they needed.

The convoy rolled out, engines growling as they sped across uneven terrain.

At first, they were slow because many of them weren’t used to the vehicle just yet.

However, it didn’t take long before it became easy for them...

After a few hours of driving, they noticed fog as they grew closer to the mountain... Then, as they continued, the fog started thickening.

Finally, Kai stopped after seeing the swamp stretched before them...

***

The convoy then slowed to a halt at the edge of the swamp.

The fog actually clung to the ground, curling even around the roots and reeds, making the visibility poor.

Kai raised his hand, signaling everyone to dismount.

Just like that, engines were cut off one by one, leaving only the eerie silence of the swamp.

Thud...

Boots sank slightly into the damp soil as the strike force spread out with their rifles ready.

"It’s cold here, huh..." Mei muttered as she looked around.

Atom was also there, scanning the mist, while Claire stayed in her position.

Noli then moved ahead, pointing toward a narrow path that wound deeper into the swamp.

"This way," he whispered. "I noticed through the pictures that this path seemed heavily used."

Meanwhile, Kai just smiled as he allowed Noli to lead. He also noticed the path, but he allowed him to take over...

Just like that, the group followed cautiously...

The path was narrow, but it was a way forward.

But just as they began to advance, a sharp sound split the silence.

Bang!

A gunshot echoed through the swamp.

Everyone froze... But Kai immediately sensed something.... it carried no killing intent.

From the mist, a voice rang out.

"Why are you here?! We’re no longer accepting trades!"

The strike force exchanged glances. The tone wasn’t hostile enough for an ambush; it sounded more like frustration.

Kai’s lips curled into a faint smile. He understood what was happening.

Angelo’s group had bikes and sold them to many people, like how he had tried to sell them all to him...

And of course, the bikes needed fuel.

Survivors must have been coming here to buy fuel...

Kai then thought of an idea and stepped forward...

"We’re here to look around," he said, lying through his teeth. "I plan to build a shelter here too."