I was a general in South America

Military Humvees sped along the highway, kicking up clouds of dust.

After doctors carried Javier Delgado out of the police station on a stretcher for "emergency treatment," Lucas left with his men.

The destination is obvious: take over Camp Two!

Sitting in the back row, Lucas looked at the second adjutant beside him, who was as silent as a cicada in winter, and asked a question.

"What's your name?"

Don't arrive at your destination only to find yourself accepting Havel's legacy without even knowing the name of the other party's adjutant...

That would be too insincere.

The standoff at the police station, although Lucas eventually came forward to explain, was ultimately resolved by the understanding adjutant who agreed to prioritize the rescue efforts... and by having him temporarily take command of the troops, a conflict was perfectly averted.

However, ever since he rode in the same car as Lucas, he had been extremely cautious and trembling the entire way...

Am I that scary?

"Lieutenant Lucas, my name is Bryce Montgomery, you can just call me Bryce."

Bryce raised his eyelids slightly to secretly observe Lucas's reaction, and finding nothing unusual, he immediately lowered his head again, not daring to meet Lucas's gaze.

Mom, Dad, I want to go home...!

When the doctor lifted Havel onto the stretcher, the soldiers behind him couldn't see clearly, but he saw it all perfectly...

It was a fucking dead corpse...!

Having served in the military for so many years, Bryce could tell the difference between serious injury and being dead.

When the gunshot rang out in the room, he knew something was wrong...

Those three government officials, even if they had the guts, wouldn't have dared to kill Havel in that situation.

As for Alex, if he were to suddenly fire a shot and launch a sneak attack, how could he be dragged out without his clothes being disturbed?

If all the impossibilities are ruled out, then there is only this smiling demon in front of me.

Now that they're in the same car, he's really afraid Lucas will kill him too...

All I could do was keep praying that he would let me off the hook, considering how cooperative I had just been.

"A very nice name." Lucas took out a cigarette and flicked one out. Bryce reached out and took it, trembling. "Don't be nervous, relax, Bryce."

"Tell me how you got to the fast attack force, and what's the current situation of the second team."

"Yes, Lieutenant... I promise to tell you everything I know."

......

A few minutes later, Lucas finally figured out Bryce's background; he wasn't one of the people Javier brought.

Bryce was born in 1952 and graduated from the José Ilario López Military Academy. He served in Barranquilla.

At 34 years old, he is considered a young and promising officer in the military, and as a legitimate sergeant graduate, he was naturally selected for the rapid reaction force.

Barranquilla is an important port city in Colombia, a place with great wealth and power... Bryce, who didn't have much of a background, was exiled to the province of Caldas.

He was a seasoned veteran in the army, which explains why he wasn't Havel's confidant, yet he managed to cultivate a good relationship with him as his adjutant.

"Lieutenant, well... well, after the party incident last time, Javier's men actually harbored some resentment towards him. After what happened last time... if you, Lieutenant, are a little gentler, I believe everyone will obey your orders."

After saying that, Bryce fell silent.

However, there was one more thing he didn't say: the army believes in the strong, and no soldier would risk their life for an officer who shoots his subordinates.

Frankly speaking, the people in the second team were all envious of having a superior like Lucas. The benefits and treatment of the third team were no secret, and their continuous retaliatory actions after the attack even became a serialized novel in the Manizales newspaper.

When he's an opponent, you'd think he's crazy; when he's a subordinate, who wouldn't want a protective leader?

A seasoned veteran...

It both described the current situation and demonstrated a wave of value.

They're terrified of being killed!

"If you were to become the commander of the second team, could you manage it well...?"

Lucas's words suddenly exploded in my ears...

No, I just want to go back to my hometown and grow corn...!

Don't seduce me!

Bryce really wanted a promotion. A soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier. Everyone has dreams.

However, the old man in front of him was too aggressive, and Bryce was afraid that if he accepted the opportunity, he might not live to enjoy it.

At the same time, he worried that if he didn't agree... given this person's habits, he might kill him.

Bryce was torn between his thoughts and his inner demons. He took deep drags on the cigarette in his hand until he burned his fingers, then he snapped out of it, flicked the cigarette butt away, and looked at Lucas with an embarrassed expression.

Lucas sensed his concerns...

His concerns are valid; if they refuse, there will only be one outcome...!

Taking over the second team isn't absolutely necessary for him; eliminating Bryce and sending someone over would just cause a lot of trouble.

If it weren't for that old geezer Haior, he would have been parachuted into Manizales immediately.

Bryce won't get that opportunity; they really need his help to quickly incorporate the troops.

"Bryce, when a person truly sees himself as worthless, he truly becomes worthless... Think carefully, you can answer me until the car stops."

Each person may only have one chance to change their destiny.

Bryce wasn't anything special; to gain Lucas's favor was already an immense stroke of luck in his otherwise utterly rotten life.

Choice is more important than effort...

After saying that, Lucas closed his eyes to rest, leaving Bryce alone in the car, deep in thought with a complex expression.

mud?

Nobody wants to be a piece of trash!

In the quagmire of Colombia, it's not about who's better, but who's worse.

Bryce knew he couldn't be the best, nor could he be the worst...

Based on his life trajectory, he may never be able to rise from sergeant to lieutenant in his lifetime.

If possible, he would prefer to be like Lucas, believing that protecting the country and eliminating drug traffickers is the true spirit of a soldier.

Instead of protecting drug cartels today and then seizing their goods tomorrow...

These aren't soldiers at all, they're just puppets controlled by drug money.

I'll give it my all, and I'll never be a piece of trash again...!

"Lieutenant Lucas, I will assist you in managing the second team!"

"Very good, you've made the best decision of your life."

...

When the troops arrived at the second camp, Lucas only instructed Bryce to do one thing: wait for the fifty soldiers to assemble.

They brought out all the US dollars that Javier Delgado had hidden in the military camp; the Amazonian "leech" truly lived up to its name.

Although the whereabouts of a large sum of money are unknown, approximately $30 in cash was found in his room.

Lucas ordered his men to push all the US dollars onto the open ground of the playground.

"Lieutenant Javier Delgado is currently in the hospital undergoing emergency treatment. I... Lucas Bolívar Franco will temporarily take over the defense of the Second Squadron until further orders from the military command!"

"During this period, Sergeant Bryce Montgomery will temporarily serve as the second commander. For the sake of stability in Manizales, we hope everyone will cooperate actively."

"Consider this money a small gift from me to everyone...!"

.............

"I don't think I have any special abilities... I just made the simplest choice in 1986. Some people are born to be the ray of light that cuts through the darkness; I was just chasing the shadow of that light."

—Excerpt from an exclusive interview with Colombian Deputy Defense Minister Blaise Montgomery