Chapter 313 Marshal Pantecost

The Pacific Rim Defense Force (PPDC) is an international Pacific Rim military organization composed of Pacific Rim countries and regions such as the United States, Magnesium, Japan, Australia and South American countries.

This defense alliance force was established on October 10, 2014, with its headquarters in Hong Kong, China, where it established the first PPDC base, the Broken Dome.

PPDC is similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but its nature and strategy are significantly different from NATO.

PPDC was established by the United Nations and is a subordinate organization of the United Nations. It is a symbol of the Pacific Rim countries transcending the socialist and capitalist camps and achieving strategic alliance in the military.

The strategic goal of PPDC is very clear. It uses the entire Pacific Rim region as a defense system and takes "eliminating the threat of monsters and ensuring human safety" as its common goal.

Fu Qinghai can also see PPDC recruitment advertisements in various places in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk:

"Victory begins when you join!"

"Your courage will bring us victory!"

"Together we will win this war!"

However, the huge billboard has collapsed in half, and the fallen posters are fluttering in the wind. The slogans shouted at that time have become as bleak as street newspapers during the Great Depression.

Andre, the local gang leader, provided Fu Qinghai with the contact information and address of Hannibal Zhou, the millionaire in Skeleton Slum, the overlord of the monster black market, the legendary figure who was both good and evil.

Fu Qinghai likes to deal with such people because they only care about interests and not other messy things. As long as it can bring benefits, one's identity, race, and position are not a problem in the eyes of these people.

It is much more reliable to go to Hannibal Zhou than to go directly to PPDC. And according to Andre, this is still a special and critical period. Even a big man like Marshal Pantecost, the highest person in charge of PPDC, has to rely on Hannibal Zhou's financial support. It is really magical realism.

However, before leaving for Hong Kong, Fu Qinghai still had to deal with Zofia's affairs.

…

It's still that old apartment.

Zofia's room was actually three floors above Fu Qinghai's. What a magical coincidence.

In the room, Fu Qinghai was sitting on the sofa. Zofia was making coffee in the small kitchen. After a simple brew, she walked out of the kitchen with two cups and handed one to Fu Qinghai. The girl with a crew cut put one hand in her pocket, leaned against the corner of the wall, and said,

"Long time no see, Qingshan."

Fu Qinghai put the instant coffee on the coffee table, nodded and said,

"Long time no see, Zofia."

"Sorry." Zofia shrugged, "There's no Starbucks or mango frappuccino here."

She actually still remembers...

Fu Qinghai smiled:

"I don't drink Starbucks, I drink tea."

Fu Qinghai's deepest impression of Zofia was her light pink jellyfish bob hairstyle and the MK2 Cavalry Assault Rifle - the chainsaw gun from the Gears of War universe.

I didn't expect that when we met again, he had turned into a tomboy with flaxen short hair.

Zofia has a standard apple face, a small European upturned nose, and some light freckles on her nose bridge and cheeks. After her pink hair was replaced with a buzz cut, she really looks like a handsome and tall young man.

"Your hair?"

Fu Qinghai asked.

Zofia nodded at the sofa.

Fu Qinghai turned around and saw the cover of the brown paper bag, which read "Mecha Hunter Academy Registration Form," and he immediately understood.

Fu Qinghai took out the registration form and looked at it.

"My age is too high. Even if I falsify my records, if they test my tooth age and bone age, there's nothing I can do."

Zofia folded her arms across her chest, took a sip of coffee, and looked out the window, her face calm and her tone even.

But Fu Qinghai could hear a hint of unwillingness.

"Do you want to join PPDC and the Jaeger Project for the big events in the plot line?" Fu Qinghai asked seriously.

"No." Zofia shook her head.

"I just like flying mechas. I just want to fly mechas. I have loved big guns, chainsaws and power armor since I was a child..."

At least the desire is strong.

Fu Qinghai pondered and said:

"As far as I know, there are exceptions. In the second movie, Jack Pentiscock, a 20-something adult with no military service experience, eventually became a mecha pilot."

"But Jack Pentecost is Stark Pentecost's son, and Mako Mori, who was then the PPDC secretary-general, is Stark Pentecost's adopted daughter, and Jack's sister."

Zofia then said.

The corners of her mouth curled up into a smile and she said:

"That's what the Chinese call 'guanxi', right?"

"That's right."

Fu Qinghai nodded:

"What I want to tell you is that rules are dead, but people are alive. There is room for maneuver."

"It's not just China that values ​​connections; the whole world values ​​connections. Do you think the capitalists on Wall Street really know how to trade stocks? They are just a group of second-generation rich and official officials who are connected by nepotism and insider information."

With inside information, who can't make money in the securities market?

"But you and I are both players. The Pacific Rim universe is open for the first time, and no one has anything to do with it."

Zofia said.

Fu Qinghai put one hand on the back of the sofa, looked at the tomboy with a crew cut in front of him, and said lightly:

"If there is no connection, you can create one. I am very good at modifying age and forging files. There is a difference of about two years between bone age and normal age, which is not a problem at all. PPDC is short of money now, and the gold and silver offensive may also be very useful. As for the middleman for the introduction, Hannibal Zhou is a ready-made target. We can think of ways to do all these..."

"The point is, after spending so much money, Zofia, can you become a mecha hunter?"

Fu Qinghai stared at Zofia with sharp eyes.

Zofia met his gaze without fear:

"Of course, I am very confident."

"OK."

Fu Qinghai nodded:

"I will help you."

Although he didn't know where Zofia's confidence came from.

You know, Mori Mako is not a person who favors relatives, otherwise Jack, as the son of the marshal, would not have fallen to the point of stealing parts in the mecha graveyard to make a living. The most critical point for Jack Pentecost to become a mecha hunter pilot is -

Synaesthesia.

This is the core ability of the Mecha Hunter.

But Fu Qinghai didn't care.

Zofia does not need to be a qualified driver.

She only needs to become a student of the Hunter Academy and be able to enter the Broken Dome, which will be enough for Fu Qinghai to do many things.

...

Hong Kong, Broken Dome Base.

Broken Dome is a factory for building, repairing and maintaining mechas. There are eight Broken Dome factories around the world, each built in an area where monsters frequently appear. The earliest base is located in Hong Kong, the headquarters of PPDC.

In 2024, the mecha "Danger Wanderer" was severely damaged in a battle with the monster "Blade Head", and the driver Yancy Beckett died heroically.

Since then, member states have lost confidence in the "Hunter Plan", so the strategic plan has been adjusted, the direction of funds has changed, and the United Nations has begun to devote itself to building an "anti-monster wall" to resist monsters. This decision led to the closure of seven Shattered Dome bases, and the remaining mechas stored in these bases were also retired and destroyed.

Marshal Stark Pantecost stood behind the control console in the Lawsent Command Center, looking at the busy ground crew below, and recalled in his mind a conversation that took place here just one year ago.

At that time, representatives from various countries were discussing with him, the head of PPDC, about withdrawing funding for the "Jaguar Project".

Everything seemed to have been rehearsed in advance.

The Magnesium representative spoke first:

"The whole world is grateful for your contribution, Marshal. But I can no longer waste my country's military power and weapons on meaningless attacks. I have to protect the people. They feel safer behind the anti-monster wall."

Tsk, anti-monster wall...

Pantecost cursed inwardly:

The damn anti-monster wall, fleeing without a fight, is simply a monument to human weakness and a pillar of shame.

"But it's not safe."

He loudly retorted:

"That wall is simply unreliable. Researchers say the frequency of monster attacks will increase dramatically. It's only a matter of time before they break through the wall."

"We thickened the wall, and moved people and supplies nearly 500 kilometers inland to a safe area."

The representative of Yingguo said:

"It's a prudent move, and we're happy to err on the side of caution."

Panticost actually wanted to ask the representative of Ying country where in Ying country's territory was considered as the inland area 500 kilometers from the coast?

To be honest, he didn't understand why the representative of Ying country was meddling in this matter. This was a matter of vital interest to the Pacific Rim countries, and Ying country was not a Pacific Rim country.

Stark Pantecost himself was a native British, but at this moment he only felt that the British representatives were noisy, and were just the followers and yes-men of the Magnesium people, as always.

Panticost was once a mecha hunter who charged into battle and a warrior. He had killed monsters and was left with scars all over his body, both internal and external injuries. Everything in the past emerged in his mind, making him gradually angry, but he tried his best to control his anger and continued the conversation.

"Only those with money and power can enter the safe zone."

"What about the others?" Pantecost asked.

"Don't talk nonsense, Marshal."

The representative of the Magnesium Country said.

Pantecost stared at him for a long time, and all sorts of retorts flashed through his mind.

Don't lose your composure, don't lose your composure... he told himself.

"Fear and walls can't save anyone."

Pantecost said in a deep voice:

"You may hope to squeeze into the so-called 'safe zone', but it will not work. When the last mecha falls, the monsters will invade the coast. They will not stop there, but will continue to attack until they conquer the world. By then, there will be no safe zone, everything will be gone, and it will be completely destroyed!"

"You are entirely free to keep your opinion, Marshal."

The representative of Magnesium said:

"In the next eight months, we will provide funding to entrust you to handle the closure of the base. After eight months, the United Nations will no longer fund the 'Jaeger Project'. You can continue to do it on your own. I believe that people as determined as you will definitely find a way to keep the Mech Hunters shining. If there are more and more monsters in the future, we welcome the Mech Hunters to lend a hand. Unfortunately, the working group can only use limited resources on reliable defense rather than reckless adventures. This is in the best interests of all mankind. Good luck! Marshal."

The screen went black.

Officials from various countries have gone offline.

…

Now it seems that what I said at that time seemed like a prophecy... Panticost thought to himself.

He carefully took out a medicine box from his uniform pocket, took out a pill and swallowed it, swallowing the blood that overflowed from his throat.

Early models of Mecha Hunter used nuclear-powered reactors, and the radiation shielding was poor, so the drivers had a short lifespan. After his partner died, Pantecost drove the first-generation Mecha "Tango Wolf" alone to fight against the second-level monster "Demon Witch". It was double the radiation and double the fun.

If he knew that there is a force called the "Tai Empire" in the Warhammer 40K universe, and its "Fire Warrior" unit, and that they are both wanderers, they would definitely have a lot in common.

After the United Nations withdrew its investment, the Marshal had no choice but to lead his team to work alone. Working alone also required solving the funding problem. As official channels were blocked, he could only turn his attention to the civilian population, to the complex of buildings next to the Hong Kong Broken Dome Base - the Hong Kong Skeleton Slum, and the man inside.

Hannibal Chow.

...

"So you know why there are more monster materials on the black market than in the K-Science Division of the PPDC."

Fu Qinghai said to Zofia:

"Mech Hunters kill monsters, and the monster materials are sold to the black market. The black market provides research and development funds, and the Broken Dome obtains funds to maintain Mech Hunters. Mech Hunters continue to kill monsters... This forms a cycle."

Fu Qinghai said with emotion:

"It's not easy for Marshal Pantecost to persist for five years. Or should we say that the pioneers' plan to colonize the earth is just a half-hearted one?"

It's only the first year now, and if no players come, Panticost will have to continue like this for another four years.

"I see."

Zofia was lying horizontally on the single sofa, wearing only a pair of underwear and a T-shirt, her long white legs swinging up and down, and she was sucking on a lollipop in her mouth.

Don't treat Fu Qinghai as an outsider at all.

Fu Qinghai ignored it and said calmly,

"I will deal with the fake identity first. The identity given by the reincarnation world is too simple. A blank resume is not very good. It is best to get an identity like a survivor of a monster attack. This will satisfy the PPDC the most."

It's time for Qingming to get to work.

"Yeah."

Zofia held the lollipop in her mouth and nodded obediently.

He looked as if he was going to follow Fu Qinghai's orders.

The collar of Zofia's white T-shirt was very wide, and a hint of whiteness could be vaguely seen. Her skin color was the cold white of Western European white people, and she seemed to be... not wearing any underwear or breast stickers, and the thin white shirt made two pointed nipples stand out.

Fu Qinghai looked down along the collar.

Suddenly he frowned and asked:

"Those two rings..."

"That's right."

Zofia reached in openly and pulled out the necklaces. There were two rings on the necklaces, one emerald green and the other dark blue. There were two familiar abstract symbols on the front.

"These are all your spoils. I picked them up. I have never been recognized by the Lantern Ring. I guess it's because I have never been to the DC multiverse."

Zofia tore off the necklace from her neck, handed it to Fu Qinghai without any reluctance, and said,

"Here, I'll give it back to you."

The lantern ring is not something that can be found everywhere.

On the contrary, each lamp ring can be said to be a magical artifact. The difference lies in how much power the user can exert on the emotional spectrum - of course, for the reincarnation world, it also depends on the rules from the DC universe.

"OK."

Fu Qinghai took the two lantern rings without hesitation and put them into the white suitcase.

Even if Fu Qinghai cannot use it himself, selling it to the Weixu Alliance would still be a huge price.

Zofia didn't seem to care...

In fact, it still hurts a bit.

——That's the lantern ring!

Fu Qinghai turned his head and looked out the window. It was already dark and night was falling, so he stood up and said:

"Okay, I'm going back now. I'll leave for Hong Kong tomorrow."

He just reached the door.

"Hey, isn't it?"

Zofia stood up and said behind him,

"I'm dressed like this... Could it be that the legends are true and Space Marines don't have that kind of desire?"

Fu Qinghai stopped and sighed helplessly.

Turning around, he said:

"I'm afraid you can't bear it."

Zofia looked Fu Qinghai up and down, and said provocatively,

"He is quite strong, but that's all."

Fu Qinghai raised his hand to lock the door, thinking:

I'm not talking about this unbearable thing... You'd better not meet a woman named Zhang Yuning.

...

　Thanks to King Marquez, Silver Wings Autumn Wind and Fallen Leaves, I don't know what to change the name to, and three book friends for their rewards.

　　(End of this chapter)