The mercenary team had eventually brought the speedboat to a secluded stretch of shoreline, far from the prying eyes of the harbor police. At the port, it was clear that even more meticulous preparations had been made. A nondescript white minibus was idling near the docks, flanked by two black SUVs. Several men in tactical gear stood guard, their eyes scanning the perimeter with rhythmic precision.
"Man, are those real guns they have on them?" Darno asked in a low whisper as the group walked past the SUVs. He couldn’t help but stare at the hardware strapped to the men’s chests. "They look a lot more dangerous than just a standard private security team. Those aren’t exactly mall cop pistols."
As the group continued to escort them toward the waiting minibus, the mercenaries didn’t let their guard down for a second. They boarded the vehicle along with Max and his team, maintaining a perimeter even inside the cramped interior.
"They aren’t real. They just shoot out high-velocity rubber bullets," the man sitting across from them replied. He was presumably the captain of the group, given how the others deferred to him for orders and coordination.
Whenever the mercenaries addressed him, they only referred to him as ’Cap.’ They said nothing else regarding his name or rank, and the rest of the unit spoke to each other in a series of alphanumeric code names. It was a level of operational security that made it difficult for Darno or Stephen to keep track of who was who.
"You need a very special license to operate these in this district and prove that their use is warranted for specific high-risk situations," Cap answered, tapping the receiver of his rifle. "But don’t let the ’rubber’ part fool you. They’ll still crack a rib or put a hole in a lung if you’re close enough. And we are quite efficient in using real lead when we are sent on tasks or take jobs outside of the country where the laws are a bit more... flexible."
Darno didn’t question anything else after that. The look in Cap’s eyes suggested the mercenaries were almost ready to test their rubber boots by shooting at him just to prove the point. Although Darno was intensely curious about whether his new, magically dense body would even feel the effect of a rubber projectile, he didn’t want to go through the unnecessary pain to find out.
’Wait a second... that just made me think!’ Darno realized, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. ’If I’m following this Vow to the letter, can I never go up against someone using a gun? Since I can never avoid an attack, just like I couldn’t move that table earlier, does that mean I have to just stand there and take it? My body might be getting tougher, but it can’t stop a bullet from piercing my heart, can it?’
Darno wondered if he continued to push the limits of his Vow, would his bones and skin eventually become dense enough to act as organic armor? Maybe it would get to the point where he could even block bullets using his hard skull, or by raising his forearms to shield his vital organs. It was a terrifying gamble, but in this world of superhumans, it was the only way to stay relevant.
"I doubt this particular mission is one that allows for that license of yours to be used legally, right?" Stephen asked, leaning back against the seat as the minibus pulled away from the coast.
"Well, sometimes the payment for the job warrants the fine we’ll have to pay if we get found out," Cap answered with a shrug. "We factor the legal fees into the contract. Max pays well enough that we can afford to bribe a few inspectors."
Eventually, the conversation died down. Before heading back to the Fortis Group building, which had recently been rebranded and absorbed into the Billion Bloodline empire, they made a tactical stop. Max insisted on dropping Stephen off at a private hospital for a full medical check-up. The facility was close to their headquarters, and seeing Stephen being wheeled in made Max’s mind drift toward future investments.
’We need our own medical wing,’
If there was ever a mass attack on their members and a dozen superhumans showed up at a public ER with anomalous injuries, it would certainly raise questions and lead to a government investigation that Max absolutely didn’t want. Sure, he could solve many of these problems by paying off staff, doctors, investigators, and the police, but all of those were recurring costs. In Max’s world, costs meant he was getting weaker. Every dollar spent on a bribe was a dollar not spent on expansion.
Investing in a secret, high-tech hospital or a private recovery facility where he could send his staff would be far more efficient in the long run.
’That reminds me of the other issues I have. Who would have thought that living in a rich family would bring so many logistical problems?’ Max mused, looking out the window as the city lights blurred past.
Eventually, the minibus arrived at the Billion Bloodline headquarters. As they climbed out into the cool night air of the underground garage, Darno turned to the mercenaries and thanked them once again for the timely rescue. Before they could depart, Max walked up to the Captain.
"Aron was right; you guys are incredibly reliable," Max said, his voice dropping to a professional tone. "I have a standing offer for your group. If you ever want a permanent gig, I’m happy to hire your unit as the core of our private security company. Your skills will be put to use here probably more often than you realize."
The Captain smiled, a glint of memory appearing in his eyes as he thought back to their last chaotic mission involving the powerhouse known as Hercules. Things were certainly becoming interesting in this city.
"We aren’t the best when it comes to close-quarters combat with our fists. We’re soldiers; we’re a lot better when we’re using our weapons," the Captain answered, shaking his head. "We’re in a bit of a dry period at the moment, which is why we took this local job, but most of our high-paying work comes from outside the country. I think you’re looking for permanent allies to stand by your side, and unfortunately, we aren’t the ones for that. We value our independence too much."
Cap adjusted his tactical vest and signaled to his team. "But if you ever need something done that requires a heavy hand, give us a call again. We might be able to help just like we did today."
The Captain and the rest of the mercenary group pulled away, their vehicles disappearing into the night. Darno and Max headed inside the building, taking the private elevator to the very top floor. It had been an exhausting, long night, but they weren’t ready to go to sleep just yet. They had to be awake for the next phase.
Soon, the other Rangers would be returning, and the report they brought back would determine the Billion Bloodline’s next move in the war against the Black Hounds.