Welcome to Central Asia, a charming wasteland where warmongering warlords play king and former mercs are now jobless and bound by no law. It’s a powder keg just waiting to blow.

First things first, Alam needs weapons and guns. How does he get them? Through the black market, of course. Carmelita, the woman in the black veil, who’s been tasked with ensuring the weapon supply and governing the western territories, which are mostly in Europe for the Wanderers. This way, Alam can focus on his eastern campaign. For now, he’s on the lookout for a new secretary to help him reclaim his lost territory.

In Alam's office, a holographic map of Central Asia lights up in front of them. Eleanor, Alam's new secretary and a savvy blonde strategist, leans in.

"They're consolidating power," she says, her voice low. "Each general is a piece in a deadly game, vying for control. We need to disrupt their plans before they checkmate us into oblivion. The Red Nation is sending their own mercs and weapons to the Khaganate, but it’s only a matter of time before they send in the real army."

Before Alam can even wrap his head around that, a spy bursts in. "Leader, there's growing discord within the Blood Khaganate. Feihong's strategic brilliance is clashing with Baihu's reckless charges."

It’s starting to look a lot like the U.S. intervention in Afghanistan, where they supported rebels to counter the Soviets, only to have some of those rebels turn into the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, who later turned on the U.S. The same goes for the Red Nation's relationship with the Khaganate; some Khaganate generals are proving to be rebellious and not fully united, especially after their failure defeating alam in last winter war.

And here come Zhang, Mei, and Li—three colorful characters bursting with enthusiasm. Zhang looks like he stepped out of a historical drama, Mei’s in a dress that could double as a party invitation, and Li’s got more tattoos than a biker convention. They chime in, "We stand ready to serve, Master Alam!" with the kind of fervor usually reserved for cult leaders.

Alam sighs, contemplating the joys of leadership "Alright, let's take over the world, one merc group at a time. But first, let's deal with the Blood Khaganate, because they're kind of a big deal."

Alam nods, and Eleanor projects a holographic map of Central Asia, highlighting key merc groups. "Zhang, negotiate with the Vanara Vanguard. Li, scout the Garuda Legion. Mei, charm your way into the Scrap Queen's stronghold."

Eleanor turns to Alam. "The choice is yours, Master. Will you fight to secure the land? Or forge alliances?"

Alam replies, "I miss being in the field... hehe... Who's the most troublesome merc?"

Eleanor answers, "The Garuda Legion is strong, and Baihu is a reckless general who charges enemy lines alone. Destabilizing their leadership is best. Use Li's charm to make her fall for him and infiltrate their stronghold. The information will be invaluable for planning our next strike."

Alam decides, "I'll deal with the Garuda personally. The rest of you, handle the others. Any questions?"

"No questions, master. We'll get to work immediately," Eleanor responds

The team shakes their heads in unison, eager to jump into action, leaving Alam to ponder his next moves.

“Now, about this Garuda situation…” he muses as the screen flickers to life, showcasing a chaotic battlefield. A lone figure in crimson rides through the fray like she’s auditioning for a role in a superhero flick. Her horse—let’s just say it makes Pegasus look like a donkey cutting through enemy lines with ease. Yet, her reckless disregard for her own safety and that of her troops was evident.

eleanor then comment ““That’s Baihu, charging into enemy lines with a kris blade charged up with geothermal power”

Alam, puzzled, asks, "What do you mean with geothermal power? Is that another... umm... what is called... BEDTIME STORY?!"

Eleanor clarifies, "Well, it's a bit complicated to explain, but essentially, it boils down to this: The Garuda Legion has access to geothermal technology, an advanced form of heat-based weaponry. This allows them to create powerful beams or waves of heat, So, if you want to take her down, you'll have to find a way to counter her geothermal advantage."

Alam orders, "Alright,sci-fi shit,, send a spy... mhm, Yes, yes... I wanna go too."

Eleanor shows another map of the surrounding area, including hills, forests, and rivers. There are several paths that lead to the Garuda Legion's stronghold, but they all narrow at certain points, making it easier for them to defend against an assault.

Alam, curious, asks, "Is there a volcano or something nearby? You said they harvest geothermal stuff."

Eleanor explains, "Yes, the Garuda Legion's stronghold is located near a geothermal zone. this geothermal power source provides a double-edged sword. You can also use it against them if you wish..."

Alam instructs, "Okay, please prioritize the spy mission to examine this mechanism. Meanwhile, prepare the Hind with an escort team. I wanna see with my own eyes."

Eleanor confirms, "Understood. We'll prioritize the spy mission to examine the geothermal technology. As for the Hind, we'll keep it at stand-by with an escort team until you return from the Garuda Legion's stronghold. Any other orders, Master?"

Alam pats Eleanor's head. "Nothing... You do a good job."

Eleanor blushes. "Thank you, master. I'm always at your service."

Alam, ready to go, says, "Yeah... See you later."

As Alam prepares to leave, he can’t help but feel a twinge of excitement. “Alright, pray to Gott to bless our mission!” He boards the Hind, ready for whatever chaos awaits.

Alam dons a disguise and signals the pilot. The Hind lands a few meters from the main entrance of the Garuda Legion's stronghold, located at the edge of a geothermal field. The main entrance is heavily guarded by armed guards with anti-aircraft cannons. The pilot leaned back, probably wondering if he’d signed up for a war or a comedy show.

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Alam, confident with just armed with medival sword and pistol, dismounts and starts walking toward the entrance. The Garuda guard quickly spots him approaching and aims their guns at him.

“Who are you? What do you want?” one of the guards barked, his gun trained on Alam like it was a laser pointer on a cat. “State your business or get ready to become a human target practice!”

Alam, unfazed, replies, "Yeah, I heard you guys have a problem finding weapons and ammo. I'm from the Emerald League. I know connections to the black market arsenal. Tell that to your leader."

The guard's eyes narrowed but he relayed the message to General Baihu. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Baihu herself—a vision in crimson who looked like she stepped out of a fantasy novel, complete with a sword that could probably slice through space-time.

"So, which of the top mercenary leagues sent you here to meet me? And how do you plan to secure us weapons and ammo?" Baihu asks.

Alam, smooth-talking, says, "Oh, wonderful woman... So you're the leader of this base?"

Baihu, intrigued, responds, "My, my, what a smooth talker you are. Are you really from the Emerald League? I bet they sent the most handsome guy here to tempt me." She smirks at Alam. He's certainly got confidence. A welcome change from the stiff formality of my officers. Though, tempting me? He has no idea what he's getting into.

Alam, playing along, says, "Hoho... Perhaps..." He draws a document about various types of guns and ammo.

Baihu, interested, says, "Hmhm... I see that is a fine list of weapons that you offer. Let me have a closer look at the list."

She walks toward Alam, stops for a moment, and then bends forward, as if she's going to whisper something in his ear.

Alam, keeping up the act, says, "Yeah... Finding goods is easy... Finding a buyer is hard."

She then whispers something in Alam's ear. "Oh, I see... You can also secure the buyer for our black market deal... That's amazing news."

A middleman, then. Clever. This could be more useful than I thought. She steps closer to Alam and stands right in front of him. She smells his scent and smirks, her body slowly touching him. He smells of… ozone and something faintly metallic. Intriguing.

Alam faced Baihu, the fiery leader of the Garuda Legion, with a question hanging in the air: "Do you have money?"

Baihu's eyes danced with mischief. "Maybe," she teased, "but play your cards right, and I might give you something more valuable than money." He's not falling for it. Good. I wouldn't respect him if he did.

Alam chuckled, shifting the conversation. "I've heard you have some interesting tech here—geothermal stuff?"

Baihu's smirk widened. "Oh, you're referring to our geothermal technology. It's rare, expensive, and incredibly powerful. It allows us to create devastating beams and waves of heat. Interested?"

Alam nodded, intrigued. "I might be able to trade for it."

Baihu's interest piqued. "What do you have in mind? I need to ensure this is a fair deal."

Alam, with a playful tone, asked, "Can I see it first? I just want to make sure."

Baihu's expression shifted, her smirk deepening as she leaned closer to Alam's ear. "Spicy talk," she whispered, her voice laced with temptation. He's definitely enjoying this. As am I. But I won't let him forget who's in charge. "But before we discuss tech, can I ask you something?"

Alam, curious, agreed. "Sure, what is it?"

Baihu's voice dropped to a sultry whisper. "Can you kiss my neck?" Let's see if he's all talk.

Alam, caught off guard, laughed. "You're quite the lonely woman here, aren't you? I can offer you more than that."

Baihu's face lit up with enjoyment, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "I didn't expect such a bold offer so soon. I'm not shy, so I'll take you up on that."

Alam, ever the businessman, steered the conversation back. "But first, let's talk about your geothermal toy."

Baihu, amused, played along. "Oh, you want to see it? Then let's go." He's persistent. I respect that. She grabbed Alam's hand, leading him through the stronghold's bustling courtyard. Besides, I am curious to see his reaction.

And just like that, Alam was deep in enemy territory, balancing seduction and scheming like a high-stakes game of chess

As they walked, Baihu leaned close, her whisper hot against Alam's ear. "My geothermal toy is our most powerful asset. It's why we're confident in our defenses. And I'm confident I can make you scream, too."

Alam, intrigued, asked, "How did you acquire it?"

Baihu's smirk widened. "We took it from a team of scientists. They were close to discovering it, but we got there first." She leaned even closer, her fingers playing with Alam's collar. "I'm willing to share it with you, but there's a condition..."

Alam, curious, pressed, "What's the condition?"

Baihu's voice was a sultry promise. "You must satisfy my every wish if you want to see my geothermal toy. Do you accept?"

Alam, with a laugh, agreed. "I thought you'd want money, but sure, why not?"

Baihu, her body moving closer, whispered, "I don't care about money. I know what I really need."

Alam, sensing her desire, asked, "What's your motivation?"

Baihu's response was a mix of power and vulnerability. "I lead the Garuda Legion, but sometimes I want to be more than just a commander. You can give me what my men can't."

Alam, nodded. "Your soldiers can't give you what you truly desire, only me."

Baihu, her excitement growing, whispered, "Exactly. I feel powerful commanding my forces, but sometimes I just want to feel weak."

Alam, suggested, "Let's find somewhere private."

Baihu, blushing and giggling, agreed. "Yes, let's find a place where it's just you and me."

Alam, taking her hand, asked, "Show me your favorite place."

Baihu, her blush deepening, whispered, "I want to bring you to my bedroom, a place where no one can hear us."

Alam, playing along, responded, "Sounds good."

Baihu, her excitement palpable, whispered, "I'm sure you're already excited. But before we go there, I need to make sure you're the right person for me."

She stopped, placing her hands on Alam's chest. "Are you a good person? Can you treat a woman right? Can you promise to satisfy me?"

Alam, with a thoughtful response, said, "I can bring you something beyond lust—love."

Baihu, impressed, whispered, "Love? I didn't expect that from you. But how can you ensure this 'love' isn't just a disguise for your lust?"

Alam, with a gentle tone, suggested, "Let's take it slow, and you'll see if I'm the right man for you."

Baihu, her blush deepening, whispered, "I like that idea. Take it slow, and I'll be the judge. But remember, once you're with me, there's no going back."

Alam, with a teasing smile, changed the subject. "Let's not be possessive. Actually, I've changed my mind. Show me your geothermal stuff first."

Baihu, surprised but amused, agreed. "You're quite the tease. I like that. Come, let me show you our geothermal power source."

As they walked through the long tunnel, Baihu's body brushed against Alam's, her whisper hot and tempting. "I bet you can't wait to see my geothermal toy. How would you feel if I did something to you before you see it?"

Alam, feeling the heat, wiped his sweat. "Is it just me, or is it getting hotter in here?"

Baihu, her laughter soft, whispered, "The temperature here is always hot, but it's only getting hotter with you around." She slowed her pace, her body close to Alam's. "I might need to show you some 'warmth' now."

Alam, caught in the moment, responded, "Yeah..."

Baihu, her voice a sultry promise, whispered, "I can see the heat overtaking you. Let me take care of it." She stepped closer, her whisper a tantalizing offer. "Would you let this hot lady take care of the heat inside you?"

Alam, with a playful retort, said, "No, not you—this tunnel is just too hot."

Baihu giggles again, her voice laced with playful insinuation. "Oh, so the tunnel is hot itself, huh? But you're here with me, alone with me in this hot tunnel. A guy and a girl, alone in an enclosed place." She whispers, her breath hot against Alam's ear, "Are you sure you're not thinking about something more than just the tunnel heat?"

Alam, trying to maintain his composure, shushes her. "Just hold your horse till we see the stuff."

Baihu giggles at Alam's response, her voice a sultry promise. "Well, just like you wish. I will hold on to my horse. But remember... the moment we reach my geothermal plant... the moment you lay your eyes on it... I can't hold my horse anymore..."

The tunnel slowly widens as they approach the geothermal plant, the temperature rising. Baihu's voice is filled with anticipation. "Well, we're getting closer... we should soon reach the geothermal plant..."

Alam, impressed, asks, "Wow, so you manage to extract the power? But how do you use it for weapons?"

Baihu smiled, her voice dripping with pride as she leaned closer. “Yes, we’ve mastered extracting the immense power of geothermal energy here. We use it for weapons, defense, and even for brewing the best coffee in Central Asia. Basically, this geothermal powerhouse is the backbone of our civilization!” She paused for dramatic effect, then added with a wink, “But enough about our geothermal prowess; let me show you the real magic.”

“Okay,” Alam replied, trying not to sound too eager.

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Baihu took his hand and quickened their pace like they were racing toward a theme park. “You’re so patient, Alam. I like that in a man. Most guys want it right away, but you—oh, you’re different. How long can you be patient?”

Alam forced smile,start to irritated with her constant flirting “Well, only Gott knows. But I’m willing to find out.”

Baihu halted, her face inches from his, a smirk playing on her lips. “If only God knows, then maybe I should take matters into my own hands.” She leaned in, her breath warm against his neck. “Shall I test your patience?”

“Shh,” Alam replied, trying to focus as they stepped through a heavy metal door, the air hitting them like a furnace blast, thick with heat and the clanging of machinery.. Baihu led him through a maze of tunnels, pointing out the intricate workings of the geothermal system.Finally, they reached a glass protector and terminal. Baihu pressed a button, and the protective cover hissed open, like a veil being drawn back from a window into hell.

A fiery glow spilled out, illuminating Baihu’s face in a harsh, orange light. The air roared with the sound of escaping steam. Massive tubes, filled with surging lava, stretched from floor to ceiling, the heat radiating outwards in palpable waves, held back only by the fragile barrier of glass and the swirling, ever-present steam that shrouded the scene in an eerie, otherworldly haze.

the lava surging and seething behind a thick glass barrier, the power of the machine radiating outwards,the sight make his heart thumping hard. This was not just a weapon. This was a force of nature