Chapter 292 Donate for your own use
Behind the burly man, dozens more mercenaries entered the venue in groups, seemingly belonging to a single group. They dispersed through the venue in separate groups, with the burly man at the head heading toward the bookstore's booth. Bang Bang Crucian Carp greeted him warmly.
"Long time no see, Captain Maiko. It's been—five years, right?"
"Six years!" Captain Macko laughed heartily. "The attacks by the outsiders have become more frequent in recent years. Recently, a new batch of troops went to the front lines, giving us the opportunity to sneak into the city."
Bang Bang Crucian Carp curled his lips and said, "Those slackers on Shura Island are so unwilling to put in the effort themselves, they only know how to exploit the mercenaries..."
"It's pretty good. At least there's a Martial Master stationed here... and after the fall of Toadlight Fortress, they also have to consider the internal conflicts on the island." Captain Maike looked at everyone. "Are these the new employees?"
“Friends from the trendy city, just in time to come to the exhibition together!”
Mai Ke's eyes lit up, and he stepped forward to shake Chu Hengkong's hand. "So you're a friend from Huilong City! I'm Mai Ke, leader of the Red Copper Mercenary Group. Congratulations on your city's survival. The restoration of the route has been a huge help to the front lines. Without your city's talismans and relics, my group would have lost half its men."
Ji Qiufeng and Cui Ke went to visit the exhibition, but the mercenary leader mistook Chu Hengkong for their leader. Chu Hengkong didn't care and said, "We are all righteous allies, so it's only natural. I have dealt with many mercenaries, but rarely in this kind of situation."
Working in the razor-sharp business for a long time inevitably leads to some physical and psychological problems. During downtime, they either seek out a place to unleash their energy or become repressed and withdrawn after living alone. Therefore, the places you're most likely to encounter mercenaries are usually nightclubs, bars, casinos, and the like. It's unheard of for mercenaries to visit comic conventions...
But the mercenaries were already enjoying the exhibition. After Macko's Red Copper Group arrived, dozens of similar mercenary groups arrived. Groups ranged from a dozen to hundreds, with many soldiers and mercenaries arriving alone. The atmosphere in the venue suddenly became lively. A large group of ferocious-looking men with ferocious faces chatted happily with the small animals. The scene was like a reunion of the 108 heroes of Liang Shanbo and the Disney forest. It was as strange as it could be.
"Where do so many mercenaries come from?" Vander also found it strange.
"Oh, you're so ignorant, aren't you?" Li Ke boasted. "Of the people here today, 40% have come back from the front lines, and 60% are about to go. Loyalty is what matters. We mercenaries are the most popular profession in Jingsha City-State."
Li Ke briefly explained the situation to everyone. The mercenary profession in Jingsha City-State truly held a different meaning than in other Dust Islands, and this meaning stemmed from Jingsha's founding thousands of years ago.
At that time, the Jingsha sacred tree had not yet grown into a giant of Sephiroth 7, but the offensive of the outsiders was already fierce, and the outcome of each battle would determine the city's survival. Therefore, Jingsha implemented a military service system. To ensure the current life, the entire population must be soldiers and unite against the enemy.
The citizens who shared life and death with the sacred tree understood the greater good and naturally joined the battle bravely. However, within the city-state, there were many races that were not adept at fighting. These small creatures lacked the innate essence and talent to become cultivators. They came to the city-state simply to survive in the chaotic world. Even if they obtained weapons, they would only die in vain on the battlefield.
Considering that some citizens were truly unable to fight, the military service system excluded certain races to prevent them from making fearless sacrifices. However, citizens who were unable to fight also had patriotic hearts and spontaneously donated money and clothing, and hired mutated soldiers from outside the city to fight in their place at a high price.
The Ascended, moved by his noble intentions, accepted the commission, and thus became the first group of Jingsha mercenaries. Most of these surviving mercenaries became members of Jingsha after the war, and new mercenaries continued to join the war, following this tradition. Over time, mercenaries became a regular part of Jingsha's military.
Over time, the city-state of Jingsha has become far more powerful than it once was, and military service has long since been abolished, but the tradition of mercenaries has survived. To this day, the city-state still employs mercenaries to solve difficult problems. Whenever Jingsha leads a battle, the city-state employs a large number of mercenaries.
They are called "blood bathers" and are welcomed and respected in every vein.
"Everyone worked hard on the battlefield, and the money they saved had to be spent somewhere. The exhibition has a lot of good things at low prices, so it's definitely a good place to go." Macko flipped through the new issue of the bookstore with great interest. "Besides, spending this money not only paves the way for future generations, but also supports our veterans. Everyone has to come out of loyalty."
"Old senior?" Ji Huaisu grasped the key point.
Bang Bang Crucian Carp coughed dryly and glared at the mercenary to shut up. Macko ignored him, rubbing his slimy fins and laughing. "Don't you know? The three of us at the bookstore are all veterans of the Great War. Manager Yu is a 5-point Anti-Law Rainbow, more powerful than my entire group combined. He'd even have a shot at the captaincy of the Divine Guard."
The crucian carp wiggled its fins vigorously. "Oh, they're all just paddling around in the last stage to get the subsidy. They retired long ago! Besides, we're all exotic beasts, very weak. We can't compare to Lao Cui!"
Unfortunately, it was too late. Ji Huaisu had already come up to him with a big smile on his face: "Manager Yu, you are so capable, why didn't you tell me earlier? You see, we are all on the Supreme Path, so it's a good opportunity for us to teach me a few tricks~"
"I can't teach you—I've never seen anyone like you! Oh, I have to watch the stall. Let's talk about it when we get back, okay? Wait until we get back!"
Ji Huaisu's persistent pursuit drove Bang Bang Crucian Carp's eyes into circles, while Gulibo and the other shop assistants cheered him on. Mai Ke watched the excitement while browsing the store's merchandise, buying a number of the bookstore's publications and paintings, as well as several sets of playing cards.
"Captain Macko is quite artistic." Vander joked.
"No, they're all for my son," Macko said, shaking his head. "After being away from home for so many years, I have to bring back some local specialties... I only have the chance after the fight."
Chu Hengkong looked at the man with a wry smile and thought of those white-collar workers who traveled for official business. He had seen many such people, busy with work and career from morning till night, only to remember when they were about to board the plane home that they hadn't brought anything home, and had to rush to buy some local specialties at the expensive shops in the airport.
On Earth, white-collar workers could always send a courier if they wanted to. But in the Shendong Realm, it was unknown how long it would take for goods shipped across the ocean to arrive. Even if they did reach their hometown, there was no telling whether they would be contaminated by foreign contamination along the way, causing trouble.
As time went by, the mercenaries didn't even dare to send a letter home. They bought the safest goods at the exhibition guaranteed by the Jingsha government and brought them back with their own bodies. This was the safest way.
The exhibition hall is full of stall owners chatting with customers. These guys grow flowers, sell grass, and run restaurants, many of whom are veterans of the battlefield. Buying things here is about peace of mind.
Macko spent a long time browsing the stall, picking up everything from children's fairy tales to young adult literature. He realized he couldn't even pinpoint what his son was currently interested in, so he simply picked up a variety of items. While the animals helped pack, he pondered for a moment and said to Chu Hengkong, "Excuse me, can we post a missing person notice in the City of Ebb and Flow?"
The mercenary also had the idea of looking for someone. Chu Hengkong nodded slightly: "The City Lord's Mansion has similar services, and the cost is not high. Who is Captain Macco looking for?"
Mai Ke was delighted to hear this: "You're a straightforward person! To be honest, there's a detachment leader in my regiment who disappeared with a group of brothers in Changuang Fortress over half a year ago. He was from Longquan Township, wielded a large spear, and was very skilled in talisman magic. He was a very promising young man..."
At this point, the captain's mood darkened slightly. "He possesses a mystical ability, foreseeing danger before it's too late, and has saved our lives numerous times. I believe that with his abilities, even if he were caught in a chaotic battle, he should have a chance of survival. By then, the waterway had been gradually restored, and judging by the currents at the time, perhaps there was an intersection with Huilong City... Have you seen it?"
The more Captain Macko spoke, the more excited everyone's expressions became. Fander's eyes widened: "Is your captain Wu He?"
"Exactly!" Macko said excitedly, "What happened to that kid?"
Ji Huaisu hesitated, truly unsure how to begin. Captain Macko and his mercenaries clearly considered Wu He a lifelong brother, yet that wretch himself didn't seem to value them much. Furthermore, Wu He had ultimately caused the chaos and had already defected to Black Moon, so they couldn't bring themselves to speak to Macko, who was so hopeful.
"He stayed on the battlefield." Chu Hengkong said.
Macko fell silent upon hearing this, then sighed deeply. For a man who had experienced so much, such a sentence was enough.
"Mercenaries...are always like this." He smiled bitterly, "Thank you everyone."
He paid the bill, quickly composed himself, and walked back to his brothers. Chu Hengkong heard him tell his subordinates that they had received good news: Wu He had made a fortune and fled to the remote Dust Island to become a local tyrant. The mercenaries cursed the captain for being unkind, saying he had made a fortune but didn't care about his old brothers. Others said he was simply jealous of his good fortune. Off the battlefield, what were the old brothers?
Talking and laughing, they learned about the fate of their former comrades, and then the topic passed and they moved on to new stalls to talk about new topics. Some reminisced about the past, some looked around, the newcomers asked the veterans about the war, and the veterans asked their fellows about their current situation. There was always someone happy and someone sad.
The bookstore stalls were attracting more and more customers. Chu Hengkong couldn't help, so he just took Fander for a stroll. He strolled to the entrance and noticed a strange man from a distance.
This strange figure stood over three meters tall, carrying a bulging package on his back like he was moving house. He wore a mask reminiscent of Shura Island. His hands and feet appeared thick and strong, his palms spread out like a palm-leaf fan. With his back to the exhibition hall, he shouted to the busy thoroughfare, "Hey! Citizens of the Third Lineage, please take note if you pass by! This is a fundraising site for soldiers. We have high-quality goods for sale. Patriots, please enter!"
The citizens looked at him as if he were a fool, and some even scoffed, "I paid the money this time, so how can I not pay taxes next month?"
The strange man's momentum shrank: "This... one thing is another..."
"War is something the parliament should worry about!"
"The Divine Guards have already been overfunded, haven't they?"
"Once the bill is passed, there won't be any more work for these people..."
The citizens were all talking at once, leaving the eccentric speechless. He was so angry that he stamped his feet so hard that a series of tremors caused miniature earthquakes around the exhibition area.
"Dear citizens! How can you be so unreasonable! The war concerns every citizen of Jingsha——"
"Someone's bullying us!" "It's amazing that they're mutators." "Hey, is that the Divine Guards?"
The elderly citizens in the city center were completely unfazed and immediately called the police. Seeing this, the strange man quickly retreated into the exhibition hall and squatted dejectedly by the entrance.
"These naive people have all been deceived by politicians," he muttered to himself. "It's ridiculous, don't you think?"
Chu Hengkong happened to be standing nearby. Upon hearing this, he laughed and said, "Soldiers donate money to the war effort, but civilians are dismissive of it. I've never seen this on any island outside of Jingsha."
"We've been living in peace for too long! And yet it was like that again twenty years ago. It's really..."
The weirdo shook his head repeatedly. He was a man who never lost heart. He immediately cheered up and said excitedly, "Okay! If it doesn't work here, we can go to a more distant place to promote it. Do you want to come with us—hmm?"
His gaze fell on Huo Wan, and his eyes under the mask lit up obviously.
"This! Could it be! A secret treasure that harbors the power of chaos... no, the power of doom! This is an incredible relic!"
The masked man came forward excitedly and said, "How much is this prosthetic hand? I'll buy it!"
(End of this chapter)
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