Chapter:14 Contracts(2)

Ming nodded.

"I'm a soldier without a war. I come here and find myself in the center of a city where conflict is the norm."

He took a sip of his drink, his expression never changing.

"I like it here."

"This is one place where a man can live without restraint and without fear."

Ming said flatly, 

Anastasia could almost smell the false bravado in his tone. He was very much a man who never spoke what he meant and acted in favor of his own benefit.

"Cut the crap, we all know what you really want. So, what's your price?"

"I want safety."

Ming spoke, his expression even more expressionless than Ana had ever seen.

"I have no interest in running drugs or in any form of commerce. But war is all that I've ever known, and it is what I am best at."

Ming paused, his gaze wandering around the room.

"What if I were to be hired as your tactician in case of war, and what if I were to promise that none of the forces under your command would die, would you hire me then?"

Ming asked with a slight grin.

"Don't need 'em."

Anastasia replied flatly,

Even if he WAS a skilled commander, his background made it highly unlikely for her to ever trust him with power without expecting him to mess up.

She ignored his bewildered look before continuing,

"So, you're a soldier. How good do you think you are?"

"I believe that I am one of the best there is. I have led entire battalions to victory and have defeated overwhelming odds."

Ming replied, his expression unchanging as he took a sip from his drink.

"But I'm more than just a soldier. I have the mind of a tactician, a strategist, and a general. I can read a battlefield like very few can and turn the battle to my side. I am the best you can possibly find."

Ming paused, his expression still unchanging.

"That is why you should hire me."

Anastasia struggled to hold back her laughter as she looked at him. 

"Best of the best, eh? Where did you serve?"

"I've been trained by the People's Liberation Army Air Force since I was five, and I've spent half my life on combat missions and in active conflict. Is that good enough for you?"

Finally, the irritation in his voice was starting to show. He was starting to brag, and bring out false cards in the hope of increasing his value,

"Sure, whatever you say."

"I served in China's People's Liberation Army Air Force"

Ming gave Ana a piercing stare, her comments having hit a nerve with him.

But Ana had a knack for pushing the right buttons to get under someone's skin.

"And the years of experience you claim to have... did you acquire those back in China too?"

Ming's eyes suddenly widened in anger.

"My expertise is not up for question!"

He nearly slammed his fist down on the wooden table.

"Oh, they certainly are, and you haven't even convinced me that you actually have said expertise."

A small smirk appeared on her face as Ming got more riled up.

"So how about this, why don't you explain to me how you've been in active combat for all these years if you haven't served outside of China before you came here."

She gave him a cold stare, clearly not backing down from this verbal attack. It seemed that no one had ever gotten under Ming's nerves like this, and she was having too much fun doing so.

Ming's anger simmered beneath the surface as he struggled to maintain his composure. He took a deep breath, attempting to regain control of the conversation.

"I've served on various fronts, including territorial disputes and border conflicts. My training and expertise extend beyond the borders of China. I've been involved in international operations, specializing in asymmetrical warfare and unconventional tactics."

He spoke with a measured tone, each word carefully chosen to project authority.

Anastasia leaned back, seemingly unimpressed.

"You know, Ming, there's a saying: 'Talk is cheap.' I've seen my fair share of people boasting about their skills, but I prefer proof over self-spoken words."

A flicker of frustration flashed in Ming's eyes as he struggled to keep his cool. He stared at Anastasia for a few seconds but quickly regained his composure.

"I've been involved in armed conflicts for more than half my life, both abroad and at home. The conflicts I have been involved in include border disputes, internal political violence, military insurgencies, and paramilitary operations. I understand that my skills might sound a bit boastful, but I hope that they will impress you nonetheless."

Ming spoke calmly, though the spark of irritation was still faintly visible behind his serene demeanor.

Anastasia... laughed, she laughed hard enough to double over and draw the attention of the bar's patrons who looked over to her before leaning in their heads to listen to their conversation,

"You see, what you say is all fine and dandy, but I know who you are. I know who you really are, beneath all that junk you pilled over your real identity."

She stopped laughing, 

"I know for a fact that you joined the People's Liberation Army Marine Corps (PLAMC) in the year 1972, and also the fact that you never set foot in China's People's Liberation Army Air Force."

"And do you have 'absolute' evidence to back up your claim?"

Ming replied, narrowing his eyes,

Anastasia could almost smell him trying to hold back frustration. 

She took her time to respond, letting her amusement fade away at an agonizingly slow pace. Ming tried his best to maintain his calm, professional demeanor despite the fact that his mask was completely transparent to her. 

"A single slip-up, no matter how small, is enough for me to identify a person. And you, Mr. Ming, are quite the slip-up."

She chuckled, not like he would ever know the system's existence or the fact that all his information was brought for ten bucks.

The small smirk vanished from Ana's face as it morphed into something more serious as she took a long pause to study Ming, her gaze piercing and her expression cold. 

"I know everything there is about you — where you've lived, where you've worked, where you've gone to college — hell, even the brand of toothpaste you use."

Well, the last part was not true.

Ana made sure to look directly into Ming's eyes as she spoke, ensuring that he knew that she wasn't joking at all about this. She wanted to see what kind of reaction this little reveal would spark out from him.

Ming's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly regained his composure, as usual. He took a sip from his drink, probably wishing he could wash away the bitter taste that his words had left in his mouth.

"So what do you know about me then, Miss? Are you a psychic or something?"

He asked mockingly, but he was clearly a little bit disturbed by Ana's little game.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, insults already. The game was getting boring by the minute and Anastasia was losing her calm, the shot of vodka was doing its job but the aftermath was catching up to her.

"Let's cut to the chase, shall we? I don't care if you were a marine, airman, or seaman. All I care about is your ability to commandeer a boat better than most of the low-lives in this city."

Ming's expression shifted, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face at Anastasia's directness. He hadn't expected her to cut through the theatrics and get straight to the point. His mockingly calm demeanor started to show subtle signs of genuine interest.

"I'm not here to play games, Ming. If you can deliver what you promise, then your past is of little concern to me. Roanapur is a city where people come to reinvent themselves, isn't it?"

Anastasia's tone was more serious now, her blue eyes locking onto Ming's with intensity.

"So, here's my offer. I will pay you five grand a month, with additional payment for any task I assign you."

Ming considered the offer for a few seconds, a small chuckle escaping his throat.

"Five grand a month? Do you take me for a common thug? No, I was wrong, you're not just playing games, Miss."

He paused to take another sip from his drink, his eyes carefully observing Ana.

"No, you're a damn genius. Five grand a month is chump change for someone with my skills."

"Well, that's... refreshingly realistic."

Anastasia raised her eyebrows and her lips curved into a small smile. The corners of her mouth had a slight downward tilt to them, indicating that she had heard the same offer before.

She took a sip of her drink and looked at Ming in an unamused gesture.

"Let me guess, you want it to be ten thousand. No, let's round it up to twenty grand. What's another two million yuan a month? It all comes from pocket change anyway, right?"

"Why stop at twenty? I'll settle with thirty."

Ming chuckled, his voice revealing his amusement. He took another sip from his drink, enjoying the game.

"But we both know that I wouldn't charge someone as powerful or as dangerous as you so little."

Ming's smile grew as he continued taunting the young woman, his eyes darting towards her chest.

"I'd have to be a fool to try."

Ana raised an eyebrow at the sudden glance before the man quickly looked away, attempting to hide his inappropriate stare. Ming chuckled softly, setting down his glass of whiskey. 

"What I truly want is triple that. Fifteen thousand a month, and the assurance that I will be supplied with what I need to accomplish any task you ask of me." 

His tone was unserious at best, still trying to gauge how far he could push the envelope.

Ana's smile faltered. As expected of her, she was not amused by his behavior and decided to go for the jugular.

"Fine."

Her voice was completely devoid of any emotion, her expression as dead as the stare she was giving Ming.

"I'll pay you ten thousand a month,"

Before he could protest, Anastasia slammed her glass on the table, 

"Two grand down for your disrespect,"

She tapped her finger twice on the table,

"And three grand for trying your lies with me."

Three more taps,

"And additional payment according to the mission you are assigned."