Chapter 78

Gaines removed his helmet, wiped his leather shoes, and then approached the construction team with the folder in his hands.

"Xiao Wang, the white guy is here, stop squatting," a dark-skinned middle-aged man with dimples and messy sideburns said, kicking the young man beside him.

Xiao Wang squinted his eyes and took a few final puffs of his cigarette. After savoring the taste, he reluctantly dropped it on the ground, stamped it out with his heel, and stood up, scratching his head. "This Yankee's cigarettes are really good. Daozu, Brother Guo, what's there to fear from that white guy? He didn't even dare to talk back when he was scolded just now."

"It's not a bad thing to learn to be cautious when you're relying on others for a living abroad. You can earn some money, go back home, and not have to stay in Africa. Mosquito bites are nothing compared to the absence of women; you guys are hugging each other every day," Brother Guo joked.

Xiao Wang suddenly looked embarrassed, and some of their comrades nearby lowered their heads and chuckled at the banter.

"Hey, Guo!" Fortunately, Gaines intervened at this moment, opening the folder to reveal design drawings, complete with dimensions and translated instructions in Chinese for the convenience of the Chinese workers. Gaines held up three fingers, indicating, "Three days. These bungalows need to be built within three days. Overtime work at night will be necessary, and I'll make sure you get paid for that."

Gaines understood the importance of maintaining a good relationship with his Chinese workers, even if there might be some racial discrimination underlying the situation.

Brother Guo considered the request and nodded, "Alright."

Gaines patted him on the shoulder happily and handed him a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, "By the way, don't wander around, especially near the airport warehouse."

"Understood, we'll be cautious," Guo Ge affirmed.

After Gaines left, Xiao Wang leaned in, curious yet cautious. "Brother Guo, what's inside that warehouse? You were the one who met the person in charge. Tell us about it."

Brother Guo raised an eyebrow sternly, warning Xiao Wang, "Don't pry into things you shouldn't be concerned with. Let's focus on doing our job properly. And as for you, Xiao Wang, remember, I brought you here from home, so don't embarrass me. Keep your nose clean and don't gossip."

Xiao Wang smiled and waved his hands, "Of course, you're like my big brother. I won't cause trouble for you. But, you know, that warehouse..."

Could there be something valuable inside?

…

When Robert arrived at Tangdao's office, the door was ajar, and he pushed it open. Tangdao was on the phone, speaking fervently. "A sniper rifle? Of course, Soviet products! Dragnov SVD sniper rifle, $2,000 each! What? You say the effective range of 800 meters is too short? My dear sir, you stand 1,000 meters away, and I'll take a shot at you. If you survive, I'll give you all the weapons for free. Just kidding! You know I like to joke. This price is very reasonable. Otherwise, given our acquaintanceship, it wouldn't be this cheap. Ten pieces? Alright, I'll prepare them, and you can pick them up later."

*Slap!*

After hanging up the phone, Tangdao pointed at it and exclaimed, "Cheap! I only got $20,000 out of that guy after all that talk. What a cheapskate!" He then wiped off his sweat with a towel hanging on the wall. Somalia's weather was scorching, and water was in short supply, making it impossible for him to take a shower for days.

Tangdao nodded at Robert as he entered, asking, "How's it going?"

"I've placed the order," Robert replied.

Tangdao leaned back, "How about Pierce? Have you recruited the people?"

Robert's ears perked up when he heard the name Pierce.

"Of course, I found 165 comrades-in-arms, most of them from the 82nd Division," Pierce's voice on the phone was full of enthusiasm.

"165 veterans?" Tangdao was impressed by the number but quickly praised Pierce's efficiency. "Good job. You'll receive a bonus when you come back."

He was well aware of the precarious situation at the airport, and these veterans would serve as a vital defense against potential threats. While their tactical skills might be rusty, as long as they could handle a gun, they would be valuable.

Pierce continued, "Boss, Mr. Felix contacted me. He asked me to do him a favor."

Tangdao was intrigued by this request, "A favor? Tell me more."

"He wants me to help him kill someone!" Pierce lowered his voice.

"Kill?" Tangdao raised his eyebrows, suddenly becoming interested. "Is Mr. Lawyer that daring? What's the target?"

"I don't know the target; it's a director named Meadows Cameron. Apparently, he... had an affair with Felix's wife."

Ah, that explained it.

Tangdao sat upright, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. "You think, if Felix killed his wife himself, would he still have a way out?"

…