Long-term salvation

After looking at the general passing by with a slightly surprised look, Captain Jack Krauser quickly followed as a guard, while the other soldiers spread out in a larger circle, and two of them were slowly approaching the RV.

Sitting on the chair Abigail brought, General Hammer nodded at the girl with a genuine smile on his face.

"Thank you, girl."

"Would you like a barbecue burger, General Hammer?" Rhodes asked.

"...You know my name," Hammer said softly. He watched Rhodes skillfully place the grilled meat on the hamburger slices, and then topped it with pickled cabbage and tomato slices. "Wait a minute, I don't want mustard sauce. I hate mustard."

"As you wish, General," Rhodes shrugged, squeezed some of the sauce onto himself and Abigail's portions, and said easily, "Ians asked me to come over and help you, saying that you would reward me. That's why I'm here."

Unlike Krauser, who was still a bit confused, Hammer's heart skipped a beat. Besides the people involved in today's operation, even Irons was completely unaware of the operation's content and route! So, who leaked the information, or was this young man truly a prophet?

how is this possible.

As if sensing the general's doubts, Rhodes took a bite of the burger, chewed it a few times, and swallowed it, saying vaguely:

"I just happen to know something. I'm far from a prophet... I don't know how Irons described me to you. But anyway, stop tonight's operation, General. You will suffer this fate."

"I never thought I would have a good ending," General Hammer shook his head. He took a bite of the burger fearlessly. It tasted good, but he really didn't feel like eating. Putting the burger on the napkin, Hammer continued to ask:

"How much do you know about tonight's operation?"

"Tonight? And not just tonight. Raid the arsenal and seize the VX gas stored there? Head to Alcatraz Island, use the island's tourists and the civilians of the nearby metropolis as hostages, and force the United States government to hand over $1 million from the Red Sea Trading Company. You'll distribute this money to the participating soldiers and the families of those who died in action but didn't receive compensation... Just in terms of the plan's success rate, what do you think its chances are?"

Hearing this, General Hammer and Krauser's expressions suddenly changed. The latter even pulled out a gun and pointed it at Rhodes' head. However, in the next second:

A bullet pushed through the rain and struck the pistol in Krauser's hand. The force was so great that the pistol twisted into scrap metal the moment it left his hand. If Krauser hadn't gripped the gun too firmly, his wrist would have been bruised or even dislocated!

This sudden change made the soldiers nervous. They quickly spread out and lay down, searching for the sniper's position. Several of them even moved forward to drag General Hammer back to the back of the vehicle. But soon, the various weapons in the soldiers' hands were shot away one by one, starting with the last and best-hidden soldiers. The bullets penetrated the thick bulletproof windows, forcing them to use the vehicle as cover. What caliber of bullets were the enemy using?!

The current situation is far more terrifying than being attacked by an entire company of enemies!

The enemy had such precise sniping means on such a rainy night. If they wanted to, they could bury the entire convoy.

"Hmm...you and Ains are indeed friends. Your methods of handling things seem a bit rough."

Rhode shook his head. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yuuka carrying two Marines out of the RV. After throwing them at Krauser's feet, the girl put her hands on her hips and said angrily:

"If you dare interrupt me writing my tax deduction application again, I'll plant you all in the dirt next to me!"

"..." With a gloomy expression, Krauser slowly squatted down and put his hands on the necks of his two subordinates. They were just knocked unconscious, but by the girl in front of them? You must be kidding! This is the most elite soldier in the Marine Corps!

"It's about time, General. You'll hear bad news soon," Rhodes said, looking into General Hammer's eyes. The latter frowned and looked back at him angrily.

"General, it's a radio message from Team 2!"

A signalman shouted loudly. He was still a little confused about the current situation, but he gritted his teeth and stepped forward, standing behind General Hammer and said:

"Request a report!"

"explain."

"Team 2 reports, someone has fired several red flares outside the armory. The armory's alert level has been raised, and all entrances and exits have been sealed!"

The heavy rain has not stopped yet, and the cold raindrops are blown back and forth among the silent crowd by the strong wind, bringing endless chill.

After a long silence, General Hammer asked:

"What do you want to do?"

"I'll do you a favor, General," Rhodes said with a smile. He moved the hamburger in front of General Hammer and lifted the napkin underneath. "Don't be nervous. I mean no harm. I will definitely help you and your soldiers have a better future, but before that..."

Under the napkin was a Spanish gold coin.

Rhodes picked up the only napkin, rubbed it carelessly, and said softly:

"Five million dollars, and I need you to bring a few soldiers with me on a mission."

Chapter 66: Shaking (1/2)

"Five million dollars, that's about what an M1A1 tank costs (430 million in 1989)."

General Hammer sneered. He picked up the Spanish gold coins from under his napkin, examined them carefully, and asked:

"That's what you rely on? Some Spanish gold coins?"

"The shipwreck treasure is estimated to be worth $4 million," Rhodes said calmly. He reached out and took the gold coin from the general. "Five million dollars is just my guidance for Irons' sake. Otherwise, I wouldn't spend it... I don't need that much money to hire Atlas Company's elite soldiers."

"Guidance?"

"To guide you and your soldiers onto a more noble path," Rhodes said, pressing the upright Spanish gold coin with his right fingers and flicking it with his left hand, causing it to spin on the table. "I'm not some madman preaching or some fool believing in a cult. I'm simply earnestly describing the goals I must achieve."

"I want to build a force where soldiers will not become victims of political conflicts, where there will be no regional or racial discrimination, where everyone will fight for the ideals and future of human civilization, and where they will not be bound by national borders."

"We will stand together against the hundred-eyed, hundred-legged monsters, against the darkness and shadows that have become material. We will fight amidst the siege of the enemy, be buried in a sea of ​​pure white flowers, and enjoy the eternal love and admiration of the world. I will call this army—"

"An Army Without Borders."

The gold coin fell from the table, bounced on the wet road, and after a few flashes, disappeared into the dark rainy night.

General Hammer would never admit that his heart had ever been moved for a moment.

"I'm not asking you to betray your country, General, but I really want to ask you something."

Rhodes looked into the general's eyes and could see the long-extinguished fire in the depths of those eyes - this was a good thing, a determined person would not be shaken by a few words - General Hammer, he had already felt despair, otherwise he would not have done such a rebellious act, and this was a good thing for Rhodes.

"You love your country, but does your country love you?"

"..."

"You already know the answer to this question without even needing to be reminded. You're in pain, General—of course you're in pain! Soldiers shed their blood and sacrificed their lives for the good of the nation, yet they haven't received even the slightest compensation. They have no honor, no money, and even their bodies and souls are bound by military regulations!"

Rhodes whispered, slowly pressing forward, his blue eyes filled with scrutiny and questioning:

"Tell me, General, how would you react if you knew that thirty years from now the United States Army would drag passing girls into the barracks and gang-rape them? Tell me, General, how would you react if you knew that thirty years from now a transgender person with kleptomania could openly become a Deputy Minister of the United States? Oh, by the way, your schools in the United States are promoting sex reassignment surgery to your children, allowing them to pursue 'freedom' without telling their parents. Tell me..."

"you!"

General Hammer roared, overturned the table and grabbed Rod's collar, but the latter just raised his hand to signal Yuka to put down her weapon, and at the same time to let the two girls in the distance relax.

"Kid, I don't care who you are in Irons," General Hammer gnashed his teeth so hard that Rhodes almost thought they were two rows of metal gears biting each other. The general grabbed Rhodes' collar and shouted angrily, "If you dare to continue humiliating my country, I will break your neck even if I die here!"

"I'm not a prophet," Rhodes said calmly. He reached back and shook Hammer's hands. Hammer was surprised to find that Rhodes had such great power. "But I can see a lot of the future. That's why I stand here and tell you about your plan, how you failed, how you bled to death on Devil's Island, and how the soldiers of the United States killed each other until there was no one left - the Navy SEALs, the best warriors, who fought each other with the soldiers under your command in a damn, dirty bathhouse and were wiped out!"

"This is the future you wanted, General! If you want to leave, then go ahead and find some chemical weapons or nuclear warheads somewhere else, then wait to be blown to pieces by fighter planes and have your soldiers called traitors!"

Rhodes looked at him calmly, and the pressure from the highest status of mankind was slowly crushing towards Hammer.

"..."

General Hammer dejectedly loosened Rhodes' collar and sat down again. He closed his eyes and spoke in a calm tone with a hint of fatigue:

"I won't believe a word you say."

Irons, it's all because of that damn letter of yours... Where on earth did you find this brat, and how dare you put the future of Atlas on his shoulders?!

Are you crazy? Do you really believe in the existence of a prophet and savior?

"I don't care whether you believe it or not, General. When the wheel of history rolls around, no one can resist it." Rhodes took a deep drag on his cigarette, exhaled, and watched the smoke quickly disappear into the wind and rain. "Let's talk about something more practical. The five million dollar mission—this mission is difficult, requiring brave and fearless soldiers with extremely strong wills. Military skills are secondary."

"What mission?" the general asked.

Hearing this, a smile finally appeared on the corner of Rhode's mouth, but he quickly suppressed it and continued:

"You're good friends with Irons, so you should know the level of Atlas' elites. Gideon, do you know this name?"

"I know. He's a skilled SAS soldier," General Hammer nodded slightly. "Atlas Corporation has conducted confrontational training with various elite special forces/reconnaissance units of the United States. I was deeply impressed, especially when Irons took my brandy with a smug smile."

Rhodes exhaled a puff of smoke, flicked off some ash, and spoke quietly:

"Gideon's team of six suffered two deaths and three serious injuries, with only one person slightly injured. He himself lost his left hand. This is the mission you will face next. It's not about attacking a military base or beheading the enemy leader, but about fighting twisted and blasphemous monsters in the darkness. They are indescribable and even unspeakable."

If you want General Hammer to join willingly, it's better to show him some real stuff, of course - real fear will also do.

"...Such losses would be difficult to come by even with the same number of armed reconnaissance company soldiers. I almost thought they encountered the Soviets," General Hammer frowned. He looked at Krauser, who was standing not far away and could still hear the conversation. Both of them saw disbelief in each other's eyes.

They found it hard to believe the loss of Gideon's team or the fantastic words that Rhodes said.

"They lack experience in fighting creatures from the other world, and are at a disadvantage in terms of terrain. As for the term 'other world', you can ask Irons, General. We are only discussing matters between us here."

After finishing one cigarette, Rod took out two more from the pack. He handed one to General Hammer and lit it for him before slowly lighting his own. However, he took only a few puffs before Yuuka took it away. He had no choice but to surrender and continued to say to General Hammer:

"We'll meet in New York in three days at a luxury hotel owned by Atlas Corporation. You can ask Irons where I am. He'll definitely know."

[Side Quest: Twelve Trials: Midnight Cannibal Train]

[Mission Description: Go to New York, take the late-night subway, resolve the otherworld incident, and seal the otherworld rift]

"I have one more question."

General Hammer asked the signalman to send a notice to cancel the operation. He saw that the black cat had picked up the Spanish gold coins that had just fallen somewhere, and was now seeking credit from the blonde girl. Different from the girl who defeated his two subordinates, and also different from Rhodes in front of him, he suddenly felt that this blonde girl was the most dangerous one here.

Putting his annoyance aside for the moment, General Hammer looked at Rhodes' face and asked:

"If I report your existence to the United States..."

"Then you can guess, will they take it seriously, or will they start laughing at you the second you leave the office, 'Oh! Hammer has finally gotten old and started believing in the prophets, tsk tsk tsk,'" Rhodes said calmly while cleaning up the grill.

"Wake up, General. Wearing a combat uniform and rolling around in the mud is different from wearing a suit and sitting in an office. After all, when you started asking for compensation and honors for the fallen soldiers, you faced a lot of overt and covert rejection, didn't you, General?"

"...Three days later, New York. I remember that."

Chapter 67: Midnight Cannibal Train: Getting Ready (2/2)

Three days later, New York.

"I haven't been to New York in a long time. It seems no different here than it was before."

General Hammer stood on the busy sidewalk, looking at the towering skyscrapers across the way:

This is the top luxury hotel owned by Atlas Corporation. The suites inside are beyond the reach of General Hammer and his soldiers who are paid a fixed salary.

The general was overwhelmed by the sorrow brought about by so many complicated and disturbing things recently, and he couldn't help but sigh. In the past few days, he talked to Irons again. Although the latter concealed a lot because he had not yet truly joined, he still provided the video of Rhodes in the Salem Town Hospital and the video of the encounter between Gideon and others.

Recalling the monsters in the videos, Rhodes who looked like a monster, and the girls who followed him, General Hammer felt a little more fortunate... If they had fought on that rainy night, they would probably have been wiped out.

"Report, request to speak."

Krauser, who was standing nearby, spoke out. He was a burly man, and was now wearing a black coat like the other four soldiers, like the bodyguards following behind General Hammer - it was not wrong to say so, as they were carefully selected to carry out this mission.

"Speak," the general replied calmly. He started walking and led everyone across the street towards the hotel.

"The mission brief you provided is a bit... uh... a bit too brief," Krauser said, recalling the argument between his former superior and the young man a few days ago. He felt confused and a little bit longing. "Asking us to fight this enemy with the same standards as we would against Batman is indeed a bit... you know, a bit strange."

Come on, kid, it's still Batman, not Superman or Doomsday or anything.

General Hammer sighed slightly as he thought about this. He did not answer Krauser's question, but asked:

"Has the $5 million been distributed?"

"It's been distributed. The families of over 80 of our fallen brothers have received tens of thousands of dollars. That guy named Rod is really generous with his money. He's much better than those damn bureaucrats."

General Hammer understood what Krauser meant - the money was far from enough, not to mention that those who had retired due to injuries and were still serving had not received a penny.

With mixed feelings, General Hammer walked into the hotel owned by Atlas Company. The first thing he saw was the black cat licking its paw. The cat wore a rather funny tricorn hat on its head and looked like the pet of a great pirate.

After seeing General Hammer, the cat meowed a few times and walked deeper into the hotel.

General Hammer, Krauser, and the others looked at each other in bewilderment, but decided to follow the light-footed Black Cat, winding their way into a small conference room.

The conference room boasted a classic and ornate French style, but the paintings and sculptures that had originally been there had long since been removed, leaving only traces of age-worn indentations. The solid wood round table in the center of the room was covered with a dark green canvas, and a cold, murderous array of weapons lay neatly stacked upon it, reflecting a chilling metallic sheen that seemed out of place in the surroundings.

No, the one who looks out of place the most is the blonde girl:

She sat on a sofa at one side of the conference room, playing a handheld game console. The black cat that had led the way earlier lay curled up beside her, purring. Several rocket launchers were leaning against the sofa, and a few grenades of various shapes were scattered on the coffee table in front of her, next to the oranges and apples.

"Just in time, General."

Rhodes, wearing an all-seeing eyepatch, walked out of the conference room, carrying a box of scattered bullets and unfilled magazines.

"You'll need to help me fill these magazines... Also, choose your own weapons and wear appropriate armor. In this fight, you're more likely to be mauled by a 'Grizzly' than to be shot."

"In that case, then you can start preparing and don't worry about me."

General Hammer nodded slightly to his subordinates. As the soldiers began selecting their weapons, he slowly walked over to Rhodes and ran his finger over a flamethrower on the table. After a few seconds of hesitation, the general asked the busy Rhodes:

"I've seen the video of you at Salem Town Hospital and asked Irons, so... what are we going to face next? A group of staggering corpses, or a group of agile mutant beasts?"

"If it were just these two, that would indeed be good news," Rhodes said as he checked his M4 rifle, arranged the magazines filled with different bullets, and stuffed them one by one into the magazine pouch on his chest. "But unfortunately, I don't know what we'll encounter. Perhaps it will be the real manifestation of your nightmares, General."

General Hammer was at a loss for words when he heard this, but he then saw the weapon in front of Rhodes disappear out of thin air—as if the whole world had lost a frame, disappearing without a trace!