Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 504 - 483: Returning a Favor

Chapter 504: Chapter 483: Returning a Favor

Listening to it this way does make it sound simple, but resolving a matter that originally lacked any leads, something originally extraordinarily complex, with such a straightforward approach is no simple task.

In other words, being able to handle something exceedingly difficult with a very simple solution is, in itself, quite challenging.

Moreover, the person possessing such ability is by no means ordinary.

Here’s another issue: Gao Yi discovered that Yuri had a deep understanding of KGB personnel and relationships. He didn’t behave as though he’d been locked in prison long enough to lose contact with the outside world. In other words, it’s possible that he merely has nowhere to go, rather than being prevented from leaving.

If that’s the case, doesn’t it mean Yuri could really be persuaded to defect?

"It sounds simple, but when it comes to actually doing it, it might be incredibly difficult."

Gao Yi cautiously made this observation, then turned to Yuri and said, "I’ve never done anything like this before. If it’s possible, could you come along with us to make it happen?"

Alexander looked at Yuri expectantly.

Yuri pointed at Gao Yi, smiling as he said, "You, you embody the typical Northeastern University cunning. You’re adept at pretending you know nothing, letting others take the lead in crucial moments, and call this ’hiding your prowess.’"

Gao Yi laughed awkwardly twice and explained, "We’re more accustomed to direct methods—fighting, confrontations. These underhanded schemes...no, I mean these brainy tactics, we’re not very good at them."

This was Gao Yi genuinely hiding his prowess; he was merely probing to see if Yuri might actually leave with him.

Even if Yuri rejected him, it wouldn’t hurt to ask. And if Yuri agreed? Then the biggest goal of Gao Yi’s trip would be achieved effortlessly.

Yuri shook his head and said, "For now, I don’t plan to leave. Let’s see how you handle this matter first. We’ll talk afterward."

Alexander suddenly interjected, "But I could be reassigned at any moment. If that happens, I wouldn’t be able to see you again, and there’d be no way to get you out of the cell."

Yuri smiled lightly and said, "The cell imprisons my spirit, not my body. Don’t worry, my coming and going has nothing to do with you; it depends purely on my own wishes. Now, go do what you need to do, and I’ll return to where I need to be."

Yuri stood up again, and this time he didn’t hesitate. He headed straight to the door of his office, where he addressed two guard-like employees stationed by the door: "Time to go. Take me back to my cell."

Just like that, Yuri left, while Alexander neither saw him off nor dared to stop him.

Accompanied by two towering guards, Yuri was escorted back to his cell.

Every intelligence agency has its own internal prison facilities. Of course, these prisons are a world apart from ordinary penitentiaries. Beyond the usual iron-barred cells, there are accommodations with well-equipped living conditions—some even bordering on luxury apartments—serving as forms of detention but essentially soft imprisonment.

The only consistent feature is that the doors can only be opened from the outside; from within the rooms, they are inaccessible.

Yuri stood before a door, waiting for the guards to unlock it before stepping inside himself.

As the door to his luxurious holding cell closed behind him, Yuri immediately walked over to the computer desk beneath his bed. He powered up the computer, booted it, and skillfully opened an email client to begin drafting an email.

Without a shred of hesitation, Yuri typed "Top Secret" in the subject line, without adding any salutation or addressing it to specific individuals, then started composing his message.

"Today, I met an intriguing person. He attempted to recruit me into his team, while Alexander is trying to escape his current identity..."

After typing just one sentence, Yuri suddenly fell into deep thought. After a brief moment of reflection, he pressed Enter, deleting all the drafted text, and abandoned the email entirely.

Let’s wait and see—no need to rush to conclusions.

Meanwhile, as Yuri was deleting the email, Gao Yi was still in Alexander’s office engaged in discussion.

"Should we take this conversation elsewhere?"

"No, this is the safest place. Leaving might risk a leak."

Gao Yi whispered, "If I leave and help you act right away, what can you offer me in return?"

Jumping into this kind of endeavor without discussing benefits would be strange. Better to clarify terms upfront, so both sides can trust each other during cooperation.

Alexander replied in a low voice, "I can’t offer you anything right now—money, you have far more of it than I do; power, I may hold some privileges, but my authority could be revoked at any moment, and I might even be purged. So I cannot promise you anything at the moment."

"I’m not in a rush to gain anything from you. What I mean is, if you truly succeed, what kind of return can you offer me then?"

This plunged Alexander into contemplation.

Gao Yi smiled and said, "I believe this endeavor will succeed, and as the original investor, I ought to receive some special treatment in return. I won’t—and can’t—share your power. Money, I have plenty already. If I were to attempt to control you and force you to provide me with information, we’d definitely end up as enemies."

Alexander said gravely, "No need for such speculation. Just tell me directly what you want."

"Our relationship should be one of allies—a mutual support system that doesn’t create trouble for each other. Transcending mere self-interest while ensuring neither side harms the other’s interests. Any unreasonable demands would be negotiable, and the collaboration could last longer if both parties remain self-aware. How does that sound?"

Gao Yi sought to define boundaries within their relationship. This way, Alexander wouldn’t constantly have to guard against Gao Yi or worry about being coerced or controlled by him in the future.

Alexander nodded solemnly. Finally, in a low voice, he said, "If I truly succeed, then I’ll be your staunchest ally."

"Good, then I’ll start working immediately. The first task is manufacturing dirt on Ludelins. That’s relatively simple. The tricky part is how to leave clues pointing to Yelinsay."

Alexander pondered for a moment and said, "Yelinsay has a long-time confidant among his subordinates. I know the usual IP address that this confidant uses."

"That’s too obvious—is his usual IP address tied to his home or office? It’s a bit too direct to use that."

"No, it’s not tied to his home or office. In fact, it belongs to one of his false identities—a location shielded behind multiple layers of firewalls. But I can pinpoint it, and I believe Ludelins could uncover it too. He’d just need to expend some effort and time. If Ludelins fails to find it, I can nudge him with subtle hints."

Alexander gestured with his hand and said, "This would follow entirely normal procedures—no one would suspect me. Of course, this scenario assumes Ludelins fails to find it on his own."

"Give me the information. I’ll handle it right away."

Alexander thought for a moment before saying, "Can I come along with you?"

Alexander wanted to oversee Gao Yi’s team as they tarnished Ludelins’ reputation. That way, if Gao Yi’s team faltered, he could intervene personally.

Gao Yi grinned and said, "Alright, let’s head out. One last check—am I safe moving around with you openly in the forest like this?"

"No problem; absolutely no issue at all. Relax."

Alexander took Gao Yi with him, leading him straight to the KGB Headquarters parking lot. They got into a car and drove openly out of the forest.

Despite the forest’s stringent regulations and heavy security, all of it was externally focused—and Alexander’s special status rendered the safeguards useless against him.

Once they exited the forest gate, Gao Yi immediately made a phone call.

"Everyone, regroup. Meet at Hyacinth’s location. We’ve got work to do."

Returning to their hotel wasn’t convenient; they needed a place equipped with computers. Among Gao Yi’s team, Xinfeng was the most skilled at handling electronic devices, so finding him was the obvious choice.

The rest of the team was already waiting for Gao Yi’s update. Next, they’d rendezvous at Xinfeng’s hotel room.

Alexander couldn’t help but comment wryly, "Some of the world’s best spies, and they stay in hotels wherever they go. Next time you’re in Moscow, don’t bother with hotels. I’ll set you up with a few safer places. Also, those Northeastern University folks we negotiated with last time—tell them it’s unnecessary to keep hiding their identities."

This marked the formal establishment of their collaboration. Alexander quickly reciprocated with two modest yet meaningful gifts for Gao Yi.

A safe haven in Moscow wasn’t overly precious, but the fact that Luo Changyou’s identity had already been exposed was significant. Although expected, Alexander confirming it personally brought extra credibility.

Gao Yi considered this for a moment. "What happened exactly?"

Alexander shrugged and said, "Perfectly normal. After a deal, it’s routine to investigate the other party’s background for safety reasons. And since I work for Nikolai, I have every obligation to report everything I know—no reason to hide anything for anyone."

Gao Yi exhaled deeply and muttered, "What a shame..."

"Nothing to regret. After the deal succeeds, I’ll smooth things over for them again. Of course, once it’s done."

Alexander dangled yet another enticing proposal Gao Yi couldn’t refuse.

If they managed to pull off the mission, Gao Yi stood to gain a stable flow of intelligence afterward.

Alexander was sharp enough to understand exactly what Gao Yi wanted.

For Gao Yi, helping Alexander succeed would be non-negotiable.

Gao Yi started mulling over how to bring Huang Haisheng on board for this plan and see if he could lend a hand as well. After all, when it came to framing, sabotage, and smear campaigns—the Russians were still a bit rough around the edges.

For true expertise on such matters, the Northeastern University folks would be indispensable.

With initial terms of exchange settled, everything now depended on Xinfeng and the team’s capabilities. When it came to action, Gao Yi was out of his league—this was their domain.