Volume 1, Chapter 19: Promoted to Lieutenant—Only One Day In, and Already Earned a 2.5 Million Bonus?

“Ding! Congratulations, host, for completing the cumulative kill task of 3,000 enemies. Reward: a 2-hour triple KDA gain efficiency card and an 80% discount card for ascension replication!”

At the very moment the battle concluded, a system notification sounded in Han Cheng’s ear.

After more than a dozen previous engagements, plus the current thousand-man breakout battle against the blockade, Han Cheng had successfully completed the task of accumulating 3,000 kills and received the system’s reward.

At the same time, thanks to the one-hour triple KDA gain efficiency card activated during this operation, Han Cheng and the 40 members of his regiment collectively amassed 2,349.7 KDA points.

This large-scale battle was exhilarating—one battle’s KDA harvest surpassed several of Han Cheng’s previous fights combined.

Adding the remaining 1,085 KDA points from earlier ascension replication of an SS-grade talent, Han Cheng’s total KDA reached 3,434.7.

Han Cheng clearly felt that with the system’s efficiency card boosting KDA acquisition, the rate wasn’t as slow as he had originally feared.

With 3,434.7 KDA points, after just one or two more battles, he might be able to ascend and replicate another F-grade talent.

Life was looking promising indeed.

As soon as the blockade line collapsed, the Seventh Mercenary Regiment’s various battalions, companies, platoons, and squads surged into the inner area of Babbatsa, following the orders of Commander Rodson.

“First Mechanized Infantry Battalion, all companies, platoons, and squads: your primary support direction is the eastern suburbs of Babbatsa. Assist the Ninth Mercenary Regiment and the Yuestan regular forces there in breaking free!”

“Second Long-Range Support Battalion, all companies, platoons, and squads: you must seize the northern high ground of Babbatsa immediately to provide long-range fire support for our entire regiment!”

“Third Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Fourth Tank Artillery Battalion, and Fifth Electronic Countermeasures Battalion: you will serve as the main force for the frontal assault, coordinating with the Sixth Mercenary Regiment and Yuestan regular forces to capture the Babbatsa urban area!”

“...”

After deploying all units within the Seventh Mercenary Regiment, Commander Rodson immediately contacted the Third Armored Platoon of the Flame Company and the mixed platoon.

“Dragon, fuck squid baby, this is the second time you’ve single-handedly turned the tide of battle. You are truly a genius!!!”

“I must reward you properly!!!”

In front of the satellite communication vehicle’s screen, Rodson, his face adorned with a thick beard, lavished endless praise on the breakout line’s key contributor—Han Cheng.

However, as soon as the word “reward” was mentioned, many around Han Cheng—such as his peer platoon leader Sankel and teammates like Joey—frowned deeply.

As the pivotal core of this breakout battle, the Seventh Mercenary Regiment’s rapid success in breaching the LS rebel blockade was inseparable from Han Cheng’s efforts.

It was natural for the superiors to reward him.

Yet everyone still felt uneasy.

They sensed Han Cheng’s victory was largely a matter of luck.

At a critical moment when the regiment’s long-range firepower was neutralized by the enemy’s NASAMS air defense system and ground troops struggled to advance, Han Cheng recklessly charged forward without strategy, accidentally breaching the enemy’s blockade and becoming the regiment’s sole hope for breakthrough.

Wasn’t this just blind luck?

Faced with Han Cheng’s repeated good fortune and the ensuing recognition and rewards from above, many harbored a mixture of discomfort and disdain.

“Dragon, your bonus has now accumulated to $200,000,” Rodson said.

“For this breakout, you and your unit contributed immensely as core assets. I’ve decided to apply for an additional $100,000 bonus for you. Beyond that, I personally admire you enough to give you another $50,000 as a reward.”

All told, through accumulated battle achievements in the Night Wolf Mercenary Corps, Han Cheng’s share of bonuses had reached $350,000.

Converted to RMB, that was over 2.5 million.

And Han Cheng had only been here one day. On his very first day, he’d raked in more than 2.5 million.

How much would he earn by the time he returned to China?

Yet Han Cheng was neither delighted nor excited.

From start to finish, he treated these mercenary bonuses like in-game currency in a battle royale.

Currency to draw weapon skins, character outfits, and vehicle decals.

The money wasn’t real—it was merely virtual.

Why be happy?

Nearby, Sankel and Joey remained silent.

Though they had reservations about Han Cheng, the bonuses were acceptable since they also earned rewards as the second leading contributors.

They owed their bonuses to Han Cheng’s efforts.

“Additionally, I plan to officially promote you to Second Lieutenant...” Rodson began.

However, as soon as the commander announced Han Cheng’s impending promotion, Sankel and Han Cheng’s teammates could no longer hold back.

“Sir, please wait—”

They tried to interrupt immediately, but before they could finish—

“Zzzzzzzzz...” The communication screen suddenly glitched and cut out.

What was once a clear signal abruptly went dark.

At first, everyone assumed it was a simple communication fault.

Until similar disruptions began occurring across all units.

“Ward, why has communication suddenly failed???”

“Fuck, even the backup channels are unusable. What the hell is going on?!”

“Thank you for the gift, radar systems are suffering interference from unknown frequencies and are currently offline—satellites are down too!!!”

“...”

Eventually, everyone faced a harsh reality.

“Damn it! The enemy must be using electronic jamming devices to block our communications!!!”

“This isn’t ordinary jamming! Our electronic warfare units have tried every method but failed to restore communications or satellite links.”

“Damn, could it be that eagle nation’s equipment again???”

“...”

When Han Cheng learned that all units of the Seventh Mercenary Regiment had lost communications, he was dumbfounded.

“Fuck, the director’s team must be messing with me. I wasn’t even done with my promotion, and now this? It’s just teasing me!”

According to Rodson, Han Cheng was about to be promoted to Second Lieutenant Company Commander.

They had even confirmed the Second Lieutenant rank—only the company commander appointment remained.

Once that promotion was finalized, Han Cheng’s command would officially expand to a hundred soldiers!

But at the crucial moment, the “director’s team” arranged a communication blackout for him.

“Ding! Congratulations, host, for completing the promotion path task (Rank Stage Five: Second Lieutenant). Reward: a limited one-hour 3.5x KDA gain efficiency card and an 80% discount card for ascension replication!”

At this moment, though the system’s reward echoed in Han Cheng’s ear for completing the promotion task, he simply couldn’t be happy.

“I’m seriously done. What kind of cliffhanger is this? Couldn’t they just promote me first before cutting off communications?”

“My company commander’s position was just a few words away. Are they really going to make me wait until the blackout ends?”

No one paid attention to Han Cheng’s complaints.

The communication blackout had completely thrown the Seventh Mercenary Regiment’s battalions, companies, platoons, and squads into confusion.

The regiment had just entered Babbatsa to offer support.

Yet the LS rebels ruthlessly jammed all communication satellites.

How were they supposed to fight the next battle now?

...