Chapter 62: Quick, Draw Your Gun!

John sat frozen in his chair, no longer swinging his legs or twitching. The bravado had been knocked out of him by reality. He looked utterly helpless. Arthur waited for a long time, then spoke up again.

"Hey, hey, don't worry about the account anymore. We can't recruit people on the dark web, let's think of another way."

John slowly lifted his head, speaking with great uncertainty. "So I got banned because I revealed my real name? That's not right, I heard...no, the dark web wasn't this strict before!"

Arthur felt that using kind words to deceive John would be irresponsible towards his life. As harsh as reality may be, one must face it.

"You didn't get banned from the dark web because you revealed your real name," Arthur said it in a very flat tone, delivering an especially cruel message. "They say you're an idiot on the dark web, so you got permanently banned for being too incompetent."

John suddenly glared at Arthur, his gaze extremely stern.

But this time Arthur did not back down. He said politely, "Okay, okay, the dark web is not where we should be playing. Let's just go the traditional route and recruit people properly. Don't you know some people in the same line of work? Introduce a couple, that's the real priority here."

John slowly exhaled. After pondering for a long time, he said resentfully, "People aren't that easy to find. Do you think recruiting PMCs is like hiring McDonald's staff? This line of work requires experience and capability!"

"Then keep looking online. Are there places with more mercenaries or PMCs, like Facebook, Instagram, or just job-posting websites? Try your luck there."

John angrily retorted, "Don't be ridiculous. This profession may be legal, but you can't just recruit people openly online like that."

"Weren't you recruiting on the dark web?"

"That's the dark web, not Facebook! If people knew you were just randomly finding people online, how would that make you look to the clients? How would that look to Mr. Smith!"

Arthur felt there wasn't much difference between the dark web and Facebook, but John didn't think so. So Arthur could only shrug and say, "Then what do you suggest we do?"

John scratched his head. "I can only try to find people I know. But, but..."

"But what?"

"But they all have stable jobs. In this line of work, a cohesive, familiar team and environment are very important. Even if you offer high pay, it's just short-term work. Who would be willing to give up their stable job to do some odd jobs? And Mr. Smith said we need legal identities. If someone can just do odd jobs, how would we get them hired by the Royal Defense?"

Arthur tried again, "But isn't that how you recruit people on the dark web?"

"The dark web is just different!" John snapped, standing up. "The point is, the dark web has plenty of cannon fodder without jobs. But getting people I know to join is a different story!"

"Okay, okay, it's different. Then think of a solution. I at least need three people, so you need to find two more."

John continued scratching his head, looking extremely helpless. "The PMC circle is very small and stable. If you're in a hurry to recruit, you won't have much choice. Let me think about who might be willing to join...Don't say anything, let me think..."

John walked a few steps, rambling on. "Legal, legal, this requirement is so troublesome. If it didn't have to be legal, I could just recruit Russians, they're cheap and effective. Let me think."

"After all these years, don't you know a few people in the same line of work? A few skilled ones?"

"Why would I know them? Aha!" John suddenly stopped, then said very seriously, "I just remembered someone. Although I really can't stand him, he's desperately short on cash, so as long as you're willing to have him, he'll join."

"What do you mean by 'can't stand him'?"

"Just...can't stand him. But he is a former special forces, a Navy SEAL member. He's in Los Angeles. How about it?"

Arthur thought it over. "I still want to know what you mean by 'can't stand him'."

"Arrogant, proud, stingy, unsociable, foul-mouthed to death, that's why no company wants him. But it doesn't matter, you can just use him to get through this period, then fire him later. Let's solve the immediate problem first."

Arthur sighed. "Okay, but that's still only one. We're still short one more."

John sighed heavily, looking utterly helpless. "Guess I'll have to go in myself."

Arthur took a careful look at John and then slowly shook his head, "Man, don't be ridiculous. You're so tired after just a short walk, there's no way you can take part in this mission in your current condition."

"It'll be better in a week, right?"

"Maybe you can be discharged, but being fully recovered and being discharged are two different things."

John impatiently said, "Don't worry about me, I'm fine."

Arthur had to speak frankly, "I'm not worried about you, I'm worried that the employer will doubt our capabilities when they see you in this state, and that will embarrass Mr. Smith."

"You... don't be so blunt."

John angrily pointed at Arthur, but quickly withdrew his finger, saying irritably, "Let's deal with one thing at a time. I'll give that bastard a call."

He rummaged in his pocket, flipped through the contacts for a while, and then said, "This is the bastard."

Arthur looked at the name note on the phone, which said "bastard", and immediately asked, "What's his name?"

"Grant. You can call him Sulfuric Acid, that's the only nickname he responds to, but he doesn't know the meaning behind it - that his face should be doused with sulfuric acid..."

John dialed the number, but it was busy, so after explaining the origin of Grant's nickname, he tried calling again, but it was still busy.

After trying a few more times over the next few minutes, it was still busy.

Finally, John had a sudden realization and then roared, "That bastard has blocked me! That bastard!"

Arthur had a dark expression, then sighed, "How about I make the call?"

"You do it, you do it! Don't waste words with him, just say we're hiring, a thousand dollars a day, and ask if he's interested. If I wasn't so desperate for manpower, I'd smash his brains in!"

John gritted his teeth in hatred, but Arthur dialed the number. After a moment, the call was answered.

"Who is this? If you're trying to sell me something, you're dead!" The tone was very rude and menacing.

Arthur hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'm..."

He looked at John questioningly, as he didn't want to recruit this Grant, but John waved his hand and said, "That bastard is at least diligent, and his abilities are not bad."

Alright, they were desperate for manpower, so Arthur settled on, "Hello, I'm the president of King Defense Company. We have a security task, one thousand dollars per day. Are you interested?"

Given that they would just be using Grant and then discarding him, Arthur definitely wouldn't start with a high price, and John had said that even good hands only get a thousand dollars a day, so he offered a daily rate of a thousand dollars.

Grant didn't immediately answer, he rudely said, "King Defense? Are you Frank?"

"No, Frank sold King Defense to me."

"Okay, I'll consider it. Wait, does that idiot Bottle Cap still work there?"

Arthur opened his mouth, looked at John, and said, "No, Bottle Cap is not involved in this task now."

"Hmm, as long as he's not there, do you have insurance?"

"I can get you personal accident insurance."

"Forget the insurance, give me fifteen hundred a day, consider it done. When do I start?"

"The sooner the better, Grant. About the price..."

"I bring my equipment, no need for insurance, fifteen hundred a day cash, agreed? I'll come over tomorrow, if not, forget it, I'm busy right now, don't waste my time."

Arthur hesitated a bit, but still said, "Alright, come over tomorrow then."

Before he could finish speaking, the call was hung up. John was jumping around anxiously next to him, saying, "You should have firmly bargained down his price, that bastard is short on cash, he's just bluffing you, you should have offered a thousand and he would have agreed."

Arthur smiled wryly, "I didn't have the heart to. Is he that capable?"

"Not a professional bodyguard, but definitely up for the job when there's trouble. The pay is worth it, otherwise I wouldn't have wanted to find him. But one is not enough, we need to find another, but who..."

Arthur said softly, "If only we didn't fire those previous employees, it would be better than having to find people now."

"Those old guys? They're only good for security work, you can't count on them for anything serious."

Just then, John's phone rang, and he answered impatiently, "I'm just out for a walk, I'll be back soon."

After hanging up, John said irritably, "The hospital is telling me to come back right away, or else they'll call the police. Idiots, it's not like I'm trying to skip out."

"I'll drive you back, you don't need to worry about the rest. I'll give Captain a call, and see if he can help us find someone."

Both of them seemed a bit gloomy, but there was nothing more to say for now. Arthur got in the car and drove John to the hospital.

The atmosphere was a bit tense. As Arthur was trying to think of a topic to lighten the mood, John suddenly let out a long sigh and said, "Why did they ban my account? I bought that account for a thousand dollars!"

Arthur gave up on his efforts, and just then, a figure suddenly rushed out from the side, Arthur, being very alert, immediately slammed on the brakes, but the person still collided heavily with the front of Arthur's car.

The car stopped, with Arthur's foot firmly on the brake. Looking to the side, many people were fighting, about a dozen people ganging up on one person, and the one who had just crashed into Arthur's car was one of them.

Arthur was shocked and angry, but John suddenly erupted in rage, "Those bastards... Not good, get a gun, give me a gun, quick!"