Traveling from the Middle East to Ecuador had taken a great deal of ti.
Due to lack of direct flights from Kuwait that day, Ferrari had to first buy a ticket to Amsterdam, then transfer from there to Ecuador.
It was a long process—by the end of it, a whole day had gone by.
Fortunately, there was nearly an 8-hour ti difference between Illiguo and Ecuador, which ant, after adjustnt, the total travel ti was like spending more than a dozen hours.
It was sumrti, but when everyone walked out of the Quito airport, the cool breeze at the high altitude surprisingly gave them a chill!
"Strange country!"
White Bear looked up at the sky and exclaid.
The sky was blue, and the sun was high.
Given its proximity to the equator, one would expect this country to be even hotter than Illiguo, but oddly, the temperature here was only 7 degrees.
"Don't you know that Ecuador is one of the most livable places in terms of climate?" Hunter said, "But only when it cos to climate."
Indeed, the capital Quito is a city on the equator, but its average temperature all year round is around 13 to 14 degrees; colder at below 10 degrees, and hotter at not exceeding 20 degrees.
The climate here is arguably perfect; living here you could avoid both the intense heat and the bitter cold.
The reason is that Quito has a high altitude, averaging around 3000 ters, where the altitude and high temperatures offset each other, achieving a wonderful balance, which creates such a unique climate.
"Let's go, we should first head to the hotel to get the car."
Song Heping was already anxious as too much ti was wasted on the road.
While waiting for a taxi by the roadside, Song Heping's satellite phone started vibrating.
He took it out of his bag, saw the number, and it was Samir calling.
"Is everything going smoothly on your side?"
He pressed the call button, then asked Samir on the other end.
"Boss, I've already arrived."
"Did you get the money?"
"Got it, I'm busy making props in the hotel room."
"Make them precise. Although we may not necessarily need them, if we do, they could be lifesaving."
"Okay, boss."
"Keep in touch via phone, wait well for their call, speak well with them, try to get more videos of Ivan, tell them gathering cash takes ti, ask them for so leniency, how exactly to handle it is up to you, but I only have one request, the longer the delay, the better, understand?"
"Understood, boss! I will keep you posted on the situation here."
"Alright, take care."
The two ended the call as the hotel's reserved taxis arrived.
"Mr. Guy?"
The driver from the first car got out and asked Hunter, who he approached.
He spoke in Spanish.
Since Hunter and Disaster Star had spent ti abroad and participated in several overseas deploynts, they knew so Spanish.
The hotel reservation was made under Guy's na.
"Yes, I am Guy, are you the cars from the Tulip Hotel?"
"Yes, yes!"
The driver was thrilled, inviting everyone into the cars and then speeding toward the hotel.
He seed to be a chatty person, continually introducing everyone to various tourist spots in Ecuador during the drive, discussing local delicacies, and even awkwardly asking if anyone wanted a female "guide."
The others didn't understand what he was saying, so only Hunter kept responding to the driver's enthusiastic chatter.
Everyone knew the driver's enthusiasm was mostly about earning a few extra US dollars in tips.
After all, Ecuador's economy is not that developed, and its public security is relatively chaotic. Not many tourists co here, as it is primarily an agricultural country with an underdeveloped tourism sector.
If it weren't for the underdeveloped car rental business necessitating hotel booking services, Song Heping wouldn't want to book any hotels at all.
Now, they had many tasks to handle—first, finding the arms dealers and acquiring weapons from them.
Then heading to a small border town called Toca in Sucumbíos Province, where they needed to find Dominic, finalize the terms with him, secure a helicopter, and arrange the plan.
All these tasks would take at least a day or two.
From departure up to now, one day was already consud on the journey alone, and buying weapons and locating Dominic were expected to take another day or two.
There wasn't much ti left.
Planning the operation, infiltrating, executing, rescuing, retreating…
Whether Samir could delay that long was also an unknown.
Song Heping felt imnse pressure.
Since starting in this line of work, every mission had been like braving the rough seas, which had gradually accustod Song Heping to this kind of life.
To be a rcenary, one must have the resolve of a rcenary.
To enjoy paradise, one must first endure the tornts of hell.
It was now six in the morning, just as dawn was breaking.
The streets outside the car window were very quiet, with very few pedestrians.
It is said that people in countries closer to the equator are lazier due to the heat; however, it wasn't hot here, yet it seed people were still not very active.
The low and dilapidated houses along the street were built side by side, so even without complete walls, exposing speckled bricks and broken rooftops.
Weeds thrived on both sides of the street, garbage could be seen everywhere, and even hefty rats brazenly scurried about.
As he passed an open space, Song Heping finally saw people.
It was a large group of kids playing soccer barefoot on the dusty open ground, their laughter and cheers mingling with the surrounding noise, creating a unique atmosphere.
Kids are always carefree.
Upon arriving at the hotel, perhaps due to the driver's enthusiastic chatter along the way, Song Heping let Hunter give each driver a $50 tip.
The two drivers smiled broadly, nodding and thanking profusely, offering to help with the bags and luggage.
But Song Heping and his group hardly had any luggage, each carrying just a huge backpack, which left the drivers sowhat embarrassed. They ended up competing to open the hotel doors for them, each pulling a glass door, in a small show of appreciation.
Once inside the hotel lobby and at the front desk to get their room keys, Song Heping directly asked if the car he had reserved was ready.
The receptionist was a tall, sweet girl with a generous chest. The local population mainly consists of Indians, black people, and Spanish mixed over the long term—she clearly had more Spanish Caucasian genes, making her skin lighter and giving her a slight European touch.
Seeing Song Heping's generous tipping, having booked two Land Rover Defenders without even blinking when paying the deposit, she assud he was a wealthy adventurer from an Eastern country.
Since Song Heping had ntioned during the booking that the purpose was to go on an adventure and hunt in Yasuni National Park.
She kept hinting she was free for the next few days, throwing countless flirting glances at Song Heping like a cat in heat.
Song Heping chuckled inwardly. If Sweetie knew what he was really up to, she might shit herself.
Feigning ignorance, he tipped $20 after finishing the paperwork, turned around with his group, and left the girl with a disappointed look on her face.
"Boss, that chick was totally into you."
As soon as they got in the car, Grey Wolf started teasing Song Heping.
"By the way, you've been in Illiguo for over a year; I haven't seen you with any won. Aren't you afraid of going nuts?"
Song Heping said, "Haven't you all been deprived for over a year too?"
Grey Wolf started the engine and slowly drove to the parking slot, saying, "We got so action a while back."
"Where?" Song Heping was curious.
He had heard that Illiguo had its share of love for sale, but he hadn't seen it personally.
"At Tulip Hotel."
Grey Wolf was unreserved: "Last ti you went there for business, we played a few hands and then went to work out our bodies…"
After finishing his sentence, he made a suggestive abdon-thrusting gesture.
"Fuck!"
Song Heping couldn't help but curse.
"You and your selfish gang."
The car erupted in laughter.
"Drive carefully." Song Heping said, "Is the destination set in the GPS?"
"Don't worry, it's all set up," Grey Wolf pointed at the GPS mounted near the air vent as he spoke: "We're heading east along the highway now. When we get to Baeza, we'll then contact the arms dealer; the eting place is in Baeza."
"Alright, I'll leave it to you," Song Heping closed his eyes, "I'll take a quick nap. Be careful on the road, I saw that the area nearby is mountainous."
"Sure thing," Grey Wolf said, "but that place isn't safe. The local tourism departnt also advises against going there because drug trafficking is rampant in Baeza."
"Heh," Song Heping laughed, "Did you expect a good public order in a place where soone sells weapons? The guys selling us arms are probably drug traffickers. Even if they aren't, they're deeply connected. Keep your eyes open when we get there. If they want to trade peacefully, we'll trade; if they want to start sothing…"
He coughed.
"Cough, cough, then we'll take them down."
"No problem," Grey Wolf gave an OK sign with his hand.
Hunter and Disaster Star in the backseat nodded their heads like pecking chickens.
"Just signal, and we'll all spring into action. Don't all go inside at once. Grey Wolf, you wait in the car. If sothing happens, drive straight in."
Hunter was already planning how to move.
Song Heping couldn't help but smile bitterly.
His n were natural-born killers.
Hearing they might fight for their lives excited them, no one showed fear; everyone was as excited as if they had overdosed on aphrodisiacs.
All freaks indeed!
The drive from Quito to Baeza wasn't far, less than a hundred kiloters, but the road was rough. After driving over forty kiloters, they seed to have entered a mountain area.
The landscape and scenery completely changed.
Quito is, after all, a capital city with buildings and streets.
Once out of Quito, it was all mountains and trees.
Unlike Afghanistan.
This place was not barren; it was full of life.
Yet it was all undeveloped wilderness, giving off a mysterious and serene vibe.
An hour and a half later, the two Land Rovers finally arrived in Baeza.
The cars had just parked roadside at the designated spot when a group of local children carrying baskets of fruit approached to sell their goods.
Song Heping told Hunter to take out the phone number Ferrari had given them to contact the arms dealer, while Grey Wolf impatiently shooed the kids away.
While Hunter was still on the phone, Song Heping suddenly noticed in the rearview mirror a Toyota pickup truck driving up from behind, and it seed people were in the truck bed.
"Be careful, it looks like we're being watched."
He issued a warning.
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