Darkstone Code-Chapter 1026 - 1024: Try It [Sponsored Bonus - by New Alliance Leader: Lu Chong Ji - 2/2]
In the camp, Ryan was moving some items onto the truck, and the doctor said that this work wouldn’t be too much of a burden for his wounds, as long as the weight wasn’t excessive and he wasn’t exerting himself, he needn’t worry about his injuries.
Looking at the boxes marked with different company names and numbers, he was somewhat puzzled.
Since last month, so-called experts have been coming over, bringing along many intriguing pieces of equipment.
Like the flamethrower, or maybe a kind of grenade that could be launched from the muzzle?
He wasn’t sure whether these arrivals were good or bad, but they should be good, at least they were useful in cleaning up the city these days.
These pieces of equipment safeguarded the Federation soldiers, they didn’t have to risk clearing each room, just throw something inside, and soon it would be cleaned out.
He had seen a local attempting to ambush the Federation soldiers...those in Darkstone Security were hit directly with the flamethrower, and the whole person turned into a big fireball.
Some around him tried to douse him with water, but it couldn’t completely extinguish the flames, people just watched him become a piece of charred remains.
But in terms of humanitarian concerns...
Ryan shook his head; war itself is inhumane, talking about humanitarianism in such behavior is no different from causing a ruckus.
He loaded the items onto the truck, a skeleton painted on it, beneath marked with "highly dangerous" in green.
Once everything was shipped, he patted the truck and the driver of the convoy drove off first to set up camp at the outskirts of their target.
At this moment, a group of military observers walked past him, and he deliberately stepped aside.
Military observers have diplomatic privileges, generally speaking, no one would make things difficult for them, after all, if you hit their observers today, they could hit yours tomorrow, unless you want to be blind, neither seeing nor being seen by others.
Ryan looked at these people with no pleasant expression.
He didn’t like Gafura people, though some domestically quite admired Gafura people and their culture, and this group isn’t small.
They find various methods and evidence to prove that the Federation should belong to Gafura, even though it’s hard to understand how those people’s brains are crippled, but they’re truly annoying.
This isn’t discrimination against the disabled.
Returning to the tent area, Ryan took out a pack of Silver Era cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and started smoking.
As part of the "supplies" for Darkstone Security field operations, everyone receives two packs of Silver Era per month, which is a standard military supply, Ryan doesn’t know the cost per pack, but he figures they’re likely not cheap.
Nonetheless, it isn’t a concern, since the Ministry of Defense is footing the bill.
He really enjoyed these robust cigarettes, feeling satisfied as he smoked, while looking at those in the distance, joining in conversation with the wounded sunbathing nearby.
"What do you guess they are here for?"
A wounded man sitting aside had half of his face blown off by a bullet, surgery and his will to survive kept him alive, but he became very terrifying.
"I guess they’re here to steal secrets; we’ve never allowed military observers to get so close to us.", words from a seasoned veteran, having encountered such situations before.
Ryan seemed to agree, "Really don’t know why the top would allow them over, recently transported many new types of equipment, I think they all count as confidential."
"The bureaucracies within the Ministry of Defense will truly get us killed!"
Initially cursing the Ministry of Defense, as if hitting on some nerve, very quickly, someone else came out with a cane from the tent and joined in the cursing.
Soon enough, more than a dozen people gathered, continually cursing the Ministry of Defense, their bureaucratic ways, their shady dealings, their corruption, their inefficiency, and wasting taxpayers’ money on coffee...
"Next week we’ll return, aren’t you going back too?"
After some chatting, they talked about the supply ship arriving next week, which would transport the wounded back for settlement.
The last time, Ryan stayed, this time he seemed not inclined to leave either.
Ryan shook his head, gazed into the distant sky, waited for a moment, then looked back at them with a smile, saying, "I’m not going back, the doctor said I’m recovering well, I’m heading to the frontline."
"In the Marine Corps, I was always the first, this time I also refuse to fall behind."
For this strong desire for combat, people said nothing much other than offering praise, but not approval.
Among the wounded are newcomers, as well as veterans who’ve worked with Darkstone Security for over two years, clearly aware that war inevitably claims lives.
Either the enemy dies, or we do, someone is bound to die.
They might even say they’re lucky, for now and in the future, they won’t have to return to the battlefield, exchanging their disability for a relatively better living condition ahead.
Darkstone Security will arrange an easy job for them, reportedly a job in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense, but they are not yet clear on the specifics.
They are much luckier than those who have already fallen in battle and those who still have to face war; they have escaped fear.
Soon, four days later, a large number of field soldiers were redeployed to a new frontline. Ryan, who had been applying for a long time, finally convinced the commander and went on the expedition with everyone else.
He was still responsible for logistics, not going to the frontline, doing something in the rear.
This time, the Ministry of Defense did not designate a single commander but provided five people, while Darkstone Security provided three people to form a command post.
The specific tactics were discussed and decided upon collectively before execution. When Lynch heard their plan, he understood why the Ministry of Defense had five people and his side only three.
The Ministry of Defense still treated war with their unique methods and attitudes, seemingly not truly recognizing the brutality of war.
Humans, as a species, apart from a few exceptions, mostly have a herd mentality, and they are influencing the final decision through numbers.
Shortly after 7 AM, when it was not yet fully bright, some loudspeakers in the city began to sound.
The content of the broadcasts was the same as those from the riverside city, asking everyone to stay indoors, lock doors and windows tightly, and not look outside, or risk being mistaken for an enemy and killed.
The entire broadcast lasted for thirty minutes, followed by the first wave of attacks.
Ryan, from the far rear, watched through binoculars as armored vehicles, in cooperation with soldiers, smoothly entered the city. He did not relax just because of this smooth entry, still watching intently.
Not far away, some military observers were also watching, seemingly dissatisfied with such a bland "attack."
Meanwhile, far away, a group of warlord representatives gathered together.
In the eyes of outsiders, there should be insurmountable conflicts and hatred among these warlords. After all, this is Mariluo, where extreme racialism is rampant.
The deadly feud between Mariluo and Maluri people has never been resolved, unless one side is completely exterminated. No one would think they could unite.
But at this moment, they sat together.
On the left side of the table were Mariluo people, on the right were Maluri people. No matter if it’s truly difficult for them to sit together, at least they were seated here, around the same table. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
"The Federation has extended its reach to another city, and next, they might take more land."
The speaker, a representative from a major warlord power, like Sanchez, was a "General’s Son." "Whatever problems we have between us, they are our own issues; the Federation should not interfere."
At this moment, another person suddenly spoke, "The problem is not on my end. I followed our plan and eliminated the general and his family, but you did not do as we agreed and eliminate Sanchez."
"He is still alive. As long as he lives, the Federation can keep interfering in Mariluo’s affairs through him."
The room was silent for a moment. The word "Federation" weighed heavily on them.
The Federation shamelessly interfered with the events here, leaving everyone worried about the Federation’s greed and their immense appetite, fearing that once they grasp too much, they won’t easily leave.
Therefore, the situation in Mariluo is unpredictable, all to counter the Federation.
Major warlords frequently clashed, but in reality, they were seizing the opportunity to expand their territories, annexing small and medium warlords.
The Federation’s sudden intervention prevented them from waiting for the small and medium warlords to weaken naturally; they had to speed up to strengthen their own influence and power.
It appeared that their internal fighting should lead to a decline in strength, yet in reality, their territories were larger, their followers increased, and even their weapons became more advanced.
The first speaker was silent for a while, "It was an accident. He had Federation people protecting him; we did our best."
"From a certain perspective, our assassination was successful. He was already dead, but the Federation saved him..."
"Who knows if what you’re saying is true or not!"
Two groups were about to argue when someone forcefully pounded the table, "Enough!"
"We are here not to quarrel but to solve problems. What shall we do next?"
"The Federation intends to help Sanchez take another city. How do we respond to the current situation?"
The room fell back into silence. Everyone was contemplating and weighing the current situation. After a while, someone proposed an idea.
"Why don’t we try to truly engage with the Federation’s main force?" he looked at everyone at the table, "We have never really clashed with them, and their losses at the riverbank were significant, which suggests that if we deploy our main forces to confront them, we may not necessarily lose."
"I admit their navy is formidable, but this is Mariluo, an inland country where we are not threatened by the navy!"
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