If it were Yu Lian in his Past life, he would have undoubtedly turned this Councilor into a meatball and fed him to the amoebas.
Since he naturally regarded the lower-class people as insects, then a Spirit Master traversing the stars could naturally regard him, a common person, as an ant.
However, just before his hand crushed the wine glass, he managed to hold back.
Yu Lian in this life was a kind, warm-hearted, and even a bit of a pushover, but also incredibly stubborn when it mattered.
The influence on him was quite significant.
He didn't know whether the soul of the future Ranger had attached itself to the military cadet, or if the military cadet had gained the memories of the future Ranger, but he understood: he had family, friends, and a hometown; there were too many ties, and he truly couldn't act on impulse.
He subtly took a deep breath and said, "I understand what you mean.
However, even a breakout battle requires meticulous planning.
Furthermore, my soldiers haven't rested in days and are in urgent need of recuperation.
You can't expect us to fight on an empty stomach, can you?"
Councilor Jiang Yudong probably felt it was best to 'quit while he was ahead' and nodded in 'understanding': "That's natural.
Also, I've already asked everyone to bring out some food, enough for your subordinates to have a hot meal.
Don't thank me... this is what we should do."
Who the hell wants to thank you!
Whatever it cost, I'll pay you back at the original price.
It's just one meal, look how smug you are.
"Anyway, I hope to get your reply within eight hours.
Oh, by the way, I am Councilor Jiang Yudong, and also a director of the Colonial Agricultural and Commercial Association.
If Warrant Officer has any thoughts of acquiring property in New Yumen, feel free to consult me anytime."
When Yu Lian got out of the car, the Councilor had already started to feast.
However, apart from himself, no one witnessed this scene.
The car door closed soon after, separating the two worlds.
Yu Lian then saw the civilians across the way sharing instant food.
A two or three-year-old boy cried, shouting that he was hungry.
His mother was desperately squeezing a shriveled, toothpaste-like nutrient paste, finally managing to get some brown paste into the child's mouth.
Yu Lian knew that while the stuff was high in calories, it didn't taste good.
But the child smacked his lips and still showed a satisfied smile.
His mother also smiled cheerfully, and pinching the "toothpaste," she tried to squeeze some for herself, but nothing came out.
Tears seemed to well up in the corner of the mother's eyes, but she was still smiling, then she hugged her child and coaxed him to sleep.
The blue-haired mercenary leaned against the car door, seemingly dozing off.
Yu Lian glanced at him, resisting the urge to kick him, and quickly walked away.
He was now very glad for his patience just now; if there had been any slight movement, this guy would certainly not have stood by idly.
If they truly fought, he might not be an opponent for him right now.
The mercenary opened his eyes, looked at Yu Lian's retreating back, and muttered in a low voice: "Don't come at me!
I'm just an employee, no matter how much I dislike my employer, I still have to follow the contract!"
Yu Lian hadn't gone far when Ina and the others surrounded him.
"Sir, we don't have the capability to attack," Ina stared at Yu Lian, seemingly worried that he wouldn't be able to bear the pressure and would be forced into making an uncharacteristic promise.
Yu Lian shook his head: "I'm not stupid."
"Yes, his demands are too unreasonable… but Councilor Jiang Yudong cannot be offended!" Doctor Banks sighed.
"Is he very famous?"
"Uh, very famous, he's considered one of the most prestigious councilors in the colony.
It's said that he's already preparing to run for the next Governor, and his popularity is quite high."
But then again, isn't the Governor's District a semi-military control zone?
Why isn't the Governor appointed by the central government but elected?
"Also, it's said that he has a strong background; there's a big shot on Earth who particularly appreciates him."
That's not surprising; in fact, it would be surprising if he didn't have a background.
Look at this guy swaggering around like a curly-haired marmot in a frilly cape, clearly used to giving orders.
Aside from anything else, he certainly has a lot of prestige among that group of "people's representatives," which is quite a headache.
"Oh, by the way, where's Uncle Karl?" Yu Lian asked.
"There's an autonomous medical vehicle in the civilian convoy, but the surgical machinery seems to have some issues, so Uncle Karl went to help fix it," Doctor Banks said.
It would, of course, be excellent to have an additional autonomous medical vehicle in the team that could even perform C-sections, but Yu Lian always felt that the old mechanic was probably going to find some peace and quiet.
"What about the civilians' identities?"
Banks said: "Baka and his team are checking them one by one, there shouldn't be too many problems, most of them are Commonwealth citizens.
The only slight trouble is that there are a few foreign nationals in the team…"
"Oh, are they unwilling to be inspected or unwilling to obey orders?" Ina said with a cold, murderous expression, probably about to say, "If they're unwilling, then shoot them."
The doctor quickly waved his hand: "No, no!
Uh, overall, they are quite cooperative.
It's just that one of the mercenaries is of Alliance nationality…"
Yu Lian stopped and looked back in the direction of the Councilor's RV: "He will cooperate, don't worry about it."
This sounded unconvincing, but Doctor Banks didn't dare to ask further and added, "And another one, no, a… this, she doesn't seem like a simple person!"
"It's not like she's a business representative from some big Alliance conglomerate, here to discuss investments or something, is she?"
"Uh, yes, ah no, not really… This, oh dear, I really can't say, you'll know when you see her.
It just so happens that she also specifically asked about you earlier."
The soldiers of Outpost 12 began their first proper dinner after abandoning the outpost in this hidden canyon.
They still dared not light fires, but fortunately, there were many RVs in the civilian convoy, which had electricity-powered cooking devices.
Although the taste of the food was mediocre, at least it was hot.
The plantation owner, Wang Yougui, sat by his truck, wolfing down a hot instant meal, and vaguely saw his chief cowboy, Kelvin, returning in a hurry, empty-handed, his share of the meal already gone.
The old landowner snorted: "Let me tell you first, I didn't bring much when I ran out.
Everyone's rations are fixed."
"Yes…" The cowboy lowered his head.
"Even if you gave your share to that young widow, I don't have any extra for you!
I'm just a farmer; I can feed a few of you beasts, but I can't manage that many people."
"I, I know…" The cowboy lowered his head, not daring to argue.
Although he had actually been riding a horse all day, running around, and was already starving.
"You country bumpkin, you'll set yourself on fire sooner or later!" Wang Yougui spat, casually placing the half-eaten meal on the ground, and irritably patted his stomach: "MD, am I so old I can't even eat two bites anymore?"
Seeing the cowboy still in a daze, he flew into a rage: "Do you want your dad to invite you to eat or something?"
Kelvin was overjoyed, holding the meal box, and in his first bite, he swallowed nearly a third of the food.
"…If I can't reopen the plantation, how can I afford to feed you gluttons!" Wang Yougui sighed, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it: "Tell me, what was that country bumpkin Xiao Dongzi doing with so many people just now?"
"Alien ape string, Sen Shuo Su…"
"Finish eating first!"
Kelvin swallowed the food in his mouth with difficulty, which made his throat hurt for a moment, and then said: "Councilor said he was taking everyone to discuss with the commanding officer how to escort us into the city."
"Oh, it's time to enter the city; staying outside forever isn't a solution!" Wang Yougui nodded: "But is it safe to rush in now?
It's said that it's full of Sand People outside.
We have to… uh, wait a minute, wouldn't rushing in now make things difficult for those children?
No, I have to go talk about it."
"But boss, many farmers over there are speaking for the Councilor.
Oh, by the way, Mr. Parick from Blue Star Ranch next door also said…"
"Said what?"
"He said that everyone gathered together has two hundred guns and several armored vehicles, and if they weren't carrying a bunch of burdens, they would have fought the Sand People long ago.
Now, they can't miss this opportunity."
Kelvin was still a bit confused, but Wang Yougui, being old and wise, his eyes flickered, and he vaguely guessed the situation, immediately jumping up: "Those country bumpkins!
They don't even know they're being used!
They're just messing around!… Forget it, I'll go discuss it with Mr. Pierce.
Oh right, it's best if that young lady is there too.
Xiao Kai, after dinner, gather your men and bring your guns!"
The old plantation owner finished his instructions, grumbling as he left.
The cowboy looked blankly at his boss, who had suddenly become agitated for unknown reasons, scratched his head in confusion, and then began to vigorously devour the meal in front of him.
He had to finish eating quickly so he could carry out his boss's instructions.
Although Boss Wang was a bit stingy, he had always been a kind person.
On the other side, the leader of "those children" as referred to by the old plantation owner, our Warrant Officer Yu Lian, also ate half a can of food with some "toothpaste," but still didn't feel full, and began to miss his uncle's pickled fish and his aunt's fried crispy pork, then unhappily picked up another sandwich.
This was just two slices of white bread with canned ham, dried vegetables, and peanut butter; it was barely even a "sandwich."
But even so, Yu Lian found it hard to swallow just thinking about the mother who had tried so hard to squeeze nutrient paste for her child.
But there was no way; the guys in the security team also only had compressed biscuits and nutrient paste, and together, it probably wasn't enough for everyone to eat one meal.
Even if he wanted to do a good deed, he didn't have the means.
More importantly, especially at a time like this, it was crucial to ensure the soldiers' meals were normal.
Yu Lian thought about how to break the deadlock while trying to imagine the sandwich as dumplings made by his aunt, and took a bite.
Uh, not good, it's too hard, I'm choking…
Uh, if I ask others for help, will it damage my image as a wise man who plans everything perfectly?
As Yu Lian thought this, a cup of hot coffee was handed to him.