Chapter 431: Chapter 431
Anna’s hands were freed from the ropes, but not her legs.
A hard piece of bread was shoved into her hand, with two slices of lamb in between.
Anna caught a whiff of an odd smell, suggesting the meat had gone bad.
She tore at the bread, eating as the black man in front of her watched with a mocking smile.
Then he turned to grab a can of pickled olives and handed it to Anna.
Dick casually picked up the two pieces of spoiled roasted meat and stuffed them into his mouth.
They gave Anna time to eat, probably because this Asian woman looked so weak.
After all, she needed to be well-fed to serve him better. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel⸺fire.net
Otherwise, a woman more delicate than a flower wouldn’t stand it!
The bread was as hard as a rock; even after chewing it over a dozen times, it still had a coarse texture.
Anna had to eat it with olives to finally swallow.
In a war-torn country, this kind of food was already considered a rarity!
Anna observed these men, deducing they were mercenaries.
Anna had once witnessed real mercenaries with Smith; her shooting skills were learned from a retired old mercenary.
Anna knew their characteristics: violent, indifferent, bloodthirsty, with excellent physique and marksmanship.
It seemed escaping from here would not be easy!
But it wasn’t completely impossible—
The bread hadn’t been finished when the impatient man knocked it out from Anna’s hand.
Then Dick started undoing his belt in front of her.
Anna’s hands possessed the unique grace and delicacy of a Cathayan woman.
Like a boneless snake, they climbed up his boot to the camo pants.
However, venomous snakes can bite!
Dick just took a breath, not even getting a chance to savor the moment.
Suddenly, a gunshot rang out!
Anna’s move was so fast!
Fast enough that the pain barely registered, Dick looked down, stunned to see blood gushing from his crotch.
In disbelief, he looked at the frail oriental woman in front of him.
Bloodshot eyes full of shock; he never expected she would shoot him!
The warehouse holding Anna had two more people.
Almost simultaneously with the gunshot, Licia and Jacob raised their guns.
Dick wasn’t slow either; he had two guns, one in his pocket and another in his jacket.
Anna, taking advantage of his distraction, stealthily took one of them, and Dick tried to reach for the other.
But he wasn’t fast enough; his palm was pierced by a bullet.
The burly mercenary roared like a butchered pig upon feeling pain.
That damned oriental woman dared to shoot, and her marksmanship was incredibly accurate.
Especially that shot under Dick, hitting the man’s most vulnerable spot.
Such crippling pain no one could endure; the man twice Anna’s size kneeled weakly before her, instantly becoming her hostage.
Anna hadn’t managed to get any words out when two more gunshots sounded.
It wasn’t Anna who fired!
It was the other two accomplices!
The bullets hit Dick’s chest, he twitched like a fish struggling before death, and then was still.
This action was a warning to Anna; they weren’t threatened at all.
Mercenaries lived with their heads in their belts; they didn’t see their comrades’ lives as lives, nor their own.
One less person meant one less share!
Luckily, Anna didn’t count on using him anyway; she hid behind Dick without showing her head, evading the bullets.
The broad body served as a shield.
But it wasn’t a sustainable strategy!
Anna couldn’t find a way to escape; if she showed herself, she’d be the target.
The mercenaries’ guns in the range could lock the warehouse exit, nothing could fly out.
Still, even without looking out, Anna heard them approaching.
Mixed with profane curses!
Anna gripped the gun, her knuckles turning white, fingertips trembling slightly.
Anna’s aim was precise, but hers couldn’t match theirs.
No matter how fast Anna was, she couldn’t outspeed two men.
While she aimed at one, the other would point the gun at her head.
"Damn! Come out calmly and I’ll mince you!"
Just then, a piercing shriek came from the sky.
Licia and Jacob halted their steps toward Anna, exchanging glances and showing panic.
Shells fell not far from the warehouse!
Explosions boomed immediately!
The ground shook, people couldn’t stand steady!
Anna took this moment to escape; this was her only chance!
She had been counting the artillery fire’s rhythm, estimating its distance, knowing it would eventually hit.
The shelling could serve as cover, hindering the two from pursuing her.
Anna fled into the nearby train station.
But she was unlucky, the tracks had just been blown up!
Wasn’t the frightful night thrilling enough?
Did God have to play such a joke on her!
Without transportation, she couldn’t return home by foot.
There was artillery fire outside, judging by the intensity, bombing would last all night.
Retreating was definitely unsafe; if her luck turned, getting hit by a stray bullet would seal her fate.
Conrad Sterling just got off the plane and was met in secret.
"Mr. Sterling, you’re asking us for two military helicopters, four tanks, and five hundred armed men? That’s a challenge."
"I’m not borrowing, I’m buying!" Conrad Sterling insisted.
Indeed, Cathayan’s economic surge is justified; the wealthy seem devoid of anything but money now.
But only the president of Sterling Group would dare make such a bold offer to buy another country’s armaments.
"Mr. Sterling, to be honest, our country has been in turmoil for years, and our own arms are limited. How about two tanks and a hundred troops?"
A war-torn nation had little to offer, so the bargaining started quickly.
Yet Conrad Sterling was unwavering: "No way!"
He couldn’t compromise a single condition!
"Dear Mr. Sterling, you traveled far, and I sincerely want to make friends with you. But why do you need such strong forces? Aren’t you a businessman?" Bem asked, puzzled.
"Because my wife is now in your country’s most dangerous city, and I’m here to take her home!"
Conrad Sterling was in no mood to haggle with the old man.
He straightforwardly clarified his intent, requiring the old man’s guarantee that no harm come to Anna here.
As for how Conrad Sterling knew where Anna was?
Someone had tipped him off!