CHAPTER 426: CHAPTER 398 ATF?_2

Sheriff Redick froze momentarily when he heard the term "international criminal group," then asked curiously, "What in Alaska could possibly attract the attention of an international criminal group?"

Mountain Eagle shook his head and replied, "I don’t know; I’m also investigating. However, I believe that with your help, I will make progress soon.

You’re with the Alaska State Police. You’re not afraid of foreign criminal groups, are you?"

Redick straightened up and said sternly, "Are you kidding me? Why would I be afraid of them?"

Mountain Eagle smiled and said, "As far as I know, a group of over a hundred Jungle Ants will land on the coast of Alaska. I’m not sure where exactly, so I need the help of the customs at the Alaskan docks to keep an eye out.

Those dangerous mercenaries probably won’t bring weapons on board when they’re smuggled in, so they’ll need weapons after they disembark."

Redick froze for a moment, then curiously asked, "What are these Jungle Ants?"

Just as Mountain Eagle was about to explain, a voice suddenly came from not far away...

"The Jungle Ants are a bunch of crazed freaks recruited and trained from refugees by retired Venezuelan special forces.

They suffer from severe mania and drug dependency, and their entrance into Alaska could cause very serious social issues."

Mountain Eagle and Redick turned their heads at the same time...

They looked at the gang driver who had been tied up in the car earlier, now standing there handcuffed, Mountain Eagle frowned and glanced at the two police officers behind the man, then said to Redick, "Is this how your State Police allow suspects to freely enter and exit the scene?"

It’s true the Alaska State Police could be quite lax, and as Redick found it hard to save face, a young state trooper with a farmer-like demeanor said, "Chief, this guy claims he’s an undercover agent from the ATF..."

Upon hearing this, Redick cursed irritably, "Are you fucking kidding me? Would an undercover go around telling everyone they’re undercover?"

The gang driver, seeing everyone’s eyes on him and sensing the trouble, said with a wry smile, "Sir, is it possible I just wanted a private word with you?"

He glanced at Mountain Eagle, then said with some disappointment, "But there’s probably no need now...

You can call my superior. My name is Daniel Miller. Our office number is *****, ATF Deputy Director Mark Morris will confirm my identity.

I’ve been undercover with Horned Demon Billy for six months, chasing very dangerous firearms.

Now it looks like I’ve definitely screwed up!"

Mountain Eagle pulled the impatient Redick aside, then turned to the self-proclaimed undercover Daniel Miller and said in a deep voice, "Horned Demon Billy is a drug-trafficking gang, how could it be connected with dangerous firearms?

Here in Alaska, automatic rifles can hardly be considered ’dangerous firearms’..."

Daniel Miller had only heard Redick’s last words, so he didn’t know Mountain Eagle’s real identity...

Hearing Mountain Eagle’s question, Daniel shook his head, "This is an ATF case, it has nothing to do with you guys from the FBI..."

Redick was confused at the mention of the FBI...

Mountain Eagle, seeing Redick’s bewildered expression, spread his hands and said, "I can’t very well say I’m with the Thai Police, can I?"

As he said this, Mountain Eagle stroked his chin, looking at Daniel with a strange expression...

He hadn’t expected that a gang driver could actually be an undercover agent from the ATF...

The United States has many law enforcement agencies, among them the FBI undoubtedly has the most authority, IRS (Internal Revenue Service) the most annoying, DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) the most intimidating against drug lords...

And the ATF, or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, is responsible for taxing, law enforcement, and interpretation of laws concerning alcohol, tobacco, and firearms...

Just by looking at the subjects they tax, you can tell that the ATF is not to be messed with!

More importantly, the ATF plays a very significant role in the control of firearms and explosives.

Meaning, aside from the arms dealings represented by those giant defense industry corporations, all other legal arms trades require ATF authorization.

In other words, the ATF manages private arms dealers!

If you have my authorization, you pay taxes to me; if you don’t, I can take you down.

The department dealing with arms dealers inevitably had to interact with mercenaries, so it wasn’t surprising that Daniel Miller knew about Jungle Ant.

Mountain Eagle thought of the HK416s and the large quantity of high-quality bullets seized in Kamui, and then of Black Fox’s roundabout way of sending Jungle Ant from Venezuela to Southeast Asia, and suddenly realized something...

Black Fox’s funds and manpower were tight, which is why he had to go through the trouble of using cargo ships to move Jungle Ant. Besides, geographically speaking, Jungle Ant must have been preparing for Alaska...

This guy, Black Fox, wanted to use a group of people to execute two missions and pull Blood Fox along with all members of Arctic Fox to Alaska for a decisive battle.

A hundred or so Jungle Ants weren’t fatal to Arctic Fox; Black Fox must have other backups, likely related to the mission he was on.

Now an ATF agent suddenly pops up saying there are dangerous military weapons in Alaska; Mountain Eagle couldn’t help but pay attention.

Watching Daniel’s cautious expression, Mountain Eagle thought for a moment and said, "Let me guess, you’re tracking a batch of military-grade weapons..."

Daniel scoffed, "That’s stating the obvious..."

Mountain Eagle shook his head and asked, "Does it include anti-aircraft missiles?"

Daniel was stunned for a moment, then realized Mountain Eagle was trying to draw information out of him and decisively shook his head, "I don’t care who you are, your rash actions have screwed up ATF’s plan..."

Speaking of this, Daniel glanced toward the stairs and said, "But there’s still a chance to make amends if Horned Demon Billy can be captured alive..."

"No..."

Sheriff Redick grabbed Mountain Eagle and said sternly, "Until you prove your identity, you have no right to talk to us.

ATF’s operations are none of our business, as we haven’t received any notification!"

With that, Redick waved impatiently at his two subordinates and ordered, "Take him and lock him up in the police car..."

"NO, NO, NO..."

As Daniel was being restrained, he shouted loudly, "Sir, sir, Horned Demon Billy once purchased a batch of weapons, and your brother was killed by the bullets from those weapons...

Sir, sir, capturing him could lead us to the trail of that batch of weapons..."

Mountain Eagle noticed the expression on Redick’s face, realizing that his initial reason for contacting him might have been to find an opportunity to legally take vengeance on Horned Demon Billy...

Mountain Eagle’s objective did not conflict with Redick’s; he nodded slightly and said, "No matter what ATF wants to do, resolving the immediate issue is the most critical.

My man is upstairs, he’s alone; you could have someone replace him and guard the third floor...

In order to deal with Horned Demon Billy without harming the hostages, we need to think of a different approach."

Mountain Eagle’s supportive attitude greatly pleased Redick, who shouted loudly for SERT team members to go upstairs, while also ensuring the complete lockdown of the front and back doors and establishing a perimeter isolation zone...

Once Butcher came downstairs from upstairs, Redick looked at Mountain Eagle seriously and stated, "Criminal groups are also a target for the Alaska State Police; your information may prevent unnecessary losses to our state police.

But that’s a matter for later...

You’re more familiar with this place, do you have any suggestions?"

Seeing that Redick was finally open to cooperation, Mountain Eagle smiled, grabbed the chubby officer, and walked out the front door to the front of a police car...

He asked for a carbon pen from a big-chested female officer and found a piece of discarded plywood to place on the hood of the police car...

He swiftly drew the floor plans and three-dimensional layout of the building, preparing to mark the direction of the stair exits, the hostages’ position, and even the original positions of the building’s windows...

After exhibiting his ’work’ to Redick as well as a middle-aged man with a goatee wearing an SERT vest...

Mountain Eagle earnestly stated, "This is all the information I can provide...

A forced assault is an option, but it requires extremely high-quality personnel!

If we want to minimize casualties, I have another idea..."