Shackles of Humanity

The exterior of the naval port was heavily fortified. It was densely packed with pillboxes, and anti-aircraft guns stood tall, filling the air with a grim, murderous aura.

Gao Gang presented their pass, and a squad of soldiers escorted them into the naval port. The port was piled high with military supplies like firearms and cannons. Many soldiers were drilling in formation, constantly on guard against an attack from the Nanzhao Kingdom.

Luo Kai also saw two steel warships patrolling the sea. They were massive vessels, at least tens of thousands of tons each. The cannons on the warships were far superior to mobile land-based artillery in both range and power. With these two warships as a deterrent, the Nanzhao Kingdom wouldn’t dare to launch a rash attack on Ping Mountain Port.

The group arrived at a semi-submerged pillbox in the center of the naval port. The guards confiscated all of their weapons before allowing them inside.

Gao Gang briefly explained the situation to a military Staff Officer and was subsequently led to a reception room.

Luo Kai lit a cigarette and asked Gao Gang, "Captain, what are we here to see the Great Lord for?"

Sipping his tea, Gao Gang explained, "Mercenary missions are generally divided into two types: one-off missions and continuous missions. I don’t need to explain one-offs. For continuous missions, a deposit is paid upfront, with the final payment upon completion. This is a continuous mission. Yiven still owes us a final payment of ten million."

Luo Kai’s jaw dropped. "There’s still ten million left?"

Luo Kai’s reaction made the others laugh. Black Bear clapped him on the shoulder. "Xiaoluo, stick with us and you’ll be living the high life. When I have time, I’ll take you to the Dongyuan Upper Country to see the world. Ten million isn’t even enough for me to spend in one night..."

They waited until noon before finally meeting the supreme ruler of the Xingma Kingdom. Duke Yiven was a short, fat old man with a potbelly. Anyone who didn’t know better would have mistaken him for a wealthy merchant. He squinted at them for a moment before speaking. "You completed your mission very well. I am most satisfied."

"You’re too kind, Your Grace."

Yiven pondered for a moment, then said, "The army of my Xingma Kingdom is now at a critical juncture. I hope you can help me defend Ironwood Castle."

Gao Gang bowed. "Of course. However, Your Grace should be aware of our Mercenary Corps’ rules. We will do our utmost as long as the castle has not fallen, but the moment it’s breached, we will withdraw immediately."

Duke Yiven was instantly displeased. He waved his hand impatiently. "I know, I know. You may go."

Gao Gang took two awkward steps forward. "Uh... Your Grace, we mercenaries have a policy of getting paid before we work. The final payment... do you think you could settle it first?"

A sharp glint flashed in Duke Yiven’s small eyes as he slammed his hand on the table in anger. "Didn’t I already pay you ten million last time? And three vials of Genetic Potion!"

Gao Gang replied, neither servile nor overbearing, "Your Grace, that was payment for the previous phase. You must have read my mission report. What we accomplished more than justifies that advance."

Yiven glared at them, his face contorted with rage. An invisible pressure enveloped the room. The air suddenly grew heavy, making it difficult to breathe.

Gao Gang couldn’t help but take a few steps back, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his teammates to resist the formless pressure. Black Bear and the others were also tensed, their faces full of vigilance. Only Luo Kai seemed unaffected, watching the Great Lord of the Xingma Kingdom from the back with some curiosity. ’This old guy seems pretty tough. I wonder how he compares to Liu Hou.’

As the supreme ruler of the Xingma Kingdom, Yiven was naturally a powerful Martial Artist. He was a High-level Martial Artist who had already stepped into the Refining Spirit Realm, capable of releasing Mental Suppression to intimidate his enemies. An ordinary person might have felt their muscles go limp or even died from sheer terror. However, all six of them were Warriors forged in mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Their Heart Spirits were far more resilient than an ordinary person’s, so they weren’t greatly affected.

Furthermore, the Sun Mercenary Corps was renowned throughout the human kingdoms for more than just its reputation; it was also known for its strength. All official members of the Mercenary Corps were Martial Artists, and not just ordinary ones. They were powerful, battle-hardened Martial Artists with a wealth of combat experience. No kingdom would dare to lightly offend such a large mercenary organization.

Gao Gang’s expression darkened. He said coldly, "Your Grace, if you are unwilling to pay, then this mission is hereby concluded."

Yiven stared at him, then suddenly laughed. "Pay? Why wouldn’t I pay?" With that, he took a book of credit notes from a drawer, signed a credit check for ten million Star Dollars, and placed it on the table.

Gao Gang inspected it carefully. It was indeed a credit check payable on sight. A smile finally broke across his face. He bowed to Yiven. "Thank you, Your Grace. We will do everything in our power to help the Xingma Kingdom defend Ironwood Castle!"

Yiven nodded. "Good. I have already dispatched the Military Punishment Department to Ironwood Castle. You are to cooperate with them."

The Mercenary Squad left Ping Mountain Port, grinning from ear to ear. After the Mercenary Corps took its cut, each of them would receive nearly four million Star Dollars. No other profession could compare to such a high income. It was worth risking life and limb.

After walking for about two hours, they could hear the earth-shaking thunder of artillery and the roar of fighter jets ripping through the sky in the distance. The direction of Ironwood Castle was completely covered in smoke and gunpowder. The battle was fierce.

The six of them found a small gully to eat and sleep in, conserving their energy. It would be difficult to cross the blockade during the day, so they would have to move after dark.

The fierce barrage continued for the entire day, only gradually subsiding late at night. The squad set out once more.

...

SCHRRIIICK. The distinctive sound of a blade slicing through leather rang out as a large hole was cut in the tent. Black Bear’s face appeared. He gave Luo Kai, who was behind him, a bloodthirsty grin, then silently crept toward a cot where a soldier was sleeping.

Black Bear raised his short blade to the man’s neck, his thick palm clamped tightly over the soldier’s mouth. With a gentle slice of the blade, the hissing sound of spraying blood followed. The soldier’s eyes went wide. He tried to struggle, but the rapid blood loss sapped all his strength. After a futile twitch, the light in his eyes instantly dimmed.

Black Bear moved to the next cot, covered the man’s mouth and nose, sliced with his blade, and continued to the next...

Luo Kai watched from behind Black Bear as he ended one life after another. ’This guy is a real psycho,’ he thought, ’or maybe just too cold-blooded.’ Then he thought of himself. ’Am I like that when I kill?’

This was a Nanzhao Kingdom encampment. The soldiers, having fought all day, were sound asleep. Luo Kai had thought they would just sneak past, but Gao Gang had given the order to slaughter them. Most of these soldiers were ordinary people; to the mercenaries, they were lambs to the slaughter.

The silent slaughter continued. Black Bear headed for the next tent, but suddenly noticed that Luo Kai had stopped moving. He walked over, clapped him on the shoulder, and handed him the knife. The meaning was clear: your turn.

Luo Kai hesitated for a moment before taking the knife. He walked into a tent where Gao Gang, Gu Shun, and the others were already inside. There was only one person left alive, saved especially for him.

Luo Kai knew this was a Mercenary Corps rule. Suppressing his rapidly beating heart, he approached the man, raised the knife, and slowly plunged it into his chest. The man woke up the moment the blade touched his skin. His expression shifted from terror to helplessness, then to pleading, and finally to despair and hatred, before his eyes went vacant.

There was no moonlight tonight. Ironwood Castle, shrouded in the smoke of battle, was filled with the stench of death. Aside from the thick, sturdy walls surrounding it, nearly every building inside, large and small, had been reduced to rubble. In just a single day, the fortress once said to be impenetrable had been brought to the brink of destruction.

The reason was that most of the defending soldiers were inexperienced recruits. The shadow of war had already crushed their will. Furthermore, spies from the Nanzhao Kingdom had long since infiltrated the city, harassing and sabotaging from within. The fall of the city was only a matter of time; no one had expected it to be so soon.