In fact, Obasi was filled with regret!
He knew that the one who started all of this was Gao Jianfei!
"That amazing man from Z country! He cured His Excellency Thomson's terminal illness; he and I formed a good friendship. In Tokyo, I personally cheered him on in his betting matches. I should have had such a wonderful friend! But, Gao Jianfei and the forces behind Feng Haoyu clashed, and I chose the forces behind Feng Haoyu… I, I… I seem to have made a mistake! I have forever lost a mysterious ally like Gao Jianfei, and instead, I have gained an enemy! Could it be that I was really wrong… Oh God! I regret it, I must admit it! But today, I must do everything in my power to capture Gao Jianfei! If this continues, I will be forced to resign!"
With a grim expression, Obasi signed a series of military documents. As a result, the US military will go all out to deal with Gao Jianfei, who is hiding in Holman Air Base!
At 11 a.m., dozens of helicopters began circling over Holman Air Force Base. Each helicopter was equipped with two skilled snipers.
The number of US troops inside the base has exceeded 2,000! In addition, another 2,000 US troops are stationed outside the base, completely isolating the entire base from the outside world!
At 11:30 a.m., more than a dozen tanks and multi-functional infantry fighting vehicles began to move into the base;
At 12 o'clock, a small team of military experts entered the base;
At 12:30, the terrifying U.S. special forces, the mysterious Navy SEALs, 200 members, entered the base;
At 1 p.m., all media personnel and reporters inside the base were dispersed. And, just in time, before leaving, the reporters reported the situation inside the base to all American viewers.
...
This is tantamount to a war! The US military has deployed enough troops to fight a war just to deal with Gao Jianfei alone!
Holman and Dale, now relegated to the sidelines, silently observed the situation. A sense of relief washed over them. At least, Gao Jianfei was now utterly incapable of killing again! If, under these circumstances, Gao Jianfei were to still manage a sneak attack and murder, then America's military power would become a foolish joke!
"Gao Jianfei is doomed this time!" Holman and Dale both thought so.
However, the only drawback is that the Holy Land Venerable wants Gao Jianfei alive; given the current situation, Gao Jianfei could be killed at any moment. Therefore, Holman and Dale still need to find a way to capture him alive.
In the den of ghosts.
Gao Jianfei was having lunch, with Mu Wanqing and Su Rongrong keeping him company. During the meal, level 1 ghosts kept flashing into the room and truthfully telling Gao Jianfei everything they had seen outside.
"Damn it, it seems like killing those Americans last night has gotten me into a ton of trouble!" Gao Jianfei smacked his lips. "I think I've become public enemy number one in America... Ugh! I became public enemy number one without even realizing it!"
Gao Jianfei chuckled to himself... The current situation is that there are helicopters in the sky, tanks and armored vehicles in the base, and even a group of elite SEALs with full weapons are coming towards them!
Such a massive military force, all for the purpose of dealing with Gao Jianfei alone, truly flattered Gao Jianfei!
However, on the other hand, this was exactly the situation Gao Jianfei hoped to see when he targeted American soldiers.
The more shocked the United States was, the happier Gao Jianfei became.
"If I can still kill some American soldiers in this situation, then the entire United States will go from being shocked to being terrified!" Gao Jianfei firmly believed this. However, killing people now was extremely difficult. He could no longer use conventional methods to leave the den of demons and kill people.
Are you kidding? There are helicopters in the sky, snipers, and thousands of eyes watching from inside the base. Even at dawn, there's no chance of killing anyone!
"Wait! I can only wait!" Gao Jianfei knew exactly what he needed to do. "Anyway, I can afford to wait! I'm more comfortable living in this hellhole than in a hotel! And Sister Li Yun and Xiao Ying are in an exceptionally safe situation right now! That's right, the entire focus of America is concentrated on Holman's base, so no one will go to the city to do anything pointless. Besides, their food supplies are enough to last for a month or two... Hmm, I'll just keep these Americans at it! In short, I can afford to wait, but they can't!"
Gao Jianfei felt relieved. Regardless of the turmoil outside, he would stay in the Ghost Den, release a Level 1 Ghost to monitor the situation in the base around the clock, and carry out targeted killing plans.
On this day, Gao Jianfei did not leave the den of ghosts to kill anyone.
Outside the base, US troops stood watch all day, their helicopter rotors whirring irritatingly. The stench of blood inside attracted some bloodthirsty vultures. The whole scene was utterly desolate.
At night, helicopter lights and searchlights illuminated the entire base. Snipers kept a constant watch on every corner of the base.
However, they gained nothing today; Gao Jianfei did not appear.
For Obama and most U.S. officials, the pressure increases as the day goes by without announcing the killing of the terrorist.
By noon on the second day, almost all Americans were condemning Obama's incompetence! Thousands of special forces, advanced weaponry, and military teams known as combat experts had been on guard for 24 hours, yet they hadn't spotted a single enemy!
More and more people are marching in the streets!
It has become a situation of widespread discontent.
Within a short period, the stocks of major American companies began to plummet, and the American economy was also affected. President Obama even personally visited the base to assess the situation. He was under immense pressure.
Meanwhile, Gao Jianfei wasn't just waiting idly in the ghost den. He was also crafting various weapons, using high-level ghosts that could be of use at the moment.
First, Gao Jianfei thought that if he had a powerful weapon like an artillery piece at this time, he could seize the opportunity and give the American troops in the base a good whack. However, the mercenaries and gunner ghosts in the Ghost Den couldn't exchange for artillery pieces, so Gao Jianfei had to spend his Ghost Exorcism Points to get one himself.
"Hmm, give me a ghost that's good at making cannons and explosives," Gao Jianfei instructed the AI program.
"As you wish, dear user." The intelligent program chuckled sweetly, then began accessing the database to search for Gao Jianfei.
After obtaining Gao Jianfei's consent, the AI program created a Level 4 ghost for him, a character researching firearms and explosives, worth 28,000 exorcism points. This ghost was a historical figure from the Song Dynasty who dedicated his life to gunpowder research…
Ghost's name / Ghost's level / Ghost's origin / Gender / Special skills in life /
"Thunderbolt" Ling Zhen / 4 / Liangshan Marsh (Water Margin) / Male / Martial Arts (City/District Level), Artillery (Intercontinental Level)
Following Zhang Shun, another Liangshan character from the Water Margin was brought out by Gao Jianfei!
Gao Jianfei didn't care whether the artillery special skill Ghost Lingzhen could bring him a slaughter effect in the end. In short, it was just a matter of 20,000 ghost-repelling points. It was not bad to come out and have some fun first!
Start piecing it together now!
While piecing together Ling Zhen's ghost, Gao Jianfei didn't visit any other ghosts; instead, he began making puppets.
Make moving puppets.
These puppets, roughly the size of kittens and puppies, can turn and move at a steady pace. It will take about six days to assemble Ling Zhen. During these six days, Gao Jianfei will stay in the ghost den, patiently making one puppet after another.
In 6 days, a total of more than 300 animated cat-shaped wooden puppets were made.
Meanwhile, outside the base, the American troops, poised for battle, had absolutely no choice but to wait! The first day, the second day, the third day… For the first three days, they were able to wait with focused concentration, but by the fourth day, the morale of these American soldiers had begun to waver… In fact, while the American troops waited, Holman's entire base had been thoroughly excavated! Every inch of the base had been dug up and scanned with life detectors… but no problems were found!
In other words, theoretically speaking, it is impossible for the murderer to hide in this base!
On the fifth day, even Holman and Dale, who firmly believed that Gao Jianfei was still hiding in the base, began to waver.
The American public and media have been mocking Obama extensively... Damn it, he sent thousands of people into the base, waited for several days, and didn't even get a single thing!
The families and relatives of the 34 American soldiers who died began setting up makeshift beds in front of the White House, weeping day and night.
Obasi was about to collapse! He would go to the base in person every day, but every day, he would not get what he wanted.
By the sixth day, the US troops at the base began to withdraw one after another.
That's true. The US can't possibly let thousands of soldiers, like fools, wait for days on end in ruins where there's absolutely nothing to be found. Such a waste of human resources would be humiliating.
Two-thirds of the helicopters have been evacuated. Two-thirds of the Navy SEALs have been evacuated. Two-thirds of the American soldiers have been evacuated.
But, in the den of ghosts.
On the sixth day, Ling Zhen's ghost was finally pieced together. Gao Jianfei, on the fourth floor of the ghost's lair, encountered this Liangshan hero.
In fact, Ling Zhen was indeed a talented individual. An outstanding gunner. A genius who had mastered the use of gunpowder to its fullest potential!
After meeting Ling Zhen, Gao Jianfei learned in detail about his extraordinary abilities. The Water Margin describes Ling Zhen as "the first artilleryman of the Song Dynasty's golden age." When Huyan Zhuo recommended Ling Zhen, he mentioned, "This man is skilled at making cannons, capable of firing them from fourteen or fifteen li away. Where the stone cannons land, the sky collapses, the earth caves in, mountains crumble, and rocks split."
Fourteen or fifteen li is equivalent to a range of about 7,000 meters, which is terrifying!
Of course, Gao Jianfei didn't learn much about cannon manufacturing. His main purpose in piecing together Ling Zhen was simply to exchange for gunpowder, fuses, and cannons.
After recovering for a period of time, Gao Jianfei had accumulated 10 Ghost Exorcism Points. He was now quite well-off. So, he first spent 3 Ghost Exorcism Points to exchange for 30 kilograms of black powder; then he spent 3 Ghost Exorcism Points to exchange for a medium-sized cannon with a range of 3,000 meters.
Then, using these black gunpowder and an alarm clock obtained from an ordinary level 1 ghost who ran a clock shop, they made a simple time bomb using the crude method taught to them by the mercenary ghost.
The prepared time bombs were placed inside the moving wooden cats. These time bombs acted like landmines; they would detonate before the designated time if subjected to a severe impact.
It took another day to install time bombs inside all 300+ wooden cats. When Gao Jianfei needed to use them, he only needed to set the time.
After settling these matters, Gao Jianfei began to study the situation outside the Ghost Den and inside the base.
According to reports from the Level 1 Ghosts conducting reconnaissance outside, the US troops at the base have been gradually withdrawing. Currently, there are still 5 helicopters in the sky, and approximately 1,000 US troops remain at the base. They are merely maintaining a routine presence there, and it is estimated that this group of US troops will also withdraw in another two days.
It's not fair to say the US military didn't take the base seriously; they simply had no other choice. After holding out for about eight days, they found absolutely nothing. The ground was completely ravaged, and there wasn't a single thing to be found. The fact that the US military managed to leave over a thousand people at the base already shows how much they valued it.
Gao Jianfei spent a long time analyzing the current distribution of US military forces outside.
He drew a feasible route... If he left the den of demons now, he would be in a large pile of dirt, forming a small hill, or rather, a mound of earth. There were some American soldiers guarding this mound. And, a dozen meters away from this mound, there were several large mounds of earth, where there would be fewer American soldiers guarding them, and that location was a blind spot, so helicopters overhead could not easily spot it.
"Yes, I need to get there quickly and hide behind those big mounds of earth!" Gao Jianfei prepared to act! "Once we get there, things will be much easier!"
It was 3 a.m. Gao Jianfei made all the necessary preparations, changed into a camouflage combat uniform he had exchanged for from a fallen Level 2 American soldier, took a deep breath, and then…
Escape the den of ghosts!
The instant he emerged from the den of demons, Gao Jianfei used his One-Finger Divine Skill to instantly unleash several invisible yet tangible finger strikes, aimed at the acupoints of several nearby American soldiers! Those acupoints wouldn't be fatal; their main effect was to cause temporary dizziness and blindness, lasting only a few seconds!
The sky was dark, and the helicopter lights occasionally swept across the area. However, the towering mounds of earth blocked most of the light. After interfering with a few American soldiers, Gao Jianfei pushed his lightness skill to the limit and rushed towards the large mounds of earth like a wisp of smoke!
The large mounds over there blocked out much of the light, making them appear dark. As Gao Jianfei rushed over, he used his finger strength to stab several of the mounds, causing sand and gravel to flow. The American soldiers guarding the area immediately rushed to investigate the sand and gravel flow. In the instant they turned slightly and circled around, Gao Jianfei had already hidden behind one of the mounds, and with a thought, he returned to the Ghost Den.
The American soldiers who had been remotely acupunctured by Gao Jianfei finally realized what was happening. They rubbed their eyes, exchanged suspicious glances, and, not understanding what had happened, walked blankly toward the large mounds of earth opposite.
After a thorough inspection, a dozen or so American soldiers thoroughly examined the area around the large mounds, but found nothing amiss. They shrugged helplessly and laughed, "This is really bizarre; we've all been driven to the brink of madness!"
After grumbling and complaining for a while, the dozen or so American soldiers dispersed again, each guarding their own positions.
In the den of ghosts.
"Okay, this time, I'll play with you guys one more time." Gao Jianfei chuckled, then left the Ghost Den!
Chapter 472 Devil's Land
Chapter 472 Devil's Land
At 3:30 a.m., Gao Jianfei emerged from the haunted house again!
Eight days later, Gao Jianfei, restless in his secluded den, finally emerged from the mountains once more! He had come fully prepared!
Three hundred small wooden cats, each the size of a house cat, fitted with timed bombs that would detonate at the slightest touch; and a medium-sized artillery piece. These were the grand gifts Gao Jianfei had prepared for the American troops at the base!
Meanwhile, the US military waited for eight long days, their morale completely worn down, and withdrew two-thirds of their forces. The remaining soldiers were also ready to withdraw at any time.
One side was poised to strike, while the other was distracted. This provided a guarantee for the success of Gao Jianfei's eight-day-long plan to carry out the killing.
Gao Jianfei's current location is perfect. Due to extensive excavation at the US military base, many high mounds have been formed, some reaching 5 or 6 meters in height, resembling small hills. Gao Jianfei is hidden among these mounds. And, responsible for guarding these mounds, are only a few US soldiers. This is a blind spot; even the searchlights from the helicopters overhead cannot reach him. In short, Gao Jianfei is hidden behind the shadows of these mounds.
Gao Jianfei sat against the hill and began taking out wooden cats one by one from the ghost den. At the same time, he also released some level 1 ghosts to keep watch nearby. If American troops patrolled over, these level 1 ghosts would notify Gao Jianfei so that he could slip into the ghost den immediately.
However, it seemed that fate was on Gao Jianfei's side. Those American soldiers, while not slacking off to sleep, were sitting lazily on the ground, smoking and telling dirty jokes. Of course, they were tired of this aimless night watch every day.
Gao Jianfei silently produced over 100 wooden cats, carefully adjusting their positions and setting the time bombs hidden inside to detonate in 10 minutes. Then… “Crack! Crack!” One by one, the wooden cats moved in all directions according to Gao Jianfei's predetermined path, at a speed similar to a normal person walking. Of course, if any of the wooden cats were bumped or damaged along the way, they would explode! The black powder implanted inside each wooden cat, once detonated, was equivalent to the power of a hand grenade!
The wooden cats, steady and orderly, scattered like a tide! Taking advantage of the fact that these wooden cats had not yet been discovered by the American troops, Gao Jianfei quickly took out the medium-sized artillery from the ghost den.
The cannon was about the size of an ordinary writing desk. Gao Jianfei quickly aimed the cannon at a building in the base.
That was the only building in the base. It was… the temporary command post of the US military!
It was temporarily cast using stones and large amounts of cement. U.S. Army colonels, lieutenant colonels, majors, and some military experts, including Holman and Dale, lived in this temporary command post.
"Hehe, I wonder if this blast will kill Holman? Damn, it's fine if he's dead, Holman is number one on my kill list anyway! Kill him, and my advancement to Level 5 Exorcist will be just around the corner!" Gao Jianfei took out another bomb made entirely of black powder. It was a round, watermelon-shaped bomb, but only about the size of a small watermelon.