Infinity, The Arcade Age

Inside the camp, the defensive lines had been completely restructured.

The newly established defenses, to be honest, weren't necessarily as sophisticated as before and might even be slightly inferior.

If the original defensive setup was a textbook example—rigid and precise—then the current setup was not only rigid but also unpolished.

After all, Deputy Shuke had only been a sergeant before, essentially a centurion. Although he had attended a military academy, he was still just a low-ranking officer.

He understood the basics of military formations, but his knowledge and experience in this area were nowhere near the level of the majors and colonels in the camp.

Those officers might have been cowardly and afraid of death, but they hadn't reached their positions without some real skill.

Even if the formations weren't as perfect now, it didn't matter, because the soldiers defending the lines were absolute beasts.

The entire front line was filled with members of the Hunting Dog forces, each one armed to the teeth.

At this point, anyone foolish enough to attack the camp would be met with a vicious web of firepower.

The terrifying quality of their equipment more than made up for any tactical shortcomings.

Even if they were ambushed and forced into a sudden firefight, they could still turn it into a full-on frontal assault and win outright.

While Deputy Shuke was fully focused on reorganizing the defenses, the other deputy, Beta, was selecting soldiers and handing out weapons, working to turn them into loyal followers.

As for Qin Ming, the commanding officer? He had nothing to do for the moment. After all, it was his deputies who handled most of the day-to-day work anyway. His main responsibilities were providing weapons and leading troops into battle.

Tasks like strategizing or logistics management were things he never involved himself with.

At the moment, Qin Ming was inspecting the weapons of the other units in the camp, preparing to fuse them together and supply the new recruits.

However…

"Hey, old man! Why are you still following me? Didn't the higher-ups send people to activate that Sky Fortress warship? Aren't you supposed to be going back with them? Careful, or someone might come after you again!"

Qin Ming's expression soured as he glanced at Jamie Fox, who was following him with his personal guard, sticking to him like glue.

But this time, Jamie Fox didn't get angry at Qin Ming's blunt words. Instead, he stood there cheerfully, inspecting the Hunting Dog forces' tanks. His attention was particularly drawn to the Metal Slug Type 4 tank he had personally driven, as he repeatedly patted its armor and sighed in admiration.

"What a fine tank! I can't believe the Type 4 could be this tough. How in the world did those rebel bastards manage to modify it like this?"

As he spoke, his tone suddenly paused.

Jamie Fox snuck a glance at Qin Ming, noticing that he was staring at him with a blank expression and clearly had no intention of responding. Panicking, Jamie patted the tank's armor harder, producing a series of dull thuds.

"If this thing could be brought back, it'd definitely have immense research value! If someone were willing to hand it over, the higher-ups would surely reward them with a major promotion!"

Another pause. Jamie Fox glanced at Qin Ming again, but the latter still didn't respond.

Clearing his throat with a cough, Jamie Fox forced a serious expression and spoke again.

"A tank like this is useless for front-line defense. The camp doesn't need it. But if someone used it to pave their own path, it'd guarantee a smooth military career! …Still don't get it? I'm saying people need to look out for themselves. Just knowing how to fight isn't enough—you have to understand the importance of networking and relationships! …Still confused? What I mean is that your position as commander is only temporary. Without official approval from the higher-ups, you could be replaced at any moment. So, you need to find someone to back you up and secure your appointment! …You really don't get it? What I'm saying is—"

"Alright, alright, I get it! No need to say more. You might as well drag the tank crew out and drive it away yourself! What part of your meaning could I possibly not understand?"

Qin Ming looked at Jamie Fox, who had been rambling on and sneaking glances at him the whole time, with a speechless expression.

"But this tank is my war trophy. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to just take it?"

"What? You expect me to beg you? You want a general like me to beg you?"

"Why would I? Your begging isn't worth anything."

"What did you say?"

"No, no! What I meant is that this doesn't look good. I don't need you to beg, but you could trade something for it. It doesn't have to be of equal value—any weapon will do, as long as I like it."

"Trade? Hmm… I suppose that's acceptable!"

…Half an hour later, with a loud rumble, the Sky Fortress took flight once again, carrying General Jamie Fox and his team as it headed toward the rear city.

Onboard the fortress was not only Jamie Fox but also a Metal Slug Type 4 tank, astonishingly powerful despite being just a fourth-generation model, along with a batch of similarly powerful standard-issue firearms.

These were all the pieces of equipment Jamie Fox had traded from Qin Ming, intending to take them back for further research.

As for what Jamie Fox had given in exchange…

Looking at the gleaming silver-tier warhorse in front of him and the new weapon mounted on its side, Qin Ming scratched his head in disbelief.

At that moment, the weapon mounted on the warhorse was the very piece of gear Jamie Fox had coaxed and cajoled Qin Ming into accepting. It was a special item that could even be brought into the Nightmare Space.

Name: Energy Machine Gun Device - Experimental Type 2 (Metal Slug 1)

Category: Vehicle Attachment (Dim Silver Quality)

Equipment Requirement: Vehicle

Effect 1: Energy Machine Gun (Fixed Attack Power: 25–30, Ammo Capacity: 3000 rounds, refreshed at the start of the next world)

Description: This is the latest portable energy machine gun developed by the Regular Army. It can be mounted on any vehicle, from tanks and armored cars to motorcycles and horses. There are even rumors it can be installed on camels!

An energy machine gun! Isn't this the weapon from the Metal Slug tanks? And now this thing can actually be mounted on a horse?!

Staring at the black warhorse summoned with his copper gong, and the energy machine gun awkwardly affixed to the saddle, completely clashing with the aesthetic of the mount, Qin Ming was utterly speechless.

Never in his wildest dreams had he expected that after trading away his Metal Slug tank, he would end up with such an absurd contraption!

An alloy warhorse! How did this go from World War II technology to something that feels like it belongs in World War I?

Sighing deeply, Qin Ming patted his trusty steed—a mount he barely ever rode—and shook his head in resignation.

"Oh well, a trade is a trade. No matter how ridiculous it is, at least I can take it out of this world."

While it might not be particularly practical in this world, taking a machine-gun-equipped warhorse into other worlds would certainly make for a one-of-a-kind presence.

Putting the warhorse away, Qin Ming quickly headed toward the warehouse to begin sorting and fusing equipment. His goal: a major upgrade for his troops, arming even the newest recruits to the teeth.

And this fusing process took a full two days.

Over the course of those two days, Qin Ming carefully selected troops from the camp, expanding his forces from 4,000 to a staggering 12,000 soldiers. Now, as the true and undisputed commander of the camp, Qin Ming was riding high on his newfound power.

Having completely turned the camp into his personal domain, Qin Ming stood with his hands behind his back, pretending to study the map in front of him, pondering his next move.

Just as he was deciding where to take his troops to strike at the rebel forces, a communications officer suddenly rushed in from outside.

Carrying a telegraph machine on his back, the soldier's face was filled with panic.

"Commander! Emergency distress signal! The Peregrine Squad is in danger!"

"What?!"

(End of Chapter)