Chapter 78: The Lax Military Camp

The two women seemed to have no objections to Zhao Li’s decision, acting as if he were the master of the house, which gave Zhao Li a great sense of satisfaction as a man.

“This is the detailed information on the Gold Five-Star region. You only have twenty-four hours to familiarize yourself with it.” Christine handed over a storage device, which the General had given them before his departure.

“The environment of Gold Five-Star is extremely complex with numerous factions, but it has one benefit: the territory requiring management is relatively small.” The General had offered no judgment on Zhao Li’s choice, simply arranging everything according to his requirements, including the warship that would transport them.

“The Gold Five-Star region covers approximately 360,000 square kilometers with a population of 400,000. It has a tropical rainforest climate with vast forests, though only specific types of trees grow there. Only a few crops can be cultivated. Most of the population is engaged in farming, with a small portion working in mines. There is a small iron mine there, and a steel mill is located nearby.”

“There are five major factions in the region. The reinforced company you are to take over belongs to the government forces. It consists of 216 personnel equipped with standard weapons and two small warships for air support, stationed in a military camp near the edge of the Golden Triangle city.”

“‘Golden Triangle’ is the name of the city, named after the drug base on Earth years ago. It is merely a settlement for the locals; due to the harsh environment, only a river near the city can sustain human life. Among the five factions, if you don’t count reinforcements, the government forces are the weakest. However, they and the local police are responsible for maintaining order in Golden Triangle City and stability across the entire Gold Five-Star region. When major disputes arise, they also act as mediators.”

“The largest faction is called the Fierce Tiger Army, formerly the Fierce Tiger Organization. It has an armed force of over 2,000 people and controls nearly forty percent of the drug distribution quota.”

“The second-largest faction is the Black Dragon Society, composed of former Asian gang members, with over 1,500 people. They effectively control about thirty percent of the drug quota.”

“The third is the Black Prison Mercenary Organization, with about 1,000 people, but they are well-equipped and well-trained, controlling approximately twenty percent of the drugs.”

“The remaining faction consists of local militia organized by farmers, numbering around 500, controlling the final ten percent of the drug quota.”

Christine quickly found the description of the faction distribution in Gold Five-Star and read it out softly, giving Zhao Li and Li Mengdie a preliminary understanding.

Honestly, wanting to maintain stability in this region with an armed force of only two hundred people was truly delusional. One had to admit that the only reason those two hundred people hadn't been wiped out by the other four factions was out of respect for the government forces' powerful backing and their efforts to balance the interests of all parties.

Of course, the powerful military backing was the most important factor. Although those factions possessed various armed forces, they could never match the government’s aerial strike capabilities, such as warships. This was the government’s bottom line, and no one dared to cross it. Everyone knew that crossing it would lead to total annihilation. They were all living like local kings, trafficking drugs, and none of them had a death wish.

However, it was also very difficult for the government forces to wipe out these armed groups. First, Gold Five-Star, which had joined the Federation as an independent state, had its own independent laws. While they aligned with the Federation’s laws on major issues, they differed in some areas—such as allowing the possession of firearms, the cultivation of drugs, and drug use. Since these laws were passed by local democratic vote, the Federation really couldn't launch a devastating strike over them unless an uprising classified as a rebellion occurred. Otherwise, the garrison was never allowed to exceed a certain number.

Furthermore, the local terrain was complex, filled with various mountains and jungles, where a force of one or two thousand could vanish without a trace at any time. The government forces had previously sent large detachments under the pretext of hunting down murderers to try and wipe out these factions, but they could never find them. Especially the militia—once they put down their weapons, they were just honest farmers, and it was impossible to distinguish between a fighter and a resident.

Although this place seemed prosperous, there were no other crops to choose from besides the highly resilient poppy. Most of the local population were farmers living in poverty. No other planet or state in the Federation was willing to accept such a burden, because accepting the population of one state meant accepting the entire population of the planet. Everyone was in the same situation, and no one could play favorites; hence, the current tacit acceptance of rampant drugs and armed forces.

Zhao Li had looked at other yellow-zone areas, and they were no better. Perhaps those places didn't have drug problems, but religious conflicts and terrorist activities were just as common. This planet was essentially a paradise for criminals.

It wasn't that the government hadn't thought about cleaning up the planet's order, but due to previous neglect, it had become an uncontrollable mess. They couldn't use force to sweep away these hotbeds of crime; after all, they were nominally part of the Federation, just under different laws. Meanwhile, the independent laws limited the number of stationed troops. The federal government couldn't exactly be the one to break the law. Besides, if they did, how would other states perceive it?

“A very complex region,” Zhao Li sighed as he looked over the data.

“Relatively speaking, it’s manageable,” Christine added from the side. “Your choice is overall quite good. At the very least, there is only pure conflict of interest here, without any entanglement in religion or some kind of restorationist movement. If you had encountered those, you would know what true complexity is.”

Christine’s words were reasonable. Even Zhao Li hadn't expected that the place he chose based on his memories would have such an advantage. After all, conflicts over interests were much simpler than dealing with stubborn, brainwashed zealots. At the very least, when necessary, no one would turn away from money. And whether at the Genius School or during the intense training Zhao Li had undergone, most problems that could be solved with money were not significant problems at all.

“This place actually allows drug production and trafficking?” Zhao Li expressed his deep confusion that such laws could even be passed.

“What’s so strange about that? You haven't seen the even more ridiculous parts yet.” Christine seemed to have researched this place long ago and was not surprised at all.

“I think you had better hope that there are no drug addicts among the soldiers you are about to lead,” Li Mengdie said coldly from her seat nearby, leaving both Zhao Li and Christine stunned.

“This is my army?” Zhao Li stepped off the warship and saw what could only be described as a dilapidated tarmac and a slovenly military camp. The most striking sight was the soldiers, cigarette butts hanging from their mouths, lazing about and sunbathing.

The warship that had transported them closed its hatches almost as soon as the three stepped out. The roar of the engines preparing for takeoff jolted them from their initial shock, and they hurried to get out of the way; otherwise, the flames from the thrusters would have been enough to turn them into charred barbecue.

Seeing the warship depart, no one showed any curiosity. The voices drifting over sounded incredibly grating to their ears.

“Hey, more unlucky souls have arrived. Wonder what they did this time.”

“Whoa, there are two beauties! Wow…”

After a long, exaggerated whistle, it seemed everyone was reminded by the word “beauty” and began looking over. The landing and departure of a warship couldn't attract their attention nearly as much as two beautiful women.

“Looks like they’re officers, too…”

“So what if they’re officers? Didn't the last ones who came also have officer ranks? Look at them now.”

The tone of those around them remained that of idle onlookers; there was no sign of them wanting to cause trouble yet. However, it was undeniable that both the ice-cold beauty Li Mengdie and the stunningly vibrant Christine held a lethal attraction for these men. It seemed only a matter of time before they swarmed them.

“Such slackness within a military camp.” Zhao Li frowned, looking unhappily at these men who could barely be called soldiers. “There isn't even a single sentry post around. Dereliction of duty!”

“What I’m more concerned about is how long it’s been since these guys washed their uniforms,” Christine complained, equally dissatisfied and frowning.

“Hmph!” Li Mengdie didn't say much, just let out a cold snort. She said nothing else, but both could tell from that sound that she was extremely displeased.

“Hey, beauties, are you here to replace the garrison?” Not far away, a man took the cigarette from his mouth, held it in his hand, and waved at Christine and Li Mengdie, calling out.

“We are!” Christine switched to a breathtakingly charming smile in an instant, leaving the man who had called out stunned.

“Can you take us to meet your commander?” Christine smiled again, as radiant as a hundred flowers blooming. It wasn't just the man who had called out; everyone around who could see and hear them revealed expressions of infatuation, with a few even drooling.

Christine’s soul-captivating charm was an invincible secret technique that even many experts couldn't resist, let alone these lazy, slovenly soldiers. With just one smile and one voice, they could no longer maintain their previous disheveled demeanor.

The man Christine had addressed scrambled to his feet, threw his cigarette butt far away, patted himself down from head to toe, and even tugged at his clothes to smooth out the wrinkles. He then trotted over with a nauseating grin. “No problem, which commander do you want to see?”

“Your highest-ranking officer.” Christine still spoke with a smile.

Watching the man perform a sloppy, disrespectful gesture of invitation, Zhao Li suppressed a laugh and followed him toward a nearby barracks.

“Hey, Old Lai, you’re lucky! As soon as the beauties arrive, they go straight to you!” The others nearby, though they didn't have the honor of escorting the beauties, all began to tease the man.

“When you see an officer, don't you even know how to salute?” Zhao Li asked from behind, unable to help himself.

“Hahaha, Commander, this is a guerrilla zone. If you don’t want to get killed by a sniper bullet, you’d better not insist on these superficial formalities.” Old Lai explained with a smirk, lacking any hint of a serious warning.

No sooner had he finished speaking than, as if to prove Old Lai’s point, Li Mengdie stepped forward and reached out, grabbing a bullet that had been flying toward Zhao Li’s leg. Only then did the piercing sound of a gunshot arrive.

Even as the gunshot rang out, none of the soldiers stood up in fear; they remained in their lazy postures. Even Old Lai, in front, didn't change his expression.

“ZS336 bullet. It was fired from a standard-issue assault rifle.” Li Mengdie looked down at the bullet, stated the model casually, and turned her gaze toward the direction of the shot.

However, hearing Li Mengdie identify the bullet model, Old Lai seemed somewhat surprised and disbelieving, his mouth hanging open for a long time.

The others around them, not having seen the scene they expected—Zhao Li falling face-first into the dirt—didn't know what had happened and began to whisper among themselves. Li Mengdie’s movement had been too fast for most of them to see clearly.

“What is this? A show of force?” Zhao Li’s face remained calm, but he was furious inside. This bullet had been aimed at his leg; if it had truly been guerrilla fighters, they would have aimed for his head. Moreover, it was a standard-issue bullet, clearly the work of his own men. Daring to fire at his superior officer was unforgivable, regardless of the reason.

“Nothing of the sort, haha. Commander, it must have been a guerrilla sniper outside who saw your rank insignia.” Old Lai laughed it off, diverting the topic. He hurriedly led the three into the barracks, though he was pondering in his heart. It seemed the three people who had arrived this time were not simple characters.

“This is our company commander’s room.” Old Lai pointed to a tightly shut door. Without waiting for them to say anything, he quickly departed. “You can just go in yourselves.”

Why did that guy seem so guilty? Zhao Li looked at the retreating figure and exchanged glances with the two women, all of them wearing puzzled expressions.

*Knock, knock, knock.* Zhao Li reached out and knocked on the closed door. A weak voice came from inside: “Come in.”

Zhao Li pushed the door open. As it swung wide, an indescribable stench assaulted them, and the scene that followed made Zhao Li’s blood boil.

A pigsty—that was the only way to describe it. Inside, there was a bed with a figure lying on it, dressed in a uniform that looked as if it hadn't been washed in ages, covered by a thin blanket.

There was also a desk and a military terminal in the room, surrounded by piles of messy documents that had been accumulating dust for who knows how long.

The guy on the bed still had the faint insignia of a captain on his uniform, but when he lifted the blanket, Zhao Li realized that his legs were essentially ruined.