Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 111 - 101 Ge’s Layout Opens

Chapter 111: Chapter 101 Ge’s Layout Opens

What else can one say?

Being deceived is just that, and Gao Yi had hoped that his friend Martin could help him recover his things and his pride, so admitting it was the best course.

"Yes, we were deceived."

Gao Yi openly admitted to the deception and then said indifferently, "It was careless of us, but luckily we didn’t lose anything important. Probably because they were unimportant, we left them in the car. Right now, we are..."

He looked around, did not see any signs, and was about to ask Luca to find out where they were when the voice on the phone said, "I know where you guys are. Con artists often use that place to trick people. Wait for me; I’m coming to pick you up."

The call ended.

Luca, looking helpless, said, "Why did you admit we were deceived? What should we say?"

"Good news and bad news."

Gao Yi sighed and said, "The bad news is that this is quite embarrassing. The good news is that this guy knows where we are and will be here soon to pick us up."

Luca sighed.

They waited for about twenty minutes, and just as Gao Yi felt he might succumb to heatstroke, an inconspicuous old car stopped in front of them.

A Toyota Land Cruiser, quite common in Baghdad City.

The car window rolled down, and a man in his forties glanced at Gao Yi, said nothing, and just gestured with his hand.

They quickly got into the car, and the life-saving air conditioning once again saved the three of them.

The driver silently opened the fridge, took out a bottle of water and handed it to Gao Yi, then took out two more bottles, waiting for Lin Xianghua and Luca to catch them before murmuring, "I’m Grins. Martin was my former colleague."

Gao Yi gulped down the water. Although he hadn’t sweated outside in the heat, he now began to sweat profusely.

Wiping off his sweat, Gao Yi whispered, "Thank you."

Grins silently picked up another bottle of water, handed it to Gao Yi, then slightly turned his head towards the other two in the back and said, "Help yourselves."

After saying that, Grins turned the car around, but Luca quickly said, "Sorry, could you ask those soldiers for us? They must be in cahoots with the con artist."

Grins paused briefly after hearing Luca’s request and continued turning the steering wheel, driving away without stopping, naturally unable to inquire for them.

Once the car was moving again, Grins said in a low voice, "They aren’t together, but the con artist compensates them, and I don’t have the authority to command them, so there’s no need to ask."

Gao Yi whispered resentfully, "Damn con artist!"

Luca gritted his teeth and said, "Con artists deserve to die."

Grins smiled slightly and said, "If you don’t covet a bargain, you won’t be cheated."

Gao Yi helplessly replied, "We weren’t chasing a bargain. That con artist quoted two hundred and forty for a day’s car hire, and I voluntarily offered him three hundred."

Grins turned to look at Gao Yi and said, "From the airport to the Green Zone, it’s one hundred dollars for a one-way trip, and chartered rides start at one thousand dollars. Three hundred a day, if not a bargain, then what is it?"

Gao Yi was speechless, and Luca looked dumbfounded.

Grins continued, "There are at least a few such con artists active at the airport, offering low prices, quality service, preying on first-timers in Baghdad. Acting as drivers, of course, isn’t as good as taking all the money in one go."

Gao Yi didn’t know what to say, and it seemed like Grins developed some negative thoughts due to them being deceived, questioning their capabilities perhaps.

Seeing that all three had nothing to say, Grins went on, "I can take you into the Green Zone, but from there on, it’s up to you."

Gao Yi knew this meant money. He silently opened his bag, pulled out a stack of bills, and handed them directly to Grins, whispering, "This was agreed upon. Please accept it."

Grins hesitated for a moment, at least ten seconds, before hesitantly taking the money Gao Yi offered with his left hand.

From the way he handled the money, it was clear Grins had never really done something like this before.

In his forties, about the same age as Martin.

Transferred from the FBI to the Department of Homeland Security and then from there to the newly established intelligence department at the Pentagon meant that Grins’ rank couldn’t possibly be high; he was at the bottom, having wasted too much time moving between several units. Therefore, he had no power, no money in his pocket, and was not doing well.

If those soldiers and swindlers were in cahoots, if Grins were doing well, he would have been able to get the items back directly.

But Grins didn’t even ask, which indicated he knew it was futile to say anything, so he simply chose not to lose face.

Just another minor character squandering his life at the bottom, usually not even having the chance to take money, and likely too scared to take it even if it were available.

From just a small action of taking money, Luca quickly made a judgment, and then, he found Grins to be of no use.

If it were someone else, someone with a bit of clout, they would definitely show off their strength, demonstrate their abilities, a simple phone call would have sufficed to have the swindler obediently return the bag.

Forget it, this trip to Baghdad would still have to rely on his own, Martin’s contact was of no use; Grins was a waste.

But of course, Luca wouldn’t say these thoughts aloud; his EQ wasn’t that low.

Perhaps the biggest use Grins had was getting Gao Yi and the others into the Green Zone because after showing a badge, he really just drove them in.

They found a hotel, not very nice but reasonably priced; naturally, the bill was on Gao Yi and his group. After doing all this, Grins decisively left, which in Luca’s view, was like having "incompetence" written all over his face.

So after entering the room, Luca decisively said, "This guy is no good, ten thousand dollars wasted, Falke, completely wasted."

Gao Yi looked at Luca, puzzled, "What?"

Luca explained his judgment in detail, then summed it up.

"Grins is incompetent, just a minor character, he can’t really help us, giving him money was purely a waste."

Lin Xianghua felt even more despondent, frowning, "That means I can’t get my things back."

Gao Yi indeed didn’t rush to speak; he was lost in thought.

Luca had to raise his voice, "What are you thinking about?"

Gao Yi exhaled, "Didn’t give enough!"

Luca was startled, Lin Xianghua perplexed, while Gao Yi looked at them both, excited, "If it’s as you said, Grins is just a frustrated middle-aged man, a minor character spinning his wheels at the bottom, isn’t that even better?"

Luca blurted, "What are you thinking? Are you out of your mind? This is clearly a waste, how is it a good opportunity?"

Gao Yi said excitedly, "Using the overlooked, dragging the unsuspecting into the fray, giving a no-hoper at the bottom a chance to make money, isn’t that a good opportunity? If Grins had seen big money before, would he still take us seriously? But since he’s a nobody with no chance of making it big, those who can give him money are like a lifeline to him!"

Luca confusedly said, "Your perspective is unique, but he’s useless, he’s incompetent! Even if you make him look up to you like a father, how would that help?"

"You’re thinking too small."

Gao Yi waved his hand, smiling at Luca, "I remember a story about two shoe salesmen who went to a tropical island to sell shoes. One of them upon arrival immediately called his company, despondently saying they should give up on this island because the people there do not wear shoes."

He paused, sold the suspense, then continued with a smile, "The other salesman, however, excitedly phoned the company saying how great it was that the people on the island had no shoes, that the market was vast and untouched. Did you understand the story?"

Luca gasped.

Gao Yi nodded, earnestly, "Is Grins truly incompetent? If so, he wouldn’t have caught the eye of three intelligence levels. He is that untapped market with no established consumer habits. We’ll cultivate those for him, not just the market but also brand loyalty."

Luca breathed out softly, "You really are a... good businessman."

"Grins might not be capable, but does he have capable colleagues or friends? Any superiors willing to make quick money? We may not have connections, but we can make them through Grins."

Luca nodded silently.

Gao Yi chuckled, "Even if he’s just a stepping-stone... as long as he needs money, and we foster his desire to make it, wouldn’t everything else be easy to handle?"

Lin Xianghua murmured, "The boss is indeed the boss."

Gao Yi patted Luca on the shoulder, smiling, "Think bigger. Prepare twenty thousand dollars tonight, invite Grins for a dinner, focus all our efforts on him, go for it, trust me, it’s the right move."