Chapter 489

Chapter 489: Armed

The ability to execute such astonishing maneuvers showcased the performance advantages of the aircraft. Every little detail was present, and no pilot had ever achieved such a standard of demonstration. It was clear to everyone that the J-11 was an exceptionally excellent fighter jet.

The bustling scene at the National Defense Star’s exhibition area energized everyone involved, filling them with excitement for the beautiful future ahead. Even the company executives needed no motivation, as everyone willingly joined in the fierce battle for orders.

The order battle during the three days before the exhibition was fierce, almost akin to World War II. Both open and covert schemes were in play, and exhibitors spared no effort in pursuing every penny of profit.

Some resorted to blatant slander, while others praised openly but critiqued subtly. Some exaggerated details, and others offered sarcastic remarks. Sales personnel from various aerospace exhibitors showcased their skills, striving to grab as much profit as possible in these three days.

Some manufacturers only opened shop during such grand events to secure sufficient profit for survival.

As Lin Mo caught a glimpse at the National Defense Star front desk, he unexpectedly spotted a very familiar figure.

“Sally!”

Abik, the former mercenary leader, wore a light gray suit, unable to hide the robust military aura stemming from his time on the battlefield. Tanned by the sun, his skin added a fierce quality to his appearance.

Even such a fearsome figure stood beside a young woman dressed in traditional Afghan attire, exuding a submissive demeanor.

“You shouldn’t have come out with so few people; it’s too dangerous. Reliable intelligence suggests that the agents have initiated actions against us. We must be extremely cautious. These bastards are completely unreasonable and will use any means necessary.”

Abik felt for the handgun concealed beneath his arm, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.

Initially, a cute and lively girl, Sally, had witnessed her transformation into a decisive and wise leader with immense wealth, adhering to the mercenaries’ principle of serving those who pay.

Abik felt a surge of emotion. Even though his identity had shifted from mercenary leader to commander of the Gem Valley Defense Corps, and his military strength continued to grow, his attitude toward Sally had evolved from condescension to equal respect, and now it had blossomed into admiration.

Circumstances create heroes; the young Pashtun girl’s growth was remarkable, transforming into someone who could reach remarkable heights with just a little chance.

The residents of Gem Valley had never imagined such a girl could undergo such a giant change and achieve so much.

“I know, Abik. I’ll be careful. This is France, not Afghanistan. I trust the French won’t let those bastards run amok. Those damned agents think they can force us to submit? Hmph, they’re deluding themselves. I won’t let them succeed! We’ve already lost our homeland once; we absolutely cannot let it happen again.”

Sally, the current “agent” head of the Dragoon Corporation, shook her head, her gaze firm. Unwilling to rely on others for this journey, she personally led the team, escorting Abik and elite members of the defense corps along with some specialists to France to accomplish a significant objective she had diligently planned for a long time.

Thinking back to her previously wandering, perilous, and difficult life, Sally felt overwhelmed by the haunting memories. The Chinese proverb, “If you fall behind, you will be beaten,” rang true.

It had nothing to do with whether someone would show mercy. If you were trampled underfoot, you would inevitably suffer; there was no luck involved. If you weren’t destroyed while being beaten, you would rise up and retaliate fiercely against your oppressors.

To avoid being bullied, one had to devoutly develop their strength. This was a consensus among the people of Gem Valley; otherwise, they wouldn’t allow the Dragoon Corporation to grow uncontrollably until it monopolized the entire Gem Valley. The situation was far more complex than simply controlling a Lapis Lazuli mine.

A highly unified corporation aligned with everyone’s interests, Afghanistan had suffered enough from division. Blood and life had taught them the need to unite all possible forces into a fist, fostering strength through collective effort.

With an unspecified quantity of Lapis Lazuli as its capital and a special relationship with the Chinese military, Dragoon Corporation, led by the Pashtun girl, achieved rapid growth, merging all industries within Gem Valley and gaining support from Chinese military bases, receiving weaponry and training for military personnel, becoming the ruler of the northern Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan.

“I wonder where the knight is. It would be great if we could contact him. He could definitely assist us,” Abik reminisced about those days when the knight fought alongside them, recalling how he had never claimed a single piece of Lapis Lazuli. That noble character was truly admirable.

“No, Abik! You’re wrong!”

Sally, her gaze wandering over the exhibition areas of various fighter jet manufacturers, paused upon hearing Abik’s words and said firmly, “As the Chinese say, ‘A straight body does not fear a crooked shadow.’ We must strengthen ourselves; only then will we not fear those thieves. Perhaps the knight is testing us. If we can’t handle this, we deserve to have everything taken from us.”

Perhaps out of love for Lin Mo, Sally’s use of this saying was slightly misplaced, but it genuinely reflected her belief.

Once a Pashtun woman determined her life path, it seemed she would establish a singular faith for her lifetime, continuously idealizing Lin Mo to the extent that everything about him was good, even his flaws were twisted into perceived merits.

While her intelligence might rank high with an IQ above 150, her emotional quotient when it came to Lin Mo was certainly below zero.

Unbeknownst to everyone, the truth was the Dragon Knight had long since forgotten this unfortunate Pashtun girl, possibly lost somewhere in Java.

“Yes, yes! I understand!”

Abik, feeling sincerely convinced, thought perhaps he should find more books and recharge his knowledge, ensuring he wouldn’t drift further away from this female CEO in intellect and insight. The higher his position, the fewer chances he had to settle disputes with weapons; hence, he would need to think more.

The outside world was quite curious about the true mysterious owner of Dragoon Corporation. Besides Sally and a few others still tangled emotionally over the man who might be dead, virtually everyone in Gem Valley had unintentionally overlooked that detail.

Since the knight left, he had never returned. No one worried that he might reclaim ownership of Dragoon, even though it was legal. After all, it was something they received; taking it back was merely expected. Moreover, their current happy lives were supported by the organization that had backed the knight.

“Sally, the J-11 from the Chinese side looks quite good today. Shouldn’t we try to grab a few?” Abik observed the bustling scene in the National Defense Star exhibition area, believing that such a popular fighter jet must offer good value. He thought that perhaps their connections with the Chinese military could even secure a discount.

Unlike the exorbitant prices of American fighter jets, the value-for-money reputation of Chinese arms was well-known. Thanks to the Dragoon military base in Gem Valley, Abik and others held a favorable opinion of Made In China products.

“No, I observed the J-11’s performance today; undeniably, it is indeed a high-performance fighter jet. However, for us, it’s still too expensive. And look at how hot they’re selling! By the time we manage to acquire a fighter jet, we might already have been wiped out by our enemies. We’re here to buy ready stock, and the key reason is the J-11 remains too costly for us. With our current funds, we can afford at most one, and then we couldn’t ensure its maintenance. We need to buy a fighter jet that’s more suitable for us.”

Sally glanced at a J-11 and a J-14 on display. These two fighters had provided her with an overwhelming visual and emotional impact just yesterday and the day before.

The nearly miraculous maneuvers in the sky ignited a fire in her heart, as if that man was dancing for her atop the fighter jet. In that moment, her gaze held the same fervor as one directed at a lover.

Little did she know, her fleeting daydream was perilously close to reality!

The rapid development of the Dragoon Corporation made it a new commercial powerhouse in Afghanistan’s economy, attracting attention from various forces, naturally turning it into a highly coveted prize.

Of course, the Chinese side, directly establishing a military base at the Dragoon headquarters, was completely indifferent. There was no need for envy over meat that was already in the pot; nothing could make one covet what they already possessed.

In order to handle the rush of “thieves” hoping to carve up the Dragoon Corporation, Gem Valley had engaged in continuous battles against multiple armed groups.

For self-preservation, the Dragoon Defense Corps had launched sweeping operations in the Hindu Kush region, ensuring they gained sufficient strategic buffer zones.

The current strength of Gem Valley was utterly different from the hardships they faced during their migration. They had personnel, weaponry, and even heavy artillery at their disposal.

If the bandit coalition that once attempted to plunder Gem Valley returned, the residents would be confident of easily annihilating them.

Annihilation and defeat were entirely different concepts; this confidence stemmed from their self-assurance in their own strength.

For the Pashtuns who initially aimed to secure a foothold in this paradise away from the world, their lives had undergone drastic changes, and their goals and plans had transformed accordingly.

If they could procure a batch of fighter jets and rapidly form combat capacity, it would significantly stabilize Dragoon Corporation’s influence in northern Afghanistan.