340: Chapter 338 European Foot-Binding Cloth 340: Chapter 338 European Foot-Binding Cloth The saying that ‘fellow workers make the worst enemies’ couldn’t be truer.
Whenever you encounter a peer, regardless of whether they are friend, foe, or a completely unrelated passerby, people need to establish a pecking order at first glance, and for those whose profession is warfare, this is especially true.
For those who live by combat, training levels and combat skills can not, of course, be discerned from appearance, but the quality of one’s equipment can be seen at a glance.
While the quality of equipment doesn’t entirely represent combat effectiveness, it is still a part of overall capability, and superior equipment certainly offers an advantage.
The Caucasian who walked into the restaurant alongside Kolm looked extremely robust, with muscles bulging and stretching the T-shirt he wore on his upper body, giving him a stylish appearance.
Over the T-shirt, he wore a bulletproof vest, and instead of wearing his helmet, he carried it in his hand.
A pistol of unidentifiable make was tucked into his waistband, and an AK74 was slung over his back.
Besides these basic weapons and armor, he had nothing else particularly special about him.
His standard of equipment could only be considered ordinary in Africa.
However, with the addition of a bulletproof vest and a helmet, he was at least somewhat stronger than the local security guards who only carried rifles.
The people who followed Kolm and the other Caucasian into the restaurant were similarly equipped compared to their leader.
While their gear was average, nothing more than the most essential weaponry and armor, the Caucasian who walked in front had a face that boasted an air of superiority as if he owned the world.
However, upon seeing the guns leaning against the table by Gao Yang and his companions as well as their fully equipped appearance, the arrogance on that Caucasian’s face shifted to astonishment.
Being in a tiny mercenary group of just six people, Gao Yang and his companions had to be versatile, each a jack-of-all-trades.
Furthermore, with ample funding and a strong aversion to dying, their armaments, armor, and electronic equipment were not only complete but also the best of the best, each item meticulously chosen for its quality.
It’s no exaggeration to say the value of the equipment Gao Yang carried was equal to the total worth of everything those newcomers had from head to toe.
Gao Yang didn’t show any particular reaction, but after a moment of shock, the newcomer with a display of scorn glanced at them, snorted disdainfully through his nose, and swaggered arrogantly to a table not far from Gao Yang’s group and sat down.
For those accustomed to earning their keep on the blade’s edge, notions of gentlemanly conduct or refinement couldn’t be farther from their reality.
Bravery, aggression, and high-handedness were their trademarks.
Upon arriving in a new place, mercenary or private security groups typically conveyed disdain and scorn towards their competitors, an indication of their commonplace attitude.
A full bottle doesn’t clink, but a half-full bottle clanks.
Truly formidable folks, such as those from the Angel Mercenary Corps, who would internally claim themselves second to none, daring others to be first, might be exceedingly proud, but their demeanor would certainly not be ostentatious.
Although it was not clear how skilled the arrogant-looking Caucasian was, based on his behavior, Gao Yang’s assessment of him was that he was low-end.
From every aspect, these people’s attitude came across as low-end.
Birds of a feather flock together.
When the leader is so brash, his subordinates are certainly not modest; each one, after sitting down, shot defiant glances around and glared at Gao Yang and his group.
As for their gaze on the African security guards eating on the side, it was filled with utter disdain.
Gao Yang couldn’t fathom where this new group’s sense of superiority came from.
He wondered if there was something wrong with their brains, making them act as arrogantly as fools.
Gao Yang felt that having such individuals responsible for Kolm’s safety could likely be a mistake.
After sitting down, the leader called out to Kolm loudly, “Bring us a few bottles of cold beer first, we’re thirsty as hell.
Hold off on the vodka for now, but remember to have it ready for tonight.”
Kolm frowned and replied, “We have no vodka, but we do have beer.
However, you’re not allowed to drink during work hours.
Meals are served buffet-style, so you can go and get your food now.”
The leading Caucasian seemed quite dissatisfied, but after muttering under his breath for a moment, he refrained from saying anything further and, waving his hand, the men who had sat down with him stood up to get their meals.
While others went to get their food, the leader turned to Gao Yang’s group, gave a nod, and called out loudly, “Hey, buddy, the fellow with the yellow skin, where are you guys from?”
Though the tone wasn’t very polite, there was no malice either, so Gao Yang still responded quite courteously, “Huaxia people.”
The leader then called out to Destin, “Hey mate, your eyepatch looks really cool.
Where are you guys from?”
Destin simply said, “Israel.”
“Oh…”
After emitting a drawn-out sigh, the Caucasian retracted his gaze with a smirk.
After exchanging a couple more words with Kolm, Kolm turned and, with a grim expression, came over to sit beside Gao Yang’s group and murmured, “I have a feeling these guys are going to be troublemakers.”
Gao Yang nodded in agreement and said, “Indeed, these people seem problematic, both in intelligence and attitude.
Where did you find them?
They look difficult to deal with.”
Kolm spoke softly, “A friend of mine introduced them.
Right now, the situation in South Sudan is tight, and it’s hard to find professional security teams.
The only ones with fighting capability who haven’t been hired are these guys.”
Destin spread his hands, saying, “What kind of people are they?”
The volume of Kolm’s voice dropped as he responded, “The one leading them is called Kochinsky.
He started a security company and hasn’t been in South Sudan for long.
There are eighteen of them in total, and they’re all from Poland—every single one is Polish.”
“Oh…”
Upon hearing Kolm’s answer, Gao Yang and Destin simultaneously let out a long sigh, then, after exchanging knowing glances, they whispered in unison, “European foot-binding cloth.”
However, Kolm had a bitter smile on his face and said, “I just found out they’re all Polish.
God, what have I done.”
Poland is quite the extraordinary country, and most Poles are equally peculiar.
They are Europe’s bumpkins.
Although there are some normal people, sadly, they only make up a small proportion of the country’s population.
Poland, often referred to as ‘Europe’s foot-binding cloth,’ did not earn this nickname for no reason.
Historically, when neighboring countries were weak, Poland bullied them intensely.
But fortunately for justice’s sake, two of Poland’s main neighbors—Germany and Russia—grew strong, and the first thing they did was take brutal revenge on Poland.
Caught between two great powers and getting pushed around, it seems the Poles learned no lessons.
In World War II, stuck between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, Poland played the pawn of the Anglo-French Alliance.
There’s a saying that describes this well: ‘A bear on the right, a tiger on the left, and a fool in the middle,’ and as everyone knows, before the war broke out, Germany and the Soviet Union gleefully carved up Poland between them.
Nowadays, you would think Poland wouldn’t dare to provoke Russia, right?
Wrong!
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Poland joined the EU and NATO and became allies with Germany.
While really irritating Germany, they didn’t hesitate to play NATO’s pawn again, eager to confront Russia.
With Poland’s grievances against Russia, it’s somewhat understandable they’d want to give Russia a hard time.
What many people don’t know, however, is that Poland is the most anti-Huaxia country in all of Europe, bar none.
With no historical connection to Huaxia and barely any modern intersections, Poland has been anti-Huaxia to a maniacal degree since the Republic of China was established.
The most baffling part is that they had no reason at all; they just didn’t like the look of you and opposed you on that basis alone.
To Huaxia and Russia, Poland is the toad that jumps onto your back.
It won’t bite you, but it certainly can disgust you.
Russia might still manage to rebuke Poland, but for Germany, unfortunate enough to be Poland’s ally, there’s no choice but to endure it.
An inexplicable sense of superiority, unfounded pride, acting without thinking, speaking in a way that offends others, unable to feed themselves yet mockingly criticizing others for not eating meat elegantly, they discriminate against all colored races, Jews, Russians, Germans, Ukrainians, Czechs—yet, if any of those people are American citizens, they immediately fawn over them.
That’s the Polish for you.
In essence, Poles are the Europeans’ bumpkins, and bumpkins, of course, are Asia’s Poles.
Learning that these new guys all hailed from Poland made their unreasonable behaviors inevitable.
For the Poles, their normalcy would be the greatest abnormality.
Gao Yang expressed his sympathy with a whisper to Kolm, “I think you’d be better off telling them to take a hike.
If they stay, you’re going to have big problems.”
Kolm’s face showed a helpless expression as he replied, “I’m already starting to get a headache, but I have to hire them for at least a month.
God, what have I done.”
While Gao Yang and his team were whispering among themselves, the Poles were also chatting, except they were not keeping their voices down.
A burly man seated next to Kochinsky, speaking in not-so-fluent English, said, “Those who can only fight with the help of equipment are softies, and, besides, even if someone hangs lots of stuff on them, it doesn’t mean they know how to use it, haha.”
The Poles had already started looking for trouble, causing Gao Yang and his group to collectively look astounded.
However, at this moment, the man named Kochinsky gestured with a wave of his hand and said something in Polish.
Subsequently, the group began chattering away in Polish, occasionally bursting into boisterous laughter.
Not understanding what the Poles were saying meant the potential for conflict greatly decreased.
Gao Yang shrugged his shoulders, about to finish his meal, when suddenly David sprang to his feet and with a turn threw his spoon at Kochinsky.
“F**k you!”
Following the spoon toss with a shout of rage, David immediately charged towards Kochinsky.