The Republic of Liba in Africa was a poor country. Worst of all, it had no known resources. Ninety-nine percent of its population lived in abject poverty. It was famous around the world for one thing: rampant drug trafficking. Guns and ammunition were hard currency, and various criminal and mercenary organizations each controlled their own territory.
While Zhang Hao was switching bodies, he had asked Mifeng why they were going to such a dangerous country.
Mifeng had replied that they had discovered a Rare Elements deposit, a resource essential for building a bridgehead. It was also a large, composite deposit—rare on Blue Star, especially since it had yet to be discovered. It was a composite rare-earth deposit, an uncommon find on Blue Star, and they had to secure it.
"A rare-earth deposit!" Zhang Hao exclaimed.
Rare-earth deposits were scarce on this world's Blue Star. Whenever one was discovered, the government swiftly stepped in. Any developed country that owned a deposit wouldn't export the raw ore. It would first meet domestic demand, then sell what it could to friendly nations at its discretion. Even those countries had to pay exorbitant prices.
"I can't believe nobody's found the deposit," Zhang Hao said. "It's incredible!"
Mifeng explained, "There are three reasons. First, this country is too chaotic. Second, it's notorious around the world for being resource-poor, so hardly any country would send prospectors here. And finally, for a very important reason, the deposit lies a hundred meters underground."
"The problem now is that we need an entrance to the underground deposit, and that entrance has to be on the surface. Unfortunately, there's a local warlord's estate right above it. So we have to seize the estate. The warlords in this country are inhuman. There's no reasoning with them."
"Why not just buy it?