Chapter 447: The Most Secretive Sharp Knife

Turkey, in a makeshift interview room.
“To be honest, I really didn’t expect your company to skip the interview altogether and decide to hire someone based solely on a resume.”
A blond, blue-eyed Caucasian man said with a playful tone.
“Yes, that’s always been our chairman’s style.”
Lin Fan had been incredibly busy lately, and now he’d been temporarily drafted to oversee the establishment of PMC, drastically increasing his workload.
But far from feeling annoyed, he was trembling with excitement.
Because he could vaguely sense that a storm capable of shaking the world order was brewing.
And he was fortunate enough to be one of the key participants in this storm.
This was Su Hao’s unparalleled trust in him.
This honor alone was enough to fill him with immense gratitude.
“What a pity. I had hoped to take this opportunity to meet Chairman Su Hao in person,” the man opposite him smiled.
"Oh? You're very interested in our chairman?"
"Do you know which target in CAI, MI6, and all the other top intelligence agencies is the one that interests us the most, and also the one that gives us the biggest headache?"
The man leaned forward, his eyes gleaming.
"That's right, it's you, Fanghuan Investment.
Especially Chairman Su Hao, who's known as the 'final decision-maker,' he's the top priority on our watchlist."
"..."
Lin Fan's heart was churning with turmoil, but his face remained impassive, though his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
"We tried everything to uncover your company's secrets, and what was the result?" The man chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"We didn't find a single clue!
So many earth-shattering events have your shadow behind them, but when we followed the trail, the clues always inexplicably went cold.
A company this clean, like a brand-new mirror, so clean it's unsettling."
"..."
"Such an extremely mysterious company suddenly publicly recruits PMC members?
When this news comes out, can those of us who have worked in the intelligence world resist?
I certainly couldn't, so I submitted my application immediately."
Lin Fan looked down and glanced again at the resume of the man speaking so confidently.
[Anthony Watson, 15 years of service in CAI.]
That's all the information on the resume, but that one line alone was enough.
What's even more terrifying is that monsters like Anthony, with simple resumes but frightening backgrounds, have appeared in droves at Fang Huan's PMC this time!
"So, are you clear about the future work content of our PMC?" Lin Fan asked.
"Yes, I understood it at the briefing just now," Anthony said with a wry smile.
"And it's precisely because I understood it that I'm even more...terrified."
"What do you mean?"
"Among these people hired this time, I noticed quite a few familiar faces.
Even those I didn't know, after a brief chat, I discovered that everyone basically comes from the same 'department.'"
"The same department?"
"The Operations Department." Anthony's smile became meaningful.
"It sounds like we're in charge of operations, but actually, what we do is called 'counter-strategy' and 'manipulation.'
Our expertise isn't in direct combat.
It's like a ghost, infiltrating the enemy forces, using various means to make them fight amongst themselves, disintegrate, and ultimately kill each other, then we reap the benefits and completely control the area."
"…!" Lin Fan's pupils suddenly contracted!
"Cooperating with the local warlords is just the first step.
Next, through a series of underhanded operations—infiltration, bribery, sowing discord…
Whether it's the local government, or those rebel groups and criminal organizations, they will all become puppets in our hands, ultimately completely controlled by us, or… eliminated."
Anthony's eyes turned cold.
"Everyone sitting here today, without exception, is an expert in this kind of dirty work.
I think, including myself, everyone who was hired today has already figured out.
Why we were chosen, and… what we're going to do next."
"..."
"But what shocked me most was," Anthony's tone shifted,
"whether it was us old acquaintances or those new faces, none of us revealed our core expertise on our resumes.
After all, 'counter-espionage' involves too many national secrets; it can't be made public.
But...your company seems to have supernatural powers, knowing every single one of us inside and out.
You precisely scooped out all of us 'fellow sufferers' from the sea of ​​people, not one more, not one less."
Anthony shook his head, his eyes filled with awe and amazement.
“Although I was mentally prepared before coming, Fang Huan Investment’s intelligence capabilities still far exceeded my expectations.
I was wondering before why you would so confidently hire people like us who retired from CAI.
Now I know, and I understand why there was no need for interviews.
Because you’ve already thoroughly investigated us all!
Even… your calculations included our application. Am I right?”
“…”
Lin Fan’s mind instantly conjured up Su Hao’s calm and collected face, and his effortless, casually swiping list.
To outsiders, it might seem hasty and casual.
But now he understood that it wasn’t haste at all; Su Hao already had a complete list in his mind!
On this list, everyone was clearly identified!
So… before Lin Fan, who had presented this outrageously detailed “top-secret file” to Chairman Su?
“If you could appoint me as the head of this PMC team,” Anthony leaned forward, his gaze intense,
“I have absolute confidence that I will perfectly execute any goals Fanghuan Investment wants to achieve.”
“Any goals?”
“Control the underground order in Nigeria, Togo, Somalia… and indeed the entire West African continent.
At the same time, ensure that Fanghuan Investment’s name never appears in any official documents.
What we need to do is make it appear to the outside world that all the changes there are the result of natural evolution.”
"Isn't this exactly what our 'professionalism' is all about?"
"You mean, you already knew our next objective before our company even issued any orders?"
"Of course. As long as logistical and financial support is in place, I guarantee that our team will become Fang Huan's sharpest and most secretive dagger, leaving no trace when it strikes.
I know the appointments haven't been finalized yet, but I urge you to carefully consider my proposal.
Look at everyone here today; this team, when combined, can definitely accomplish something earth-shattering!"
Lin Fan's breath caught in his throat for a moment, completely stunned.
"Currently, everyone's positions are still undetermined. We will consider your proposal," he said, forcing himself to remain calm. "The relevant appointments will be communicated separately."
"Okay. Then I'll take my leave. Should I call the next person in?"
Anthony gave a meaningful smile, stood up, and left the meeting room.
Lin Fan stared blankly at his retreating figure, only snapping out of his daze after a long while, his gaze returning to the list.
He had just lied.
The claim that "the appointments haven't been decided yet" was false.
In fact, the moment Su Hao narrowed down the candidates, he had already meticulously assigned each person's position.
And this Anthony Watson, who had just been passionately promoting himself, claiming he could make Fang Huan Investment "pass through a sea of ​​flowers without a single petal clinging to him," had a position Su Hao had pre-assigned for him—
"..."
Lin Fan's gaze froze on that line of small print.
Next to Anthony Watson's name, Su Hao had personally marked the position:
Head of PMC.
The supreme commander in charge of everyone!