Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 532 - 511: Federation

Chapter 532: Chapter 511: Federation

The surgery for Sith was going to take a long time, not because it was particularly severe, but because it was particularly troublesome.

A common complication of being shot in the abdomen is intestinal perforation, which inevitably leads to abdominal cavity contamination. To put it bluntly, the abdominal cavity becomes filled with feces, and if it’s not thoroughly cleaned, persistent inflammation can be fatal.

Since this would take a long time to address, Gao Yi had plenty of time to discuss with Yuri what he truly was.

Was this question important? Actually, it was very important.

"Are you an assassin? Then what would you call the Garden?"

Yuri seriously countered Gao Yi with this question.

"The Garden is, of course, an assassin organization."

"Oh? Name just one professional assassin from it."

"Uh, hmm, ah... Lucy."

Shamefully, the Garden, a renowned assassin organization in the industry, had only one thoroughbred assassin, Lucy.

And even Lucy started out as a consumables-type assassin who later shifted roles and was procured for Gao Yi by his big brother in exchange for ten million dollars.

Feeling slightly tongue-tied and embarrassed, Gao Yi replied, "Mainly because we don’t really need to hire professional assassins. After all..."

"After all, you aren’t truly an assassin organization."

"No, what I mean is, after all, as long as the target is eliminated, that makes a good assassin."

Yuri was temporarily at a loss for words because there was no way he could refute Gao Yi’s logic.

Shaking his head, Yuri murmured, "Forget it. Discussing this doesn’t have much significance. I just want to say, you’ve assembled the most powerful espionage lineup in history. You have operatives from Russia, America, the UK, and France under your command, and you’re just planning to use them as assassins?"

"Clearly not, but we... we honestly don’t have much else to do. Strictly speaking, we haven’t even conducted any proper assassin operations, though I did deal with a few individuals for Prince Shaman. Even then, it wasn’t something I focused on."

At this point, Gao Yi exhaled and said, "Yeah, so what does the Garden count as now? An intelligence broker? But we haven’t actually sold intelligence."

In truth, Gao Yi hadn’t engaged in intelligence trading. When it came to business dealings, Gao Yi had primarily focused on trading arms.

"Hmm, what I’ve done the most is the arms trade."

As he spoke, Gao Yi felt no clarity regarding his role but instead grew ever more confused.

Assassinations, intelligence gathering, arms trade—dabbling in everything but mastering none, yet leaving a significant impact in all these fields.

Yuri continued to study Gao Yi, and Gao Yi softly admitted, "Basically, well, I’ve dabbled in every kind of operation the underworld could offer. Oh, except for gambling and drugs—I despise those."

Yuri quietly responded, "Only high-end operations."

"Exactly—only high-end operations!"

Yuri smiled faintly and said, "You need to shift your mindset. Stop labeling yourself as an assassin. That diminishes your stature and drags down our status."

"Then what should we consider ourselves?"

"Split and restructure!"

Yuri gestured with his hand and said, "Assassinations are just one business scope, not the main focus. Considering the resources, status, and identity you now hold, introducing yourself as an assassin is just too low-end. Spin off the assassin business."

"But there are just a few of us. How do you propose we split it? Who’s going to head the assassin division? Lucy?"

Yuri glanced at Lucy and immediately shook his head. "Then we level up. We’ll be the best assassins, the finest intelligence agents, and the most cutting-edge arms suppliers."

Dani, who had been quietly listening with keen interest, interjected at this point. "And don’t forget the mercenary business. The Garden’s actions in Iraq have inflicted great losses on the UK."

"Then let’s add ’the finest private force supplier’ to the list."

Yuri smoothly adopted the idea and continued calmly, "The Garden Group is now a transnational behemoth, a colossus of the underworld. What are we lacking? Absolutely nothing."

Running his tongue over his lips, Dani suggested, "Think tanks, consulting firms, strategy consulting companies."

Gao Yi felt a bit excited. With growing enthusiasm, he said, "Then what should we call ourselves? The Garden Group?"

Dani nodded. "The Garden is just a historically significant assassin organization. Beyond history, it has nothing left. If we’re creating a new system, maybe we don’t need to keep the name ’Garden.’"

Gao Yi adamantly shook his head. "No, it has to be the Garden."

Gao Yi’s reasoning was simple.

Sean entrusted Gao Yi with faith, so in return, Gao Yi aimed to create a miracle.

Yuri looked at Gao Yi and said, "Then let’s call it the Garden Group. But the term ’Group’ sounds overly commercial—personally, I don’t find it imposing."

Influence, but not decide.

Yuri recycled the lessons he had just imparted to Gao Yi.

Gao Yi chuckled and asked, "Then what do you suggest we should call it?"

Since Xinfeng and Sith were absent, they couldn’t chime in. Dani, however, unhesitatingly said, "In my mind, only a handful of companies have influenced global dynamics, with the East India Company being one of them. Hmm, the Garden Company doesn’t seem to encapsulate our strength."

Gao Yi had briefly used the name ’Sky Garden’ before, but this wasn’t merely about picking a garden-themed name. It needed to reflect the Garden’s evolution—it wasn’t just running assassin operations anymore.

The game was now high-stakes, a name only insiders of the highest level could recognize.

It had to be sophisticated, impactful, and prestigious—something that immediately signified greatness.

Gao Yi once again turned to Yuri and casually remarked, "Don’t just try to influence me; speak your mind. I’m terrible at naming things—give me a suggestion."

Yuri softly replied, "The Garden Federation."

Not the United Nations—the Federation.

This could work.

A handpicked selection by the Five Permanent, the Garden Federation.

Gao Yi exhaled and said to Yuri, "Alright, from now on, we’re members of the Garden Federation. So how should we operate?"

"Define the organizational structure and personnel appointments, four-year terms..."

Yuri’s true intentions surfaced—he wanted to implement Soviet-style frameworks.

Dani, however, promptly declared, "The Garden’s supreme leader is the Gardener—for life!"

Yuri waved his hand without saying a word.

Gao Yi smiled, feeling there was merit in using Yuri’s capabilities but dismissing the idea of adhering to his proposed guidelines.

Dani continued earnestly, "There should be no deputies and no positions that dilute the Gardener’s authority. If the Gardener dies or retires, they alone choose their successor without requiring votes or anyone’s approval. The Garden can be a Federation or a Garden Empire, but it must never—under any circumstances—become the Sixth International!"

Yuri exhaled a small sigh of regret.

Dani’s principles were clear. He’d rather see the Garden operate as a total autocracy under Gao Yi’s control than allow Yuri to infiltrate it with the ideologies of the Red Ghost.

After all, the Garden was currently just a coalition of black-gloved elites from several nations. The Gardener could be the worst villain—or even utterly incompetent—but in the end, if things didn’t work out, the members could simply part ways.

But if the organization became the kind of tightly interwoven, complex structure Yuri envisioned, Dani couldn’t even begin to imagine how it might someday be dissolved.

Many things take on a different nature once they exist for too long.

As a world-class disruptor, Dani understood this all too well. That’s why he remained resolute in his stance—Yuri could never wield too much personal influence within the Garden.

Gao Yi shared this sentiment.

"Fine, then it’s the Garden Federation. I am the Gardener, the one and only Gardener, for all eternity."

Yuri flatly added, "But for the security of the organization, if the Gardener needs to be replaced, at the very least all members should be informed. Besides, since we’re a secret organization, how would we..."

"Not necessary!"

Dani interjected again, firmly stating, "If the current Gardener dies before naming a successor or retires voluntarily, then the Garden Federation should be disbanded on the spot."

Yuri looked at Dani and smiled. "I know what you’re worried about, but you’re being excessively cautious. What if we don’t want to disband? There should at least be a universally accepted succession mechanism."

"If you want a succession mechanism, then let’s model it after the UK’s monarchy. Every Gardener must designate a first heir in line. Successors can be replaced at any time, but they will have no power or privileges in the meantime. I’d rather see a tenuous Garden Empire that’s prone to collapse than witness a Soviet Garden!"

Dani’s words laid everything bare.

Yuri glanced at Gao Yi, but before Gao Yi could mediate, Yuri simply waved his hand as if conceding, "He’s right—let it be an empire."

No one knew what Yuri was thinking, but he seemed to abandon the idea of injecting Soviet genetics into the Garden.

After all, this was the Inner Five Permanent. It certainly couldn’t become some indestructible union.

Gao Yi smiled. "Alright, I hereby announce the official founding of the Garden Federation. I’ll notify our partner nations. I’m sure Sith and Xinfeng will be thrilled to hear about this."

Just as the words left his mouth, a knock came at the lounge door, and then Xinfeng was wheeled in.

Xinfeng’s face looked pale as he weakly asked, "What good news? What’s so exciting?"

The person who pushed Xinfeng in tactfully left. Gao Yi smiled and said, "It’s this: the Garden has been upgraded to the Garden Federation. Doesn’t that name sound impressive?"

Xinfeng paused, then turned his gaze to Yuri and said, "Oh no, as soon as you show up, you’re aiming to sideline our Gardener? I object! I absolutely cannot allow..."

Dani instantly interjected, "Monarchy! It’s called a federation, but truthfully it should be called the Garden United Kingdom."

Xinfeng raised his eyebrows and nodded. "This works. The Garden United Kingdom—that, I have no problem with."

Yuri sighed, whispering, "You all... Forget it, do as you like."

Gao Yi suspected the unsaid word Yuri left hanging was "lackeys."

Gao Yi chuckled. "It’s not the Garden United Kingdom—it’s the Garden Federation. Don’t get it wrong."

Xinfeng and Dani were okay with a monarchical United Kingdom but wouldn’t accept the Federation variant tied to Mingzhu. Strange indeed.

But no matter. Federation or United Kingdom—what mattered most was that the Garden had evolved today. It was no longer a mere assassin organization. That’s what was truly significant.