Mercenary Black Mamba

Of course, the loss was extensive. Three Hueys were shot down and two Marine squads were decimated. The Shadow team suffered the majority of losses. Due to Hynd's rash orders, Stinger and Vulcan were eliminated. Seventy-seven Shadow agents died and 30 were injured.

The Shadow agents were chosen from soldiers with more than three years of experience in the Green Berets, Delta Force, etc. Then they went through extensive DIA training which resulted in the cream of the top special operations agents. Weapons and equipment could be replaced but not the agents themselves.

"What would plainclothes know? Tell him to direct the operation here in Ituri."

McKinley uttered mutinous remarks without any qualms. Nothing was sure on a battlefield. The powerful small infrared radars mounted on the rear were lethal. He didn't know their pilots would be trained so well and didn't expect them to launch a suicide attack without any reservation.

Even with the superior weaponry and early alarm system, if they could not properly analyze the battlefield, the optimal outcome was not achievable. If battles continued according to the plans, there was no reason the United States would lose to Vietnam.

"Dyson, even with the most savage of your hounds, you will have a hard time defeating them. Hahaha!"

McKinley smirked despite his anger. Dyson brought Predators to the battlefield, but it was still going to be difficult to find the hiding enemies. Now was not the time to stand out. He needed to claim credit for achievements, but for now, he decided to lay low.

* * *

"Pomsky, Langley sent the second complaint. If no sincere explanation is provided within 24 hours, they will obliterate the Uganda base. How shall we calm this rabid dog?"

Mikhail looked at Pomsky with a perplexed face. Even after much deliberation, they saw no escape. The rash operation involving Hynd, as Pomsky predicted, invited many protests. The Green Zone was exclusively an American territory. With the evidence left in plain sight, they were stuck in a troublesome situation.

"Ubiksa is intact. Milovic has completely hidden, having concerned about eavesdropping," Pomsky answered cryptically.

He was not content with his boss who only cared about his status and overlooked his colleagues' criticism. Lubyanka's action was nonsensical and unjustified. The complaint from the United States was trouble too, but it was a military operation that ruined the peace policy of the chief secretary. Mere complaints were not going to calm the situation down.

"Pomsky, if we cannot calm down this dog, you and I may be sent to a gulag. Gorbachev is not going to let it pass," Mikhail whined.

They were not going to be sent to a gulag, but they might lose their positions.

"Comrade, the Department of State is America's official communication channel. They didn't say anything. Instead, the CIA did. It means they are asking for something in exchange."

"I didn't know that."

Mikhail's face brightened.

"Do you know anything?" Pomsky clucked his tongue internally.

The director, appointed with ulterior political motives, had great patriotism and hatred toward their enemies but was too impatient and careless to be the director of Lubyanka. Another incident happened under his direction not long after they shot down a Korean passenger jet.

"We can explain that it was a rash decision of a local commander. We can also give them some intel regarding the ICBMs that we also gave to China. If we throw in a few defectors, they will be happy."

"Then we do not even need to report this to Gorbachev, who is very busy?"

"Of course not."

"What shall we do with Ubiksa? We cannot give up Oparts."

Pomsky understood why the director mentioned Ubiksa only after his own problem was resolved. People naturally prioritized their own problems before other people's.

"Comrade Director, to match the American troops deployed in the green zone, we must deploy a mechanized division. Russia is not capable of such an operation and should never try. A coconut's shell is hard but the flesh inside is soft. We can make use of the Destructor, Ntaganta."

"Ntaganta is a greedy pig. Russia isn't rich like America."

"The Far Eastern Army has what Ntaganta wants. He needs firearms more than money."

"Go on with it right away. Oparts must return to Russia. Ubiksa must be able to survive."

Mikhail sighed. Whenever he thought about the room-temperature superconductor, it seemed like a great loss.

"Don't worry. Ubiksa is not weak."

"They are only a handful of men. Even though they have supernatural powers, there is a limit to what they can withstand."

"I'll be on it right away."

Pomsky hurriedly exited the director's office.

The battle to acquire Oparts entered a new phase. The large-scale battle employing helicopters attracted the attention of intelligence services of various countries. The greed and doubt of all involved parties were heightened. Countless spies entered the jungle of Ituri.

Armed warlords, after confirming the rumors, were hell-bent on acquiring the treasure map. The committee deployed Brigadier General Dyson also known as a fight dog and Predators. The KGB incited the Mai-Mai rebels. Various forces collided in a small area, but no one was aware of the catastrophe approaching them from the west.

* * *

Falcon entered the final approach leg phase. Leon, steering the aircraft after much time had passed, was very anxious. Like many landing strips in Africa, the Bukabu Airfield was messy.

"Master, the runway is covered with gravel. Landing now."

Leon warned in advance.

"Wakil, fasten your seat belt."

"Don't worry about me."

Mu Ssang's butt jumped from his seat. Falcon bounced off the ground once and continued down the runway.

"What is this?"

Startled, Sun Woo-hyun held onto his seat like a cicada.

"We are here again! I hope everything goes smoothly."

Mu Ssang gazed at the green world rapidly passing by outside the window.

"He's a monster!" said Sun Woo-hyun in his mind.

Sun Woo-hyun glared at Mu Ssang who was not flinching a bit. He was about to throw up while that man was appreciating the scenery outside the window. The world was always unfair.

"Huh. In Africa, everything is harsh."

Sun Woo-hyun calmed his resentment. No one was going to listen to his complaint.

"It's just as hot!"

Hot air engulfed them as soon as they deplaned. A swarm of flies welcomed them. The temperature was roughly the same as Novatopia but highly humid. The jungle of Ituri had a muggy, unpleasant climate. It was a common climate along the equator in East Africa.

"Welcome! I am Caporal Chef Rimmer of the 13th Djibouti Brigade. The commander said, you are to be treated with the utmost hospitality," the helicopter pilot with three yellow stripes on his military uniform sleeve shouted vigorously.

The 13th Brigade was headed by Paul who was promoted to commander.

"A Gazelle, comfortable? A farm cart would be more comfortable," Sun Woo-hyun grumbled.

"I didn't speak to you. Do you want to get disciplinary action?"

Rimmer glared at Sun Woo-hyun.

"Idiot. You are only a Private and you talk like that to a General?" Sun Woo-hyun grumbled in Korean.

"Private Rimmer, thank you for coming to get us."

"It's my honor. Call me Rimmer."

The pilot ignored Sun Woo-hyun and picked up Mu Ssang's baggage.

"Fuck. I'm a General!"

Sun Woo-hyun complained, but no one was listening. Leon moved five big bundles onto the Gazelle.

"Rimmer, these are stockings from Korea. The Advisor's gift to Paul's brigadiers.

"Thank you!"

Rimmer's mouth was open agape in joy. High-quality stockings from Korea were considered one of the best gifts in the Middle East and Africa. It could be exchanged for any quality good.

"Wakil, why are you doing this? You do not need to prepare a gift for mere Privates."

"Lackey, do you want to walk hundreds of kilometers in the jungle amongst swarms of venomous insects? Think before you talk."

Mu Ssang clucked his tongue. Sun Woo-hyun always discredited himself with his mouth. Sun Woo-hyun's mouth was firmly shut.

"Advisor, do we need a flight permit?"

"No. Let's just go around the area."

The Gazelle turned south at Molokai. The helicopter, flying around the restricted area and approaching Mambasa, hovered above Edos. This is where Mu Ssang saved Olonge's senior and junior. The Olonge Village was mere two kilometers away.

"Advisor, the landing condition isn't optimal."

Edos was covered with hardy bushes and vines. It was not a place where a helicopter could land.

"No problem!"

Mu Ssang opened the side door. The sound of the engine and blades assailed their eardrums. Mu Ssang jumped in the air.

"What?"

Sun Woo-hyun looked down out of surprise. The man shouldering a 60-kilogram backpack landed softly like a cat among the boulders.

"My company is always superhuman."

Sun Woo-hyun shook his head. In a while, Mu Ssang had already transformed.

"Lower the rope!" Sun Woo-hyun yelled.

He considered himself superhuman too but still didn't dare to jump from 100 feet shouldering heavy equipment. Sun Woo-hyun slid down the rope like a spider. After unloading Asura and his dim-witted servant, the Gazelle rose.

"Wakil, don't you need to bring your dog?"

"No, I don't."

Mu Ssang led the way. They were here for intelligence, not ambush.

"This is quite a hassle!" Sun Woo-hyun complained.

He was experiencing what was foretold to be unpleasant. The muggy, damp air seemed to press down on his lungs. Leaves dripping with water, slippery trail, and ferns with hardy thorns kept them tarrying. Puddles here and there added to the perceived unpleasantness. So did the unidentified insects that kept clinging to their bodies.

"Ouch!"

Sun Woo-hyun felt a sharp pain in his left ear. He slapped the area with his palm. A bean-sized spider was squashed on his palm. He promptly applied an antidote, but his left ear had already swollen. Hundreds of blue spiders slid down on a thread from a branch.

"No!"

Sun Woo-hyun hurriedly wore a face mask and sprayed pesticide.

"I told you to cover yourself with dieldrin and wear a mask."

Mu Ssang clucked his tongue. If someone needs to experience something to know if it is good or bad, they shall.

* * *

Olonge, filling the cracks in his boat with rubber resin along a tributary of the Aruwimi River, hurriedly hid when he heard a splashing sound. A Pygmy's hearing is ten times better than an ordinary person's.

"A dark demon!"

Olonge was filled with fear when he saw Mu Ssang and Sun Woo-hyun.

Olonge ran toward the village with all of his might. White people didn't usually attack them or act roughly but black-cloth-faced people were fearsome beings that killed everything on sight. The Pygmies didn't know that white people turn into black-cloth-faced people with simple masks.

Mu Ssang was aware of Olonge's presence but left him alone and followed him leisurely. The Pygmies had several encampments in the forest to which they relocated often. He had the location of the previous village saved on his GPS, but there was no guarantee that this was the Olonge Village from before.

"Nothing has changed!" Mu Ssang muttered.

The village was dead quiet. There were 200 Pygmies hiding in dozens of huts. Pygmies were forest people. When they hid among the trees, even Mu Ssang had a hard time finding them. Why were they not fleeing to the forest familiar to them?

The huts made of reed and palm fronds were flimsy things that could collapse from one single kick. Were they thinking that the rickety walls would protect them from violent enemies? He understood their fear but didn't understand how they dealt with it.

"Wakil, that looks like Samdi."

Sun Woo-hyun pointed at the big wooden sculpture standing at the entrance of the town.

"That's him. Samdi ended up a guardian spirit of the Pygmies."

Mu Ssang giggled.

"What do you mean?"

"Samdi beat a monster that preyed on Pygmies to death."

"What a savage!"

Sun Woo-hyun shook his head.

"Olonge!"

Mu Ssang called in a loud voice. After several calls, Olonge showed himself shyly.

"I'm here!"

Mu Ssang took off his goggles and mask.

"Mahaduraka!"

Fear evaporated from Olonge's face. He held up both arms and shouted.

"Machokata auriga!"

Pygmies hiding in the huts all ran out and bowed.

"Machokata auriga!"

There was a collective shout. Mu Ssang waved. The shout ceased at once.

"Umar Samdi?"

Olonge pointed at Sun Woo-hyun. He was asking if he was the guardian, Samdi. Mu Ssang shook his head. Olonge's face displayed a fleeting expression of disappointment.

"Are they saying that God has come? What did you do to deceive these people?"

Sun Woo-hyun glanced at Mu Ssang with eyes full of suspicion. This was the difference between Samdi who was still pure and Sun Woo-hyun who had experienced a lot of things, weathered by the world.