The provided text consists of excerpts from a novel titled "Mercenary" by Duncan Falconer, published in 2010. The first part of the text establishes the book's structure, including a table of contents and copyright information, confirming it is a work of fiction. The narrative primarily focuses on a character named Stratton, a former British military-intelligence asset who is now on a personal mission for revenge, successfully ambushing and killing a target named Sumners' associate using a crossbow. The second major part of the text details an FBI agent named Harris investigating a murder in Central America, leading him to a man named Victor (formerly François Laporte), who is involved with a rebel group led by Sebastian and his daughter, Louisa. Stratton later joins this rebel group, initially for an arms drop mission but quickly becoming involved in the conflict and falling into a complex relationship with Victor and Louisa, culminating in a violent battle against the Neravistas and an attempted escape.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.