994: Chapter 979: This is Not a Pretense 994: Chapter 979: This is Not a Pretense Clowns are meant to liven up the atmosphere at the circus, and then, perhaps they’ve got a knack for juggling balls or throwing knives with deadly accuracy.
You can’t go wrong with a nickname, and Tirado’s moniker “Clown” surely meant he had some incredible skill with throwing knives.
Clown’s skills were far too specialized; Gao Yang was definitely outmatched in this respect—this was no contest.
He could run but couldn’t climb, let alone throw knives, and Satan didn’t have anyone with that kind of talent, either.
Throwing knives might have their use in special situations, but they’re not something you’d want to rely on in battle.
However, climbing barehanded couldn’t be dismissed as useless.
Otherwise, why would counter-terrorism forces and those specializing in urban and indoor combat spend so much time diligently practicing climbing and rappelling?
Clown had caught Gao Yang off-guard, but just then, Number Thirteen spoke with a light, casual tone, “It seems you’re quite confident in yourself, but sadly, you still won’t get that double mercenary fee.
And as for the quadruple fee, don’t even think about it.”
Clown squinted his eyes and turned to look at Number Thirteen, asking in a deep voice, “You want to compete with me?”
“Mm, I’ll compete with you.”
Both men were about the same height and build, but Number Thirteen exuded an air of calm, while Clown was eager to try his luck.
Finally, with a sweep of his hand, Clown shouted, “Alright, let’s put it to the test!”
From the moment Number Thirteen stepped forward, Gao Yang felt reassured.
After hearing Clown’s words, Gao Yang pointed to a building not too far away and said, “Soon you’ll both know where to try it out.
Now, does anyone else feel underrated?
Speak up; we’re in a hurry.”
A Norwegian known by the nickname Rubik’s Cube stood up.
He was a machine gunner, and since Gao Yang had mentioned that machine gun skills could also be tested, Rubik’s Cube, considering himself an expert, certainly didn’t want to be looked down upon.
“If machine guns count, I’d like to give it a try.”
Seeing the confident Rubik’s Cube, Wild Man couldn’t help but chuckle.
Wild Man was acquainted with Glolov, and their group had joined because Glolov had recommended them.
They had fought alongside Glolov back in his Trident days, so Wild Man was quite familiar with him.
Wild Man knew that Glolov was Satan’s machine gunner, so if Rubik’s Cube wanted to compare machine gun skills, he would have to go against Glolov.
After snickering, Wild Man looked at Rubik’s Cube disdainfully and said, “Kid, when Satan’s machine gunner was mastering his craft, you were still in diapers, so you’re really in for it—you’re going to embarrass yourself and feel inferior.”
Rubik’s Cube glared and stormed over toward Wild Man.
“What the hell are you talking about?
You looking for a beating?”
Rubik’s Cube headed for Wild Man, and since the four of them were in a group, when Rubik’s Cube got agitated, the remaining three naturally wouldn’t just stand by.
On Wild Man’s side, there were four men in a group as well, and if there were to be a fight, they’d stand together.
Wild Man and his group were mercenaries from the same era as Glolov—old soldiers with an overall older age.
Although Rubik’s Cube was also in his thirties, he was still a decade younger.
Despite the age gap, neither side lacked hot-headedness.
Just as both sides were about to come to blows, Gao Yang immediately shouted, “Gentlemen, this is not the time for a fight, at least not here.
Please keep calm.
If you can’t settle down, I can help with that.”
After Gao Yang’s intervention, both groups refrained from starting a fight, but Wild Man was still making mocking faces, squeezing his eyes at the person next to him and said, “Comparing machine gun skills with Big Dog, haha, that’s the funniest joke I’ve heard.
I have to admit, these young pups really think too highly of themselves.”
Alcohol spoke with a stern voice, “Shut it.
Only a coward uses his mouth in a fight.
You should be grateful we’re not on a battlefield, or I would have shut your mouth for you long ago.”
A bunch of troublemakers, Gao Yang muttered to himself, then loudly said, “If you really want to fight, I can give you that chance.
But for now, don’t bother me—I’m not in the best of moods.
Okay, does anyone else believe they have a special talent?”
Eagle Claw sneered, “What’s a special skill?
My specialty is killing my enemies, but as an assaulter, how can I compete with you all?
What are we comparing?”
Gao Yang shrugged and replied, “Whatever you want to compete in.
If you’re good at CQB combat, that’s fine, we can test that.
If you think you’re lacking a team, then compete solo.
If you want to give it a try, I can set it up.”
After finishing, seeing that no one else had anything to say, Gao Yang snapped his fingers and said, “Let’s take it one at a time, follow me now.”
Little Donnie shouted, “Everyone, make sure to take your personal belongings!”
After a considerable walk, they reached the five-story building of the airport’s command center, the tallest structure at the airport besides the control tower.
Greeting Gilanor and letting them know that Satan would use the building as a prop for a competition, the contest between Number Thirteen and Clown began.
Gao Yang wanted to see Number Thirteen’s reach and Clown’s abilities, and Gilanor and Dani, too, were eager to witness what these new folks could do.
To them, these newcomers were part of Satan, just like Gao Yang and his crew.
“The fifth floor, one person per drainage pipe to race to the top; whether you climb directly up the pipes or find another way doesn’t matter—the route is up to you.”
Five floors aren’t very high, but for Gao Yang, climbing up with bare hands was an impossible task.
At the command, Number Thirteen and Clown started climbing simultaneously, and both of them took virtually the same approach initially—hugging the drainage pipe to ascend a section before realizing it wasn’t quite stable; so, they gave up climbing along it and used window sills instead.
Both of their speeds were fast, but in different styles.
Number Thirteen, regardless of the way he maneuvered or used the pipes as interim points to climb, was unhurried; his movements flowed naturally like drifting clouds and flowing water, seemingly effortless, mysteriously whisking him up suddenly.
Clown, on the other hand, was akin to those who practiced parkour, his motions appearing perilous, cool, and impressive.
Indeed, he climbed swiftly, and his individual actions not only made one gasp from time to time but also sparked a sincere impulse to cheer and applaud.
However, once compared, the superior and inferior were distinguished.
Number Thirteen was already figuring out how to ascend to the roof, while Clown was still struggling to climb from the third to the fourth floor.
There was an outward extension on the roof.
Number Thirteen, without hesitation or pause, exerted force on all fours and, as he leapt backwards, seized hold of the rooftop unexpectedly—it’s noteworthy that this was the topping-off of the fifth floor, and Number Thirteen hadn’t even taken a careful observation before letting himself leap.
When Number Thirteen sprang, the people below let out a collective gasp.
But, as they watched him press his hands once and vanish over the rooftop afterward, a round of relieved exhales followed.
When it was Clown’s turn to overcome the protrusion necessary to reach the rooftop, it wasn’t as slick for him.
He attempted several times before finally managing to edge over the top.
Had Number Thirteen’s prowess not overshadowed him, everyone would have deemed Clown’s performance eye-opening.
But with Number Thirteen’s exemplary skill preceding him, Clown’s competence, though not shabby, simply paled in comparison.
There’s a saying, “Comparing oneself with others can be infuriating,” and it held true—you simply couldn’t help but concede.
Seeing that both Number Thirteen and Clown had reached the rooftop, Gao Yang ceased caring about the outcome of their throwing knife competition.
Number Thirteen was an assassin.
He was accustomed to concealing everything, and when he intended to reveal his capabilities in any aspect, he did so overwhelmingly, overpowering peers.
Knowing Number Thirteen was destined to win, Gao Yang didn’t bother with the outcome.
Clown was quite good, but it was his misfortune to face an opponent like Number Thirteen.
Gao Yang clapped his hands, casually saying, “Alright, let’s not bother with the result.
I’m not interested in throwing knives, and I know that Clown is bound to lose.
So, let’s proceed to the next event.
Let’s see… what might be useful on a battlefield?
Who was it that wanted to teach me a lesson?
Get your guns ready.”
After speaking, Gao Yang smiled at Dani, “Is there a shooting range?
We need to fire a few shots.”
Gilanor immediately said, “There’s no shooting range at the airport, but I can arrange something at once, please wait, it’ll be ready shortly.”
There was ample open space within the airport.
Finding a spot was straightforward, merely a matter of setting up a few targets.
What to do without ready-made targets?
A handful of tin cans would do.
For a marksman’s competition, you don’t need substantial targets.
After setting dozens of tin cans in a line three hundred meters away, Gao Yang pointed at the cans and declared loudly, “The contest is precision shooting.
Let’s keep it close, just three hundred meters.
Surely such close targets won’t pose a challenge for you.
Alright, let’s start now.
I’ll take the first shot at the five cans on the far left.”
Gao Yang was about to shoot when his phone rang.
Answering the call, he heard Polovich’s low voice, “Ram, the people and things you’ve requested are set.”
“Sorry, just give me a minute.”
After speaking with Polovich, Gao Yang didn’t hang up the phone.
Instead, he stuffed it in his pocket, raised his gun, and shot, stepping back after each round, neither ceasing his footsteps nor his firing.
After firing five shots, Gao Yang slung his rifle over his shoulder, took his phone back out, and loudly announced, “Gentlemen, your turn to shoot.
I need to take a call, please excuse me.”
Finishing his words, Gao Yang turned and walked away.
To swagger, one must do it well.
But this time, Gao Yang wasn’t posturing.
When one lacks skill and ability, it’s called pretense; when one possesses skill and ability, it’s called character, a personal style.
After Gao Yang finished shooting, several contenders who wanted to match him quietly put down their binoculars.
Then Eagle Claw and Alcohol quietly moved aside—they weren’t planning to shoot anymore.
Meanwhile, Shotgun shouted at Gao Yang’s retreating back, “I want to challenge with the shotgun!”
Gao Yang waved his hand, signaling him to wait.
After taking a deep breath, Aimer fired a shot from a standing position.
After shooting, he hesitated, then lay down and fired another two shots from a prone position.
By the time he was ready to fire the fourth shot, Alcohol let out a sigh, and after a long hesitation, Aimer elected not to shoot again, merely standing up with a downcast face and silently joining Alcohol, hanging his head in contemplation for a moment before letting out a long sigh.
Just then, an excited Gao Yang said from the side, “Found it?
It was that quick?”
“Yes, they will arrive today—one from Syria and another from Iraq.
As for the upgrade kit you requested, there’s one from the Czech for the Mi-35 upgrade.
It will be delivered within three days!” (To be continued.
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