Darkstone Code-Chapter 984 - 982: Recruitment Expansion

"It seems you haven’t managed your physique well, which is not good. Some recent studies suggest that obesity brings many terrible diseases, and you all belong to this group."

"So I decided to have the company’s chef modify the menu, removing those high-calorie foods. A comfortable environment can make one lose competitiveness and eventually be eliminated by society."

"The air conditioning temperature needs to be raised a bit; I’m a little cold."

No one had much to complain about this, after all, they also felt cold.

Cold is just a form of revenge against heat, a childish act of revenge, but it is quite interesting.

This is like a reason for having the air conditioner on while covered with a blanket, or eating cold drinks in a heated room during winter—it’s just for revenge.

"Next, let’s talk about our new job..." Lynch said, looking down at some documents in his hand, "...tell me your thoughts."

After waiting for two minutes with no one speaking, Lynch was a bit surprised when he looked up and saw these people at the table. "I thought someone had already told you what I wanted to say after I arrived."

Lynch’s words were blunt, and many in the management showed signs of embarrassment, genuine embarrassment.

These people were from the Ministry of Defense and the Security Committee, and they indeed knew what Lynch was going to say.

But some things, once spoken, become very... awkward, fatally so.

It’s like if an unfaithful man and an honest man are friends. The honest man knows the unfaithful man is involved with his wife, but when he doesn’t talk about it, they remain good friends.

Once he implies he knows something, even if he doesn’t mind, it’s hard for them to stay friends and they might even become enemies.

These things are just weird like that; you can do them, but they mustn’t be discussed, or everything ends.

Though this example isn’t quite appropriate, well... whatever!

"Seems like no one knows, I must thank the salaries sent out each month as they’ve somewhat served their purpose."

Lynch put down the materials in his hand, "Then we have two things to discuss next."

"First, find Isabella, the daughter of the Mariluo Grand Warlord who was recently assassinated."

"Second, discuss how you can help Sanchez rise rapidly."

"In the meantime, draft a budget..."

Next came a very professional discussion. Everyone sat around the table, discussing plans centered on the two objectives Lynch proposed.

The situation in the Mariluo Kingdom is unlike anywhere Darkstone previously executed missions. Although Amelia was perhaps the most turbulent environment they experienced, it was merely turbulent and hadn’t reached the level of "terrifying."

Mariluo is now a terrifying place. The warlords, dormant for a long time, have started to become active again, and given their scale, this clash could potentially eliminate two or three or even all, leaving just one.

This is why the Ministry of Defense would rather pay for action than do nothing.

If nothing is done, the Federation will have a hostile neighbor, a neighbor that survived the ravages of war and didn’t collapse.

That’s not in the Federation’s interest!

This also means this military operation isn’t a short-term military contract; it could last several months or even years, or even longer.

The longer the military operation, the more casualties it will likely cause, according to a professional index.

There is no saying that as everyone grows accustomed to war and masters warfare skills, no one will die.

There’s no such saying—the longer the war, the more deaths there will be; no one can change that.

Furthermore, they are no longer facing untrained or barely trained anti-government militias; they are facing real soldiers, professional military personnel.

Even if these people’s weapons aren’t advanced, their qualities are not to be underestimated. It’s even said that soldiers under the Mariluo Warlords surpass Federation soldiers in combat experience, endurance, and psychological resilience.

This is why the Federation is so sensitive to changes in Mariluo’s internal situation—they’ve been at war continuously, whereas the Federation Army hasn’t experienced a military conflict that can truly be called a "war."

Everything is uncertain; you can’t gamble with uncertain things on an even less certain future.

Hiring private military contractors to first fight some local wars, thereby gauging the Federation Army’s capabilities before considering policy adjustments, is a very wise choice, albeit a bit... harsh.

After all, a lot of young men will soon be sent onto someone else’s battlefield. If they die in Mariluo, they can’t even receive medals and won’t have the chance to be buried with the highest honors in a hero’s cemetery wrapped in the national flag.

They might be buried somewhere in Mariluo, by the roadside, in the wilderness, or even a stinking ditch. What’s left in people’s memories will just be a name, almost as if they never existed.

Yet, they are someone’s children, someone’s husbands, someone’s fathers.

War is truly a terrifying thing.

How many loyal souls will rest in foreign lands?

With his mind wandering, Lynch suddenly thought of "five hundred years." It’s terrifying how people’s thoughts jump!

Looking at those working hard before him, who knows what they are thinking and which side they are on?

Actually, Lynch could sense that these people weren’t entirely on the Federation Government’s side as they initially were.

After all, it’s not the Federation Government giving them bonuses and salaries, but Lynch himself.

It’s Lynch who takes care of the injured and deceased frontline workers, not the state.

Compared to the trivial value of introducing them to a job, Lynch is actually the one they truly rely on.

This time, Lynch brought up some sensitive topics, in essence telling these people that he always knew they were placed here by the Federation Government, but he is still using them and will continue to do so! 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

It’s a very special statement; they ought to feel grateful.

After more than half an hour, the discussion in the meeting room gradually subsided.

"We’ve done a simple simulation. To immediately make Sanchez’s people effective, we need to deploy forces to Sanchez with a ratio of ’one field officer to three to five natives.’

"For Sanchez to stabilize his current situation and territory, we need to dispatch at least fifteen hundred people."

"Frankly, the number is quite large."

The speaker was a senior commander from Darkstone Security—according to their premises.

In the company’s terms, it’s a senior tactical advisor. These people have deep military backgrounds, some even worked in the Strategic Command.

After a pause, the senior advisor added, "Actually, our estimated result is that we need to dispatch at least two to two-and-a-half thousand people to prevent Sanchez’s influence from shrinking."

His tone became somewhat somber, "War inevitably results in death, even if we have advanced weapons and technology."

The battlefield situation is too complex, who knows when and from where some damned shrapnel will take someone’s life.

And those stray bullets, all sorts of accidents, no one can assure survival, not even Federation soldiers.

Darkstone Security currently has about six to seven thousand field personnel. Three thousand are stationed in the Amelia Region, occasionally sweeping the mountains and remote areas.

An additional thousand rotate with those in Amelia, effectively trapping four thousand in the Amelia Region.

There’s no choice; while the overall environment is stable, remote areas still see anti-government activity.

The Gafura people have gradually accustomed themselves to solving problems with money; at least they don’t need to pay high pensions and endure criticism from media and citizens—if money can solve it, just spend it.

Now, Lynch has only one to two thousand available personnel, including those undertaking various commercial contracts.

Realistically speaking, those always ready for action are about a thousand.

This number is way less than planned, and considering a team also needs to salvage Isabella, Darkstone Security is now gravely lacking manpower.

After a moment’s silence, Lynch said, "Then tell them, we need to expand..."

The news that Darkstone Security was expanding quickly spread through the military ranks; no wonder, as a benchmark in compensation and salary for military action organizations today, many don’t mind working for Darkstone Security after retirement.

Field work involves some risks, but the pay is high, benefits are good, and vacations are long.

Those field workers in Amelia often work for three months and get to rest for nine, as they literally risk their lives and the pay is fantastic!

In-office salaries are lower than fieldwork but significantly higher than those from the Federation Government, coupled with various benefits, which make many envious.

During the last massive military downsizing, many cried and clamored, unwilling to leave the forces.

Back then, many industries were indeed in decline, meaning retirement equated to losing one’s livelihood.

But now, with the news spreading, many military personnel are debating, and some are even actively seeking connections to hope for the chance to be selected.

Despite everyone knowing they might go to battle and face danger, who cares?

There will always be those who believe they are so lucky they won’t die easily, or who refuse to stagnate and wish to strive for a better future.

Suddenly, many hearts are stirred.

As Darkstone Security prepares for expansion, Mr. Truman faces a dilemma, posed by the President.

"Once Darkstone Security completes this expansion, their registered personnel will exceed ten thousand. Every time I think about this, I feel a bit alarmed."

"Is Lynch really safe?"