Chapter 82: Sports Cars and Mansions—Everything You Could Want, Let's Go!

These elite former special forces operatives from Fierce Tiger PMC, and Louis, who could toss two million dollars without batting an eye, were all vying for Xing Xiaolong—a complete novice on the battlefield, an utterly ordinary ex-soldier. On the surface, it made little sense, but in truth, the logic ran perfectly counter to appearances.

Though these PMCs, composed of retired special forces from various countries, no longer bore the official title of soldier, their very existence was still entwined with the military. Their path diverged from that of career soldiers, but their work was much the same: they were “soldiers of commerce.” And as long as one was a soldier, the battlefield—and the shadow of death—was inescapable. A soldier and the battlefield are forever bound.

Individual prowess matters on the battlefield, of course, but it is teamwork that truly ensures survival. Joining or forming an outstanding team, finding comrades in whom one can entrust their back, forging absolute trust between battle-brothers—this sounds easy, but is in fact exceedingly difficult. The heart of the difficulty lies in the unpredictability of human nature. Someone with both skill and integrity, someone who can coordinate closely with others on the field, who will not be tempted by personal gain and always keeps the bigger picture in mind—such a person is rare among the rare.

Through this recent rescue mission, Xing Xiaolong had stood forth, volunteering to cover the retreat alone, facing dozens of enemies single-handedly, yet still managing to return safely. This act alone showcased all the most precious qualities: courage, resourcefulness, and a sense of the greater good. All these virtues combined more than made up for his inexperience, making him the most reliable teammate one could hope for in battle.

Besides, every member of Fierce Tiger PMC was a former special forces soldier. As long as Xing Xiaolong agreed to join, his lack of experience would be easily remedied—they could teach him everything, anytime, anywhere. His sudden popularity perfectly echoed that old saying: “Rather than sitting at home waiting for fortune to fall from the sky, it’s better to risk everything for a chance; as long as you survive, your day will come.”

Though Xing Xiaolong had neither intended to make a show of himself nor expected such “benefits” to come his way, it was precisely his valor that led to the current scramble for his allegiance. All of this, he had earned with his life on the line.

While the PMCs and Louis hoped Xing Xiaolong would make an immediate decision, they understood his need to consider his situation and identity. With that, they left his suite, giving him time and space to make the choice he deemed best.

Yet, not long after Fierce Tiger and the others departed, the only one who had not shown up—Black Fox—knocked quietly at Xing Xiaolong’s door, seeking a private audience.

It must be said, those skilled in intelligence work were nothing if not crafty. The effect of a one-on-one conversation far surpassed that of a boisterous group recruitment. What’s more, Black Fox, ever meticulous, had timed her approach perfectly and had a whole series of tactics at the ready, leveraging every psychological advantage to win over Xing Xiaolong in one swoop.

She began, much like Fierce Tiger and the others, with a brief introduction of herself. Her former employer was once renowned, one of the three major private military contractors designated by the Bald Eagle’s State Department: Blackwater USA.

Unfortunately, Blackwater became embroiled in a scandal involving the shooting of civilians in Camel Country—better known as Iraq—facing multiple lawsuits and astronomical compensation claims. Its international reputation plummeted, forcing the company to abandon the name “Blackwater” and rebrand as “Xe.” The company’s operations shifted from military security services to military training and equipment logistics contracting.

As a core contractor for Blackwater, Black Fox found herself out of security contracts when the company withdrew from that line of work. And, true to her nature, she had no desire to take up the dull role of instructor, training police or bodyguards. Nor would she follow logistics contractors, changing airplane tires, applying reactive armor to tanks, or guarding munitions warehouses. Thus, she parted ways with Xe.

After leaving Blackwater, Black Fox did not join any other private military company, becoming a free agent. Relying on the connections she’d built at Blackwater, she picked up contracts that could be handled solo and hung her name under various PMCs as an independent contractor, going wherever the work called her. Life was good enough.

But always working alone, without a stable team, though more liberating, could become lonely over time. Moreover, being a lone wolf was far riskier; the margin for error was much smaller than in a team. Yet in this dog-eat-dog world, finding a trustworthy partner was nearly impossible—especially for someone like Black Fox, an attractive woman for whom a single misstep could spell ruin.

And now, a man had appeared: new to the battlefield, a blank slate, yet possessed of virtues beyond ordinary men—courage, intelligence, decisiveness. That man was Xing Xiaolong.

All the traits that might seem shortcomings to others—his inexperience, naïveté, lack of guile, impulsiveness, and insufficient battlefield seasoning—were, to Black Fox, the very qualities she sought. A novice was less likely to be cunning or treacherous, would be easier to get along with for his curiosity, and Black Fox need not worry about a knife in her back. Even if Xing Xiaolong did harbor ill intent, he would not escape her sharp, experienced eye.

Simply put, Black Fox was confident she could handle Xing Xiaolong and had no fear of being outmaneuvered. She could even find time to probe the secrets hidden within him.

Most importantly, her trip to Africa had a purpose—a secret contract from the Bald Eagle government. Participating in the recent rescue had only been a matter of convenience, a way to fill the gap before her official assignment began the next day. This contract was wide-ranging, requiring travel back and forth between Africa and the Americas. While she could manage it alone, it would be both dangerous and draining. If she could find a suitable partner, the task would become much easier.

For this reason, Black Fox was more eager than anyone to bring Xing Xiaolong into her fold. She didn’t need him to shoulder the burden alone—just to have her back and lend a hand.

To show her sincerity, Black Fox went beyond empty promises and brought ten thousand dollars in cash as an up-front gesture.

Gulping audibly at the sight of the ten thousand dollars—over sixty thousand yuan—laid out before him, Xing Xiaolong couldn’t help but swallow. The money was simply irresistible, the visual impact overwhelming. No matter how persuasive Fierce Tiger or Louis’s words, nothing compared to seeing and touching cold, hard cash.

The temptation was immense. Struggling to tear his gaze from the money, Xing Xiaolong looked at Black Fox and asked cautiously, “I want to confirm two things, is that okay?”

“Of course, absolutely,” Black Fox replied, her lips curling in satisfaction as she saw her ploy working.

“Is what you’re doing illegal?” This was Xing Xiaolong’s first question, and the one most ordinary people would care about. He had no desire to complete a mission only to end up in jail. He hoped to earn enough to build a big house, marry a wife, and raise a brood of healthy sons. If it meant breaking the law and never returning home, that was no good.

“Of course not. We work for the government. As for the specifics, you’ll know once we get there,” Black Fox assured him.

“And is the pay good?” This, for Xing Xiaolong, was the second most important point.

Black Fox gave a low, sultry laugh, covering her mouth with a delicate hand as she drew a card from her bag and waved it. “This ten thousand in cash is just a down payment. There’s another two hundred thousand dollars on this card. Complete the contract with me, and it’s yours. Thirty thousand dollars for a single contract—that’s just your current rate. If your abilities gain wider recognition, payouts of over a million dollars per contract will be well within reach. Sports cars, mansions, beautiful women—whatever you desire will be yours for the taking.”

“A million dollars for a single job? That’s insane.” The thought of such riches made Xing Xiaolong’s eyes shine. He clutched the stack of green bills, his gaze fixed on the card holding two hundred thousand more.

Struggling to contain his excitement, he coughed twice and, adopting a solemn expression, extended his hand. “Alright then, for the sake of world peace, I’ll reluctantly agree to work with you.”

“Then let’s hope for a fruitful partnership!” Black Fox extended her right hand, deceptively fair and slender but in truth powerful, and shook his. Her beautiful eyes narrowed with satisfaction, the corners of her mouth curving upward.