Ling Li knew her son well. Shi Min's tough exterior masked a soft spot for his loved ones.

"Don't worry, son; Mushu and Pharsa must be following them by now," Ling Li said, her calm tone intended to soothe his nerves.

Shi Min felt a wave of relief wash over him at his mother's words. The knowledge that capable allies were nearby offered a measure of comfort amidst the chaos.

"Mom, how long have you known Otako?"

Ling Li didn't expect Shi Min's question and caught her off guard; Ling Li couldn't seem to contemplate her answer.

Without looking at Shi Min, "It has been a while. Why do you ask?"

"Otako seems to have high regard for you and even mentioned you are the protege. But why does Otako want to take over the Chinese government?" Shi Min asked, curiosity piqued.

Ling Li sighed, "Otako had a tough life. Their ancestors were from China, but the war displaced them, forcing them to migrate and become slaves. They were abused and mistreated.

Otako mentioned their grandmother to me, who was a slave to a wealthy family. Every night, their employer put her and her fellow servants in a sack and hung them in a tree, afraid they would escape. They won't be given food for days. One day, their grandmother was whipped for eating a piece of bread she took from the table because of her hunger.

This sad story was why Otako aimed to succeed and earn a lot of power: never to let any member of the family suffer again. Otako despised those who took advantage of others and vowed to create a shield of influence and wealth to protect those he loved." Ling Li conveyed this to Shi Min.

"Have you met Otako's family?" Shi Min inquired with curiosity.

Ling Li, who had a reputation for knowing everyone worth knowing, shook her head with a chuckle. "I can hardly meet the man himself, let alone his family."

Shi Min's eyes sparkled with youthful curiosity. "Mom, what are Otako's businesses? Why is he so wealthy?"

Ling Li's expression turned thoughtful. "Otako is a magnate in the oil and gas industry. Have you heard of 'The Nuke'?"

Shi Min's jaw dropped. "Mom, who hasn't heard of 'The Nuke'?! So, does Otako own all the companies under the Nuke brand? They have numerous international brands of oil and gas stations, not to mention the winery, its prestigious wines, and the expansive vineyards."

Ling Li nodded with a smile. "Yes, Otako's reach extends far beyond what we see. He also owns several pearl farms across the globe and 'The Axis.'"

Shi Min was astounded. "The Axis?! The renowned diamond and gold supplier?"

"Indeed," Ling Li confirmed. "Otako also commands an impressive fleet of massive vessels that transport oil and gas worldwide."

Shi Min, feeling a pang of inadequacy, confessed, "Mom, with the business I'm handling, I'm already overwhelmed with the number of our employees. I can't even fathom the scale of Otako's empire." Shi Min felt he was still too small compared to Otako despite him already being burdened by his work.

Ling Li chuckled warmly, ruffling her son's hair affectionately. "And yet, here you are, doing splendidly."

Ling Li's gaze turned contemplative. "Taking over the Chinese government might not be an attack on the country, but rather a move against the President personally." Ling Li remarked while still deep in thought. "I couldn't think of another reason. We have seen the President's erratic behavior in the group. Otako likely detected it long before we did."

Shi Min's voice was filled with intrigue. "Do you think the Chinese President is collaborating with someone else?"

Ling Li nodded, her face serious. "Most probably. Camp Phoenix couldn't have been compromised without insider help."

Shi Min leaned closer, "That's understandable. Is this the reason why you were stalling retrieving it?"

Ling Li sighed, the weight of her secrets pressing down on her. "Precisely. Prematurely Moving could jeopardize everything."

Ling Li's face set in determination, "But now we must get it back as soon as possible. When this group leaves for the Amazon, we will proceed to Camp Phoenix."

Shi Min frowned, hesitation evident in his voice. "We cannot walk in without knowing what's going on. Wait, did you see anything when you asked the heavens?"

Ling Li's gaze turned distant as she recalled the eerie vision. "It was very odd. I saw the living dead, but I couldn't tell… these people are being manipulated."

Shi Min's expression grew darker. "And the whole system must have been tampered with," he said, trying to process the enormity of the situation. He was about to say more when Shi Min's eyes caught the flickering monitor, and his voice trailed off.

On the screen, the group of soldiers was desperately trying to fend off a pack of relentless hyenas, their fate seeming all but sealed. It was a frantic struggle, a brutal fight for survival.

As Shi Min and Ling Li watched, their hearts pounded in their chests.

Suddenly, out of the dense foliage, four majestic lions appeared. With ferocity and precision, they attacked the hyenas, their powerful roars echoing through the wilderness. The battle raged for over an hour, the lions proving their dominance over the hyenas.

As the dust settled, two of the lions vanished as swiftly as they had appeared, melting back into the jungle. The remaining two lions stood their ground, their golden eyes fixed on the group of men, a silent challenge in their gaze. Time seemed to stretch, each second an eternity, as neither side dared to move.

After what felt like an endless standoff, the lions finally turned and walked away in the opposite direction. Only then was the group able to breathe and realize their injuries. They were all bleeding bloodily.

"No!" The heart-wrenching cry echoed through the camp as one of their comrades fell to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably beside a motionless body.

"We lost him. I lost him," the soldier choked out between sobs, his tears falling onto the lifeless face of his best friend. They had entered the camp together and trained together, and now, he had to face the harsh reality of losing his partner.

"Another one here."

"Another one here."

"Here, too."

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