Long-term salvation

"They dare not order their 'master' around," Rhodes sneered.

Rhodes ran to the outside of the office and put his ear to the door to listen for any movement inside - there was no sound at all. He stood up and slowly opened the door.

The office was in a mess, with drawers, cabinets, and even the like haphazardly opened, the documents and materials inside vanishing. The windows were half-closed, and the cold wind from New York City poured into the room, swaying the curtains and blowing the useless papers onto the body on the floor.

Rhodes put away his weapon, walked into the office with a gloomy expression, squatted down and examined the body:

The killer wore gloves and a hood, and the bullet fired from his silenced pistol hit the target squarely between the eyebrows, precise and flawless, clearly an expert at this job. The victim's body was still warm, indicating a recent death... The killing and looting time was incredibly tight, likely around the same time as Rhode and his group.

"Escaped?" General Hammer walked to the window and looked down slightly. The dim alley was littered with garbage and messy footprints of who knew when and who.

"Obviously, General."

As Rhodes spoke, he used his all-seeing eye to find a useless spy device in the office. It was used for eavesdropping, surveillance, and was connected to the monitoring screen in the office... The screen was showing the scene of the subway station, and a mutilated body was lying motionless among the brick and stone rubble.

"It's most likely a spy who's been lurking for a long time," Rhodes said with some regret. He only pulled out a few worker lists from under the documents on the table. "I should have thought of it earlier. Those guys can't just sit there and do nothing after falling flat on their face. FVCK! I should have been faster!"

"what……"

"what happened?"

Rhodes looked back when he heard General Hammer's chuckle. The latter shook his head and said with amusement:

"I just realized that you're still a young man, a young man who should enjoy a good life. Let's go and leave the rest of the work to the people at Atlas, just as you said just now... Let's go eat something delicious. I remember there's a delicious Mexican restaurant in New York. My late wife and I met there."

General Hammer patted Rhodes' shoulder, a look of relief on his face. He opened the door and walked out:

"After this time, I've let go of a lot of things, and we can talk while we walk."

Rhodes sighed and stood up to follow. Just as the general said, there was no valuable intelligence here, and the corpse on the ground would obviously not resurrect and talk to Rhodes.

"First of all, I must admit that my previous assessment of your 'Army Without Borders' was biased. Humanity truly needs to unite; only in this way can we fight against the darkness... When I have time, I'll tell you about the Vietnam War."

General Hammer said as he and Rhodes walked side by side in the silent corridor. The radio carried the voices of soldiers reporting that they had not found anyone else. It seemed no different from a daily training exercise, but the general always recalled everything he had experienced in the dark, the fear he had not felt since the Vietnam War, and it almost brought back his nightmares.

"After I return, I will ask the soldiers for their opinions. However, according to my estimation, at least twenty of them will wade into this mess. You must arrange for their salaries and benefits."

Twenty people, plus some mercenaries, are enough to set up the initial framework for the time being.

Rhode pondered for a moment, thinking about the treatment of the United States Army at this time, and said:

"How about a monthly salary starting at $5000 per person, with bonuses based on mission level if deployed? Also, regarding medical care for the soldiers and their families, I'll talk to Irons. I think he'd be happy to help."

"...Are you really not Irons' illegitimate child?"

"Do you want me to answer you with your previous words, General?" Rhodes responded unhappily. He and General Hammer walked down the stairs one after the other and saw a whole wide passage leading directly to the entrance of the slaughterhouse, with slaughterhouses and cold storage on both sides.

Abigail, Krauser and other soldiers were standing at the door, waiting for Rhodes and General Hammer.

"Regarding the compensation for the soldiers who died under your command," Rhodes stopped and turned to look at General Hammer. "I promise you that the follow-up funds will be in place within four to five months."

"I believe you," the general nodded slightly, "but now let's go take a shower, get some sleep, and then have something good to eat - can you ask Irons to give us his presidential suite? And it's free. If he doesn't give it to us, then you will pay for it."

"This is too degenerate, General! Where is the hardship and simplicity of being a soldier?!"

"I don't care," General Hammer said with a wave of his hand, a relieved smile on his face. "Anyway, my soldiers and I will follow you from now on... Let's start by setting up a private military services company called Blackwater Worldwide. How about that?"

"That's a terrible name."

"Why, it appeared in the future?"

"Then I have to tell you..."

As Rhodes and General Hammer talked, they walked towards the slowly opening gate of the slaughterhouse. The dawn sunlight penetrated through the gap of the gate and sprinkled on everyone.

Chapter 75: Noon Visit (1/2)

The next day at noon.

Following the waiter's guidance, Irons came to the presidential suite marked No. 1. Atlas Corporation owned many properties and luxury hotels, but Irons never lived in these places, as they were too dangerous and too restrictive.

As a leader, Irons prefers to stay in his own company or military camp.

Standing in front of the door, Irons loosened his tie and knocked on the door a few times. His facial muscles were tense, with obvious displeasure and confusion:

Being woken up by a phone call is one thing, but how could a friend of decades be so frantic over the phone that he'd support that little jerk or else expose his own embarrassment on TV? The last time we met, you were still bitterly refusing help, with a look of despair on your face—you're switching sides so quickly!

Reaching out and pressing his brow, Irons waited to go in and question the master.

A petite girl opened the door and softly invited Irons in.

Another new girl, Irons thought, and then he noticed the halo above her head and the nun's uniform on her body.

nun?

Irons frowned slightly. Almost instantly, he realized that Rhodes might be planning to attack religion... In any case, he should make a contingency plan first.

"Mary, who's here?"

Rod came out of the room with the phone in his hand. He saw Irons standing at the door of the suite with a wooden face, looking like he was planning to have a Pokémon duel with Mary.

Rhode laughed dumbly and after briefly instructing Yuxiang on the phone, he placed the item on the low table, walked to the door, touched Mary's head, and said with a smile:

"I thought you were going to wait until tonight to come over. General Hammer said he would treat you and me to dinner."

"A day's rest is enough," Irons said as he walked into the room and placed his coat on the sofa cushions. "Besides, don't I already know Hammer's financial situation and preferences? My guess is that in this city, besides going to a Mexican restaurant, he'll either find an Oklahoma-style barbecue joint, and the owner has to be the type who wears a cowboy hat and pretends to be a cowboy."

Rhodes thought about it and decided not to tell him General Hammer's evaluation of Irons' appearance.

Mary poured black tea for the two of them. Her eyes were a sky blue slightly different from Rhodes's, and much softer than the latter.

Mary, also known as Eliot Mary, from "The Blue Files," is a member of the Sisters of Trinity Academy. She is a gentle and lovely girl who dreams of becoming a great nun... Her prototype is likely Mary Magdalene. In the Bible, Jesus is also referred to in Hebrew as "Rabbouni," meaning "teacher/master." In some gospels and religious texts, this Mary is also Jesus' wife.

Although she is a nun, Mary uses a Desert Eagle Mk.XIX pistol called "Piety", which is a .50 caliber pistol with powerful firepower. The girl holds the gun with one hand, and her hand strength is really great.

"Forget about Yang, but isn't Abigail up yet?" Rod took a sip of the tea. The aroma was rich and slightly bitter, worthy of being in a top-tier suite. "Mary, go wake them both up. Lunch will be delivered in half an hour."

"Okay, Sensei."

"...You don't have to call me, just call me Abigail."

Nicky, named "Yang," strolled out from the inner room, holding a fan. The moment she noticed Irons, she immediately opened it and covered the lower half of her face with it, her eyes full of curiosity and eager provocation:

"Is this the big businessman whose business empire you said you wanted to destroy?"

"I didn't say that," Rhodes said quickly and seriously.

"It's all the same. You will be the one who controls the world economy, and I, we, exist for this purpose."

Nikki's eyes were filled with smiles. In the game, she was set up as a seasoned businessman who spoke a dialect and was a top business genius. Nikki, whose hair was black with a hint of gray, formed the Darrant Force with two other Nikkis who were also good at business management. They were specifically responsible for boosting the Ark's economy.

Like Mary, Yang was also a character Rhode had obtained yesterday using a character exchange voucher. Mary aside, Yang was indeed the help Rhode desperately needed right now... None of the young women these days were good at business, let alone dealing with the intricacies of the business world with experienced professionals.

Glancing at Nikki who was sitting next to Rhodes, Irons took a few deep breaths and decided to ignore Rhodes's attempt to steal his girlfriend. Instead, he took advantage of Mary's absence to call Abigail and whispered:

"Although I know you are special, it's best to avoid interacting with those religious people. It will be very troublesome."

"What? There's no priest in the Foundation?" Rhodes reached out and poured a cup of black tea for Nikki. Watching the tea swirl in the exquisitely crafted white porcelain cup was a real treat. "I thought you guys would have some sort of military chaplain."

"We have a religious collaborator, Father Gabriele Amorth. Do you know his name?"

Father Gabriel Amos? Hearing the name, fragments of his memories surfaced. This man existed in the original timeline, claiming to have performed 16 exorcisms (as of 2013), while in 2003, that number was only 5... Things were clearly different in this world. This priest might actually be quite something.

Now that I think about it, I wonder what the Warrens were like. I hope they are the movie version, not the original timeline version.

"The Vatican's top officials are vaguely aware of the existence of the afterlife, but they still refer to it loosely as 'Hell.' It's like during the witch trials, when the Vatican didn't acknowledge the existence of witches."

Irons turned his head to see Abigail rubbing her eyes as she walked out of the house. She was wearing cute dinosaur pajamas and holding the tail of the desperate Pickman. Mary followed behind her, looking at the cat with a worried look on her face, and rubbed her own cat ears.

"They naturally wouldn't admit that things like the afterlife or hell really exist, but the scriptures preserved throughout the long history of religion have solved many historical mysteries for us," Irons said, raising an eyebrow at Rhodes, his face becoming more serious.

"The priest's main job within the Foundation is to bring us the ancient texts he transcribed, assist with their interpretation, conduct diplomatic work with religious circles... and determine whether certain events are truly influenced by the otherworld or simply the manic episodes of a psychopath."

"Let me guess," Rhodes stroked his chin, "Does this priest still call the other world 'Hell'?"

"Obviously, it's for this very reason that the Foundation prohibits people with religious beliefs from becoming directors, and even keeps many secrets secret from them. Furthermore, since those 'demons' or 'blasphemous instruments' in history were creations of the otherworld, then... what about God?"

This is a terrifying thought. God may not exist, but what kind of terrifying monster would be born under the influence of the thoughts of hundreds of millions of people over thousands of years? It would be best if God really existed, and it would be best if God was just as described in the Bible.

Just as Irons was about to say something else, there was a knock on the door. The person who came was not the waiter delivering the meal, but General Hammer.

Seeing Irons glaring at him from the sofa, General Hammer ignored him and said to Rhodes with a smile:

"Let's go get some Mexican food now. I'll be right back this afternoon... I've been away from the team for a while now, so I'm fine with that. Krauser and the others are still in the military."

"Leave now?"

"Now, aren't you planning to fly to Michigan tonight?" General Hammer nodded. "Then let's not waste time. Irons is here too, so let's set off now."

"Just so you know, I'm not paying for the meal," Irons reminded him.

General Hammer said nothing, but just gave a middle finger.

Chapter 76: Mexican Restaurant (2/2)

New York, long after dawn, is lazily enjoying its innate prosperity. Millions of ants that make up the city are swarming on the roads. Vehicle exhaust and the mist exhaled from people's mouths mix together, climbing along the straight skyscrapers into the gloomy sky, but it seems that it will not snow today.

There are no subway trains shuttling between reality and the other world, no monsters leaping out of the darkness, it's just an ordinary day - but for those who know the truth, the ordinary daily life is just a rest before the next battle begins.

Resting was as important as eating, Rod thought, especially when he walked into the Mexican restaurant in front of him.

This Mexican restaurant in Queens, New York, is far from quiet and laid-back. Exotic even to Americans, it attracts a diverse crowd, mostly Latino, from all corners of the city, the country, and even other continents.

Warm lighting, beige wallpaper with a slight yellowing, an old wine table built with red bricks, creaking wooden tables and chairs, and the noisy crowd... Everyone was talking, and the noisy voices swirled in the restaurant, occasionally interrupted by the waiter throwing a large plate of food on the table, but such silence would only last less than a second, so short that it almost made people think it was just an illusion.

"Let's start with some Cemita," General Hammer said, sitting at the table, ordering dishes with great skill. "It's mixed with sliced ​​avocado, Oaxaca cheese, and some other meats. It tastes very good. As for us... we can also order a few small pieces of Pan de Muerto, which is a soft bread with sugar. I think the two young ladies will definitely like it."

As he spoke, General Hammer smiled at Mary and Abigail. The former smiled back and whispered a thank you. As for the latter... Abigail seemed to have not been getting enough sleep in the past two days because of closing the rift to the other world. The silver key on her chest had already faded a layer of old color.

After hearing General Hammer's voice, Abigail uttered a soft thank you and fell asleep on Yang's lap beside her, while Pickman squatted on his master's head with his tail hanging down, just like an eye mask.

Seeing Abigail's expression, Rhodes felt distressed and guilty. He said helplessly to General Hammer and Irons:

"I should have let her sleep a little longer in the hotel."

"I don't think sleeping a little longer will solve the problem, but it's okay for the little girl to sleep a little longer." Irons had obviously learned the details of the incident from General Hammer. He took the menu from General Hammer, glanced at it, and said to the waiter:

"One bottle of tequila, three more glasses...Okay, Miss Yang doesn't drink cocoa, so two glasses of cocoa."

"Another Pozole," General Hammer added.

This is a Mexican-style corn soup, which is basically corn, pork (or other meat) stewed in sauce... The Aztecs used to order other meats - human flesh - which Dr. Hannibal might be more interested in.

Tequila was served first. Yang spread out the four glasses, pouring them in one by one starting with Rhodes, and finally filling her own glass halfway.

The restaurant was still filled with a cheerful atmosphere. Several men wearing Mexican sombreros were singing with accordions, and several guests dressed as tourists were taking photos excitedly. No one noticed a few people who looked out of place in the corner.

Picking up the wine glass and looking at the amber-colored wine, General Hammer pondered for a few seconds, then slowly spoke amid the noisy voices:

"Since Irons is here, let him be a witness... Let's drink to our friendship, future, and responsibility!"

After finishing his drink, Hammer looked at Rhodes with a smile on his face. But he looked around to make sure that the waiter or other guests would not come here, and then he said softly:

"Ians once described it to me—the other world, that's what you call that dark place, right? He described the horror there, saying things like nightmares would become the most real existence, and humans would only suffer torture there. I thought he was crazy at the time."

Irons didn't say anything and didn't drink. He just picked up the glass and shook the wine in it, as if this thing interested him very much.

"I thought a lot in that tunnel, and I think Krauser and the others thought a lot too."

How could General Hammer, who spent every day with those soldiers, not see what they were thinking?

Because of this, Rhodes could feel the entanglement, reluctance and a hint of unwillingness in his heart, both towards himself and those soldiers.

When the soft bread of the dead was served and the girls began to tear the bread apart with their hands and stuff it into their mouths, General Hammer continued:

"Your Army Without Borders... I thought about it carefully after I got back. Oh, for God's sake, my head hurt so much from thinking about it. It was like I was back on that damn subway train. Ahem, anyway, I think I should explain some things to you so that you can be mentally prepared."

The general looked into Rhodes' eyes. The steam from the stew rose between them, softening those azure eyes.

"How did the Tower of Babel fall? I think you know it very well."

The general carefully considered his tone and words. He wasn't a good speaker, so he could only offer Rhodes advice based on his own experience:

"How are you going to balance the interests within your organization? Even within the United States military, the Army and Marines dislike each other, the Navy discriminates against everyone equally, and the Air Force is defiant and arrogant. And within your organization, there will undoubtedly be Americans, Soviets, Chinese from China, and others. No matter how you try to erase the marks of their nationality, the differences in their minds and souls will be difficult to eliminate. How will you handle this situation?"