Searching for someone in northern Myanmar, and you call that earning tuition fees?

Captain Kant's roar echoed over the river mouth, filled with the fury of being fooled.

He stared intently at the box of red and green plastic bags, then glanced at the textbook in Su Ming's hand that radiated "the light of knowledge," feeling as if his entire worldview had been flushed down the drain by this box of instant noodles.

Su Ming closed the brand-new CET-6 practice test, carefully put it back into the velvet box, and then stuffed it deep into his canvas bag.

He looked up at Kant, who was on the verge of collapse, and his face showed the kindest expression he had shown during this mission.

"Captain Kant, you're a man of your word. That box is yours."

Kant froze, his contorted expression hardening, and instinctively stammered, "Th...thank you?"

You gave it to me?

He stared at the box full of instant noodles and Lao Gan Ma chili sauce, his mind going blank for three seconds. Anger, humiliation, confusion—finally, a primal hunger rose from his stomach.

This stuff... smells pretty good.

"Sir, we...we haven't had anything proper to eat for days," Lieutenant Odo whispered, his mouth practically watering.

Kant's dignity was putting up a last-ditch effort. He, a high-ranking government army captain, had mobilized a large force with gunboats, only to steal a box of instant noodles? How could he ever face the underworld again if word got out?

Just then, the wild dog, bound like a dumpling, twisted with all its might and hoarsely cried out, "Kant... forget about that damn noodles! Let me go! I have three million dollars in my Swiss bank account! I'll tell you the password! Enough for you to buy half of Hawaii!"

Upon hearing the words "three million dollars," Captain Kant's eyes instantly gleamed with greed.

The brightness was even more dazzling than when I saw the airdrop crate earlier.

He envisioned Hawaii's sunny beaches and bikini-clad beauties waving at him.

Kant glanced at the box of braised beef noodles emitting an enticing aroma, his Adam's apple bobbing violently. But when the number "three million dollars" exploded in his mind, his appetite was instantly devoured by greed.

He gritted his teeth, abruptly stepped over the box of supplies, grabbed the stray dog ​​by the collar, and almost pressed his face against it, forcing out the question through clenched teeth: "Where...is that money?"

The stray dog ​​chuckled, its eyes gleaming cunningly: "Let me go first! Otherwise, I'd rather die than tell!"

Kant's eyes hardened, and he reached for the gun at his waist.

Looking at the two guys stuck in a "prisoner's dilemma," Su Ming shook his head and took out a satellite phone from his backpack.

He walked to the ship's side, turned his back to the crowd, and dialed a number.

Without turning his head, Su Ming said softly, "Originally, I wanted to send you directly to meet God, but considering environmental issues and the fact that I need to go back to study for my exams, I don't want to get covered in blood."

His voice was very soft, but Kant and the wild dogs stopped moving and stared at his back with suspicion.

The call was connected.

"Hey? The Mozambican border patrol?" Su Ming switched to fluent local Portuguese, his tone anxious, like a concerned citizen.

Kanté and Odo were stunned. This accent was even more standard than that of the announcers on their national television station!

"I want to report this! There's smuggling going on! It's in the woods opposite boundary marker 304 on the border river! Yes, yes, there are about twenty people, carrying a lot of metal lumps that look like contraband!"

The voice on the other end of the phone sounded languid, as if he hadn't slept well: "Friend, do you know how many of these reports we handle every day? If it's just a few pieces of ivory, my men aren't interested in making a trip for that little bit of fuel cost."

Su Ming lowered his voice and said in a seductive tone, "It's not ivory. It's guns! All brand-new American equipment! And rocket launchers! Don't you know how many fat cattle those things can fetch on the black market?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Immediately, a screeching sound of a chair leg scraping against the floor came from the other end of the phone, followed by a suppressed roar of excitement: "Everyone! Emergency assembly! Level 1 armor! Now!"

"Sir! Please keep the call connected! We're on our way! It's our duty to maintain peace and tranquility on the border!" The voice on the phone became incredibly excited and solemn.

Su Ming hung up the phone, turned around, and smiled at the stray dog.

"Your 'vulture' teammates who were waiting to pick you up will soon find new homes. You're welcome."

The stray dog ​​stared intently at Su Ming, its eyes bloodshot and veins bulging on its forehead. Anger and despair overwhelmed its last vestiges of reason. It opened its mouth to roar, but only incoherent gurgling sounds escaped its throat, as if its throat were being choked. Then, its body went limp and it collapsed, its eyes unfocused, unconsciously repeating, "It's over...it's all over..."

This was the heaviest psychological blow he had suffered in his mercenary career.

Su Ming clapped his hands, feeling that the world had become much quieter.

Suddenly, the deck beneath my feet began to shake.

The once calm sea began to tremble, and the fine ripples quickly spread into violent surges.

A deep, resonant hum came from afar, penetrating the waves and the deck, striking the chest of everyone present.

Kant was preparing to retreat with his instant noodles and the unconscious stray dog ​​when he heard this sound. His legs went weak, and he knelt down on the deck.

"What...what's wrong now? Did we stir up a hornet's nest at the river mouth today? Is anyone else coming?"

He looked at the sea in horror.

At the horizon where the sea meets the sky, a silver-gray steel mountain range is slowly cutting through the waves.

The massive bow cleaved through the white waves, and the majestic bridge was like a mobile castle. Sunlight shone on the cold, imposing vertical launch system panels, reflecting a chilling light.

That was a destroyer.

A Chinese Aegis destroyer flying a bright red flag.

It's too big.

Compared to this massive 10,000-ton warship, the "Actual" was as small as a slipper in a foot bath, and Kant's gunboats were as insignificant as ants.

That was the oppressive feeling brought about by pure power.

It was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

On the side of the ship, the prominent hull number and the August 1st Army emblem gleamed in the sunlight.

"Ugh—!"

A long whistle blew.

The ship's horn blared, its sound like a dragon's roar, echoing through the sky and making the windows of the gunboat rattle.

That was a greeting from the motherland.

This is a declaration of absolute power.

On the "Alibaba", all the noise disappeared at this moment.

The engineers who had just been complaining about instant noodles and living in fear now stared wide-eyed, tears silently welling up in their eyes.

No language is required.

When I saw that red flag, all my grievances, fears, and despair vanished.

Dr. Chen took off his glasses and wiped the corners of his eyes with his greasy sleeve, his hands trembling.

"They're here...they're finally here..."

Su Ming stood at the bow of the boat.

The sea breeze ruffled his bangs, but his eyes remained calm.

He watched the giant ship slow down and lower its shuttle boats, and a slight movement appeared at the corner of his mouth.

There was no excitement, no ecstasy.

He simply took out the flattened pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled out one, didn't light it, and just put it in his mouth.

"This is the real deal."

Su Ming patted Wang Dachui's stiff shoulder.

"Don't just stand there, pack your things."

"The boat tickets are here."