Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 596 - 589: Arrival of the Airboat

Chapter 596: Chapter 589: Arrival of the Airboat

In the following days, the Advance Team continued training the soldiers of the new legion. Although it sounded strange, until now it seemed that the Church Court hadn’t given the new legion an official name, making it evident that they hadn’t trusted the new legion as a formal army yet.

After complete rearmament, the soldiers continued their training, gradually getting used to the bulky armor suits and gas masks on their faces. The combination of Otherworld style riot gear and vintage-style AK rifles gave them a vaguely villainous feel. When they stood in formation, even Luo’er could sense their aura.

The construction on the camp’s defenses continued. Farmers, who had been conscripted, dug a pit over three meters deep around the camp as instructed and filled sandbags with the excavated soil, piling them behind the trench.

Although the Church Court instructed the construction, the design followed Earth’s defense construction models. Sandbags were stacked into a low wall, from which soldiers could retaliate.

As training progressed, the consumption of ammunition increased. Apparently, these bullets were not all free from headquarters; they were essentially half-sold-half-given, making one wonder if the Church Court would flinch at such expenditure.

Luo’er was very indifferent to this. During the third Otherworld War, many ammunitions were stockpiled on Earth for a renewed attack on Otherworld. After the abrupt end of the war, these stockpiles of ammunition became a major problem.

Small caliber bullets were nearly worthless, so they were only sold to Otherworld in the middle caliber to clear stock. Observing the business opportunity, arms dealers introduced modular improvements of old guns which, by changing the firing mechanism and barrel, could fire small caliber bullets. They then half-sold-half-gave away these bullets to eliminate surplus stocks.

Ironically, Earth’s nations jointly established principles for arms exports to the Otherworld. However, every country that signed the arms export treaty was looking for loopholes in the document.

The Arms Export Principles stipulated that weapons developed later than the 1980s could not be exported to the Otherworld. This vague regulation left room for arms companies from various countries to get around.

The AK47 automatic rifle was modelled in 1947 and within the scope of the treaty. However, arms dealers could completely replace the interior material and even modify the structure. As long as it could still fire 7.62X39mm bullets, the AK47 rifle would not be restricted by the treaty.

An improved AK47 rifle could potentially perform much better than the later AK12. Funnily enough, AK47s could be sold, but AK12s could not. This was a loophole in the arms export principles that everyone knew but no one ever thought to amend.

Because currently on Earth, guns from before the 1980s were scarce. Even those available were considered antiques and would fetch a much higher price in the collector’s market than if sold to the Otherworld. As a result, most of the so-called old guns in the Otherworld today were produced within the last thirty years and had all undergone some form of modification or other. Any strict enforcement of the export principles threatened the livelihood of arms companies that relied on the Otherworld trade, even putting them at risk of bankruptcy.

After half a month of such training, the defensive structures around the camp had begun to show. At this point, the headquarters’ airship finally arrived above the encampment, much to Luo’er’s anticipation.

Seeing the colossal airship floating midair, virtually all the soldiers couldn’t help but look up and exclaim in awe. With no lakes or rivers nearby for it to land, the airship could only hover in the air and people and supplies were transported to the ground using a transport plane.

Upon seeing the airship’s arrival, the Advance Team was filled with pride. Once the airship was stable, a transport plane took off from the airfield and landed directly.

Li Si continued to serve as the primary commander of the event. The moment the transport plane settled, he walked out first. Following him were Murong and his team.

"Salute!" The Advance Team lined up neatly. Upon seeing Li Si stepping out, everyone saluted him crisply at Luo’er’s command.

Li Si opened his mouth, then shook his head helplessly, waving his hand, "Never mind, at ease, everyone."

"Luo’er, we meet again!" Shangguan Jiu seemed delighted to see Luo’er.

"Indeed, what a coincidence." Luo’er replied with a smile.

"Man, I can’t shake you..." Tangmo murmured softly with a bitter face.

"I know, right!" Fulajie’er grumbled in his ear.

Murong walked over, swept his eyes around, looked at Luo’er, and said with a bitter smile, "We’re training elves in Ilanadale, and you’re training the Church’s army in Odelanqi. We really are kindred spirits."

"Want to join? We’re short-staffed." Luo’er asked.

"Forgive me for declining, we’ve been taught to the point of sickness in Ilanadale already." Murong waved his hand repeatedly, saying hurriedly.

"Where are you sick?" Hu Daoke suddenly interjected, with a mischievous grin on his face.

Suddenly, he got a heavy blow from Cheng Ziang at his lower abdomen, which instantly caused him to squat down clutching his stomach in pain. Seeing this, a surprised Murong asked, "Is that okay?"

"Nah, this youngster has thick skin," Cheng Ziang said lightly, then looked down at him and whispered, "That’s for making an inappropriate joke."

"Murong, you are mistaken," at this point, Wu Tairan walked up and said sternly, "Look at this orderly line-up, and look at their solemnly intimidating equipment, it just makes one feel like training. Think about our situation in Ilanadale, it’s incomparable."

"What exactly happened to you in Ilanadale?" Luo’er asked curiously.

Wu Tairan did not respond, but patted Xuzhong Qi, the honest and straightforward dwarf-halfblood standing beside him. Xuzhong Qi showed a helpless smile and said, "You try to reason with those elves, they’re older than you, so they say you have no right. You scold them, but they look younger than you and start crying at the drop of a hat..."

"Okay, I can roughly imagine what that scene would be like." Luo’er nodded, indicating understanding.

"Speaking of which, why are they all wearing gas masks?" Shangguan Jiu, looking around, found a topic to converse with Luo’er.

"This is a disease-ridden area," Luo’er said, then suddenly thought of something, so he asked, "By the way, have you brought your gas masks? You may need to put them on later."

"Wearing a mask in such a hot weather?" Wu Tairan widened his eyes and asked.

"Life is dear. A few days ago, the camp was attacked by exotic beasts. Fortunately, it was repelled by the Church Court’s army, so it’s not safe here either." Luo’er replied.

"Seems like you guys have almost forgotten me," Li Si said with a wry smile from the side.

"How dare we, you are now the commander for this mission." Hu Daoke got up from the ground and said with a forced smile.

"Skip the flatteries. Where’s the commander of this new corps? Let him see me." Li Si waved his hand and said.

"Here he comes." Luo’er looked back and saw Carter running over with a few followers.

"Hello!" Carter came to Li Si, and strictly saluted him.

"No need to be so formal." Li Si returned the salute with a wry smile on his face.

"I am Carter Uzstas, the commander of the new corps, welcome you all." Carter said respectfully.

"Oh, Uzstas!" Hearing his surname, Shangguan Jiu instinctively covered her mouth, murmuring in surprise. She looked at Luo’er, who then made a gesture to silence, signaling her not to speak.

"I am Li Si, the commander in charge of this mission at the headquarters, pleased to meet you. Luo’er and the others are here, thank you for your hospitality." Li Si responded with a nod.

"You are too polite, it’s not hospitality. We should thank Captain Luo’er for his tremendous contributions to us," Carter replied.

"Let’s not continue with formalities. Carter, could you please accompany us on the airboat? We may need to discuss the details of our joint operation." Li Si said, making a welcoming gesture.