Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 406 - 388: The Aspects of All Beings

Chapter 406: Chapter 388: The Aspects of All Beings

The deal was concluded to everyone’s satisfaction.

And of course, the selling had to continue. As a wholesaler, it was impossible to wrap things up just like that.

While undecided on who the agent should be in the United States, Gao Yi decided to first make a call to his good big brother.

Endorsed by Northeastern University, the quality of the goods was even more assured.

"Big brother, I have something good, do you want it?"

Gao Yi’s direct approach led Shaman to some misunderstandings.

"Bring it here."

"It’s technology, specifically for producing metallic hydrogen. Actually, it’s just a technical tip, but it can be used to successfully manufacture metallic hydrogen. I am going to sell this technology to anyone who wants it. I’m not sure if you need it, but I definitely have to ask you first. If you want it, I’ll give it to you right away."

Shaman sighed softly.

Gao Yi whispered, "Not being useful now doesn’t mean it won’t be useful in the future. It’s also quite good to keep this thing."

In an expression of helplessness, Shaman said, "We would need to start by building a laboratory at a university. By the time our lab is built, several years will have passed. Recruiting qualified scientists alone would take a decade. By then, when we start our research, other countries will already have mature products. This kind of basic research that requires a long time and large investment doesn’t suit us. Moreover, being forced into this kind of tech race could lead to misunderstandings about our strategy, so let it go. But anyhow, thanks anyway."

Yes, that’s how it is.

Saudi certainly would not want this kind of cutting-edge technology for research into metallic hydrogen. It would be useless for them to take it except for satisfying their curiosity.

But even if Shaman didn’t want it, Gao Yi still had to mention it. The former was a question of depth, the latter was a question of whether Gao Yi had a conscience.

Even if it was just a formality, this formality had to be observed. With Gao Yi’s EQ, how could he overlook his own benefactor?

Having hung up the phone, Gao Yi thought for a bit and directly called Grasse.

Bonds formed through trivial encounters but significant in terms of interests and life itself were surely closer than with Panetta. Therefore, when making a decision, Gao Yi couldn’t purely consider the issue from the perspective of interest.

"Brother, I’ve got something, France’s latest scientific research results related to metallic hydrogen. I don’t have time to explain the specifics to you. Just know that I’ve got the technology, and I plan to sell it to many countries. You should handle this opportunity to make a difference. What do you think?"

It was a bit troublesome to explain the same thing to everyone, so Gao Yi just picked out the essentials.

"Is that thing in Amsterdam your doing?"

Why does everyone know what happened in Amsterdam?

Gao Yi asked in puzzlement, "Even you know about it?"

"You make it sound as if my professional ability is really poor."

Gao Yi gave a bitter smile, "No, just that I only took care of Iron Fist George in Amsterdam this afternoon, and now the whole world knows about it. I wonder, does this circle have no secrets at all?"

"Get one thing straight, France and the UK have been at odds over Iron Fist George for a long time. You think that any intelligence organization in the world wouldn’t know and pay attention to your scene at Military Intelligence Sixth Department in London? Now that Iron Fist George is dead, who wouldn’t know? In this information age, spreading news across the globe takes just a few minutes, let alone us, who are professional intelligence agencies."

Grasse explained for a bit and then said with certainty, "Before today, we didn’t know why the French were chasing Iron Fist George, nor why Iron Fist George defected. Now you’re telling me, something about metallic hydrogen technology, um, with these clues, if I still don’t know what happened, then what kind of spy am I?"

"Alright, one hundred million dollars a piece, see what you can do."

Grasse spoke softly, "One hundred million dollars? Here’s the thing, we’re a military intelligence unit, and it’s not really our job to buy technological intelligence from spies, even though we can do it."

"But aren’t you competing with the CIA?"

"Oh, of course, but here’s how I see it, the CIA obviously needs this intelligence more. Freedom Wind has been on it for a while. If Panetta can get this intelligence through Freedom Wind, it would be a greater help for him. So, why not maximize benefits?"

Gao Yi laughed, "You have an idea?"

"Contact Panetta, sell the intelligence to him but we’ll get involved. Sell it for three hundred million instead of one hundred million, one hundred million for you, one hundred million for us, and the remaining hundred million can go to Panetta. The reason is simple: the budget of the Secret Action Bureau is limited, and it takes a long time to allocate special funds from above, but the CIA has these funds, and Panetta can decide for himself how to use it."

Gao Yi had a moment of realization and said, "Understood, you still have to report up the chain, whereas Panetta can settle it directly."

"Yes, and everyone benefits from it, the money can be distributed after it reaches your hands, which is very helpful for your status."

The money wasn’t coming from Gao Yi, but it was being distributed by Gao Yi.

Without hesitation, Gao Yi said, "Then I’ll contact Panetta. However, if I send the intelligence to you, and you pass it to Panetta, it would seem like I deliberately ignored Panetta. How about this: I’ll say you helped me take care of Iron Fist George, you were involved in my operation throughout, so you deserve a share. And since you are willing to give the intelligence to Panetta, he’ll owe you a favor."

"Not me, I’m not qualified. He’ll owe the Pentagon a favor."

Everyone benefits, everyone gets a share. Who wouldn’t love such a deal, who would forego such a network of relationships?

"It amounts to the same thing. Wait for my message."

Gao Yi hung up Grasse’s phone and then dialed Panetta.

Panetta quickly answered the call and calmly said, "Hello, please speak."

Panetta seemed to be in a situation where speaking freely was inconvenient; there must have been many people around him.

Gao Yi whispered, "I took out Iron Fist George. What Freedom Wind wanted to get from Iron Fist George is now with me. I was behind the Amsterdam incident, with the technical support provided by the Defense Clandestine Service. However, the Secret Action Bureau is willing to let you have it, um, my price is one hundred million, that’s the price for anyone, but the Secret Action Bureau thinks that three hundred million is better, with one hundred million for you."

Brevity characterized his message. He didn’t say much, but he said what needed to be said.

Panetta continued in a calm tone, "Thank you. I’ll consider the deal seriously, but I think your price is somewhat high. One billion dollars is impossible; five hundred million USD seems like a fair price."

Gao Yi was taken aback for a moment, but his mind worked fast, and he immediately followed Panetta’s lead, saying, "Five hundred million is too low, nine hundred million USD."

"Six hundred million, not a dollar more."

"Eight hundred million, at least eight hundred million USD, payment after delivery."

"Seven hundred million USD, let’s not haggle anymore. I know the value of this intelligence, and I also know that you’ve quoted one billion to the UK, but we could obtain this intelligence from the UK without spending a single dollar, so seven hundred million USD is my final offer. Payment before delivery is no problem; I trust your reputation."

How had Panetta managed to make the deal like this?

Seven hundred million USD?

Unable to help it, Gao Yi shrugged his shoulders and whispered, "Alright, seven hundred million USD it is. Who should I contact, Joelson?"

"Joelson will contact you once we have the funds ready."

"Wait, how do we ensure the transaction’s safety?"

Panetta said seriously, "That’s something I need to consider. Rest assured, we will protect the informant providing the intelligence."

The call was hung up.

Panetta’s last sentence meant he would ensure that the method of payment was very secure, and Gao Yi need not worry that the CIA could trace back to him through the money flow, after all, Panetta was leading this operation.

A one hundred million dollars’ item sold for seven hundred million, but the excess money didn’t make any difference to Gao Yi; he still had to ensure it was safely returned.

Panetta had taken an easy cut this time; it was just unclear how much he would have to share with the Pentagon, but this wasn’t a big issue since, according to the agreement with Grasse, it was three hundred million USD.

Is it really so easy for top American big shots to make money?

Seize an opportunity, and they can earn money that generations couldn’t spend—a clear advantage of having real power and defeating competitors.

One man’s success can raise all his followers to the skies. Giving this intelligence to Panetta was indeed more beneficial than giving it to Grasse, and more importantly, Panetta could also facilitate many others.

After hanging up the call, Gao Yi said to Luca, "Prepare another account; this time it’s for seven hundred million USD."

Luca, with a face full of emotion, said, "I’ve never seen this kind of intentional price inflation before. Everything’s settled on our end, right?"

"There’s still Russia that hasn’t been contacted. Reach out to Russia fast, see if they’re willing to buy. Green is waiting."

If things weren’t settled on Gao Yi’s end, Green couldn’t sell.

The reason was simple: Military Intelligence Sixth Department was KGB’s London branch, just as CIA’s London branch.

If the UK obtained the intelligence, it meant that both the United States and Russia could receive the same intelligence for free. Therefore, to make money from two more sources, it was necessary that the UK be the last country to receive the intelligence.

Gao Yi called Sherkin.

It was uncertain what Sherkin’s exact relation to KGB was, but knowing there was a connection was sufficient.

Sherkin answered the phone quickly, then he spoke in a low voice, "I was behind the Amsterdam incident."

"What?"

Finally, someone didn’t know what had happened in Amsterdam, which indicated that Sherkin’s connections with the intelligence world weren’t that tight.

Gao Yi thought for a moment and said, "Get in touch with KGB. Tell them I have something to sell to them for one hundred million USD, something taken from Iron Fist George. Mentioning this should make KGB understand."

"I want a ten percent commission for being the middleman; I should get this money."

Gao Yi hesitated for a moment, then said, "I don’t care how much you want; I need one hundred million."

Sherkin, without any hesitation, replied, "No, that’s for you to pay. I won’t try to get money from KGB; they’re certain to dodge payment, so your quote must include my commission."

"Then quote one hundred and ten million, and that’s it."

"Good, we’ll be in touch."

The call ended, and Gao Yi shook his head, "KGB’s reputation isn’t good, huh? We need to be extra cautious."