Chapter 77 The Prowess of the Jungle Veteran

Daniel knew the enemy's mortars were already set up, so he wasn't about to risk using the helicopter. The second that bird took off, it'd be a sitting duck for enemy fire.

But just sitting around wasn't Daniel's style. Plus, he had the upper hand right now, so he wanted to make a move.

Sure, it might not be the smartest play from a textbook perspective, but the enemy wouldn't expect the folks in the mining camp to head into the mountains during the day.

Daniel wasn't being reckless; he had intel from Donovan. The Sea Hounds mercenaries were seasoned pros, not some ragtag bunch. Even if the Italica forces were a joke, these mercs had seen their share of action, and their commander wasn't a fool.

Their plan to ambush reinforcements was clear as day. They probably thought the mining camp was clueless.

Natalie had marked two great spots, but while those positions were perfect for attacking the camp, they were also exposed to counterattacks. With machine guns and snipers able to reach those spots, Daniel doubted the mercs would take that gamble.

If it were him, Daniel would wait for the reinforcements to land and then hit them with mortars before launching an attack. Their goal wasn't to overrun the camp but to force them to call for peacekeeping help.

As long as they took out the reinforcements, Michael in the camp would be out of options. Without knowing about the camp's drones and the mole, this was the safest bet.

Once the PMC reinforcements were hit hard, the Novarians on the front line would have a shot with mortar support. If the camp's firepower had to shift to the front, the Sea Hounds would have plenty of ways to strike back.

Daniel figured if he were in the enemy's shoes, he'd do the same thing.

Natalie's analysis was solid, but she was thinking like a tactician, not considering the enemy's identity and situation, treating them like regular troops. That'd mess with the accuracy.

After laying out his thoughts to the group, Daniel paused and said, "Komodo and I are gonna take the initiative. The enemy's got 21 people, including our mole. Taking them down won't be too hard.

The big thing is, I can't stick around here too long. I need to link up with Donovan and then head south to Quachok to deal with the Mori Family's goons and the snitch, Oakenshield."

Nis chimed in, "I'll go with you. The enemy's on the other side of the mountain. Once the fighting starts, we can't cover you from here. I can find a spot to cover you early."

Daniel shook his head, "No, I got a plan for them.

You stay here. If Komodo and I hit trouble, we'll fall back this way.

If you can, have Owl map out an escape route so I know where you can cover me. I'll try to lead the pursuers there.

You can mark the spots with bullets. You guys are good enough to hit the same spot every time. I trust my gun and your skills."

Despite Michael's protests, Daniel was dead set on making a move. They both suited up in jungle camo, snuck around the mining camp's edge, and slipped out the front.

The Novarians had been pushed back a few miles by machine gun fire, and the Sea Hounds' observation post on the mountaintop was too busy dodging sniper shots to notice Daniel and James sneaking out.

Daniel had never fought in the woods before, but he’d read up on jungle warfare and had James, a seasoned soldier, by his side, so he managed alright.

James moved like a ghost.

No matter where he went, James barely lifted his feet, even when running. His steps were small but quick, adjusting as needed.

Daniel had never seen James complain about being tired, which made him question if his own training in Aegyptia was worth anything.

With the same 60-pound load, James barely broke a sweat running 5 miles with him.

Daniel couldn’t match James’s physical prowess or his stealthy movements, but he had no problem following his lead.

After nearly 8 miles, Daniel realized James had barely used his knife. James always found the easiest paths, occasionally cutting away thorns and vines to make way for the taller Daniel.

Their route was winding and rugged, but they moved surprisingly fast.

They set out at 10 AM, and by around 2 PM, they had circled a large area of hills and reached the enemy’s rear.

Excluding a one-hour lunch break, James had led Daniel 8 miles through the jungle in just 3 hours.

It sounded simple, but it was actually pretty incredible.

Partly because the higher latitude meant the jungle wasn’t too dense, but mostly because of James’s experience.

They found a hidden spot after circling the hills. When Daniel wanted to sit on a fallen log, James pulled him aside.

Seeing Daniel’s confusion, James pointed to a departing venomous snake and said, "Boss, in a damp jungle, even with Witch Doctor’s Medicine on us, we can’t sit down immediately, especially not on a rotting log. There could be things you can’t imagine inside."

James then picked up a rock and placed it at Daniel’s feet, saying, "Daniel, you can sit on the rock to rest."

Daniel was someone who listened to advice. He sat on the rock, took out two bottles of water from his bag, handed one to James, and then pulled out a bag of roasted chicken from the mining camp. After tearing it open, he handed half to James and said with a grin, "I’m starving. What we ate at noon is long gone."

Watching James press down a patch of grass with his foot before comfortably sitting down and tearing into the roasted chicken, Daniel thought for a moment and said, "Got any tips?

Like what to watch out for in the jungle or how to fight?"

James put down the chicken, frowned, and said, "The visibility here is pretty good. As long as you spot the enemy first, with your shooting skills, you can definitely take them out."

Daniel said helplessly, "That’s it? What if I can’t spot the enemy first?"

James shook his head decisively and said, "That’s not gonna happen. I can guarantee you’ll always be faster than them."

James hesitated for a moment and then said, "But Daniel, what’s your plan?

I can get you close to them, but I can’t guarantee we’ll take them all out in close combat.

If we need to run, you’ll still be in danger."

Daniel said, "It’s simple. I can’t really confront them head-on."