Chapter 38

"Compared to the mining area, how important is the business district?" Ajax asked.

"Huh? The value created every month by the mining area is twice that of the business district. But what does that have to do...with...fuck don't tell me-" Bomen seemed to understand something.

"It's just as you think. Together with its allies, the Hell's League has around two thousand people in total. They had lost at least 600 or 700 people ever since I took action to rescue the rescue teams, and another 1000 people were sent to the business district. So that means that their remaining forces would be somewhere around 300 people, which they would use either as backup or to attack the mining area."

*TN: Okay, this was a shitshow of disorganization, confusion, inaccurate numbers, and weird fucking phrasing that threw me for a fucking loop. These 3 pieces of dialogue took me over 30 minutes to get right. I need a coffee break. Next chapter made me return to this 🥲*

This caused everyone on the field to ponder. Some of them were elite operators and were able to process and understand the situation much quicker than the others.

"Then why are we going to the business district? Shouldn't we be telling our men to retreat and meet us in the mining area so that we can defend it together?" An operator quickly asked.

"No." Ajax raised his hand, "It's precisely because they want to also attack the business district that they can't spare any more troops. If we withdraw our men from the business district, then they will crush us in the mining area as both of their attack forces turn into one big attack force."

Their real target was not the business district either, it turns out that it was just another distraction to cover up for their real target, the mining area. This is the conclusion that Ajax had come to after analyzing the Hell's League's actions.

"Then if we all go to support the business district, then who's going to defend the camp? Many of us have families living here, we can't just leave them defenseless." Another operator said. They go through life-and-death situations every day just to keep their families safe and sound, they weren't about to risk their safety for a hail mary of an attack.

"We don't have to worry too much about the camp since it has a barrier to protect it. We just have to make quick work of the enemies, and even if the Hell's League attacks, they don't have the weaponry to break through the barrier since they will need all of those to besiege the business district and the mining area. They won't be able to take down the camp." Ajax grinned, thinking of all this.

Everyone's eyes lit up when he brought up the barrier. Earlier the barrier was able to withstand full-blown attacks from 12 mechs, 2 tanks, hundreds of foot-soldiers, and even dozens of missiles for over 30 minutes. They didn't know that the camp was equipped with such a device before the attack, so they all looked at Bomen expecting a confirmation from him.

"I can restart the barrier, but are you sure you can take down so many adversaries? The situation is much more complicated than you think. Tell me, how many men do you need?" Bomen spoke to Ajax as he lit another cigar, slightly squinted his small eyes, and puffed out a perfect ring.

Activating the barrier once again requires the consumption of millions of eddies worth of energy blocks. For example, activating it once today costs over 2.9 million eddies. But as long as the mining area is safe, it wouldn't matter how many times the barrier is activated, as the ore produced in the mining area is originally used to make energy blocks.

"I'll only need two teams, 30 people in total. The longer we delay, the lower our chances of winning and holding on to the business district and mining area. If we can fend off the attacks on the business district, then we'll be able to save the mining area." Ajax's voice was full of confidence.

He then remembered something, and added: "But I need someone familiar with the situation and the geography to lead the way." He was new here, and he hadn't seen the business district or the mining area in person. But his mech, the Reaper, gave him the confidence to handle most situations, having already achieved two victories in a day.

"I'll go with you. I worked in the mining area when I first arrived at the border, so I know that place like the back of my hand." Monkey suddenly squeezed through the crowd. Ajax nodded at his willingness to volunteer as a guide.

Bomen pondered for a little while before raising his hand, "Everyone has seen Ajax's performance today, I personally believe in his abilities, but this is a matter that concerns us all. I want to hear everyone's opinions on what we should do before taking action."

Bomen believed in Ajax, but that did not mean that he didn't have his doubts. He asked for his men's thoughts on the situation to cover for his own doubts and worries, which were not unfounded, considering that Ajax's plan was indeed a gamble.

"I believe in him." An elite operator who had fought with Ajax raised his hand first.

"As do I."

"Fuck it, we'll all die someday!"

"Let's kill those bastards!"

More and more people echoed in agreement. They had lost many friends and comrades today, they were going to make the Hell's League pay.

"Well, that settles it!" Bomen said, "All captain-level operators go back and inform your people. We'll be heading out in an hour."

"Received."

"Yessir."

"On it."

All of the captains dispersed one after another and went to gather their battle-ready men and prepare for the battle.

Ajax was also about to check on his mech, run some quick diagnostics, and replenish his ammo when Bomen stopped him.

"Boy, this morning, you mentioned something about us having a spy within our ranks. You just gave out our plan for all to hear, what if the spy was in the crowd and they decide to report our actions?" Bomen asked Ajax in a lowered voice; he had yet to figure out who the traitor was.

"You have nothing to worry about, traitors won't be willing to live and die with us; they will probably find an excuse to sneak out of the camp before we leave if they haven't done so already." Ajax shook his head.

"Besides, I asked Monkey to turn on the jammers a few minutes ago, before discussing our plans, and now no news can be sent out of the camp. If you don't believe me, just try to use your Vox." Ajax said as he pointed to the tank of the Hell's League that he had disabled earlier.

"Hmm..." Bomen hummed, "good word out there..."

"Wait, I need some things from you first." Ajax said, stretching out his hand.

"What do you need?" Bomen's face was confused.

"A new set of Purple energy blocks, how do you expect me to fight tonight if I'm out of juice?" Ajax said with glowing eyes.

"But, I just gave you a new set this morning, how are you out of energy already?" Bomen was shocked.

"Warlock-Level mech. Did you forget? I told you that it was an energy guzzler." Ajax shrugged.

"Alright, I'll have someone bring them to you right away, go get ready," Bomen said with distress written all over his face, not wanting to hear another word coming out of Ajax's mouth. He looked at Ajax's back as he walked away and gritted his teeth as he began to calculate his expenses now that he had this ace pilot in his ranks.

Two sets of purple energy blocks a day, that's 72,000 eddies a day, at this rate he would lose 720,000 eddies in ten days, and...After obtaining the terrifying figures, Bomen only felt a sting in his leg, where he usually kept his walled head hurt. Fuck, no wonder the little bastard didn't want a salary.

The more he thought about it, the more he regretted it, he should have guessed it at the time, there was no way someone would turn down such a generous salary. Ajax was a really good pilot with an even better brain screwed on his shoulders and a really fucking expensive price tag... just how much more will he have to spend on him in the future?

*TN: God the MTL is getting so much worse, so many inconsistencies popping up now...God I went from about an hour per chapter to about 2-3. The number of chapters I edit a day will probably drop to 1 when I resume my college classes on the 22nd.*