King Of War: Starting with Arms Dealer

Joe Ga patiently waited in Nova City for one day until his lawyer, Jori Amon, arrived with the thick security contract, allowing President Francois to sign the agreement in front of the media. Only then did Joe hurriedly board the helicopter.

Journalist Wallace originally wanted to go south with Joe Ga, but Joe turned him down on the grounds that there was no room left in the helicopter.

Wallace knew something big must be happening in the south, and as he tried to find his own transportation to follow, President Francois stopped him.

The politician was well-versed in the ways of the media. He started off with a litany of grievances, then earnestly requested Wallace to help him publicize the situation in Central Africa, hoping to gain an advantageous position in negotiations with diamond mining companies.

This was about the livelihood of tens of thousands of people; the very responsible journalist, Wallace, could not help but give in.

Hu Lang was still fighting, and Wallace felt he should continue as well.

Central Africa needed this opportunity too much!

Compared to holding a gun on the front lines, staying in Bangui to verbally spar with the diamond mining companies, and using his camera to make those greedy bastards hesitate, seemed like a more meaningful pursuit.

An Mi-8 "Hippopotamus" carried 18 passengers...

Joe Ga, Dorian, Team D, Team E, and those who made a big splash in the siege, 'Rhino' and Manlo.

When boarding the plane, everyone in Teams D and E unconsciously kept their distance from 'Rhino'.

The half-nosed strong man's presence was simply too dreadful.

The image of him pulling a heart out of Setaka's chest made everyone uneasy just at the thought.

Dorian, as a seasoned veteran, had disdain for the people of Teams D and E. He lingered beside 'Rhino' for a moment, then decisively chose to sit next to Manlo, leaving the seat beside 'Rhino' for the boss.

Joe Ga held his nose and sat next to 'Rhino'. Seeing the others snickering across from him, he couldn't resist flipping them the bird and then turned to 'Rhino', saying, "Buddy, what's that smell on you?

That scent is so... um, unique!"

'Rhino' grinned at the boss, rolled up his sleeve to reveal a lion head tattoo, and chuckled, "I got inked last night. Manlo is a decent artist, and I used the blood from Setaka's heart to give myself a mark."

As 'Rhino' looked at Joe Ga's uneasy expression, he rolled up his pant leg to reveal densely packed tattoos, "In the past, I believed killing enemies would give me power, so I always liked to keep a memento.

It seemed to work at first, but then the effect faded.

I've wanted to kill Setaka for many years, I just never had the chance.

He's the most deserving of death out of all the enemies I've killed in recent years, so I had to keep a memento."

Joe Ga had no comment on 'Rhino's hobby, but the tattoos on the guy's leg were astonishing.

Dime-sized marks covered his entire leg, like fish scales.

Curiosity prompted him to lift the other leg to check, and he found it was the same...

Joe Ga whistled and remarked, "Buddy, how many people have you killed?"

'Rhino' looked down at his legs, thought seriously for a moment, and replied, "I don't remember, these are just part of those whose names I recall.

'Ant Eater', oh no, 'Dragon Gecko' now, he really didn't like me doing this. He said I was carrying ghosts on my body and would eventually be killed by them. So, I only left these."

Joe Ga, amazed, gave a thumbs up, "Even by this count, it's already three to four hundred. What would double that even mean?

No wonder Karman would stop him; keeping mementos of people you've killed on your body, it's bound to mess with your mind sooner or later."

Joe Ga, impressed, gave a thumbs up, "Buddy, you're impressive, but Dragon Gecko is right. The last thing you want in our line of work is to carry the past on your back."

'Rhino' nonchalantly waved his hand, "You're the boss, whatever you say is right!"

'Rhino's demeanor drew 'Iceman's attention. This guy suddenly came over clutching his sniper rifle to Joe Ga's side, peered at 'Rhino', and asked, "Do you have nightmares?"

'Rhino' paused for a second and his expression suddenly lost its humanity.

He looked at 'Iceman' and said solemnly, "Yes!"

'Iceman' pointed at the marks on his legs and asked, "About them?"

Upon hearing this, 'Rhino', frowning, shook his head, "Of course not them."

After a moment of thought, curious 'Iceman' inquired, "You have nightmares, but they have nothing to do with those you've killed? So, what are your nightmares about?"

'Rhino' was silent for a long time before finally saying, "Sometimes, I dream about my brother..."

'Iceman' pressed, "What happened to him?"

'Rhino', looking down, answered, "He was eaten alive, eaten by someone!"

From the side, Joe Ga could see fire in 'Rhino's eyes.

He reached out to pat 'Rhino' on the back, but mid-way, 'Rhino' glanced at him, and Joe Ga, laughing awkwardly, touched his own hair and said, "It's all in the past, we always have to look forward, right?"

'Iceman' seemed curious about 'Rhino's condition and fearlessly looked into 'Rhino's eyes, asking, "Do you think your brother is the source of your nightmares?"

'Rhino', unsure what 'Iceman' wanted to know, furrowed his brow, thought for a moment, and said, "No, I just don't like the person I was back then because I was right there..."

'Iceman' hesitated for a moment when he saw 'Rhino' was cooperative, and asked, "What about the people you've killed? They must appear in your dreams, how do you deal with the problems those dreams bring?"

'Rhino' replied with a puzzled expression, "What problems? They weren't a problem when they were alive, how could they become a problem after death?"

'Iceman' counted on his fingers seriously and asked, "Don't you feel agitated, anxious, have hallucinations, lose control, or have thoughts of suicide after dreaming about them?"

'Rhino' paused for a moment, then glanced at his own leg, and said, "I do get agitated, which is why Dragon Gecko won't let me continue getting tattoos."
Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire

Upon hearing this, 'Iceman' asked curiously, "That's how you solved it? Just like that?"

'Rhino,' looking at the expression on 'Iceman's face, replied, "You're sick in the head! You are scared!"

'Iceman' responded with a bitter smile, "Yes, my psychologist's brain is sick, and I am indeed scared.

I always have dreams of people I've killed, of people who died because of my mistakes..."

As he spoke, 'Iceman' looked at Joe Ga, who was full of curiosity, and said with a bitter taste in his mouth, "Boss, I'm here not just because I'm wanted, but more so because I need to find a way to deal with my own problems.

I haven't had a full night's sleep in almost four years, until I arrived at the P.B. base where I was finally able to get a slight break from the drugs.

Because the pressure of death forced me to maintain my physical condition, my symptoms have eased a little bit.

But we all know that this is just like drinking poison to quench thirst, and I'm certain that others are experiencing something similar to a greater or lesser extent."

When Joe Ga heard this, he turned his head to look at Dorian and then, to his surprise, he found that even the carefree Leather Head was nodding.

The DE team members across from him, except for the always smiling Bajau 'Capybara,' also expressed various emotions, seeming to confirm that the issues 'Iceman' spoke of do indeed exist.

Faced with this situation, Joe Ga scratched his head and said, "Why not me?

I've killed plenty of people too, but I don't feel like it's a problem, and I rarely have nightmares. Even if I do, they're definitely not related to those dead people."

'Iceman,' observing Joe Ga's puzzled look, said with a strange expression, "Boss, think carefully, do you remember what those people you killed look like?"

After hearing this, Joe Ga frowned and tried to recall carefully, then discovered, incredulously, that the faces of those people became very blurry when he deliberately thought about them.

He still remembered the first person he killed up close, the English spy Erin Andrews, but when the scene shifted to the moment he killed her, her face suddenly blurred.

With others, it was even worse; he couldn't recall their features at all, having only a vague impression, as if those people could be erased from his memory at any time.

Joe Ga rubbed his temples hard trying to remember, then, frowning, he shared his problem with 'Iceman,' asking, "What's going on? Is there something wrong with my brain?"

'Iceman' shook his head and replied, "No, boss, there's nothing wrong with your brain, it's some hormone affecting your brain.

Eric stole a report on your body from the database of the diving training center.

The report showed that whenever you encounter emergencies, your brain will automatically secrete a hormone that increases your body's load, enhances aggression, and even allows instincts to take control of your body."

As he explained, 'Iceman' looked at Joe Ga, who had a somewhat peculiar expression, and said with a smile, "This isn't an isolated case, it's quite common in reality.

For example, there are many basketball players who can't remember how they made unbelievable shots because of the intense focus of their instincts.

This effect can also be called killer instinct!

Even some American medical facilities develop stimulants for athletes to achieve this effect.

I tried one once, and it felt amazing. My nerve responses were faster, and I was extremely focused.

This drug is also used in the military, and it's said to be very effective, but the side effects are severe.

They can't be like you because their brains lack a certain protective mechanism. The sense of dislocation after the drug's effects weaken actually intensifies their wartime memories instead of causing forgetting, which leads to PTSD in the users."

Relieved to hear he didn't have a neurological problem, Joe Ga breathed a sigh of relief and then said with irritation, "What were you and Eric snooping on my medical report for?"

'Iceman' looked at Joe Ga, who still hadn't grasped the crux of the issue, and said with a resigned smile, "Boss, you're not the typical commander; you prefer being on the front lines, which leads to excessive stress.

As P.B.'s only psychiatrist, I need to pay attention to your mental state."

Pointing at 'Bullhorn' across from him, 'Iceman' continued, "Boss, do you know that 'Bullhorn,' 'Harelip,' and 'Saint,' those dropouts from the Jaguars, had never killed anyone before joining P.B.?

And the Sloth and 'Poison Dart' of Team D, both elites from the Brazilian Army, hadn't killed anyone before joining P.B. either!

The intense combat operations over the past year have caused issues in their mental state.

Of course, it's not the legendary PTSD; they're not at that stage yet.

Honor has offset some symptoms to a certain extent, but the stress response under high pressure is still there, and letting it develop will lead to what's known as post-traumatic stress disorder.

I know that feeling, so I want to know how exactly 'Rhino' overcame his troubles?"

'Rhino' thought for a moment with a furrowed brow, and then said, "I don't know what you're talking about, but I remember being agitated for a while, then I killed a lot of people.

Dragon Gecko cut off half of my nose to make me remember the pain, then gave me some medicine."

With that, 'Rhino,' amid everyone's odd looks, spread his hands and said, "I seem to have gone somewhere, then I killed those people again there, and after that, I seemed to get better."