Tatmadaw (3)

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Summary:

Kid and Nikov's talk with Albayrak turns the whole thing around. The Turkish fugitive has something more humane than expectation. But is he truly humane or it is just through times due to struggle? Nonetheless, the map of the secret jade facility of the Burmese Army is given for them by Albayrak. When they go deeper, the more reality soon reveals in Kachin land.

Meanwhile, increasing hostility between Than Myint and his Chinese mercenary has started to bear a burden cost, as the Chinese mercenary suspects something from the unfriendly Burmese General. However, the jade trade turns out to bear some fruits, and so, they want to reach the target, only to find out a standoff.

Hpakan, Myanmar

After the happiness meeting, Kid and Nikov bid goodbye to the Turk, and Çelattin Albayrak gave them a map of a jade mine located outside Hpakan for ... 540 kilometers.

Both Kid and Nikov this time, carried their own private car, a gift from Albayrak, to work and went there. Albayrak, before goodbye, told them that, the mine seemed to hide something that might be the facilities of the Tatmadaw. A car, of course, old, made in 1930s, a blue Ford Model Y.

...

...

...

"Do you think he is trustworthy?" Kid asked a serious question, based on experience with Albayrak.

"(He's kind of a man who speaks half truth, half lie. However, when I saw his face turned painful after the tragic death of one of his men, Carl, five years ago, he seemingly wanted to speak the truth.)" Nikov analyzed, and he was a very experienced person himself, he knew it.

"The Burmese military has a long reputation of being accused for facilitating drug trade. Their refusal to cooperate with other neighbors nor even the civilian government right now has a significant consequence, Myanmar is now being the world's largest methamphetamine producer, and stands second in term of drug only after Afghanistan."

"(No wonder why they are desperate to kill us.)" Dora-nikov realized: "(We're Americans, but our goal of going to Kachin territory had brought us under targets. Remember an agent, John Whelan, who almost lost his live risking to investigate the drug trade?)"

"So, they think that, we are investigating their drug trade. That's matched up with the List." Kid, on the wheel, quietly noticed: "This has examined the fact, Than Myint is fighting for the drug trades he had installed."

"(What an army ... if such kind of army exists, who needs enemy?)"

"But that doesn't mean Albayrak is innocent. Does he act like this to us to protect his other drug and jade trades?" Kid's eyes focused on the road but he still remembered the goal.

"(We're unclear. The largest rebel group is the United Wa State Army, which since 2010s has functioned into a narcotic group.)" Nikov breathed: "(It's too dangerous to be in no-man's land.)"

"You're right. Let's get the hell out of here. Find the mine, and left." Kid agreed immediately as he continued to drive the car. For both two, theories are theories, but it can't be denied.

...

...

Burmese military base

A local military base set up by the Tatmadaw was founded there. It was the base that Zheng Wangji chose to stay, of course, to keep himself alive.

"May I share the water?"

"Okay."

Zheng drank a lot of fresh water in an anonymous tent only to find out that Than Myint entered the tent, and argued with Zheng. Of course, he always carried a Chinese translator.

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