“Hello, is that the Boss?” A man’s voice came through the phone.

“It’s me. Captain He? What’s happened?” Liu Hui instantly recognized the voice. This was one of the four instructors who had gone with Zhou Tengyun to Africa to establish the mercenary outfit. That man had made a name for himself in Africa and risen to the rank of Captain through accumulated merit.

“Boss, here’s the situation. Before this deployment, Regiment Commander Zhou specified that if he failed to send a message back to the base within twenty-four hours, I was to call you immediately to report.” Captain He stated.

“Before deployment? Where did Regiment Commander Zhou go? What exactly is going on?” Upon hearing this, Liu Hui’s heart instantly leaped into his throat.

“Boss, since arriving in Africa, Regiment Commander Zhou has been searching for a mysterious organization known only as ‘SN.’ For a long time, he had no concrete leads on them. A few days ago, he obtained some intelligence on the ‘SN’ organization through an incidental channel and departed yesterday to track them down. Before leaving, he instructed me that if he didn’t send word within twenty-four hours, I was to contact you.” Captain He concisely laid out the facts.

“He went after the ‘SN’ organization?” Liu Hui was greatly alarmed.

This organization called ‘SN’ was the same mysterious assassin group that had repeatedly sent people to kill him before. The letters ‘SN’ were discovered on a Caucasian assassin Liu Hui had killed during a previous encounter. At that time, Liu Hui’s intelligence network was incomplete, and he didn't know what ‘SN’ signified. It wasn't until the establishment of the Starry Sky’s Eye and the strengthening of intelligence-gathering capabilities that he learned ‘SN’ represented the world’s most notorious assassin organization—a group possessing immense power. The world only knew their headquarters was located somewhere in Africa, but the exact location remained a mystery.

Zhou Tengyun, after arriving in Africa, had also kept this ‘SN’ assassin organization in mind. This group had lost several of its members at Liu Hui’s hands, forging a deep, seemingly irreconcilable enmity between them. Therefore, Zhou Tengyun intended to locate this organization thoroughly and eradicate every last member, cutting the grass by the roots, lest they constantly dispatch assassins to harass Liu Hui. After all, one can only play the thief for so long; only by completely wiping out this organization could the fundamental problem be resolved.

However, the ‘SN’ organization was extraordinarily secretive. Zhou Tengyun had spent over a year in Africa without uncovering any useful information. This time, he had learned the location of their lair through a chance tip and prepared to scout it out, hoping for an opportunity to wipe them out in one swoop. But he also considered the organization's secrecy and might, so before leaving, he made arrangements with Captain He: if there was no communication within twenty-four hours, He was to immediately request aid from Liu Hui.

Liu Hui understood all of Zhou Tengyun’s intentions with just a moment’s thought. He frowned slightly and asked, “Can you reach Regiment Commander Zhou now?”

“No, sir. No matter how we try to contact him, Regiment Commander Zhou remains unresponsive. Furthermore, the locator device he carried has lost its signal,” Captain He replied.

Liu Hui continued, “How many men did Regiment Commander Zhou take with him this time?”

“Regiment Commander Zhou took twenty Special Operations troopers,” Captain He reported.

“What? Only twenty Special Ops troopers? Don’t we have thousands of mercenaries at the base? Why only take such a small contingent?” Liu Hui was astonished.

“Boss, although our mercenaries now number five thousand, the situation in Libya has recently undergone drastic changes, and most of our members have been contracted out there. Currently, fewer than one hundred mercenaries remain at the base to hold the fort. Regiment Commander Zhou felt the matter was urgent, fearing he would miss this opportunity, and didn't have time to recall the men from Libya. Moreover, this was just reconnaissance, so he only took twenty Special Ops troopers. I urged him to take more personnel, but he refused, saying the remaining forces were just enough to secure the base,” Captain He explained.

Liu Hui immediately felt a headache coming on. He asked, “Where exactly did Regiment Commander Zhou head?”

Captain He replied, “When he left, Regiment Commander Zhou told me his destination was a small town in Kenya called Garsen, less than a hundred kilometers from the eastern coast of Kenya. However, transportation in that area is extremely underdeveloped, and it’s riddled with towering mountains and dangerous terrain, making travel exceptionally difficult.”

Liu Hui immediately searched the map on the wall, confirming the location of Kenya below Somalia, and then located the small town of Garsen in the southeastern part of the Kenyan map.

“Is there a more specific address?” Liu Hui inquired.

“Yes, Regiment Commander Zhou mentioned there is a high peak near Garsen called Mount Gondola. Near this mountain, there is a gorge, which he believes is the possible headquarters of the ‘SN’ organization,” Captain He stated.

“I understand the situation. I will find a way to resolve Regiment Commander Zhou’s predicament. This is a critical period; you must immediately recall some troops from the Libyan front to secure the base first. Wait for my instructions for any further action,” Liu Hui said.

“Understood, Boss. I will proceed immediately. Regarding Regiment Commander Zhou, is there anything we should be doing on our end?” Captain He asked.

“Not for now. I will handle it. I will contact you if assistance is needed.”

After concluding the call with the African base, Liu Hui immediately summoned Xiao Hei, who was hiding in the deep-sea trench. As soon as he called, Xiao Hei became energetic and sped like lightning toward Starry Sky Group headquarters.

Zhou Tengyun was in trouble, and Liu Hui absolutely had to rescue him. But he had no other forces in Africa he could leverage, so he had no choice but to personally venture to Africa to see if the situation could still be salvaged.

Liu Hui made a rough calculation on the map; the straight-line distance from Hong Kong to Kenya, Africa, was about six thousand kilometers. However, if he traveled on Xiao Hei’s back, he certainly couldn't fly in a straight line, meaning the total distance might exceed eight thousand kilometers. At Xiao Hei’s current top speed of Mach 1, it would still take over seven hours to reach Kenya. If he departed now, he would arrive in Kenya late at night by Hong Kong time... Considering the time difference, it would be around 10 PM local time in Kenya.

Liu Hui silently calculated the time, organized his storage space, replenished necessary supplies, and then called Hu Xian’er. He told her over the phone that an urgent matter required his immediate departure and that he might be away for several days, advising her not to worry. For the days he was gone, he asked her to handle the company’s affairs in his stead.

Hu Xian’er was a sensible person. Although she and Liu Hui were currently wrapped up in intense affection and she hated to see him leave, she understood that a man had his duties and could not spend every moment with her. She cautioned Liu Hui to take good care of himself and to return safely soon.

As soon as Liu Hui hung up, Xiao Hei signaled that it had reached the outer sea near Starry Sky Group. It was already eight in the evening, and the sky over Hong Kong was beginning to darken. Carefully avoiding the sight of security personnel, Liu Hui went alone to the seaside. He glanced around, saw no one paying attention, and with a decisive leap, plunged into the sea. He submerged himself, retrieved an underwater thruster from his storage space, and swam toward the open ocean.

Soon, Liu Hui reached Xiao Hei’s location. He returned the underwater thruster to his storage space and sat down cross-legged behind Xiao Hei’s head. He wore an oxygen tank on his back and held a respirator in his mouth. Then, activating the defensive capabilities of his Brilliant Light Armor, he commanded Xiao Hei to swim toward Africa.

Xiao Hei dove under the surface, sensed the direction, and began swimming rapidly toward the South China Sea. Liu Hui hid behind Xiao Hei’s head, where most of the water resistance was blocked, but his body still felt some impact from the currents, which made him slightly uncomfortable. Fortunately, the protection of the Brilliant Light Armor negated the force of the water.

As soon as Xiao Hei left Hong Kong’s territorial waters, it maintained a diving depth of one hundred meters below the surface and accelerated to Mach 1, swiftly heading southwest of Hong Kong. The sky had not yet completely darkened, so Liu Hui ordered it to stay one hundred meters deep to prevent detection, though this subjected him to considerable discomfort even with the armor’s protection. Thankfully, after an hour, the sky grew completely dark, and Liu Hui allowed Xiao Hei to surface and travel across the water. He sat cross-legged on Xiao Hei’s back, guiding its direction.

Zhou Tengyun’s sudden silence worried Liu Hui about this mission. After all, Zhou Tengyun possessed formidable strength, and ordinary threats shouldn't be able to harm him. His sudden loss of contact could only mean he had encountered a problem too difficult to solve. Thus, Liu Hui began contacting Old Immortal Xiaoyao from the cultivation world while riding on Xiao Hei’s back, needing to prepare for all contingencies.

Another hour later, Xiao Hei reached the Strait of Malacca. Liu Hui instructed Xiao Hei to slow down; this strait was saturated with the world’s densest underwater monitoring network. If Xiao Hei’s presence were accidentally detected, it would cause immense trouble.

Xiao Hei re-submerged and activated its sensory capabilities to scan for suspicious targets nearby. Having to divide its attention to survey the surroundings slowed Xiao Hei considerably, yet even at this pace, its speed remained over three hundred kilometers per hour.

Xiao Hei could sense everything within a three-kilometer radius. Utilizing this ability, it quietly bypassed several covertly placed underwater monitoring grids, slipping undetected through this most perilous section of the Strait of Malacca. An hour had already passed.

Seeing the immediate danger had passed, and with the sky fully dark, Xiao Hei surfaced again, accelerated back to Mach 1, and soon entered the Andaman Sea of South Asia. Very quickly, Xiao Hei crossed the Andaman Sea and entered the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean. This was Liu Hui’s first time over the Indian Ocean, but he had no time for sightseeing or investigating underwater mineral resources. He adjusted the course and directed Xiao Hei toward the African continent at full speed.

Since it was night and Liu Hui remained extremely vigilant, they evaded every possible location that might expose their transit route. Seven hours after departing, Xiao Hei arrived, safe and sound, off the eastern coastline of Kenya, Africa. It was already 10 PM local time. The surroundings were pitch black, utterly devoid of human habitation, but Liu Hui’s enhanced vision allowed him to see everything clearly in the darkness.

Liu Hui checked the GPS tracker on his wrist and confirmed he was on the eastern coast of Kenya, less than one hundred kilometers from the town named Garsen. He stood up, stretched his limbs, then slipped into the seawater and quickly swam to the shore.

Following Liu Hui’s instructions, Xiao Hei began to descend to the seabed, waiting by the coast to support Liu Hui’s operation. Liu Hui changed into a black, form-fitting suit and used the GPS locator to proceed toward Garsen.

The initial stretch was relatively flat. Liu Hui pulled out a motorcycle and rode it forward, saving some effort. However, the terrain gradually became steeper, making the motorcycle impractical. He stowed the bike and began leaping through the mountains. His current strength was astonishing, so he chose a direct path, bounding over slopes and leaping across valleys. His speed was remarkable, not much slower than riding the motorcycle.

Next to the town of Garsen stood a massive mountain known to locals as Mount Gondola. On the southern foot of Mount Gondola lay a highly secluded gorge. Local people who occasionally ventured into it would vanish without a trace, leading them to name it the “Valley of Death.” Over time, the locals dared not approach this canyon anymore.

The “Valley of Death” was geographically treacherous, bordered by sheer cliff faces on both sides. Apart from the entrance, there were no other exits, a topography that made it easily defensible against attack. From the outside, the “Valley of Death” appeared desolate, suggesting no habitation, yet it was occupied by a group of people who had constructed numerous buildings within the gorge. They had also installed various cutting-edge instruments around the perimeter to monitor every movement outside. This formidable terrain made it impossible for anyone to sneak in unnoticed.

Deep within the gorge stood several rows of structures. One particular three-story building was guarded by over a dozen men in black, who maintained strict watch, weapons in hand, alert to any movement, ensuring the building’s security.

The first floor of the building was set up as a lavish reception hall. An exceptionally strong middle-aged man sat in the main seat. Opposite him sat a person clad in a black robe that completely concealed him; his head was hidden in the shadow of the hood, and he even wore thick gloves, leaving outsiders to know only that this person was unusually tall and imposing, but nothing of his true appearance.

“Professor Lussen, I’ve long admired your reputation. I never expected you to visit SN personally. I warmly welcome your arrival,” the robust middle-aged man said.

“Mr. Death-Bringer, the pleasure is mine,” Lussen replied, though his voice was strange and grating to the ear.

“Professor Lussen, you didn’t come all this way for that matter, did you?” asked Death-Bringer.

“Why not? Since SN accepted my commission, you should have eliminated that person cleanly. Yet, almost two years have passed, and the man is still living freely. Don’t you owe me an explanation?” Lussen stated, placing a newspaper before Death-Bringer. On the paper was a beaming photograph of Liu Hui, taken at his wedding.

“Professor Lussen, we did accept your commission, but the intelligence you provided was inaccurate. That person is not as weak as your file suggested. We have already lost several elite assassins to him. We believe you owe us an explanation,” Death-Bringer shook his head.

“I admit there were discrepancies in my data, but I later increased the payment, and you raised no objections. Why blame me now?” Lussen countered.

“Enough, Professor Lussen. We have been friends for years; there’s no need to argue about this. Let’s settle down and resolve this issue completely,” Death-Bringer suggested.

“That is precisely why I came today,” Lussen nodded.

“SN once dispatched two elite assassins against the target, but both disappeared. We have reason to believe they were eliminated by the target himself, or perhaps by a master strategist behind him. Regardless of who killed them, it proves the target is not simple. The target has developed rapidly recently; his security personnel are all powerfully skilled. Our assassins currently have no certainty of success in eliminating him. This is why, despite dispatching our most skilled operatives to infiltrate Hong Kong and analyzing the target’s every move through video recordings, we have hesitated to act,” Death-Bringer explained.

“The man is growing stronger; if this continues, will we never be able to kill him?” Professor Lussen asked with frustration.

“The target has a master around him. Within a two-kilometer radius, any hostile entity toward them is detected. Coupled with their occupation of the surrounding high ground, we can’t even use artillery against him,” Death-Bringer continued.

Lussen remained silent.

Death-Bringer went on, “The only chance of success would be to attack him with missiles while the target is traveling, perhaps by plane or ship.”

Lussen asked, “If you say that, does it mean this method is also unfeasible? Why is that?”

Death-Bringer sighed, “Because the target rarely goes out, and he never travels by air or sea. Even when he ventures out occasionally, he is always surrounded by a swarm of bodyguards. We simply have no opportunity to strike.”

The two fell briefly silent. Finally, Death-Bringer said, “If all else fails, I will have to take action myself. After all, the golden signboard of SN cannot be tarnished by my hand.”

Lussen was overjoyed and asked, “You’ll really act? You never take action yourself! But if you are willing to act, there is no one alive in this world who can escape.”

Just as Death-Bringer was about to speak, his walkie-talkie crackled to life, emitting a string of unintelligible words. Death-Bringer’s expression changed instantly. He told Lussen, “Professor Lussen, we have intruders. You should leave now; we can discuss our business another day.”

Lussen stood up and said, “Since you are occupied today, I won’t stay long. I will have someone contact you after you resolve today’s incident.”

Death-Bringer nodded. Lussen hastily left, met his subordinates, and exited the gorge via a different secret path indicated by Death-Bringer. They vanished quickly into the darkness.