Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 157 - 146: Obedience in Public, Defiance in Private

Chapter 157: Chapter 146: Obedience in Public, Defiance in Private

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

If you know the meaning of this idiom, you’ll understand the current predicament.

Chinese is rich in information, and although Gao Yi was not particularly studious, he had heard the explanation of this idiom countless times since childhood. So, what seems complex to many culturally ignorant people is clear as day to Gao Yi, expressed succinctly in a single idiom.

He was being watched, but not him personally—rather, it was Harold and Fesari, the rich brothers.

Of course, Gao Yi couldn’t refuse.

If someone dares to come alone, casually asking him to take a trip, it means they’re truly fearless.

There’s no use in fighting, and running is pointless.

This oriole is not like princes such as Fesari and Harold, decked in wealth. This person truly controls the entire city, no, the entire country.

Gao Yi obediently nodded without hesitation, directly and crisply saying, "Okay."

People from the National Intelligence Bureau had emerged from every corner, creating an ironclad enclosure. What more was there to say?

The question was whom to meet.

"Get in the car."

He was led by the Bureau’s folks, and Gao Yi obediently followed in his car, no one escorting him, almost as if no one cared.

It wasn’t much of a drive, and soon, Gao Yi and his three companions were taken to a mansion that appeared unremarkable.

Dammam City was full of luxury houses; elsewhere, they might be rare, but here, "unremarkable" was the only description, as all surrounding houses were mansions.

By the time he got there, Gao Yi was already at ease because no one had searched them for weapons. This attitude indicated that whoever had summoned them had no intention of killing them. Moreover, the summoner was confident they could bribe them.

Useful, to be bought, without even seeing the boss, Gao Yi had already made this judgment, and of course, he felt much more at ease.

He was led into a large, luxurious living room, which was eerily empty.

Gao Yi sat down uneasily, and the three people he brought with him had different mentalities.

Number 55 had hardly any emotional reaction, Lin Xianghua was in a state of dumbfounded confusion, and only Feng Biao was insightful enough to realize that the situation was not too good, but also not too disastrous, at least not life-threatening yet.

Feng Biao had not intended to say much at that moment, but he couldn’t hold back.

"Boss, even if you kill me for it, I have to speak!"

Feng Biao looked righteous as if Gao Yi had expected him to speak some harsh truth.

"Hmm, go ahead."

Feng Biao took a deep breath and spoke solemnly, "I’ve been around for many years, and I have never seen a boss as righteous as you!"

Was he expecting a scolding but got flattery instead?

Gao Yi, still young, wasn’t completely shameless.

"Uh, is that what you wanted to tell me?"

Feng Biao maintained his dignified tone, "Well, I might be a brute at heart and sometimes blurt out nonsense when I’m anxious. But I can’t stand any dishonesty. Yes is yes, no is no, no one can fool me. But I know who treats me well, and that I keep clear in my mind."

What exactly was Feng Biao saying?

Or rather, what was the main point of Feng Biao’s speech?

Tough to summarize.

Gao Yi was still trying to figure out the meaning of Feng Biao’s words when Feng Biao spoke up again, "You, the boss, are beyond reproach. I’ve decided on you. Just for coming back to rescue us, I owe you my life. That’s how I am—if someone is good to me, I must return the favor even more. You’ve got my loyalty."

What exactly did Feng Biao want to say?

He seemed to be flattering, but also boasting about himself.

Eventually, Gao Yi couldn’t help but ask, "What are you trying to say?"

Feng Biao took a breath and whispered, "It just seems... the situation right now doesn’t look very good. I think... well, it’s best if we can avoid getting involved, boss. The waters here are too deep."

Gao Yi couldn’t stand it.

"If you’re worried about your earlier scolding and think it might still bother me, it’s really not necessary. I’m not so petty. If you feel it’s dangerous that the National Intelligence Bureau brought us here and fear getting implicated, I can’t help with that. Is there anything else you want to say?"

Feng Biao’s mouth twitched, and he finally murmured, "Just that... you know... I’m actually very useful. Could I follow you in the future?"

Gao Yi turned to look Feng Biao over properly and eventually let out a sigh, "You’re afraid I’ll conveniently sell you off, aren’t you? Rest assured, I do not have a habit of abandoning my own."

Feng Biao looked slightly embarrassed and then said, "If we need to fight our way out, I have no objections. I’ll cover for you."

Feng Biao truly was a slick flatterer.

Gao Yi smiled and then decided to ignore him.

After not too long, about ten minutes later, a middle-aged man rushed into the living room.

Seeing Gao Yi, the newcomer seemed quite surprised. He sat down opposite Gao Yi and said, "I’m the Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Bureau. You have a bounty of twenty million dollars on the Dark Web, take out Fesari, and you’ll receive the money. I’m the one offering the bounty, and now you can collect."

He was also a sugar daddy, albeit one with strings attached, but a sugar daddy nonetheless.

Gao Yi immediately stood up, and as he did, Feng Biao quickly followed suit, while Lin Xianghua and 55’s reaction was obviously much slower; neither of them realized what they should be doing.

Gao Yi looked at the middle-aged man with sincerity and said, "Thank you!"

Feng Biao immediately followed, saying, "Thank you very much."

The middle-aged man waved his hand and then spoke casually, "Do you know why I gave you this money, and now, why I’ve asked you to come?"

Gao Yi immediately shook his head, a puzzled expression on his face, "Sorry, I don’t know."

Feng Biao was about to nod but, seeing Gao Yi shake his head, he quickly did the same, while Lin Xianghua finally stood up hesitantly.

The middle-aged man looked at the three of them, thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "These twenty million weren’t given by me; they were given by His Highness Prince Shaman."

Gao Yi, with a look of confusion, said, "Ah, Prince Shaman... who is that?"

Feng Biao immediately put on a confused face and said, "Right, I’ve never heard of him."

The middle-aged man frowned, seemingly displeased with Gao Yi’s answer, but Gao Yi insisted, "I’m really sorry, but we’re indeed not familiar with the situation in Saudi."

"It doesn’t matter whether you know about Prince Shaman; what matters is that he admires you. Because of what you did, he has come up with a good idea."

The middle-aged man looked at Gao Yi with reserve, his chin lifted slightly, and said, "You killed Fesari, and you did it because Harold instructed you to."

Gao Yi immediately said, "Harold? Never heard of him!"

The middle-aged man frowned again, took a light breath, and then asked, "Do you think just because you’re with the Defense Clandestine Service, I wouldn’t dare to kill you?"

Gao Yi said very seriously, "Sorry, I have no idea what you’re talking about."

The middle-aged man fell silent; Feng Biao, anxious, his face almost twisted into knots, finally couldn’t help but whisper, "Actually... never mind."

Feng Biao had wanted to persuade Gao Yi to acknowledge knowing Harold, but after considering his own identity and the stance he ought to take, he eventually decided to give up.

Gao Yi whispered, "Sir, Fesari hired us to eliminate someone who cheated him, but in the end, he refused to pay us, so, in revenge, I killed him. That’s it—there was no instruction from anyone else; it was purely a spontaneous act."

The middle-aged man suddenly asked, "How much did Harold pay you?"

"I got ten million dollars, half less than Prince Shaman. It was purely a moral support, but here’s the problem, I don’t know who Harold is."

Gao Yi was adamant, insisting he didn’t know Harold.

Words that shouldn’t be said must not be said.

The middle-aged man pondered for a moment and then suddenly said, "My name is Abdulla Hariri, I am the Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Bureau and also responsible for the action office. Just here, I can assure you an income of at least several tens of millions of dollars a year."

After stating his identity, Abdulla continued, "Fesari is dead, but his brother Harold is still alive. You’re an assassin, you’re from Sky Garden, right? Alright, now I have a business proposition for you: eliminate Harold and I’ll pay you ten million dollars; do you accept?"

Gao Yi, without hesitation, said, "Not enough."

"Twenty million."

"The risk is too high. We’ve made enough money and plan to retire."

"Fifty million!"

Gao Yi fell silent; Abdulla smiled and said, "Either you testify that Harold hired you to kill Fesari, or you take the money to eliminate Harold. Choose one."

Gao Yi didn’t hesitate, "May I ask if the fifty million is in US dollars, and how will it be paid upon completion?"

"US dollars, cash or transfer are both possible."

Gao Yi immediately nodded, "Okay, we can take on the job."

Abdulla spread his hands and stood up, saying, "Find your own excuse, but make it quick. You have three days."

Gao Yi said immediately, "Not enough, ten days."

"One week, a week at most."

Gao Yi hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Alright, but... we will need help."

"Sure, no problem."

Abdulla finished speaking, smiled, and said, "I’ve got other things to do, so I’ll leave first. Someone will contact you; let me know once you have a plan, and before you act, you must tell me. Goodbye."

After Abdulla left.

Watching Abdulla walk away, Lin Xianghua couldn’t help but say, "Are we really going to take out the boss?"

Feng Biao whispered, "Shut up! Is that something you can say?"

Gao Yi shook his head, "It’s fine, they wouldn’t bug this place, there’s no need."

Feng Biao whispered, "We still have an advantage if we strike; boss, you decide how to do it. I promise, wherever you point, I’ll shoot!"

Gao Yi glanced at Feng Biao and whispered, "Are you dumb? Could we escape if we didn’t agree?"

Feng Biao appeared to have an epiphany, whether he truly understood Gao Yi’s meaning or not, but the expression he showed was definitely one of understanding, and he even gave a thumbs up, admiringly saying, "Impressive, Gao, truly impressive! This is called... this is called... being insincere!"

"It’s called saying one thing and doing another. If you can’t use idioms properly, then don’t use them."

After showing his disdain for Feng Biao, Gao Yi whispered, "How could we move against Number One Master? I’m not the kind to be ungrateful and undermine someone once I’m done with them. Most importantly, if we don’t run now, we’re just waiting for death. So, we won’t be earning this fifty million; let’s make a quick escape!"