Ultimate Firepower-Chapter 112 - 102 Throwing a Brick to Attract Jade
Gao Yi wanted to invite Grasse to dinner, not knowing what to eat, what to drink, what to talk about, or what they could do together. ๐๐ณ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ฏโด๐ฃ๐ฆ๐.๐ค๐๐
Still, according to the traditional customs of Chinese people, as long as you can get someone to come out and have a meal, even if itโs just to sit and chat, that basically meant things were set.
Fortunately, Grasse did come as invited, after all, he had received ten thousand dollars.
The restaurant had an Iraqi flavor and was part of the hotel. Gao Yi wasnโt picky and was quite happy with the meal, but Grasse only showed up just as they were about to finish.
Moreover, Grasse didnโt seem to want to eat anything; he just sat down across from Gao Yi.
"Iโm here for the money," he said, "Speak quickly if you have anything to say, or Iโll leave." Grasse was in that kind of defiant stance.
Gao Yi lacked workplace experience, but he was good at reading people, and he could tell from Grasseโs demeanor.
Grasse was both proud and resentful.
His pride came from his strength, and his resentment stemmed from being unrecognized, being dissatisfied with spinning his wheels at the bottom despite his capabilities.
What should he say as an opening line?
After pondering for a moment, Gao Yi finally said, "We are assassins."
Grasse nodded slightly, then continued to just gaze at Gao Yi.
Gao Yi continued, "I hope to establish a deep cooperation with you."
Grasse nodded slightly again, then politely murmured in a low voice, "Tell me what you need me to do."
This wasnโt working. Grasse wouldnโt truly collaborate this way, Gao Yi could tell from his tone and demeanor that he was guarded and looked down on Gao Yi from the inside.
He must find a way to break through, find the right topic to delve into deeper issues that Grasse was reluctant to touch.
How should he do it?
Perhaps starting with Martin, whom they both knew, could create an opening.
Gao Yi smiled, leaned back, and assumed a relaxed demeanor, "Martin has mentioned you to me, many times."
Grasse slightly furrowed his brows, but didnโt speak.
Gao Yi continued, "Iโm not familiar with the Middle East, so before coming here I asked Martin if there was a suitable friend to guide me here, and he recommended you, saying youโre the most outstanding agent heโs met."
Grasse seemed slightly surprised, as if he hadnโt expected Martin to evaluate him like that.
Logically, a middle-aged man who had fumbled through half his life should be able to discern what was true and what was false.
But perhaps not, too many people never truly figure out life, regardless of intelligence. If one isnโt sharp, it doesnโt matter what their job is or what position they hold.
There are too many people in the world who feel unrecognized and just think they lack opportunities, but they donโt realize opportunities have to be sought out, not just dreamt about as if waiting for a pie in the sky.
But regardless of the reality, if someone who felt underappreciated heard others agreeing with them, theyโd be extremely pleased.
Itโs hard for two equally powerful individuals to become intimate friends, just as itโs hard for a successful person and a defeated one to bond.
But those who share similar misfortunes easily become friends.
Understanding this reveals much about human nature, and grasping human nature allows one to exploit its weaknesses.
So, Grasseโs weakness was precisely hit by Gao Yiโs words.
"Oh, he said that?"
Grasseโs first proactive question was to ask how Martin had described him.
Gao Yi was not worried about being exposed because if Martin had stayed in touch with Grasse, they wouldnโt have needed multiple inquiries to find each other after all these years in Baghdad. So, it seemed they had simply forgotten each other.
Gao Yi sighed softly, "Yes, but itโs a pity... er, sorry, letโs talk business."
"What a pity!"
Seeing Grasseโs expression, Gao Yi hesitated for a moment, then murmured softly, "He said... itโs a pity you never met a competent supervisor, just wasted... your time, your youth wasted by those incompetent bureaucrats, uh, leaving was a mistake, but his staying was an even bigger one."
Grasse slightly raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"
"Martin staying with the FBI was bad, you know the reasons, and you, although you might not have been promoted, at least you are doing the work you love, meaningful work. Just for that, youโre still better than him. So, even though Martin might earn more money, he still envies you."
Grasseโs expression subtly changed, he fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Heh..."
After a sarcastic chuckle, Grasse suddenly told the waiter, "Bring me a bottle of beer."
Gao Yi said softly, "They donโt sell alcohol."
"No, they do sell, bring four bottles of beer."
After speaking, Grasse told Gao Yi, "Iโm buying."
Treating someone to a beer and making it such a grand declaration, miserly as always, ah, these people, really beyond words.
Gao Yi could only gladly accept Grasseโs kindness.
The beer arrived, and Grasse raised his bottle towards Gao Yi and took a sip, then continued, "Martin and I joined the FBI at the same time, but two years later, 9/11 happened, and then..."
Shaking his head, Grasse quietly continued, "Letโs not talk about that. Letโs discuss what you need to do."
It would have been nice if Grasse started talking about his past, but clearly, Gao Yi hadnโt said enough to make Grasse start weeping.
Mention that thereโs a target named Saibu and killing him would earn five million dollars?
No, that definitely couldnโt be said, because too much of it would have to be shared. It was better to spend some money to buy conveniences from Grasse without splitting the profits and just do it himself.
But spending thirty or twenty thousand dollars on renting a car or buying weapons from Grasse didnโt make much sense.
Because no matter whether they were confidants or friends, these were emotional matters, and emotions are unreliable. If you want to solidify a relationship significantly, it ultimately has to be driven by benefits.
Because of money, strangers could become brothers with no shared blood, or even father and son without any blood relation.
Because of money, real brothers turn against each other, and fathers and sons become enemies.
So thirty or twenty thousand dollars wouldnโt workโit was too little. Probably nothing under US$ 100,000 would truly interest Grasse.
Giving it for free wouldnโt work; Grasse wasnโt worth that much money. Gao Yi wouldnโt agree to two hundred or three hundred thousand dollars.
Then how could he find a lucrative and feasible job for Grasse?
That was indeed a problem.
Gao Yi looked to the side toward Lin Xianghua.
Grasse worked at the Pentagon, belonging to the newly established Defense Clandestine Service, and the intelligence units under the Pentagon were predominantly military intelligence. That meant he might have connections to mercenaries.
And didnโt Lin Xianghua have a vendetta he wanted to avenge?
"Sorry, excuse me for a moment, I need to speak with my brother."
Gao Yi stood up and sat down at a table to the side, away from Grasse, and whispered to Lin Xianghua, "So, do you want to take revenge?"
Lin Xianghua was stunned for a moment but quickly nodded, "Youโre asking about the Plunderer? Yes, I certainly do, but there hasnโt been a chance."
Gao Yi seriously asked, "How much would you be willing to pay for your revenge?"
Lin Xianghua paused again.
Gao Yi whispered, "You have some money now, so Iโm asking you, how much are you willing to spend to eliminate the Plundererโs leader?"
Without hesitation, Lin Xianghua said, "Iโll pay everything if needed; otherwise, I have no chance for revenge."
"Are you really willing?"
"Yes! I can always earn more."
Gao Yi thought for a moment and then said, "Then you give three hundred thousand to eliminate the Plunderer. If itโs successful, you pay; if not, forget it."
Lin Xianghua responded in surprise, "Really? Is it possible? Just three hundred thousand?"
Gao Yi nodded, patted Lin Xianghua on the shoulder, and returned to Grasseโs side.
He smiled and then whispered to Grasse, "I know you are working for the Defense Clandestine Service now, so I just wanted to ask what exactly does your department handle?"
Grasse gave Gao Yi a wary look, didnโt say anything, just took another sip of his beer, clearly showing his displeasure at Gao Yi.
Gao Yi spread his hands, "I donโt mean to pry into your work secrets; I just want to know, since itโs a military intelligence unit, are you familiar with mercenaries in the Middle East? Thereโs a Mercenary Corps called Plunderer, do you know about them?"
Setting down his beer bottle, Grasse answered quietly, "What about it?"
Gao Yi smiled and said, "Weโre here to eliminate the Plunderer. I donโt know if you could facilitate that. If you can, Iโm willing to pay you three hundred thousand dollars."
Grasseโs eyes flickered, although he still appeared calm, he spoke more than usual.
"How so, you want to take on the Plunderer Mercenary Corps?"
"Yes."
Gao Yi spread his hands, "We are assassins, and itโs a bit troublesome for assassins to deal with mercenaries, so I was hoping to seek external help. If you could..."
"I can!"
Grasse nodded, then seriously said, "Leave the matter to me. I guarantee the Plunderer Mercenary Corps will be completely eradicated. How do you plan to pay?"
Gao Yi only wanted some information and help from Grasse to create an opportunity to eliminate the Plundererโs leader, not to wipe out the whole Plunderer Corps.
But now, Grasse spoke of completely annihilating the Plunderer, and he seemed very confident.
Gao Yi sighed and asked, "Do you want cash, or something else? We can deliver the money to a location you specify in the United States."
Grasse licked his lips, pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "I request you to transfer the money into an account I specify, a safe and laundered one."
Gao Yi nodded with a smile, "No problem."
