As the old saying goes, there are no pies falling from the sky.
Song Heping soon understood that the money for Angel's "seemingly nice" order was not easy to earn.
Because she needed to go to a place—Krasa Town.
"Krasa Town?"
The cook furrowed his brow after hearing this.
He was not familiar with the name, so he quickly took out a map for Angel.
"Miss Angel, I want to know where Krasa Town is," he said.
"Let me see the map..."
Angel took the map from the cook and pulled out a PAD from her bag, seemingly opening another map.
Song Heping noticed this detail.
It was obvious that the Krasa Town Angel was supposed to visit was designated by someone else; even she was not clear about the exact location of this so-called Krasa Town.
Angel appeared to be cautious, merely opening it to confirm and then quickly shutting it off, as if the PAD contained some secret.
Song Heping also paid attention to the style of the PAD.
From the looks of it, it did not seem to be for civilian use.
He could almost be certain that it was military gear.
The direct differences between military and civilian gear are durability, stability, and confidentiality.
But military gear usually has a more minimalist appearance, making it easy to recognize.
A journalist, using a device with such high confidentiality.
Song Heping couldn't help but harbor some doubts about Angel's identity.
"Here!"
Angel's finger finally landed on the map.
When everyone saw that location, they all gasped in shock.
Krasa Town was located about 30 kilometers northeast of Haditha, a strategic stronghold of Illiguo.
Haditha was not far from Baghdad, only 220 kilometers away.
But the issue was, it wasn't just close to Haditha; it was also near Han Bagdad.
Both locations were currently among the most active areas for anti-American militants, frequently appearing in recent news about conflicts.
Although the US Army claimed to have taken control of Haditha, Song Heping did not believe those braggarts.
Before, they also said they controlled the whole Baghdad!
The hell they did, weren't Ah Guan and Tan Fatty killed in a roadside ambush?
Controlling nothing at all!
Every single word spoken at the press conferences by these braggers from the US can't be trusted!
The cook clearly realized the gravity of the situation as well.
Indeed, risk and return are directly proportional.
There's no such thing as an easy and lucrative deal in this world.
If they were to travel from Baghdad to Krasa Town, it would mean traveling along the westward highway through military strongholds like Fallujah, Habbaniyah, and Ramadi to get there. Although the 200-plus kilometers seemed not far, the chance of getting attacked along the way was nearly 100 percent.
Even though there would be an escort from a squadron of the Eligo Security Forces, everyone knew the combat effectiveness of the local forces in Illiguo; they were unreliable in a crisis.
The cook and Song Heping looked at each other.
This place...
Was troublesome to deal with...
It was already quite unsafe around Baghdad, let alone having to travel over 200 kilometers west along the highway...
"What, you can't handle it?"
Angel noticed their hesitation.
The cook quickly denied it, "It's not that we can't, but I have a question..."
After all, how could a man admit he was incapable?
His gaze fixed on Angel's face, as if trying to find the answer he wanted from her expression.
"Why don't you hire Black Water to arrange a better security team for you? Like the previous Mad Dog Lars, he has retired SAS members under him, and with your security budget, here in Baghdad you could find ex-special forces members from groups like the Seals..."
The cook's speech slowed, his confusion clearly growing.
It's not that there aren't competent mercenaries in Baghdad.
As long as the price is right.
Ex-Seals, ex-Delta, ex-SAS officers, they all could be hired to offer security services.
But Angel opted to hire the obscure little group known as "Musician" for fifteen thousand US dollars a day.
It was truly baffling.
"I don't trust them!" Angel was very straightforward, answering without a hint of hesitation, she countered, "You all are Russians, right?"
Her gaze lifted, landing on Song Heping, "You are from China, right?"
"That's right..."
"Yes..."
Everyone nodded like fools, completely baffled.
What's with the Russians?
What's with the Chinese?
Does this girl have some kind of special fetish?
"That's right, I don't trust Americans, nor Da Ying people. You being Russians and Chinese is right, I trust you."
As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked.
Not trust Americans?
But you are an American!
Not trust Da Ying?
Isn't Da Ying America's most loyal ally?
The first thought that popped into Song Heping's mind was —
This girl must be somewhat crazy!
The chef, however, displayed high professionalism; since the client didn't want to elaborate, he didn't ask further.
Take the money, do the job, solve other people's problems.
Being a mercenary, one must have the consciousness of a mercenary.
It didn't matter whether the girl's words were true or false, as long as the US dollars she gave were real.
He changed the subject, "Miss Angel, when do you plan to go to Krasa Town?"
Angel said, "I've arranged with the interviewee to meet at 8 PM on Friday night in Krasa Town, and he'll tell me the exact meeting place once I get there."
"You don't know the exact meeting spot?" the chef asked.
Angel shook her head, "No."
"Do you have a detailed itinerary?" the chef said, "I need to make some necessary preparations in advance."
Angel continued astonishingly, "I don't have an itinerary."
"Then, how long do you plan to stay here?"
"Not sure, maybe a few days, maybe a few months."
No exact meeting place or time.
No itinerary.
No definite duration of stay.
Nothing at all...
Everything looked so suspicious.
Song Heping even felt that Angel was not here in Eligo to interview for news but rather to meet someone secretly.
As for what kind of informant, he couldn't guess.
In the end, the chef could only say helplessly, "Okay, if we go to Krasa Town, then we'll depart on Friday morning. If nothing unexpected happens on the road, we should arrive there by the afternoon. After meeting, find a safe place to stay overnight, and hurry back to the Green Zone at daybreak."
After settling the time, the chef stood up to leave.
Upon exiting the hotel lobby, Grey Wolf immediately expressed his doubts, "Does this situation feel wrong to anyone else?"
The chef said, "You think you're the only one who feels that way? Who feels it's right? Everyone thinks it's suspicious!"
Grey Wolf said, "Then why are you still taking this job?"
The chef glared at Grey Wolf and said, "Do we have a choice? Fifteen thousand US dollars a day! A day! We've been here nearly a month, have we ever taken such a lucrative job? Stop thinking about it, go back immediately to procure ammunition, and get ready. We depart on Friday morning..."
White Bear said, "Boss, our Opel car broke down, and now we're left with just one Patrol SUV, and that's not enough."
The Opel Car had its radiator and fuel system punctured during a battle yesterday, leaked oil all over after managing to make it back to the Green Zone, and by this morning, it was totally incapacitated.
Taken to the garage, they said it would take a week to repair, but since they need to depart for Krasa Town by Friday, there isn't enough time.
Now, the entire Mercenary Group was down to one SUV.
Even Song Heping, who was moved to despair by the poverty, shook his head.
He felt that he hadn't joined a mercenary group, but a startup team.
This wasn't finding a job; it was like getting in on the ground floor of a company's stock.
"No worries!" the chef declared with a grand gesture, not a bit of hesitation, "I'll handle the car situation."