HLM – Chapter 973 Narrow Escape

After hanging up the phone, Wang Bo shared the plan with the group.

Atulu asked worriedly, “Do you think it’ll work? There are over two hundred people outside. How are we supposed to reach that gentle slope safely?”

Wang Bo took out his phone, opened the map, and zoomed in to show them. “Based on the scale, I estimate we’re about four hundred meters from the slope.”

“The Māori camp stretches about 150 meters east to west. We’re on the western side, only twenty meters from the edge. So as long as we walk twenty meters, we’ll basically be safe.”

“How long will it take to walk twenty meters?” one asked.

“Half a minute will do. Do you understand what I mean? Once we decide to leave here, it only takes thirty seconds for us to reach a point of safety!”

“That’s great! Let’s do it quickly. If someone comes to check and sees us untied, we’re done for,” said a middle-aged white tourist with excitement.

The tough Australian muttered, “Fuck it, why don’t we have the police air-drop some guns? We’ll fight our way out! Just like John Rambo!”

Wang Bo said, “Exactly. That’s why we can’t untie ourselves yet. Come on, I’ll tie you up again.”

“Why?”

“Because we need to find a way to survive the first thirty seconds. We can’t just stroll out in broad daylight, can we? According to the plan with the command center, there will be a helicopter distraction soon, drawing the Māori to one spot.”

“Then, our Māori officer will change clothes to blend in as a highland Māori, and he’ll escort us—officially, it’s a transfer to another detention site.”

The group had completely lost all ideas—they relied entirely on Wang Bo, and he said what they did. None of them had a better plan.

Wang Bo called Eva to signal the operation. Two helicopters arrived soon after. The police helicopter circled over the camp first, followed by the Sunset Town helicopter.

The helicopter blades stirred up strong winds. Flying close to the ground, it was like creating a whirlwind.

The Māori camp was temporary, made of small huts tied together with rope. Under the helicopter’s strong airflow, the huts collapsed instantly.

Chaos erupted in the camp, with countless people fleeing in panic.

Seizing the opportunity, Wang Bo and the group lowered their bodies and crouched as they moved forward.

The helicopters had drawn everyone’s attention to the prison where they were held.

They bent over not to avoid notice, but to resist the whirlwind created by the helicopter. Besides, there was no way to avoid it.

As soon as they emerged, someone shouted, rushing toward them: “&%￥￥##@……”

They were shouting in Māori. Wang Bo didn’t understand, but the bloodied Atulu shouted back in Māori, pointing excitedly at the blood on his face and body.

Those nearby seemed to understand, nodding in realization. Another helicopter approached, and they quickly pressed to the ground to resist the wind.

Atulu urged the group to bend over and move quickly, and they soon reached the edge of the camp.

Finally, someone realized something was wrong. Two young Māori ran over. One shouted in English, “What are you doing? Why are you leaving? Go back!”

Atulu roared, “Fools! The damned white man has already learned about our camp! The chief told me to take them to a secret place! A secret place! Get out of my way and don’t delay me!”

“Is that so? I’ll help. Karuruha, go ask the chief if that’s true,” a sharp young man shouted.

The police helicopter lowered its altitude again and dropped several small canisters. Someone shouted “bomb!” causing people to duck in panic.

Wang Bo recognized them—it wasn’t bombs, but smoke grenades!

He hadn’t expected Eva to get hold of these, which was perfect—they could cover their escape.

The smoke grenades deployed quickly. Dozens were thrown in succession, enveloping the camp in thick smoke.

The helicopter created strong wind, which spread the smoke rapidly.

Wang Bo’s nose ran and eyes watered. Others were even worse; some instinctively threw off the fake ropes and rubbed their eyes.

The sharp young man saw this and tried to shout. An Australian man nearest him stepped forward, punched him in the stomach, grabbed his long hair, slammed his knee into him, and knocked him out instantly.

“Move!” Wang Bo supported the only female tourist, discarded the ropes, and ran.

They quickly exited the camp. Though the remaining mountain path was steep, they sprinted with all their might, crawling and tumbling, until they had crossed it.

“Vrrrrrr!”

The helicopter descended. Uncle Bing, wearing a bulletproof vest and holding an M14A1, jumped down as soon as the helicopter neared the ground.

The M14A1 had a grenade launcher attached. After landing, he fired three grenades, creating more smoke grenades on impact. Even if the Māori reacted, they could not follow the group.

The helicopter was Bartier’s AW139, the largest and fastest-lifting helicopter. Though a business helicopter, it could handle armed operations perfectly.

Unlike in movies, nothing went wrong during the escape. The smoke-covered camp was in chaos, and no one chased them.

The helicopter blades spun faster, it rose slowly, then accelerated and left the mountains.

“Oh, finally rescued!” the middle-aged white man wept with joy. “My God, I thought I’d die at the hands of those damned Māori monsters!”

Wang Bo asked Uncle Bing, “That gear looks sharp. Where’d you get it?”

Uncle Bing shrugged. “The bulletproof vest was from Sheriff Smith. The guns are AOS.”

“AOS is here?”

“More than just AOS!”

When the helicopter reached the foot of the mountain, Wang Bo understood what Uncle Bing meant.

Indeed, more than just AOS had arrived—almost half of Sunset Town had come. Cars flooded the area, and at least five hundred people were gathered.

Among them were media vans with the Oak City TV logo, and some newspaper reporters with cameras. When the helicopter landed, the flashing cameras almost blinded Wang Bo!