Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 584 - 560: Go Big

Chapter 584: Chapter 560: Go Big

Now we need more manpower because Xinfeng’s plan is extensive and dispersed, requiring as many hands as possible to help him execute it.

But Gao Yi doesn’t need to do anything.

If a project leader requires the general manager and chairman to personally intervene, that project leader might as well quit their job.

However, Feng Biao and Li Jie have a very strong interest in getting deeply involved, which is a different matter altogether.

Lin Xianghua also wanted to lend a hand, but he stands out too much.

Although the Defense Ministry’s Intelligence Headquarters let him go, covert surveillance is definitely in place. If Lin Xianghua gets too active and something gets discovered, it would be a huge loss.

Right now, Gao Yi and the others need an arrangement where part of the team operates in the open while the other part works in the shadows.

The ones out in the open do small tasks, while those in the shadows handle the big moves. The division of labor is clear, and everyone does their part.

So who are assigned to small tasks? Gao Yi, Lucy, Dani, Sith, and then Luca, the victim, along with Lin Xianghua.

The Defense Ministry cannot be directly provoked, but people from San You Trading Company had kidnapped Luca and tortured him to near death. If they don’t retaliate, wouldn’t that suffering have been for nothing?

"It’s time we caused trouble for San You Trading Company, isn’t it?"

Gao Yi said, his excitement evident.

Luca gritted his teeth and said, "Yes! Hand over the people who tortured me and pay up! If it’s less than one million dollars, I absolutely won’t..."

"Wait a second, one million?"

Gao Yi stared at Luca curiously, confused. "You’re only valuing yourself at one million dollars?"

Luca was stunned for a moment and then cautiously replied, "Then... ten million?"

Gao Yi shook his head, and Dani also shook her head. "Too little. In my opinion, at least fifty million!"

Sith chuckled, "If we’re going for fifty million, why not just demand one hundred million? We can negotiate anyway; asking for one hundred million and getting tens of millions would be acceptable."

Luca thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and said, "Alright, one hundred million then!"

"Not enough. We’ll ask for one billion!"

Gao Yi’s appetite had grown, and his determination hardened. But his reason for asking for one billion was not entirely greed.

The main reason was simple: Gao Yi wanted to buy time.

The more they demanded, the more serious it appeared. If they asked for less, and San You Trading Company immediately agreed to pay to resolve the issue, Gao Yi and the others would have no justification to stay in Japan.

Gao Yi picked up his phone. He needed to consider one thing: should he use CIA personnel to establish a connection, or should he call in the Secret Action Bureau?

The Secret Action Bureau essentially represented the Pentagon and carried a more direct deterrence in Japan.

The CIA contact here was named Nevan, while the Secret Action Bureau contact was named Kanter. Gao Yi unfolded the phone Nevan left for him and decided who would be easier to reach.

Or perhaps, should he involve both the CIA and the Secret Action Bureau?

After all, once this was over, everyone needed to benefit from it. Gao Yi decided to do what he did best: make the pie bigger and ensure everyone got a share.

As for whether they could actually get one billion—that was another story. If cash flow was the concern, the people they’d need to turn to would be drug lords or arms dealers. A spy network supported by San You Trading Company wouldn’t cut it, and even the company itself might not have such liquidity.

Although San You Trading Company was indeed a large corporation, one billion dollars in cash flow would be a staggering sum for any legitimate company, unlikely to be immediately available.

Resolute, Gao Yi began making calls. His first call was to Nevan. When the line connected, he whispered, "This is the Gardener. Right now, I’m planning to go after San You Trading Company. Can you help make an introduction?"

"Of course, no problem. We’re on the same side. Consider it done. When do you want to start?"

"Right now. But I need to note one thing—friends from the Secret Action Bureau will also be involved. Please understand."

As expected, Nevan spoke with an overtly disdainful tone, "The Secret Action Bureau? They’re useless. The Secret Action Bureau... what can they bring to the table?"

The CIA’s contempt for the Secret Action Bureau was well-known. If not for Gao Yi’s reputation, Nevan would have surely said something even harsher.

"The Secret Action Bureau can leverage the Pentagon to exert direct pressure. After all, we’re asking Japan for quite a bit this time. I plan to demand one billion dollars."

"One billion?"

Nevan was stunned and hesitated for a moment before lowering his voice. "Isn’t that amount too high? They might not be able to pay it."

"Doesn’t matter. Whatever the amount, it’ll be split three ways. Whatever they can pay, we’ll take."

Nevan was startled again and said in surprise, "Wait, split three ways?"

"Yes. Everyone’s contributing, so everyone gets a share. If the amount is too small, there’s less for each party. That’s why we’re asking for one billion first."

"Got it!"

Nevan’s mood shifted to one of excitement. Suppressing his enthusiasm, he said, "I’ve already started reaching out to the people from San You Trading Company. They know they’ve messed with someone they shouldn’t have. So, they’ve approached the CIA behind the Defense Ministry’s back to try and minimize losses. I originally had a plan in motion, but with your strategy, we’ll need to go to the top instead of dealing with their lower ranks."

"Since you’ve already established contact with them, you can decide how to proceed."

Gao Yi preferred granting autonomy, delegating tasks for others to handle.

A billion dollars was no small figure, but if Gao Yi dared to ask, Nevan dared to help secure it.

With Panetta backing Gao Yi, Nevan had no reason to be intimidated. Besides, Nevan wasn’t merely working for Gao Yi; he was proving his loyalty to Panetta. Aligning himself with Panetta’s influence was valuable, regardless of the money involved.

Moreover, Gao Yi mentioned splitting the sum three ways, a deal that left Nevan both personally and professionally invested.

"Here’s my thought: San You Trading Company probably can’t come up with one billion, but since they’re working for the Defense Ministry, we’ll make the Defense Ministry cover the payment. Don’t worry—we’ll handle this perfectly."

Nevan began taking full ownership of the task, but Gao Yi felt the need to temper his eagerness.

"The Secret Action Bureau is involved too. When the time comes, we’ll go together. They won’t dare defy us, but you’ll need to handle the specifics."

"Understood. How about this: I’ll send someone to pick you up, and at 3:00 PM, we’ll meet San You Trading Company at Ginza directly."

"Alright."

"I’ll make the arrangements. Wait for my good news."

Nevan hung up.

Even though it was just one phone call, Gao Yi felt that the matter was already halfway resolved.

Gao Yi considered Kanter’s number and made another call. When Kanter picked up, Gao Yi got straight to the point, "Are you free this afternoon? The CIA is helping me demand compensation from San You Trading Company. I’d like you to come with me. The specific outcome is still uncertain, but my goal is to secure at least one billion dollars, split three ways."

Kanter had never interacted with Gao Yi before, but he knew Gao Yi’s background was significant and that he was generous, with reputedly close ties to the Secret Action Bureau.

Now Kanter finally had the chance to understand what "generous" truly meant.

One billion dollars, split three ways—even if it came down to three hundred million, Kanter figured he’d surely pocket at least a tidy sum in the range of hundreds of thousands.

Who wouldn’t favor a benefactor like the "God of Wealth"? Gao Yi’s generosity made him impossible to resist.

"What do you need me to do? Do I need to mobilize military forces?"

Kanter felt compelled to ask because he believed one billion was such a staggering figure it justified an extraordinary level of effort.

Gao Yi thought for a moment and said, "Not much for you to do specifically. The CIA can handle most of it. I just need your presence—it reflects the Pentagon’s stance."

"Understood, no problem."

"We’ll meet at Ginza at 3:00 PM. I don’t have the exact location yet, but I’ll let you know once I do."

"Ginza, huh? I know the place."

Kanter said cautiously, "Tokyo is an intelligence hub, teeming with spies from various nations. Among them, Ginza is the most concentrated. The Youji Association occupies an entire floor at Ginza 4-Chome. That’s their headquarters, called the Youji Tea Club, a high-end private venue accessible only to members. It’s essentially San You Trading Company’s intelligence exchange base."

Gao Yi raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh, you’ve done your homework."

"Once I learned about this, I started investigating. San You Trading Company has a long history of espionage, and digging into them is easy."

"Alright, see you at 3:00 PM in Ginza."

"Thank you. I’ll arrive early and wait there for you."

Having been in Japan for a while, Kanter’s speech had taken on a polite and formal tone, with hints of Japanese etiquette.

Soon after, Nevan sent someone to pick up Gao Yi and his team to head to Ginza to negotiate with the representatives from San You Trading Company.

The next steps were straightforward, but as for what would happen, even Gao Yi couldn’t guarantee the outcome.

As the saying goes, a cornered dog will jump over a wall. Now, it was a matter of seeing if their opponents in Japan would leap or not.