Darkstone Code-Chapter 988 - 986: Troops Set Out for Mariluo

In the following period, the Ministry of Defense discussed the "bids" submitted and eventually gave the opportunity to Lynch.

This wasn’t because the plans brought by Lynch’s people were 100% satisfactory to the Ministry of Defense—in fact, this proposal came from the Strategic Command, and they really did their utmost to get Darkstone Security involved.

The real reason Lynch got this opportunity was due to Darkstone Security’s previous reliable cases of foreign military operations.

They have extensive experience in foreign military operations, something other security and military companies can’t offer, especially given that society has only shifted from conservative to aggressive for three years.

Three years ago, the Federation Society had almost no experience in foreign exploration, so how much could it have now?

Darkstone Security might be the only military organization in the past twenty years that has conducted long-term foreign military operations. Should these newly established institutions take the lead?

If they succeed, great. If not, who should bear the blame?

Additionally, the Ministry of Defense has placed many people within Darkstone Security, genuinely intent on using Lynch and Darkstone Security to train troops. From the outset, the plan never considered falling into other hands.

The reason for everyone bidding together and then selecting an appropriate proposal was due to issues of interest.

Those spending money on these generals’ families in the military aren’t doing so to make the other party feel the Federation’s goodwill, but to hope they get first notice when opportunities arise.

Knowing or not knowing is one thing.

Winning the bid is another matter; at least this way they don’t feel like their money has gone to the dogs, and they know there was such a thing, even if many others don’t.

For his company winning the bid, Lynch, like those in the Ministry of Defense, wasn’t the least bit surprised and didn’t even intend to interfere overly in these matters.

As long as the Ministry of Defense provides the money, everything else is not a problem.

"Why is it so much?"

The Deputy Minister of Defense, sitting in his office, looked at the budget in front of him. He could hardly believe this goddamned result coming from Darkstone Security— a whole 1.6 billion military budget left him astounded.

"I thought at most it would be tens of millions, you’re asking for too much!" He emphasized in the latter half of the sentence, placing the document back on the desk, and stared at Lynch, "We can accept if you cut it by half."

Glancing at the 1.6 billion budget and the deputy minister’s disapproval, Lynch wasn’t the least bit displeased. He even took the document himself and had a look.

"We will be dispatching a team of three thousand to penetrate deep into Mariluo to help Sanchez stabilize the condition which could collapse at any moment..."

The Deputy Minister of Defense nodded slightly.

"Three thousand lads, what do you think they’re going to Mariluo for, to participate in a war that actually has nothing to do with them?"

He tilted his head slightly, smiling in a way that made Lynch question his own idealism, "For glory?"

Lynch shook his head, "For duty?"

Not waiting for the Deputy Minister’s response, he answered himself, "Not either."

"Minister, many times when we consider issues, we overly idealize and tend to subconsciously ignore the difficulties we encounter along the way."

"But just because we ignore these problems, doesn’t mean they don’t exist."

"Returning to reality, they’re going to Mariluo for the Federation, Minister."

"We can’t offer them any other compensation, so we can only try to satisfy them financially."

"A base salary of a thousand dollars per month for each person, sixty dollars per day in additional allowances, plus various other expenses."

"You might think 1.6 billion is a lot, but in reality, it’s for an entire year’s military operation expenses. If we complete the mission in half a year, the excess money..."

The Minister of Defense was somewhat sensitive to this remark from Lynch; his facial orientation changed slightly, with his gaze raising fifteen degrees, seriously listening.

"Of course, we will return it, and you need to understand that Darkstone Security is a legitimate organization; we’re not those small workshops with nothing recorded."

"With us, every bullet, every bandage is recorded."

"Who received how much, for what purpose, where, how many enemies were eliminated, all these details are recorded."

"You don’t have to worry about us excessively demanding payment; we’re not profiteers, our business interests are within legal boundaries."

Lynch pondered for a bit, "Approximately less than twenty percent gross profit, from a business perspective, our net profit rate isn’t actually high."

Of course, it’s not low either, but you can’t phrase it like that. Saying it’s not low would make the Deputy Minister of Defense consider whether you’re getting too much.

But if you say it’s not high, he feels instead like he’s the one getting a bargain.

At this point, the Deputy Minister of Defense’s expression looked much better than before, no longer insisting vehemently on Lynch readjusting this budget, but looking at it with some hesitation.

"Minister, believe me, this money is definitely a worthy investment; this time we’re facing more professional enemies who are all professional soldiers, and our lads can also get better training."

"This isn’t like the anti-government rebels hiding like mice in the Amelia Mountain Region; the intensity of confrontation is different, and the information we can obtain is also very different."

"Those officers can also receive excellent training; they will become the first batch of officers with rich experience commanding small and medium-sized wars in the country, which is also very beneficial to the Federation’s future defense efforts."

The Deputy Minister of Defense suddenly struggled to maintain his composure; taking advantage of Lynch’s speaking pause, he awkwardly explained.

"Lynch, what people outside say, some of it cannot be believed; you shouldn’t think everything they say is true."

"We never thought about bringing those people back, you know, reducing army numbers has always been our plan, we’re just executing our plan."

Disarmament was part of the plans from the conservative years ago, and now there’s no more disarmament; the Deputy Minister’s explanation seemed to say to Lynch, "You’re right," without any persuasive power.

Lynch smiled and accepted his explanation, "I trust people too easily..."

"But anyway, these young people leaving their comfortable environments to fight for the Federation’s future are sacrificing their lives, Minister."

"The value of life doesn’t need much pale language to describe; if the life of a young and vibrant Federation youth isn’t even worth twenty thousand dollars, I’m pained by this!"

The Deputy Minister of Defense was silent for a while, "One person... only twenty thousand?"

Lynch nodded, "Only twenty thousand."

From 1.6 billion down to twenty thousand, suddenly the Deputy Minister of Defense found the figure... quite conscientious.

For twenty thousand, you can have a good lad willing to give his all for the Federation, so this 1.6 billion doesn’t really seem unacceptable.

"I will discuss it with others again, and there’s another problem: we’re running out of time. When can your people be there?"

"Anytime, as long as the funds are in place, they’ll be in Mariluo within two days."

After hearing this, the Deputy Minister of Defense nodded, stood up from behind the desk, walked around, shook hands with Lynch, and saw him out the door, "I trust they’re all good lads, wait for my news; it won’t take long!"

After leaving the Ministry of Defense, Austin was also a bit eager, "Can I go?"

Lynch gave her a sidelong glance, evaluated her up and down, "If you wanted to go, would your superior approve it?"

With one sentence, Austin’s previously expectant expression turned as though she swallowed a bug.

Without a doubt, no.

It was hard enough finding someone to replace Senior Soldier close to Lynch, and sometimes delving into his private life; for instance, in Austin’s report, Lynch often engaged in shameful games with some girls.

The Internal Affairs Department saw this as a sign of Lynch’s trust in Austin, didn’t Senior Soldier participate too, doesn’t this explain the issue?

In such a situation, it’s even less likely for Austin to leave; who knows if the next person replacing her can earn Lynch’s trust?

Austin thought for a moment and sighed.

Every day in the border anti-smuggling squad was uncomfortable, always thinking about when to leave and never return, but actually living the life she once dreamed of seemed boring.

The peculiar smell of gun oil, the scent of gunpowder, the high temperatures from the gun barrel, and the flames spewing out, this is genuine romance!

After returning, Lynch had those young lads prepare, ready anytime to head to Mariluo.

The training was short-term, primarily to teach them survival skills. They had always been serving in the military, lacking nothing in physical conditioning but just experience on how to face battlefields correctly.

Many of them might never return, but they carried certain expectations from the Ministry of Defense, the Federation Military, and had no choice but to complete them.

By noon the next day, the Deputy Minister of Defense called Lynch’s desk to have him check the account.

This time, the 1.6 billion was transferred directly over, without any delays.

With the funds in place, the soldiers performing rapid marches outdoors turned their direction, rushing to the outskirts’ cargo station; they thought this was just a regular drill but didn’t know they were embarking on a journey from that moment onwards.

No one knows how many can come back, how many will perish; it’s unclear, but it’s a process the Federation must undergo to move towards strength.

Without pain, bloodshed, or death, how can there be a brilliant tomorrow?

Even Lynch appeared at the station, watching those young people carrying full military backpacks entering the compartments one after another, finally saluting, albeit not in a standard way.

God Bless the Federation!