The contact, a wiry man with a worn face and calculating eyes, glanced at the team with an appraising look.
"Kudos for a job well done. " he said, addressing Bailey but including the others with a nod. "Based on the state of the truck, I can see that it wasn't easy for you."
Bailey's expression remained grim. "We were lucky. That's all."
"Luck or skill, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you got the job done." He turned his attention back to Rion, Li He, and Rosa. "You three, get some rest. I'll just have a little chat with miss Bailey over here and be back soon."
Bailey and the man walked off to discuss the mission in hushed tones, their figures silhouetted against the warehouse lights. Meanwhile, the other three found seats on some crates, tending to their wounds.
Li He and Rosa sneaked glances at Rion, their expressions a mix of awe and curiosity. He pulled out cotton swabs from his utility belt, using them to dab at the bullet wounds on his body. The pain was sharp, but he bit down and focused on cleaning the injuries.
He noticed that the wounds on the other two were less severe compared to his own. They had some grazes and bruises, but nothing like the deep cuts and bullet holes he was dealing with. He reasoned that it was his fault for acting so flashily during the ambush, drawing much of the opposition's gunfire to himself.
As he tended to a particularly nasty gash on his arm, his thoughts drifted back to the fight, replaying the critical moments in his mind.
Can't believe I nailed it on the first try. I've been practicing every day, but hitting the target from that far away? It's one in five tries on a good day.
The memory of the rooftop explosion was vivid, but he couldn't be sure if the sniper had been taken out. The explosion had been close, but not directly on target. The fact that he hadn't heard any subsequent sounds coming from the rooftop and that the sniper hadn't attacked again suggested they might still be alive, possibly retreating to a safer position.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden surge of envy. That sniper had the privilege of striking from afar, remaining out of immediate danger, and retreating at will. It was a luxury Rion yearned for.
Can't wait to finish building my rifle. Sitting back and attacking from afar would be so much easier than diving into the chaos headfirst.
Li He and Rosa, who had been tending to their own wounds nearby, moved closer. Their expressions were tentative, a mix of guilt and admiration. "Forger," Li He started, "we owe you an apology for how we treated you when you first joined us."
Rosa nodded in agreement. "Yeah. You really saved us out there."
Rion looked up, managing a wry smile as he sprayed a coagulant on the wound. "Don't worry. It's all water under the bridge."
Li He's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "That shot you made was incredible. How did you do it? Is it a facet of your ability?"
Rion glanced at the weapon in his hands. "It was mostly thanks to this," he said, holding up his customized gun. "It's got some unique modifications."
"I noticed the peculiarities of your guns. They generate very little noise and exhibit impressive accuracy," Rosa said, his voice tinged with genuine curiosity.
Rion felt a tinge of pride at their words, a rare warmth spreading through his chest. He looked at his gun with a sense of accomplishment. "It's self-made," he said, a hint of pride in his voice. "I spent a lot of time working on the design and the modifications."
Rosa's eyes widened with genuine curiosity. "Self-made, huh? That's impressive. If it's not too much trouble, would you consider making one for me? I'd pay a fair price for something that reliable."
Rion considered his request, his mind racing with the possibilities. Although his magnetic guns were powerful, they were only the beginning of what he could achieve. The real power began from the more advanced electromagnetic versions he was working towards, but those required rare materials and equipment he hadn't yet acquired.
Selling to Rosa could be the start of a profitable venture. After all, the custom ferromagnetic bullets they required meant any buyer would be a repeat customer, ensuring a steady income. It would take a while before the method of crafting them leaked, and by then, he would have made more than enough profit from sales.
But since he had decided to sell, he needed to make the most of this opportunity and milk this man for all he was worth.
He put on a helpless expression, as if the request pained him. "Rosa, my friend," he answered, his voice tinged with fabricated regret, "It's not easy to create these, you know. Making one requires a lot of rare materials and the process is painstaking. I have to source specialized parts, and it takes a lot of time to assemble each one."
Rosa leaned forward, his interest piqued. "I understand it's a lot to ask, but I'm willing to cover the costs and then some. Your work is exceptional, and I could use a weapon like that."
Rion sighed, pretending to weigh the decision heavily. "But it won't be cheap. Both the gun and bullets require specific manufacturing processes and it'll take some time to gather everything I need. The materials alone are hard to come by, cost a fortune, and the time it takes to craft each piece..."
Rosa interrupted, nodding eagerly. "I get it. Just name your price. I've seen what your gun can do, and a weapon this powerful is worth the investment."
Li He, listening intently, chimed in. "If possible, please make one for me as well. After what you did today, you've more than proven yourself. And I can get you more customers as long as they perform up to standard."
Seeing their eagerness, Rion nodded slowly, thinking about the time and materials he would need. "Okay, I'll do it. But remember, it won't be a quick process."
Rosa nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "Deal. Just tell me how much, and I'll get it to you."
"12,000 kila for each gun. Half up front, half on delivery," Rion replied, his mind already calculating the potential profits. "And keep in mind, you'll need a steady supply of the special bullets. I'll include the first few batches for free, but after that, you'll have to buy them regularly."
"Deal," Rosa said without hesitation, extending his hand.
Whoa, that was fast. I should've asked for more....
What Rion didn't consider was that mercenaries were people who lived life on the edge. Their daily existence was a dangerous gamble, constantly navigating the fine line between life and death. As a result, the main things most of them spent their hard-earned money on were getting high, indulging in women, and better weapons. The latter was a priority for any serious mercenary, as superior firepower often meant the difference between returning from a assignment or becoming another statistic.
Rion concluded the deal with a firm handshake, sealing his commitment to making the weapons. "Alright, we'll exchange contacts. I'll let you know when the first batch is ready, and we'll arrange the transfer then."
Rosa and Li He eagerly pulled out their devices, and the three of them exchanged their contact information. As they did so, Rion's mind was already racing with the next steps. He had secured a lucrative deal, but there was always more to gain.
"By the way, I have something else you might be interested in," he said as he pulled out his retractable dagger.
He hadn't found much use for it since he remade it, but perhaps he could pass it off to these suckers with deep pockets. He pulled the discreet lever on the hilt, and the blade extended smoothly, catching the light from the warehouse bulbs.
"It's a custom-made retractable dagger," he explained, demonstrating its swift extension and retraction. "Perfect for close encounters where you need something quick and deadly. The blade is made with high carbon steel and it's both sharp and durable."
The both of them exchanged intrigued glances. Li He reached out, taking the dagger from Rion and examining it closely. "Impressive craftsmanship. How much for one of these?"
Rion smiled inwardly, realizing the potential of expanding his product line. "Since you're already getting the guns, I'll offer a discount. Hmm... How about 700 kila per dagger? I'll need some time to make them, but I can have them ready much faster than the guns."
Li He whistled appreciatively. "You're quite the bag of tricks, Forger. I'd like two of those as well."
Rosa nodded, still inspecting the dagger. "Count me in too. I'll take one."
With another round of firm handshakes, the deal was set. Rion felt a rush of satisfaction. The financial windfall from these deals would go a long way in funding his ongoing projects. "I'll get started on these first and let you know when they're ready. Shouldn't take more than a week."
As they finalized the details, he turned to Rosa with a question that had been on his mind.
"Rosa," he began, he tone casual but probing, "since you're an adept yourself, surely you have a channel to procure origintechniques. I've been looking for some advanced techniques to improve my capabilities."
Origin techniques were essential for enhancing a cultivator's abilities, and having access to a reliable source could greatly accelerate his progress.
Rosa's eyes lit up with understanding. "Ah, you're looking to expand your repertoire. I do know a place where you can get good origintechniques at discounted prices. There's a shop in the lower quarter, run by an old stryker named Malik. He's got connections and can get his hands on some rare techniques. Mention my name, and he'll give you a good deal."
Rion nodded, appreciating the tip. "Thanks. I'll definitely check it out."
As Rion sat back, feeling the pain of his wounds dull slightly under the wave of satisfaction, Bailey and the contact returned, their discussion apparently concluded.
The wiry man glanced at the team with an appraising look, his expression hard to read.
"I've heard the details from miss Bailey and I gotta say, you all did well. I'll have the payments sent to your accounts. And since there were errors on our part regarding the intel, I'm doubling the agreed amount."
This brought smiles to their faces, a sense of relief washing over them as they realized their efforts were not only recognized but rewarded generously.
With the promise of doubled payment, the team felt a renewed sense of accomplishment. They had pushed through a challenging mission and were now reaping the rewards.
As the dawn light began to filter into the warehouse, the team gathered their gear and prepared to leave. The exhaustion was evident on their faces, but so was a sense of accomplishment. Li He and Rosa walked over to Rion, their expressions grateful.
"Thanks again, Forger," Li He said, clapping Rion on the shoulder. "We couldn't have done it without you."
"Yeah, you really came through for us," Rosa added. "Looking forward to working with you more."
Rion nodded, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "It's been a wild ride, but I'm glad we pulled through together."
As they stepped out of the warehouse, the morning sun cast long shadows on the pavement. The trio said their goodbyes as the cool morning air refreshing against their weary faces and headed off in different directions.
As Rion left for the hotel, he had a smile on his face. This was just his second mission, and he had already encountered so many things that surprised him.
Indeed, the high risks and casualties in the mercenary industry were not just empty words. But the rewards were also proportional.
However, he felt that this kind of life was not bad either. After all, he had not only survived the mission but had also forged valuable connections and secured future income. He was already thinking ahead to the next steps in his projects. He had resources to gather, weapons to build, and a reputation to solidify.
But for now, all he wanted was to get back to his hotel room and have a good sleep.