The news spread through the base faster than Marcus expected.
Not the part about the forest.
Not the flying monsters.
Not even the damaged Black Hawk sitting on the landing pad with claw marks carved into its side.
No.
The number spread first.
One hundred million kinah.
By the time Marcus finished giving a short operational report inside the command building, people were already whispering about it outside.
Some didn't believe it.
Others thought the crew exaggerated.
A few assumed the entire helicopter team had finally gone insane from flying over cursed forests.
But then Marcus summoned the M939 truck into the main storage hangar.
And the moment the rear cargo bed opened—
Nobody doubted it anymore.
Chest after chest of gold sat secured in the truck bed beneath heavy straps, the lantern lights reflecting off polished coins packed tightly together.
Silence filled the hangar for several seconds.
Then one mechanic quietly muttered:
"…Holy shit."
