In casual walk, Lieutenant Reznik passed the corridor in the small fort as if it was his own house. Here and there he made a small friendly chat with some Makai Guards. However, most of Makai Guard he met was sleeping in chair, table, or floor. The thick smell of alcohol from their clothes and the empty bottle in their hand told him what those Makai Guards have done for the whole night.

After passing two halls full of wasted Makai Guard and one big empty training field, Lieutenant Reznik arrived in a small the inner yard. As usual, he was welcomed by a dying camp fire and a table full of roasted meat, fruits, nuts, and of course wine.

Not far from the table and camp fire, an obese middle-aged man and three young women lay on a carpet, under a thick blanket. Judging from the clothes that scattered in all direction, it was easy to tell that the four under the blanket were naked from head to toe.

‘Another sex party under the night sky,” Lieutenant Reznik muttered as he tried to wake the obese middle-aged man up, “Ser Donte, please wake up.”

It was always not easy to wake Donte up, but Lieutenant Reznik had a secret technique. While his voice was gentle and polite, he stealthy kicked Donte in the balls. After a few lethal kick, Donte finally woke up and then sat in half sober and half sleeping.

“Ser Donte, my guild will receive a few hundreds of new workers. I come to deliver the list,” Lieutenant Reznik politely said as he put a parchment on the table.

“Yeah,” After shaking his head for a moment Donte continued weakly, “Reznik, why do I always have ache in my balls every time you come here?”

“That’s because I will also bring you a gesture of good will.”

As Lieutenant Reznik put a big money pouch on his lap, Donte immediately smiled. “I see.”

“Then, I will take my leave.”

“Wait,” Donte shook his head one more time before asking, “Is Miss Tiffany doing fine?”

“She’s doing great and she will marry his fiancé in a few months.”

“What a waste.” After snorting in furry Donte continued, “Tell her, my deep connection to Makai Royal Family will help her family to thrive in Makai Royal City.”

‘What a pig!’ Lieutenant Reznik cursed while maintaining a friendly smile. ‘Even without your connection we had secure the permit to harvest black pine in Penna Hill. Moreover, after your attempt to rape Captain Tiffany failed, you tried to sabotage our permit.’

“Reznik, do you hear me?”

“Yes, I hear you.” After clearing his throat Lieutenant Reznik immediately said, “Ser Donte, I always relay your message to Miss Tiffany, but her marriage is her parent call. She can do nothing about it.”

Donte calmly suggested, “She can just become my wife and live in my mansion in the inner city. Her family will never have the gut to bother her.”

“I will tell her that.”

“Good, tell her that.”

After nodding in satisfaction Donte then laid his fat body. In his chest, he hugged the big money pouch tightly. Wasting no time, Lieutenant Reznik turned around and walked away.

---

In a calm mood, the donkey convoy continued its journey. It was 2 km long journey, so Colonel Meyer had a lot of time to ask a few things that had plagued his mind since his arrival in Jack Sparrow.

“LT, about two KIA we suffered a few weeks ago. Can you give me your opinion?”

“It’s just a brawl with locals.” After a paused Lieutenant Reznik continued, “In their way after having fun in Red Light District, three men were ambushed by twelve locals. Our men killed two attackers but in the end they were outnumbered.

One man managed to escape and calling for help, but when Major Petrov’s men arrived with city guards, it was already too late to save the other two. The next night, Captain Tiffany led a platoon to take revenge.”

“I had read that in the report,” Colonel Meyer calmly said, “Tell me something else.”

Sooner or later Colonel Meyer would heard it, so Lieutenant Reznik openly said, “Well, Captain Tiffany slit the leader of the attacker on the throat, after beating him into a pulp, while his men do the same thing for other attackers.

If we are on earth, Captain Tiffany and his men will be sat behind the bars right now.”

After a moment of silence Colonel Meyer said, “I shouldn’t say this, but I can’t blame Captain Tiffany or her men. They are infantry. We trains them to return a favor when someone kill one of their own.”

“So, no martial court for them?”

“No, but the option to replace Captain Tiffany is still on the table,” Colonel Meyer calmly replied. “Before I make the final call, I need to understand why Major Petrov wants chain of command release Captain Tiffany from her post.”

“Major Petrov had warned Captain Tiffany that when her men take a walk into city, they had to do it in a group of sixteen or more. A big group of robust adult would deter people from looking for trouble.”

“But the locals can attack them in a big group too?”

“Not that easy,” Lieutenant Reznik calmly replied. “We give Donte money every month not for nothing. It gives us strong protection from city guard. Even the commander of city guards will not messing around with our men.

As long as our men take their walk on a big group, it will be hard to find people who had the gut to picking a fight with them.”

“Unfortunately, Captain Tiffany neglected the warning,” Colonel Meyer said in regretful tone.

“Yeah,” Lieutenant Reznik openly admitted. “She gave his men permission to go in a small group. Moreover, she wanted her men had flexibility for their happy hours, so she didn’t make predetermined schedule.”

Colonel Meyer nodded and said, “In short, Major Petrov is angry because we could prevent this incident actually.”

“Other than that,” Lieutenant Reznik took a deep breath before continuing, “The attackers were woodcutter from previous guild that managed Penna Hill. When they lost their permit, they had to fire some of woodcutters who then took revenge on our men.

When we killed those woodcutters, we also cut the lifeline of six elderly, eight wives, seven teenagers, and eighteen children including four babies. Worst of all, it gave Donte an excuse to punish this innocent by selling them as slaves.”

After silence for a long time Colonel Meyer curiously asked, “Do those people become slaves now?”

“No, Major Petrov managed to covertly give those people new life in a faraway Region. It took lot of resource and effort, so I don’t think we can do this kind of charity next time.”

“There will be no next time. I will prevent it at all cost.” Colonel Meyer sincerely said. “However, I have my own worry about Major Petrov’s act of compassion.”

“Sir, with all respect, I don’t think Major Petrov’s action is a bad thing.” Lieutenant Reznik heaving a deep sighs before continuing, “It’s super naïve, I admit, but not a bad thing at all.”

“I didn’t say it’s a bad thing,” Colonel Meyer said. “However, when doing an undercover mission, it’s pretty easy for your perspective to switch to other side, and before you are realizing it you had become one of them. I do hope we don’t have this issue with Major Petrov.”

After smiling for a moment Lieutenant Reznik confidently said, “Colonel, regarding Major Petrov, you have nothing to worry about. He is 200% solid.”

“In that case, I will support his policy on relationship with locals.”

“Major Petrov will be glad to hear that.”

“I know.”

In a calm mood, Colonel Meyer then enjoyed the rest of the journey.

*****