Chapter Fifteen: On the Report of Troop Stationing-Raising the Dragon Banner in the New World(Pork heart with shrimp)

At dawn, Qin Le slowly opened his eyes, and the strange atmosphere that had lingered throughout the night vanished in an instant.

"Captain, you're finally awake." Fishhead placed his hand on Qin Le’s wrist to check his pulse.

"How long did I sleep?" Qin Le reached up to touch his head, relieved to find his skull intact, and let out a sigh.

"You slept for about eight hours. It’s morning now," Fishhead replied, pointing out the window.

The sun had just risen, its gentle rays illuminating the earth.

Then, Fishhead asked curiously, "Captain, do you remember what happened last night?"

"Last night? Of course I remember. I dreamed of a very strange place, and my head was opened up, my skull lifted." As he recalled the bizarre experience, Qin Le involuntarily touched his head again.

The dream had been uncanny—there was no pain, but an unbearable discomfort, a suffering beyond words. It felt as if his brain was being blasted by a high-pressure water gun, water surging in endlessly, his head swelling with a sense of imminent explosion. No, it seemed it had already burst once.

Fishhead said, "Captain, while you were unconscious last night, the door appeared on its own and expanded."

"What?" Qin Le was startled, raising a hand as if to open the door, but he stopped upon noticing Ai Moya and Olina, and the three maids in the room.

"How much did it expand?"

"The final limit was six meters high and four meters wide." Overhead, the ceiling bore a neat cut, through which the blue sky was visible.

"Six meters, four meters." Qin Le repeated, a smile slowly spreading across his face.

Six meters high, four meters wide—this meant the door could now transport not only people, but also large machinery: transport vehicles, tanks, all kinds of equipment. It also symbolized a greatly improved supply capability, allowing more soldiers to be stationed.

Most importantly, it meant that resources from this world could be shipped back home, alleviating the current shortages. Of course, this would require an even larger portal and longer duration.

But since expansion was possible this time, it should be possible in the future as well.

Thinking this, Qin Le’s smile grew, and he couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh.

Olina and Ai Moya exchanged glances, each reading the other’s thoughts.

Olina: Did your Awakening break Qin Le’s mind?

Ai Moya: He’s gone mad.

After a dozen seconds, Qin Le calmed himself, rose from the floor, brushed the dust from his clothes, and sat back on the chair, smiling at Olina. "Olina, I’d like to make a deal with you."

Ai Moya and Olina looked at each other again, both surprised.

"Qin Le, you can speak the common tongue?" Olina raised her right hand, pointing at the Mind String on her wrist. Qin Le was not wearing the string; it was now with Fishhead.

"Some things happened, and now there’s something extra in my mind," Qin Le replied casually. His expression then turned solemn as he addressed Olina: "Olina, I now represent the Republic, and wish to negotiate a deal with you."

"Please, go ahead." Olina eyed Qin Le’s seriousness with some puzzlement. Even if you represent your country, must you be so formal?

Living in a country at a medieval level, even as a princess, Olina obviously couldn’t fathom the gravity with which modern people treat national affairs.

After all, this world has no concept of patriotism or a unified national spirit.

Qin Le spoke earnestly, "On behalf of the Republic, I hope to lease your territory as the Republic’s forward base in this world, to provide logistical support for the Republic’s development here. During the lease, the Republic will have the right to modify the territory and may requisition the population, naturally with fair compensation. The Republic will pay appropriate wages."

"We guarantee to maintain order during the lease, ensure the safety of your people, provide ample food, and support the continued acceptance of refugees. As rent, we offer one hundred kilograms of crimson gold—about three crates."

Finishing, Qin Le took the suitcase from Iron Fist and pushed it toward Olina.

"This is the deposit."

Utterly lavish!

Olina and Ai Moya were stunned by the sheer power of money.

Especially the kind-hearted princess: she had always believed she cared nothing for gold, only for providing shelter to more people, sparing them from suffering.

Yet at this moment, Olina had to admit she was tempted. Greed stirred within her for the first time—for the sum was simply staggering!

Never mind the three crates yet to come; just the one before her could instantly solve all her territory’s hardships.

Olina was silent for a while, then took a deep breath and asked, "Qin Le, are we friends?"

Qin Le was puzzled by the seemingly unrelated question, but he nodded.

"Of course."

Though their acquaintance was brief, Qin Le genuinely liked Olina’s character. He was not a good man, but that did not prevent him from liking good people.

"Then please take this crimson gold back. You’ve helped me so many times already, I can’t accept such generosity." Olina pushed the suitcase back and then rose to bow deeply to Qin Le.

"I accept your deal. On behalf of all my people, I thank you for your kindness."

In another context, Qin Le’s proposal would be a threat—a bid to control a lord. But here, it was unvarnished aid.

Olina’s domain had no fertile land, no abundant minerals, not even proper houses. In short, it had nothing but ordinary folk and subsistence fields. So poor that even bandits wouldn’t bother.

In fact, the territory was barely surviving, thanks only to Olina’s willingness to become a monster hunter. Yet in such poverty, someone offered such generous terms—not only precious food, but over a hundred kilograms of crimson gold.

With that much crimson gold, she could buy a duchy in the Empire.

Qin Le’s offer, and support for accepting refugees, was clearly intended to help her. She didn’t know why the fierce-looking man did so, but aside from Ai Moya, no one had ever shown such kindness.

Olina felt a lump in her throat, realizing she had gained another person she could never repay.

Qin Le explained, "Since this is a lease, rent is required. It’s a rule, not my personal preference."

"You saved my life and helped me so much—I absolutely can’t accept the crimson gold," Olina insisted.

Seeing Olina’s stubbornness, Qin Le finally gave in, "All right, all right, forget the crimson gold—take some silver instead, however much you like."

Olina held firm, but rules are rules—a transaction where both sides must clearly define their rights and obligations.

"Agreed!" Olina’s radiant smile lit up her face, and even the sunlight seemed brighter.

"You two lovebirds should wrap it up. Let’s discuss business," Ai Moya said, gazing at Qin Le.

"My necklace—how will you compensate me?"

Qin Le looked puzzled, then realized a necklace had somehow appeared around his neck.

The wooden beads all had varying degrees of cracks.

Understanding the situation, Qin Le generously took out three bars of gold as compensation.

Receiving the precious crimson gold, Ai Moya’s resentful expression faded, though she still felt a pang of regret.

Crimson gold was valuable, but not as much as the Life Necklace—one was precious material, the other magical equipment. They couldn’t be compared. The only consolation was the necklace wasn’t broken, only damaged; with some Life Water, it could be repaired.

On second thought, with a bar of crimson gold, she could buy Life Water and still pocket two bars!

Thinking this, Ai Moya’s eyes narrowed, and a smile crept onto her face.

"Hehehe."

Qin Le watched Ai Moya with a strange look—something was odd about the inside pocket of her cloak. How could she fit so many things without a bulge?

‘A Doraemon’s pocket? Just how many bizarre tools does this elven thief possess?’

...

At noon, after lunch, Qin Le and Falcon sat at the long table in the hall.

Qin Le recorded all the information gathered over the past two days, ready to send it back to Xuan Lu. Falcon sat quietly by his side, acting as guard.

Most of the other elite soldiers had joined Ai Moya for Awakening, hoping to become extraordinary beings.

Olina was out leading her militia to clear nearby forests, preventing green goblins from breeding and keeping watch over the swamp.

The so-called green goblins were the creatures they’d encountered before, resembling goblins. Weak-bodied, their combat ability was low—a grown man could take on three.

Yet their greatest danger wasn’t their fighting prowess, but their reproductive ability. Unlike humans, they didn’t mate; instead, they buried themselves in soil and split like sweet potatoes. Fortunately, green goblins were inherently chaotic and violent, rarely gathering in large numbers—usually only dozens or hundreds per group.

Any surplus would split off like bees forming new colonies.

"Captain, when will you leave again?" Falcon suddenly asked.

Qin Le paused, turned to his longtime comrade. "I’m not sure, but I imagine it’ll be a while."

He understood Falcon was asking when he’d leave the army again. Previously it was after the war; this time, perhaps after conquering the world.

"Mm." Falcon nodded and fell silent, but after a dozen seconds spoke again, "Captain, Uncle Shui died last year—aged from the experiment’s aftereffects. I’m nineteen this year."

"...," Qin Le set down his pen and smiled, "If you’re no good at conversation, don’t force yourself."

"Sorry." Falcon lowered her head.

The next moment, a broad hand rested atop her head.

Rough, warm, and familiar.

"Have you ever thought about returning to a normal life? You’re only nineteen—you should experience university," Qin Le asked gently.

Falcon shook her head without hesitation. "I hate the outside."

"Is that so?" Qin Le smiled helplessly. Maybe this was the ailment that plagued their unit.