Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 419 - 400 Black

Chapter 419: Chapter 400 Black

It’s just a transaction.

Nothing happened.

Beyond a series of incomprehensible operations, the transaction was so mundane that it felt boring.

Buying yogurt at the supermarket still requires a receipt, yet a transaction worth billions didn’t involve any superfluous words.

Everyone’s gone, the data uploaded, the KGB had no chance to do anything.

No drama, no twists, exposure would mean utter failure, so better avoid it entirely, don’t give any enemy or potential enemy an opportunity to exploit.

Not just being caught red-handed, but not even leaving a chance for others to hold you accountable later on is the true definition of an invincible position.

Sherkin had nothing to say.

Sherkin couldn’t help but swear, simply because he felt left behind by the times, and his country was getting dragged behind as well.

The boss can’t stand becoming the subordinate, just like the leader can’t stand becoming second in command, let alone third or fourth.

But nationalistic sentiment troubled Sherkin for only a very short moment, because he soon received a notification.

"The money’s in!"

With a light sigh, seeing the balance in the account, Sherkin took a deep breath.

Four hundred million belonged to the KGB, fifty million to Sherkin; that was the theory, but how much Sherkin actually gave the KGB was his own business, and Gao Yi guaranteed not to utter an extra word, guaranteed not to ask, even guaranteed not to be curious.

"I must say, doing business with them really leaves you at a loss for words."

Sherkin sighed again and then whispered to Gao Yi, "This transaction is an excellent start for us, we’ll have the opportunity to collaborate again in the future. Now, let’s continue with the unfinished transaction."

"Good, let’s continue," Gao Yi said.

The transaction wasn’t complete yet, because as part of the agreement, Gao Yi needed to provide the KGB with the metallic hydrogen data.

Also, it seemed that Sherkin had not yet made the payment.

But Gao Yi was still mindful of Huang Haisheng’s advice just now, he said in a low voice, "You heard what the buyer said. They want to return all the original data, as middlemen, it’s best we urge the seller to solidify this matter, don’t you think? You just mentioned the possibility of future cooperation. If something goes wrong with this transaction, there might be no next time."

Sherkin disdainfully said, "Don’t lecture me on this, do you think I don’t understand anything? We’re conscientious sellers who provide after-sales service. Most importantly, both of us need to become reputable and trustworthy middlemen."

These words sounded as if Sherkin considered Gao Yi as one of his own, instead of treating the KGB as his family.

Gao Yi was moved by this and asked, "Have you often dealt in intelligence trade before?"

"Actually, I’ve been a middleman quite often, but this is my first time dealing with intelligence. My main business has been the mercenary trade, and this kind of transaction is also new to me," Sherkin replied with unsettling candor.

Gao Yi didn’t understand why Sherkin was being so forthright.

"Ah, this is your first time, too?"

Gao Yi was pondering how to respond, but Sherkin continued, "Did you notice? Trading intelligence is much simpler than being a mercenary, and it’s simpler than being an assassin too. Most importantly, the money comes quickly!"

Sherkin, placing his hand on Gao Yi’s shoulder, whispered, "You have the buyers, I have the goods. We really can collaborate more in the future. We have many more opportunities for trade, like... just tell me what you want! I have connections in the KGB from my past, anything that Russia has, we can get our hands on, we can discuss it."

This... could indeed work.

Gao Yi said in a low voice, "Those are matters for the future, now let’s make sure the seller gets paid first."

"Oh right, let’s complete the transaction first."

Sherkin coughed lightly and then went to open the door, nodded to the people waiting outside, and then came back in.

After a moment, a middle-aged man in his fifties returned to the room looking even more nervous, especially after seeing the envelope that had already been opened on the table, he was completely stunned.

What would Sherkin do? Would he claim that the buyer did not want the goods, therefore refusing to pay?

Gao Yi really started to doubt because Sherkin looked very serious, very annoyed.

If he wasn’t planning on a dishonest default, why start the performance now?

"The buyer has inspected the goods; they confirmed that the documents are genuine, so the buyer has paid," Sherkin said.

Against Gao Yi’s expectations, Sherkin had no intention of reneging on the deal.

"But why didn’t they take the items with them?"

"There’s no need, the buyer doesn’t have to take the original documents. They have a safer and simpler way of taking the information."

While the seller was still bewildered, Sherkin pulled out a small bag he was carrying on his back, opened it, and took out a stack of money.

"Here is US$ 100,000 for you, take it."

There was no expression on Gao Yi’s face.

A deal worth one point two billion, Gao Yi paid as agreed four hundred and fifty million, Sherkin pocketed four hundred and fifty million, then turned around and paid the agreed upon one hundred thousand.

Smart, truly smart.

Brutal, indeed brutal.

He’s got it all figured out.

The seller, in his excitement, eagerly took the bundle of US dollars from Sherkin.

At that moment, Sherkin casually draped an arm around the seller’s shoulders.

"The money is definitely all there, but..."

The seller looked at Sherkin with a hint of panic, wanting to shake off his arm but not daring to do so.

Sherkin’s face turned stern as he continued, "But you should know what the consequences of suddenly getting such a large sum of money might be, right?"

"I... I won’t blab, and I’ll keep the money safe, spend it after a while..."

The seller’s voice trembled.

Sherkin patted the seller’s shoulder and continued in a low voice, "Good, then you won’t need to be silenced. But there’s another issue, you stole these documents, and although no one has noticed now, they will eventually. Can you still run away then?"

The seller took a breath and whispered, "I can’t worry about that now."

"You’re sitting on a treasure trove and only plan to make US$ 100,000 before quitting? Is that enough for you to flee abroad and live with your family? Enough to emigrate with your whole family?"

"No, it’s not enough... but it’s enough for my daughter... that’s all I need."

Sherkin went on, "Listen, if you do as I say now, not only will you be safe this time, you’ll always be safe, and you can make even more money. First, take these things back, put them back exactly how you took them out, so no one notices. Can you do that?"

"It’s difficult and dangerous, I don’t want to do that..."

Seeing Sherkin’s stern gaze, the seller swallowed and said helplessly, "Okay, I’ll put them back."

"You safely return the things, and we’ll pay you another sum of money, giving you..."

Sherkin began to look at his small bag, but he suddenly seemed uncomfortable, so he immediately said, "After you put the things back, I will give you..."

"Twenty thousand dollars."

Gao Yi had cash with him.

Green was right, it’s always good to carry some cash, and now it came in handy.

Gao Yi pulled out a thick stack of bills from his chest, twenty thousand dollars, really quite a thick wad.

Gao Yi put the money on the table in front of the seller, and Sherkin pressed his hand on the cash, whispering, "You can get paid after you finish the work, or you can get the money right now. What do you want to do?"

"I want it now."

The seller seemed like an honest man, but just as Gao Yi internally made that assessment, he suddenly realized that if the seller could do something like this, he must not be as simple as he appeared.

Sherkin must have realized this earlier than Gao Yi, which is why he kept one hand on the cash and the other on the seller’s shoulder, speaking gloomily, "You want it now, we give it now, but do you know why we dare to pay you now? Because we know everything about you. You should understand."

"I understand, of course, I understand."

The seller glanced at the opened file bag on the table and suddenly said, "The opened ones, can they be destroyed instead of being sent back? It might be a hassle if someone finds out. It’s better not to take them, and a few missing pieces won’t be noticed."

"Put them back. Someone will restore them to their original state and deliver them to you. Then you put them back in their place, and not a single one can be missing."

"Okay, okay."

The KGB can repair a few opened file bags, which of course wouldn’t be difficult for them.

Sherkin asked in a low voice, "When can you get it done?"

"Very soon, at most two days."

"The security archives storage center is so lax nowadays, huh? Hmm, that’s good news, there’ll be an opportunity to collaborate again in the future. I’ll increase your price next time; take your money and these things, someone will take you back."

Sherkin took his hand off the money, and then he fixed his fierce Russian-style gaze on the seller, speaking aggressively, "We’ll be watching you. Do well, and you’ll have more money in the future. Screw up, and prepare to have your whole family at the bottom of the lake. Remember my words well, now go!"

The seller walked away, taking his money and two large bags of original materials.

The door closed once more.

Sherkin let out a long breath, then looked at Gao Yi, hesitating for a moment before saying abruptly, "US$ 100,000 was his asking price. This person... These kinds of people, you can’t give them too much money, it’s unnecessary and unsafe."

"Hmm."

Gao Yi just nodded; he didn’t need Sherkin to explain anything.

"But this person is valuable. He can get us more useful stuff. You saw that, he’s easily satisfied and easily controlled. And we don’t need to worry about this kind of thing, KGB will of course handle everything."

"Hmm, I know."

One hundred thousand dollars, one hundred thousand.

Gao Yi had mixed feelings, but he didn’t know what to say, so he whispered, "It’s not necessarily a good thing for small fries to get too much money."

"Right, with one hundred thousand dollars, he can live happily. One million, and people will covet his money. Ten million, trust me, he definitely won’t survive the night. No, I need to correct that, with one million dollars he wouldn’t survive tonight either."

Correcting his judgment, Sherkin chuckled and said, "Well, the last step, finish the deal with the KGB, and then we can leave."