"Why should we let that person come with us? We have enough soldiers to ensure a safe evacuation! He's a mercenary, Jennifer. Do you want to see him point a gun at us?" Ross said angrily as he looked at Jennifer.
The recent incident, where he was humiliated in front of the others, left him seething with hatred towards Jhon. In his view, with dozens of soldiers protecting them, there was no need for a mercenary—someone who looked like a killer—to be involved.
"Ross!" Jennifer interrupted him, her voice stern. "Because he is a mercenary, his combat ability is far superior to those government forces. Haven't you figured it out yet? These government soldiers are like boy scouts compared to U.S. forces. You can't count on them to protect us!"
"At least with them, our chances of survival are higher. You know, we need all the strength we can get to protect ourselves right now!"
Jennifer's expression was no longer the compassionate "angel" they once knew. Her calm demeanor left Ross slightly unnerved.
"Alright, alright, Jennifer. I'll cooperate," Ross replied reluctantly.
Jennifer's gaze sharpened, and a hint of disdain crossed her face as she nodded.
"Good, Ross. Then hurry up and help gather things. We need to leave as quickly as possible."
---
Jhon carefully surveyed the situation. With the limited vehicles they had, it was impossible to evacuate everyone. And with the unpredictable danger on the road, many people would have to be left behind.
When he stepped outside, he overheard Jennifer arguing with an officer.
"What's going on?" Jhon asked, seeing Jennifer and the officer engaged in a heated discussion.
Jennifer, slightly exasperated, looked at Jhon and explained, "Commander Grol doesn't want to evacuate. I'm trying to convince him."
"Not evacuate? Does he plan to wait here and die?" Jhon asked sharply.
Clearly, Commander Grol understood English, and his face reddened with anger at Jhon's words. "This is our war! We don't need mercenaries like you telling us what to do!"
Jhon wasn't surprised by Grol's hostility. It was common for military forces to look down on mercenaries.
"Your war?" Jhon said with a serious tone. "Then let me ask you, Commander Grol, what will you tell the U.S. if these 25 American medical aid team members die here? Do you want them to send troops to rescue their own citizens?"
Grol fell silent, realizing that if anything happened to the Americans, it would cause serious problems.
Seeing Grol hesitate, Jennifer let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Alright, Commander Grol. Let's prepare for evacuation immediately!" Jennifer said decisively.
With a reluctant nod, Grol agreed.
Having successfully resolved the situation, Jennifer and Jhon exchanged a look before heading off to prepare for the departure.
---
"We'll head west, and once we pass Kandatown, we'll go north. This route has no sign of those damn rebels. Sixty kilometers from here is the Politya Bridge, guarded by hundreds of government soldiers. Once we cross that bridge, we'll be safe!" Commander Grol explained as he marked the evacuation route on the map.
Jennifer added, "After the bridge, another thirty kilometers will bring us to Politya, where the U.S. Embassy is. Once we get there, we're really safe!"
Jhon nodded, already anticipating that this was the end goal of the mission, though he knew Jennifer had her own reasons for emphasizing the embassy.
"Commander Grol, are you sure the bridge is still under government control? I don't want to find machine guns and rocket launchers waiting for us after we've fought our way there."
Grol hesitated, scratching his head. "I can't be certain. We've lost contact, but the rebels came from the southwest, from Tal. The bridge should still be secure."
"Alright, we'll follow this route. Everyone, get ready to board the vehicles. If you have heavy weapons, make sure to bring them. The next few kilometers won't be peaceful!"
"Understood. Let's go!"
As Jennifer prepared to leave, Jhon caught her arm. "You're riding with me. You're my designated target. If anything happens to you, it will affect the reputation of Vanguard Divison ."
Jennifer flashed him a seductive smile. "Then I guess I'll leave myself in your hands."
Jhon chuckled as he watched her walk away. "She's beautiful, but not my type."
He quickly boarded a military vehicle. Judging from the equipment, the government forces were stronger than the rebel factions.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Jhon's eyes remained vigilant, scanning the environment, wary of missing any signs of danger. He knew that even though they had just left Kandatown, an unexpected rocket attack could happen at any moment—they had already experienced one.
"Jhon, were you a soldier? Did you retire from a special forces unit?" Jennifer asked from the back seat, attempting to engage him in conversation, subtly probing for information about him and Dragon Soul Mercenaries.
Jhon answered all her questions, but his responses were full of exaggerations and half-truths, sometimes making Jennifer frustrated with his cocky attitude.
"Oh? Do I look like a special forces soldier?" Jhon teased. "Which do you think is more impressive: me, or your Navy SEALs and Delta Force?"
"I know you're skilled, but I think our U.S. special forces are stronger," Jennifer replied confidently.
"Oh really? Then why haven't they come to pick you up?" Jhon shot back.
Jennifer was about to retort when Jhon suddenly grabbed the steering wheel and sharply swerved left. "Watch out!"
A RPG flew from the left side, striking the road next to their vehicle, throwing up a cloud of dirt and debris as the military vehicle swerved into the nearby bushes.