Starting from the Planetary Governor

Lucy Lee Ko Xi received the order to withdraw for rest and reorganization.

Since being saved by the Alliance Army and fighting alongside them with his brothers, two days had passed.

These two days had been tough. Knowing that the six to seven kilometers of the front line in the Fifth District were hard to overcome, those green-skins tried to break through elsewhere. And his Beast Slaughter Group had also withstood the pressure of the green-skin assaults from surrounding directions.

Had it not been for the artillery support from the Alliance and the swift-moving armored vehicles sent by Captain Perbov, even if they could have held their ground, the casualties would have been heavy.

But however tough life was, it was still better than before.

At least, there was a war to fight. It was true his brothers suffered heavy casualties, but seeing those green-skins dying under the barrage of gunfire and artillery, he felt that the sacrifice was not without value.

And for this reason, he was actually reluctant to receive the order instructing his troops to withdraw for rest and reorganization.

In his view, aside from those Alliance forces, no one could fight better than his men. If his five or six thousand men conducted an organized retreat, the front line might not hold.

However, what happened next made him hold his tongue.

The replacement troops belonged to the Alliance Army.

They were from the 2nd Infantry Division's 3rd Regiment, taking over his defense line.

Despite the 3rd Regiment having less than half of his troop's numbers, barely two thousand men, and lacking armored cars or tanks, they brought thirty pieces of heavy artillery.

Well, indeed you are more formidable.

Moreover, while he wanted to fight, his subordinates were beginning to struggle mentally.

He could only depart with his troops in reluctant acceptance.

Before leaving, he met with Perbov once more, mainly to express his gratitude.

It wasn't just for saving their lives, but for saving his whole team as well.

Had it not been for Perbov's troops arriving in time, following his death, the demoralized Beast Slaughter Group would likely have dispersed.

Perbov accepted Li Kexi's thanks with composure.

Afterwords, the two of them discussed the current state of the war situation and exchanged views on the Beast Slaughter Group being called back.

"Prepare yourself, as the Governor might be looking to incorporate your forces," Perbov advised.

"Incorporate?" Li Kexi furrowed his brow, instinctively resistant to the idea, "Why incorporate? Isn't it quite good as it is? We already fully obey the commands from the Governor's headquarters established at Rubbish Town."

"It's more than that, in the future, you'll become proper soldiers of the Alliance Army," Perbov explained.

"I don't really want that… Before, there were many agents, even Mr. Swan, who wanted us to follow orders completely, all of whom we refused. It doesn't quite align with the original intention of establishing this group," Li Kexi replied.

Perbov shook his head, "Whether you accept incorporation is your decision, but I strongly recommend you accept it…"

He said, holding up two fingers, "I'll give you two reasons to consider carefully."

"Firstly, Rubbish Town won't offer the space for mercenary groups to survive as in the past; everything will definitely become regulated. You have to think about the future for your brothers. Do you really intend to die here for revenge? Or even after getting revenge, and exterminating those green-skins, then just stop living?

Being incorporated is the best option—enjoy military provisions, allowances. Just train well, carry out orders, and don't worry about anything else. There's even a generous pension in case of death, and future retirement will be properly arranged, ensuring security for the rest of your lives."

"Secondly, even if we only consider the present and how to fight the green-skins, incorporation is better. You're the most formidable adventurers against green-skins, but true encounters still cost the lives of three or five of your men to take down one of them; after incorporation, you'll get direct weapons and equipment support, which will greatly assist you in killing those green-skins."

Having said this, Perbov put down his fingers and indeed said no more.

And Li Kexi, who had initially been resistant, found no arguments to counter Perbov's two points.

...

After parting ways with Perbov, Li Kexi led his troops to retreat towards the rear. After half a day's march, they reached the Alliance Army's camp.

This was a new rear army camp, now accommodating nearly forty thousand people.

The personnel distribution of the hundred thousand adventurers from Rubbish Town was approximately as follows: ten thousand were locked up in a prison camp in the west district of Rubbish Town, where starvation was the least of their concerns — this group had tried to escape with Nasr and Mark Ferry.

Forty thousand were in the Alliance Army camp, mostly adventurers who had broken ranks on the frontline days ago; after retreating, they reorganized, were resupplied with ammunition, and received rest and reorganization right there.

Fifty thousand were maintaining the front lines.

In the Alliance camp, after two days of rest, the headquarters began rotating the troops.

It was difficult to count on these unevenly skilled adventurers to endure the hardships and casualties of frontline combat indefinitely. Rotating troops was more reliable than throwing all hundred thousand into the fray at once.

Of course, the most important thing to maintain their morale was money.

They were adventurers, mercenaries, and they fought for money. Gu Hang undoubtedly issued Alliance currency to them generously, also promising that this currency could be spent in Rubbish Town during the war. He managed to procure a considerable amount of supplies from within Rubbish Town.

Furthermore, he promised that those who continued to stay within the Alliance after the war and reforms could exchange the Alliance currency they currently received for labor points.