CHAPTER 97: Between Bullets and Words

CHAPTER 97: Between Bullets and Words

Phoenix wasn't having his best day. His shoulder still hurt like hell, and the fact that he couldn't use his left arm remained a constant annoyance. On top of everything, Enid had decided to assign him the task of checking the weapons with Anna, a job normally reserved for the only human in the group. But apparently, Enid thought keeping Phoenix busy with something that didn't involve ripping heads off would be best for his "recovery."

When he arrived at the armory, Anna was already there, inspecting a rack of rifles with great concentration. She was a young woman with brown hair tied in a high ponytail, with an energetic air and an almost permanent smile on her face. Although they hadn't met personally, Phoenix had heard enough about Anna to know she was a woman who talked a lot. And indeed, not a second passed after Phoenix entered the room before she started talking.

"Hey! You must be Phoenix," Anna said enthusiastically, turning to him with a smile. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "I've heard a lot about you. Well, actually, not as much as I'd like, you know, people are always talking about things, but they never go into the details, and I love details. I'm Anna, by the way. I guess we've never met face to face, but here we are, right?"

Phoenix looked at her with an expression of mild discomfort and weariness, keeping a prudent distance. He wasn't in the mood for chatter, especially after everything that had happened recently. "Yeah, Phoenix," he replied in a dry tone, showing little interest. "And yeah, here we are."

Anna didn't seem discouraged by his short reply. She kept talking as she took an assault rifle from a rack and inspected it skillfully. "So, I've been told you're a weapons expert. Is that true? Because I know my stuff, you know? But it's always good to have someone who knows more to learn something new. I always like learning something new, it's what makes life interesting, don't you think?"

Phoenix barely nodded, his gaze fixed on the lined-up weapons. *I've had better days,* he thought. For him, saying just the bare minimum was best right now.

"What do we have here?" he asked, approaching a row of rifles. His expert eye quickly scanned the weapons, observing every detail with precision. He picked up an assault rifle with one hand and began to recite, almost as if on autopilot. "M4A1 Carbine, caliber 5.56×45mm NATO, direct impingement gas system, rate of fire 700 to 950 rounds per minute. Weight: 2.88 kg unloaded. Barrel length: 370 mm. Effective range: 500-600 meters."

Anna raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Wow, you sound like a walking weapons manual," she commented with a smile. "Do you have a favorite?"

Phoenix put the rifle back in its place and moved to another weapon, one he clearly knew very well. "Colt Python," he said as he carefully picked up the revolver, noting how the weight of the weapon rested perfectly in his hand. "Caliber .357 Magnum. Six rounds. Six-inch barrel, double action. Accuracy, durability, and guaranteed stopping power."

As he spoke, his tone changed slightly. There was something almost reverent in his voice, as if he were talking about an old friend. "It's a reliable, classic weapon. It's never failed me."

Anna looked at him with a bit more interest, a slight smile on her face. "Seems you know a lot about this. I thought you were just the head-ripping guy."

Phoenix allowed himself a slight smile at her comment. "Sometimes, it's better to leave heads intact and solve things with precision," he replied, returning the Colt Python to its place with special care.

Anna watched him silently for a few seconds, something that, for the first time since meeting him, seemed to cost her. Finally, she broke the silence with a light laugh. "You don't look like the type who enjoys checking weapons in his free time."

"It's not exactly my idea of fun," Phoenix admitted, not taking his eyes off the weapons. "But at least it's something that keeps me busy."

They continued checking the weapons in silence for a moment, but the silence didn't last long.

"So, how did you end up on this mission? I mean, I thought Enid had you as her guard dog or something," Anna commented, placing a couple of automatic pistols on their shelf.

Phoenix snorted, a mix of frustration and amusement crossing his face. "Let's just say this time I've been put on a shorter leash. And here I am, playing weapons inspector."

Anna laughed again, clearly enjoying the irony of the situation. "Well, at least you're good at it. Not everyone can say the same."

Phoenix simply nodded, knowing that no matter how much he preferred to be on the battlefield, his job for now was here, in this armory, no matter how mundane it seemed.

***

As Phoenix and Anna continued inspecting the weapons, the metallic sounds of pistols, rifles, and ammunition echoed in the armory. The cold light of the fluorescents created harsh shadows, reflecting off the polished finishes of the weapons and Phoenix's concentrated expression. Although he preferred silence, Anna seemed to have the ability to fill every moment with chatter, comments, and questions. Meanwhile, Phoenix organized the next batch of automatic pistols, making sure each one was in its place.

"So, Phoenix," Anna said suddenly, breaking the silence that had barely lasted a few seconds, "how old are you? I mean, I know you're not an ordinary human, so... how many?"

Phoenix let out a short snort as he continued his task. He could sense the genuine curiosity in her voice, but it wasn't a question he got asked every day. He took a moment to think about the answer, as if he had to do calculations in his head.

"Roughly 300 years," he finally said, in an offhand tone, while adjusting a rifle on its rack. "I stopped counting a long time ago."

Anna stopped for a moment, blinking in surprise. "300 years?!" she exclaimed, almost dropping the pistol in her hand. "That's... an eternity. How is it possible you're still here, not tired of everything?"