"…Another one?"
"It's said because of the drastic increase in primeval creatures around Lungmen, the manpower from the Lungmen Guard Bureau alone might be somewhat insufficient."
Looking at the report in hand, Hoshiguma scratched her scalp, looking somewhat strangely at Ch'en, who was sitting on the chair frowning.
"I don't understand these surrounding matters, Old Ch'en. But I feel like there are a few too many mercenary groups around Lungmen, right? This month, we've already hired the seventh mercenary group. Although they all have clean records, we don't know what they're up to behind the scenes, do we?"
"There are indeed a few too many."
"And where did so many Originium creatures around Lungmen come from?"
"…"
Looking at the department-wide notice documents and routes in hand, Ch'en raised her eyebrows somewhat strangely.
To summarize, yesterday also saw two mercenary groups stationing around Lungmen for different reasons. After the Originium attack incident on the official road to Chernobog, about three mercenary groups had already been mobilized here for road repair and monitoring work.
This, in essence, wasn't a big deal; for Lungmen as a commercial city, maintaining order in the surrounding areas was a more important task. Especially the coordination and operation with official roads. Areas that could become a complete road generally required a lot of funds and manpower to maintain; hiring some mercenary groups for clearance work after discovering an Originium attack incident was also very normal. But how should I put it, the number of people really was a bit much.
Firstly, as a commercial city, Lungmen internally had the Lungmen Guard Bureau and other comprehensive management departments for related handling. For the entangled gangs and various political forces within, as well as some claw from other countries, back during the turbulent period, Lungmen managed by hiring some trustworthy mercenary teams with historical backgrounds to assist.
And now, although these mercenary teams, due to war, contract coordination, rotation, and other reasons, had become the current seven, the total number of elite mercenary teams reaching one thousand still made the surrounding environment exceptionally stable. Plus the Lungmen Guard Bureau and other armed forces, overall, Lungmen's public security was not a problem.
Coupled with the recent war turmoil and other reasons, Wei Yenwu once again issued an order, expanding the original seven long-term contract mercenary groups to ten, plus some short-term contract mercenary teams, the number of mercenary teams working near Lungmen reached an unprecedented twenty-five.
This high-consumption, high-intensity management policy even left the Lungmen Guard Bureau with not much to do for a while.
Instead, the newly established Immortality Agency, due to drawing a lot of manpower from the Lungmen Guard Bureau, proceeded exceptionally smoothly with its cleanup and investigation activities within Lungmen. But no matter what, these mercenaries themselves were a huge security risk. The original one thousand two hundred people were manageable, but now the number of mercenaries had drastically increased to three thousand five hundred, and many more mercenaries were heading to Lungmen to try and secure some contracts; this couldn't help but make Ch'en ponder the problems herein.
Three thousand five hundred people was no small number, plus they were strong mercenary teams; among themselves, due to having fought together before or also being desperadoes who licked blood from knife edges , they had a certain sense of identification. This security risk was not something Ch'en could ignore.
Whether from the perspective of the Immortality Agency or the Lungmen Guard Bureau, this aspect couldn't be overlooked.
And Ch'en also noticed that some mercenary groups had even begun to interfere in original defense work. Although some orders had been given, the true attitude could not yet be determined.
Looking at the numerous items and mercenary-related information listed on the list, especially after seeing that the surrounding security clearance work was being handled by a Sarkaz mercenary group called 'Blood Rage', Ch'en's frown tightened further. She gestured to Hoshiguma beside her, and after Hoshiguma left, she took out her phone and pressed a series of secret numbers. After several transfers, Wei Yenwu's voice sounded from the phone.
"Encountered any trouble? Ch'en?"
"It's about the mercenary groups."
"It's fine, I personally gave the order."
Wei Yenwu's voice came through the communication, speaking calmly:
"The Columbian civil war has officially begun, and it's spreading to the surrounding areas at a very terrifying speed. I need a batch of mercenaries to suppress those ill-intentioned people within the city. At the same time, with this layer of mercenary relationship, some things originally unsuitable for you to do can also be done. Comforting disaster victims, cleaning up rogue armies; not just us, other city-states will also act subsequently. We are just one step ahead. Nothing to make a fuss about."
"…"
"No need to be so nervous, nor too surprised. Now it's just returned to the original chaotic times. The people from Blacksteel International are good targets to win over; as former military members and mercenaries, even if they lack the desire to fight, they can maintain order. Work hard."
"Peace… When will it ever arrive?"
"Hahaha, that depends on how you think about it. In my eyes, this world has never been peaceful. Don't disappoint my expectations. Ch'en."
"Yes."
"…"
Looking at the disconnected signal in his hand, a strange smile appeared on Wei Yenwu's face.
And Lady Fumizuki behind him walked over holding a pile of documents, tilting her head as she looked at the smiling Wei Yenwu.
"What's wrong? Encountered something good?"
"No, just a puppy that hasn't matured yet, still makes a fuss seeing these things. But being able to think is a good thing. No matter what, using one's brain is a good thing. Whether it's hatred, anger, or other emotions, none can compare to wisdom itself."
"Then, is the manpower still sufficient?"
"Manpower is never enough, Fumizuki. Especially now. Previous plans and situations have all collapsed with Columbia's civil war. Who could have thought such a powerful country would fall apart in the blink of an eye? From beginning to end, no plan is guaranteed. What is truly guaranteed is just one preparation after another. Whoever prepares sufficiently, is the victor."
"You're still the same, still so charming."
Hearing his wife's sweet words, Wei Yenwu seemed to want to laugh out loud, but still held back. Instead, he pretended to be nonchalant and shifted the topic in another direction.
"By the way, what about that Li Lin?"
"Already on the way to Kazimierz, with his friends. But really didn't see it coming, his circle of friends is quite wide."
"Abnormalities always attract more abnormalities, let him be."
Hearing his wife's report, Wei Yenwu quickly put this abnormality to the back of his mind and began planning his next trump card.
In the raging fire that burns everything, who would believe in so-called plans? All conspiracies and deals are built upon rules. And when the rules themselves are gone, when power has become the pass to everything, then conspiracies and deals themselves will also be burned to ashes by the flames.
Wei Yenwu, having faced that war before, fundamentally wouldn't believe in so-called stances and deals. Life and death, destruction and rebirth. If a conspiracy could have transcendent benefits and constraints, then it wouldn't be a conspiracy. And looking at the current situation, Wei Yenwu was very sure his little plans were meaningless to this increasingly changing world. So he needed more power united around him.
Having been a leader for decades, some things will change.
"The investment in the Immortality Agency, double it again."
Wei Yenwu signed his name on the document before him and said in a low voice:
"Pull the other families in too; if they're not stupid, they'll know what to do."