There was confidence in lieutenant Pellpeng’s words. The drill rig he brought with him wasn’t a groundwater developing tool but old mining equipment. The government had leased it to him after borrowing from Totals Company. A technician’s pride was their excellent equipment. 3,000 meters? Black Mamba was slightly surprised. He saw the drill rig on the trailer in a new light. It was as big as a tourist bus.

  The supporting equipment alone took up a whole truck. It was a monster compared to the small underground cleaning equipment he had seen in Korea. “There’s no need to dig that deep. A fault exists 600 meters underground. The aquifer is around 100 meters thick. You’ll be able to dock at its floor once you pass the 700 meters mark.” “I’m sorry?” Lieutenant Pellpeng’s face creased devilishly at the certainty of his words. The chances of finding an aquifer in the desert were as low as finding a distributed oil layer. How could anyone possibly know what existed underground?

  Was he claiming to be Gaia’s lover, or was he Oceanus’ incarnation? Is this person joking around? Lieutenant Pellpeng studied Black Mamba’s face with suspicious eyes. At times, when people couldn’t adapt to the desert’s extreme temperature differences, they would say random things. From his pale yellow complexion, it was evident he was displaying symptoms of hypoxemia. “If Sir Ddu-bai-buru-pa says so, it is so.” Jamal glared through his narrow eyes. He wanted to pull out those eyes that dared to stare at Sir Ddu-bai-buru-pa.

  Damn, that b

  ** who was holding a shiny knife smiled. “You madman!” His hand subconsciously moved to his pistol. “Look down.” Ahmad pointed at the ground with the tip of his knife.

  A yellow scorpion was twisting its cleaved body around on the floor. “No, a deathstalker!” Lieutenant Pellpeng’s eyes widened. Their species were the most poisonous among the dozens of scorpions living in the Sahara Desert. A person would die within one or two hours after getting stung by it. Lieutenant Pellpeng felt a chill in his chest. He could have almost died. “Th…thank you.” Lieutenant Pellpeng’s face creased as he thanked Ahmad. Black Mamba suppressed his laughter.

  The distorted expression of one forcing a smile on their stiff face was hilarious. The scorpion was Ahmad’s trick. Ahmad put on a show as he grabbed the scorpion and placed it on the lieutenant’s shoulder. “Ahmad, you sliced off the lieutenant’s epaulet. You should have handled it more elegantly.” He scolded Ahmad on an impulse.

  If the deathstalker had managed to attack the lieutenant’s neck, he would already be on the express train to death. “I apologize, sir.” Ahmad lowered his head at Black Mamba’s scolding. “20 minutes of horse stance.” “Yes, sir!” Ahmad immediately stretched his arms, lowered his stance, and straightened his back. Lieutenant Pellpeng felt terrible.

  The swordsman was being punished for saving him. He couldn’t disregard the situation before him because of his conscience. “Uh-” The moment he opened his mouth, a black man with the build of a heavyweight wrestler passed by. The black man grabbed the twitching deathstalker with his thick hands and shoved it into his mouth. Craaack— Splat— The sound of its shell breaking left lieutenant Pellpeng shaking. “Uuugh!”


  He automatically groaned. All of the special advisor’s subordinates were crazy b

  stards. “Special military advisor is France’s pride!” lieutenant Pellpeng shouted, raising both of his hands in the air.

  “Special military advisor is France’s pride!” 80 members of the scouting team chanted after him. The voices of Mohammad and the rest were buried under theirs. Lieutenant Pellpeng smiled. He was pleased. There were simple and ignorant soldiers who would willingly risk their lives for trivial matters, be it in the West or the East. Mohammad called Jamal over, noticing Black Mamba’s expression. “Akh Jamal, organize the place. Shouldn’t Sir Ddu-bai-buru-pa give a speech on this important day?” “You’re right, hadritak!” Jamal shouted. “Sir Ddu-bai-buru-pa will now speak.

  Quiet down!” Samedi, who had been assessing the situation, ran to the truck immediately. He lifted the spare 200-liter drum container stored at the back of the truck and returned. Bang— Once he set the drum container down, he looked at Black Mamba with an expression that expected praise. Monster! Lieutenant Pellpeng was tired of it all. The servants were as incredible as their master. “Huh, his slyness returned.” Black Mamba patted Samedi’s shoulder and stepped onto the drum container. “My family and the surveyors from the 11th Airborne brigade, you’ve all worked hard.

  Today is a historic day for Novatopia as it takes its first step. I believe today’s small step will become pivotal for Africa in the future. Novatopia is the last refuge for the oppressed and starved. Those who aren’t capable of escaping mistreatment and starvation on their own are welcomed as citizens of Novatopia. However, those who attempt to freeride on other people’s coattails cannot become citizens of Novatopia. I have decided to make this place Novatopia’s capital. The capital will be known as Jipoon Dari.”


  After the short speech, Black Mamba jumped off the drum container. “Woooh, hooray for Jipoon Dari!” “Jipoon Dari, Jipoon Dari!” The crowd cheered and stamped their feet on the ground. “Is he the modern version of Moses?” “The water tastes amazing. I feel like we have to cheer for him, too.” “I’m glad we’ve managed to become friends so quickly.” “Hahaha, I suppose.” “I want to see how far this young man will go.” “Don’t you have nowhere to go anyway?” “That is true.” Professor Orifice and Professor Shernion faced each other and burst out laughing.

  “Sir Ddu-bai-buru-pa, the camel owner wishes to thank you.” “Thank me? That kind of thing is expected in the desert.” “He also has something to say.” “Then, let’s head over.” Black Mamba followed Jamal and entered the surveyor’s medical tent. “Act!” A military doctor stood up and gave a salute. The man lying on the medical field bed turned his head. “I’m lieutenant Henry Gillaume.” “How is the patient?” “Special military advisor, the Shamu doctors would have cried performing the same operation as you did. I didn’t have to do anything. You have my respect.”


  Lieutenant Gillaume nodded his head. The special military advisor had effortlessly performed a surgery that even the best doctors would have found challenging. The chest support was remarkable. Lieutenant Gillaume still couldn’t comprehend how he could have assembled the chest support with car fenders. The special military advisor didn’t seem human to him. “It wasn’t much. I heard the patient wanted to see me.” “Yes, sir. Since he is recovering well, there won’t be any problem with holding a conversation. Afwerki, this is the person who saved you, the French special military advisor.”


  “I’m Vallé Afwerki. Thank you for saving my life. I apologize for thanking you in such a state, however.” His tone was polite, and he spoke fluent french. He wasn’t just a regular traveler who dragged around camels. “I’m Dong-bang-bull-pae. I could meet the same fate as you tomorrow, Mr. Afwerki.” “Although young, you speak like a Bedouin who wanders the desert. I am an Eritrean. Since my grandfather’s generation, my family has been running a coffee plantation in Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia.” “Yirgacheffe is the main producer of Arabica coffee, right? If you’re an Eritrean, shouldn’t you be from the north of Sudan? And you also run a plantation?” The ends of Black Mamba’s eyes were slightly raised. [1] My God, is it true?