Jimmy and Mahong's task is basically over, and the two can finally return to the city to find a hotel for a good rest. As for Agent Raymond and the others, the command center has not been dismantled, because the only survivor hasn't been interrogated yet. Raymond can't be sure if everyone has been killed or captured. Even if it's just for appearances, this investigation team needs to remain in existence.

The next day, Jimmy and Mahong drove back to the command center in the suburbs. Raymond, with bloodshot eyes, was sitting in front of a laptop typing. He glanced up at them, telling Jimmy to wait for a moment, and he continued with his work.

Jimmy glanced around, took two bottles of water from a box beside the tent, and handed them to Mahong, helping himself quite freely. Mahong didn't refuse, he unscrewed the cap, took a sip, and sat waiting for Raymond.

After busying himself for another ten minutes, Raymond closed the laptop and approached Jimmy and Mahong: "Thank you, Agent Mahong, Agent Yang. If it weren't for you, this case might have ended in total failure for us."

Mahong: "Agent Raymond, did the interrogation yield any results?"

Raymond nodded: "Yes, thanks to Agent Yang's capture at the end, we've figured out everything about this case."

Raymond turned, took a folder from his desk, opened it, and while looking through it narrated the whole process of the case to Mahong and Jimmy, who, for the first time, learned the entire sequence of events regarding this case.

The Demon Wolf Mercenary Group lost a squad in the United States, directly causing the team to lose one-third of its members. These people weren't completely unfamiliar to each other within the Mercenary Corps; there were various relationships among them. With these results emerging, it directly led to some internal disputes within the Mercenary Corps.

Even though the team faced several troublesome issues, due to contractual obligations, they had to continue participating in the Middle Eastern conflict, which negatively impacted them.

In this situation of serious personnel reduction while having to continue their original tasks, it was like a ticking time bomb for them. Soon in one mission, due to a fatal error, a squad led by the leader fell into an ambush by guerillas. The process is unclear, but the entire squad, including the leader, was killed.

The US Army has consistently claimed there are few casualties in the Middle Eastern wars, but this only applies to their own soldiers. The number of mercenaries assisting them who are killed or injured remains a mystery. In fact, modern warfare is never a one-sided massacre; both sides must endure a certain casualty ratio. However, in some official statements, mercenaries and auxiliary troops aren't included in these figures.

Mercenaries fight for money, so they must bear their own casualties. The death of the leader of the Demon Wolf Mercenary Group deeply wounded those who remained, as not all mercenary groups lavishly reward their squads; in most cases, the leader and core members divide the majority of profits.

Now that the leader is dead, those who are left face significant constraints in funding and connections, whether in taking new commissions or regrouping. At this point, they remembered the brains of their team, the captured Intelligence Officer, Heidel.

As an Intelligence Officer, Heidel obviously possessed extensive networks and capabilities. Critically, he was smart. For an organization like a Mercenary Corps, receiving orders to fight is not an issue, but discerning the importance of situations and whether there are other complications requires significant experience and wisdom, otherwise, they are just cannon fodder.

Critically, Heidel was a confidant of the former leader and had knowledge of some hidden assets of the Mercenary Corps. As long as they rescued Heidel, they could not only regain a brain but also obtain additional assets. Such a temptation was enough for these hyenas to overlook some terrifying consequences.

Before this, only one person from their squad that came to the United States managed to survive and return to the Organization. Without their leader, they could only regroup and discuss, subsequently arranging for people to return to the United States to attempt to contact Heidel. It was then that Heidel led the design of a comprehensive breakout plan.

The breakout plan wasn't very complicated. Heidel needed to fall ill and require surgery, thus avoiding a situation where a doctor in the prison could treat him directly, preventing his exit. As for how to get this illness and to what degree it should advance to facilitate Heidel's departure, Heidel, as an Intelligence Officer, naturally had contacts to consult professionals. This part wasn't a difficult problem.

Combat is a strong suit for mercenaries, but planning routes was evidently a bit challenging for them, especially since none of them were Americans, and they were completely unfamiliar with the local area.

Under Heidel's remote command, the remaining mercenaries willing to join them all arrived in the United States. In New York State, they conducted long-term investigations, pre-burying some supplies in the wilderness and planning a complete route across half of New York State to the US-Canada Border.

An alternate route for escape was also prepared: one was to cross the northern forests overland into Canada, another was to cross Lake Ontario. As long as they entered the lake area, they had diving equipment arranged in advance, allowing them to discreetly reach the shore as they approached Canada, leaving no trace, like boats or equipment, that could potentially reveal their whereabouts. It would be extremely difficult to continue tracking them thereafter.

This is why the breakout plan took so long. Although they were all Caucasians, they were not locals, and the time needed to investigate while moving around New York State was much longer than planned.