"That Roga really knows his stuff."
Watching the tourists on the parade ground gradually begin to show signs of discipline, Jiang Hai couldn't help but comment to Bell-Lestat beside him. He had originally expected these unruly people to cause endless trouble, but it now seemed that the state government and Mayor Wallis had good reason to place their trust in Roga.
"Roga used to be a Marine," Bell said seriously after hearing Jiang Hai's remark. "He fought in both Afghanistan and Iraq. During a suicide bombing in Iraq, half his squad was wiped out. That hit him hard. Afterward, he retired and returned to Boston, where he became a police officer."
"So that's how it is?" Jiang Hai nodded in realization. "No wonder Mayor Wallis trusts him so much."
When it came to American armed forces, even Jiang Hai—who wasn't a military enthusiast—knew the basics. The police represented law enforcement, while elite combat power was symbolized by units like the Marine Corps and Delta Force. Anyone who could make it into the Marines was no ordinary person.
And Roga proved it with results.
Of the tourists Jiang Hai had nearly decided to give up on during the first day, only 240 remained after three days of training. Nearly sixty had dropped out, unable to endure the process.
Yet these 240 looked far more energetic than they had just days earlier—though "military bearing" would still be a stretch.
After all, they had trained for only three days. The fact that they could stand upright in formation was already an achievement.
Every one of them was now wearing the camouflage uniforms Jiang Hai had brought in.
And Jiang Hai hadn't exaggerated—these were genuine military-grade uniforms.
The situation in the United States was very different from China. In China, military equipment was tightly controlled, as most products were developed exclusively for military use. In contrast, American military and civilian industries were deeply intertwined. Arms manufacturers operated as corporations. When the military needed equipment—whether for deserts, underwater operations, or cold climates—companies conducted independent research and submitted their results. The military then selected the best option.
Simple and efficient.
These companies didn't just supply the military; they also sold to other organizations—and even to civilians. Civilian versions of firearms, for instance, came from the very same manufacturers. As for uniforms, they were identical to what U.S. troops wore.
The only difference was the absence of shoulder boards and collar insignia. With those, they would be actual soldiers.
Camouflage uniform, belt, boots, tactical vest, leg straps, water bottle—everything was issued according to U.S. Marine Corps standards, using the latest AOR camouflage pattern. Over the past few days, these outfits had become wildly popular.
Back in China, a single set had already been resold for nearly 10,000 RMB. Here, it cost only 420 USD.
Of course, Jiang Hai and Winthrop still made a hefty profit. Buying in bulk, each set cost Jiang Hai only about 160 USD. The rest was pure margin.
Jiang Hai made money. The tourists were thrilled.
That was a win-win.
Over the past few days, many people had tried to approach Jiang Hai, hoping to buy multiple sets. But Jiang Hai stuck firmly to his strategy: no registration, no purchase.
Even the sixty people who had dropped out were willing to forfeit their refunded 150 USD registration fee just to buy the uniforms. Meanwhile, those who had missed the first batch were eagerly waiting for the second.
Today was the third and final day of training. Tomorrow, they would officially enter the mountains.
So today, Roga focused on one critical topic: what could be touched—and what absolutely could not—inside the mountains.
Venomous snakes, spiders, and centipedes were obvious enough.
But even ordinary-looking lizards were off-limits.
Then came the plants.
Many common plants—some extremely familiar to people in China—were poisonous.
Spider lilies.
Impatiens.
Barnyard grass.
Delphiniums.
Hydrangeas.
Night-blooming jasmine.
Lily of the valley.
Even morning glories.
Their stems, leaves, and flowers were all toxic, but the most dangerous part was the seeds. Accidental ingestion could cause vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, and even bloody urine.
Other poisonous plants included acacia seeds, nandina, and calla lilies.
If Roga hadn't explained this, Jiang Hai wouldn't have known—let alone the tourists.
Many elderly people loved growing flowers, especially retired women with time to spare. Few realized that plants decorating their gardens could be toxic. Some even decided on the spot to throw them away after returning home—especially those with grandchildren around.
For them, this knowledge alone made the training worthwhile.
After the lesson, everyone was dismissed early.
Before leaving, Roga divided them into thirteen teams of twenty. Each team was assigned three police officers and one translator, along with GPS devices, satellite phones, and emergency equipment.
They would depart early the next morning, entering the mountains through thirteen different access points, and reconvene at the training ground at 8:00 a.m. sharp.
Latecomers would be eliminated.
Still slightly uneasy, Jiang Hai chose to accompany the oldest team. With him and Bell present, the officers could relax a little. After all, this was the first expedition into the mountains—it was still an experiment, and no one knew what might happen inside.
The next morning, when Jiang Hai arrived at the training ground in his armored vehicle, the participants had already been divided into their thirteen teams. The police officers were fully prepared.
After parking his vehicle, Jiang Hai boarded one of the team cars with Bell, and the convoy set off toward the Alabacia Mountains.
They were riding in modified Ford F-150s—the same model used by all teams.
In the U.S., these vehicles were incredibly cheap. A new one cost around $20,000, while used models could be purchased for just a few thousand. As long as they hadn't been in a major accident, they were durable and had excellent off-road performance.
The modifications were impressive, and the older men in the car were clearly excited.
Once inside, they took photos nonstop.
Their domestic SIM cards didn't work overseas, and without international roaming, they couldn't even make calls. Still, they planned to upload everything later using shared Wi-Fi back at their lodgings.
Even if they had roaming enabled, it wouldn't have helped much.
The internet in the U.S. was notoriously slow.
No matter the advertised speed, South Korea ranked first in mobile internet performance, followed by China. In comparison, the U.S. lagged far behind.
Not everything abroad was better—at least not internet speed or delivery services.
"Xiao Jiang, have you been to the mountains before?" an elderly man sitting beside Jiang Hai asked after putting away his phone.
The groups had been organized carefully: families together, friends together, and strangers grouped by age—twenties, thirties, forties, and fifties. Anyone over sixty wasn't allowed to register.
This minimized friction and helped ensure everyone could enjoy the experience.
"Yes, I've been there," Jiang Hai replied with a smile.
"What's it like inside? Are there big animals? Is it dangerous?" the uncles asked eagerly, feeling closer to him now.
Everyone knew Jiang Hai was rich, but unlike the stereotypical nouveau riche, he was polite, approachable, and considerate. The fact that he personally accompanied them into the mountains left a strong impression.
If not for his reputation as a womanizer, some of them might have even tried introducing their younger relatives to him.
"To be honest, there's not much special inside," Jiang Hai said candidly. "It's a typical primeval forest. We'll have to stop the cars outside—there are almost no roads. Once inside, it's all trees, grass, and animals."
"Some can be hunted, some can't. Just listen to the police officers. Don't worry—there'll definitely be enough game for everyone."
Jiang Hai had entered the Alabacia Mountains six or seven times already. While it wasn't quite his backyard, he knew it well enough to move around safely.
Of course, that was only here.
If he were heading into unfamiliar territory, he'd definitely bring Little Yellow and Little White along.
In the forest, those two were terrifyingly fierce.
(To be continued.)