[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-mercenary-s-war":3,"chapter-mercenary-s-war-mercenary-s-war-chapter-923":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Mercenary’s War",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1613763,2077,"Chapter 923 - 923 913 Trap","mercenary-s-war-chapter-923",923,"\u003Cp>923: Chapter 913: Trap 923: Chapter 913: Trap As dawn broke, the convoy hit the road again, and west of Ramadi, it was desert all the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang could have chosen to rest well during the day at Masum’s and then set off at night, but he insisted on traveling during the day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the peak of the scorching summer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the desert, the temperature could easily soar above 40 degrees soon after the sun rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By midday, it rose to around 50 degrees, and the road surface could reach a scorching 70 to 80 degrees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting inside an air-conditioned vehicle, Gao Yang did not feel too uncomfortable, nor was he worried that the car tires would not withstand the high temperatures of the road; Polovich’s meticulously prepared vehicles were not so easily damaged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had been driving non-stop since the early morning, with speeds varying, often having to detour onto the desert next to the unmaintained road or being forced to drive very slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, by noon, Gao Yang and his group had only covered a bit over two hundred kilometers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang picked up a can of Coke from beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was air conditioning in the car, and the temperature was always comfortable; the ice keeping the Coke chilled had barely melted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After opening the Coke and handing it to Eileen, who was driving, Gao Yang looked at his watch and said, “Keep going for two more hours, then we’ll switch drivers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eileen took a sip of Coke, sighed in relief, and said with a smile to Gao Yang, “Boss, you’re really mean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang picked up a can of Coke for himself and said with a laugh, “How am I mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The truck’s cabin has no air conditioning, it’s full of diesel fumes, four people crammed together without proper ventilation—I wouldn’t be surprised if someone gets suffocated after we stop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang gave a slight smile and responded, “I’ve asked Mulafa, he said himself it’s not a problem and you heard him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, if we weren’t planning to get them out of the cabin, why travel during the day?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing her Coke, Eileen rolled down the window and rather rudely tossed the empty can out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hot air pouring in through the window made her break out in a light sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After closing the window, Eileen laughed, “Now I have no doubts that someone could die from the heat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang couldn’t care less about whether the people in the truck lived or died; right now, he just wanted to figure out what the cargo was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was no problem with the cargo, he could complete the task masterfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was a problem, the people in the truck would become his enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost no chance of an ambush in the desert, rarely even encountering other people, there was not much to worry about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang found a comfortable position to lean into his seat, and with a smile, he said, “We’ll stop in two hours to switch drivers and also check if the people in the truck are still alive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang dozed off for a while and woke up when the vehicle stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the off-road vehicle already parked, he said into the walkie-talkie, “I think it’s time to welcome our guests, get ready.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Gao Yang picked up the walkie-talkie and said sternly, “Mulafa, get out and check the tires, and while you’re at it, use the bathroom or something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting out of the car, Gao Yang pretended to check all four tires before heading to the roadside to relieve himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he saw Mulafa and the person in the passenger seat checking each of the truck’s tires one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just getting out of the car for a moment had made Gao Yang sweat profusely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest, he worried that if he stayed out in the sun any longer, he might die of heatstroke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang approached Mulafa and asked, “Any problems?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mulafa shook his head, “No problems.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang shook his head and said, “I’m not asking about the tires.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s about the people, buddy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aren’t you worried about those guys in the back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After mumbling something, Mulafa shook his head, “Nothing can be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They can’t leave the cargo, not even half a step; that’s a strict order.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang shrugged and said, “Including getting smothered in that cabin?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buddy, I think you should check on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if you refuse, we can continue on until we stop for the night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After wiping off his sweat, Mulafa finally said, “Alright, I have to go check on them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mulafa walked to the back of the truck, knocked on the door, called out, and immediately, the doors of the cabin sprung open from the inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the door swung open, a figure tumbled out headfirst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mulafa’s quick reflexes allowed him to catch the falling person, keeping him from crashing head-down onto the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang saw that the tumbled-out person was one of the white men, while the remaining three inside looked as though they were fished out of water, drenched in sweat and lethargic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the one who had tumbled out, he had long passed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang shouted loudly, “Medic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come here, someone’s got heatstroke.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bruce hurried over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang then waved at the three men in the truck and yelled, “Get out, go cool off for a bit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do you want to die from heat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hesitating for a moment, Mulafa still began to speak to the three people inside the truck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, they climbed out one by one with looks of immense relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Bruce and Cui Bo had run over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang pointed to the vehicle he had been sitting in and shouted, “Get into the car to cool down, quick!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From now on, unless it’s night travel, you are not allowed to stay in the cabin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mula hesitated, then said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang looked at him and said, “What’s up, do you disagree?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you do, I don’t mind, though I really don’t want to see them suffocated in the carriage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Mula resignedly spoke a few words to the three people who could barely stand, then said to Gao Yang, “Alright, let them get on your vehicle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang immediately shouted, “Take them to a vehicle with empty seats to rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Bo quickly stepped forward, supported an elderly Pakistani, and walked towards the pickup truck towing the mortar, while Gao Yang beckoned to the remaining two to follow him, with a young-looking Pakistani following him to the sedan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Mula suddenly said, “We can fit two more people in our vehicle; these two can stay with us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bruce gave the white man who had fainted from heatstroke an injection and after feeding him something, Li Jinfang, Mula, and Bruce lifted the heat-stricken white man onto the truck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a spot at the back of the truck cabin where someone could lie down to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the heat-stricken white man was laid down in the back, Li Jinfang and Bruce returned to their respective vehicles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The convoy set off again, and this time Gao Yang was the one driving; an extra person now occupied the passenger seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang gestured, smiling at Eileen in the back, “Get our guest something to drink; he needs it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eileen opened the cooler and from a pile of ice cubes, she took out a can of Coke and handed it to the man in the back seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang smiled at the man, “Drink up; this should make you feel better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After guzzling down the Coke, the man nodded at Gao Yang in thanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yang thought his passenger was Pakistani, but it was just a guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the main languages in Pakistan are English and Urdu, he was worried his guest might not understand English, so he smiled and said, “Translate for me; tell him there’s plenty of Coke, and he can drink as much as he wants.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eileen could speak Arabic, and since Mula had used Arabic to converse with these people, Gao Yang figured the man beside him might understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if the man only spoke Urdu, then Gao was out of luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, just as Eileen began to speak, the man sitting beside Gao suddenly said, “I can speak English.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao was thrilled inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, you speak English, that’s great, friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must have been stuffy for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would you like?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something to drink, to eat?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What do you need?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man looked back and pointed at the cooler, “If possible, could I have some ice cubes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man seemed to have an aversion to Eileen, declining the ice cubes she offered, instead reaching into the cooler himself for some ice cubes, which he then crunched on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching his passenger finish the ice cubes, Gao Yang smiled and said, “Hi, it’s nice to meet you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My name is John Lee; what’s yours?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Asif Zardari.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao had an idea of who he was dealing with and smiled, “Would you like something to eat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asif replied coldly, “No, thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Difficult to deal with, not a good sign, but not unexpected for Gao Yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fishing for information from these men wasn’t going to be easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was apparent that Asif felt uncomfortable with Eileen’s presence, which made Gao regret not having her switch cars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao went on cheerfully, “Are you from Pakistan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have a good friend from there; he’s Punjabi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How about you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asif merely said indifferently, “I am also a Pakistani, I’m tired, I want to sleep now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao tried to engage Asif in conversation, but Asif clearly had no interest in chatting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief exchange, he closed his eyes and stopped paying attention to Gao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao was frustrated, but the good news was that Cui Bo seemed to be making good progress on his end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their walkie-talkies were voice-activated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once adjusted, they would transmit any sound loud enough, effectively doubling as eavesdropping devices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Gao was silent, he could constantly hear the conversation from Cui Bo’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Bo was getting along with the older man, speaking a mix of Arabic, Urdu, and a bit of English, and Gao now confirmed that the man was indeed from Pakistan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stuck with someone tight-lipped and seemingly unfriendly, Gao felt helpless yet relieved, knowing it would have been a disaster to swap passengers with Cui Bo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither he nor the older man could communicate, and as for Eileen, although she spoke Arabic, it seemed these bearded men had a strong aversion to women as they all looked at Eileen and Lucica with unfriendly eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, it all depended on whether Cui Bo could obtain any useful information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(To be continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you like this work, you are welcome to vote and support it on Qidian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your encouragement is my greatest motivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)\u003C\u002Fp>",1832,"2026-06-06T10:20:04.456Z",1,"novelbin.me","e0cf33b95e9a1c9165aa181a99454ad14c0059f3b60cbe39ada4a5093287d5d4","mercenary-s-war-chapter-924","mercenary-s-war-chapter-922",2343,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmercenary-s-war-cover.jpg"]