The Ultimate Firepower

Chapter 7: You Can Become Famous

Upholding justice was also a way to make money.

Was there anything in this world better than that?

The only drawback was that this mission really did seem a little too difficult.

First of all, there was insufficient information. The information for this mission should have been provided by the client, but there was only one somewhat unclear side-profile photograph.

His name was Zayden Crowe, and his public identity was the owner of an Asian international investment company. He frequently operated in Shadowvale and occasionally lived in a small city in Elaris Province.

That was all the information available. Compared with that female internet celebrity, the information about this target was extremely vague.

But none of that mattered. Ethan looked at Lucan and asked seriously, "How do I accept this mission?"

"You still haven't understood the situation."

Lucan was somewhat dumbfounded. Then he said helplessly, "Actually, that woman was the mission I wanted to take. First, the money isn't bad. Second, the difficulty isn't great. We only need to consider the aftermath. Once we're done, we can leave Thalvaria. But since you said you won't take that mission, then you won't. I respect your principles."

Lucan Veyrath reached out and snatched the phone from Ethan's hand. With a helpless expression, he said, "But this mission is different. Let's not even mention that the reward is only twenty thousand three hundred dollars. The target is the boss of a fraud company, and he's also involved in human trafficking, so he's very rich. There are always many armed bodyguards around him."

"Many bodyguards?"

"Yes, armed bodyguards. Listen, the target is also a client of the dark web. He knows that there is a bounty on his head. Although he can't make the dark web cancel the mission, he can strengthen his own security. So you should be able to imagine how difficult this is, right?"

Ethan was somewhat stunned. He asked in astonishment, "You're saying that this target knows there is a bounty on his head, so he always has many people protecting him?"

"Yes. So you have to understand that the target will never go out easily. Even if he does go out, he won't give anyone a good opportunity to make a move."

Lucan Veyrath spread his hands helplessly and said, "Twenty thousand dollars isn't a lot, but there are always people who want to earn it. However, the fact that this target has remained alive until now proves that he isn't so easy to kill."

"How do you know all this so clearly?"

Lucan shrugged and said, "Because this mission is indeed quite famous. The client once posted a sympathetic message on the dark web, describing the terrible fate that had befallen his daughter and hoping that someone could help him get revenge."

"And then?"

"Of course, no one was willing to help him. Heroes only exist in comics and movies. The dark web is full of scumbags! Then the target discovered this bounty, so he demanded that the dark web remove the post accusing him. In return, he offered two hundred thousand dollars as a bounty on the client's life."

"And then? Did the dark web agree?"

Lucan let out a breath and said, "Of course not. The dark web wouldn't allow something that would severely damage its reputation to happen. Once a client posts a bounty on the dark web, the target of that bounty is absolutely prohibited from turning around and placing a bounty on the client."

Ethan felt that this was only right. Although the dark web was a product of the underground world, he felt that it still had to maintain its reputation and rules.

"That's more like it. The dark web still needs to have rules. What happened next?"

Lucan Veyrath continued, "The dark web didn't cancel the client's mission, but it deleted the client's emotional plea for help."

"So they just left a mission hanging there that no one would accept?"

"Twenty thousand dollars is the dark web's minimum standard. In other words, the minimum amount for a public mission is twenty thousand dollars. Then there's also a twenty percent service f*e, and the deadline is one year, with one year being the maximum."

Holding up one finger, Lucan continued, "After the time limit expires, the dark web will ask the client whether they want to continue the bounty. If they do, they have to pay another f*e equal to twenty percent of the bounty amount, and the bounty must also be increased. However, there is no limit on how much the amount has to be increased. That's why the client of this mission only adds one hundred dollars each year, along with a four-thousand-dollar service f*e."

Ethan frowned and asked, "Then if the mission is completed, we'll definitely receive the commission?"

"Yes. The commission has already been given to the dark web. When the time comes, the dark web will be the one paying us, so there's no need to worry about not getting paid."

After learning a little more about the dark web, Ethan thought for a moment and said, "This mission really doesn't pay much, but I want to take it."

The expression on Lucan Veyrath's face became troubled. He said quietly, "Listen to me first. If we take this mission, first of all, we need intelligence. We have to know the target's detailed situation. We either collect the intelligence ourselves, or we'll have to spend money to buy it, and we don't even know how much it will cost."

"What else?"

"Also, we need to go to Shadowvale to make our move. I don't know which city exactly, but without a doubt, we'll need to leave Thalvaria and enter northern Myrrhavia. That's very dangerous. Our faces will be very conspicuous in a place like that, especially mine."

"Hmm..."

"The target is very likely protected by local armed forces. So even if we kill the target, we'll still need to withdraw safely. To be honest, I think twenty thousand three hundred dollars will very likely cause us to lose money!"

After finishing, Lucan said seriously, "Aside from those drug addicts who have fried their brains with drugs, who would be stupid enough to accept a mission like this? As for registered killers, they're even less willing to take it."

Ethan hesitated for a moment before saying, "If others aren't willing, I am! It sounds like a terrible deal, but have you thought about it? Completing this mission can make us famous!"

Lucan suddenly froze. Then, somewhat conflicted, he said, "But, but becoming famous... Hmm, becoming famous isn't bad either."

Ethan said very seriously, "This is my first mission. I'm not trying to make a lot of money. I just want to practice, and I want to become famous. I can make you famous too. Anyway, killing scum like this makes me feel good, and as for you, as long as you don't lose money, you're still making a profit. As long as there's a profit, that's enough. Small profits with high volume."

It seemed that becoming famous really appealed to Lucan, and he hesitated.

After thinking deeply for a moment, Lucan frowned as if he were in pain. Then he casually said, "I'll try to gather some intelligence. If the intelligence isn't expensive, we can consider it."

Lucan suddenly agreed. It seemed that his principles weren't all that strong after all.

Looking back at the two bodyguards outside the door, Lucan sighed and said, "This mission requires you to make the move, but I'll be responsible for the intelligence and the preparations for entering and withdrawing. I'll also have to cover all the upfront expenses. So I want to split both the costs and the commission equally. Agreed?"

"I agree!"

Lucan clapped his hands and rubbed them together. Then he extended his right hand toward Ethan and said, "Then it's decided. Once you've fully recovered and we've confirmed that this mission can be taken, I'll accept it."

As if he were afraid that Lucan would change his mind, Ethan immediately grabbed Lucan Veyrath's hand.

Actually, how much money he made wasn't important. Ethan felt that there was no way he could repay what he owed Lucan with just one mission anyway. So, taking a mission that could make him feel good was indeed worthwhile.

"What you said is fine, but I have one more condition. During the period when I can move around but haven't fully recovered yet, can you take me to practice shooting? I've never used a gun before, so I'm not familiar with firearms."

The first time Ethan had ever touched a gun in his life, he had shot someone dead. But all his knowledge about guns came from movies and things he had seen online. So although his record was impressive, he really didn't know how to use a gun very well.

If he really became a killer in the future, it would be hard to justify not even knowing how to use a gun.

Ethan's request was not excessive, and Lucan readily said, "Fine! I'll take you to a shooting range, but I have to make it clear that you'll pay all the money yourself. I'll only advance the money for you."