King Of War: Starting with Arms Dealer-Chapter 1038 - 924: Determination

The garbage on the Congo River was especially abundant, causing the fast response boat to move cautiously in the dark...

Joe Ga asked the captain about the time needed to rendezvous with ’Grey Wolf,’ and the reply was that it might take another four to six hours.

He lay down on the aft deck with Qiao Liang, gazing up at the stars while drinking beer, and they eventually fell asleep.

Luckily, both of them were covered in mosquito-repellent witch medicine; otherwise, sleeping out in an open spot for four hours like this would essentially have turned them into free blood donors for Africa.

.........

As Joe rested, "Silt" arrived at a Mud People Tribe village with Night Tiger and the Ferryman.

The Mud People’s village was located beside a narrow tributary of the Congo River. The village itself was built upon a clearing on the riverbank...

At that moment, a white man missing one hand was tied to a large stone traditionally used for slaughtering livestock. Surrounding him were several children smeared head to toe with ash-colored mud, curiously observing.

When Night Tiger and the Ferryman appeared, Mud People warriors armed with spears rushed out from the village, their eyes fixed on the newcomers with alert hostility.

It wasn’t until a burly Mud People tribesman beside "Silt" spoke that the spear-wielding warriors lowered their weapons and hollered a series of indiscernible chants...

The warriors then spread their arms wide, crouching low with bent knees, mimicking the stance of gorillas to make themselves appear more intimidating, pacing in exaggerated circles around Night Tiger and the Ferryman.

Seeing ’Comet’ tense up a bit, "Silt" yanked off the lion-head insignia patched on ’Comet’s arm and threw it to a young Mud People warrior. Raising his hand, "Silt" shouted loudly in a language incomprehensible to the others...

The warriors instantly seemed reinvigorated, pounding their feet with frenzied energy.

The commotion outside the village attracted the attention of those inside.

Altogether—with men, women, the elderly, and children—the population amounted to over a hundred.

The customs of the Mud People were peculiar. Their men—all hunters and warriors—wore only a type of "underwear" crafted from dried fruit shells, with the rest of their bodies covered in thick layers of ash-colored mud.

They didn’t wear the "underwear" for modesty’s sake but rather as protection for their relatively vulnerable areas.

In contrast to these grim-faced and seemingly otherworldly warriors, the women of the Mud People seemed oddly fashionable...

They wore apparel resembling tube tops and mini skirts, applied a thin layer of ash-colored mud to their skin, and painted vibrant, colorful designs atop the mud using something akin to dyes.

Jungle animals inherently avoid vivid, bright colors since such tones often signal venom. For Mud People women, these colorful patterns served as a practical form of self-defense.

The Mud People women were often taller than the men, with long limbs and athletic builds. Given their outfits, they indeed had a trendy look...

In stark contrast to the women, the Mud People men appeared dull and entirely covered in drab gray mud.

’Monkey’ glanced at the local tribespeople and nudged ’Black Panther,’ remarking, "I didn’t realize they’d be so stylish..."

’Black Panther’ looked at one of the Mud People women approaching him, cupping a fruit-shell container in her hands and offering it to him.

Grinning, he accepted the container with both hands and took a sip. The liquid inside was tart and bitter, causing him to grimace as he swallowed it down.

Feigning sincerity, he gave the Mud People woman a thumbs-up and motioned for her to bring some for his teammates to taste.

Watching their captain and other teammates finish drinking with strange expressions, ’Black Panther’ laughed heartily and declared, "Damn, they’re hospitable! I kinda like this place..."

Turning to a small, long-legged comrade beside him, ’Black Panther’ chuckled and said, "Grasshopper, feeling conflicted?

Look at these locals—they don’t even have proper shorts, yet they can find women with such great figures. Maybe you should give it a shot; we’re all family in China and Africa, right?"

’Grasshopper’ plucked a blade of grass nearby and shoved it into his mouth, hoping its juice might counteract the lingering bitter taste...

Hearing ’Black Panther’s teasing comment, ’Grasshopper’ shook his head and replied, "No way. My dad once told me that joining the military meant the unit would provide me with a wife. Our commander promised to introduce me to someone...

I endured grueling training all for that promise, and I’m still waiting for them to make good on it."

’Black Panther’ was momentarily speechless, shaking his head in disbelief before chuckling wryly. "They were joking, and you actually believed it?"

He leaned toward their team captain, ’Monkey,’ lowering his voice as he said, "I’ve got a feeling we’ll be stuck here in Africa for quite a while...

You’d better think carefully. If you’re determined to leave, there are some things you shouldn’t get involved in going forward.

Of us all, you’re the youngest. If you go home at 38, you can still get married, become a dad at 40, and maybe even live long enough to see your kids grow up."

’Grasshopper’ glanced at the unconscious white captive lying on the stone slab and frowned, asking, "You’ve talked this through with Frog, Eel, and Water Buffalo, haven’t you?

The captain’s been exuding a lot of murderous intent lately—does it have something to do with that pharmaceutical company?"

’Grasshopper’ noticed ’Black Panther’ lightly nodding, his expression turning serious as he said, "We’re brothers, so of course I’m in for revenge.

Serving in the military is the same no matter where—at least here in Africa, there’s action. Back home, you’d just be stuck at the base crawling around and drilling every day. It’s dull."

’Black Panther’ nodded solemnly and said, "Our target this time is an international corporation. Once the deed’s done, we’ll either stay here for a few years until the heat dies down or go home and join the training division—we won’t be on the front line anymore.

The rest of us are aging out, but you’ve still got a few years left. If you go back, there’s room for advancement.

You need to think this through..."

’Grasshopper’ slapped his knee and casually waved it off. "These knees of mine are shot. What’s the point of moving up?

If they give me a promotion, I’d just retire and head home!

The ’Rabbit Squad’—those sharp-eyed young guns—are the real seeds for future greatness. Our unit won’t miss me.

We’re all brothers. Let’s do this!

What’s a few years in Africa? I’m totally game!"

’Grasshopper’ smiled at a Mud People woman passing by and nudged ’Black Panther,’ saying, "I heard that Hu Lang, the big boss, is pretty generous. Maybe he’ll even arrange wives for us.

I’m not picky; I’d settle for those Ad-Damazin Hunting Guides. I’ve seen a few in town—they’re gorgeous..."

’Black Panther’ chuckled at ’Grasshopper’s’ obsession with "wives issued by higher-ups," shaking his head and teasing, "Maybe we should ask the captain later. Private contractors are probably a bit more accommodating in that regard."

As the two chatted, the Mud People’s welcome ceremony wrapped up...

The enthusiastic Mud People women didn’t leave but instead gathered together, looking as though they were waiting for something...

"Silt" spoke with the village leader for a while before walking over to inspect the white captive. After a quick check, he nodded...

’Monkey’ approached ’Comet’ and asked, "What are they doing?"

’Comet’ shrugged and replied, "How would I know?"

As he spoke, ’Comet’ noticed a burly Mud People warrior retrieve a stone axe and approach the white captive, raising the axe with both hands...

"Wait..."

’Comet’ urgently raised his hand and called out, "Wait! We need him alive...

’Silt,’ our boss ordered us to keep him alive. He plans to bring him to the African Union Headquarters.

If we don’t get authorization, our subsequent operations will be compromised..."

’Silt’ rolled his peculiar eyes and replied in a low voice, "I know. Losing another leg won’t kill the guy.

This man killed two Mud People—originally, they wanted to dismember him completely, but now they’re willing to just hack off one hand and one leg.

That’s already the bottom line. You guys need to respect their traditions!

If you’re worried, then get the medic ready to stop the bleeding..."

As ’Silt’ spoke, the Mud People warrior unleashed a furious roar, swinging the stone axe down onto the white captive’s knee.

The axe wasn’t sharp, but it was heavy enough...

The first strike shattered the captive’s kneecap, causing him to wake up with a piercing scream as if branded by molten iron...

Glancing down at his twisted, mangled knee, the captive’s neck veins bulged like writhing snakes as he yelled angrily, "Come on, kill me if you dare! You’re all going to die!"

The Mud People warrior ignored his taunts and steadily hacked away at his lower leg until the limb was severed...

Raising the severed calf, the savage warrior used the blood to paint a streak across his chest before leaning in close to the panicked captive and letting out a guttural growl, scaring him into silence.

’Comet’ reluctantly signaled the unit’s medics to approach and administer first aid to the man, tending to his injuries.

Upon seeing "civilized" people arrive, the white captive froze momentarily, then burst into tears and shouted, "Help me! Save me! I’m an International Red Cross volunteer! I came here to deliver medicine to these natives, and they...

Please, save me, save me!"

’Comet’ crouched down beside the captive...

Noticing the mud smeared thickly over the stump of the man’s severed wrist, ’Comet’ wiped his forehead and instructed the medics, "Give him some morphine and antibiotics. Don’t let him die..."

’Comet’s’ words rekindled a spark of hope in the captive, who cried out loudly, "Take me away from here! Please, take me away from here! These damn savages are lunatics..."

’Comet’ patted the captive’s face and said with a laugh, "Nobody’s sick here. What medicine were you delivering?

The virus you released doesn’t affect the Mud People at all. I imagine that surprises you quite a bit?"

Hearing this, the captive’s eyes widened with terror, staring at ’Comet’s’ scarred face in panic while murmuring, "Who are you people?"

’Monkey’ stepped closer to the captive, lowering his gaze to lock eyes with him. "I remember you. Do you recall Guinea?

We crossed paths in a village there. You were carrying a silver briefcase with another man—green eyes, missing an ear, left hand missing a finger...

You told us you were International Red Cross volunteers and wished us luck on our mission..."

Grabbing the captive by the ear, ’Monkey’ pulled him in close and spoke in a chilling voice, "I saw that guy again. He’s on his way here to save you...

You carry blood debts...

Chinese doctors, French doctors, my comrades, and tens of thousands of innocent civilians...

The debt must be paid!"

With morphine dulling his pain now, the captive’s expression shifted from shock to deranged laughter as he cackled, "You’re that Chinese paratrooper—hahahahaha...

What can you possibly accomplish?

You think you can take down ’Barsakya’ with just your small group?"