https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-101-Zhang-Lie-s-Return-Father-s-Identity-/12953677/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-103-Codex-Experience-Fulfilled-The-Mystery-of-the-Origami-Figure-/12953679/
Chapter 102: Military Merit Rewards, Special Beastmaster Forces?
Chapter 102: Military Merit Rewards, Special Beastmaster Forces?
"What?!"
The Lin Division Commander on the other end of the phone initially thought he had misheard.
"The father of that young Breeder is also from the Corps, and he has the same military rank as me?"
Hearing the commander's surprised tone, Zhang Lie couldn't help but sigh.
He genuinely hadn't expected that the family of this talented Breeder would hide such a treasure!
"That's right. They're asking for military merit in addition to valor points, and they're also dissatisfied with the honorary military rank for breeding."
If it were a normal situation, Zhang Lie might have bargained with them, but after seeing the gleaming military insignia, he lost all his bargaining power.
There was no way he could negotiate when the other party spoke with such a superior tone.
However, it seemed that the Lin Division Commander became more interested:
"Alright, let me handle this. I'll personally discuss the matter with you."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Lie breathed a sigh of relief:
"Thank you, Senior Sergeant!"
The man's aura was too strong, and with the obvious difference in their military ranks, Zhang Lie felt overwhelmed.
Back in the guest room, Su Anyong's chest insignia shone brightly.
Su Anyong glanced at him:
"Are you done discussing?"
"Yes, sir! Division Commander Lin said he'd like to negotiate with you personally."
"Oh?"
Looking at the phone placed in front of him, Su Anyong raised an eyebrow at the figure on the screen.
He naturally recognized the other party's identity.
"Eastern Linye Ground Force, Wolf Warrior A Division Commander Lin Lei, greetings to you, comrade."
Su Anyong nodded:
"Su Anyong, greetings, Division Commander Lin."
Without saying more, Lin Lei's brows furrowed slightly, but he didn't pursue the matter further as Su Anyong spoke again:
"I've heard about your Legion's situation. Valor points are indeed valuable, but they're not enough! It's not enough to just have valor points!"
During this afternoon, Su Anyong not only chatted with Old Sha but also observed his abilities.
The results left Su Anyong in disbelief.
While the direct offensive power was average, and the attack skills weren't very intuitive, they were extremely versatile!
Especially the mutated Wood Body.
It was absurdly versatile.
In fact, within the Beastmaster Corps, the most lacking were precisely these all-around capable beasts, with no apparent weaknesses.
Moreover, this was a beast capable of reaching the Monarch Rank in evolution. If it were just cultivated for those valor points, Su Anyong felt it would be a waste for Su Ping.
Of course, Old Sha's evolutionary potential was among the highest in Thousand Wood Lynx. Others might not have the same potential.
However, this didn't stop Su Anyong from negotiating for some benefits for the Legion.
"First, I cannot decide on the honorary military rank. Even if Su Breeder successfully breeds the beast, there's no guarantee of obtaining it. The standard is set by General Zhao himself—the ranking in the Corps-wide tournament determines the breeder's position.
So, in this regard, I cannot make any promises! Secondly, regarding military merit, I can promise you that if the Wolf Battalion achieves a good ranking with Su Breeder's help, a third-class merit is assured."
Lin Lei spoke clearly, but Su Anyong felt bored as he listened. When Lin Lei finished, Su Anyong spoke:
"So, after all that, you're essentially making empty promises? If my son breeds for your Battalion, and you don't achieve a good ranking, it's as if he wasted his time and effort for nothing, catering to your useless Battalion?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Lie immediately reported:
"Sir, our Wolf Battalion's elite Beastmasters are not useless!"
Su Anyong glanced at him, scoffing lightly.
"Comrade, mind your words. In Linzhou, and even in Jianghai Province and the surrounding provinces, there are other Wolf Breeders!"
Lin Lei spoke calmly, clearly indicating that Woodheart wasn't the only place to breed Wolves.
Su Anyong wasn't bothered by this and continued:
"First, the honorary military rank is not under my control. Even if Su Breeder successfully breeds the beast, there's no guarantee of obtaining it. The standard is set by General Zhao himself—the ranking in the Corps-wide tournament determines the breeder's position.
So, in this regard, I cannot make any promises! Secondly, regarding military merit, I can promise you that if the Wolf Battalion achieves a good ranking with Su Breeder's help, a third-class merit is assured."
Su Anyong listened to Lin Lei's words with disinterest. When Lin Lei finished, Su Anyong spoke:
"So, in the end, you're essentially making empty promises? If my son breeds for your Battalion, and you don't achieve a good ranking, it's as if he wasted his time and effort for nothing, catering to your useless Battalion?"
The Legion's tournament was no mere exercise but a serious competition among several tactical squads from various divisions. It was a significant event for the entire Linye Ground Force.
Lin Lei personally intervened, not just to show off his family's prowess to the entire army, but also for a substantial achievement.
It wasn't just about showing off; it was about real results.
Previously, the Wolf Warrior A Division and Tiger C Division's exercises had ended in their favor due to the other side's elite breeding. However, if they lost again, they would have no excuse.
In this situation, if the Wolf Battalion lost again, it would be a different story after the elite breeding. A stunning victory would hold a completely different meaning.
Therefore, the appearance of a completely unknown evolution, even to the old-timers in the Legion, who were unaware of its origins and combat style, held great significance. It represented unknown intelligence, absolute advantage, and priority. Simultaneously, it demonstrated that the Wolf was worthy of more resources and manpower.
In such a situation, as long as the Thousand Wood Wolf's abilities weren't too far-fetched, it would undoubtedly be a significant advantage. Not to mention, Zhang Lie's description made the Thousand Wood Wolf seem like the most comprehensive top-tier Wolf evolution.
Forget about Zhang Lie; even Lin Lei couldn't help but feel excited. After all, the Wolf Warrior A Division, his commander's pet, also had a Wolf, although it wasn't his primary combat pet. If brute force didn't work, he'd use cunning.
Thinking of this, Lin Lei sighed:
"Comrade, no, Sergeant, you and I hold the same military rank, so you understand. I can't just hand them out freely. While the division does have a quota for military merits, this time, all the battalions from the Wolf Warrior A Division are participating in the tournament. If they all ask me for merits in advance, where will I get them from? If I give to one, what about the next one? Please trust our warriors. Those who make it through the selection are undoubtedly the cream of the crop. If necessary, we can even ask Su Breeder to choose personally.
How about this, if we really achieve a top-five position, I'll give you a second-class merit as promised, and I'll also give your division a third-class merit as a bonus.
Even if we don't achieve such a high ranking, I'll still give you a third-class merit afterward. Although developing a brand-new evolution might earn a second-class merit for a Legion breeder, Su Breeder isn't part of the Legion. So, if this happens, the third-class merit will be given at that time..."
As for the honorary military rank, you should know that even I don't have the authority to grant that."
These words were sincere.
Su Anyong nodded slightly.
A second-class merit! He understood that this was indeed Lin Lei's limit. He also knew that asking for military merits as pure breeding fees before the battle was genuinely challenging. He had achieved his goal.
The Legion was a place where strength and achievements were paramount.
Without results, it was normal to gain nothing.
Su Anyong's early military experience naturally acknowledged this.
He paused, then continued:
"If the Wolf Battalion can achieve a top-five position, then in addition to the second-class merit you requested, I'll also give your division a third-class merit!"
"This... Great!"
Top five was good enough. There were countless talented individuals among the various divisions in the entire army.
"Rest assured, Sergeant. Not only General Zhao but also the other Legion members want to see the results. We won't fall short in terms of resources and breeding!" Lin Lei patted his chest, assuring him, though he added a caveat to avoid being taken advantage of.
He was genuinely intimidated by this 'Sergeant'.
However, upon seeing the smile on Su Anyong's face, Lin Lei finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Alright, send the men over whenever you have time. I'll be leaving in a couple of days, so I want you to keep an eye on my son during this time."
Damn it! Zhang Lie cursed inwardly. If he had known that this old-timer, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, would be leaving in a couple of days, he would have delayed things for a bit longer.
Lin Lei, however, didn't seem to mind. Instead, he raised his eyebrows in curiosity and asked, "Su Ban, which side are you affiliated with? I've never heard of anyone like you in Linzhou before."
Indeed, being on par with him, Su Anyong was already considered a notable figure among the local legions.
However, Su Anyong glanced at him and his expression turned serious again. He said calmly, "According to regulations, your rank does not grant you access to this information. Additionally, you are not allowed to disclose my military rank and background to ordinary Beastmasters, including Su Ping."
"Er..."
The sun slowly set in the west.
Zhang Lie finally emerged from the Heart of Wood and exhaled deeply.
"Sir, what's going on here?" he asked over the phone.
Lin Lei replied impatiently, "What else could it be? Either this person is an imposter who can't come up with a better excuse, which is unlikely given the authenticity of the badge and their knowledge of the legion's internal affairs. Or, they are a retired or even active member of a special Beastmaster force."
Within the legion, there were special Beastmaster forces, and Zhang Lie had heard of them.
Each special Beastmaster force had a limited number of personnel.
However, the identities of these Beastmasters were kept confidential to ensure the secrecy of their companion beasts' types, which was crucial for future special missions.
Zhang Lie had heard rumors upon enlisting that the Dragon Country Beastmaster Legion had a unique Beastmaster force called the Dragon Group, where every member had a companion beast that was a true dragon.
These members represented the pinnacle of the Dragon Country Beastmaster Legion's elite individual Beastmaster forces. Of course, this was just a legend within the legion.
"You better make sure you deliver all the selected elite members of the Wolf Battalion here. I've invested a lot in you, and if you mess this up, you'll be shoveling manure on the farm, got it?"
"Yes, sir! Mission will be accomplished!" Zhang Lie saluted instinctively.
The call ended with a satisfied click.
Lin Lei, looking at the disconnected call, also fell into deep thought.
A special Beastmaster force?
Every Beastmaster who joined the Beastmaster Legion dreamed of joining one of these special forces. Once they did, their military records within the legion would be hidden, and their public records would be restored to that of an ordinary citizen.
However, in reality, every Beastmaster in these special forces was a true elite.
Each one was born and bred for combat, forged in various dangerous situations.
These experiences were worlds apart from those of ordinary Beastmasters in the Beastmaster Legion. Only those with extraordinary talent, one in a million, would be directly selected upon enlistment.
It was clear that this Su Battalion Leader must have been one of these exceptional individuals.
At this moment, as Lin Lei indulged in his imagination of Su Anyong, possibly a powerful and mysterious retired or active Beastmaster from a special Beastmaster force, the reality was quite different.
Su Anyong was squatting at the door of his side room, listlessly puffing on a cigarette, feeling a bit dazed as he watched a little paper man inside wielding a paper sword at his waist and glaring at him. He was once again questioning his life choices.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
