Chapter 29: Chapter 29: The Female Sniper
Niss spoke calmly, "I'm from Liberia. My brother was an instructor at the Libyan Surt Military Academy. I began my training there at 16 and participated in an eight-month-long war when I was 19."
She glanced at the dim-eyed Kaman and nodded slightly. "I've indeed killed many people. Initially, I was forced into the role of an executioner, and later I fought as a sniper. After Colonel Karr was pulled out of the ditch and executed, my brother took me and fled to SD to avoid being purged by the opposition."
Joga looked at the serene Liberian woman in front of him in disbelief. "You were actually Colonel Karr's female sniper?"
Niss shook her head. "I wasn't; what you think of as a 'female sniper' was just Colonel Karr's bodyguard. I am a real sniper because my brother wouldn't allow me to be just a decorative piece."
Joga, puzzled, asked, "So, just because you fought for eight months, you don't want to leave North Africa?"
Niss lowered her head and spoke softly, "I tried, but I found I couldn't leave. Because besides shooting, I'm no good at anything else. My brother had me work at that hotel for two years, but every day during those two years was incredibly hard. Anyone approaching me from behind would make me very nervous. Only when I hold a gun does my heart feel at peace."
Joga could understand this psychological state. It was like a young girl suddenly thrust into a brutal war, enduring those experiences from start to finish, with those traumatic memories etched deeply in her mind in just eight months.
He knew how grim the fate of female snipers who were captured could be, and Niss had faced pressures and trials that were perhaps even tougher than those faced by any man. Such a person could be very dangerous, but Joga felt that he could indeed use someone like her.
With professional training, combat experience, and having survived intense warfare, Niss would be a valuable asset, especially with Kaman already on his team. Having another sniper could provide an additional layer of security for future deals.
The only issue was whether Niss could be trusted. She had saved Joga's life, but could he truly rely on her to watch his back? There seemed to be more to her background...
Seeing Niss remain silent, Joga hesitated before saying, "Why do you want to stay with me? You need to give me a convincing reason. Most importantly, you need to tell me where your 'weapons' come from."
After a few seconds of silence, Niss spoke in a calm tone, "My brother had a secret arms cache left behind by Colonel Karr. A few days ago, he became very nervous and said that someone had started to pay attention to him, so anyone appearing around us made him very anxious. The 'Kendeweik' militia's raid on the hotel might partly be to find him. Now that he's dead, I want to avenge him. I want to kill the Kendeweik. If you help me, everything in my brother's hidden arsenal will be yours."
Joga, slightly disappointed, replied, "So, you want to stay just to avenge your brother? How do you expect me to do that when I don't even feel capable myself?"
Niss shook her head earnestly. "No, you can. Your shooting skills are exceptional, so good it's incredible. I don't intend to wipe out the Kendeweik militia entirely; I only want to kill their leader. And if you see my brother's arsenal, you'll know that dealing with a militia is not difficult at all. It's a secret base, known only to me and my brother."
Seeing Joga's expression turn unusual, Niss continued with a bitter tone, "And I also need a job, one that's not so painful. You're a good person, and if possible, I'd like to work for you."
As Joga hesitated, Kaman suddenly spoke, "Boss, you should give her a chance. She's been influenced by 'demons,' but she herself hasn't become one. She's a person of conscience."
Joga looked at Kaman, who was giving him meaningful looks, and chuckled, "Are you sure you're not just after Niss's brother's arsenal? We can manage small deals ourselves, but if someone's targeting her brother, they might be targeting her as well."
Niss shook her head and said, "No one knows I'm his sister. Have you seen my brother? Do you believe he could be my brother?"
Joga recalled the harsh demeanor of the previous man and shook his head. "I really can't imagine a brother treating his sister with such harshness."
Kaman, focused on making money, shook his head. "Boss, every venture has risks. In Africa, even a gamble of over 200 bucks could cost a life. It doesn't matter whether you're doing big or small business."
Joga was taken aback and, after a long hesitation, said to Niss, "You heard me tell the client. I'm a weapons dealer, and I do want to make this deal, but I'm not keen on putting my people in danger."
Niss removed her headscarf and looked at Joga. "I understand. That's why I want you to check out my brother's arsenal before making a decision. There are things there you can't even imagine. If you help me get revenge, everything there will be yours."
Joga fell silent for a moment and then asked, "Where is the arsenal?"
Niss looked at Joga, who was clearly interested, and said, "It's in a valley north of Darfur, near the border with Liberia and Chad. It was once a secret base for a warlord supported by Colonel Karr. It's been abandoned for a long time due to its remote location. If you're interested, we can leave now. It takes about 15 hours by car."
Joga nodded and stood up. "What guns do you use? I'll prepare the equipment for you, and then we'll set off. Let's hope that so-called arsenal doesn't disappoint."
Niss thought for a moment and said, "I need a TAC-50 sniper rifle and a handgun. If a TAC-50 isn't available, I can accept an SVD."
Joga was surprised and asked curiously, "A TAC-50? You use anti-material weapons? What's the farthest target you've hit?"
Niss thought for a moment and replied, "I haven't kept precise records, but with a TAC-50, 500 to 1300 meters is comfortable for me."
Joga was stunned. He had never achieved a shooting range beyond 850 meters, and here was a woman saying that 1300 meters was comfortable for her. This was quite unexpected.
Those who haven't experienced real-life shooting can't fully appreciate the difficulty involved. It requires not just steady hands but also strong calculation skills and shooting intuition. Joga admitted to himself that he currently couldn't match that level.
Whether Niss was boasting remained to be seen, but Joga had already made a decision. If possible, it would be best to keep this woman around. Having a long-range support fire for future business ventures would be advantageous.
He waved at Kaman and said with a smile, "Go get her a room to freshen up and find her some suitable clothes. I'll get her equipment. We'll head to Darfur tonight and check out that arsenal, and see if that unfortunate client's son still has a chance!"
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