Chapter 169 Tomb Covered with Flowers and Strong Liquor (Extra Updates, Request for Votes and Subscriptions!!)
Joe Ga was somewhat out of his comfort zone with the current atmosphere, but he had a big heart.
When the last person reported their position and code name, Joe Ga said with a smile, "I am a bit surprised, but more so, I am vain!"
As he wiped the sweat from his forehead, Joe Ga continued, "You make me feel like I am someone important now!
This is quite a pressure!"
As a few of the more active guys wanted to speak, Joe Ga gestured with his hand and said, "But no worries, I have been accustomed to pressure for a long time. I chose to build my career here because I am used to this feeling.
You might have heard about what happened today, and then you tried to show me with your actions your attitude towards it."
Saying this, Joe Ga glanced at the line of Seville veterans...
"Among you are those who have faced disappointments in life."
Then he turned to the row of mercenaries...
"Among you are those who once they left the force, could find no direction."
Next, Joe Ga turned to the veterans of the jungle...
"Among you are those who have lost their ideals, lost in a fight with no visible end."
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Feeling the atmosphere dip slightly, Joe Ga quickly continued, "Times of happiness are always similar, but the reasons for each person's disappointment are different.
What I just saw in you was a sense of honor, something that should not appear in mercenaries.
Then it dawned on me that perhaps what makes you feel most accomplished is your identity as soldiers!
Guys, as your boss, I cannot bring back your status as soldiers.
But as your boss, I feel it's my duty to help you keep your last bit of honor!
The honor of a soldier!
When you shed your uniforms and joined my company, you were no longer soldiers of a specific nation, but that doesn't mean you no longer have a target!
Let's disentangle from the complex vortex, let's view the world through the eyes of ordinary soldiers.
You are still the sword, you are still the shield, you can still be the protectors of kindness and beauty!
I can't promise you that I will always be right, nor can I promise that I will definitely lead you to the pinnacle of life.
But I can promise that I will uphold a baseline of humanity, and I will strive to let you maintain a sense of honor in your work.
We should not be war dogs chasing blood and flesh; we are lions, who still crave for battle.
We ought to choose our own targets, fight with our means for the money, honor, and happiness we deserve!!
I don't promise that we'll definitely succeed, but if our goals align, then my hope for success increases.
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I believe you can find a frequency similar to mine, and then we'll resonate together, becoming a force that will shake Central Africa!"
As Joe Ga spoke, most of the soldiers' faces showed moved expressions.
Seeing someone about to speak, Joe Ga gestured and continued, "Even so, we might not succeed, because the career I've chosen for myself is among the hardest jobs in the world.
But what of it?
Everyone should have some goals and ideals!
We can retain our ideals and honor, and then, when we lie on our deathbeds, we can grab the hands of our descendants and tell them...
Our lives were worth living!
Our graves may be decorated with fresh flowers, but spiced with spirits fits our identity better!
Death is the inevitable end for everyone, but we can leave behind a rich legacy and a beautiful life for our descendants, and enter the grave with honor.
When our descendants talk about us to others, we won't merely be simple, ordinary stories; we will be legends!"
At this point, Tony could no longer stay still, overwhelmed by emotion; this tall fellow had never felt such glory, but now, joining this team felt like an honor.
With movements akin to hyperactivity, he twitched his body. As soon as Joe Ga finished speaking, Tony raised his fist and pounded his chest powerfully, shouting loudly, "Hard strike~"
"Ho~"
"Hard strike~"
"Ho~"
"Hard strike~"
"Ho-ha~"
Tony led the continuous chanting of the slogan, driving the atmosphere to its peak. This willful convergence of wills incrementally unified the team that had been struggling to cohere, instilling a sense of unity and honor.
Joe Ga timely stepped forward, shouting loudly, "Remember, you are still the sword!"
"Sir, yes sir!"
"Remember, you are still the shield!"
"Sir, yes sir!"
"Our path forward is destined to be strewn with bones, but when we are buried, our graves will be laden with fresh flowers and spirits.
I can provide you money, but the honor you must secure for yourselves.
Tell me, can you achieve it?"
"Sir, yes sir!"
As Air Force ground support 'Wrench,' loudly responded after Joe Ga, when the passionate atmosphere reached its peak, he suddenly began humming a folk song...
I can see the sun slowly rising
Devils running across the earth
All that is good burns to ashes
My heart pounds wildly in my chest
Flames rage around
Every breath felt like it was ablaze.
Fingers pulled the trigger, pulled it forcefully.
Let all the demons fall.
Fingers pulled the trigger, pulled it forcefully.
Let us return home with victory and glory.
The old fellow's voice, full of age, was infectious, and soon the Seville veterans joined in the chorus.
'Wrench' probably felt that singing in his native language was a bit exclusive, so he naturally altered the lyrics and sang them again in English…
I could see the sun slowly rising.
Demons were running across the land.
......
......
Let us return home with victory and glory.
The lyrics were simple, but the emotions were too intense, creating a deep empathy among the soldiers.
When their basic needs were met, a sense of honor was their future source of motivation!
When they shifted their faith to the P.B. company, the company became their homeland, their castle, the place they would defend with their lives!
That was the mood today, so everyone was extremely excited.
However, Joe Ga believed that as long as he could remain sincere, these soldiers would achieve this one day!
When Joe Ga gestured for everyone to disperse and rest, everyone saluted again under the command of Lieutenant Belic of Seville, then dispersed.
After everyone had left, Joe Ga stood in the same spot for a long time.
Today had been very surreal, and he had never expected that his battle in Central Africa would begin and end in such a manner.
He felt a complex mixture of pride and unease in his heart.
He didn't know if this unconventional method was right or wrong; reason told him that business was not done this way, but his intuition told him it was right!
Dorian and Antar went back to rest first, leaving only Karman and Nis at the scene.
Seeing Nis trying several times to 'wake' the dazed Joe Ga, Karman shook his head slightly and said, "You need to be brave, he will be a King, and a King needs a proper Queen. Besides you, I trust no other woman!"
Nis was stunned, her face instantly turning red as if it were on fire.
She tried hard to approach the dazed Joe Ga, but eventually gave up under Karman's smiling eyes.
With Karman watching with a smile, Nis awkwardly turned and dashed off from the square, but halfway through, she ran back towards the convoy to arrange for the kidnapped Defense Minister's assistant, the black female elite Lenore, to be taken to a dormitory.
Joe Ga remained silent for a long time, and when the first light of dawn began to spread from the distant jungle treetops, he turned to Karman with a smile and said, "You wouldn't believe it, but for a moment just then, I felt quite magnificent.
But if being magnificent requires unselfish devotion, it seems I can't manage it.
I need to make money, I need to provide for my family, I need to ensure all my subordinates live with dignity.
Am I asking for too much?"
From three steps away, Karman shook his head, "No, what you're asking for isn't too much at all.
Why think so much?
The people of Africa have already proven that the path laid out by the White Ghost is unworkable. Anything you do, until the results are seen, I always believe it's right.
Because you've shown me something different, and besides, could things get any worse here?"
Saying this, Karman pointed at the distant jungle and said relaxedly, "You can fight drug traffickers, you've got strong warriors.
You can start mining, people here will be happy to work for food.
You can set up a hunting guide business, bring more people here, and let the locals know there's a bigger world out there.
Joe, you'll be a King, a King unlike any other!"
Joe Ga knew very well that nothing would be that simple.
But Karman had a talent for simplifying and pragmatizing everything, and every time they talked, it eventually seemed like things were straightforward.
Fight drug traffickers? Do it. Start mining? Do it. Expand the hunting business? Set up a branch.
Difficult? Not if you don't dwell on the details; doing so makes it seem immensely difficult!
But all of this was unimportant, Joe Ga had only taken the first step; as long as he could accurately stomp on the drug traffickers' heads with his second step, then the third step could naturally follow.
Business is like climbing a mountain; you have to scale a section first. If you're exhausted after the first section, then the rest doesn't concern you.
Screw it, follow your inner guidance. At the very least, those soldiers now recognize him.
Just get started, as Karman said, could it get any worse?
With his thoughts fully clear, Joe Ga grinned broadly. Watching the dawn in the distance, he said to Karman, "I'm not sleeping today. Join me for a few laps; I've had a surge in fitness lately, and I want to see if I can outrun you, old man.
15 kilometers. If I win, I'll give myself a day off, haha..."
With a smile, Karman loosened up his neck and said, "I always knew you loved your work!"
.........
Rat has given his all. With today, blasting updates are about finished; will try to post three updates a day of ten thousand words each going forward, and will give a heads-up if there are any issues.
With this, the base tone of this book has been set, but the map will expand significantly, and won't just be limited to Africa.
Hope everyone continues to support, subscribe, and vote!
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Grateful!!