Every Dragon Ball location had been assigned to a colonel by Commander Red, each ordered to gather the scattered Dragon Balls by any means necessary.
This time, Colonel Violet of the Red Ribbon Army had been dispatched to a remote mountain region.
Before long, Violet and her unit arrived at the designated area.
After surveying the terrain, her adjutant quickly returned to report.
"Report, Colonel Violet. This is the location assigned by Commander Red. The terrain here is extremely rough—steep mountain roads and bottomless ravines. Finding a single Dragon Ball here won't be easy."
Violet gazed at the towering mountains ahead, mist drifting through the peaks. Even she felt a trace of unease.
Searching for a Dragon Ball here was no easier than General Blue hunting one in the ocean.
It was nothing short of searching for a needle in a haystack.
But a soldier's duty was to obey.
Violet prided herself on being a capable officer. She didn't retreat from hardship—and besides, the Red Ribbon Army's iron-fisted policies left no room for hesitation.
She raised her hand and gave the order.
"Since this is a command from above, we begin the search. Even if we have to turn this entire mountain upside down, we will find that Dragon Ball."
The adjutant's eyes shifted slyly.
"Colonel, with just a few dozen men, it'll be impossible to search this area quickly. And we aren't familiar with the terrain either. I just checked—there's a large village nearby with over a thousand residents. Why not have the villagers help us look?"
Violet nodded.
"That could work. But I won't use force or oppression like others do. I grew up in a mountain village myself—people like them are honest and hardworking. Give them proper compensation, and they'll search diligently. That also prevents anyone from hiding the Dragon Ball. We'll save time, and the unused military funds can go to them as payment."
The adjutant nodded.
"Understood. Colonel, you're truly kind. Shall we head to the village now?"
Violet nodded, and she led her troops toward the village.
At that moment, Pan Mountain Village was calm and peaceful.
Suddenly, a hoarse scream shattered the silence.
"Bandits are here!"
"Everyone hide! The bandits are here!"
Instantly, chaos erupted.
Women screamed as they grabbed their children and fled indoors.
Men picked up farming tools and tried to form a defense.
But everyone knew—it was pointless.
Against ruthless bandits, their resistance was nothing more than suicide.
Moments later, the bandits arrived, rifles slung over their shoulders. With gun barrels pointed at the villagers, all resistance vanished.
The looting began.
These bandits had lived in the mountains for years, surviving by raiding nearby villages.
"Please stop! That's all the food we have left! If you take it, we won't survive until harvest!"
An elderly woman clutched a sack desperately, trying to protect her last rations.
The bandit sneered and kicked her aside.
"Don't play dumb, old hag! Every time we come here, you act the same way. Try stopping me again and I'll kill you!"
He grabbed half a sack of her grain and tossed it onto the truck.
Zhang the Cripple limped forward on his cane, pleading.
"Please… don't take any more. We really don't have anything left…"
"Shut up, old man!"
The bandit leader slapped him hard.
"I say you have food, so you have food! Search everything—take all the grain, all the money!"
With guns threatening them, the villagers dared not resist.
Doors were kicked open.
Chests smashed apart.
The village descended into chaos.
Grain, money, jewelry, even livestock were taken. The bandits even stuffed stolen goods into Capsule Corp capsules, loading only animals onto trucks.
Suddenly, a scar-faced bandit noticed the village beauty, Xiaofang.
His eyes gleamed with lust.
"Hahaha! Look at this little beauty—I almost missed her. Hey, girl, I won't take your family's stuff. Come up the mountain with me instead and enjoy some good food and wine."
Xiaofang gasped and backed away.
But he grabbed her wrist.
"Let go of me! Grandpa! Help!"
Her grandfather rushed forward.
"You beast! Let my granddaughter go!"
He raised his cane to strike—
—but the scar-faced man kicked him down effortlessly.
"You old bastard! Me liking your granddaughter is your honor!"
He dragged the girl toward the truck.
At that moment, a cold female voice rang out.
"Let her go."
The bandit turned.
A woman with short purple hair, sharp features, and commanding presence stood there—Colonel Violet.
She radiated authority.
The bandit paused, then grinned lewdly.
"Well, well… you're even prettier than the girl. Want to take her place?"
Violet's eyes filled with disgust.
"You're filth."
She raised her gun and fired.
Bang.
The bullet pierced his forehead.
He collapsed, eyes wide in disbelief.
The other bandits froze.
"What the hell?!"
"Who fired?!"
Before they could react, dozens of fully armed soldiers surrounded them.
Violet raised her hand.
"Kill them all. No survivors."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Gunfire erupted.
The bandits, outnumbered and untrained, were slaughtered within minutes.
The stolen goods were returned.
The village fell silent… then exploded with cheers.
"Thank you!"
"You saved us!"
The old man bowed deeply.
"You saved my granddaughter… you're a true hero."
For the first time in years, warmth stirred in Violet's heart.
She stared at the gun in her hand, remembering why she had first picked it up.
When the adjutant stepped forward and announced their mission, the villagers immediately offered to help.
Hundreds of villagers spread through the mountains.
Violet watched them go, her heart quietly shaken.
Their search had begun.
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