King Of War: Starting with Arms Dealer

Joe Ga didn't go to meet Tom Reed immediately but drove his pickup to the hospital where Spurs and Orange Cat were staying.

Tom Reed, that old man, has been bogged down with all sorts of chaotic issues since the governor's suicide.

As a senator of Oregon State, he has to reorganize the political forces within the state, swiftly clean up associated people and matters to prevent further escalation, and also ensure the success of Big Mouth Tang's rally two days later.

The grand reception Tom Reed planned for Joe Ga has also been postponed until after Big Mouth Tang's speech.

The old geezer is intent on keeping Boss Joe in Oregon State, hoping to find an opportunity to have a proper conversation with him...

That incredible battle drastically changed Tom Reed's impression of P.B.; the old man thinks Boss Joe doesn't necessarily have to be a heartless bastard who abandons everything, and maybe he could even become a prodigal son returned—a son-in-law worth considering.

After all, the obsession in his daughter Grace's eyes doesn't seem fake!

The old guy is overthinking it…

He doesn't quite understand Boss Joe's current state—it's not particularly cheerful!

Killing a group of National Guard soldiers doesn't make him feel guilty, but neither does it make him proud.

Being forced into high-intensity warfare makes Joe Ga uncomfortable!

Because he underestimated the opponent's madness, they ended up fighting a battle without adequate preparation.

Even though he won in the end, he couldn't drag out the people involved and tear them to pieces. Instead, he had to compromise when they proposed 'peace talks' to avoid larger conflicts down the line.

Joe Ga thought he was already well-adjusted to politics, but after truly experiencing it, he finally understood the meaning of the phrase, 'A grain of sand from the era becomes a mountain when it falls on an individual.'

The ripple effects caused by powerful figures are catastrophic disasters for the "small fish" caught in them.

Big sharks like Boss Joe naturally feast on those waves.

But he knows he hasn't escaped the shackles…

He has the ability, but P.B.'s development time has been too short. Every time he wants to make a move, he inevitably has to immerse himself in it.

This time, the battle itself wasn't remotely brutal, but Joe Ga learned a very important lesson.

Never underestimate the madness of your opponents!

And never underestimate the power of organized interests...

If Joe Ga didn't have a network of his own, if he hadn't temporarily connected with Big Mouth Tang's team to suppress Rashiri's forces, the final outcome would have been highly unpredictable.

Boss Joe has the ability to sanction them, but they can afford losses, whereas Boss Joe cannot!

The network is too small, the foundation too weak, the strength insufficient...

These are all current issues for P.B., and they're not solvable in the short term.

This kind of thing requires time to accumulate; it's not as simple as having money and guns to do as one pleases.

Boss Joe has truly started to mature now…

There was a moment when he nearly burned all the National Guard soldiers alive, but that thought was extinguished by a sense of responsibility.

This is reminiscent of a joke circulating online—a barbecue shop owner, when closing up, meets a customer. Initially intending to refuse the order, the customer solemnly questions...

"Have you paid off your home loan? Your car loan? Prepared tuition for your kids? Saved enough for your parents' retirement?"

Boss Joe felt something similar to the barbecue owner—responsibility dampened his fury, leading to a compromise with reality.

To lay down the butcher's knife and immediately ascend to humanity isn't about erasing past sins or becoming a saint—it's about someone who has the power to wield the knife choosing to set it down, opting for solutions other than bloodshed, forsaking the momentary thrill and embracing maturity!

And so Boss Joe feels a bit weary—maturity is exhausting.

Clashing with the pinnacle figures atop the Earth's pyramid? Even more exhausting!

Of course, compared to mental fatigue, the rewards of maturity are immense!

Not mentioning what Eric can obtain from the other side as a peace offering—for at least four years, free from America's interference, and gaining massive development opportunities and time through contracts to completely solidify P.B.'s foundation.

This is just the surface-level gain. The deeper benefit comes from the respect garnered through demonstrating sheer destructiveness.

From now on, no one will underestimate Boss Joe as a minor player!

Boss Joe will undoubtedly still have enemies, but when you have sufficient deterrence, most methods your adversaries might employ are constrained within rules, paradoxically ensuring his safety.

At Boss Joe's level, without external power at your back, relying solely on yourself makes the world highly perilous...

Because the interests tied to him are enormous, while P.B.'s weaknesses are glaringly obvious!

A plane crash, straying into an exercise zone, a missile misfire...

All these could spell doom for Boss Joe!

And it's not even unusual—forget about those people; if the location were in Central Africa or Iraq, Boss Joe could pull off the same thing.

The only difference is that such methods against some people carry no repercussions, while against others, they trigger destructive retaliation.

Now, Boss Joe is the latter—anyone attempting to use methods outside the rules against him must prepare for excessive consequences.

This is the parity in influence, recognized by those people!

It's unimaginable to think the battle happened alongside an important road in Oregon State, where the National Guard lost two Black Hawks, four Little Birds, four Apaches, 96 died, 32 severely injured, 158 lightly injured...

Such a major incident and yet no media outlets reported it.

The feeling was truly nerve-wracking!

Of course, an event of this magnitude isn't ignored—rumors swirl online and at private gatherings, but no official media report on it.

Only the Washington Post published a tiny piece of news...

"Oregon National Guard suffered significant casualties during exercises due to training missteps."

When both parties have no intention to escalate the matter, everything can be kept beneath the surface; perhaps only one day in the future, it may be disclosed to the public.

In the ward at the state hospital...

Joe Ga stared at a man covered in burns over half his body, essentially unrecognizable as human...

Facing the man's eyeless stare, Joe Ga shook his head and said, "We encountered each other in the jungle; Bloody Mary's team was formidable.

Too bad you chose the wrong employer...

Your whole team is dead, and it's a wonder you're still alive.

An international brokerage firm sure has resources, to rescue even someone like you."

The terrifyingly disfigured 'Cactus' rasped, "Are you Hu Lang?"

Joe Ga nodded slightly and said, "That's right, it's me!

Even if you hadn't run into the National Guard, I would've taken you out anyway. But now..."

'Cactus' let out two bloody streams of tears from his swollen eyes and said painfully, "Just give me a quick death. I don't want to die on a hospital bed..."

Joe Ga looked at 'Cactus,' his appearance like something straight from a horror film, and shook his head. "Your body has extensive burns, especially severe injuries to your face.

But I asked the doctors—if you stay strong and undergo several surgeries, you can still live like a person.

You've been on the battlefield before; you've surely seen people worse off than you!

I don't kill helpless people—we're not even enemies, strictly speaking.

When you were working for pay, I killed you because you were in my way, but now that it's over, unless you see me as your foe, I can't think of a reason to kill you."

Joe Ga continued, looking directly at 'Cactus,' "I didn't come to mock you—I came to remind myself how strong my opponents are.

I don't want to end up like you...

Survive—survival is your best form of resistance!"

With those words, Joe Ga turned to leave the room, nodding slightly at Thompson waiting outside. "Deposit some money at the hospital; get the best drugs for him.

Don't contact him directly—just check on him occasionally.

This guy is an excellent soldier; he can do things I find inconvenient."

Thompson understood his boss's intent—if P.B. can't act as it wishes, then groom your opponent a reckless enemy.

It doesn't matter if it works out—just keep creating small troubles and pressures for the opponent.

Accumulate enough, and one day, quantity will lead to quality.

Thompson nodded, indicating his understanding. He turned and led the way, saying as they walked, "Spurs, Orange Cat, and Bone Crusher's surgeries are done.

Bone Crusher and Spurs are fine, but Orange Cat sustained serious lung injuries and will need a long recovery. He probably won't return to peak condition…"

Joe Ga nodded slightly and said, "I'll go check on them. Honestly, these HRT guys aren't particularly well-suited for Africa. Let them transfer to teaching positions at New Jersey Farm—it's not a bad choice.

'Jackal Wolf' stayed in Syria; the farm always needs someone responsible to manage it."

As they spoke, Thompson pushed open the door to a luxury ward...

Bone Crusher, fresh out of arm surgery, was standing by the window smoking, completely ignoring the impact of nicotine on wound healing.

Spurs lay in bed, his leg wrapped in thick bandages, cursing endlessly about something.

Orange Cat had tubes inserted into him, an oxygen mask on his face. He was awake, but his overall condition looked poor.

HRT members Depp, Bandage, the med officer Bird, Blow Dart, Pincers, Ronnie, Jack, and the C team were all gathered in the ward, creating a slightly heavy atmosphere.

When Joe Ga entered, he glanced at Bone Crusher smoking at the window. Ayu strode up behind Bone Crusher, snatched the cigarette from his hand, extinguished it in his palm, and sent a commanding look that made Bone Crusher obediently lie back on the hospital bed.

Joe Ga approached Spurs' bed, bumped fists with him, then turned to Orange Cat and said, "How are you feeling?

You all look terrible. Does being injured lower your tough guy rating?"