You were told to search and attack, but you're supporting Asara?

Chen Xiao was taken aback by Said's "you have to pay more" comment. He paused for two seconds before reacting, then laughed and cried at the same time: "Old Said, you learned too fast."

"Enough nonsense." Said slammed the silver lady pendant on the table. "The supplies you've brought are enough for equipment, that's all. But you want my men to help you take down the space base—that's Hafk's largest stronghold in Asara, with hundreds of mercenaries there."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the guards carrying supplies to the warehouse. His voice was low and menacing: "I can't trade their lives for this little bit of stuff. Even if I have to sell it, I'll get them a good price!"

Chen Xiao also dropped his playful grin and walked over to stand beside him: "So, what does Brother Sai mean?"

"Vehicles, anti-ship weapons, and what you GTI people call hormone injections." Said counted on his fingers like an old farmer: "We'll bring back all these supplies today, and an evacuation plan—my people can't just die like those GTI androids... They all have parents, wives, and children."

Chen Xiao remained silent for a moment. He recalled the first time he met Said: the man's gloomy eyes, his crimson mask, and the corpses lying haphazardly in the pit. Back then, Said was more like an enraged beast, biting anyone in its path.

Now, this beast is starting to settle accounts.

"Vehicles are easy to arrange; we can rappel down from a GTI attack helicopter," Chen Xiao said honestly. "On the ground, we can use these off-road vehicles, but you'll need to clear the road leading to the space base yourselves."

"I can't get my hands on anti-ship weapons, but I'm sure there won't be any vehicles inside the space city."

"As for the hormone injections..." Chen Xiao looked pained; the Special Operations Department could only produce a few hundred at most. He gritted his teeth and said, "I can only take three hundred combat stimulants and one hundred physical enhancement drugs at most!"

"Three hundred stamina boosters!" Although Said didn't know what the stamina boosters Chen Xiao was talking about were, that didn't stop him from bargaining.

"Two hundred, that's all I have!" Chen Xiao covered his gums. "Plus two thousand rounds of level four bullets." As he spoke, Chen Xiao held out his right hand.

Sayed ignored his outstretched hand and instead asked, "Tell me honestly, how many people did GTI send for this operation?"

Saeed stared at the outstretched hand but didn't shake it. Instead, he asked, "Tell me honestly, how many people did GTI send for this operation?"

Chen Xiao thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth: "One fighter jet in the air, a three-person squad on the ground, and me."

"That's it?" Said's brows furrowed. "You want me to have hundreds of my brothers working for three people?"

"No." Chen Xiao looked him straight in the eye. "It's about letting the Asara people fight against the Hafk's invading forces for their own land. In name, you are the main force, and the GTI is only 'assisting'."

Saeed glanced at Chen Xiao and snorted, "You sure know how to talk."

He turned and walked out of the manager's office, where he ran into Hakim, who was carrying a rocket launcher, arguing with Karim about some kind of barbecue recipe.

"Boss!" Hakim stood at attention when he saw Said. "Among the supplies we just received, there was a whole box of medical kits and surgical supplies. The brothers all said that GTI finally did something decent this time."

Saeed didn't respond, but instead asked, "Where's Fareed?"

"At the shooting range, practicing with those two GTI guys." Karim scratched his head. "That buzz-cut guy's aim is pretty good, but he's got a terrible temper."

"Have them come over," Said said, then added, "and call all the team leaders over to the meeting room downstairs."

Karim and Hakim exchanged a glance, then left.

Fifteen minutes later, in the conference room on the first floor of the East Building, Saeed sat in the main seat, flanked by seven or eight squad leaders of the guards. Farid stood behind Saeed, and Chen Xiao was seated to Saeed's right.

"Everyone's here." Said got straight to the point. "GTI wants to attack the space base and needs our help. I just negotiated the terms with this kid. The price is double the various supplies, vehicles, two thousand rounds of level 4 ammunition, plus several hundred other kinds of agents that were delivered today, as supplies for this operation."

"In addition, GTI will provide air support and evacuation assistance during the operation."

The squad leaders whispered among themselves. A middle-aged man with a full beard raised his hand: "Boss, Hafk has been running the space base for so many years. Are we really going to just take it by force?"

"It's not about taking on the enemy by brute force," Chen Xiao continued. "The objective of the operation is to escort a rocket into orbit, not to capture the base. The main fighting will be concentrated around the launch site, while the Haftar forces in other areas can be dispersed using diversionary tactics."

"Who are you?" The bearded man clearly didn't have a good impression of GTI.

"GTI operator, 'Prophet.' Also the commander-in-chief of this operation." Chen Xiao said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

The meeting room fell silent for a moment.

Said tapped the table: "He's right. This operation isn't a suicide mission; it's a well-prepared battle. GTI will be responsible for drawing Hafk's air power and infiltrating the core area. Our mission is to block ground reinforcements and hold the perimeter of the launch site."

"Boss, you make the decision," another younger squad leader said. "If you say we should fight, then we'll fight."

"Then let's fight, but I have one more condition." Said's gaze swept over the group of guards in the conference room. "After the operation, if any of our brothers are injured or killed, GTI must be responsible for their compensation."

"I will apply to headquarters for a special compensation fund." Chen Xiao nodded seriously. "In addition, I personally promise that if GTI doesn't take responsibility, I will pay for it myself."

Saeed stared at him for a few seconds, then slowly extended his right hand.

"make a deal!"

······

Only after watching Chen Xiao drive his SUV away into the sunset did Sayyid turn and walk back. Farid followed behind him, hesitant to speak.

"Ask whatever you want, stop being so long-winded," Said said without turning his head.

"Boss, you really believe that kid?"

"Believe it or not, it's not important." Said stopped and looked at the guards distributing supplies in the distance, his tone carrying an indescribable emotion: "What's important is that by cooperating with GTI, the brothers have a much better chance of survival. Before, I would just lead you guys in a charge, and if we died, I, Said, would feel sorry for you. Now..."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Now I feel that I can save more Assara people."

Faried remained silent for a long time before finally saying only, "Boss, you've changed."

"Is that so?" Said touched the hard mask covering his face. "Perhaps it's because I'm getting old."

As dusk fell, Crimson Owl's silhouette stretched long, his tattered cloak billowing in the wind like a flag.

Unbeknownst to everyone, a creature the size of a bee fluttered its wings and flew past them, its intricate compound eyes gleaming with red light.