Chapter 514 - 244: My Partner Might Be Able to Help
Chapter 514: Chapter 244: My Partner Might Be Able to Help
’Understood, Master.’
Qi Zai responded telepathically, a low rumble in its throat. Its sharp eyes swept over the vast mountain range ahead, filled with the confidence of a king of the skies.
With a single beat of its wings, it kicked up a powerful gust of air and soared into the sky. In the blink of an eye, it became a tiny black dot, quickly vanishing above the verdant mountains ahead.
Everyone stared up in the direction Qi Zai had disappeared, speechless for a moment, their hearts filled with awe and anticipation.
"Advisor Yang, with Qi Zai’s speed, about how long until we hear something?"
Yao Zhenwei tore his gaze away and looked at Yang Qi, unable to hide the urgency in his eyes.
Yang Qi estimated the area of the forest and Qi Zai’s cruising speed before replying, "If we’re lucky and the target is fairly obvious, it should find something in about half an hour. If they’re hidden particularly well, it might take longer, or we may need to expand the search area."
"Alright, we’ll wait."
Yao Zhenwei nodded, forcing himself to be patient, but his constant pacing and glances at his watch betrayed his inner anxiety.
The minutes ticked by. The mountain forest was silent, save for the rustling of leaves in the wind and the faint chirping of distant birds.
After about twenty-five minutes of waiting—
"SCREEE~"
A familiar eagle’s cry came from high above the forest.
Everyone’s spirits lifted, and they all looked up.
Qi Zai’s figure reappeared. It wasn’t circling high above; instead, it was diving straight toward their parked vehicles from a relatively low altitude.
"It’s back!"
A SWAT officer murmured.
Qi Zai landed precisely on a thick branch of the large tree beside Yang Qi. It folded its wings and lowered its head, letting out a series of rapid, varied cries as if reporting something to him.
As Yang Qi listened, he made a few gestures of listening and questioning, all while communicating rapidly with Qi Zai via telepathy to confirm the details.
’Master, I found them.’
’To the Southwest, about fifteen kilometers from here as the crow flies, there’s a very secluded mountain hollow. It has a few buildings and a surrounding wall.’
’When I flew over, there were a few people moving around in the courtyard.’
’There’s a small, hidden road next to the houses, wide enough for a vehicle.’
’Also, to the northeast of the houses, in a patch of woods two mountain ridges over, I saw a white vehicle covered with branches.’
Yang Qi felt reassured. He confirmed a few more details, such as the general layout of the compound, the surrounding terrain, and whether there were any obvious sentries.
Although Qi Zai couldn’t provide a description with human-like detail, it had captured all the crucial information.
With the charade over, Yang Qi turned to the expectant and tense Yao Zhenwei, Yue Fangping, and the others to report.
"Director Yao, Captain Yue, Qi Zai found a sizable compound in a hidden mountain hollow about fifteen kilometers to the Southwest. There’s activity inside."
"Additionally, in a forest two mountain ridges to the northeast of the compound, it discovered what appears to be the target vehicle, covered by a camouflage net or branches."
"Excellent!"
Yao Zhenwei’s eyes lit up. "People in the compound, vehicle hidden elsewhere... This fits their M.O. perfectly. A crafty rabbit has three burrows—they’re always ready to move!"
The others also breathed a sigh of relief, their gazes toward Yang Qi and Qi Zai filled with amazement and admiration.
This Beaked Eagle’s reconnaissance ability was comparable to the most advanced high-altitude surveillance drone, but it was more agile and stealthier.
"Director Yao, should we surround the compound directly?" Yue Fangping asked.
"No!"
Yao Zhenwei shook his head, his eyes darting across the map.
"Secure the vehicles first."
"Yue Fangping, you’ll take a small team, assisted by Advisor Yang and his cat. Proceed to where the refrigerated truck is hidden, secure it, and take out any potential lookouts along the way."
"Yes, sir!"
Yue Fangping snapped to attention and replied, then began selecting his team members.
Meanwhile, Yang Qi retrieved a pre-calibrated miniature surveillance device from the tech team and fitted it onto Xiaojiu.
"Xiaojiu, find the vehicles’ location first,"
Yang Qi said, stroking Xiaojiu’s head.
"Meow~"
’Understood, Master.’
Xiaojiu meowed softly and rubbed its head against Yang Qi’s hand.
Soon, a seven-man strike team led by Yue Fangping was ready. They had all changed into jungle camouflage, their faces smeared with grease paint, and were heavily equipped.
As instructed, Yang Qi also put on a bulletproof vest and a tactical helmet.
"Move out!"
Yue Fangping ordered with a wave of his hand.
Xiaojiu shot forward first, like a black bolt of lightning, darting into the dense thicket ahead. It vanished, leaving only faintly trembling leaves in its wake.
The miniature camera it wore began transmitting a live feed of the path ahead, along with subtle ambient sounds, through a relay carried by Yang Qi to the personal tactical terminals worn by Yue Fangping and his team.
Yang Qi, Yue Fangping, and the six strike team members followed close behind.
...
SWOOSH~
SWOOSH!
Xiaojiu’s form weaved silently through dense shrubs, tangled vines, and jagged rocks.
Using the video and audio feed from Xiaojiu, Yue Fangping and the strike team carefully chose their route, avoiding areas with potential lines of sight or where they might make noise.
They were all rigorously trained in mountain warfare. Coupled with Yang Qi using his Earth Listening Technique to sense any significant movements ahead, the team advanced quickly and stealthily.
Following the direction Qi Zai had indicated, the group crossed a sparsely vegetated mountain ridge and entered a coniferous forest dominated by tall firs and pines.
Suddenly, Xiaojiu, who was scouting ahead, stopped in its tracks. It flattened its body, its emerald eyes fixed on the edge of a relatively open fir wood up ahead.
At the same time, a clear image appeared on the tactical terminals of Yue Fangping and his men.
Through the gaps between the trees, they could faintly make out unnatural patches of white and dark green.
Xiaojiu crept forward slowly, using the trees and bushes for cover, finally stopping behind an earthen slope that offered an excellent vantage point.
It adjusted its angle, sending back a clearer picture.
In the clearing about fifty meters ahead, there wasn’t just one vehicle, but three!
One was the white refrigerated box truck the police had been tracking, its body still caked with some mud.
The other two were a modified dark green SUV and an ordinary gray minivan. Both had been meticulously camouflaged, covered with a large number of felled fir branches and leaves. If not for Xiaojiu’s close-range reconnaissance, they would have been impossible to spot from a distance.
In the small clearing formed by the three vehicles stood four men in dark jackets and baseball caps.
Two of them were sitting on a fallen log, smoking and talking in low voices, their eyes periodically scanning the surroundings.
One man leaned against the SUV, apparently wiping something that, in silhouette, looked like a machete or a short-barreled shotgun.
The last man was holding a handheld radio and pacing slowly in the clearing, as if monitoring something, his expression vigilant.
Four guards, three vehicles.
This was clearly an important transit point and a prepared evacuation spot!