"Thirty-five million did actually arrive?"
As soon as Song Heping finished the call, Jiang Feng eagerly inquired.
"The funds really did arrive. I confirmed it with Ferrari. He was just as puzzled."
Song Heping turned to Nura and Antonov, "The current situation is that someone has paid 35 million US Dollars, and it has already arrived. The requirement is for us to act as mercenaries for Dr. Maria. I suppose you're aware of her wishes, which are to rescue all these villagers. Now I need manpower. Since you are not my employees, I can't force you. If you want to withdraw, you may leave on your own."
Antonov was the first to react, "How much is the reward?"
Song Heping smiled, "The reward will be equally divided among those participating in this operation. I won't take more than my share."
Antonov turned around and started counting heads.
"Me... Nura, Song, Jiang... Hiss—"
He gasped, delight spreading across his face.
"Four of us, each gets over eight million dollars?"
"Stop daydreaming!"
Nura interjected, dampening the excitement.
"You need to survive to spend it! In this situation, if we run into a rebel force along the way, getting entangled would leave us no chance to escape. Look at them..."
Nura pointed at the unarmed villagers.
"There are only four of us! Over two hundred villagers with no experience, plus twenty with varying degrees of injury. Do you think we can break through?!"
Antonov's enthusiasm was quickly quenched by Nura's tirade.
"Count me in."
Danny's voice came from behind, and Song Heping wasn't surprised at all.
For both emotional and logical reasons, he would help.
"Alright, you'll get a share."
Song Heping turned around and saw Danny, who had already geared up with a gun slung over his back and an old marching pack, fully armed and ready.
"Our biggest concern right now is the wounded. Maria, immediately check on the injured. Those with minor injuries who can walk on their own should do so; those who can't, have someone use a stretcher or assist them."
"Okay, I'll arrange it right away."
Seeing that Song Heping accepted the job and was already making arrangements, Maria didn't dare delay. She immediately called the villagers to assign manpower and gather the stretchers.
"Everyone, listen to me, look here!"
Song Heping raised his hands and waved them, shouting to get the villagers' attention.
The villagers' eyes all turned to Song Heping.
"Raise your hands if you've ever handled or fired a gun! Especially the young people!"
Swish, thirty hands shot up from the crowd.
"Quite a few..."
Song Heping was surprised.
But he thought about it and understood.
This is Africa.
In Africa, it's rare for someone not to have handled a gun, especially in conflict zones.
In this wretched place of Sudan, conflicts erupt every few years, and the locals more or less learn to shoot for self-defense.
"Any professional military training?"
Song Heping continued to ask.
This time, no one raised their hand.
"Hiss—"
Jiang Feng's face turned grim, and he couldn't help but rub his chin.
"We're screwed, just a bunch of amateurs, maybe okay for hunting but fighting in a war, no way."
Song Heping said, "It's better than nothing."
Then he added, "You and Antonov quickly take them around the village to scavenge weapons and ammunition from the dead. Also, ask the young and strong to carry more water and food, and see if any rebel vehicles are still usable. We need to organize and head north immediately."
"Got it."
Jiang Feng took the task and immediately led Antonov and the villagers to collect scattered weapons.
This time, over a hundred armed fighters were killed, all carrying weapons.
And there were two armed pickups, each mounted with Desheka heavy machine guns.
But the biggest issue was ammunition.
After the earlier battle, the ammo left on the corpses was quite limited.
The two pickups had less than two boxes of Desheka heavy machine gun bullets left, likely insufficient to fend off another attack.