Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 160 - 149: Give a Chance

Chapter 160: Chapter 149: Give a Chance

Gao Yi never knew that private jets could be as large as a Boeing 777.

He had always assumed that private jets were the small types like Bombardier or Gulfstream, but the literal meaning of private jet made it very clear—it’s just a plane for personal use, size doesn’t matter.

Ultra-luxurious planes, ultra-luxurious treatment.

Without any hindrance, without any waves, he simply and easily returned to the United States.

It seemed as if he had been forgotten, but he had to say the feeling was really pleasant.

But he didn’t know if Abdulla would become furious after finding out Gao Yi stood him up, whether he would send someone after Gao Yi to kill him.

Carrying ten million dollars in cash, along with a 55 purchased for ten million, it was a pity that Feng Biao’s guns couldn’t be brought along, and his equipment was worth about two hundred thousand dollars.

But that was a loss Feng Biao would have to bear.

Even more distressing for Feng Biao, though, was yet to come.

"Time to split the cash, we made quite a bit this time. Number One Master gave us twenty million, ten million via transfer, ten million in cash, and the Dark Web sent the twenty million promised by Shaman too. Not counting the small change, just the big money amounts to forty million. According to the percentage we agreed upon, Luca ten percent, Ah Gui ten percent, both of you four million each, take it either as cash or a transfer."

Once the job was done, the accounts had to be settled.

Becoming a millionaire was just that simple, a successful mission could make your fortune.

Luca had arrived in the United States, and he was very much looking forward to and rightly felt entitled to say, "I’ll handle it."

Lin Xianghua was somewhat uneasy. He felt that he had done almost nothing, yet he had just followed along and easily earned four million dollars, and he felt somewhat ashamed.

But since Gao Yi considered Lin Xianghua as his last resort for protection, it was unlikely that he would be stingy when it came to sharing the money—that would be like joking with his own safety.

In just a few words, the money was divided, and then Gao Yi said to Feng Biao, "Old Feng, now that we’re in the United States and have nothing else to do, well, you look busy... go on and get busy."

Feng Biao was nice to talk to and useful as a sniper, but Gao Yi really didn’t want to keep a sniper around, especially not one whose position and speech weren’t justified.

Because Feng Biao had not yet joined the Garden.

Gao Yi’s approach was to use retreat as a way to advance; if Feng Biao wanted to join the Garden, he’d have to ask himself.

He had done the same work, and in his own opinion, even more than Lin Xianghua.

But while the other man got four million, he only got one million.

Previously, he felt that getting that one million for risking his life was worth it, but now, comparing the two, the discrepancy was too large and Feng Biao felt overwhelmed.

Why was it like this?

Just because Lin Xianghua was Gao Yi’s own man, and he, Feng Biao, was not.

The grievance is not from too little, but from an unequal share.

What was Lin Xianghua’s skill compared to his own, Feng Biao? The contrast was so stark that Feng Biao thought he might as well sell himself.

"Boss!"

Feng Biao was serious as he looked at Gao Yi, and with a deep and firm tone, he said, "I want to follow you! Give me a chance, please! I guarantee, I swear, you will never regret it."

Gao Yi seriously responded, "Old Feng, Brother Feng, it might be better to speak frankly. We assassins usually don’t need snipers, and even when we do, it’s for offensive type missions, fire one shot and leave. So, you’re different from Ah Gui. Ah Gui is my safety valve, my lifeline. I give him ten percent of my earnings to buy his protection."

Lin Xianghua lifted his head proudly, then confidently said, "I’m reliable!"

Gao Yi continued to Feng Biao, "As for your reputation, let’s not get into that now. The key point is, I don’t need to spend ten percent to hire a sniper, right?"

What could Feng Biao say? If he agreed, his future prospects would disappear.

If he disagreed, that would just be outright lying.

Feng Biao sighed in resignation.

Reputation, or credibility, sometimes it can indeed dictate the direction of one’s life.

Previously, Feng Biao never cared whether his reputation was good or bad, but now, with the mission over, his job done, even if he brownnosed, his reputation would hinder him from securing a long-term meal ticket.

Seeing Feng Biao silent, Gao Yi went on, "There’s no use for a sniper, and I can’t trust you to be my safety valve, so I guess we’ll have to part ways. If I need a sniper next time, I’ll definitely come to you, after all, you’ve got real skill."

Feng Biao was helplessly low-voiced, "Actually, my real name is Feng Tianqi, ’Tian’ as in sky, ’Qi’ as in flag."

Having multiple names in jianghu is quite normal, especially for a mercenary, using an alias is even more so.

But I don’t know why Feng Biao decided to reveal his real name at this moment.

"Feng Biao is the name I took after I started out, and as for nicknames, well, I never really had one that stuck."

"I served in the military for two years, nothing special like special forces or a secret unit, just a regular soldier. After my discharge, I joined a big company, worked in engineering, then, to make more money, I accepted an overseas assignment. I had no other thought than to earn more, buy a house, buy a car, get married."

Feng Biao’s tone was mild, but he was very serious.

"At first, I thought a salary of several thousand, occasionally over ten thousand a month was pretty good. But then I went to a class reunion and to be honest, I was really hit hard. Everyone else seemed to be doing well, owning homes and cars, while after four or five years of work I had only saved up two hundred thousand, not even enough for a down payment. I was really anxious."

He sighed, and Feng Biao continued: "Then, while working on an engineering project in Sierra Leone, Africa, I met a fellow villager who worked for a PMC. He earned four thousand dollars a month. And I thought, with my gun skills, why couldn’t I do it too? So I resigned and became a professional security contractor."

Still with a calm face, Feng Biao went on: "After more than a year as a PMC, I began to feel a certain wildness in me. Then I discovered that as a mercenary, I could earn at least eight thousand a month, and of course, it had to be the kind that fought in wars. With my gun skills, I became a sniper, earning ten thousand a month. So I went to look for a Mercenary Group and became a mercenary."

"Later I discovered that racial discrimination was just...it was damn insurmountable. All being snipers, I earned ten thousand, while caucasian people earned twelve thousand. For the same combat allowance, I got one thousand, while caucasians got two thousand."

He sighed again and Feng Biao went on: "We should have been brothers in arms who stood by each other through life and death, but there was still a hierarchy. I earned ten thousand, my Russian assistant shooter earned eight thousand. We did all the tough, tiresome, and dangerous work, while the safe and easy tasks were given to Americans. I held back my complaints, after all, I had joined an American-run Mercenary Group."

"But there in Syria, our group of over a hundred was surrounded by ISIS. My assistant shooter and I, we held our position for twenty-six hours, protecting the main force. Whether it was being shelled or machine-gunned, we did not retreat a single step from our post!"

Feng Biao still appeared quite calm as he continued: "In the end, our main force fled, leaving us behind without anyone checking on us. My partner died, he took a bullet for me. He could have been saved at that moment, but we were trapped, unable to retreat. He lasted seven hours before bleeding to death."

"Just tell me, we fought to the death covering the retreat of the main force, but they could have at least told us to run for it too. But they didn’t; they just ran off silently, leaving us behind to distract the enemy."

"Just tell me, why should I risk my life to cover for a team like that?"

Feng Biao’s face remained calm, but he slightly puzzled as he said: "What about you, would you be willing?"

Gao Yi seriously responded, "I wouldn’t."

"Right, you wouldn’t either."

Feng Biao sighed again and continued: "My Russian partner, Alyosha, he had only been my partner for half a year, but we were brothers in life and death. It was right for him to take a bullet for me because I would have done the same for him without hesitation. Comrades in arms, that’s what it means to be comrades. But those who just saw me as a temporary worker earning a wage, why should I lay down my life to protect them?"

"Yes, that makes sense."

Feng Biao exhaled and said: "My brother was very lucid when he died. We couldn’t retreat, and no one came to save us, so the clearer his mind, the more he suffered. I told him not to be afraid. I promised to look after his family if he died, to give one million dollars to his family. I would earn the money for them, to support them."

"And then what?"

"He smiled and died. Who would believe such a promise? He didn’t, and to be honest, neither did I. I said it without really thinking."

Feng Biao exhaled heavily and bitterly said: "I didn’t think I’d actually survive. If I had known, I would have promised only one hundred thousand. But since I did survive, now I have to make money for his widow, children, and parents. One million dollars, how can I earn that!"

After venting his frustration, Feng Biao said with a stern face: "But I never expected that this time I would actually make it. So I transferred the money directly to them, told his widow, one million, in US dollars. I kept my promise to Alyosha."

"Now, I feel relieved, really. It took me three years just to save up ten thousand dollars. Earning money is so difficult, and with a bad reputation, it’s even harder. But I never could have imagined that the money would come just like that, out of the blue, one million dollars in hand. I couldn’t have dreamed of it."

Feng Biao was chatty, but his chattiness wasn’t unpleasant now, because his emotions were genuine.

Feng Biao looked very seriously at Gao Yi and said: "If you don’t believe me, I can show you. I really gave all the money to my brother’s widow. I’ve never even met his family, but I didn’t keep a cent of the one million dollars, I gave it all."

Gao Yi glanced at Luca, who without hesitation said: "Let me see if what you’re saying is true."

Feng Biao took a deep breath and said: "Boss, by telling you all this, I just want to show you that I’m really reliable. It’s those who are unreliable themselves who think I am not to be trusted. But a person of your righteous caliber shouldn’t worry about me betraying you!"

Calmly and subtly, Feng Biao delivered another compliment.

Gao Yi remained silent, so Feng Biao continued: "When things really go down, you come to save Old Ghost, and although Old Ghost didn’t contribute much, you actually gave the promised share. Boss, let me join you. You don’t have to give me a ten percent commission. In fact, I don’t want a commission at all. Just see how I perform, okay?"

Gao Yi smiled and said: "Is that so..."

Feng Biao hurriedly said: "I won’t be a sniper. Like Old Ghost, I’ll be your safety valve. I’ll watch your back, and if I step back even once, consider it my loss. You don’t have to pay me a dime, and if you see me, kill me! I’d do anything for you, not for money, but for peace of mind. Just give me a chance and decide afterward if I’m up to par, okay?"

At this point in the conversation, of course, Gao Yi was not going to refuse, but he still looked over at Lin Xianghua.

Lin Xianghua had always been unfriendly toward Feng Biao because the nickname "Wind Vane" simply did not inspire trust.

If they decided to keep Feng Biao, he would partner with Lin Xianghua, and Gao Yi needed to respect Lin Xianghua’s opinion.

It couldn’t be helped, Lin Xianghua was exceptionally loyal, and that was why he was trustworthy, and to Gao Yi, loyalty was far more important than ability.

Lin Xianghua hesitated for a moment, then finally said: "Let Luca check the truth. If he really gave all the money to the brother’s widow, then... give him a chance."