Apocalypse Queen: My Space, My Rules Chapter 126: The Arms Deal

Chandler paused for a moment, his deep voice a little muffled. "When Kieran says those things to you, he was probably holding another woman in his arms."

Mariella only looked at him and smiled silently.

He felt a little uneasy under her gaze. He wanted to say more, but in the end, he swallowed his words.

Mariella curled her lips into a smile. "If I'm not taking advantage of good-looking men, I'm basically doing them a favor. And you're worried I'll be the one getting taken advantage of?"

Chandler looked away awkwardly. "You're just bluffing. I don't believe you've actually taken advantage of anyone."

Mariella was stunned. I wonder if he's naive or just completely clueless?

Looking at his innocent face, she suddenly felt the urge to show him how nasty people could really be.

Before she could act on that impulse, Denton's call came through, cutting off that dangerous thought at just the right moment.

"Ms. Townsend, I've already arranged the time and place with the arms dealer. I've sent the details to your phone. If there's anything else, feel free to contact me."

...

On the helicopter, Chandler focused on flying, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

Sitting beside him, Mariella glanced at him several times, then asked with a smile, "So you finally decided to undo your collar button? Aren't you afraid I'll start lusting after your body again?"

Even though he had only undone one button, the exposed collarbone was striking enough to draw attention.

Chandler kept a straight face as he replied, "Arms deals often turn into double-crosses. Ms. Townsend, you should focus on the job."

Mariella was speechless.

He made it sound like she was some kind of fool who'd get distracted by looks.

The transport helicopter landed at the location Denton had set—the rooftop of a building out in the outskirts.

To keep things fair, both the time and location of the deal had been arranged by the middleman.

Mariella trusted Denton, so she didn't haggle.

As expected, Denton and his men were already waiting there.

Patrick's attitude was completely different from last time. The moment he saw Mariella, he flashed a wide grin. "Ms. Townsend, don't worry. With us here, this deal will go smoothly!"

In the arms trade, AK rifles had the highest sales volume, mostly because they were tough, reliable, and cheap.

They were also easy to use, widely available, and sold in massive quantities, making them the most common firearms out there.

Mariella ordered ten compact pistols, 50 AK rifles, 20 spare magazines, and 10,000 rounds of ammunition.

In exchange, she offered the most in-demand supplies right now—water transport and flood relief equipment. Fifty kayaks, 100 life jackets, 30 inflatable boats, 20 small motorboats, five air pumps, and 20 sets of diving gear.

Both sides were satisfied.

As the deal wrapped up, the arms dealer's leader wiped the sweat from his brow and laughed. "If it weren't for Denton, I wouldn't dare make a deal this big with a stranger on the first try."

Mariella smiled, showing a neat row of teeth. "We can work together again next time."

After the arms dealer left, Mariella had Chandler "settle" the brokerage fee for Denton—three kayaks, two inflatable boats, one small motorboat, ten life jackets, and one air pump.

On top of that, there was a large bag full of snacks and drinks, along with three freshly roast ducks, still hot and fragrant.

"Denton, you and your men have worked hard. These ducks are for you to enjoy with your drinks," Mariella said generously.

She wasn't a stingy person, and she sure knew how to treat her partners in a way that made them willing to work with her again.

Compared to these small costs, having a reliable partner mattered far more.

Denton broke into a wide smile, looking a little embarrassed. "Ms. Townsend, the brokerage fee you gave is already more than generous, and now you're adding all this food... Gulp."

Before he could finish, he swallowed hard. Those roast ducks smelled incredible.

Patrick took the food for him and couldn't stop swallowing either.

"The roast ducks are still piping hot!"

Simon helped carry the large bag and couldn't help touching the grease paper wrapped around the ducks with the back of his hand.

He widened his eyes in disbelief and swallowed again. "Was this just taken out of the oven?"

Mariella explained, "There's a fridge and a microwave on the helicopter. I heated it up on the way."

"Thank you so much, Ms. Townsend! If you ever need anything, just come to me!" Denton patted his chest. "As long as me and my men can help, we'll do whatever it takes."

Mariella smiled slightly. "Denton, there will be more deals between us in the future. We'll both profit from it."

See? When I give something to people with a conscience, even a little earns real gratitude.

But if I give it to someone like Harvey, no matter how much I give, all I get in return is betrayal.

...

On the return trip, Chandler found a suitable landing spot, and Mariella quickly stored the large helicopter away.

Then, the two of them boarded an assault boat and headed back to Celestine Ridge.