Chapter 89: Contacting an Arms Dealer and Hiring Mercenaries as Guards

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Contacting an Arms Dealer and Hiring Mercenaries as Guards

Rian Sinclair allowed Quentin to handle everything. Once he was finished, a small entourage escorted her off the plane.

The sky was dreary. Feeling the dust in the ambient air, Rian silently gave Quentin a thumbs-up.

Outside the airport, Quentin Sinclair had already arranged for vehicles to be on standby. After everyone boarded, the convoy proceeded methodically toward the super estate.

Sitting in the car, it was only a little past five in the morning, but the streets were already bustling. Rian turned her head to observe the scenery outside the window; people hurried by with briefcases, elderly folks hobbled along to buy bread, and homeless individuals sat on the pavement.

Rian didn’t harbor much love or any particular sentiment for Meridia. She retracted her gaze and looked ahead. "Can you get in touch with an arms dealer?"

The PMC—Private Military and Security Companies—business she had acquired earlier required weaponry that had to be purchased externally.

Her voice echoed in the car. Rian dug a pack of women’s cigarettes out of her bag, placed one between her lips, and lowered her head slightly to light it. She then tossed the lighter aside and exhaled a plume of smoke.

Quentin cast a brief glance at his boss before quickly looking away. Watching her smoke, he seemed to want to say something but held back. "I’ve already contacted them. The trade is set for two o’clock this afternoon."

Rian nodded slightly as she puffed on her cigarette. After all, being in Meridia without a gun for protection left one feeling far too insecure. She took a drag, tilted her head back slightly, and slowly exhaled.

Halfway through, she lost interest. Rian stubbed the cigarette out in the ashtray to her left and rolled the window down a bit to let the smoke dissipate from the car.

Soon, they arrived at the estate.

Looking at the building before her, its old-world exterior contrasted sharply with a modern palette of white, black, and gray, alongside sparkling chandeliers, heavy drapes, built-in fixtures, and French doors.

Rian nodded in satisfaction. This mansion was precisely the super estate she had been rewarded with earlier. It was also the most expensive estate in Seraphis, bar none—a luxurious property sprawling across nine Corvums in the Oakhaven Hills.

Quentin had already communicated with the estate’s current manager while they were on the plane, allowing their entry to be completely unimpeded. The grand doors of the mansion were pushed open.

What greeted them was incredibly luxurious decor, striking a perfect balance between classical elegance and airy openness. The pointed, sloping roofs, stucco timber framing, and columnar accents, paired with natural building materials, beautifully complemented the climbing vines—a timeless look that defied passing trends.

Elegant and exquisite yet wonderfully comfortable, the porch and foyer stretched north and south. The living room, bedrooms, and other areas featured low windows and hexagonal bay windows. The dining room connected the north and south ends, seamlessly blending the indoor and outdoor atmospheres. It inherited the essence of Veridia’s traditional architecture, maintaining a unique artistic style that integrated quaintness, simplicity, and opulence.

The entire mansion housed a variety of custom, gorgeous, yet tasteful amenities: a gift-wrapping room, a library, a professional screening room, massive walk-in closets, a bowling alley, a home theater, and even a beauty salon.

Rian gazed at the estate with utmost satisfaction.

In addition to its vibrant layout, the expansive grounds featured rolling lawns, a rose garden, a swimming pool, a spa center, and a tennis court.

There was a dedicated cleaning staff, so the entire mansion remained spotless and tidy. Rian sat on the sofa in the first-floor lobby, flanked by Quentin and the five bodyguards they had brought along.

Looking at the massive footprint of the mansion, Rian spoke up. "Quentin, find some time to properly staff the mansion. As for the butler, just look around and see who you can find for now."

Although butlers were available for purchase in the system store, she likely wouldn’t be staying at this estate long-term, so she didn’t plan on buying one from there.

"Understood, Ms. Sinclair." Quentin noted her request and instructed someone to make the arrangements.

Rian sipped her coffee. With several men standing behind her, she looked exactly like a queen wielding immense power.

Propping up her chin, Rian scrolled through her phone. The items Quentin had previously ordered arrived, and the rest of the bodyguards went to stow them away before taking up positions in various corners of the estate.

Rian looked around, a thought suddenly crossing her mind. Seeing Quentin still intently staring at his laptop, she stretched out her foot and lightly nudged his calf.

Feeling the nudge, Quentin looked over. Resting her head on her hand, Rian asked, "What do you think about getting some mercenaries to act as security for the estate?"

It was Quentin’s first time hearing about hiring bloodthirsty mercenaries as security guards. But after a moment of thought, he replied, "Mercenaries can only be hired; they can’t be bought and sold easily. Moreover, they live life on the edge. They might not be willing to settle down at an estate."

Rian tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, cradling her face. "If they can’t be bought, they can still be hired. Living on the edge isn’t necessarily a mercenary’s dream. Earning money in peace is much more comfortable than charging onto a battlefield with an AK."

Quentin pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. "I’ll post the inquiry on the dark web later."

Rian nodded in satisfaction. To her, mercenaries were much cheaper than her personal bodyguards. Having Aiden Sinclair and the others merely guard a villa was a massive waste of their talents.

While Quentin worked beside her, Rian lazily curled up on the sofa, her legs draped over the cushions, swinging idly out of boredom.

Noticing this, Quentin took a thin blanket from Aiden and draped it over her legs. He then placed a bowl of freshly washed fruit within her easy reach.

Swinging her legs, Rian picked up another grape from the table and slowly popped it into her mouth, her free hand mindlessly scrolling through videos on her phone.

Watching the bodyguards busily moving things around, Rian raised a hand and called Aiden over. Aiden quickly approached. "Ms. Sinclair."

"Are the clothes in the room ready?" Rian bit into a slightly sour grape and furrowed her brows. She was just about to sit up and spit it out.

Suddenly, a large hand extended toward her. Rian looked up to see Aiden giving a slight nod. Without hesitation, she spat the grape into his palm.

Aiden casually tossed the chewed grape into a nearby trash can, picked up a tissue from the table, and wiped the moisture from his hand. The entire sequence of actions was incredibly natural.

"Special Assistant Kerr purchased dresses according to your preferences, Ms. Sinclair. They have been washed and placed in your walk-in closet. The rest of your jewelry has also been arranged."

Listening to Aiden while eating her grapes, Rian was exceedingly pleased with Quentin’s arrangements. She waved her hand, dismissing Aiden to get back to his duties.

"Ms. Sinclair, a mercenary group has accepted the job," Quentin reported a while later. "From what I understand, this unit offended a big shot, so they haven’t been able to secure any missions and are on the verge of disbanding."

Rian didn’t seem to care much as she listened. "Which big shot did they offend?"

As far as she was concerned, anyone who offended Veridia would absolutely not be hired. If they offended someone from another country, she would decide based on the circumstances.

"The KK Zone in North Boro."

Hearing this, Rian sat up straight. "Oh? How cool."

"But the downside is that they’ve been blacklisted by The Golden Triangle. The unit has been suppressed and can’t get any missions at all. They haven’t planned on joining other groups, which is why they’re facing disbandment."

The Golden Triangle referred to a triangular area at the borders of three Southeast Asian nations: Bodhan, Myrrhia, and Vientia. It was also where The Ghalos River and the Sai River converged.

There were plenty of bad guys in there. Being blacklisted by them, only for her to swoop in and hire them—it was like dancing on the edge of a knife. Simply too cool.

"Have them come over for a meeting."

Quentin nodded. His boss just loved taking on challenging tasks.