Cheney was exhausted. The government had asserted that the Afghanistan war was perfect, but it wasn’t from the perspective of Cheney, who had actually participated in it. Mercenaries like him were responsible for maintaining public order in occupied territories. Terrorists often sent kids with bombing vests, and they were forced to make painful decisions.

If he wasn’t desperate for money, he would have gone back to his hometown already. However, he had a son suffering from childhood cancer there.

One day, a Whitewater executive came with a contract extension document.

“Next one is in Iraq. The superiors are urging us to extend the detachment contract, so the next destination must be Iraq as well,” the executive said.

“Are the conditions the same?” Cheney asked.

“Yes, but I’m thinking of giving you a better offer since your reputation is quite good.”

The executive placed new files on the table, and Cheney skimmed through the names of the dispatch areas and employers. This contract wasn’t for a battlefield. It...