Steel torrents pioneering a different world

Chapter 142 The Giant Who Angered the Gods, Equipment Sold at a Discount! (1.2 words, please subscribe and vote!)

In the modern world, the Logistics Coordination Department.

The office was so quiet you could hear the low hum of the central air conditioning.

Li Weiguo poured another cup of hot, strong tea into the teacup and then placed it on the table.

He stretched, turned around, picked up the spray bottle, and carefully sprayed some water on the only potted green ivy on the windowsill.

The cool mist splashed onto the green plants and also onto his hands.

My eyes, sore from working on documents for so long, got a precious moment of relief when I looked at the green scenery.

After a precious rest, he put his thick glasses back on, and the encrypted file sent by Zhong Mengyao was quietly lying on the screen.

This is about the latest developments regarding Lin Li.

Looking at the compiled data curves above, and the script outline titled "Iron Torrent Pioneering Another World," Li Weiguo silently lit a cigarette.

His eyes sharpened amidst the swirling smoke.

"Farming is an obsession etched into our bones, and this animation... represents us!"

"Aliens? That's an interesting term. Does it refer to us 'aliens' who arrived through the time portal, or does it mean that besides us, there are visitors from a third-party force in that world?"

Li Weiguo exhaled a thick smoke ring, stood up from his chair, and paced back and forth in the small office.

The floor made a slight sound as he stepped on it.

"Holy Knights, is Lin Li reminding us that there is a supernatural system in this other world, and it's a well-organized force of knights?"

"A supernatural system from a Western fantasy world? Although it's not a traditional Eastern internal energy cultivation method, it has high scientific research value!"

"An ancient dragon...detained by the comprehensive law enforcement team and fined 250 yuan?"

Even Li Weiguo couldn't help but twitch at the sight.

Is this kid indirectly insulting someone, or is he implying in an absurd way that even legendary creatures can be bound by "order" and "rules"?

"Does he want us to make contact and communicate with races from another world?"

"Wait a minute! Could this just be one of his pranks? A sudden inspiration?"

Li Weiguo stopped, walked to the table, and quickly opened another file.

It is a psychological profile created by the psychological analysis department for Lin Li.

"A sentimental young man with a simple patriotism, passion, impulsiveness, and occasional recklessness."

"They can be won over and guided, but they have personality flaws and possess an uncertain power that is difficult for an individual to control, and could even endanger an entire civilization—extremely dangerous!!"

"Please closely monitor their psychological state and behavior..."

"It is recommended... to keep them in the open and avoid excessive exposure to extreme matters, otherwise they may unleash cruel, game-criminal behavior..."

Li Weiguo tapped the words "uncertain forces" lightly with his fingers before closing the file.

He picked up the internal phone on the table and dialed Zhong Mengyao directly.

"Mengyao, you've been very productive these past two days."

"Lin Li's studio can expand its internal structure. We need to send more people there to fulfill his vision. In addition, we need to recruit a group of pretty girls, but their political background checks must be absolutely rigorous."

Zhong Mengyao on the other end of the phone was stunned for a moment, then her tone instantly rose: "Hiring pretty girls? President Li, are you sure you're not mistaken? That guy is a lecherous scoundrel. You're sending a lamb to the slaughter! What if he tries to take advantage of you?"

Li Weiguo leaned back in his chair, his tone devoid of any emotion: "Did he sexually harass you?"

“No, not at all…” Zhong Mengyao’s voice suddenly weakened. “I tried to test him once, but he was quite… quite timid when it came to matters between men and women.”

"Ha, he only dares to secretly glance at those big, attractive women. As soon as I get close, he immediately pretends to be serious. He's a typical case of having the desire but not the courage."

"You broke the rules?" Li Weiguo asked, frowning.

"Ah, no, no, I just thought this guy was interesting and wanted to tease him!"

"Interesting...?" Li Weiguo chuckled. "That's the effect I wanted. A seemingly upright guy suddenly has several female colleagues with clean backgrounds, outstanding abilities, and pleasing appearances around him. Do you think he'll still have time to think about anything else?"

“This…” Zhong Mengyao was speechless for a moment.

"Ok, deal."

After hanging up the phone, Li Weiguo stubbed out his cigarette and turned his gaze back to the absurd yet suggestive script on the screen.

Lin Li, are you a lucky one who was pushed to the forefront, or a cunning fox who knows how to disguise himself with innocence?
-
In another world, 173 kilometers from the frontline camp.

Yu Qiwen tore open the wrapper of a White Rabbit milk candy and stuffed the familiar cylindrical candy into his mouth.

The rich aroma of milk and sweetness melted on his tongue, easing the tension in his nerves caused by excessive mental exertion.

Outside the temporary prefabricated houses at the base, the cold wind swirled snowflakes, making a sound like ghosts howling.

In the distance, the mountain ranges and icy sea that had just begun to reveal themselves were soon shrouded in a new wave of wind and snow.

He slowly chewed the milk candy while mentally calculating the progress of the project.

At the current pace, this strategic highway that detours from the far north will be fully opened in eight days at most.

By then, the logistics supply line will be greatly shortened, and the shallow-sea exploration vessel supporting the rear will also be able to be launched, and will conduct preliminary exploration of this unfamiliar ocean next door in the future.

In the ocean, do unknown risks lie, or new riches?
no one knows.

But everyone was filled with anticipation.

After all, the harvest from the other side of the long lake, which connects to the sea underground, was truly abundant.

Yu Qiwen thought of the intelligent giant octopus that the biology group jokingly called "Changhu Ke Zong," and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curled up.

When those guys were first discovered, they were incredibly powerful.

As soon as the expedition team's sonar detector was turned on, it mistook it for a provocation and unleashed a giant wave that destroyed two explorers.

Their murderous aura made it seem as if they were about to devour the fighting force.

The results of it?
The special operations team and the biology group joined forces, using high-frequency sound waves to lure it, and then used a specially made large net to teach it a lesson.

After several rounds of fighting, and after capturing three and a half of its tentacles as specimens, the "Changhu Kezong" (a nickname for a bird) was completely scared off. No matter how the scientists tried to lure it with various delicious baits, it refused to show its face and hid its huge body in the deepest underground river at the bottom of the lake, pretending to be dead.

If these guys didn't possess extremely high scientific research value, they would definitely be wiped out.

Their regenerative ability is ridiculously strong; severed tentacles can continue to grow in the culture medium, providing a continuous source of samples for research.

If it weren't for the fact that the biology group's research fanatics had no shortage of specimens, they probably would have applied to drain the water from Changhu Lake.

It is said that scientists have recently extracted an active substance from its cells that can effectively promote human cell metabolism and accelerate wound healing.

The first batch of finished products showed very good results after testing on experimental monkeys, and we are now applying for human testing.

She was relieved to learn that her application for her husband's eligibility had been approved.

If everything goes smoothly, Yu Qiwen expects to receive a third batch of trial slots, and his heart is filled with excitement.

If we work harder and earn more contribution points, we can not only get one for the old man, but also one for the son.

His son has had congenital heart disease since childhood, cannot engage in strenuous exercise, and is physically weak.

I wonder if this magical world can find a cure for his son's illness.

Perhaps, it lies in that unknown deep sea?
Just then, the door of the prefab house behind us creaked open, and a gust of warm air rushed out.

"Professor Yu, the mammoth herd is coming soon!"

"coming!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Qiwen, who was standing outside, quickly responded and turned back.

With a creak, he opened the door of the prefab house, and a warm breeze mixed with the heat of the equipment, the aroma of tea and coffee rushed in, dispelling the chill clinging to him.

Inside the train-car-style field control center, several staff members were intently watching their respective screens.

On one of the largest main screens, live footage is being broadcast from a drone at high altitude.

Eight enormous black figures were slowly making their way towards the camp through the thick snow.

As the drone's camera zoomed in, the details of the creatures became increasingly clear.

"Hiss..." A young technician adjusted his glasses and couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, "I'm increasingly feeling that the size of a mammoth is simply a moving small mountain."

Although they had been monitoring these behemoths for many days, the closer they got, the more shocked they became.

Yu Qiwen walked to the control panel, his eyes fixed on the screen, and his breathing paused unconsciously.

"Switch to the thermal imaging view."

"Yes, Professor Yu."

The image flashed, turning into vibrant blocks of color. Against a pale, cold background, eight enormous figures emitted no infrared signature except for their mouths and noses.

This means that the fur of these woolly mammoths, like that of the direwolves, had excellent insulating properties.

On the secondary screen next to it, the data was refreshing rapidly.

"The deployed scanning equipment has started up and is entering data into the biobank," the technician reported.
The deployed probes have been activated silently and have begun to complete the detailed model. The leader is at least 6.4 meters tall at the shoulder and its weight is estimated to be over 20 tons.

The tallest African elephant on Earth would probably look like a small calf compared to it.

"It's a pity it's too big; it's not convenient to tame it for now!" Yu Qiwen muttered to himself.

These creatures have long since transcended the realm of common sense in Earth's biology.

What kind of bones and muscles would such a huge land creature need to support its own weight, and how much energy would it need to consume to maintain its life activities?
This world is constantly challenging his understanding.

The people of the Ice River tribe said that these herbivorous woolly mammoths were not easy to provoke. They had a very bad temper and their fur was extremely protective, making them difficult to harm with ordinary swords and knives.

Its hair fibers have a unique structure that can even withstand fire for a short time. Once enraged, it will launch an unstoppable, deadly charge.

They were very close to giants and those cunning cave-dwelling orcs.

Legend has it that some cave-dwelling half-human tribes even tamed them in underground caves as war beasts.

Giants and cave-dwelling half-humans were seen as two completely opposite extremes by the Ice River tribe.

The Ice River tribe said that the cave-dwelling half-humans were cruel, cunning, and numerous. They loved digging holes and were a troublesome intelligent race that they expected to encounter when they expanded southward.

Giants, on the other hand, are the other extreme. They are not very intelligent, have thick hair, and rely solely on their immense strength and height.

They are omnivorous and don't eat much, but they possess extraordinary strength, and most of the time no creatures dare to provoke them.

Because the giants were good-natured, many northern savage tribes regarded them as friends.

"If only our troops could be ordered to make the arrest!"

A soldier watched as the woolly mammoth gradually left the area where their scanning device was deployed, his eyes filled with a sense of loss at having failed to achieve his goal.

“Yes, what a pity,” the technician sighed. “If only that giant from the Ice River tribe were still alive. We could have a live specimen for research, and maybe they could easily tame these mammoths, and we could figure out the affinity mechanisms of these native creatures.”

The giant who attacked the Ice River tribe a few days ago, was transformed by the necromancer, and was burned is a pain that the biology team still remembers vividly.

If they had discovered the attack on the Ice River tribe earlier and come to their rescue, the giants might not have died, and they would have been able to better understand the giants as a group.

Yu Qiwen ignored his teammates' words. His gaze remained fixed on the mammoth's thick, wall-like limbs, then shifted to its two long, curved, massive tusks that gleamed with a cold luster.

A thought involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

Earth's rhinoceroses have extremely high medicinal value, and ivory is also quite good.
The cells of "Changhu Kezong" can be used to extract active substances that promote wound healing.

What about these mammoths?
Their fur, which is impervious to knives and fire, their bones, which are comparable to alloys, their huge tusks... every part of them is made of top-quality biological materials.

If we could bring back one... no, even just a single ivory tusk, how many contribution points could we get?

Perhaps enough points to exchange for one set of medication for my son would suffice.

hold head high--

A deep, long hiss echoed through the control center via a highly sensitive radio.

On the screen, the eight woolly mammoths, clearly in their twilight years, began to turn their massive, mountain-like bodies around and slowly move north after discovering some forks in the road set up by humans.

Instead of struggling through knee-deep snow, they naturally took to the flat, sturdy road that had been carved out by humans.

"Ha, they really know how to pick their routes," a young technician joked, trying to ease the tense atmosphere. "Knowing they'll take the highway we built, shouldn't we charge them a toll?"

Many soldiers laughed!
The other party retreated northwards along their route, which facilitated their subsequent capture operation!
Yu Qiwen's gaze was fixed on the screen, and a hint of reluctance appeared on his face.

These mammoths deserve credit, but unfortunately, because they are too far from headquarters, the other side's route to the far north is very likely to overlap with theirs.

Therefore, they cannot turn these goals into achievements!

This place is just an outpost observation post. They were mainly dispatched here in an emergency to save the Ice River tribe, which was on the verge of being wiped out by the undead scourge. The heavy equipment here has been sent to the road construction team.

Let alone catching these big guys, even if they just collapsed on their own, it would take their camp a lot of time to drag them back.

Besides this, these old elephants go to the far north to die; that's their destiny. If humans forcibly intervene, it might affect their relationship with the tribe.

Although humans don't care about the opinions of the alien savage tribes.

The deaths of these mammoths were considered sacred by the savages.

If you try to stop them, it's like someone provoking you at a funeral in the East – it's just as unpleasant.

As long as the other side continues to retreat northward along the roads they have laid out, they won't need to lift a finger; these woolly mammoths will willingly walk into their trap.

Once the mammoth was confirmed to have left, the soldiers packaged the data, encrypted it, and transmitted it via drones and wind-powered repeaters to a location more than 100 kilometers in the far north.

Only when he saw the message on the screen indicating that Zhao Chong's unit had successfully received the signal did Yu Qiwen finally relax.

He turned and left the control center. A blast of cold air hit him, clearing his mind, which had become somewhat numb from sitting for so long.

He's going to visit the Ice River tribe again.

This is his daily routine when he comes here.

These mammoths were headed for the far north, the resting place of the dead, the domain of the god of cold.

Their understanding and investigation of the other world largely came from the mouths of these native locals.

Although many of them are unreliable, they can help them better understand the customs and culture of another world.

Yu Qiwen carried a bag of White Rabbit milk candy and headed towards the area where the Ice River tribe members gathered.

The oldest member of the Ice River tribe is Jinhe, the 27-year-old chieftain.

The other party had already followed Zhao Chong to scout ahead. As the distance increased, they no longer returned every day, but instead stayed at a camp in the far north.

At its peak, the tribe had several thousand members, but after being attacked by the Scourge, it now has only about 1100 members, mostly teenagers and young adults.

Many members of the Ice Age tribes were holding a baby who was sucking its thumb.

In such harsh conditions, this tenacious ability to reproduce is a miracle in itself.

It was because they protected the weak that the main force believed the other side was worth saving.

Yu Qiwen skillfully entered the tribe's "survival classroom".

There were no tables or chairs, no blackboard. A group of children, ranging in age from three or four to seven or eight, huddled in a sheltered spot, listening intently to a woman wrapped in an animal skin coat and a down jacket.

At the woman's feet were several animal bones and stones of different colors, and crooked patterns were drawn on the ground with charcoal.

This is about teaching wilderness survival skills.

It is hard to imagine that these primitive tribes can pass on their survival experience through classroom teaching and other means, just like human civilization.

Yu Qiwen's arrival did not cause much of a stir. Only a few young children secretly glanced at him, their eyes lingering on his pockets for a moment before quickly looking away.

He walked over with a smile, squatted down, peeled a piece of candy, and stuffed it into the mouth of a little boy with a runny nose.

The little boy was stunned. He smacked his lips, his eyes widening instantly. A sweet aroma made him squint his eyes in happiness.

The children around looked on with envy.

“Your Excellency, you must not give the child any more candy! This will cause him to lose his will to strive.”

The woman who was giving the lecture stood up and spoke to Yu Qiwen.

Her name is "Golden Shrimp," and she is one of the tribe's best female hunters.

Despite being only 24 years old, she has already given birth to five children, two of whom are still alive. She is a strong woman in the tribe.

"It's okay, I'll attend the class, and I'll definitely pay for the tuition!"

Yu Qiwen handed over more than ten milk candies.

Golden Shrimp did not refuse; she knew that the items in the hands of these divine messengers were very precious to their tribe.

However, for the divine messengers, everything is readily available.

She smiled as she took the candy, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and then reached out to try and grab Yu Qiwen's crotch.

Unfortunately, Yu Qiwen was prepared and easily dodged.

This is one of the ways women in the Ice River tribe woo men.

People in primitive tribes are very simple. If a man seems attractive, they will go out on their own initiative. The man only needs to take on the responsibility of raising the child afterward.

Children in savage tribes are often raised together.

Yu Qiwen dodged Jin Xia's groping hands, and the other party didn't seem to mind. She smiled and gave each child a piece, looking very kind.

When a child tried to grab it, she kicked him to the ground.

Then, the golden shrimp pointed at the child.

Seven or eight children gathered around and started hitting him.

The caveman toddler who dared to snatch the candy was beaten until he howled and begged for mercy, at which point the golden shrimp ordered the others to stop.

The education system of the Ice River Tribe remains as highly effective as ever.

Yu Qiwen watched from the side, his lips slightly pursed, but he didn't say anything.

He had seen this kind of thing many times before. At first, he would ask about it, but later he would stop participating and giving advice.

Every civilization has its own way of educating children.

The Ice River Tribe's education system is simple and brutal, but it is extremely effective in this world.

The children took his candy and immediately put it in their mouths like a precious treasure, filling the classroom with the sound of satisfied sucking.

"My lord, do you still want to hear our tribe's old, worn-out stories?"

After dealing with the children's commotion, Jinxia looked at Yu Qiwen and asked with a shy smile.

The other person was a big, burly man with arms that could run a horse across. He had given birth to several children and was now showing off his assets for raising children.

The other person's expression left Yu Qiwen speechless.

"Yes, Ms. Golden Shrimp, could you tell me again about the legendary Frost Giants?" Yu Qiwen got straight to the point. "You say that the ancient Frost Giants are completely different from your friends, the Hairy Giants. I've never understood, are there other categories of giants?"

Jinxia was annoyed that Yu Qiwen wasn't looking at her, but she still solemnly put the item into her pocket and shook her head, saying, "I don't know. I've told you many times about the knowledge that has been passed down in the tribe: frost giants, hairy giants, and lots of giants."

"Can't you really take us to see that land of the Frost Giants' war? That burial ground?"

“My lord, perhaps you are capable of facing the gods’ punishment, but our tribe is not. Many of our warriors have ventured there, but it was a disaster!”

Yu Qiwen sighed.

A few days ago, the other person told me this story.

About forty years ago, a knightly army from the Greenlands, whom they called the "Iron Can Army," also came to the graveyard of the Frost Giants.

Then this army angered the gods, bringing about destruction and disaster!
The Glacier tribe was nearly wiped out because people from the Green Lands came here, which led to the destruction of their town.

“Ms. Golden Shrimp, could you tell me what kind of disaster this time?” Yu Qiwen took out more candy.

"Divine punishment. They will seize children, kill adults, and leave us starving forever!"

The golden shrimp accepted the candy offered by the other party and then spoke emphatically.

Her tone was serious, and her eyes revealed earnestness, along with a hint of fear stemming from her bloodline. Yu Qiwen remained silent.

They arrest children and kill adults.

This sounds more like a bedtime story that adults use to scare children.

But combined with the intelligence he had previously obtained, he discerned a completely different meaning.

After staying there for several days, he learned about the stories passed down orally among the Ice River tribe, which had several versions.

The first version is that a long, long time ago, the gods in the sky fought a battle with the frost giants.

The giants lost, so the gods punished all the giants and his friends.

Anyone who approaches the burial ground of the giants will be cursed by the gods, who will seize all the children and make them slaves for eternity, starving them.

Another one is that the tribe said the frost giants once possessed godlike power.

They controlled the flames, dominated the earth, and lived in large houses of gold and green, until one day they angered the gods in the sky and the angels under their command!
The frost giants were destroyed by divine punishment from the angels.

The once prosperous city, the city of gold, has now become a city of frost, a city of death, a cursed land, an ominous place, an absolute forbidden zone for the living.

Anyone or any tribe that dares to approach the forbidden area will suffer calamity.

The far north is very close to the Ice River Tribe. The Ice River Tribe has repeatedly said that the forbidden area is off-limits to outsiders and is the graveyard of countless giants.

Some of the woolly mammoths that were close to giants would go there when they were nearing death, making it their final resting place.

Some continued their journey to the frigid realms of the far north, dedicating their lives and bodies to the cold.

The truth behind "divine punishment" might be some kind of defense mechanism that is still in operation today, or... something is protecting the legacy of the giants?
Are those gods in the sky aliens, or other forces on this planet?
Can they fly and burrow underground, and unleash terrifying attacks?
As Jinxia continued to recount the tribe's survival experiences, Yu Qiwen silently took notes.

Most of the stories about golden shrimp are useless, and many of the experiences are even quite idiotic, but some of them are based on very scientific principles.

The tribes that can survive in the far north possess a wealth of survival wisdom that allows their warriors to gain extensive experience in surviving in other worlds.

In critical moments, this experience can become a survival opportunity for soldiers, reducing non-combat casualties!
In the modern world, on the outskirts of a camp.

The car came to a smooth stop, and Abdul straightened his suit, which wasn't particularly eye-catching in the East, and got out.

As soon as he got out of the car, he sensed the tense atmosphere of the camp.

Abdul looked around, and the sound of soldiers' drill chants drifted through the air.

Several staff members in crisp uniforms were already waiting there, with professional smiles on their faces.

"Prince Abdul, welcome."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he was led into a separate reception building.

The first thing to address is the communication equipment.

A staff member handed over a brand new mobile phone.

That phone had simple functions; it didn't have a camera or video recorder.

"Your Highness, as you know, this is a military-controlled area, and photography is prohibited in many areas. If you wish to take photos later, we will arrange for a professional photographer."

“I understand, I completely understand.” Abdul nodded with a smile, readily agreeing.

He recalled the last time he went to the United States with his uncle, those guys rudely snatched his phone, and when they returned it, who knows what had been added to it.

To ensure safety, he changed both his phone and his phone number.

In comparison, people from the East are much more dignified.

They provided a heavy metal safe, where he placed his personal cell phone in front of them, set the password himself, and then the other party simply took the key.

Both appearance and substance were given ample consideration.

This feeling of being respected pleased Abdul greatly.

The group led Abdul on a simple tour of the non-classified area within the military camp.

Then came dinner, which was served in a separate dining room. When the plates were brought out, Abdul's eyes lit up.

The food on the plate was uniquely shaped and emitted a familiar yet strange aroma that was enough to make one's mouth water.

These are top-quality ingredients prepared especially for him.

He glanced at the servants and translators at the table not far away. In front of them were normal Chinese dishes, which were equally exquisite, but compared to the dish in front of him, they were clearly inferior.

Abdul picked up his knife and fork, cut off a small piece, and put it in his mouth.

The familiar, indescribable deliciousness exploded on his taste buds once again, as if awakening some primal urge deep in his blood, making him squint his eyes slightly.

He really wanted to invite his servants to try these, to show his kindness and generosity as a prince.

Unfortunately, the supply of these ingredients was strictly controlled, and each portion was precisely measured. After his servants ate, he would have to eat one less bite.

Abdul continued to enjoy his meal.

After dinner, when he returned to his room to rest, he had just inserted the SIM card into his new phone.

Jingle Bell--

The shrill ringing of the bell suddenly broke the silence of the room.

Abdul raised an eyebrow slightly when he saw the name flashing on the screen.

He was his good brother, his half-brother, who held some real power in the kingdom, and whose relationship with him was both adversarial and friendly, making him his main rival.

This guy heard from his mother that he was dancing a lot, so why would he call me at this time?

Abdul didn't answer immediately, letting the phone ring as he quickly considered various possibilities.

He only slowly swiped to answer the call when it rang for the third time and was about to automatically disconnect.

"Haha, dear Sadler, I was in the bathroom just now."

The voice of Sadler on the other end of the phone sounded urgent and agitated, as if it had been scorched by fire.

"Abdul, have we arrived at our destination? Have you inspected all the equipment?"

Abdul walked to the window, looking at the brightly lit but unusually quiet camp outside, his voice so calm that it was impossible to detect a ripple.

“Dear brother, there’s no need to rush. I’ve just checked in, and the tour isn’t until tomorrow.”

This half-brother had repeatedly bullied him, a maid's child, by relying on the noble family background of their mother.

Even after all these years, he still considers himself the boss!
Abdul really wanted to slap the other person a few times.

"Wait until tomorrow? Abdul, don't you know that our plan to purchase equipment has been leaked! Those bastards in the United States are already putting pressure on us, and the whole world is laughing at us! We need to get things settled quickly over there."

Abdul's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

Give way?

He sneered inwardly.

From the time he received the news and reported it to the royal family, the number of people who had contact with this secret could be counted on two hands.

In just a few days, the news grew wings, flew halfway around the world, and precisely reached the eagle's ears.
This isn't a leak, this is informing!

And his "dear brother" is being so proactive, it seems he's not here to tell him anything, but rather to watch him make a fool of himself.
That bastard Sha, you disgusting scoundrel!

Abdul really wanted to grab the other person by the neck over the phone and ask, "Did you direct this whole thing yourselves?"
But he didn't. He simply replied, "I understand. I'll handle the pressure. You and your brothers keep things stable in the country and withstand the pressure."

"you……"

The other party seemed to want to say something more, but Abdul didn't give him the chance and simply hung up the phone.

The room instantly fell into absolute silence, so quiet that he could hear the sound of blood flowing through his veins.

He tugged at his tie in frustration.

Although Sha now has that wise, decisive, young and energetic crown prince in power, he is more aware of the undercurrents beneath the surface than anyone else.

The complex web of interests among various families, a group of brothers eyeing the throne, and those fools whose heads are filled with Western ideas, always thinking of igniting some kind of fire of freedom in the desert.

There were even ambitious individuals who had been infiltrated by the Persians and attempted to convert all Sunnis into Shia.

There are too many questions.

Their scheming and infighting meant they had little desire to fight, so much so that even a wealthy kingdom couldn't defeat the local militia.

Their so-called Middle Eastern ambitions, the flag of the desert, have long been an international laughing stock.

The immense pressure made him instinctively reach into his pocket and pull out a disguised silver cigarette case.

He opened it, and a cigarette was skillfully held between his fingers.

This is a bad habit I picked up while studying abroad, and according to religious doctrine, it is a great disrespect.

But he always felt that the ban was for devout ordinary believers, not for those who made the rules.

He had seen far too many sectarian scum, with beauties in his left hand and scriptures in his right, living a life of loyalty to both Buddha and his beloved!
He talks a lot of moral lessons, but his heart is full of business ideas.

What's the big deal about smoking a cigarette?
"puff."

The flame lit up, and he took a deep breath. The pungent smoke filled his lungs, bringing a brief numbing sensation.

Amidst the swirling smoke, he looked at the brand-new cell phone on the table.

The gifts from Easterners, while presentable, carried a chilling undertone, permeated with rules and regulations, suggesting that their business was merely a partnership.

Just like that dinner, it was meant for him alone.

Just like this mobile phone, although its functions are simple, it also means an absolutely secure communication channel.

A line... that is not being listened to by those pesky eagles.

pressure?

Sometimes, pressure is the best filter.

It can help him clearly distinguish between his friends and ghosts.

He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and went to sleep, waiting for tomorrow's main course!
Silent all night.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Abdul was ushered into an off-road vehicle.

He came without any attendants or formalities, only a serious-looking Eastern soldier with the rank of colonel on his shoulder, and a silent driver.

Instead of heading to the showroom he had imagined, the car made several turns and ended up in a warehouse area.

Rows of enormous objects covered in heavy canvas, like sleeping steel behemoths, stood neatly arranged in the morning light, exuding an imposing aura.

Abdul's heart skipped a beat.

This setup... doesn't seem like they're just trying to sell a few samples, does it?
Colonel Zhang, who was accompanying him, signaled the driver to stop the car and then gestured "please" to Abdul.

"Your Highness, this way please."

With a simple gesture from Colonel Zhang, the soldiers who had been waiting in the distance moved in unison, tearing down the canvas covering the front row.

wow-

The canvas landed, stirring up a fine cloud of dust.

The sight of what was revealed made Abdul's breath catch in his throat.

That wasn't just one vehicle, but an entire row.

A whole row of Type 96 main battle tanks, their gun barrels raised high, their tracks still covered in dried mud, as if they had just come from the exercise field.

Following closely behind were various types of armored personnel carriers, self-propelled artillery, rocket launchers... densely packed together, forming a steel jungle.

The air was filled with the smell of engine oil mixed with cold metal.

Because the sunlight had just shone down, the equipment looked almost sacred.

Abdul's Adam's apple bobbed up and down; he felt his throat was a little dry.

He thought of those precious treasures back home, whose every move had to be reported to the United States.

Looking at this "steel jungle" in front of him, if all of these things were negative assets, he felt that the equipment they had purchased was simply a joke.

Colonel Zhang watched his reaction without changing his expression, his tone as calm as if he were introducing his own backyard vegetable garden.

"Your Highness, what you see here is equipment that our troops have been gradually phasing out in recent years. The performance of this equipment can no longer keep up with our development needs; it takes up space here and is troublesome to maintain. We are preparing to sell these troublesome items in bulk!"

This batch of equipment is all from 20 years ago. If it cannot be sold, it will have to be stored away.

With so many resources in this other world and the performance of various equipment improved so dramatically, keeping these things would just consume even more resources.

Abdul's eye twitched.

Outdated? Too much trouble? Selling in bulk is too much of a hassle.

Are you trying to show off?

He strode up to a Type 96 tank, reached out, and gently tapped the heavy armor with his finger adorned with an expensive ring.

clang.

The sound was deep and solid.

This is real.

He pinched his arm to make sure he wasn't dreaming!
These are the kinds of equipment that he sees as enough to form a modern combined arms brigade, and that would be painful for them to equip, but in the other side's eyes they are just troublesome things to deal with.

"Colonel Zhang, what are your plans... for dealing with these problems?"

Abdul tried his best to keep his voice steady, but a slight tremor at the end of his voice betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

Colonel Zhang seemed oblivious to the obvious, maintaining his businesslike tone: "According to procedure, most of them will be dismantled and treated as spare parts, or... directly recycled into steel."

Remelting steel?

Abdul almost couldn't catch his breath.

The image of his brother's shocked and furious face flashed into his mind instantly.

If he knew that the heavy equipment he's been dreaming of is being sold by the pound as scrap metal here, I wonder what his expression would be.

The pressure and frustration accumulated yesterday were replaced at this moment by a burning ambition and ecstasy.

Easterners are not joking.

They really want to get involved in the desert's game!

For the Silk Road that stretched across the continent, they needed a stable Middle East and a compliant, powerful partner.

And I am the one who was chosen?

The enormous opportunity that had come knocking on his door left Abdul feeling somewhat dizzy.

He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, turned around, and put on the polite yet aloof smile that belonged to a prince.

"Colonel, your generosity and strength are truly admirable."

He paused, then changed the subject, his tone carrying a perfectly timed probing.

"You have an old saying that goes, 'What's trash to one person is treasure to another.' I wonder what the price would be for these obsolete pieces of equipment that are about to be disposed of, and when they'd be sold?"

Colonel Zhang's gaze shifted from the steel jungle to Abdul's face, to that of an Easterner whose expression was unreadable, with a faint, almost imperceptible curve at the corner of his mouth.

"Your Highness need not worry about the price." His voice remained steady, yet carried an undeniable certainty. "When we sell things, we value making friends. The price will absolutely be a friend's price."

He then changed the subject, adding, "Of course, considering some of your... special circumstances, Your Highness, it wouldn't be very convenient to just transport these things over there."

Abdul felt a chill run down his spine and immediately understood what the other person was referring to—

It's an eagle.

"Therefore, the appearance of these equipment needs some minor adjustments. We will give them a new skin to ensure that once they are in your hands, they are your own and have nothing to do with us anymore," Colonel Zhang said casually, as if it were as simple as putting a tint on a car.

"Regarding delivery, we can provide a small batch first for your staff to familiarize themselves with and train. The rest will be delivered in batches within the agreed timeframe. Rest assured, our modification factory is highly efficient and will not keep you waiting too long."

Abdul's mind raced.

A complete makeover? Phased delivery? This is practically a tailor-made solution for him!
It can quickly build up combat capability while avoiding alerting the United States.

He licked his dry lips, trying to suppress his overwhelming joy, and tentatively asked in a businessman's tone, "So... regarding the price, could you give me a rough estimate? For example, this Type 96 tank in front of us?"

Upon hearing this, Colonel Zhang glanced at the tank, his expression as if he were a market vendor examining a head of cabbage.

“Buying them individually isn’t cost-effective, Your Highness.” He shook his head. “We don’t sell them by the vehicle.”

Abdul was taken aback: "Then press what?"

"Calculated by trip."

"..."

Abdul suspected there was something wrong with his ears.

旅?
Colonel Zhang seemed oblivious to his petrified expression and continued explaining, "It's quite a waste to dismantle and remelt these pieces of equipment; calculating the cost based on the tonnage of scrap steel isn't worthwhile."

"Therefore, we sell complete sets of travel equipment, with only a small processing and modification fee added to the price."

Abdul felt dizzy and almost lost his composure on the spot.

He recalled how they had gone to great lengths and spent astronomical sums to buy the M1A2s from the United States, boasting about them and treating them like royalty. The exorbitant price was ultimately crushed by the "slipper army" (a derogatory term for the US military).

Here, main battle tanks with similar performance are being sold off as scrap metal?!

He even had an absurd thought: Could this be a scam?

"What about the payment plan? After all, we need a stable and reliable strategic partner. Colonel! Are you selling all this scrap metal? If I want it all, what kind of discount will you give us?"

“Prince Abdul, please come with us! Let’s take a look at the package price of these equipment.”

These combined arms equipment actually need to be deployed in integrated combat systems to unleash their full power.

Previously, some of Sha's princes had purchased some synthetic brigades, but the prices were heartbreaking.

Even though drones are commonplace these days, if I could buy them at a very low cost and then sell them to other desert allies at a reasonable price, my status would definitely rise significantly.

Abdul was brainstorming, while the colonel was thinking about how to sell the equipment in large quantities while keeping the production timeframe at several years.

It shouldn't be too fast, nor too slow.

This is an order from higher up!
Colonel Zhang's understanding of some core secrets is very limited.

He was unaware that with the addition of new materials from another world, many pieces of equipment would face extremely serious and incredibly awkward problems.

Some equipment from decades ago has had its performance pushed to the limit, and even upgrades cannot keep up with the new generation of equipment.

The basic smelting of the mines in this other world has now begun.

It is estimated that in half a month, a large number of rare elements will be produced and combined with military equipment.

It would certainly be insufficient for civilian use, but it would be more than enough for military use.

In this situation, quickly selling outdated equipment that severely interferes with subsequent upgrades, recouping funds, strengthening one's own capabilities, and strategically confusing competitors to focus more attention on older and newer equipment becomes a win-win situation.

If this equipment had been deployed decades ago, it could have completely altered the course of the world order, and they would have needed to consider it carefully.

but now--

With an unlimited supply of resources from the other world, and all of them performing exceptionally well... they wished they could replace all their equipment with materials from that other world.

The University of Tokyo has a strong industrial output, and its military industry capabilities are even more impressive.

In many sectors, production capacity has been reduced to only one percent of its peak level, yet it has already encroached on Eagle's civilian firearms and ammunition market.

If it were to be fully unleashed, it would be enough to cause a massive global brawl.

Only a small opening was made at the top to secure the initial funding!

This small opening has already begun to have an impact on the entire world!
(End of this chapter)