Sargon is wild and backward.
Amidst the yellow sands, bloodthirsty beasts and greedy bandits roam.
Within the Rainforest, there are disease-carrying mosquitoes and backward barbarians.
This place is far from civilized society, with no soft beds, on-call waiters, convenient logistics and takeout, comfortable heating and cooling, no TVs with over a hundred channels, no computers connected to the national network—not even automatic toilets!
If not for the endless resources and Treasures in Sargon, no one enjoying the convenient life of Columbia would be willing to come to this godforsaken place.
"Damn it, these damn mosquitoes, this damn Rainforest, this damn godforsaken place!"
Spraying mosquito repellent on himself, a Feline man in a suit, with a black side part under his ears, cursed the buzzing mosquitoes around him as he walked through the Rainforest.
Behind him were five or six burly men, dressed in pitch-black combat uniforms, armed to the teeth.
Blacksteel International, Columbia's most renowned security service company and most reputable mercenary company, uses cutting-edge equipment and is willing to sacrifice lives to complete missions and protect employers.
Of course, this Feline man was not from Blacksteel International; he was a member of Columbia's Sargon Rainforest Development Team.
The Development Team was nominally led by the Columbian government, but behind it were various Columbian corporate groups providing funding.
Resources, technology, Treasures, research—each company had different goals, possibly cooperating or attacking each other.
The Feline man also belonged to a large company—Hyde Brothers, a company of significant standing in Columbia's construction industry, which was embroiled in a lengthy business war with a rising competitor, Simon Company.
As the former head of the foreign trade department, the Feline man had been outmaneuvered by Simon Company, made a mistake in his work, and incurred losses, leading to a superficial promotion but actual demotion, transferred to this godforsaken place in Sargon to oversee matters related to raw Materials import for the company.
As a respectable person in Columbia, after less than a month here, he was almost driven to a nervous breakdown by the buzzing mosquitoes, the howling wild beasts at night, and the barbarians who couldn't even speak Columbian.
He now desperately wanted to return to Columbia, to true civilized society.
He worked diligently, recruited local laborers, harvested high-quality timber, and also discovered several excellent Originium ore pits, but the locals absolutely refused to grant mining rights—they had no idea how precious Originium ore was!
Originally, he had already planned to give up dealing with these stubborn, blockheaded people, but fortunately, this time, they welcomed a group of allies from other companies.
"Mr. Elwin, the guests from Rhine Lab have arrived, and the Chieftain from the tribe is also waiting in the settlement."
Soon, a Blacksteel mercenary in heavy gear came up behind Elwin and said in a booming voice.
"Hmm, I understand. Maintain vigilance around us. I will go meet the guests. Rhine Lab, I heard they came to the Rainforest half a month ago. For them to suddenly seek me out now..."
Nodding, all his agitation and anger instantly extinguished. Elwin became calm again, a refined and amiable smile appearing on his face.
Every worker in Columbian companies possessed such a skill, akin to Yan Country's face-changing art.
[Now, those inferior primitives in the Rainforest will no longer be an obstacle to us.]
Soon, a flurry of footsteps approached. Elwin turned around, a brilliant, professional smile on his face, and looked at the gray-haired Liberi man.
"Welcome, Director Parvis. I didn't expect guests from Rhine Lab's Structure Department to honor us with their presence at this time. It truly makes one feel honored—"
In response, the Liberi man merely nodded faintly, Elwin's enthusiasm unreciprocated, his expression remarkably indifferent.
"Let's skip the pleasantries. I am in the Rainforest for serious business. My students and I have already conducted considerable research in the surrounding ancient Sargon Dynasty ruins."
Director Parvis of Rhine Lab was wearing a waterproof white coat, emblazoned with Rhine Lab's infinity symbol.
Behind him followed several carts pulled by pack beasts, laden with instruments and other researchers, as well as several Sargon and Columbian-dressed mercenaries, both male and female.
"Stay vigilant; be ready to protect me at all times."
Parvis spoke to an empty spot nearby; it seemed deserted, yet a reply quickly came.
"Yes, as ordered."
A shadow seemed to leap from the spot, vanishing into the air.
Originally, they had been prepared to conclude their experiments in Sargon and return to Columbia.
But at the Sargon border, a spur-of-the-moment plan, initiated after learning of Kal'tsit's existence, yielded unexpected success.
Thus, the researchers of Rhine Lab temporarily altered their itinerary, searching for relics related to the "Inferno Demon" in the vast sea of forests, based on ancient texts provided by their collaborating Pasha.
Fortunately, after investigating several temples deep within the Rainforest and sacrificing the lives of several experimenters and mercenaries, they finally had a breakthrough.
However, the crucial Materials they unearthed were stolen by an... unexpected intruder.
"Mr. Elwin, I understand your demands. Mulla Pasha has granted us the right to enter every Rainforest temple, and a few extra nearby Originium ore pits are not difficult to obtain—as long as you help me search for the little thief who stole the experimental Materials and survey the nearby temple, everything will be negotiable. My mercenaries are also at your disposal."
Whispering his purpose for coming, Parvis didn't even look Elwin in the eye, walking directly into the tribe.
As a pure researcher, Director Parvis of the Structure Department only cared whether his theories could be verified and if his experiments would succeed; everything else was meaningless.
The only ones who could catch his eye were the most Genius researchers, such as his student Olivia Hermer, and the directors of other departments.
To prove himself, to surpass them—that was Parvis's goal.
As for the man before him, he was merely a minor figure from a small company with slight ties to the Energy Department.
"Of—course, no problem! Rest assured, Director Parvis, our company will cooperate with all your actions!"
Seeing the disdain in the other party's eyes, Elwin couldn't help but want to clench his fists, but after a moment's hesitation, he followed with a face full of smiles.
"Don't worry, leave the negotiations to me. These primitives haven't even heard Columbian. They only care about trivial gains, don't even understand how precious Originium is, are ignorant of long-term prospects and development, and certainly don't comprehend the science and truth you understand!"
Elwin didn't actually know anything about science or truth, but he knew his opportunity had arrived.
— — — — — —
"So, according to Mulla Pasha's decree, we have the right to excavate and explore the temples and their surrounding environments within the Rainforest, Chieftain Tomimi."
Thus, in the center of the village, Elwin, with a proper smile, faced the little girl with a thick tail, surrounded by a group of Aegir strongmen, full of confidence.
"Perhaps you don't understand what a Pasha is, but I believe you know that this Rainforest is still under the jurisdiction of Sargon's law—"
Elwin held a gold-rimmed scroll. In Sargon, the Emperor's commands were also relayed through a Pasha; a Pasha's words were no different from an imperial edict.
"I... I have studied the world outside the Rainforest. I know what a Pasha is. Since it is a Pasha's command, the tribal people will naturally obey."
Puffing out her chest, Tomimi looked up at the constantly smiling Feline man opposite her. Although they had met a few times, Tomimi could sense that this guy was full of ill intentions.
Smiling too, Goki just now was fine... No, that's not right either! He must be here to snatch Gavial; he must also be full of bad intentions!
Though still young and completely lacking diplomatic experience, Tomimi still knew that her Aura absolutely could not falter!
"However, you can explore the temples freely—but the surrounding areas are not for you to arbitrarily designate!"
Tomimi swished her large tail, trying to appear as imposing as possible.
Just like in a fight, even before it starts, you rely on bluster. Whoever has the upper hand in Aura wins.
"I said, only after a Chieftain is chosen will we decide whether to open up mining rights. Since Zumama and Kmar have already refused you, then we will not agree either!"
Tomimi knew that the stones in those mines, though useless to the tribe members except for making staves, would cause miners who went deep into the pits to contract "stone sickness" if extracted.
Mild cases were manageable, but severe cases caused daily pain that prevented movement, and the person would die quickly. If not buried promptly, it would also infect others.
"Please return, Mr. Elwin. I will take good care of the guests heading to the temple."
"Hiss—then there's nothing to be done. Hyde Company will abandon mining in this area, withdraw our engineering team, and dismiss all employees."
Unexpectedly, this little girl couldn't be swayed by the Pasha's name. Elwin snorted coldly and chose another tactic for coercion.
"I believe, Chieftain Tomimi, you wouldn't be unaware of how many jobs our arrival has provided for you, and how much advanced technology and medicine from Columbia we've brought, would you? If we leave, who will support the unemployed? Who will they resent?"
Currently, countless Aegir laborers were working under Hyde Brothers. Elwin knew they couldn't do without him.
"Hmm..."
Indeed, faced with Elwin's aggressive demeanor, Tomimi, whose little brain wasn't too sharp to begin with, fell into confusion.
"This is just a simple choice, Chieftain Tomimi. We are merely extracting some ordinary minerals, and you will receive our compensation—moreover, these are all Mulla Pasha's decrees. You will make the correct choice."
Elwin continued to display his professional smile. He knew there was no deal he couldn't close.
"I... I'll think about it."
Tomimi hesitated, which, in Elwin's eyes, was already his victory.
But the next second, without warning, a large hand covered Tomimi's small head.
Swish—
Behind Elwin, the mercenaries belatedly raised their firearms and crossbows.
A man in a black hunter's hat appeared behind Tomimi.
"Deceiving children is something only scoundrels do, Mr. Elwin."
Looking at the respectable Columbian man before him, Goki also showed a refined and amiable smile.
He had met too many good people; he had forgotten how to fake a smile.
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