Translator: _Min_ Editor: Rainystars
“Hire me! I know this area well! Are you planning to go to Liberty City or Steel City? No matter where you plan to go, as long as you say a name, I can definitely take you there!”
“…For forty-five, wait, no, forty bottle caps! My reflex is thirty-five! Shooting skill rating is B+! Hiring me will be a great choice!” A gorilla-looking mercenary squeezed from the crowd to the front, patted his chest, and said confidently.
“Handsome, don’t you want to consider me? I can not only protect you during the day but also help you fix the water pipe at night~” A certain mercenary in a nylon buckle vest winked while her arm was pressed against the bar.
Compensation of fifty caps a day!
For the survivors in the tavern, it was no different from picking up free money!
Take the fake wine in their hands as an example, a bottle of whiskey blended with inferior alcohol was already considered a “high-end product” among the survivors at the bottom of the society, and a small half bottle was enough to make people drunk for a whole day. The compensation offered by Jiang Chen was enough to let them buy two bottles in one day! Take equipment, for example, one week’s compensation could upgrade their entire gear! It was easy to imagine how tempting this job was.
Jiang Chen was not in a rush with the swarm of survivors eager to sell themselves. He asked everyone a few questions.
The bartender that received the tip also helped to ensure he got the best deal. Soon he picked two scavengers who looked clever and had reasonable credibility in this area.
The two lucky ones were named Mike Wu and Zhao Fuxiang.
Perhaps it was Jiang Chen’s illusion, but there seemed to be a lot of people with the last name Zhao in Chinatown?
Full of disappointment, the crowd around the bar gradually dispersed. Jiang Chen tossed a few large bottle caps on the bar to pay for Gris and the others’ bill and left the tavern with three people.
When the three saw the six power armors at the door, there were astonished, and the way they looked at Jiang Chen changed. If they were only envious when they saw the power armor on him, now they were completely conquered.
Other than the National Guards, who else on the entire wasteland could arm a squad with power armors?
They thought of a name already.
Except that Gris and the others were still not convinced. After all, NAC disappeared from the West Coast half a month ago. Everyone, including Gris, believed that NAC considered this area too poor, and they had withdrawn to the “rich and lavish” Asia.
The guard that he sent to gather intelligence had returned, Jiang Chen enquired.
“How is the situation?”
“The boss who sells the nutrient supply doesn’t know much about the colony, but I have heard some other interesting news.” The guard glanced at the three strangers behind Jiang Chen, then he spoke in the team communication channel.
“Let’s walk and talk.”
Jiang Chen gestured to Gris and the others behind him to follow, then he took the lead and headed for the entrance of Chinatown.
Half a step behind Jiang Chen, the guard reported.
“According to the pharmacy owner, the governor of the colony and the predators were very close, and many predators simply decided to join Zhou Guoping and became mercenaries.”
“That’s like his style, it’s nothing new,” Jiang Chen snorted, then pursed his lips, “What then?”
Zhou Guoping’s personal charm always appealed to interesting people, such as grumpy scums like predators and robbers. It was difficult for ordinary people to communicate with them, but Zhou Guoping seemed to be able to mingle with them and even negotiate business with them easily.
There was no derogation here. It was also an ability to unite the predators under one’s own banner. When bandits became bodyguards, it would promote the safety of trade routes. It was not necessarily possible with hundreds of thousands of bullets.
If the Governor of North America was given to another person, that person would not necessarily do a better job.
Jiang Chen was quite confident of himself with understanding character. If he was not confident with his ability, he would not have sent him to North America.
“The boss mentioned a name.”
“Who?” Jiang Chen asked.
“Blood Axe,” the guard continued, “one of the predator leaders who joined Zhou Guoping with his force. A month ago, he took his gang and appeared in Chinatown in the colony’s name and purchased a batch of iodine and a whole container of nutrition supply, then soon left here.”
“Interesting,” Jiang Chen touched his chin and said, “A whole container of nutrient supply, he is planning to travel far.”
“I think so too, and the radiation level where they are going must be quite high!” The guard’s tone gave a hint of excitement, “Not only that, according to the pharmacy owner, Blood Axe seemed to be searching for something for the colony.”
Searching for something?
Jiang Chen was somewhat surprised.
What is it that can turn such a large colony into an empty town overnight?
From intuition, it felt like Zhou Guoping and the people in the colony should be still alive, but where did they go.
Jiang Chen’s expression was a bit weird.
He considered himself to not be a spiritualist, but now he was questioning if a supernatural event happened…
After they left Chinatown, Jiang Chen looked at the two men and said, “I have a task now for you two. Go to Steel City and Liberty City separately to hire two mercenary groups for me. Preferably larger than 300 people, and the stronger the firepower the better. Let them come to the airport and I will pay with what they are interested in. In addition, when you are hiring, help me gather some information about something…”
Jiang Chen dictated what he was looking to learn.
After he confirmed that the two remembered, they agreed to meet at Santa Monica Airport in a week. Then, Jiang Chen urged the two to set off immediately.
After the two left, Gris, who was next to him, looked at Jiang Chen and asked.
“What about me?”
“I remember you said that you are very good at finding people?” Jiang Chen turned his head to Gris, then said, “I will give you a name now, and there are no clues other than that. How certain are you about finding this person?”
“It’s a bit difficult, but it’s nothing for me. I said that as long as the person you are looking for is on the West Coast, I’ll definitely find the person.” Gris grinned, “Of course, there is another premise, the person has to live.”
“Blood Axe,” Jiang Chen said concisely.
“A very interesting name,” Gris squinted his eyes while he rubbed his unshaven chin. “…I have heard of this man. A month ago, he took his people to join Outpost Town and turned into guards. However, in the end, he disappeared with the people in Outpost Town.”
“How confident are you?” Jiang Chen said.
“How do you know if you don’t try?” Gris shrugged, “What is the reward? If you are looking for someone—”
Jiang Chen, who was too lazy to talk nonsense with him, threw a box of bottle caps directly into his arms before he could finish. The latter who caught the iron box was slightly confused. But when opened the lid and took a look, he almost dropped the box because of astonishment.
“This is the advance payment, and it is also your activity fund,” Jiang Chen stared at Gris’s widened eyes, and said unhurriedly, “Whether he is alive or dead, I want to see him. You have ten days to complete this task. We will also meet at the airport.”
“Three, four, fi…five hundred,” Gris counted the number in the box, gulped down, looked at Jiang Chen, and said in a tone that was both joking and serious, “You are not afraid that I’ll run away with the deposit?”
“It’s only five hundred bottle caps. It may be a huge sum of money for you, but it’s not a big deal to me,” Jiang Chen said nonchalantly, and shrugged, “If you run away with the money, at most I will spend twice the amount for the price of your life.”
The undertone in his statement seemed to be narrating an ordinary task, but in Gris’ ears, his heartbeat almost stopped.
A thousand caps…
Even a hundred of those cute little things were enough to give California cowboys a reason to tear him apart.
Gris felt that the iron box in his hands was turning hot.
“What’s your answer?” Jiang Chen asked patiently and ignored the expression on his face.
The heavyweight in his hands, as well as the clanking sounds made by the bottle caps, made his brain gain some clarity. He took a deep breath, looked at Jiang Chen, and said solemnly.
“I will give you news in ten days at the latest.”
Jiang Chen nodded.
“I’ll be waiting for your good news.”
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