Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 503 - 482: Killing Two Birds with One Arrow

Chapter 503: Chapter 482: Killing Two Birds with One Arrow

It seemed Yuri was beginning to take interest.

Gao Yi’s mind was rapidly conjuring a vast prairie, and Alexander didn’t appear at ease either.

Thankfully, although Alexander was ambitious, he was also a rational person who could still maintain his composure in the face of desire.

"Of course, your rank is too low. If you truly aim to eliminate everyone ahead of you, it would indeed be an arduous task. While it’s achievable, it’s largely unnecessary."

Yuri dismissed his own proposal, though his words still carried a boastful undertone.

Gao Yi replied politely, "I’m just curious. May I ask how it could be accomplished?"

Yuri responded seriously, "Detonate a nuclear bomb in the forest, killing everyone here outright, and then you’d essentially have no competitors left."

Gao Yi couldn’t help but laugh; he found the joke amusing.

But why didn’t Alexander laugh along?

"This method is off the table; the cost is simply too high."

Gao Yi swallowed hard and whispered, "You’re not serious, are you?"

Yuri did not answer, but Alexander responded solemnly, "Yuri never jokes."

Gao Yi still couldn’t fully believe it, but he chose to show respect.

Yuri maintained his calm demeanor and said, "That leaves only one option: select a controllable candidate and elevate them to the Director’s position."

"Anyone qualified to compete for the Director role is beyond my control."

"No, with the right methods, everyone can be controlled. Truly autonomous individuals are rare in this world, and control doesn’t only take the forms you understand. There are many ways to exert control."

Yuri was neither joking nor exaggerating. He was merely stating what seemed to him an undeniable fact, though he recognized that not everyone had this level of understanding. Hence, he had to patiently explain it to Gao Yi and Alexander as though teaching children.

"Being trusted is also a form of control. Mutual dependence is control. Exploitation and being exploited, mutual restraint, or even leveraging someone’s secrets to blackmail them—mental manipulation, brainwashing—these are all methods of controlling a person."

After this brief explanation, Yuri continued, "The KGB Director is appointed directly by the President, and the number of people who enter the President’s radar is very limited. Suitable candidates are even fewer. If you eliminate these few candidates, then those originally not on the shortlist naturally gain a chance."

Alexander said nothing; he simply listened quietly.

Gao Yi was certainly even less inclined to speak; he didn’t know who was qualified or likely to become the next KGB Director.

"Selecting from among the KGB’s Deputy Directors is the most likely scenario. Appointing someone externally from another department is also possible. Currently, there are five likely candidates, the most promising of whom is the current KGB Deputy Director, Ludelins. However, Ludelins has one fatal flaw."

Yuri seemed to skip the outline and dive straight into the execution stage.

Alexander asked softly, "What fatal flaw? To my knowledge, Ludelins performs exceptionally well at work, never makes mistakes, is deeply trusted by the President, and his private ethics are impeccable. He has no bad habits."

Yuri responded casually, "Ludelins isn’t greedy, isn’t lustful, and refuses to stoop to your level. But he is power-hungry. Ludelins’ greatest ambition is authority. He’s crafted an almost flawless image for himself, but ironically, the perfection of his image is the fatal flaw."

Alexander was visibly taken aback. "Why? Isn’t perfection a virtue?"

"He’s too competitive. That’s why Ludelins is the strongest rival in everyone else’s eyes. He’s the one everyone wants to eliminate."

Gao Yi understood immediately and chimed in, "A tall tree catches the wind, and it’s the tall poppy that gets cut down!"

Yuri smiled faintly and said, "Exactly. That’s why Ludelins is easy to deal with. Just target his private ethics—find his mistress and illegitimate child, and that’s it."

Alexander immediately objected, "But he doesn’t have a mistress or an illegitimate child!"

"No, he does."

Alexander was shocked. "You know this?"

Yuri replied impassively, "You say he does. He doesn’t. But if everyone says he does, then he does. Haven’t you read Mark Twain’s story about running for governor?"

Alexander’s face lit with sudden realization.

Gao Yi got the point too.

When a crowd of children of various ages and ethnicities clung to the gubernatorial candidate’s leg while calling him ’Dad,’ the reputation of the once highly regarded candidate was destroyed.

Alexander exhaled deeply. "I see now. Falsely accuse him. But you’d need a woman—and a child..."

Yuri shook his head, while Gao Yi whispered, "Not necessary. All you need is a photograph. Since it’s a false accusation, there’s no need for solid evidence. Rumors spread with a few words; disproving them takes a marathon. This kind of situation, where someone has to prove their innocence, is an unsolvable deadlock. There’s no need for the mistress to appear; once the rumor spreads, every competitor will swarm and tear him down."

Alexander wasn’t able to grasp it completely. His thinking was evidently more linear; he stayed stuck in the phase where "a mountain looks like a mountain."

"But this isn’t enough to undermine Ludelins. It’s just slander—something that can’t actually convict him. Without evidence, it’s impossible to deal a fatal blow to his reputation..."

Yuri shook his head again. He looked at Gao Yi and said, "Do you understand? If you do, explain it to him."

Gao Yi cleared his throat and said, "You don’t need evidence. As I said, this unsolvable deadlock comes from the need to prove one’s own innocence. You can simply produce a photo of a woman and claim she’s Ludelins’ mistress. Then, claim this woman can’t be found because Ludelins murdered her to cover it up. How does Ludelins prove otherwise?"

Alexander might excel at physical elimination, but clearly, this kind of rumor-mongering wasn’t a tactic he’d had to use before as the Black Gloves.

"This could work? This... actually might work! But still, it shouldn’t work—the President’s trust in him would be enough. The President knows these accusations are baseless slander against Ludelins!"

Alexander raised a valid point.

Gao Yi thought so too. After all, the main factor in determining who would succeed as KGB Director was the President’s trust, rather than peers’ acclaim.

As for peer-generated opposition, it was even less meaningful.

Gao Yi turned to Yuri, hoping for a different explanation.

"It would work."

Yuri’s expression remained composed, but his tone carried a hint of disdain. Calmly, he explained, "The KGB Director’s position is critical. If someone faces universal opposition, then they clearly cannot perform their duties effectively. The President, for the sake of stability, would remove Ludelins from the list of candidates. That’s balance."

Gao Yi understood.

Alexander finally grasped it.

"So, as long as someone does this, Ludelins’ competitors will pounce on him, and the President, seeing the chaos, will abandon Ludelins..."

Alexander drew in a deep breath. "This could really work."

"No, it’s not about abandoning Ludelins. The President will recognize who orchestrated this. He’ll protect Ludelins. Ludelins will only lose the chance to become Director; his work won’t be affected. But from now on, Ludelins can forget about ever becoming Director. The moment we propose this plan, his record will bear an indelible stain. The President wouldn’t appoint someone incapable of resolving their own vulnerabilities as Director."

Alexander exclaimed, "Incapable? There’s no one in the KGB more capable than Ludelins!"

Yuri shook his head once more. "No. Ludelins’ inability to eliminate his risks demonstrates his incompetence. Failing to unite the majority makes individual brilliance irrelevant."

After saying this, Yuri added nonchalantly, "Ludelins is no longer a threat. Among the remaining Deputy Directors, Yelinsay, in charge of foreign intelligence, is the second strongest candidate. With Ludelins toppled, Yelinsay stands the greatest chance of becoming Director. So the person spreading the rumors about Ludelins will simply be Yelinsay. Leave behind subtle but traceable evidence pointing to Yelinsay—that’s enough."

Gao Yi couldn’t help but swallow hard. A plan of killing two birds with one stone—so simple in its conception and execution, yet its effects seemed almost inevitable.

It truly felt like an opportunity to vanquish strong opponents with the wave of a hand.

Alexander stared blankly for a moment and finally asked, "Two competitors eliminated just like that? Then... whom should I choose, whom should I support for the Director position?"

"There’s no rush to decide on a candidate."

Yuri smiled faintly and said, "When both Ludelins and Yelinsay are eliminated, the ambitious will emerge. From their reactions and qualifications, you can select someone."

Alexander said resolutely, "I have someone in mind. I can accomplish a lot right now. I’ll arrange for it immediately."

"You shouldn’t act—you’d leave behind incriminating evidence. Don’t underestimate the KGB."

Having said this, Yuri turned to Gao Yi and continued, "Just spread some rumors. Post fake photos online abroad—that ought to be something you can manage, right?"

Gao Yi nodded, speaking softly, "Not only can I do it, but I can do it better than anyone else."

Yuri glanced at Alexander, saying, "Leave faint but traceable marks pointing toward Yelinsay. That’s all there is to do; Ludelins will retaliate against Yelinsay and take care of him."

Alexander asked in confusion, "Then what should I do? Do I just do nothing?"

"Exactly. You don’t lift a finger. Wait for the rumors about Ludelins to land on Nikolai’s desk. Just wait quietly."

Yuri suddenly smiled again. He then spoke softly, "If you act, you eliminate your own chances. Wait for the right candidate to emerge. Agree to cooperate with them, and help them. If they won’t cooperate, remove them."

Having said all this, Yuri spread his hands and asked, "Isn’t it simple?"