America is a peculiar nation. When internal conflict arises, their ferocity knows no bounds. Yet, even so, many would rather die on this land than abandon it for foreign soil.
Miles's gaze was resolute as he declared, "If we don't fight today, tomorrow we'll be no better than stray dogs! Rest assured, everyone here—if we succeed, none of you will be left unrewarded!"
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Miles.
"Miles is prepared to offer a share of resources to each of us here—a portion sufficient to sustain a person for several years," Mary said with a faint smile. "And if anyone thinks it's not enough, they can have my share as well."
Anthony frowned, casting her a puzzled glance. "You don't want any?"
"A toppled nest leaves no egg unbroken," Mary replied calmly, a serene smile gracing her lips. "If we lose, even mountains of resources will be meaningless, merely passing into the hands of others."
Though her words were reasonable, when tangible benefits are laid out before people, it's rare for anyone to think so clearly.
"I don't need any, either," Ryan said with a casual wave, grinning. "Brothers stand together through thick and thin."
Miles gave him a meaningful look, their unspoken understanding passing between them without a word.
"Of course…" Mary's tone shifted slightly as she added with a smile, "If we win this time, I trust Miles won't shortchange those who contributed to the cause. Isn't that right, Miles?"
"Heh, and you're not afraid I'll dispose of you once your usefulness is over?" Miles teased.
Mary remained unbothered, her smile unwavering. "A capable person will always find a place, no matter where they are. In times of great upheaval, those who dare not fight deserve to be discarded like tools."
Her words landed like a stone in a still pond, sending ripples through the room.
Miles clearly saw the change in everyone's eyes. Even Ansel, usually brash and carefree, couldn't hide the glimmer of ambition in his gaze.
"Very well!" Miles laughed, his voice booming. "No one succeeds alone. If you all trust me, then once we conquer the Southwest Base, we'll establish ourselves as a true force to be reckoned with!"
"Boss!" Thomas stood slowly, his tone measured but tinged with excitement. "The Southwest Base has 3,000 troops, over 20,000 civilians, and assorted others—a total of at least 30,000 people. My suggestion is that we use strategy."
Mary remained calm, saying nothing.
Miles cast her a curious glance before addressing Thomas. "What do you propose? Speak freely; we're all on the same side here."
"In times of disaster, resources are scarce for everyone. No matter how strong the Southwest Base's troops are, they can't perform miracles without supplies. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been scavenging for so long. I'm convinced their internal reserves must be limited."
Thomas's tone grew increasingly animated. "We could use some of our resources as bait to lure them out of the base, ambush them, and eliminate them in one decisive strike!"
Anthony frowned. "How much bait are we talking about? Enough for 3,000 troops?"
"That depends on whether you, Boss, are willing to take a gamble," Thomas replied with a sly smile. "If the bait is too small, it'll only alert them. If we're doing this, it has to be an all-or-nothing move."
"It's a solid plan," Miles said with a thoughtful nod, though his expression betrayed no commitment. "But what if they don't take the bait?"
"People will risk everything for wealth," Thomas said confidently. "I believe they'll take the bait. A temptation this great is hard for anyone to resist."
"And then?" Miles prompted, his face calm.
Thomas hesitated, slightly taken aback by Miles's composed demeanor. "If we can cripple the Southwest Base's main force, we'll have leverage to negotiate."
"Negotiate?" Miles's lips curled into a faint smile. "Why bother?"
"What?" Thomas blinked, unsure.
Miles's grin widened as he explained, "If we've already begun a fight to the death, why stop halfway? The Southwest Base's leadership might lose their military strength, but most of them are former officials with deep connections. Can you guarantee they won't regroup and strike back?"
"I…" Thomas faltered, his confidence visibly shaken.
Mary seized the moment to interject. "Thomas's plan isn't without merit. But perhaps we can make a slight adjustment."
Thomas's gaze darkened for a moment, though he quickly forced a polite smile. "Of course. What's your suggestion, Mary?"
"Stick to the original idea—split 300 men to set an ambush. But the remaining 200 should move on the Southwest Base directly. They must infiltrate quickly, breach the base, and focus on seizing the resource depot. Forget about the leadership for now; the priority is to distribute the supplies to the laborers."
What a cunning strategy.
Thomas's eyes widened as he processed her plan, his expression shifting to one of unease. "Once the laborers see those supplies, they'll riot. The Southwest Base will collapse from within."
Mary nodded, her smile faint as she turned to Miles. "But this plan carries significant risks. Two hundred men against 20,000—while their fighting capability is low, it's still a razor's edge gamble."
"I'll lead the charge," Miles said as he rose, grinning. "Ryan will come with me. Together, we'll break through."
Ryan didn't hesitate, standing with a grin. "No problem!"
Nathan looked as though he wanted to volunteer, but Isaac placed a hand on his arm, subtly shaking his head. Reluctantly, Nathan sank back into his seat.
"That settles it," Mary concluded, glancing around the room. "Thomas, Isaac, Nathan, and Anthony—you four will choose three to lead the ambush. The remaining one will stay with me to manage the rear and respond to emergencies."
The four exchanged glances, falling into a contemplative silence.
Isaac was the first to step forward. "I'll lead. Those young men in the security team have been pushed hard recently. I'm concerned they'll need a firm hand to keep them in line."
"I'll go too!" Nathan immediately volunteered.
Anthony hesitated before turning to Thomas with a faint smile. "What about you?"
Thomas smiled and nodded. "Of course, I'll go. These are my fellow students. If I don't join them, I'd be letting them down."
"So I'm the one staying behind?" Anthony joked half-heartedly. "Let's be clear—it's not because I'm afraid of dying. It's just that you're all too united."
Cloud City had three main factions.
The first was Thomas's group of military cadets, numerous and steadily growing in combat effectiveness.
The second was led by Isaac and Nathan—a smaller group, but with Isaac's presence commanding undeniable authority. Even the cadets deferred to him.
The third was Anthony's faction, consisting mostly of former residents who had reluctantly submitted. Anthony's ruthless methods left him with few allies, making him the least favored.
Now, as Anthony spoke, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Though Cloud City was secure, it was Miles's territory. Would Miles truly entrust his base to someone like him, given their turbulent history?
After all, making peace with former enemies is easy to say—but rare to truly achieve.