Chapter 1049
They had no choice but to hire local buses.
The drivers were natives who knew exactly which backroads to take to avoid ambushes.
Furthermore, the operatives who had originally infiltrated under the guise of tourist groups had their covers blown once the syndicate fell. Everyone had to evacuate together.
In truth, no matter how tense the situation became, Mira and her immediate team had alternative escape routes. They could have easily caught a flight straight to the Javenaire Federation with James p>
However, the successful eradication of Mishka’s empire was largely due to the tactical support of these operatives.
As the primary combat and chemical specialists, Mira, Master Ellis, and their security detail refused to abandon their allies.
As they were leaving the hotel, Master Ellis issued a stern warning to Winston. “Do not tell a soul that we’ve checked out.
If anyone asks, you tell them we are still in our rooms. Understand p>
“Got it. If someone physically checks, I’ll say you snuck out in the middle of the night without my knowledge p>
Winston quickly formulated an alibi.
“Exactly. Stick to that story.
Once we’re safely back in Mavaria, I’ll mail you the antidote p>
Master Ellis promised. It was an unspoken fact that Winston was only cooperating because he was currently under the effects of Mira’s coercive toxins.
“No need. We’re all friends here. I’ll travel to Mavaria in a few weeks to pick it up myself p>
After York Vance settled the hotel bill, Mira slipped Winston an extra stack of cash. “Remember, our departure stays strictly off the record p>
“You have my word, Miss Mercer p>
Winston promised yet again.
The convoy rolled out with the operatives split into three tactical units. The first unit took the vanguard to clear the road, the second covered their rear, and the third embedded themselves within the buses to protect the civilian survivors.
Mira’s team was positioned near the front alongside Dominic. They maintained constant radio contact throughout the journey.
The first half of the night was smooth sailing; their sudden departure had clearly gone unnoticed. But around two or three in the morning, they ran straight into a local militia roadblock.
There were over a hundred of them, heavily armed and aggressively territorial.
“Leave the buses! The people can walk away, but the vehicles stay. Try anything else, and we open fire!” their leader barked.
But the moment the Mavarian operatives piled out of the vehicles in full tactical gear, the militia’s bravado faltered.
“Just leave two buses behind. You can keep the rest for your journey.
A firefight doesn’t benefit anyone, and you know it p>
They were clearly just opportunistic bandits out for a quick payday, not official cartel enforcers. Still, leaving them to potentially regroup and strike again was too risky
“Like you said, shooting gets us nowhere, York replied calmly. “How about this? We pay you a hundred thousand dollars in cash
To let us pass. Otherwise, we’ll turn this road
into a graveyard p>
“A hundred thousand isn’t enough. One million dollars, not a penny less p>
“Fine. Deal p>
While a few operatives pretended to head back to the vehicles for the cash, Mira and her team discreetly armed their aerosol canisters, aiming directly at the hostile crowd.
A silent mist erupted into the air.
“Ugh! What the hell is p>
Before the bandits could finish their sentence, they were dropping like flies. The few stragglers who stood outside the blast radius were swiftly incapacitated by the operatives before they could even raise their weapons.
“Do we execute them p>
one of the men asked Dominic, deferring to his authority as the ranking officer.
The mercenaries were only unconscious, and even those subdued by hand had
simply been knocked out. There were no casualties yet.
Dominic turned to Master Ellis. “How long will they stay under p>
“Two to three hours p>
“Then leave them. Let’s move out p>
Dominic ordered with a dismissive wave. The team swiftly reboarded the buses, the
engines roaring back to life as they tore down the dark highway.