King Of War: Starting with Arms Dealer

The armed patrol boat was quite large, and even with Joe Ga and his men crowded onto a single one, there was still plenty of space left over.

From a distance of over a dozen meters, Joe Ga could still hear TC's frenzied interrogation.

He purposely waited for TC to vent before he hopped over to the boat, ready to inquire about the situation downstream since their numbers didn't add up.

The four of them were clearly trying to attract the attention of their pursuers, obviously providing cover for others.

If Joe Ga had been on the scene at that time, he might have been deceived, but fooling a jungle veteran was another matter entirely.

Joe Ga needed to know how many were left, their equipment configuration, the exact location of their hideout, and their plans.

Joe Ga walked over to TC, not in a hurry to question the prisoner, but instead, looking at the bloodshot-eyed TC, he asked, "Do you know this guy?"

TC held respect for Joe Ga and nodded slightly, replying, "Philip Larson, codenamed 'Syringe', retired second lieutenant from the airborne rescue squad."@@novelbin@@

Joe Ga was taken aback for a moment, as the airborne rescue squad wasn't just any unit; it was comprised of the elite of the elite. They might not be the toughest fighters, but their prospects after leaving the military were definitely better than those from other branches.

"An airborne rescue squad member becoming a mercenary?" Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

Joe Ga muttered curiously and then turned to 'Syringe', saying, "How much did Harlotte pay you guys to come to Africa and seek death?"

As he spoke, Joe Ga patted his head, saying, "Where's Jack Heinz? You arrived in Kinshasa on the same plane and he led you to ambush my gold mine.

Where is he? The SEALs aren't that easy to kill, are they?"

'Syringe' had all his vigor drained away; he didn't speak, but it was the bearded 'Smoker' next to him who, in disbelief, looked at Joe Ga and said, "You guys knew we were coming all along?"

Joe Ga spread his hands with a hint of regret, saying, "Not exactly early. By the time we found clues about you guys, you had already entered the Congo jungle.

At that time, there was a coup in the north of Central Africa, so I didn't have time to bother with you guys.

But I never imagined that instead of going directly after P.B., you would massacre innocent natives.

I know you might have done this elsewhere, but not in my territory...

You're as good as dead, my men will flay your skin and hang your bodies up to dry on the trees.

You will be alive to see it happen!

This is our attitude towards the Evil Ghosts!"

'Syringe' was clearly impressed by the methods of jungle veterans; he suddenly looked up and exclaimed, "No, we didn't kill any natives at all, our target was the gold mine!"

As he spoke, this rather handsome middle-aged man looked at TC pleadingly, "Kill me, please. Out of respect for our camaraderie, grant me a quick death. Don't let my body be shamed after dying."

TC hadn't witnessed the jungle veterans' methods; he thought Joe Ga was just joking.

Seeing the emotionally shattered 'Syringe' begging, TC furrowed his brow and said, "Why did you come here?"

'Syringe' glanced at Joe Ga and then told TC, "It's for Jack.

This guy killed Bill Heinz in America, and Jack wanted to avenge his father."

With that, 'Syringe' looked at TC with a bitter expression and said, "TC, we didn't come here for the money, it's because we..."

TC, with a complex expression, said solemnly, "Because you owed a debt to the Heinz family!

What the hell did you do?"

'Syringe' looked down helplessly and said, "I accidentally killed a mother and her daughter in Iraq, then got addicted to drugs, which caused a comrade to be sacrificed during a mission.

It was Bill Heinz who helped me resolve the issue, allowing me to retire peacefully in the end.

TC, I've been working in an emergency center in Washington lately. I didn't want to come here, but I had no choice; the Heinz family's 'Accountant' had evidence of my crime.

Only if Jack makes it back alive can my family remain unaffected."

Speaking, 'Syringe' looked at TC, whose expression was complex, and painfully said, "TC, I haven't killed any natives, but we've lost. Give me a quick end, please. Don't let me fall into the hands of those monsters."

At this point, TC was like a deflated balloon, sitting on the deck, shaking his head in wry amusement, "Debts to Heinz cannot be owed; how could you be so foolish?"

Joe Ga was confused by the conversation between the two. He knew about 'Heinz Farm', but now it seemed that 'Syringe' had come because of an 'obligation', which he found strange. What was the 'debt to Heinz'?

Looking at the utterly dejected TC, Joe Ga frowned and said, "What are you talking about? What the hell is a debt to the Heinz family?"

With a complex expression, TC replied, "It's not just some stuff; it's a pact with the devil."

With that, TC glanced at 'Syringe' and then told Joe Ga, "The Heinz family lineage traced back to the Civil War era, surviving to the present day. The ancestors of Heinz had been generals in the Southern forces, who after defeat surrendered and joined the Northern forces.

In the past, many of the Heinz family served in various positions across the American military, but this family had a peculiar habit—they were 'eager to help', yet they required those they saved to sign a debt.

They would look for suitable candidates within the military to extend a helping hand when they were in dire straits.

Subsequently, some of these people formed Heinz's private soldiers, while the rest were obligated by 'debt' to complete one or two missions for the Heinz family before they were released...

The Heinz family's 'Accountant' once approached me, when I misused medicine and caused the death of an American colonel; he offered to help me conceal the truth, but at the price of a debt."

Curious, Joe Ga asked, "So did you sign it?"

TC glanced at 'Syringe' and shook his head, saying, "I didn't, so I was kicked out of the military, and I spent a year in a military prison.

I never realized there were so many others with similar plights. I specifically looked into the Heinz family, and their line has dwindled to just a few."

'Smoker' never expected to meet someone with a similar experience. He chuckled bitterly and said, "Even if the Heinz family is down to one person, as long as the 'Accountant' is around, those debts will always exist.

No one can default on them, because the price is more than we can afford."

This time, Joe Ga began to grasp something. He rubbed his chin and said, "Instead of saying the Heinz family is powerful, it might be more fitting to say that the 'Accountant' is the powerful one.

After all these years, with the Heinz family holding so many 'debts,' has no one really tried to resist?

People who do bad things can easily climb to high positions if they're lucky. I find it hard to believe that the Heinz family has continued to this day."

Upon hearing this, 'Smoker' shook his head and said, "How could there not have been resistance? The Heinz was once a large family, but now, only one person is left.

The habits of the Heinz family have always given them the ability to rebel. They've suffered several major losses over the decades, but they've continued because of the 'Accountant's' existence."

'Smoker' looked at Joe Ga with a strange expression and said, "It was you who killed Jack's father and three uncles."

Joe Ga curiously looked at 'Smoker' and asked, "Why do I feel like you don't hate the Heinz family at all?"

'Smoker' answered with a wry smile, "Because Bill Heinz was my instructor. He saved my life, and he helped me out when I erred. Without him, I would have died long ago. Even if I were alive, my life would have been a mess.

Why should I hate him? This is a debt, a debt I should repay!"

Joe Ga felt some admiration for people who valued loyalty. He nodded and said with a smile, "So, have you paid off that debt now?

By your logic, Jack has to make it back to America alive for your families to be free from the 'Accountant's' harassment.

So, I suppose you definitely won't tell me where Jack is, right?"

'Smoker' nodded solemnly and said, "Jack needs to be alive, so..."

Joe Ga cut off 'Smoker' with a laugh, saying, "So we just follow the support ship coming from the east, and we'll find Jack.

All we have to do is kill him, and your deaths will become meaningless!"

Joe Ga looked at the horrified 'Syringe' and laughed as he said, "Let me think. If Jack died, the 'Accountant' would expose your dirty secrets...

Your pension would be reclaimed, the Iraqi Government would initiate accountability for their own people's justice, no one would help you, because you'd be dead.

Your wife and children would become relatives of an executioner. They'd be kicked out of their big house because of the seized money.

Your wife would have to leave home to work as a temp for eight dollars an hour, then your kids would have to go to the worst public schools. What's worse, under the pressure, they'd learn to smoke weed, drink excessively, and even do drugs...

Wow, that really is miserable!"

Each word Joe Ga spoke made 'Syringe's' facial muscles twitch—because everything he said was true.

They were still determined to protect Jack, but when Joe Ga revealed the existence of the support ship, they deflated like a punctured ball, losing all hope.

Joe Ga looked at the two men, broken by defeat, and suddenly said with a smile, "I can spare you, and I can even spare Jack.

But on one condition: you tell me if it's possible to dig out that 'Accountant' through Jack?

I'm very interested in that guy!"

'Smoker' showed no reaction, but a light suddenly shined in 'Syringe's' eyes...

"I'm not sure, but Jack is the last Heinz, and as long as he lives, the 'Accountant' will definitely contact him.

Don't kill Jack. He's currently in the hands of the 'Trouble Maker', severely wounded because he refused to attack the jungle natives.

Don't kill him. I can cooperate with any of your actions..."

Joe Ga rubbed his chin, looking at the two captives before him and said with a smile, "You are so loyal. Would Jack be willing to do some 'good deeds' to save you?"

As he said this, Joe Ga watched 'Smoker', whose expression dramatically changed. He said with a smile, "Don't get so excited. I'm the good guy, you're the bad guys. I'm offering you a chance to switch sides.

But there's always a price to pay for doing wrong. Don't you agree?"

'Smoker' glared at Joe Ga and demanded, "What the hell do you want?"

Joe Ga smacked his lips and said, "That Jack you're talking about is a loyal man!

I may have killed his old man, but legally speaking, his dad had it coming!

I understand that Jack hates me. But as a man of justice, I can't bear to watch a fine young man go astray."

Joe Ga said to 'Smoker', who looked as if he'd seen a ghost, "Right, seeking revenge on me is the 'wrong path'!

You've proven your loyalty to Jack. When the time comes, I'll help you test whether he reciprocates your loyalty.

His father died because he cooperated with the Glorious Society to transport drugs, and Harlotte is the Glorious Society's collaborator in America.

Jack hasn't even fully identified his real enemy in his quest for revenge. As a good man, I should remind him.

Being driven by his real enemy to seek vengeance against a good man—this is a tragedy."

'Smoker' looked at Joe Ga as if he were seeing a ghost, asking, "You want to use us to force Jack to assassinate Harlotte? Do you know who he is?"

Joe Ga replied, suddenly a bit angry, "I know he's Jack's real enemy, and he's also a bad guy!

You guys are scared of a bad man, yet you dare to trouble a good man with a gun. This is simply ludicrous!"