Just like when new recruits enter the army, they always encounter various kinds of teasing and pranks, some well-intentioned, some not.
Mountain Eagle, as a newbie, had undergone a series of severe mental and physical tests over the past half month.
The people in the Golden Triangle have a completely different set of values from those back home.
The way people here view life, emotions, and other traits was an eye-opener for Mountain Eagle.
Buason from Su Village spent two kilograms of golden sand to buy Mountain Eagle's VSS. At dinner that day, Buason jokingly said he'd use the gun to kill a few people to "initiate" it...
Mountain Eagle thought the guy was just joking, but the next day, he actually brought back several bodies with exploded heads...
Although it was later known that those who died were thieves stealing from the Gold Mine, Mountain Eagle still couldn't adapt.
Back home, if someone tells you "I'll kill you," you can totally take it as they're just bluffing.
But in the Golden Triangle, if someone tells you they're going to "kill you", there's a high chance they are not joking.
This is the Land of Lawlessness, where emotions and desires are amplified without limits.
What's right and what's wrong do not exist here, only liking, disliking, benefiting me, or harming me...
And Mountain Eagle, who didn't fit in with this environment, became the subject of everyone's harassment.
Si La from Su Village tried more than once to climb into his bed, intending to forcefully conquer him and then take him as her son-in-law.
Killing Bee, an uncut ladyboy, also found pleasure in teasing him.
Seniors like Blood Fox, Mi Lu, and Pangolin just laughed it off, with no intention of intervening.
It's common for people to tease newcomers at work, which is understandable...
Not everyone is a pervert; it's just that newcomers in a strange and unfitting environment often lead to many comical situations, which is a source of joy.
In a place lacking entertainment, this becomes a significant form of amusement, especially severe in the military.
As a seasoned professional, Mountain Eagle should have been able handle this, but the reality is his psyche hadn't adjusted, and he simply couldn't keep up with these 'crazy' people...
Mountain Eagle was put into a van...
When getting into the van, he felt his butt slapped, so he angrily cursed at Killing Bee standing next to the co-pilot, "If you fucking touch my ass again, I'll chop off your hands..."
Assault man Big Mouth pushed Mountain Eagle to sit further inside, then 'hehe' laughed and said, "Boss, I think this kid's butt feels pretty good..."
Hearing that, Mountain Eagle knew he had misunderstood. He bumped the guy with his shoulder and cursed, "Are you fucking crazy?"
Sitting next to the co-pilot, Killing Bee glanced back at Mountain Eagle and said, "You shouldn't be angry now, you should be scared...
Adjust yourself, don't give us away later!"
The driver was Bomber 'Broadcast', who looked back at Mountain Eagle as he started the van and said to Big Mouth with a chuckle, "Give him a punch on the face, otherwise it'll look like we aren't vicious enough..."
Mountain Eagle flipped Broadcast the middle finger, and made a final confirmation with Killing Bee in the co-pilot seat...
"Sending me over is like revealing ourselves, are you sure it's okay..."
Without turning back, Killing Bee waved his hand and said, "As long as Naokan is dead, there's no problem!
But that's something Blood Fox should worry about, you should worry about yourself..."
Killing Bee said jokingly as he drove, "Mountain Eagle is worried that Old Jin will come after us afterward..."
Upon hearing that, Broadcast, without turning his head, gave a thumbs up and said, "Mountain Eagle, you are a good guy, much better than that old bastard Blood Fox.
I own a travel agency in Pattaya, if you have any issues there just look for me, I'll offer you a discount."
Mountain Eagle, surprised, replied, "Since when does a mercenary run a travel agency?"
Broadcast, speaking in not very authentic Chinese, said, 'Hello, welcome to Thailand' and then laughing added, "I speak English and Chinese, wouldn't it be a waste not to run a travel agency?
I like people from your hometown because you always spend a lot of money on girls..."
Mountain Eagle didn't think that knowing a few phrases meant one could speak Chinese, but this gave him a whole new appreciation for these guys' optimism and a deeper understanding of the mercenaries' ecosystem...
The world of mercenaries isn't just about being mercenaries, they might also be sons, daughters, fathers, or mothers.
Some of them have legit jobs, and being a mercenary is just a side gig.
Or being a mercenary is their main thing, and the legit job is just for cover, to make themselves look somewhat normal.
The former is because of the real world's troubled distribution of wealth, forcing some skilled individuals to risk danger.
The latter could be out of necessity, like Mountain Eagle who can't return to normal society, or because they can't give up this lifestyle, like Broadcast.
Mountain Eagle carries life debts, he didn't have a choice, whereas Broadcast is different; he has enough money to run a travel agency, which means he isn't strapped for cash, so his being a mercenary is more about a psychological dependence.
It might not be just an addiction to the battlefield, but to a lawless life without legal restraints.
Once the inner beast is unleashed, it's difficult to cage it again!
This might be what they call PTSD!
Mountain Eagle found pondering these people quite interesting; they may not be good people, but they are more vivid, their emotions are stronger, more direct...
Of course, these are the type of people you wouldn't want living next door!
While chatting and laughing, the vehicle left the town road and drove onto a rough dirt track...
As the car hit the dirt road, Killing Bee signaled Broadcast to stop the vehicle, then, putting away his jovial expression, tossed a zip tie to Mountain Eagle, and said, "Tie your hands and try to keep quiet later on..."
Mountain Eagle quickly put the zip tie around his wrists then bit it and pulled it tight...
After showing his restrained hands, he looked around and asked, "Are we there?"
Killing Bee pointed towards a mountain not far ahead and said, "It's up there..."
Mountain Eagle couldn't understand why a well-known middleman would live in such a remote place, but as the vehicle approached the foot of the mountain and began to ascend a tarred spiral mountain road, he was enlightened...
There was only one road leading to the mountaintop, and they encountered a checkpoint less than 200 meters up the road...
A team of armed soldiers surrounded the van the moment it stopped, aiming their guns at everyone inside.
It wasn't until Killing Bee made a call, said a few words, and handed the phone to the leader of the soldiers for him to listen that the soldiers lowered their guns.
But this didn't mean they let them go easily; everyone had to get out of the vehicle for a pat-down, and a few soldiers went aboard to conduct a thorough search...
After confirming everything was in order, they allowed the van to head back on the road...
It wasn't until they had reached the mid-section of the mountain that Mountain Eagle realized he really hadn't seen much of the world. This so-called middleman, Old Jin, must definitely be more than just a simple middleman...
Driving along the road, there were pretty little villas hidden among the trees, cars parked at the entrances of the villas, and relaxed-looking women and children inside, making it resemble a middle-class residential area...