Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 257 - 244: Flattery Gone Wrong

Chapter 257: Chapter 244: Flattery Gone Wrong

Marina’s office was a two-room suite. Just as she had said, it was indeed spacious, but whether the sofa was particularly comfortable remained to be verified.

Because Gao Yi didn’t have the chance to sit on the sofa, he directly took a seat in the chair opposite Marina’s desk.

"Here is the dossier I’ve compiled. It’s already printed out."

Marina pushed a bound document towards Gao Yi with a very serious and earnest expression, "Regarding your part, it’s in the first four pages. I’ve printed out all the information that can be collected from public channels, of course, public information from the Dark Web, which I think is useful."

Gao Yi took a look.

The dossier contained information about Busan, about Albatross. Of course, the part about Busan was just an individual Assassin, but the information on Luca, or Albatross, was much more detailed.

Then there was information about the Garden, about Sky Garden.

There were only four pages in total, which wasn’t really a lot.

Gao Yi skimmed through the document, then looked at Marina and asked, "How did you find me?"

"Quite simple, an inconspicuous yet important clue, an Asian, I saw the footage of Ditzel’s assassination. I noticed your style of action, and then the news about Sky Garden caught my attention. Our intelligence work isn’t solely dependent on the Dark Web, but the Dark Web is indeed a good source for intelligence. Nowadays, any intelligence agency would pay attention to the Dark Web to some extent, and the biggest news on the Dark Web in recent years has been Sky Garden."

Marina smiled and said, "Prince Shaman, Deputy Director Abdulla, and you—when the three of you were linked together, I could only assume you were from Sky Garden. When I saw you, I naturally thought of the Ditzel assassination case. The assassination of Ditzel was a mission completed by the Garden, so you must be from the Garden."

Gao Yi nodded in acknowledgment.

"I’m putting it rather simply, but that’s roughly my thought process. And the reason I’m certain you’re the Gardener is, well, quite simple. I know that the Garden’s previous Gardener was Sean, and he died."

Gao Yi was visibly moved as he asked, "You knew Sean?"

"As an assassin organization originating from France and often active in France, how could I not know about it?"

Marina retorted Gao Yi’s implicit question with a shrug, "The Garden is now without a successor, but then Sky Garden emerged, represented by a minor character, someone who had always acted as an intermediary. At first, I couldn’t confirm who could take over the Garden, but seeing your abilities, especially after you wiped out the Oak Mercenary Group last night, I knew it could only be you. Because no one else possesses the power and methods to control you, so it must be you controlling a former intermediary."

Gao Yi pondered for a moment and said, "So, you’ve concluded that I am the Gardener."

"Am I wrong?"

Gao Yi didn’t want to confirm it, but he didn’t deny it either.

To admit would leave no room for maneuver, and not to deny was to avoid insulting Marina’s intelligence.

Gao Yi flipped through the documents further and asked, "You mentioned there would be substantial benefits for me. What are they?"

"Intelligence, Dark Web intelligence, Andic Group intelligence."

Marina finished speaking with a smile, "The Dark Web is backed by the Andic Group, or rather, the Andic Group is backed by the Dark Web. You should know that by now."

"I do know, but when did you find out?"

Gao Yi had to ask this question for a very simple reason: It seemed like Sean hadn’t known about the relationship between the Andic Group and the Dark Web. So if France had always been aware, was it possible that something was deliberately hidden from the Garden?

"There had been suspicions a while back, but they remained unconfirmed. Even now, I have no evidence to confirm, nor do I have evidence to refute these suspicions. In line with my style and habits, if I can’t eliminate a suspicion, then that’s that."

Marina smiled, "We don’t need evidence, just suspicion is enough, isn’t it?"

"Yes, suspicion is enough."

Flipping further through the documents, Gao Yi discovered that following his information, there was intelligence about the Saudi National Intelligence Agency.

Gao Yi widened his eyes slightly and queried, "This is?"

"Our intelligence. CIA moles planted within the National Intelligence Bureau, and in the UK’s as well. As a welcoming gift, how do you find this present?"

Gao Yi thought for a moment and said, "This seems not to be a secret either."

"Oh?"

Gao Yi continued to flip through, and after the National Intelligence Bureau’s information, there was no more.

Gao Yi set down the documents and inquired, "Is this all?"

Marina smiled, "What, you’re not satisfied with these?"

"Uh, one very important thing, I’m not a spy. I’m an Assassin."

Gao Yi laid the dossier on the desk, "So, while this gift is nice, it doesn’t offer much personal benefit to me. Of course, I still want to thank you."

The implication was: I’ll accept this favor, thank you, but I can’t be compelled to work for you because of it.

Marina nodded, "Actually, I didn’t really have any use for you at first, but now that you’re indeed very capable, I would like you to do something for me, as for compensation..."

After some thought, Marina finally said, "Isn’t being protected from the CIA’s pursuit enough for you and your companions?"

Gao Yi laughed and said, "This should be a matter between Saudi and France, not between you and me."

The subtext was, his life was protected by Prince Shaman, and the price was the purchase of French fighter jets, not because Marina wanted to use him that he was offered protection.

So don’t take something that you are supposed to do anyway and act as if it’s a favor; Prince Shaman paid tens of billions for it, not given by the Directorate-General for External Security.

Gao Yi was clear-headed; Marina wouldn’t be able to bamboozle him.

After a brief moment of silence, Marina said, "We have a responsibility to protect you, that’s true, but we don’t have a responsibility to escort you out of France. You have to admit that, right?"

"I don’t know whether escorting us out of France is something you should consider; I just need to be safe now."

Whether to leave France or not didn’t matter; being safe was enough. How to leave France was Abdulla’s problem.

Marina laughed, then said very seriously, "Do you really think the Americans will let you leave France? Without our help, do you think you can get out safely just relying on the National Intelligence Bureau and their... skills?"

It always felt like Marina was mocking Abdulla, but Gao Yi had no response.

Abdulla had loyalty, skill, methods, combat power, and of course, more loyalty.

So entrusting his life to Abdulla seemed a bit unreliable indeed.

Seeing Gao Yi no longer retort, Marina whispered, "So let’s make a deal. You help me with the task at hand, and I’ll make sure everyone is safely sent off. You tell me where to send them, and I’ll help; is that okay?"

"Alright, that’s the condition."

Marina picked up a pen and said, "Let them recover from their injuries, and once they’re healed, we’ll send them off, guarantee safe escort. Just tell me the address."

"I have a question. Can you help me with it?"

"Go ahead and ask."

Gao Yi whispered, "Why do you know Sean, how long have you known him, and is the Garden trying to build a European Dark Web with your backing?"

"I know of Sean because I have his information; I’ve never met him personally. We are pleased to see the Garden attempting to establish a European Dark Web, but we haven’t directly promoted it or participated in it."

Marina laughed and said, "I’ve been in charge of the Counterintelligence Department for less than two years. Previous matters from long ago have nothing to do with me."

"How much do you know about the Garden?"

"Not much, but also not a little. The Garden was very strong during its prime, actually, it’s always been strong. So the question is, do you think such a famous and seasoned assassin organization would go completely unnoticed by us? Alright, no need to guess anymore; we had contact with the Garden before. Some targets that were inconvenient for us to deal with were handled by the Garden. Is that enough for you?"

"Who handles similar matters now?"

Marina spread her hands and laughed, "Young man, you’re crossing a line. There are things you shouldn’t ask, which I haven’t asked you."

"Sorry, forget I asked. Let’s work together, um, I have another question."

"Go ahead."

Gao Yi said sincerely, "You’re the most intelligent, most straightforward, most impressive intelligence officer I’ve ever met. Really, I swear to God, I’m absolutely telling the truth. So whenever I have something I can’t decide, I hope to get your advice."

Marina looked surprised and said, "Oh, such high praise for me? And you’re not prefixing it with gender."

"You mean woman? The most impressive woman I’ve met? No, no, it’s not that. Regardless of gender, you’re the most impressive and smartest I’ve met."

After finishing, Gao Yi thought for a moment and then added very sincerely, "Of course, also the most beautiful; that goes without saying. What brand of perfume do you use? It smells really nice."

All the previous words didn’t work as well as the last sentence.

Marina smiled and said, "I’m not wearing any perfume. It’s standard for intelligence personnel not to wear perfumes, didn’t you know that?"

Gao Yi looked extremely surprised and said, "No perfume? Then why does it smell so good, is it your natural scent? Sorry, I didn’t mean that..."

"Forgiven."

Marina waved her hand, smiling, and said, "You even know how to flatter a woman. Who taught you, have you been trained?"

Gao Yi suddenly stood up, his face serious, and said, "I swear to God, if I just lied to you, may God punish me, curse me to never find a girlfriend in this life, and let my deceased father’s spirit suffer in Hell for all eternity!"

Marina was startled for a moment, then she said very seriously, "Sorry, I wasn’t questioning you. I am... um, it’s been a very long time since someone said I have a natural scent. Uh, thank you."

Gao Yi sat down again and said sternly, "So, my last question: when do we act?"

"Of course, the details of the operation won’t be set up so quickly; we need intelligence to support it. I’ll tell you when we have news. I’ll discuss the evacuation details with you. You can go back now."

Truly straightforward, he thought to himself, just a few words of clear talk and a prompt dismissal.

Gao Yi stood up again, politely took his leave.

After sending Gao Yi off and watching him close the door, Marina stretched out her arm and sniffed it carefully, whispering to herself, "It really does smell nice."

Gao Yi closed the door behind him and, just before turning around, suddenly said, "Flattery will get you nowhere, that’s bottom line truth."