Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 294 - 280: Worldly Wisdom

Chapter 294: Chapter 280: Worldly Wisdom

Gao Yi hadn’t seen the full extent of the shelter, he had just entered the store, passed through the tunnel, and sat in a small hut for a while.

But now, the people at the carpet factory had started to get busy, disguised as workers, yet now transforming into warriors before Gao Yi’s eyes, constantly entering and exiting, finally assembling before him.

Since the room Gao Yi was in served as the entrance to the tunnel, those hidden in the back room preparing to fight in the storefront had to pass by him.

Some were wearing robes, others T-shirts and jeans, most had beards, yet there were two young men with cleanly shaved faces, but all ten shared one common feature—they each held an AK rifle.

Ten rifles, mostly AKMs, but among them, two men carried RPG launchers on their backs, one had two RPG-7 armor-piercing grenades in his belt, another three.

With the rifles and rocket launchers, their firepower was limited within a single store, but if they were defending the entire factory, it would be just enough.

Although Gao Yi didn’t know how large the entire factory area was, as long as the attackers didn’t bomb the complex indiscriminately, dealing with ten defenders determined to fight to the death would be a headache for even the most elite troops.

Even the most elite troops dread urban warfare, and the nightmare only intensifies if they had to clear buildings room by room, especially if attacking with troops like the Libyan National Army who aren’t adept at fighting, it wouldn’t just be an hour or two, they could likely hold off for a couple of days.

But there was a problem.

Gao Yi observed the expressions on the faces of the ten men assembled at his door, and he noticed they lacked the zeal typically seen on martyrs, nor did they show any signs of excitement; seeing zeal and excitement would indicate they were ready to die without fear of fleeing.

However, Gao Yi only saw tension, fear, the expressions of two were numb, but he saw no one who looked brave.

Can these men be relied upon? Gao Yi was extremely skeptical at this moment.

Gao Yi was no stranger to combat, but he wasn’t very familiar with the soldiers who fought, as, since his debut, he had almost never interacted with these ordinary, low-level soldiers.

Always playing the role of a disruptor of battlefield rules, Gao Yi lacked necessary understanding of soldiers from grassroots resistance organizations.

But Li Jie, Feng Biao, and Lin Xianghua were very familiar with these people, especially Feng Biao and Lin Xianghua, who had fought against many of such people and mostly alongside fighters at this level.

"These people... I don’t think they look promising."

Feng Biao moved closer to Gao Yi and muttered in Chinese.

Meanwhile, Li Jie nodded, whispering, "People who have fought too much become numb, I won’t comment on their combat strength, but they definitely wouldn’t be nervous."

Just then, someone outside started shouting as they brought something over; it was a pushcart, loaded with objects looking like backpacks.

Lucy was next to Gao Yi, she whispered, "They say the bombs are ready."

Bombs? And also bombs?

The cart pushed past, and a bearded man took a dark object from it, then he picked up a backpack, flipping it over, and strapped it onto his back.

All ten men reached out, the bombs arriving in backpacks, vests, and one as a cylindrical bag resembling an ammo belt.

A young, beardless man began to cry, pulling on a vest while crying, then Khalid solemnly whispered something nearby while an older man simply patted the younger man’s back.

Feng Biao gawked, then exclaimed, "Holy smokes, these guys have got something!"

He said this because, although the young man cried as he donned the bomb vest, he showed no sign of backing down, he put on the vest, wiped his tears, awkwardly said something to Khalid, and then took up his rifle again.

"He said he’s ready."

Lucy whispered to Gao Yi while Li Jie added, "I can’t figure these people out, they’re different from the Syrians, Syrians are worn out, but I can’t see why these are willing to die."

Feng Biao gave a bitter smile, "I’ve never seen the likes of this; now, I can’t even make a judgment, but I think these people are not simple."

Lin Xianghua sighed softly, "It’s that there’s no choice, they have to go even if unwilling, it’s not out of coercion, but the moment they have long dreaded has finally arrived, a feeling I’m all too familiar with."

Several people looked towards Lin Xianghua.

Lin Xianghua, puzzled, said, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Khalid hugged each of the ten men in turn, speaking softly, then he waved his hand, and the ten men walked past Gao Yi and the others, lifted the wooden board from the ground, and entered the tunnel one by one.

The last man even replaced the lifted wooden board.

Watching all ten men disappear into the tunnel, Khalid then said earnestly to Gao Yi, "These are committed warriors, they will not retreat, they will not surrender."

This was a demonstration.

Of course, it wasn’t to intimidate Gao Yi, but to show him their strength.

Gao Yi and the others fell silent as Khalid returned to Gao Yi’s front, this time carrying a roll of carpet.

Khalid unrolled the carpet, revealing a thin prayer mat, not a common industrial product, but a handmade carpet.

"Just completed is a hand-woven carpet, I’ll give it to you."

Luca showed Gao Yi the carpet briefly and then started rolling it up, maintaining an expressionless face as he said, "This carpet factory won’t be able to produce anymore. This is the last carpet completed by our factory. The factory owner will perish along with his factory, leaving this as a memento."

Gao Yi didn’t like Luca’s approach.

Luca was morally blackmailing Gao Yi, reminding him that the factory and the secret base were gone because of him, that these people died because of him, and leaving the carpet was to remind Gao Yi not to forget everything that had happened here.

It was a small trick, but such tactics might work on others, just not on people like Gao Yi.

Gao Yi knew there were too many idioms related to winning people’s hearts, and Luca’s worldly tactics were too crude.

But how to accept this hefty carpet? To refuse would be inappropriate, but to accept would bind Gao Yi.

The main reason was that Gao Yi genuinely had a conscience and truly valued integrity, so by accepting the carpet, he was placing himself in moral chains. He wouldn’t be able to let go even if he later felt Luca’s forces weren’t worth supporting.

Just then, Feng Biao suddenly said, "Fantastic! I’m a sniper and I really need a dust carpet. There’s sand everywhere here, and firing reveals our position easily. A carpet to prevent dust would be just perfect."

Feng Biao eagerly asked Luca, "Could you give this carpet to me?"

Luca was taken aback. He hesitated for a moment before finally handing the rolled-up carpet to Feng Biao.

When Feng Biao accepted the carpet with both hands, he cherished it, saying, "I will treasure this meaningful carpet."

It was a strange and awkward situation, but Luca and Lucy certainly didn’t notice it, even the intelligent Li Jie didn’t see the underlying manipulation.

As for Lin Xianghua, forget it; even explaining it to him probably wouldn’t help.

It had to be Feng Biao, skilled not only at flattering but also adept in worldly wisdom.

Gao Yi, with a stern face, told Feng Biao, "This carpet carries significant meaning, take good care of it."

After that, Gao Yi assured Luca, "Rest assured, I will make sure your carpet wasn’t given in vain."

Just then, someone came to the door and spoke rapidly to Luca. Following that, Luca told Gao Yi, "We’ve started stitching up the wounds, and we can leave in ten minutes."

Ten minutes wasn’t too late. Even if the CIA’s "Freedom Wind" had already landed, it would take them some time to organize and bring the soldiers of the Libyan National Army to attack.

Gao Yi nodded and said, "You operate efficiently, well done."

At that moment, Luca’s phone suddenly rang.

Luca took out a Nokia phone, one without a big screen.

He glanced at the incoming call number, and his expression changed drastically. After he answered the call, he spoke only a few words and his expression became even more shocked, and then he quickly spoke.

Moments later, Luca hung up and without hesitation told Gao Yi, "The Americans have arrived! Their plane landed at the airport, and about a dozen people disembarked; I couldn’t see the exact number, but at least more than ten, and these people are heading directly towards us."

Gao Yi was taken aback and said, "A dozen people are coming straight here?"

"Yes, only two met with the CIA personnel in Tripoli to negotiate with the Libyan Unity Government, but the rest of them took four cars and seem to be heading to the old city. We must suspect they are coming directly for us."

Gao Yi frowned and asked, "Is the source reliable?"

"Absolutely reliable!"

The situation was somewhat complicated. It was common for Americans to rush directly here after landing if they didn’t trust the local Vassal Army and the target was very important. They weren’t afraid to risk lives.

The CIA rarely sent people to fight directly, but given the importance the CIA placed on the Sky Garden, sending a special elite task force to fight directly in such a short time was not surprising.

Wasn’t it just a few people from the CIA, just a few from Freedom Wind? But now, why send a task force? This was what worried Gao Yi.

But even more worrying than this elite force, Gao Yi looked at Luca and suddenly asked, "Are there American forces stationed here?"

"Yes."

Luca unhesitatingly said, "Under the pretext of fighting ISIS, the United States, the UK, and France all have troops stationed in Libya. The Americans have transport planes and armed helicopters, but they are all at Misrata Airport. Currently, the Libyan National Army controls Tripoli, but the Libyan Unity Government is about to drive the National Army out of Tripoli because the Americans support the Unity Government. Don’t you know this?"

Why should Gao Yi know all this? He crash-landed in Tripoli, not coming here intentionally.

Luca looked at Gao Yi’s shocked expression and became speechless; then he somewhat helplessly said, "Are you worried about the Americans actively deploying troops? Indeed, you should be, but we should have left before the Misrata-based US Army arrives."

Gao Yi shook his head, then sighed and quietly said, "Are there many American troops stationed in Libya?"

"Not many, the planes Australia_pri are mainly transporters, but they do have armed helicopters."

Gao Yi nodded, then said resignedly, "I’m not worried about the American troops stationed here. I just think there are too few of them, and I’m even more concerned that the CIA here won’t use them."