Mercenary’s War

Chapter 2305 - 2281: Ghost Story

The military is a group that tends to keep women away because, in many ways, women face numerous inconveniences and are inherently at a disadvantage.

Even if women join the military, they mostly engage in medical, clerical, and other such roles. Further advancement typically involves operating weapons as tank drivers, pilots, and similar positions.

As for roles that require fighting face-to-face with the enemy on the frontlines, women are extremely rare. However, if a woman can hold her ground in these male-dominated positions, she must be exceptionally outstanding, and incredibly so.

Undoubtedly, snipers are frontline soldiers who need to engage directly with the enemy. Phoenix appearing on the battlefield as a sniper and achieving results already speaks to her capability.

However, for Phoenix to go into enemy territory alone and use an enemy’s gun to kill three people she had a grudge against, that’s not just about capability.

First, Phoenix must be ruthless; someone who’s not would never do something so decisive. Then she must be smart, knowing which route her targets would patrol and when reinforcements might arrive at the soonest.

Don’t underestimate the act of ambushing a U.S. Army patrol in Iraq. Countless people have tried, and many have died without success. But Phoenix not only succeeded, she even had time to set up a scapegoat. Someone not smart enough simply couldn’t achieve this.

Ruthless, smart, and incredibly capable, Phoenix did something most wouldn’t dare to dream of doing, and she succeeded.

Murphy’s account of Phoenix’s actions left Gao Yang utterly amazed; he could scarcely believe Murphy’s words.

But now, Murphy is saying that Phoenix’s second kill, eliminating the last person who had wronged her, is even more difficult and ridiculous—how can anyone believe that?

"Tell me, how did Phoenix kill the last person?"

Gao Yang was genuinely interested.

Murphy said with a serious expression, "The process of killing the last person is unbelievable."

Gao Yang leaned forward slightly, involuntarily, as he really wanted to know what incredible thing Phoenix had accomplished.

Then Murphy, very seriously, said, "The most unbelievable part is that no one can figure out how Phoenix did it!"

Gao Yang nearly toppled forward.

Gao Yang, who was intensely focused and ready to be shocked, exclaimed angrily, "F**k! Are you messing with me? What does that mean?"

Murphy calmly replied, "I mentioned there were four people who wronged Phoenix at the time."

"Yes."

"Three of them were already dead by her hands, even though everyone thought it was the Iraqis who did it. We knew it was her."

"I doubt that, but let’s assume that’s the case. Go on."

"So it’s only normal to suspect that Phoenix was behind the last one’s death too, right?"

"That suspicion is quite reasonable. And then?"

Murphy said slightly helplessly, "I can’t find out or even figure out how Phoenix could have done it because, to me, it seems impossible. But aside from Phoenix, no one else would have the motive to kill the last one. Hold on, let me tell you why it’s so unbelievable."

Murphy put on a storytelling face and solemnly said, "After being wronged, Phoenix’s first option was to report it to her superiors, hoping for justice and for the villains to be punished. But the matter was brushed aside, so Phoenix took action herself. She killed those three men.

No one thought it was Phoenix who did it, but the remaining one felt that it might have something to do with her, though no one believed him. Therefore, he actively requested to be transferred. He was initially in Baghdad but applied for a transfer to continue serving elsewhere. He succeeded and was sent to Mosul during a large military operation."

Gao Yang spread his hands.

Murphy continued seriously, "On the night he was transferred to Mosul, he was killed in his barracks, stabbed to death with a knife."

Gao Yang asked, puzzled, "Are you sure Phoenix did this? Mosul is 300 kilometers from Baghdad, and Phoenix was in Baghdad. You think someone in Baghdad did this to someone who died in Mosul?"

Murphy smiled and said, "Doubtful, right? I’m also doubtful. But the guy got slashed in the throat and chest, and he was castrated, all in his quarters, dying silently in his bed with three roommates in the same room. But no one knows when he died, and no one heard or saw anything."

Gao Yang took a deep breath and said, "This isn’t possible! Are you telling ghost stories?"

Murphy shrugged and said, "Let me finish. The incident caused quite a stir, and the roommates were investigated for a long time. The conclusion was that they were innocent. However, the sentinels said a woman had entered their camp, a stranger, a female soldier. But since she was presumably one of their own, they didn’t stop the stranger from entering."

Gao Yang said dumbfoundedly, "F**k, that’s just impossible."

Murphy continued to smile and said, "Then the problem circles back to Phoenix. Her comrades said she did disappear for an entire day because she was on a routine mission, setting up a sniper position on high ground to monitor streets. She exceeded the allotted time before returning to the camp, and her comrades launched a search, thinking she was missing."

Gao Yang shook his head and said, "Ridiculous, buddy, what you’re saying is ridiculous."

Murphy looked at Gao Yang and said, "No one else but Phoenix had a reason to kill the man who died in his barracks. The one with a motive to kill him disappeared for a whole day, and a sentinel saw an unknown female soldier appear. Don’t these factors sufficiently prove that Phoenix killed that person?"

Gao Yang yelled angrily, "That’s bullshit evidence, it’s just your speculation."

Murphy calmly said, "I’ve been in the FBI for many years, and I’ve handled many cases. Trust me, when you eliminate all suspects, the last one remaining must be the perpetrator, no matter how unreasonable or unbelievable it seems. But the perpetrator is the perpetrator."

Gao Yang pointed at Murphy and said, "I have just one question, how did Phoenix get to Mosul, 300 kilometers away, kill someone, and return to Baghdad? Just answer that one question for me."

Murphy sighed and said, "I don’t know, I can’t figure it out, but I’m sure Phoenix did it because only she had enough reason to do it."

Gao Yang shook his head and said, "I’d love to believe it was Phoenix because she’s with me now. If she’s that amazing, I’d be thrilled, but I still can’t believe it because it’s too hard; it’s simply impossible for one person to accomplish."

Murphy said solemnly, "Well, how about asking her? This question has troubled me for a long time, and I really want to know the answer."