TF Amethyst's initial structure, personnel, and assets were only completed last week. Most of the personnel had arrived at Harley Quinn, but only a small portion of assets had followed.

For example, from 108 units of LAV Shorad, only 12 units had arrived. While from 2000 units of humvees, only 300 were in operation. Overall, it took 6-9 months before all of TF Amethyst's assets arrived.

Meanwhile, judging from the number of personnel in the gold mine, it was likely that they had connections with the nearest Region. Considering that logistics for more than a thousand people was no simple matter.

Therefore, to seize the gold mine in Harley Quinn's side yard, TF Amethyst mustered a sizable element from what it already had, and packed it into TF Raider.

While TF Raider personnel carried out the final preparation, General O'Neil talked to Brigadier General Rayden in one corner of the Underground Motor Pool.

General O'Neil asked casually, "What do you think?"

Brigadier General Rayden took a deep breath before replying, "130 km to the northwest is Rowane Region. 150 km to the west is Lionel Region. These two are not formidable opponents if we are at full strength."

General O'Neil nodded slightly. "Unfortunately, contact has already taken place and we can't just ignore them."

"Yeah, and once we've snatched this gold mine, we had to always be on guard."

"Just a little curious, are you worried because there is a possibility we will enter an open conflict?"

Brigadier General Rayden calmly replied, "Nope."

"Good."

General O'Neil smiled broadly, then approached TF Raider personnel who had just finished their final inspection.

"Gentlemen, you all already know your job. So good luck."

"""Sir."""

TF Raider personnel answered calmly and in unison, then climbed into their vehicles.

Not long after that, a long convoy moved up the exit tunnel and in an instant arrived at the surface. Once the convoy passed the main gate, they then broke up according to their tasks.

Three convoys each consisting of 4 units M1151 Ripper and 6 units M1152 Personnel Carrier, will attack the three storage rooms as found by Sierra One, then move through the underground tunnel to the gold mine's operation center.

The main convoy consisting of 4 units LAV Shorad, 16 units M1151 Reapers, and 12 units M1152 Personnel Carriers would directly attack the gold mine's operations center from the surface.

Meanwhile, the largest convoy consisting of QRF elements, artillery, air defense, paramedics, logistics, and engineers would regroup with elements at Camp Terry.

- - - - -

Six km east of Camp Terry, relying on intelligence from IDG's interrogation, East Raider managed to find the entrance to the underground tunnel.

The entrance was equipped with double-locked iron bars on the inside. However, East Raider personnel easily opened it using Universal Key C4.

The M1151 Ripper and M1152 Personnel Carrier then secured the entry point, while 24 East Raider personnel entered the underground tunnel.

Even if the opposition was used to living in the underground tunnels and could see in the dark quite well, East Raider personnel were not worried at all. They were not only NVG equipped, but also trained to fight in tight spaces and had extraordinary adaptability.

In addition, the huge shield used by the opposition is useless in front of firearms.

So East Raider personnel steadily stepped forward, until finally pointman saw activity 70 meters ahead and gave a signal to stop the movement.

East Raider personnel immediately docked against Underground Tunnel's wall, while Sergeant Adams approached the pointman.

"Contact front, 80-100 hostiles." whispered pointman while pointing to the dozens of people who were loading wooden crates into carts.

Sergeant Adams watched the loading activity for a moment before saying, "Some will be passing by. We'll ambush them and dig intel from one or two."

The East Raider personnel then swiftly took positions and waited quietly. It wasn't long before three carts approached their position, and aims were immediately placed on the heads of people who were pushing the carts.

- - - - -

Until two months ago, Emil was a servant in the mansion of a noble in Region Lionel. Unfortunately, he accidentally offended his master. He was then sold to a slave trader and ended up in an illegal gold mine at the entrance of Desolate Land.

From the slave workers who had arrived first, Emil learned that the gold mine had been operating for eight months, and had killed more than 1000 slave workers.

This was expected, considering that slave workers have to work 18 hours/day without adequate food. Emil's body also rapidly declined to its lowest point. Even so, his determination to escape remained lit.

Until finally, this morning Emil saw an opportunity. First, he saw Captain Skutt furiously leading his men down the south tunnel. Two hours later, a rumor about Captain Skutt and his men being slaughtered by a demon dressed in black was heard.

The gold mine atmosphere instantly became tense. The guards who used to be ruthless turned quiet, and anxiety was visible on their faces.

When he and 99 other slave workers asked to move gold from the east storage room to the operational center without an escort, Emil immediately laughed cheerfully in his heart.

Other slave workers might worry that they would be eaten by the black-clothed demon who massacred Captain Skutt and his men. But for Emil, the absence of the guards was an opportunity to escape.

'Besides, the guards would at most run away if the black-clothed demon appeared.' Cheerfully, Emil touches the small crowbar that he tied around his waist.

At this moment, Emil decided he had only two choices. Manage to escape or die trying. He swore that he would no longer live as a slave worker.

When he reached the east exit point, Emil would try to dismantle the double-locked iron bars. If other slave workers wanted to come with him, he didn't mind. If not, he didn't mind either.

The more Emil imagined the freedom that was in sight, the lighter the cart he was pushing.

Then, without warning, several black-clothed figures suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Before Emil and other slave workers could react, an arm wrapped around their necks from behind, then violently strangled them. A moment later everything turned pitch black.

- - - - -

A few years ago, when he was still a member of Operational Detachment Alpha at US Green Beret, Sergeant Adams had a mission to confirm the intel regarding an HVT hiding in a cartel compound in the deep of Amazon rainforest.

Blackhawk dropped him and the three team members 8 km from the target location. Then, he and the team will approach the target location on foot.

Until finally, when Sergeant Adams and the team arrived at a slope, 40 men armed with arrows suddenly surrounded them from a height. All of them wore Indian-style clothes, looked fierce, and gave the impression of a trigger-happy idiot.

Sergeant Adam and the team were not only outnumbered but also out-positioned. He was sure he and the team could finish off a dozen of their besiegers before they were killed. However, Sergeant Adams chose a different approach which could be considered reckless.

Although he was nervous on the inside, Sergeant Adams casually lowered his M4, then took out a pack of Lucky Strikes, lit one, and took a leisurely puff.

As if talking to an old friend, he then said in Spanish, "Dude, we're lost. Can you help us show the way?"

Miraculously, the Indians responded to Sergeant Adams' word by lowering their aims. Then, tensions melted away when one of the Indians asked for a cigarette.

Cigarettes then distributed, small talk began, and most importantly information was immediately extracted.

Intel regarding terrain conditions was obtained to the smallest detail, with the price of several sacks of corn and green beans shipped using a Blackhawk.

The reconnaissance mission was scheduled for 12 days, but eventually it was finished in just 5 days. HVT was then captured on his way to town to meet his trusted courier, and the high-risk raid on the cartell compound was scrapped.

Since then, Sergeant Adams has come to truly understand the principle of 'Sometimes, enemies don't become enemies until you decide them as your enemies.'

A principle that the clandestine course instructors keep shouting for US Green Beret personnel.

As he saw the people pushing the carts unarmed. While their wrists and feet were tied with a rope 50 cm long. Sergeant Adams immediately lowered his aim.

'The heck, they're not enemies.'

*****