Chapter 123: Chapter 123: The Soft Rice Squad
As for Hugh, if Dane’s family is top-tier, then Hugh’s is basically royalty among nobility—they actually have a throne to inherit.
Jay Monroe didn’t hide it at all: "We’re cousins. But more importantly, we’re good friends."
Family ties don’t mean much, but being good friends? That’s knowing each other inside out.
"Oh..."
Turns out he’s actual royalty.
No wonder he made it big so quickly in Freyos, his business blew up in just a few years.
Dane also knew that in Freyos, a lot of people idolize Jay Monroe as a self-made inspiration.
If they knew the truth, who knows how many hearts would be shattered.
Renee Morgan’s words made Jay Monroe and Dane rethink their entire strategy.
This was a perfect opportunity for an ambush, they didn’t want to miss it.
They could let Bama and the others take the lead; if Team Red is prepared, they’ll surely have a backup plan. Once Team Red reveals their hand, then Dane, Jay Monroe, and Renee can make their move.
Sounds complicated, but it’s easy to get.
It’s like mantis stalking the cicada, while the oriole watches in secret—not knowing there’s a slingshot below the tree.
Team Red thinks they’re the oriole, real clever, but never realized there’s a hunter hiding in the dark.
No way they can wipe out all of Team Red, that’s not realistic. Their goal—like sneaking up on Team Red Tower—is pure sabotage and headshots for points.
With a rough plan made, they still needed to sort out the details; for nitty-gritty stuff, they’d have to see the site before finalizing anything.
Team Red’s squad withdrew from the sea this morning, landed, and headed back to their base—it’d take at least a whole morning to get back.
They needed to reach the ambush spot first.
This spot was picked out on the map.
When Team Red came ashore and returned to Red Tower base, there were several possible routes, but there was one hundred-meter mountain path where teams converge.
This mountain path is basically THE way back to base for Team Red squads.
If they’re here, they don’t have to worry about nobody showing up—unless Team Red decides not to go home.
Geographically, there’s a road in the middle, flanked by mountain forest, easy retreat or advance—basically a textbook ambush site.
Jay Monroe and Dane scouted the area and were satisfied, so they started assigning everyone’s spot for the stakeout.
There’s strategy in position arrangement. For Squad 2, besides Dane, there were four assault players: one got sent out front to watch the road and report early, the other three crouched in the ravine closest to the mountain path.
Behind Squad 2, in another ravine, were Jay Monroe and Dane.
Renee Morgan took the mountain’s highest point solo.
Bama looked at that highest point and knew it was the toughest spot, couldn’t hold back: "Dalton, are these spots assigned by headshot points or by actual skill?"
The weak ones are all in front.
Headshot points and actual strength aren’t the same?
Dane shot him a weird look, hard to mess with: "Don’t just spout nonsense."
Bama: "..."
Bama barely stayed quiet for two seconds before muttering again: "I think it’s both, actually."
Dane: "..." This guy is a real genius.
Dane lowered his eyes, didn’t respond. Bama tiptoed close, then shrank back, his face flipping between nervous and hopeful.
Dane frowned, watching Bama, almost thinking the plan had a gaping flaw that Bama spotted...
The next second, Bama stammered, somewhat gloomily: "Dalton, does this count as mooching off someone else?"
Dane didn’t get it, just blurted: "...Mooching off what?"
Bama sighed: "We always let Morgan cover for us—doesn’t that count as mooching?"
Dane: "..."
Bama fidgeted with his shirt hem: "Dalton, yeah, we have the qualifications to mooch, but I still think this isn’t great..."
Dane: "..."
The muscles in Dane’s neck were twitching in anger.
If it weren’t for the competition, he’d have kicked Bama straight into the Freyos mines and buried him.
The online viewers were loving Bama’s antics.
This kid’s great—super self-aware.
[Bama: When I go hard, I roast myself—professional moocher.]
[Lol, Bama really has baggage—what a man.]
[Hahaha, I’m dying. Bama: Yeah we have the mooching qualification, but honestly, just isn’t right...
Everyone who knows, knows it’s because Renee Morgan is an ace sniper, that position is super important, she can lock down the whole area and cover last defense. But someone not in the loop might think he’s talking about a male model.
Still, their physique is definitely celebrity-level—could sweep the rich lady scene, even hotter than that famous T-country restaurant crew.]
[Six of them could totally launch as a global boy group: "The Moochers"—guaranteed instant popularity.]
Renee Morgan’s spot is the highest point, and not just anyone can stake out there; if you’re impatient, you’ll get spotted by Team Red.
Jay Monroe and Dane took middle positions, up front there were more covers for movement and dodging.
Bama and two others held the front line.
Boland was sent out to watch the road, and since nothing was happening yet, Jay Monroe’s squad cooled off under the trees.
The sun was blazing, getting close to noon, when Boland finally reported two Team Red armored vehicles coming their way.
The six quickly scrambled up from under the shade, brushed off the leaves, and got into their assigned positions.
They lay prone on the mountainside, burnt in the open sun; "oil splashed into fire" is no exaggeration—within minutes, everyone felt like they’d just finished a swim.
Boland’s updates came in through the earpieces, bit by bit.
Team Red’s vehicles were crawling along, slower than slow—not even matching walking speed.
Jay Monroe and Dane’s faces were flushed from the heat.
They suspected Hugh guessed their plan and intentionally made the convoy slow down.
This didn’t mess with the plan.
But the wait was so long, they couldn’t help but wonder what Hugh was really up to.
Maybe it’s a family trait—Dane’s always been a dictator, listens to everyone’s opinions but always decides his own way. But this time it’s different; his opponent is Hugh.
No room for mistakes.
Jay Monroe and Dane grabbed their communicators, setting up a seven-person online call channel.
Jay Monroe and Dane asked what everyone thought.
Bama scratched his sunburned head and spoke up with a rough voice: "Morgan? Morgan, you confident for the shot? If Morgan’s confident, so am I."
Dane: "..." Is mooching really that shameless now?
Renee Morgan wiped her sweat, thought carefully, then replied: "Is it possible these two vehicles ARE their combat squad?"
Team Red’s waiting for Team Blue to show themselves.
If she’s right, those two vehicles must be packed; if they’re blocked, everyone will swarm out and mob attack.
An ambush wins with surprise, but if the power gap is too wide, Team Blue will definitely suffer.