Mercenary’s War

Chapter 2304 - 2280: Transcendent Undying Bird

Gao Yang, in a moment of impulsion, decided to lay everything out clearly.

It wasn’t entirely due to impulsion; his relationship with the Cleaner had become so intertwined that it was better to speak some things openly.

Phoenix was recommended by the Cleaner, not recruited by Gao Yang himself, which was the crux of the problem. No matter how Gao Yang situated Phoenix, it seemed somewhat inappropriate.

Entrusting Phoenix with complete confidence, Gao Yang worried that there would be no secrets from the Cleaner. However, if he ignored Phoenix or simply sent her to Ukraine as he initially contemplated, the action itself showed a defensive stance towards the Cleaner.

Thus, Gao Yang straightforwardly revealed his concerns to Murphy, hoping that while Murphy knew his apprehensions, he also understood his trust and reliance on the Cleaner. Even though Gao Yang believed that Phoenix wasn’t aligned with the Cleaner, he felt compelled to voice these concerns.

However, to be honest, Gao Yang still couldn’t be certain whether Phoenix was indeed with the Cleaner because she was so mysterious. Logically, someone who was an undercover agent or on a special mission shouldn’t be this enigmatic, but who knows if Phoenix’s mystique wasn’t a deliberate charade.

Murphy gave Gao Yang the answer he wanted, and Gao Yang chose to trust him.

Even though it was just a word from Murphy, with no evidence—and obviously, there couldn’t be any evidence—Gao Yang still chose to trust him.

Given the current situation, there was absolutely no need for the Cleaner to plant an undercover in Satan’s domain, and Gao Yang had faith in Murphy.

"Great, then I’m reassured."

Gao Yang didn’t need to explain to Murphy why he asked these questions. Some things are better left unspoken, as saying them aloud might hurt feelings. Everyone is walking on the edge of the abyss; being cautious is warranted.

Having asked his questions, Murphy then posed one: staring at Gao Yang with a serious expression, he asked, "Now, do you know more about Phoenix?"

Waving his hand, Gao Yang replied, "I know a bit, but this woman speaks too little, making it hard to understand her past. The reason I asked you was simply because I’m a bit worried about someone whose past is completely unknown. But, well, Phoenix sure is a good sniper."

Murphy smirked and softly said, "I can’t claim Phoenix is the best sniper, but I can definitely say she is the best female sniper."

Gao Yang was silent for a moment and then said, "Uh, well, I have a different opinion, but you aren’t wrong either. I think the most capable one is dead, so if you say Phoenix is the best female sniper, that’s not wrong."

Shaking his head, Murphy said, "No, from the day Phoenix became a sniper, she’s been the best female sniper, surpassing all others."

Gao Yang scoffed and said, "Come on, I was almost killed by a woman. I was hit, overpowered, and the Iron Madonna was taken right from under my nose. If it wasn’t for that woman, who knows if the Iron Madonna would still exist? So, Phoenix is indeed impressive, but definitely not the best."

Gao Yang, of course, was referring to Specter. That woman had left a profound impression on him.

Murphy smirked dismissively and said seriously, "I don’t intend to argue over who is the best with you, but do you truly understand Phoenix’s past?"

Frowning, Gao Yang gestured with his hand and said, "A little, Phoenix isn’t a great conversationalist."

Murphy sighed and said, "I actually wanted Phoenix to join my team. For a job where waiting takes up most of the time, Phoenix is excellent, but she’s too dangerous, so I gave up on her. Yet an unrestrained Mercenary Group suits Phoenix, which is why I recommended her to you because I genuinely think she’s a talent, perfect for you."

Gao Yang shook his head and said, "I don’t get it. Phoenix has great patience, suitable for jobs requiring long waits."

Murphy sighed and said, "She... is inherently a killer."

Gao Yang widened his eyes in disbelief and said, "Doesn’t seem like it!"

Murphy wiped his mouth with a hand and said, "If you observed her while she shoots, you’d find that after she kills someone, she smiles genuinely—not from happiness for any other reason, but purely because she enjoys the kill."

Gao Yang, surprised, responded, "Honestly, I haven’t noticed that. During shooting practice, she seems normal."

Murphy seriously said, "You can’t see through this woman, but I did. Why? Because I studied her for a long time. She’s a serial killer, one that only I could uncover. Because I understood her, I chose not to expose her and instead offered her to you."

Gao Yang was bewildered.

Smiling slightly, Murphy continued, "Phoenix went to Iraq. On her third day there, she was sexually assaulted by a drunken officer and her comrades. Can you guess what happened next?"

"What happened?"

"In the American military, such incidents are actually quite common. You know that filing a complaint is pointless, right?"

"Uh, I really didn’t know that..."

"Well, about a month later, Phoenix’s officer was shot in the head by a sniper. Along with him, two others were killed, with bullets fired by the same SVD. Four survived, called reinforcements, and they bombed the sniper’s hideout.

A month later, another soldier was shot in the head by a sniper. In Iraq, such incidents are commonplace, but what if these four were the ones who took turns assaulting Phoenix?"

Gao Yang had already guessed it, but he still exclaimed in disbelief, "That’s impossible."

Murphy smiled and said, "The first time, when three were killed, reinforcements searched the bombed building and found a corpse holding a Sniper Rifle. But I’ve already spoken to the coroner at the time. Puzzled, he recalled that the corpse holding the Sniper Rifle had been dead for at least six hours."

Gao Yang couldn’t help but gulp, making an audible gulping sound.

Murphy crossed his hands and said, "Think about it: a woman, after learning about her comrades’ and officer’s patrol route for the next day, arrives at a location occupied by hostile forces the night before, kills a sniper there, uses that sniper’s rifle to eliminate those who assaulted her, and returns to camp on time..."

Gao Yang immediately said, "That’s crazy! Unless I’m at the end of my rope, I would never dare to take such a risk!"

Murphy snapped his fingers with a smile and said, "Yes, it’s insane. When I first realized this possibility, it seemed unbelievable. But the second incident, where only one person was killed, was even more astonishing. Want to hear about it?"