Ultimate Firepower

Originally, there weren't many people at the airport, but now, there were hundreds gathered beside it, and many of them even had guns.

Seeing such a scene, Gao Yi's first impulse was to hide, but under Little Hei's instigation, he chose to be brave instead.

He had no choice but to go out; Luca's plane was still in the sky, and he had to leave no matter what.

"Are you ready to receive the cheers of the people?"

Little Hei was full of excitement as he pointed to the crowd outside, saying, "You are heroes!"

Gao Yi was a bit panicked; he just wanted to leave and collect his bounty, not to take on the cheers of the people.

Pulling Little Hei aside, Gao Yi whispered, "What has your former boss taught you? The word 'people' shouldn't be used carelessly, and besides, I don't want to be a hero. I can't show my face."

Showing his face, what for, to seek death?

Killing Gray Horace would be seen as a heroic act by the locals, but Gao Yi had also killed two CIA men. Being a hero was difficult and undesirable.

At that moment, Lin Xianghua suddenly said, "Why not be a hero? Now that the general is dead, who cares about avenging him? Even the general's loyal subordinates must now be busy vying for control of the army and the city."

Gao Yi looked at Lin Xianghua in surprise, "Oh?"

"Oppressive government is fiercer than a tiger," Lin Xianghua said adamantly. "The general's rule over the past three years has made everyone here detest him. Even his subordinates must now distance themselves from him. Some will definitely join the government forces, but government forces can't enter and regain control of this city. So, the ultimate outcome will be a military fragmentation, superficial political unity, and economic liberalization. Staying here as a hero has its advantages. Even though this city will soon fall into turmoil, aren't we here for the war? The low-intensity conflict here isn't highly dangerous, but the returns are substantial."

Lin Xianghua talked on and on, still holding the rifle in his hands, now empty of bullets.

It wouldn't be fair to let Lin Xianghua take the fall.

But wouldn't it be appropriate for Lin Xianghua to accept the cheers and become a hero, embracing this immense wealth and status?

After pondering for a moment, Gao Yi smiled at Lin Xianghua, "I think you're right."

With a look of emotion, Lin Xianghua asked, "What, you're thinking of staying too?"

"No, no, no. You as a mercenary staying to make a call to arms is fitting, but not me. I'm not even good at fighting."

Gao Yi wasn't good at fighting; in fact, he hadn't even entered the ranks of assassins, so becoming a liberator was out of the question.

Most importantly, two CIA men were dead and the United States wouldn't give up on Liberia. This meant that he should leave while he could, or be targeted and finished.

But it was different if Lin Xianghua wanted to take on the responsibility himself.

Gao Yi cautiously said, "If you want to stay and make a big impact, then brother, I wish you a lot of wealth. Just say you killed the general; that won't be a problem, right?"

Lin Xianghua hesitated, "Hmm, not impossible, but I think you are quite… um… dangerous."

Gao Yi stepped forward, pulling Lin Xianghua aside, "We're different, you see. I'm an assassin, and you're a mercenary. I operate in the shadows, and you in the open. Now that I've done my job, I'll leave. This title I'll leave for you to use – this is what you call a win-win, mutual benefit!"

Lin Xianghua thought for a moment, glanced at Gao Yi a few times, and finally agreed, "Alright, then I'll say I killed the general, um."

Both felt like they had gotten the better deal. Gao Yi quickly turned to Little Hei, "Are you leaving?"

Little Hei shook his head with great excitement, "No way, definitely not. With the general dead, the blockade will surely be lifted soon. I have a car and can make a lot of money. Why should I leave? There's so much I can do. Now my three wives and eight kids can have a good life..."

"What!"

Gao Yi looked at him in shock, "Three wives? Eight kids?"

Little Hei said proudly, "What of it? With my income and status, isn't that normal? Soon I'll take two more wives."

Well, nothing more to say; different strokes for different folks.

At this time, Lin Xianghua waved his gun and whispered, "Let's agree then, I'm the one who killed the general. Little Hei, spread the word for me. I'm willing to continue fighting for them, and then you can get me in touch with the forces that have the power to contend for this city."

Little Hei nodded eagerly, "No problem."

Gao Yi whispered, "Then, since you two have decided to collaborate, I wish you success. Just let this be our little secret."

"Okay."

"I definitely won't blab."

Both readily agreed.

Gao Yi looked at Lin Xianghua, "Before I leave, tell me which mercenary group sold you out, and explain exactly what happened."

Lin Xianghua replied without hesitation, "The Plunderers, the Plunderer Mercenary Corps. I was originally with the Black Swan Mercenary Group, which just suffered heavy losses and was forced to disband. Then the leader of the Plunderer Mercenary Corps approached me, and I joined them. They tasked me to do some reconnaissance here to see if there was a possibility to take out Gray Horace."

"And then? How did you know you were sold out?"

Lin Xianghua said with resentment, "Yesterday we ate together, and I figured infiltrating your restaurant could get me close to Gray Horace. But after seeing Sangbanda last night, I felt there was no chance, so I contacted the leader of the Plunderer Mercenary Corps after I returned, telling him that it was unlikely to take out Gray, and informed him of the situation. Then this morning, a friend in the Plunderer Mercenary Corps secretly told me I'd been betrayed, for ten thousand dollars."

Gao Yi needed to understand the situation before leaving. Listening to Lin Xianghua now, it matched up, but what he couldn't figure out was the exact time Lin Xianghua was sold out.

"The specific time."

"Uh, I don't know exactly when the Plunderers decided to sell me. My friend found out and notified me right away. I immediately went downstairs to leave, and then I saw you."

It seemed to be a coincidental timing, or perhaps Gray Horace didn't personally handle such matters. Overall, Lin Xianghua's explanation seemed reasonable.

Gao Yi let out a sigh and then asked Lin Xianghua, "Alright, I get the picture. Hmm, the CIA had seen you with facial recognition last night, were you identified too?"

"Yes, I got identified."

"Didn't they discover you're a mercenary?"

Lin Xianghua broke into a smile, "Of course not. I'm not famous; how would I end up in the CIA's database?"

Gao Yi asked in a low voice, "Are you not in their records?"

Lin Xianghua shook his head, "I don't know."

He couldn't ask much more. Gao Yi exhaled and said, "Alright then, leave me a way to contact you, and you two go enjoy the cheers. I wish you grand plans and great success... and full control of power."