54: We changed our route and went to the airport.

Theodore glanced at the tactical watch on his wrist; time had quietly slipped towards dawn.

The boss's request was to completely resolve the battle before daybreak.

Now, it was clear they had exceeded the time limit.

His gaze turned cold.

"Don't waste time with them."

"I don't want any live captives."

Theodore's tone was devoid of emotion, yet it carried an undeniable command.

"Notify the Third Battalion to bring over those 'Python' armored vehicles we captured."

"And equip them with rocket launchers."

"Tell them, I'm only giving them five minutes."

Theodore's voice suddenly rose, carrying a ruthless edge.

"Within five minutes, I want to see our Free Army flag planted on the roof of that building! Understand?!"

"Yes, Regiment Commander!"

On the other end of the communicator, the First Battalion Commander's heart trembled, and he immediately responded loudly.

The small building of the military camp's command post.

The Regiment Commander of the Bolivian Fifth Regiment was still hoarsely encouraging his subordinates.

"Hold your ground! Reinforcements! Divisional reinforcements will be here soon!"

"Defend this place! We still have a chance! As long as we hold out until dawn..."

Before he could finish, a low, unique roar approached from a distance.

The ground began to tremble slightly.

"What's that noise?" a soldier leaning by the window, firing, asked nervously.

An ominous premonition rose in everyone's hearts.

Soon, they saw a sight they would never forget.

Three EE-9 'Python' Armored Vehicles, painted with the Bolivian National Army emblem, slowly drove in a 'V' formation.

Their dark muzzles slowly turned towards the small building where they were located, moving with the vehicles.

Beside the armored vehicles, several Free Army soldiers even carried smaw rocket launchers, aiming at their windows.

"Oh my god..."

"Tanks... they stole our tanks!"

A soldier's gun clattered to the ground, his face filled with despair.

"Surrender! I don't want to be blown to pieces!"

"Right! Surrender! I surrender!"

Someone shouted first, followed by a white shirt, torn from who knows where.

It was hoisted on a gun barrel, trembling as it extended out the window.

More and more weapons were thrown out of the windows.

The Fifth Regiment Commander looked at his soldiers, who had lost all will to fight and whose faces were ashen, and his last bit of resolve completely collapsed.

He slumped to the ground, slowly unbuckled the pistol from his waist, and threw it outside the door.

The tide had turned.

The First Battalion's soldiers quickly rushed in, taking control of all the officers and soldiers who had completely lost their will to resist.

The Naval Base in Santa Cruz City.

The battle ended even faster than at the army barracks.

Owen and Deputy Regiment Commander Sebastian stood on the dock, the faint smell of gunpowder still lingering in the air.

"Regiment Commander, it's all done."

Sebastian smiled and offered a cigarette.

"These naval 'young masters' are even less resilient than those rough army guys; in less than half an hour, they all collapsed."

Owen took the cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.

"What are our casualties like?"

"Negligible."

Sebastian's tone was relaxed.

"Fewer than five brothers died, and a dozen people were grazed by stray bullets; all minor injuries that don't affect combat effectiveness."

He pointed to two patrol ships in the distance, emitting black smoke on the sea.

"Those two little guys tried to escape, but our rockets gave each of their bridge a shot. Now they're as docile as grandchildren and surrendered voluntarily."

Owen nodded, a smile appearing on his face.

"Well done. Immediately report the results of the battle to commander-in-chief Oliver. Also, tell the brothers to hurry up."

"Completely control the entire port, inventory all ships and supplies; not a single screw can be missed!"

"Understood!"

Eight o'clock in the morning.

Inside a villa on the outskirts of Santa Cruz City.

David held a steaming cup of coffee, standing in front of a huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the city skyline in the distance.

Oliver walked in hurriedly, his face filled with unsuppressable excitement.

"Good morning, Boss."

"Santa Cruz, we've taken it."

David turned around, calmly sipped his coffee, as if this news was already within his expectations.

"Hm, casualties."

He only asked two words.

"A brilliant victory!"

Oliver straightened his chest and reported, "As of now, our Free Army has fewer than five killed and a dozen lightly wounded."

"As for the Bolivian Government Forces... preliminary estimates indicate over three hundred killed or wounded, and nearly two thousand captured."

"Well done."

David finally nodded with satisfaction, "It seems my tens of millions of US dollars weren't wasted."

He put down his coffee cup and picked up the jacket draped over the sofa.

"Prepare the car, I'm going into the city to take a look."

"Juan, Jose, bring your personal guards. And transfer one company from the Third Regiment to come into the city with me."

"Yes, Boss!"

Juan and Jose immediately responded, turning to make arrangements.

David gave new instructions to Oliver while putting on his jacket.

"The First and Second Regiments, rest in place, inventory the spoils, and guard the prisoners well. Absolutely no trouble can occur."

"Order the 4th Regiment to immediately advance at full speed and capture the small town of Hector to the north; there's a small airport there, it's very important."

"The Fifth Regiment, garrison Puerto Suárez, and based on the naval base facilities, make sure the port is impregnable!"

"Understood!"

Oliver wrote down all the orders one by one and quickly turned to relay them.

Half an hour later.

A convoy consisting of several military humvees and trucks drove majestically into the urban area of Santa Cruz City.

On the streets in the early morning, scattered citizens and vendors had already appeared.

When they saw this army, painted in unfamiliar camouflage, with every soldier exuding killing intent, everyone's first reaction was terror.

"Bang!"

"Clatter!"

Shops along the roadside quickly pulled down their roller shutters, and pedestrians on the street screamed and scattered, fleeing into alleys or their homes.

The once somewhat lively street became empty and lifeless within a few minutes.

David, sitting in the bulletproof humvee, watched this scene through the car window, his brow furrowing slightly.

Juan, beside him, spoke with some concern: "Boss, these citizens..."

"It's normal."

David's expression returned to calm, "If a group of armed, unfamiliar soldiers suddenly drove up to your doorstep, you'd be scared too."

"War is never a dinner party."

He knew very well that military victory was only the first step.

How to win over the people's hearts and how to get the city running again was the real headache to come.

He withdrew his gaze and spoke to the driver.

"Don't go to the government building first; it must be chaotic there right now."

"Detour, we're going to the airport."

"Controlling the airport is like seizing the city's throat."

The convoy stopped outside the airport perimeter.

Santa Cruz International Airport had completely changed at this moment.

The entrance to the terminal, which should have been bustling with travelers, was now in chaos.

Countless citizens dragging suitcases were frantically gathered here.

They were trying to rush into the airport, hoping to take a plane to escape the city that had just changed hands.

"Let us in! We want to leave here!"

"Let us go! You have no right to detain us!"

The crowd clamored, emotional, constantly pushing forward, assaulting the cordon formed by Free Army soldiers.

The soldiers responsible for guarding were all tense, holding their rifles, desperately trying to maintain order.

"Fall back! Everyone fall back!"

"Do not cross the cordon!"

The warnings seemed somewhat powerless amidst the noisy crowd.