“Yes, on the small hill opposite, weren't there three tanks that appeared with that group of large lizard cavalry? Although their design was really awkward, looking like cheap assembled toys with no overall engineering aesthetic, that plasma cannon couldn't be fake, right?”

“There, there really are tanks!” Ash Stein rubbed his eyes, confirming that his eyes weren't lying, then stared dumbfounded at the Councilor inside the vehicle. “Damn it, Councilor Jiang Yudong, this is a Commonwealth colony, right? Why do the natives here have weapons like tanks? Has no one ever managed them?”

Councilor Jiang Yudong, who had been cowering and trembling in the vehicle, cursed upon hearing this, “Damn your sister! I told you not to mimic how I speak… And, and, the Commonwealth has its own national conditions here, this, this is none of your business!”

“It is already my business, Councilor Jiang Yudong! My duty is to protect your safety, and if possible, to protect the safety of other citizens, but the premise must be that I am capable. Councilor Jiang Yudong, we only have two choices. First, your RV is a Kodo Beast Model 3 ordered from the Alliance, equipped with armor and energy shields, so it should be able to withstand a few plasma cannon shots. If we break away from the convoy now and charge towards Tulon, we should be able to make it through. Second, we can hesitate here and then be blown to smithereens by the cannon along with everyone else.”

“I, I, I…” Councilor Jiang Yudong hesitated greatly. He was certainly tempted, but he couldn't bring himself to say he would abandon so many old, young, women, and children to escape alone.

After all, these people had gathered together because of him.

After all, they were all votes!

“Mm-hmm, Councilor Jiang Yudong is truly a man of principles. Anyway, I'm not from Earth, so why don't I be the bad guy…”

Before the mercenary could finish speaking, the shortwave communicator on his person beeped twice. Before he could open it, a young girl's voice came directly through: “Mr. Stein, you're not trying to run away again, are you?”

“…Nonsense, how can a mercenary's business be called running away? Oh wait, you hacked my terminal again!”

“1 million! Please stay and protect us!” The girl was decisive and resolute.

“Uh, Alliance letter star?” Everyone was from the Alliance, so it was unlikely to be Commonwealth Blue Star Coins.

“No, Imperial Golden Dragon!”

“This, this…” Ash was tempted, but as a battle-hardened mercenary, he spent half a second struggling free from those glittering little darlings and said sternly, “Miss Fredrica Wirbert, I am out of my depth. Compared to that, you should quickly get into this vehicle; there's still room here…”

“This is my car!” the Councilor thought.

“1.5 million!”

“Young lady, this really isn't about money. We…”

“2 million! And if you don't agree, I'll have the Extraordinary Administration Bureau and the Guerrilla Association revoke your adventurer's license!”

“You little brat, you're going too far! I live honorably, the Alliance government isn't run by your family, why would the Association and the Bureau…”

“You evaded taxes! And you didn't truthfully report the secret items you recently obtained from the Dawn Ruins!”

“…Uh-oh, wait! Didn't I give you one of the secret items I got?” This was supposed to be hush money, why isn't this little brat playing by the rules?

“I'm a minor, so I'm preparing to write an application report truthfully now. Even if it's a few days late, will anyone really find fault with a minor like me?”

Ash Stein was speechless. He looked at the Councilor inside the vehicle, this greasy middle-aged man who had just been trembling with fear was now grinning, truly grinning. He, a future renowned adventurer who had traversed the galaxy, was completely outmaneuvered by a minor, and he suddenly felt a sense of desolation. He sighed, loaded another magazine into his oversized pistol, then took a long gun from his back.

“At least… there are over two hundred cavalry, and the real trouble is those three tanks. If normal, there should be more heavy weapons. Uh, after all, they are Sand People, so maybe not.”

The mercenary touched the flashlight-sized metal tube at his waist, feeling a little more at ease. There were also one or two hundred people in the convoy who could wield guns; if it came to a fight, they weren't entirely without a chance, but the casualties… This little brat is really annoying. Doesn't she know that “Enthusiastic Ash” hates to see tragic scenes of families torn apart and homes destroyed the most?

Regardless, although the refugees Present were disheveled and panicked, they were, after all, armed thugs who operated plantations and mines surrounded by hostile indigenous people. They finally began to move under the command of Kelvin and a few other respected cowboys. There was no time to form a vehicle formation, but the armed young and strong men could at least climb onto the vehicle roofs and occupy a firing position.

Then, there was a series of “bang bang pop pop” gunshots, like popping beans. But not a single one of the Sand People opposite fell “off their horses.”

“Too early to shoot, you idiots!” Ash cursed inwardly.

Fortunately, the Sand People on the other side weren't much better, and they also started shooting while charging from a distance.

In the first minute of the battle, both sides engaged in a fierce “awkward shooting,” with no casualties in the end.

Ash slowly moved his gun barrel, aiming it at the tank running at the very front, and gently pulled the trigger. The Sand People who had half their body exposed and were shouting encouragement had their heads shattered just like that.

The three tanks stopped, somewhat startled by such a long-range precise shot. They began to traverse their cannons, preparing to bombard. In reality, the convoy had already entered the plasma cannon's range, but the quality of the hastily trained Sand People tank operators was limited, and they really couldn't guarantee accuracy at such a distance.

But no matter what, the tanks were indeed preparing to fire. Ash Stein also threw his long gun onto the vehicle, picked up his large pistol, and pressed his right hand on the “flashlight” at his waist.

Then, he only heard a ripple of air, and the mercenary only saw a bright ball of light flash across his vision, followed by a loud “BOOM!”

What was blown into the sky was not one of the vehicles in the convoy carrying spice cargo or civilians, but a Sand People tank. Its triangular turret flew off its square chassis, spun, and crashed to the ground, knocking four or five unsuspecting Sand People cavalry off their “horses.”

The Sand People tanks were stunned, the Sand People cavalry were dumbfounded, and even Ash on the other side was frozen. Then, a second later, he quickly confirmed the trajectory of that plasma cannon shot, swept his aiming device on the long gun, and then, on the ridge over a kilometer away from the Sand People's formation, at the three o'clock direction, he saw the ambushers.

That was also a dilapidated tank, like a pile of loose building blocks, and there were blurred figures around it. It was unknown how many elite soldiers were ambushed there.

“Biubiubiu! Biubiubiu! Biubiubiu!” Dense energy bursts sounded from a place closer to the Sand People, which should have been a shadowed depression in a ridge. Scarlet energy beams, like a storm, fell into the Sand People's formation, and all that was seen was a scene of chaos and horses toppling over!

“Ah ha! No matter who it is, they're on our side anyway!” Ash was delighted. He raised his large pistol and pulled the trigger towards the chaotic enemy crowd. What spewed from the gun barrel was not bullets or laser rays, but a missile the size of an index finger—this was a portable missile produced by Alliance Winterfield Industries, with excellent power and suitable range. Most importantly, it could be fired from a specialized firearm. What Ash had just inserted into his pistol was, of course, not a bullet clip, but a missile compartment. A box of six bought together only cost fifty thousand, a worthwhile investment, considering a single one sold for ten thousand.

A small missile exploded next to a tank. Although it didn't destroy it in one blow, it completely disrupted its driving path. It swerved erratically, knocking over several Sand People cavalry, and finally crashed head-on into another tank.

The ambushers' tank began to advance, and while advancing, it began its second shot. This time, its plasma round hit the side armor of a tank, still not completely destroying it, but successfully damaging its power. It lay askew on the spot, futilely twisting its turret.

The other tank struggled to break free from the collision site, erratically abandoning its disabled comrade. It had only run a few steps when it was targeted by energy beams from another direction and was instantly engulfed in crimson flashes. Ash fired another missile in that direction, and seeing the fire and explosion rise, he finally relaxed. He then picked up his long gun again and began to pick off the demoralized Sand People one by one.

“You'll have to reimburse me for my missiles later! Fifty thousand per shot! I'm only charging you cost price; these are top-grade Alliance products!”

The Councilor was about to get angry when he heard “fifty thousand per shot,” but then he heard it was an Alliance product and could only sullenly close his mouth.

The cowboys and convoy members also began to achieve results. They were very relieved now; what they had initially thought would be a tough battle had now turned into a simple hunting game, an area in which they were quite experienced.

Through his aiming device, Ash vaguely saw many new figures shouting from the ambushers' position, seemingly preparing to charge, but they were kicked back by another person.

“The enemy has lost their will to fight, shouldn't they be charging now?” Ash was a little confused.

Anyway, it wasn't until the Sand People cavalry scattered and fled completely out of everyone's attack range, and until the last tank was singled out and destroyed, that the ambushers finally appeared before everyone.

“Who, who are they…?” The Councilor still hadn't gotten out of the vehicle, still holding his small self-defense pistol, cautiously asking Ash, who was observing with his aiming device.

“The alert can be lifted, it's your security team.” The mercenary put down his gun. Although he relaxed his guard, he was still full of doubt, finding it hard to believe that Earthlings' security team could be so effective in combat.

“Oh, the security team!” Councilor Jiang Yudong's spirits soared. He instantly transformed from a trembling groundhog into an arrogant baboon with curly hair, opened the door, and leaped out of the large vehicle, standing there with his head held high like a compass, truly exuding the air of a big shot for a moment.