"This fellow wanted to retort, but a line of large characters suddenly flashed in his mind: Because you're ugly.
'Damn it, they're resorting to personal attacks now, are they letting people live?'
What he blurted out stunned everyone present.
The female colleague behind the base commander looked embarrassed, her eyes flashing with displeasure. 'I'm not making personal attacks; I'm just stating facts.'
The captain and his companions, with a synchronized eye-roll: 'Tsk.'
That woman was left speechless with embarrassment.
She didn't know, but Yang Xinjie did.
'Xinci is our partner, and the supplies in Xinci's space were collected by all of us. Why should we unconditionally share them with you? Is it because you have a thick skin, or because you're ugly?'
That person: 'One blow wasn't enough, so you want a second helping?'
If there were really stir-fried pork, he would have endured it. But looking at the covetous Dragon Ascend captain, he decided to hold back.
After all, he was an official staff member of Longcheng Base. If he were to be frozen by this guy and end up in some dog-licking pose, he'd have no face left to work in Longcheng Base.
The woman, however, found it even more unacceptable. She stamped her foot and looked at the base commander, acting as if she had been greatly wronged, and softly called out, 'Base Commander.'
Xiao Ai simply couldn't stand it anymore. 'Fortunately, we've digested our dinner, or we'd be so disgusted we'd throw up. What a waste of food.'
'Who are you calling disgusting?'
'Whoever takes the bait is who I'm talking about.'
'Base Commander, look at her!'
'Ugh~' Several companions mimicked vomiting.
After performing the vomiting gesture, Yang Xinjie didn't forget to earnestly remind the base commander, 'Our Xinci was harmed by a vixen. That vixen hooked up with our then-vice-captain, and that's how she got the chance to harm Xinci.'
'Who are you calling a vixen?'
'I'm talking about you, you, and you. You're welcome for telling you!' Xu Ruyi retorted, still not feeling satisfied, and continued, 'I've never seen anyone as shameless as you. The base commander and our captain are discussing serious matters, and you, you shameless person, keep shutting us down. What's wrong, is your period late, and you're so constipated your secretions are imbalanced?'
'You!'
'Don't point your finger at us. If you want it gone, just say so, and I'll fulfill your special request.'
'Can Ge, you're still involved with this kind of woman? How desperate are you?'
'Fatty, if you talk nonsense again, I'll beat you.'
'Can Ge, I was wrong. Please don't be angry.' Fatty blinked his eyes repeatedly.
Xu Jiacan forced a smile and stopped bickering with Fatty, turning his attention to the base commander.
What the captain couldn't say, he could: 'We don't have many people in Dragon Ascend right now, but we won't let anyone push us around. As long as the vending machine is still here, no one in Dragon Ascend will go hungry. I believe everyone has seen that Xinci is also finding food for us on the side.'
The few officials from the base, though silent, were all inwardly grumbling. Was that just simple food-finding? That was seafood. How long had it been since they'd last eaten seafood? The mere thought made their mouths water exponentially.
Fortunately, this Dragon Ascend captain was generous and left them most of it. They just didn't know what was wrong with their colleague today? Acting like she'd taken the wrong medicine and was obsessively targeting Dragon Ascend.
The captain, seeing the woman's unconvinced look, curved his lips and then casually said, 'Believe it or not, if our Dragon Ascend people stop trading for a few days, Xinci's prices will increase, or she might simply stop selling food to anyone.'
'Right.'
These companions knew Xinci's temper well.
The base commander had also tolerated that woman for a long time. How had he not realized she was mentally unwell, and quite severely so?
The base commander, who couldn't tolerate nonsense, gave a look, and the woman was escorted out.
With that annoying presence gone, the rest of the time proceeded in a peaceful and friendly atmosphere.
Unexpectedly, at the end, the base commander decisively decided to invite the Dragon Ascend mercenary team to join the official forces.
For such a windfall, the captain didn't let his head get clouded.
He asked the base commander a few simple questions, and upon learning that they would only take orders from the base commander in the future, he casually glanced at his companions, as if seeking their opinion. Not a single one of them faltered; they all nodded in unison.
The base commander also rose at the opportune moment, extended his strong hand, and said with a smile, 'Welcome Dragon Ascend to the official forces.'
The captain stood up straight and shook his hand in return, 'Dragon Ascend is willing to join the official forces.'
When they emerged from the Longcheng Base military headquarters, wearing brand new uniforms and exuding an air of nonchalance, everyone who knew them stared in disbelief.
The captain said self-deprecatingly, 'From scattered individuals to direct subordinates of the base commander, who knows how many jaws will drop.'
'We can't control how many jaws drop. The important thing now is to go back and eat crabs,' Fatty was the most excited now, bustling the most.
'Yes, let's go back and eat crabs. I'm already drooling,' Xiao Ai also abandoned her pretense of reserve and clamored with Fatty.
Xu Jiacan was also full of energy, 'Right, and after eating crabs, we'll move.'
Having become the base commander's direct subordinates, they would naturally live in the official dormitories.
The captain happily grumbled to them, 'The person who gave us the keys earlier had a long face. As we walked, he was muttering to me, saying that someone had been eyeing this courtyard for a long time.'
'What does he mean?' Yang Xinjie reacted faster than the other companions.
'What else can it mean? He hoped we'd give up and not make things difficult for him, suggesting we voluntarily ask to switch to a courtyard no one else wants.'
'Pfft! He doesn't look great, and he thinks beautifully. The courtyard the base commander assigned us, and he wants us to give it up? What's he thinking? Has a monster eaten his brain?'
'Exactly. We'll all remember his face. In the future, we won't give him anything and let him act all high and mighty,' Xiao Ai was quite vengeful; in the realm of holding grudges, she was consistently first, with Fu Xinci a distant second.
'Right, remember his face. We must not forget,' Xu Ruyi said, then suddenly remembered the woman she disliked the most. 'Do you think that woman whose brain was kicked by a donkey, where has the base commander sent her?'
'It doesn't matter where she was sent. Let's see if she dares to cause trouble for us again?'
'Anyone could easily take her down.'
The companions chatted and laughed all the way back to their rented courtyard, eager to share the joy with Uncle Xu and Uncle Sun.
They didn't know that as soon as news of their joining the official forces spread, those who had left Dragon Ascend back then would be filled with regret."