Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 495 - 474: Inciting (Three More Updates for Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 495: Chapter 474: Inciting (Three More Updates for Monthly Tickets)

It can’t be said that the fish bit the bait, only that things started to develop along the path Gao Yi hoped for.

Provoking Russians with reverse psychology always works, it is invariably effective.

Gao Yi fell into deep thought, pretending as if he was about to agree, and just when Alexander thought the deal was sealed, Gao Yi suddenly shook his head and said, "No."

Alexander was somewhat taken aback.

Gao Yi stood up, casually straightened his clothes, and said indifferently, "I just want the intelligence because I’m short on time, but I don’t need any other help. Please reply as soon as possible whether we can cooperate, and then contact me."

Although there was nothing excessive about what Gao Yi said, the faint disdain on his face betrayed his thoughts.

Disdain.

It was simply a feeling of disdain.

You can kill a Russian, but you can’t look down on a Russian.

Alexander was angry but couldn’t do anything because he indeed had no power to decide on these matters, and moreover, he had to urgently report this potential big deal to his own boss.

Under Alexander’s gaze, Gao Yi turned and left, while Sherkin could only whisper to Alexander, "He’s the Gardener, mate, you’re thinking too much."

After saying that, Sherkin helplessly got up and followed in Gao Yi’s footsteps, the two leaving the cafe together.

Watching the two walk away and vanish behind the door, Alexander sighed deeply. This time, he did not hurry to leave, but sat on the chair lost in thought.

After leaving the cafe, Gao Yi slowed down and said to Sherkin, "He’ll report back, won’t he?"

"Of course, unless he really wants to die."

"Good, give me the item. I need to get this thing done first."

Sherkin did not take out the USB flash drive, just whispered, "Pay first."

Gao Yi made a call to Luca, Luca transferred the money, and upon receiving the funds, Sherkin took the USB flash drive from his pocket and handed it to Gao Yi.

"Next, we’ll just wait on our own. I don’t think it’ll be long before Alexander requests to talk with us again," Sherkin said.

"Alright, let me know when Alexander calls again. Besides, I think Alexander might not directly report this deal to the big boss behind him. I can tell he wants to use this opportunity to break away."

Sherkin simply nodded, but did not say anything. The two men didn’t need to discuss anything; they just had to wait for news.

Gao Yi returned to the hotel on his own, and after walking a few steps, saw Xinfeng waiting for him on the roadside.

A backup plan is always necessary, after all, one never knows what might happen.

Gao Yi got into the car, and then he started calling Huang Haisheng. After waiting for the call to connect, he said in a low voice, "I’ve got the data you wanted, it’s in a USB flash drive and it can only be viewed once. I can capture the screen and send you the video, four million, and I’ll deliver the goods once the payment is received."

Since advance payment is the rule, let’s stick to the rule, especially when it comes to matters involving money.

Huang Haisheng immediately said, "Okay, I’ll arrange for the payment straight away."

The USB flash drive can be discarded, find a computer to record the contents of the USB, and then directly email them to Huang Haisheng, in this era, it is very simple to transfer some documents, there is no need to risk physically delivering them.

It’s a simple matter, just deal with it when you’re back at the hotel. However, just a few minutes after Gao Yi left the cafe by car, Sherkin called again.

"He’s inviting us back. Same place as before."

As expected, Alexander would definitely request another meeting, but after pondering for a moment, Gao Yi said in a low voice, "Don’t meet at the cafe, let him come to the hotel to find me. From now on, we start to take the initiative in this affair."

Sherkin said in a low voice, "Don’t, trust me, don’t treat him like that, it will have the opposite effect. You can’t just shame Alexander simply because you’ve gained the upper hand."

"It’s not about shaming. If Alexander doesn’t come to the hotel, how can I let him know of my strength? Find a good excuse, just say that I’m in a hurry to send the information back. The tone can be more diplomatic, but I must have Alexander come to the hotel."

"Okay, that’s a reasonable excuse. I’ll tell him," said Sherkin.

Sherkin hung up the phone, and Gao Yi said to Xinfeng, who was driving, "Someone will come to visit me at the hotel later, you guys make an appearance and let him know about your identity and capabilities."

It’s time to show Alexander.

Simply put, it’s all about this—to feign retreat in order to advance, to turn passivity into proactivity.

In dealings with the KGB, Gao Yi’s status is just so-so; after all, no matter how powerful he is, he’s still just an Underworld figure. But, if Alexander wants to get something from Gao Yi to achieve his own goals, he has to understand the hierarchy in play.

Gao Yi returned to the hotel, but he didn’t have a computer. However, this kind of problem is too simple to solve—just buying one off the shelf.

Then, it’s a matter of reading the USB flash drive with a new laptop, using both the phone and the laptop’s screen recording function to doubly ensure a comprehensive capture of the data within. Finally, sending it to Huang Haisheng would complete the task.

These tasks were simple, yet time-consuming. By the time Gao Yi finished, three hours had passed.

The main issue was that he hadn’t expected Alexander to deliver the materials in such a manner. If Gao Yi had been prepared, it wouldn’t have been such a hassle.

After finishing his work, Gao Yi took the initiative to call Sherkin and asked him to invite Alexander over.

The meeting was to be held directly in the room.

The knock on the door came, and Gao Yi, upon discovering Sherkin and Alexander, politely invited them in and then said with a smile, "What would you like to drink? We’ve got milk, cola, beer, and coffee."

Alexander calmly replied, "Just a bottle of water will do, thank you."

Sherkin made a gesture and said, "I’ll have water too."

Gao Yi turned and shouted, "Honey, two bottles of water and a cola, please."

Lucy took two bottles of water and a can of cola out of the fridge, put them down, and then stood up to return to her own room.

Alexander didn’t spare Lucy another glance; he simply took his water, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip.

Gao Yi’s intention was clear – he was showing respect for their wishes by offering them precisely what they wanted to drink.

When Alexander put down the bottle, Gao Yi asked in a calm voice, "So, have you decided to sell the information?"

"We can cooperate."

Alexander’s expression remained impassive as he said, "You need information on what, or more specifically, whom?"

Gao Yi nodded and replied, "Good, very good. Additionally, I’ve had a change of heart. I think I can bundle the tasks and leave them to you to handle. I’ll give you a list; you complete it, and I pay accordingly. If not, you get nothing. Is that acceptable?"

Alexander felt mocked. The first time he wanted to take on the job, Gao Yi refused, and now when he was considering giving up, Gao Yi was handing over all the tasks to him.

Alexander looked at Gao Yi and frowned, saying, "I can agree to provide information, but as for accepting all the tasks..."

"You don’t have the final say? Oh, I should’ve realized that."

Asking knowingly, wounding deeply.

Gao Yi slightly curled his lips and said, "This isn’t a big deal. Do you need to check back in? How long will it take this time?"

Gao Yi appeared somewhat impatient, while Alexander exhaled and said, "Not too long. Besides, if you’ve changed your mind, you should have told me earlier."

"Listen, from the time I took over the Garden until now, there hasn’t been a single failed operation. I can subcontract this series of tasks to you, but there are conditions; the job must be done well and the targets taken down swiftly and decisively. We’re not simply out to eliminate targets; we aim to do it flawlessly. Do you understand what I mean?"

Gao Yi’s hand made a circular gesture as he said seriously, "I don’t want a lot of deaths just to eliminate one target, because everyone knows these missions are the Garden’s doing. If it costs us greatly to succeed, it will be an embarrassment."

Alexander replied gravely, "Of course, we’ll handle it perfectly."

"The Garden must be the one to eliminate the targets; this point, you must cooperate on."

"Of course, there’s no need to emphasize this."

"I haven’t even given you the list yet. You don’t even know whom I need taken out. Honestly, I have my doubts about the KGB’s capabilities, but I have more important matters to attend to, otherwise, I wouldn’t consider you at all."

Gao Yi kept fanning the flames, further provoking Alexander’s emotions.

Alexander finally couldn’t bear it and said quite rudely, "Are you questioning our capability?"

Gao Yi spread his hands and then said earnestly, "I’ve got the CIA’s best top agents, as well as those from the Military Intelligence Sixth Department and the French External Intelligence Agency, truly the best. I know the KGB has competent people too, but the question is, can you send your best to complete my mission?"

This excuse was sensible and reasonable. Alexander said sternly, "I assure you that we can eliminate all the targets that need to die. You can give me the list now."

Gao Yi shrugged and then smiled, "You’re only responsible for passing the message. Have your boss send someone to get the list from me. As for you, I won’t give it to you, because it seems you’re about to be relieved from your duty."

Alexander swallowed his anger and said in a deep voice, "That’s none of your business."

Gao Yi wasn’t humiliating Alexander for the sake of it; he was trying to pull the thorns out of Alexander, making him obliged to ask for Gao Yi’s help.

If Alexander simply wanted to shed the identity of the White Gloves and safely transfer to a secure place, never again to do any shady tasks for others, then Gao Yi would simply stop bothering with him.

A person with no ambition and no sense of crisis was almost without any value to be controlled or exploited.

Alexander was truly angered, but after retorting Gao Yi, his rationality finally overcame his fury as he said in a low voice, "I need to complete this task; it’s of great importance to me, so... give me the list, and I owe you a favor."

Even when asking for help, Alexander’s tone was unyieldingly firm.

But that was sufficient. Gao Yi didn’t want to push too hard, so after a moment’s thought, he finally said, "Alright, you owe me a favor. I’ll give you the list, and you’ll give me a plan."