763: Chapter 754: A Helper 763: Chapter 754: A Helper Martin wasn’t the only one who ran out of the camp.
Behind him, Bantuna’s eyes narrowed, fixating on Gao Yang’s face without ever looking away.
Being stared at made Gao Yang uncomfortable, especially when the person staring at him was a gunman, which made him even more uneasy.
Gao Yang’s gaze moved past Martin and met Bantuna’s.
After Bantuna lowered his head and shifted his gaze elsewhere, Gao Yang said quietly, “Mr.
Craig, we need to talk alone.”
Martin was slightly astonished, but the formality in Gao Yang’s tone made him realize that something might have happened, so he quickly nodded and said, “Alright, we can take a walk around the camp.
Radar, could you please escort these two beautiful ladies back to the camp?”
After making a gesture of invitation, Bantuna turned without a word and walked ahead toward the camp.
Once Bantuna had walked a bit further away, Martin chuckled and said, “Okay, you can talk now, and just call me Martin.”
Gao Yang nodded and said, “Martin, I found the Akuri tribe, but something happened.”
Martin looked somewhat anxious and said, “What happened?
What about the Akuri tribe?”
Gao Yang took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “My judgement was not wrong.
Those members of the Akuri tribe we saw in the video are indeed waging a war of revenge, which means they have enemies they need to identify and then kill, as revenge for the members of the Akuri tribe.”
Martin anxiously said, “So, it’s serious, isn’t it?”
Gao Yang curled his lip and said, “Yeah, it is quite serious.
People from primitive tribes, you know, their dictionary doesn’t have the word forgiveness.
So, unless they complete their revenge, it’s unlikely that you will be able to film the Akuri tribe in its entirety.”
Martin stared blankly at Gao Yang and then suddenly said, “You’ve said before that you were always a member of the Akuri tribe.
Looking at you now, are you also going to join in the revenge?
You’re telling me this because you want my help, right?”
Gao Yang smiled, his striped face giving his grin a somewhat ferocious look.
After shaking his head, Gao Yang said sternly, “You misunderstand, I do not need your help, I just need you to keep silent.”
Martin spread his hands and said, “I don’t understand.
If you don’t need my help, then why are you telling me all this?”
“It’s simple.
You may not know what I actually do, and there’s no need for you to know.
Take me as a man of my word.
You’ve been a great help to me, and I want to help you complete your ethnographic filming in return.
Just act as if you are unaware of what happens here.
Once my tribe and I have taken our revenge, you then do your filming, and after the ethnographic film is finished, I will leave with the Akuri tribe.”
“I see, you just need me to keep quiet.”
Gao Yang smiled and said, “That’s one way to put it, and it won’t be bad for you at all.”
Martin waved his hand and said, “Who are you up against?
And are you certain you can handle it?
You’re just one person, and even though you’ll be acting with those primitive people, I don’t think they’ll be of much help to you.
Another key question is, can you find them?”
Gao Yang smiled and said, “I’m enough on my own, as I’ve said, you do not understand me.
Moreover, while our tribe’s people are indeed primitive, they’re not useless.
And of course, I’m confident I can find them.
So, you just need to wait for my return.”
Martin shook his finger, paced back and forth a couple of times, and with a frown said, “To be honest, I’m not much concerned about what you want to do, nor am I too concerned about the vendettas that are commonplace here.
People die every day in this place.
However, I want to shoot the documentary, so I truly hope that you come back.
Do you think there’s any way I could help you?
We could maybe ask our escorts.
I don’t know these people well, but I think they might be willing to go with you for a substantial fee.”
After thinking for a moment, Gao Yang eventually shook his head and said, “No need, really no need, though, perhaps I could borrow their guns.”
Martin nodded and said, “No problem, they’d be glad to.
I’ll go talk to them.
But are you really not going to consider bringing a couple of people with you?”
Gao Yang didn’t want the burden of extra people, so he shook his head and said, “It’s better if I go alone.
I just need a rifle that’s more suitable for the jungle; actually, it’s no big problem if that can’t happen either.”
Martin snapped his fingers and said, “Okay, I’ll keep quiet, and I’ll wait for your return.”
Martin was very compliant, which satisfied Gao Yang.
Although Martin’s attitude wouldn’t have affected him either way, Gao Yang indeed preferred a happy ending for everyone involved.
Gao Yang extended his hand in a gesture of invitation and joined Martin as he walked towards the camp.
Martin suddenly said, “I was going to ask, but now I think it’s better not to know whom you plan on going against.
So, when do you plan to leave?”
Gao Yang looked at his watch and said, “We’ll head out at dawn.
I need some rest.
After daybreak, please take me to the location where Jansen filmed that video; I need to see if I can find any traces there.”
Martin waved his hand and said, “Your tent is ready.
Go and get some good sleep.
I’ll find you a gun.”
Gao returned to the tent area without disturbing anyone.
He only met briefly with Catherine and Adele to instruct them on whom to contact and where to take the people from the Akuri tribe should they need to send them away.
After leaving Catherine’s tent, Gao found someone standing outside his own tent as he was returning.
Bantuna was holding a gun, standing outside Gao’s tent.
When Gao’s headlamp illuminated him, Bantuna said in a low voice, “You want to use my gun?”
The AK74U that Bantuna used was compact, powerful, and indeed well-suited for use in a jungle environment.
It was also suitable for Gao to use as a personal defense weapon at close range.
Gao smiled and said, “That’s right, it seems Martin has already spoken to you.”
Bantuna replied coldly, “I won’t lend or sell my gun.
I’ve already told Martin that.”
Gao, feeling rather helpless, said, “During the day, it seemed like you were keen on lending me the gun.”
Bantuna shook his head and said, “The situation is different now.
Now you need my gun to kill people.”
Gao shrugged and replied, “It’s a pity, but since you disagree, let’s forget it.”
After waiting for a moment, Bantuna suddenly said, “I don’t quite understand the meaning of the pattern on your face, but I know what you’re going to do.
Let’s put it this way, my gun is not available, but I can use my gun to do a job for you.
You pay, I kill.”
Gao became interested and smiled, “Oh, it seems you’re quite confident.
So, how do I know you’re capable of helping rather than being a burden?”
Bantuna, still with a calm face, replied, “From the first glance, I knew what kind of person you are.
You can fool Martin and the others, but not me, buddy.
We are alike.
I believe you must have a rough judgment of me.”
Being direct, Gao said plainly, “Alright, let’s speak plainly.
I know you’re someone who’s been through a lot.
Alright, then tell me your history.”
Bantuna responded gravely, “I fought for a guerrilla force for quite some time.
Then I joined the Black Panther Mercenary Group and spent a significant amount of time in Congo-Kinshasa, Sierra Leone, and Angola.
Later, I left the Black Panther Mercenary Group and led a peaceful life for a couple of years.
Now I need money, so I take jobs as a free mercenary and do some small security gigs, like joining Martin’s team.
But now, I want to earn more.
If you can pay the price, you can have my services.”
Gao frowned and said, “The Black Panther Mercenary Group?
I’ve heard of them, they’re quite famous.
But, isn’t the Black Panther Mercenary Group’s reputation more for their conduct than their combat ability?”
Bantuna replied solemnly, “That’s correct.
A bunch of utter scum, they’ve done every bad deed imaginable.
The reason I left the Black Panthers is that I still have a conscience.”
Gao snapped his fingers and said, “Be more specific.
What battles have you participated in, what type of combat, your preferred positions, your weaknesses, as well as the combat intensity you can handle.”
“I’ve been in many battles, almost all outdoors.
Well, my preferred position— I’m suitable to be a scout.
My hearing is excellent— very, very good.
My sixth sense is also sharp, and I’m known as Radar for a reason.
I’m especially good at jungle warfare.
As for what I can do, that’s quite a lot.
Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it.
I can act as your personal guard or be an assaulter.
As for combat intensity, as long as you don’t retreat, I can accompany you to the end.
If you need me to cover your withdrawal, I can do it for extra pay.
No matter how many enemies there are, I’ll let you leave before me.
As for my weakness, I’m illiterate.”
Gao smiled and said, “Very well.
Do you have any psychological issues?
You said you’re a person with a conscience.
I appreciate people with a conscience, but for a mercenary, conscience seems to be a luxury.
So what if I give an order that you find difficult to accept?”
Bantuna raised his head and said, “Sir, if you’re aware of the way the Black Panthers operate, you should understand that my conscience is relative to those scumbags.
To the average person, I probably still fall into the scumbag category.
But let me be clear, if I can’t accept your order, I’ll refund your money.”
Gao snapped his fingers and said, “Very well, name your price!”
Without hesitation, Bantuna said, “One thousand five hundred US dollars per day, or give me ten thousand dollars upfront, no time or combat frequency and intensity limits.
I can tell you plainly that I’m worth that price.”
Gao immediately reached out to Bantuna and said firmly, “Deal.
Ten thousand US dollars, half upfront and the rest after the job is done.”
After shaking Gao’s hand, Bantuna said flatly, “Deal!” (To be continued.
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