Chapter 158: Consecutive Failures

Three speedboats were indeed approaching, similar in design to their own. As their powerful searchlights swept back and forth, the surrounding riverbanks were instantly illuminated.

The glaring lights swept across, tightening the hearts of those hiding in the dense forest.

Chen Cao half-crouched, resting his elbows on his knees to better support the weight of the sniper rifle and maintain optimal balance. Rainwater streamed down his face, and he could feel the contrast between the chilling rain and the warmth of his cheeks.

Stanny had retreated to the side, his AK magazine fully loaded. Chen Cao had instructed him earlier that the moment Chen Cao took down the first target with his sniper rifle, Stanny was to unleash a full minute of suppressive fire on the three speedboats. Wiping the rain from his face, Stanny knew this would be a minute of life or death. He would draw the enemy's fire to create an opportunity for Chen Cao to secure a sniper kill. If he were pinpointed by enemy fire within that minute, he would end up riddled with bullets.

As for Hua Fo, his whereabouts were unknown. The distance between the riverbank and the dense forest was less than fifty meters. With the halting of the enemy speedboat engines, nothing remained except the sound of the pattering rain.

Lu Tianming, Wuji, and the others huddled against a large boulder in the dense forest. The shelter of the boulder offered not a shred of safety. Clutching their weapons—which, to men devoid of actual combat experience, were little more than firewood—all they could do now was huddle tremblingly in the corner of the boulder, using the rock for support and feeling the warmth of one another.

And still, the rain continued to fall.

The men on the speedboats scanned the riverbank with their searchlights and quickly spotted the boat hidden in the shadows. Someone immediately shouted, "Salinger, look! There's a boat!"

Another voice responded gloomily, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go take a look. This damned weather—if the captain hadn't sent us out as the vanguard, I'd be on the ship right now, blowing the AC, holding my woman, drinking beer, and enjoying life!"

"Hey, Salinger, don't get so uptight. If Old Man White-Beard hears you, watch out—he'll cut your tongue out to go with his wine. You know the captain's methods!"

With that, the three speedboats seemed to reach a tacit agreement. Two remained stationary while one slowly drifted forward, heading toward the spot where Chen Cao had hidden his boat, though no one showed any intention of coming ashore.

Despite the fifty-meter distance and the masking sound of the rain, Chen Cao could hear them clearly. These were not the mercenaries belonging to Hayato Nakamura, the underwater piranha. However, that did not mean they were kindly souls either. Generally speaking, anyone holding a weapon other than regular soldiers was up to no good, and these fellows clearly fell into the latter category. He tightened his grip and shifted the muzzle of his rifle toward the two supporting speedboats in the rear.

The crosshairs locked onto the back of the head of a light machine gunner who was chewing gum. The man had a head of blonde hair tied in a wretched braid, evidently oblivious to the reality that the Grim Reaper was creeping ever closer. At that moment, he aimed his weapon toward the scouting speedboat, chewing his gum vigorously. His cheeks bulged with every chew, and the blonde braid at the back of his head swung back and forth, making him look no different from a toad.

The crosshairs drifted over to the light machine gunner on the other speedboat. He was a Southeast Asian with dark hair, his face so angular and sunken it looked as though it had been meticulously carved with a knife. Instead of providing cover for the scouting boat, he swept his muzzle back and forth around his own vicinity with deliberate intent, instantly marking himself as a formidable opponent.

Hua Fo had evidently found a concealed position close by, ready to launch a sudden assault on the speedboats at a moment's notice.

Chen Cao took a deep breath, spat out a drop of rain clinging to his lip, aligned his sights on the Southeast Asian mercenary, and decisively pulled the trigger. *Click*—the sound was barely audible, but the Southeast Asian mercenary was evidently a seasoned professional. Sensing danger instantly, he ducked his head into the corner of the cabin and dropped rapidly into a crouch. The bullet pierced the cabin glass with a crisp shatter.

*Damn it, this guy has exceptional anti-sniper awareness!* A trace of disappointment flashed through Chen Cao's mind. At a distance of several dozen meters, shooting should have been effortless with his skill level, yet the target had easily evaded it.

At that moment, the enemy reacted swiftly and began returning fire toward his position.

Having missed his first shot and exposed his sniper position, staying put was no longer an option. He decisively abandoned his spot and retreated deeper into the jungle. In the distance, Stanny, unaware of the specific situation, initiated suppressive fire against the enemy.

Knowing that dealing with two machine guns and two assault rifles meant Stanny would soon be overwhelmed under the current conditions, Chen Cao realized his top priority was to dismantle the enemy's firepower network. Calculating rapidly in his mind while moving with fluid speed, Chen Cao quickly found a large tree to use as cover, adjusted the barrel of his sniper rifle, and locked the crosshairs onto the white machine gunner who was furiously laying down suppressive fire on Stanny's position.

Sensing imminent danger due to his heightened sensitivity to sniper rifles, the Southeast Asian machine gunner shouted a warning to the white gunner: "Watch out!"

The white machine gunner reacted with equal speed. The moment Chen Cao pulled the trigger again, the man dropped into a crouch, and the bullet struck the cabin bulkhead, sending up a shower of sparks.

*Damn it!* He had not expected these mercenaries to be so well-trained. After adjusting within seconds, the enemy barrels immediately redirected fire toward his position. Meanwhile, Stanny's suppressive fire continued unabated. It was clear the enemy had figured out his deployment. Yet, retreating was not an option now. Having failed twice, the enemy's tactical movements would only grow more cautious; he had to find a way to eliminate their heavy firepower immediately! Yes, starting with that Southeast Asian mercenary!

Acting on the thought, Chen Cao pivoted. The tree he was using for cover had been riddled with bullet holes, but fortunately, he remained uninjured. Braving the gunfire, Chen Cao swiftly flashed out, half-crouched, and aimed his rifle at the Southeast Asian mercenary. Once the crosshairs settled, he saw that the man had exposed only the muzzle of his weapon from within the cabin, keeping himself exceptionally well hidden. However, this did not hinder Chen Cao's shot. A slight smile crossed his face as he thought, *I almost forgot what I was trained to do!*

He elevated his muzzle slightly, aimed at the edge of the cabin window, pulled the trigger, and then quickly dropped flat onto the ground.

*That should be right. He must be dead!*

As he lay prone in the muddy earth, this sudden conviction washed over him—a confidence identical to the peculiar shooting sensations he had experienced while learning from his instructor at the firing range.