Chapter 60 First Strike

Two guns, each with three magazines - one 17-round short magazine and two 21-round long magazines.

Each gun also came with two handgrip options, so Arthur spent an entire evening just trying out the different grips to find the one that fits his hand best.

The magazines and grip options weren't particularly special, as even civilian and military gun boxes come with these accessories. Just looking at the magazines and grip choices doesn't reveal how impressive Smith's package is.

So what are the advantages of this gun? First, it's incredibly smooth in operation. But the other benefits are not immediately apparent, since Arthur can't test-fire it in his own home.

However, it stands to reason that since this is an experimental prototype gun, it must be top-notch. Especially since it's a custom package made specially for Smith by the manufacturer. So while he can't vouch for everything, he can at least guarantee this gun represents the highest quality from SIG Sauer.

The standard version is 203mm long, while the compact is 183mm. The longer barrel of the standard gives it slightly better long-range accuracy, while the compact's shorter barrel suffers a bit at distance, though the difference is minimal beyond 20 meters.

The 2cm length difference means the compact version has a clear advantage for concealed carry - perfect for everyday use, driving, and walking around. The standard is better suited for combat, where you can openly holster the larger pistol.

Arthur likes them both, the long and the short, so he's been fiddling with them for a while, unable to choose. In the end, he has no choice but to bring the guns with him to the hospital.

John has been moved to a regular private room, which is much more affordable than the previous ward.

Knocking on the door and entering the room, Arthur sees the sickly John lying in bed. He smiles and says, "Bottle Cap, you're just lying there."

Trying to make conversation, but John glares at him furiously, "You think I want to be stuck here? I want to get up and leave, can't I?"

Being bedridden makes people irritable, Arthur understands. He pats John's leg and asks, "Does your stomach still hurt?"

John just turns his head away and mutters, "Scram."

Arthur isn't offended, only sympathetic towards John.

John has been in the hospital for over a month when he should have been discharged in 2-3 weeks normally. However, a systemic infection has prevented his full recovery, leaving him in limbo.

The doctors explained that John first developed a chemical infection from his feces, which the Colombian doctors had to surgically clean out. But the infection then spread systemically, and it was only when he returned to LA and got the right antibiotics that his life was saved.

Even after that, he still couldn't fully recover, as the doctors discovered the reason was that his abdominal cavity hadn't been properly flushed clean. So John is still waiting to be discharged after his second surgery. Given how much he's suffering, how could Arthur be angry with him?

"I've got something to show you."

John scoffs, "Hmph..."

Arthur pulls out the two guns, holding them up in front of John.

John suddenly sits up, startling Arthur, who worries, "You're crazy, your wound will open up again!"

"The wound has fully healed. A P320? How did you get one? They're going for $1,500 now, aren't they?"

The original P320 price was $600, about the same as a Glock 17. But now they're practically unobtainable under $1,500.

Arthur grins proudly, waving the guns in front of John.

John's eyes widen as he examines them, "MH17? What's this? The military version is the M17, did you have someone customize this?"

"Tsk, you don't understand. This is a genuine experimental prototype gun."

John's eyes light up as he snatches the standard model, weighing it in his hands. He racks the slide, feeling the smooth action, and nods approvingly, "Not bad!"

John may think it's good, but he doesn't grasp the significance of the tan and black MH17 variants. Only the military enthusiast Arthur can explain the details of this experimental gun to him.

After the lengthy explanation, John realizes the importance, exclaiming, "So it's from Mr. Smith! No wonder it's so different from a regular P320."

Arthur nods, "Of course, I could never afford a gun like this on my own."

John was silent for a moment, holding the gun, then he nodded and said, "Only he could get this kind of gun. Sig Sauer Corp needs his help to lobby the military, surely they'll want to express that, so which of these two guns do you choose?"

Arthur looked uncomfortable, he said with a wry expression, "I like the long one, and I also like the short one, I really can't decide, so you choose one, and I'll take the other."

If he didn't want to give John one, Arthur wouldn't have brought the guns to the hospital.

John unhesitatingly said, "I'll take this standard version. Since it's a prototype gun, it should be able to sell for around $5,000, right?"

"Who are you looking down on? At least $15,000! At the very least 10 times that!"

John laughed and punched Arthur, saying, "You kid still have a conscience."

Arthur cleared his throat and said, "Bottle Cap, so can you be discharged? Within a week, you should be able to be discharged, right?"

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Well, I took a job from Mr. Smith, the pay is pretty good..."

John suddenly froze, looking at Arthur, and said, "So you just brought me the gun for that?"

John's reaction was a bit strong, and Arthur had an offended expression, saying, "What are you thinking? How do you look at me like this? Do you think I'm that kind of person? Oh, I'm just using you, so I'll give you something. Are you insulting me!"

Arthur had come to recruit John, but the gun was also a genuine gift. Seeing John's expression, Arthur could tell something was going on, so he had to seize the moral high ground first.

The barrage of soul-searching questions made John feel ashamed.

Sure enough, John immediately changed his expression, then sighed softly, "I'm sorry, I overthought it, I... I was a bit too sensitive, I'm sorry, it's my fault."

Arthur snorted and said, "I came to ask you, if I need to recruit people, how should I do it? I took a job, but I need at least three people. Even if I have you, is that enough? I still have to find people. Besides, in your current condition, can you even go?"

John thought for a moment and asked, "What kind of job?"

"A protection job, but not as a bodyguard, as an outer perimeter gunman."

"Is it legal?"

"It's legal, that's why I need a licensed security company. I'm taking on a Royal Defense contract, so it's a legitimate business."

"How much pay?"

"7,000 per day, I'll distribute it. Is this salary good enough?"

Arthur couldn't help but chuckle, while John thought for a moment and then nodded, "This kind of job is too small, it must have been Danny who found it for you."

Arthur was stunned, then angrily said, "How can you think that? I went to Texas last night and met Mr. Smith, he contacted me for this business. He has all kinds of big jobs, so he specifically found a suitable one for me, a small job, you know."

John shook his head and snorted, "A few thousand dollars a day, Mr. Smith wouldn't waste his time on that. Since it's a job Danny helped you find, you better be careful."

After saying this with deep meaning, John gave Arthur a disdainful look and said, "Do you think this job is just standing around as a prop? You'll just go and collect the money? Let me tell you, this task must be very dangerous, there will be gunfights. Do you know what those small role extras in movies are for? If you go, you'll be one of those cannon fodder characters, just a prop for the main character to look cool."

Arthur's face twitched, and he said impatiently, "That's why I'm looking for help. If you don't go, you introduce two people to me, I have to get three people together."

John sighed and said, "I'm weak right now, but even if I had the strength, I wouldn't do a job Danny introduced. 7,000 a day, you can recruit two cannon fodder for 1,000, two good hands for 2,000, and if you're willing to spend 4,000, you can recruit two experts. But the legal one might be a bit difficult."

"Difficult?"

"Not that difficult, when do you need the people?"

"Within a week, the sooner the better."

John rubbed his chin and said, "Post a recruitment ad online and let people bring their equipment, it has to be legal. Then you can select the people, pay 500 a day to find two cannon fodder, that's enough."

He glared at Arthur and handed the gun back to him, saying impatiently, "Take it back."

Arthur was extremely surprised and said, "You don't want it?"

"Letting me shoot it a few times to satisfy my itch is fine, but why give it to me? I use a rifle, of course, it's a waste to have such a good handgun. Idiot, you can't even use a rifle well, so naturally you'd keep the good gun for yourself. Wait, you're not planning to just collect it and use a lousy gun, are you?"

John's point of view was pretty much in line with Mr. Smith's. Arthur smiled embarrassedly and said, "I'll use it, of course, but one is enough, right?"

John waved his hand and said seriously, "Bring two guns! If you don't have a rifle, bring an extra handgun. Now let's go."

As he spoke, John jumped off the bed. Arthur asked, "What are you doing?"

"First go to the shooting range and show off your new gun, then shoot a few rounds to satisfy your itch. Then help me screen the recruits, do you think you can pick the good hands by yourself? I can't just let you go get yourself killed, can I? So I'll have to help you screen them."

Arthur thought about it and said, "Then let's not find cannon fodder, just two experts. The money doesn't matter, the key is I don't want to mess up the first task Mr. Smith gave me."