The armed helicopter Mike was using had most of its weapon systems removed. Mike was a little surprised until he saw the Stark Industries logo on the fuselage, which then relieved him.
There were two reasons why the Military was so cooperative:
First, Stark's abduction was inextricably linked to the troops stationed in Afghanistan.
Second, Stark Industries donated many good things.
The second point was especially important.
With money, you really can do whatever you want.
Sergeant Reina was cheerful and talkative, with strong curiosity. In other words, he didn't seem like someone who could keep a secret.
He found that Mike's only weapons were the long knife on his back, a Glock G25 on his waist, and a Ka-Bar 1217 combat knife strapped to his thigh, making him look like he was going on a picnic.
This was Afghanistan, the graveyard of American soldiers!
And what could one person do?!
Sergeant Reina even suspected Mike was a journalist disguised as a mercenary or a second-generation rich kid looking to experience battlefield life.
But what could he say? He was just a foot soldier, he just had to do his job well and pray for a peaceful outcome.
Mike asked Sergeant Reina why he joined the army.
Reyna said, "It's simple to say." Then he "simply" talked for nearly fifteen minutes.
Reyna was born north of Central Park in Manhattan, in a black neighborhood as chaotic as Hell's Kitchen. His father was a street thug, spending most of his time in jail, and died in a prison gang fight. After Reyna's father died, his mother supported Reyna by selling drugs and prostituting herself.
In high school, Reyna's mother disappeared, possibly having run away because she couldn't stand the terrible life, or perhaps she was buried somewhere underground. The Police came, took a statement, and then did nothing.
After graduation, Reyna naturally joined a gang, like many other kids in the neighborhood.
"If your family are criminals, and everyone around you are criminals, then you'll most likely become a criminal."
"A group of ambitious kids who had just joined the gang were clamoring to claim their own territory... My best friend, Brook, died right next to me. A bullet hit his temple, and his White brains mixed with blood splattered on my face."
"I peed myself, not figuratively, but literally. I found out that I wasn't that brave. I thought that as long as I stayed in the gang, I would eventually die like Brook."
"But gangs are like spiderwebs; once you're caught, if you try to leave, everyone sees you as a traitor, and there's no place for you in the community anymore."
"Changing one's fate isn't easy. I didn't have many choices, and joining the army was one of them."
Black, low education, minor criminal history... Unless he achieved outstanding Military merits, Sergeant would be Sergeant Reina's ceiling.
Stark Industries would offer Sergeant Reina a good job after his retirement, on the condition that he fulfill Mike's requests as much as possible while Mike was at the Base.
This was an enviable opportunity, the Officer agreed, and Reyna naturally had no objections.
The helicopter arrived at the designated search area thirty minutes later. Mike asked Reyna to reduce speed and fly at a low altitude.
This request made Reyna hesitate.
Ultra-low altitude flight for an armed helicopter is unsafe, especially in Afghanistan. No matter what propaganda slogans are used or how much showmanship is involved, the American Military, from top to bottom, is well aware that they are invaders. Therefore, it is perfectly reasonable for the Afghan people to fire an RPG at an American Military helicopter upon seeing it.
In response, Mike pulled out his phone and smiled faintly, "I have Miss Potts' number. If you're unwilling, I understand. I'm sure someone else will be willing."
Reyna: (⊙︿⊙), we were chatting so happily just now, but he changed his mind faster than flipping a book.
His colleagues, whose eyes were green with envy, would surely be very willing to take his place. Thinking of this, Reyna reluctantly agreed: "Alright, I hope today is our lucky day."
"Believe me, my luck is always good," Mike said with a smile.
"My friend Jeremy said the same thing," Reyna said with a mournful face, "and then he stepped on a landmine and lost three legs. The most pitiful thing is his wife, so young, so beautiful, her figure... Hehehe~"
...Mike didn't want to talk anymore.
Reyna muttered, wanting to find an opportunity to comfort Jeremy's wife face-to-face.
So, one should be kind, and be careful with friends.
Considering the time spent on travel and endurance, the actual time truly used for searching was no more than three hours.
For three consecutive days, there was no news of Stark.
Reyna was exhausted, mainly because ultra-low altitude flying required more concentrated attention.
In a room at the temporary Base.
Two mercenaries were talking.
"Boss, I've found out, that guy is the blonde chick's mercenary, clean-cut, clearly the blonde chick's pretty boy, no need to worry about him!"
"No need to worry about him?" The boss drew a few circles on the map. "This is the area that person has searched for the past three days."
Subordinate: "???"
So what?
The boss also knew his subordinate wasn't very bright, but he was loyal, so he wasn't annoyed. Instead, he felt it was a good opportunity to show off (pretend) in front of others.
"Idiot, look closely, these places are the areas we are responsible for, and they are areas we haven't searched yet, which means..."
The subordinate finally understood how to play along, looking at the boss with eager eyes and asking, "What does it mean?"
"It means that either that person thought the same as us and believes Stark's hiding place is there. Or he's gotten suspicious of us."
"Oh!" The subordinate suddenly understood. "Then what should we do, obstruct him?"
The boss's eyes were cold: "Obstruct? Why go to all that trouble? This is Afghanistan, it's normal for accidents to happen, and it's not strange for bodies to go missing if someone dies."
Fourth day.
Reyna: "No progress at all, why aren't you anxious at all?"
Mike: "There's progress."
Several areas were excluded, and the scope was narrowed again. He had a premonition that he might not return empty-handed today.
"Progress? How come I don't know!"
"Because I didn't tell you."
"That's right, I'm just a 'driver,' I have no right to know." Reyna's tone was resentful.
Mike ignored Reyna. Reyna's ability to keep secrets was worse than a loudspeaker, yet he had no self-awareness.
After entering the search area, the helicopter flew at an altitude as low as fifty meters. Mike activated the Zoro Possession Card and used Observation Haki to search the area below.
Suddenly—
"Someone, has the Ten Rings Gang's hidden stronghold been found?"
"No!"
"Just two people, from their posture, they seem to be in an ambush, their target... is me?"
Mike shouted, "Reyna, pull up the helicopter! Quick!"
At the same time, he drew his katana.
Reyna was startled.
He didn't know what was happening and hesitated for two or three seconds before pulling up the helicopter.
Mike was not a Military Officer after all, so it was not surprising that Reyna hesitated.
Reyna saw someone below wearing camouflage, half-crouching, with a shoulder-fired man-portable missile launcher on his shoulder.
Stark's product, using dual laser and thermal tracking and locking technology.
"At this distance... it's over."
Reyna's heart turned cold. He glimpsed the helicopter door on one side open. Mike had, at some point, drawn the long knife from his back, holding the knife in his left hand, his left arm bent and slightly raised, his right palm gripping his left forearm.
As the man-portable missile launched, Mike swung his blade.
One Sword Style: 36 Pound Phoenix!
The spiral slash collided with the missile in the air, and the explosion was only about ten meters from the helicopter, the resulting Impact shaking the aircraft violently.
Reyna quickly stabilized the fuselage and pulled it up while the explosion smoke obscured their vision.
"He jumped down..."
Reyna breathed a sigh of relief, but then he caught sight of Mike's figure falling downwards.
Under Reyna's incredible gaze, Mike landed with bent knees, rolling forward with the momentum. As he rolled, Mike's body gradually extended, smoothly transitioning into a run like flowing Water.
Like a swift cheetah.