How much did you even drink to get this drunk? This rich wine isn't strong!

Ash looked at Yu Lian as if observing a visual spectacle. If Yu Lian hadn't just spilled his entire life story like a pair of ripped underwear, Ash would have wanted to pour a whole bottle of antibiotics down his throat.

“Hmm, I haven't dealt with many Commonwealth soldiers. Are they all as humorous as you?” He forced out a very awkward smile.

“Councilor Jiang Yudong's demands of me are neither reasonable nor humane. You must understand that, right? So, I need your help. Didn't you almost throw someone to the sand crocodiles before?”

“Damn it, that's not the same thing! That mine owner was no relation to me, but Councilor Jiang is my employer! Have you ever seen a mercenary throw his employer to the crocodiles? At most, I can agree to help you persuade him. But I can't do anything else; if I help you any more, I won't be a mercenary anymore!”

“When you first arrived in the Andromeda Galaxy, you pulled a double-cross, stealing a truckload of Mandro Alloy from the great pirate Saltai and selling it at the Alliance’s New Serene Starport.”

“...You dare to threaten me!”

“If your Guildmaster finds out you sold private photos of the Guild Inspector Miss to the great pirate Gong Xiao...”

“How should I help you?” Ash grabbed Yu Lian's hand, raised it to his chest, and forced a kind smile.

“In a moment, the understanding and sensible Fredrica Wirbert and Penny will deliver a late-night snack to the Councilor that will keep him in bed tomorrow. Don't worry, it will truly only keep him in bed; it won't threaten his life and might even help him detoxify for a healthier future. You just need to remain silent.”

“This, this... Alright.”

“Additionally, when the time is right, I will indeed launch an attack on the Sand People army, and I will need your strength then. Don't worry, the Governor's Office will pay you the full mercenary fee afterwards!”

“&…）￥#@！%￥” The string above was shouted in a dialect from a remote region of the Alliance that even Yu Lian barely understood. We can roughly interpret it as “Are you crazy?” or another expletive.

“You even sold your association director’s sister-in-law’s...”

“Let’s make a plan.” Ash quickly reined in his anger and put on a smile again.

“Actually, it doesn't need to be too complicated. Just follow my orders when the time comes. Don't worry, we will definitely win, and even if I truly die on the battlefield, I will definitely die before you.”

Such comfort was of no help to him. The extraordinary mercenary, who had been high-spirited and cynical just minutes ago, lay sprawled on the sand, his eyes vacant and unfocused, like a petrified chicken drying in the sun.

Yu Lian still felt a tiny bit of guilt.

Although this guy had owed him ten million letter stars in the Past—no, in the future—and hadn't paid him back, he had at least drunk with him several times and collaborated on a few adventures. He loved to brag in front of him, with too many boastful and illogical remarks, but he had greatly expanded Yu Lian's understanding of psionics and various secrets. He could be considered half-teacher, half-scoundrel friend.

Thinking of this, Yu Lian patted his shoulder: “I have a very promising lead on an Enlightener Ruins, but the time isn't quite right yet. Anyway, we'll go together when it is...”

I don't want to go with you. You cunning greenhorn! You spawn of a demon! A gallstone pulled out by the universe spirit!

Ash wanted to say that, but he only dared to express his grief and indignation with his eyes! He nodded heavily and stiffly, then limped away, even more faltering than the elderly Mr. Wang Yougui from earlier.

You look like a middle-aged loser office worker who got fired by a new supervisor fifteen years younger than you, a graduate of a prestigious university, only to come home and find your wife having a threesome with the plumber and the telecom worker! Yu Lian thought.

In short, the rest of the matters were easy to handle. Anyway, the next morning, the high-spirited Councilor Jiang Yudong was found lying down, seemingly a size smaller. It was said that the Councilor had been having bowel movements at a rate of once per hour since midnight, until six in the morning, when his servants found him severely dehydrated behind a rock in a secluded corner.

The Councilor had fallen ill just like that. Although Dr. Banks and the convoy's doctor both guaranteed on their professional lives that Councilor Jiang Yudong truly only had acute enteritis, and that he would be a lively fellow again after a few days of rest, drinking some plain congee and saline solution.

But no matter what, the Councilor was truly weak and spiritless.

“To rashly transfer now could very likely be life-threatening. I must be responsible for the Councilor’s life,” Yu Lian told everyone, then added: “This is not because he is the Councilor that I say this. As Commonwealth soldiers, we cannot abandon any citizen, any national who deserves our protection. In short, for Mr. Jiang’s life, and for everyone’s safety, I implore you all to temporarily follow our arrangements, observe the situation in this relatively safe canyon, and await a better time to enter the city.”

Yu Lian's words were truly too politically correct. Everyone exchanged glances, but they simply couldn't refute him on moral grounds. With the Councilor incapacitated, the various public representatives lost their backbone and naturally felt inferior to military officers. The one who had been most vocal earlier was now the most timid.

“Additionally, most citizens in the convoy are short on clothing and food, but we in the military do not have surplus supplies. I just discussed this with Councilor Jiang, and I implore everyone to contribute some to help those in need. Don't worry, I am not morally blackmailing you, nor do I have the authority to forcibly requisition your supplies. Therefore, I will keep a record of all the supplies you provide, and the Governor's Office will pay for them afterwards. Councilor Jiang guarantees he will oversee the Governor's Office's payment; this is his promise as a politician!”

I never said that, the Councilor lying in the RV almost fainted, but he couldn't even get out of bed now, let alone go out and refute it.

As soon as these words were spoken, the “buzzing” that had just died down swelled up again. Some people's faces were gloomy, some were dumbfounded, some gritted their teeth, as if their ancestral graves had been dug up.

Ina looked at Yu Lian worriedly, then at the respectable-looking people in front of her, and placed her hand on her gun.

At this moment, Yu Lian spoke again: “Hmm, well, perhaps the Governor's Office's credibility cannot be trusted by everyone. Therefore, I have persuaded Fredrica Wirbert to guarantee it for everyone. If the Governor's Office does not compensate everyone's losses at market price afterwards, everything will be borne by the Zixin Hui Group.”

Clearly, the Zixin Hui Group's fame in the universe was far from as understated as Fredrica Wirbert had made it out to be. Everyone looked at the purple-haired girl in shock. Although young, she remained composed and smiled charmingly under so many gazes, as if she was born to be in the spotlight.

The local tycoons of New Yumen couldn't help but feel ashamed, and immediately believed her to some extent.

“My father is indeed a member of the Zixin Hui Group's board of directors, and I myself have the authority to mobilize certain resources of the group. Of course, my dealings with Warrant Officer Yu Lian and your country's Governor's Office are unrelated to you all. You only need to know that everything you contribute today will be reasonably compensated.”

A promise from an Alliance young lady was probably more credible than a Commonwealth officer's word. Everyone's expressions softened slightly, and they whispered among themselves, their attitudes loosening considerably.

At this moment, old Mr. Wang Yougui finally seemed to understand something. He subtly gave Yu Lian a big thumbs-up, then loudly declared: “Alright, alright, you bumpkins! You act all proper usually, but why are you acting crazy at a critical moment? Xiao Dongzi, you too, don't show off when you're escaping, just lie down honestly. Disperse, disperse, the kid is the expert, he at least saved your sorry hides, can't you have some shame! Listen to what he said, okay? Go back and check your supplies, see what you can share with others. Didn't he say the Governor's Office can pay, and the Alliance young lady is willing to guarantee it, what are you still worried about? Are you all squirrels! Hurry, hurry, disperse, disperse, go get to work!”

The old man at this moment was completely different from his pitiful appearance last night. His voice was loud, his complexion ruddy, wearing a leather hat, a denim jacket over a mink coat, and a “mirror box” tucked behind his waist, which made Yu Lian feel incredibly familiar.

Of course, the “mirror box” was not the legendary guerrilla warfare artifact, the Mauser pistol, but merely resembled it. In reality, it was a Filka kinetic pistol produced by the Alliance’s Arthura Arsenal. Its power was moderate, accuracy good, and most importantly, its structure was simple, durable, wear-resistant, and highly versatile, making it the best-selling “self-defense” firearm among civilians.

“Thank you.” Yu Lian expressed his gratitude to the two precocious young girls, especially Fredrica Wirbert. Any normal person could guess that the true decision-maker here was this young lady from the Alliance.

“This is also for our own good. Politicians often have to make themselves stupid to cater to the short-sightedness of voters, because that's how they make voters believe they are one of them. But I was born into a business family, realistic and pragmatic, selfish yet cautious and timid,” the young girl said with an old-fashioned air.

Yu Lian felt like laughing, but before he could, the young girl spoke again.

“My family said all that; I don't really understand it myself,” the young girl explained, adding unnecessarily, while revealing a cunning yet mischievous smile, which truly resembled her actual age.

“Also, don't think all Alliance girls are like me. Actually, I'm too unconventional and not very popular in Nefi (the Alliance capital).”

If all Alliance girls were like you, this universe would be much more interesting.

“Of course, it's also for the Councilor. I personally bear no ill will towards Mr. Jiang. We've encountered many dangers along the way, and the Councilor has consistently encouraged us and truly tried his best to rescue all the refugees we met. He's a warm-hearted gentleman, and his final actions shouldn't overshadow his previous efforts. As a foreign visitor who received his warm hospitality, I truly don't wish to see him lose his moral integrity due to the public's foolishness and short-sightedness, and his own final cowardice.”

“Yes, the Councilor is a good person. Our family received a lot of care from him when we arrived in New Yumen,” Penny added. “However, he's just like Dad; they're both the type who always forget who they are once they get carried away. Do all men over forty become like this?”

Yu Lian had previously spoken once with the young girl's father, Mr. Pierce, who was involved in import-export trade and now wanted to make some industrial investments. He was a very cheerful, even overly cheerful, gentleman. Yu Lian always felt that this type wasn't very suitable for a businessman, but the adult world is complex; who knew if he only had this one side? Additionally, like all greasy old dads over 40 with a beautiful, well-behaved daughter, Mr. Pierce was a doting father but always looked down upon by his daughter; indeed, the sadness in this world is always similar.

“Then, as agreed, this is the collateral.” Yu Lian handed over a bag of mithril. It was his share of the spoils he had obtained from the Enlightener Ruins.

The young girl didn't take it, but instead asked, “...If the Governor's Office refuses to pay this money, what will you do?”

“Then this bag of mithril is yours. If you take it back to the Alliance proper and sell it at an opportune moment, it'll be enough to buy food and supplies for a thousand people for over a year,” Yu Lian said.

“Yes, that's a large sum of money. Mr. Yu Lian, are you really not heartbroken?”

Yu Lian smiled: “Heh... If one wants to achieve something, the first priority is not to care about money. This thing is a tool, a prop, a weapon, and even a toy, but never let the toy play you.”

Fredrica Wirbert pondered for a moment, then couldn't help but smile: “After this, your nobility and compassion will be spread among the upper echelons of the Alliance. Even if they have never met you.”

“In the Alliance's upper echelons, that's probably not a compliment, is it?”

“Indeed not.” The young girl's eyes crinkled into a slit.

As soon as the two young girls left, George secretly scurried over, also acting like a little adult, patting Yu Lian's shoulder with a proud “we're partners” look.

“Did Xiao Tao and the others get their meals today?” Yu Lian asked with a smile.

“They got them, they got them! Not only meals, but also new cotton clothes, wool blankets, and energy packs for heating,” the little boy said very happily.

“So, big brother, are we now waiting for a good opportunity to really kick those bad Sand People's butts?”

“...”

“Heh, don't tell Penny, okay? When I talk like this, she always scolds me, she's harder to deal with than Mom. Dad, on the other hand, would laugh with me! I think a true man should be like Admiral Ziriko, drinking big bowls of wine, eating big chunks of meat, and then leading his fleet to kick the bad guys' butts!”

Is it a bit too early to read “Memoirs of Marshal Ziriko” at this age?

Also, innocent youth... Actually, from a historical perspective, we Earthlings are the real bad guys! What I'm actually doing is playing the role of a big demon king who strangles heroes in the Novice Village and doesn't play by the rules!

Yu Lian looked into the distance. Mr. Kelvin, the cowboy, was leading a group of well-fed and strong young men in formation, numbering forty to fifty people. Under the guidance of Baka and Youyou, they were undergoing the most basic yet practical tactical drills.

Mr. Kelvin was the most diligent and serious, probably because there were many women, children, and even elders watching nearby.

Are his family or loved ones there?

Further away, more people in windproof cloaks were still sitting on the ground around heating equipment, yet they seemed to have a distinct increase in color and vitality compared to yesterday.

The young mother was there too, of course. She was holding her child, sharing a large bowl of meat soup. Although it was just unappetizing canned food, it at least had meat, vegetables, and potatoes. Mother and child ate with great relish, their faces beaming with vibrant smiles.

...So, I'll be a demon king just this once. Yu Lian thought.

Today is a big chapter for Labor Day, so observers outside the box, please give more recommendations!