Chapter 2 The Lonely Highland
Fatty hated his nerves for being so strong. He wished that he could pass out happily after a scream, like a woman intercepted by a demon on a rainy night, and then let the bandit army take him as far away as possible. How wonderful it would be to only wake up when everything was over!
But then, Fatty thought again, the Freedom Front was ultimately Russell's lifelong effort. The reason this old fox worked so hard for the Leray Federation was largely for the ideal of seeking freedom and equality, dignity, and honor for these lower-class nations. Without the Freedom Front, the already weak resistance organization in Gazalin would be even more scattered! The destruction of the Freedom Front would mean that Russell's decades of efforts would vanish in an instant! If the old guy ever found out he didn't save him, he would probably fight him to the death!
Moreover, although Russell used him as a pawn every day, he was still his teacher, and he had taught him everything about military strategies. While Russell was draining his energy for the Leray Federation, he was running away at the most dangerous moment of the Freedom Front, which seemed a bit unkind. Besides, those three guides, though a bit foolish, had been good to him. If it weren't for them, he might still be playing dreamland in prison, let alone capturing James!
Thinking about this, Fatty sighed deeply. Realizing the consequences of his bandit army losing the Freedom Front, he knew there was no escaping a tough battle this time!
He was lost in intense internal conflict, and unconsciously, [Logic] followed the Sharp Blade Company scattered in the jungle, sneaking quietly like a group of silent felines. After turning around a mountain pass, they had reached the bandit's hidden location.
Although the reconnaissance mecha responsible for vigilance had already returned to report Fatty and the others' movements, the appearance of dozens of Desic Empire's Eighth Generation Mechas in front of the two groups of mecha soldiers still caused a commotion.
Seeing the Sharp Blade Company, although covered in scars and war fire but without any loss, and seeing forty-three Desic Empire's Eighth Generation Mechas, the bandit soldiers were all wide-eyed and speechless.
Nobody knew what methods Torick's Sharp Blade Company had used under that sleazy Fatty to get so much good stuff. After all, they were two full armored groups from the powerful military nation Desic! In this airspace, neither the Gazalin Empire, which had peaked in military power, nor the economically leading Tatania Commercial Alliance, dared to show off their military strength in front of Desic Army, let alone the constantly peaceful Leray Federation.
And in the recent skirmishes with the Desic Empire Army, the soldiers were very clear that even the top Special Forces Groups in the Federation couldn't gain any advantage in head-to-head confrontations with ordinary Desic Empire armored groups. If it weren't for the two rogue groups acting shamelessly, attacking with fewer enemies and retreating with more, they would have been swallowed up by the enemy.
Yet now, there were clearly forty-three Desic Mechas in front of them. Unless the enemy suffered a thorough defeat, how could the mechas have been captured intact? How did Fatty pull this off? Anyway, it couldn't have been a face-to-face victory; his underhanded tricks were truly amazing!
Seeing Tian Xingjian leading the Sharp Blade Company back safely, Rashid and Stewart both breathed a sigh of relief. After all, on this planet, Fatty was the true backbone of this team! Without Russell's direct disciple's leadership, the bandit army wouldn't know what to do next.
"Order all soldiers to assemble immediately!" As soon as Tian Xingjian saw Rashid and Stewart, he hurriedly said: "Also, of the forty mechas I brought back, I'll keep twenty, and you two can split the rest!"
Before Rashid and Stewart could feel happy, they heard the shameless Fatty openly benefiting himself: "Three heavy [Tides] are mine, as well as one hundred [Hunters] from the second group. We'll combine them with the first group's [Hunters] to form a direct Sharp Blade Camp! This camp needs to be full strength. If we lack people, draw from the Sharp Blade Companies of each camp!"
Rashid and Stewart exchanged a look. Their faces twitched, feeling immense pain, thinking: "Damn, this Fatty is trading twenty mechas for six Sharp Blade Companies and two hundred [Hunters]. It's too costly!" Though reluctant, they could only agree begrudgingly like resentful wives. They knew the bandit army did need a cutting-edge force to settle crucial moments, and there would be a big difference between having these forces scattered in two groups or concentrated in Tian Xingjian's hands! Not to mention, just looking at the battle records of the hundred [Hunters] brought back was enough.
Over two thousand mechas quickly assembled, forming a neat array, waiting for Tian Xingjian to issue orders. The six Sharp Blade Companies and two hundred [Hunters] were swiftly drawn out, forming a super-sized direct Sharp Blade Camp behind Fatty. The drawn warriors were all elated, strutting around, acting all mighty.
Looking at Fatty standing at the front, everyone eagerly anticipated what malicious deeds this wretch might lead the now mostly out-of-the-encirclement army into. Just thinking about Fatty's tactics of scamming, cheating, and plundering made every warrior excited.