438: Chapter 435: If We Can’t Agree, Then There’s No Need to Discuss 438: Chapter 435: If We Can’t Agree, Then There’s No Need to Discuss Upon seeing the contents of the box, Gao Yang’s expression immediately froze.
He pointed at the contents and said in a deep voice, “What does this mean?”
Pailano still wore a smile, loudly proclaiming, “Cocaine, high-purity cocaine, valued at a minimum of fifteen million US dollars according to the lowest market price here.”
After finishing his declaration with a smile, Pailano casually waved his hand and continued, “As per our agreement, paying you eleven million dollars would suffice, but considering the exceptionally sterling completion of your task, I’ve decided to give you cocaine worth fifteen million dollars, Mr.
Ram.
You must understand, once this merchandise reaches the United States, its wholesale value will at least be one hundred million dollars.
Believe me, this high-quality product will be extremely popular.”
Gao Yang shook his head, “Mr.
Pailano, you only need to pay eleven million dollars, ten million for me and one million for Ivan.
Besides, I’m talking about cash.”
Pailano gave a slight smile, “Mr.
Ram, we agreed on the method of payment, but did we agree on the content of the payment?
I don’t think we’ve formally specified that your compensation must be in cash, right?”
Gao Yang’s face darkened, “Mr.
Pailano, breaching a promise is very bad behavior.”
Pailano spread his hands innocently, “Mr.
Ram, I couldn’t agree with you more.
Breaking a promise is indeed very bad behavior, which is why I’ve prepared a compensation worth fifteen million dollars for you.
You can ask anyone, if this batch isn’t worth fifteen million dollars, then consider me untrustworthy.”
Gao Yang believed that the cocaine Pailano had offered was definitely worth fifteen million dollars; if it were sold in the United States, its value could easily surpass one hundred million dollars.
If sold at retail prices, it could go as high as one billion, but the problem was, Gao Yang had no way to transport this cocaine to the United States, and even if he had channels to ship this cocaine to the United States or any other country, he would absolutely not do it.
After a moment of silence, Gao Yang harshly stated, “I do not accept cocaine as payment for our compensation.
I only want cash, whether it be in US dollars, Euros, or even Colombian pesos, but I will absolutely not accept cocaine.”
Pailano sighed, “It seems we have a slight disagreement, Mr.
Ram.
If you don’t accept any payment method other than cash, you should have stated that upfront.
Since you didn’t initially demand cash payment, then paying with cocaine doesn’t break our agreement, right?
Or perhaps you could ask Mr.
Ivan to confirm that our original agreement didn’t specifically stipulate payment in cash.”
Pailano was deliberately being evasive.
There was no need to continue the discussion, and Gao Yang had no intention of telling Ivan about this, because Pailano was right—though they had agreed on the payment amount, they had not specified that it must be in cash.
So strictly speaking, Pailano wasn’t breaking the agreement.
Another reason Gao Yang didn’t want to call Ivan was that Pailano was going to be dead soon.
Even if he called Ivan and Ivan really planned to demand an explanation from Pailano, there wouldn’t be enough time.
The Angel Mercenary Corps had already shown restraint by not attacking until now.
Gao Yang couldn’t say to Nate, “Please wait another two days, I haven’t received the money yet,” especially since Pailano was likely unable to provide cash and could only resort to using cocaine to pay their mercenary fee.
Even if Ivan were to force Pailano to exchange the cocaine for cash, and Pailano actually had the cash, and Nate was willing to wait until Gao Yang received the money, Gao Yang still wouldn’t do it because he couldn’t afford to lose face.
Gao Yang took another glance at Pailano, then slightly smiled and said, “I don’t accept cocaine as our compensation, but if Mr.
Pailano can’t come up with the cash, I have another way to solve our current predicament.”
“What way?”
Gao Yang declared gravely, “Lucica, we’ll forget about the money; let Lucica come with us.”
Pailano’s eyebrows raised slightly, “Why?”
After carefully formulating his words internally, Gao Yang replied with a nonchalant expression, “No reason, Lucica is a beauty, that should suffice as a reason.”
Pailano’s expression turned as cold as ice as he responded coldly, “No, I don’t agree.
If you want the money, take your cocaine and leave.
If you don’t want it, dispose of it yourself.
Either way, I’ve already provided your compensation; it’s your problem how to handle it.”
Pailano’s refusal was firm, which somewhat surprised Gao Yang; he thought saving Pailano the fifteen million dollars would be enough to persuade him.
After thinking for a moment, Gao Yang realized his mistake.
For Pailano, cocaine was endlessly producible, what he lacked was cash, not cocaine.
Cocaine worth fifteen million dollars could be produced in a matter of days, and what Pailano needed was to regain the channels to sell the cocaine.
Given his current lack of money and manpower, he would certainly not accept Gao Yang’s terms.
Having understood the crux of the matter, Gao Yang didn’t waste any more words.
He shrugged helplessly and said, “Alright, if you don’t agree, let’s leave it at that.
The matter ends here, we’ll forgo the compensation and just leave.”
Gao Yang gave everyone a cue with his eyes and made a move to leave, but Pailano blocked his way with a smile on his face.
His tone, however, was rigid as he said, “Mr.
Ram seems eager to depart, so I won’t keep you any longer as my guests.
However, please take your compensation with you when you leave, so that no one thinks I’m unwilling to pay for your services.”
As far as Gao Yang was concerned, Pailano was already a dead man.
Since they couldn’t come to an agreement, there was no need to keep talking.
It was better to leave early and then get ready to come back with the Angel Mercenary Corps.
For Pailano, Gao Yang’s refusal to accept his “cocaine” meant that the deal with the Satan Mercenary Corps had not yet concluded.
If that were the case and the Satan Mercenaries went to Ivan as the middleman for the money, Ivan would definitely come looking for trouble with him.
Pailano knew that the Satan Mercenaries had just wiped out Teodulo and all his men, so he was extremely wary of the Satan Mercenaries.
Playing dishonorably was a reluctant act, as he simply didn’t have the money to pay them, and offering cocaine as payment was the only option he had.
Pailano was more afraid of Ivan coming after him than dealing with the Satan Mercenary Corps.
As long as the Satan Mercenaries accepted his cocaine, Ivan would have nothing to say.
At least he could muddle through the situation, and if worse came to worst, he would find a way to mend the rift with Ivan over this matter later.
For now, he just had to get through the immediate crisis.
Pailano’s wishful thinking was loud and clear, but his actions would only get him killed faster.
Even if they couldn’t get the money, Gao Yang and his team would have just dusted off and left if Pailano had been willing to let Lucica go.
Now, Satan and Angel were about to join forces for the first time.
Having made up his mind, Gao Yang said briskly, “I understand your difficulty, and I suppose you truly have no cash on hand right now.
Although I really don’t want the cocaine, it’s still better than getting nothing at all.
Alright, we accept your cocaine, and we’ll take it with us when we leave.”
Pailano’s face immediately brightened as he regained his initial enthusiasm and exclaimed loudly, “Very good, this is truly a perfect partnership.”
Gao Yang gave a wry smile and said, “The only issue is that we don’t want to leave carrying so much cocaine with us.
You’ll have to get someone to deliver it to our boat.
Let’s do this: have Kamp and his people escort us to the riverbank, so we can say our farewells at the end.”
Pailano agreed readily, “No problem, of course no problem.
However, the boat Ivan sent to pick you up hasn’t arrived yet.
You can stay and have some food, rest a while, and leave when the boat arrives.”
Gao Yang shook his head and responded, “Thank you for your kindness, but we’ll leave now.
As you know, as mercenaries, we prefer not to operate under too many gun muzzles.”
Pailano glanced at his subordinates, noting how dozens of gun muzzles were intentionally or unintentionally pointed at Gao Yang and his men.
He put on a stern face and commanded, “You idiots, watch where you’re pointing your guns.”
After scolding them fiercely, Pailano put on a smile and said to Gao Yang, “Alright, I understand how you feel, so I won’t hold you up any longer.
I will have someone escort you out immediately.”
After calling out a few commands, six men emerged from behind Pailano.
Two of them lifted a box and just watched Gao Yang and his team, while another twelve or thirteen men, though having slung their rifles over their shoulders, were still glaring at Gao Yang and his team with vigilance, their guns now back in their hands, not pointed directly but ready to fire at any time.
“Mr.
Ram, I won’t be going out there as it’s unsafe.
Even though I am aware of your capabilities, to show my goodwill, I will have my men escort you to the riverbank.
If there’s a chance in the future, we can collaborate again,” Pailano said to Gao Yang, before yelling out the door, “Lucica, you and the other four, go escort Mr.
Ram.”
Gao Yang couldn’t be bothered with Pailano’s pretense and just waved his hand, then stepped out.
Lucica and the other four silently followed behind Gao Yang, while the six men carrying the box and the thirteen others, ostensibly there to escort but actually to monitor, trailed at the back.
They too had taken down their guns, not aiming directly at Gao Yang and his team but ready to shoot at any moment.
Knowing that the men behind were mainly watching Lucica, Gao Yang spoke in an unnoticeable manner, “Lucica, thank you for your help along the way.
Without your translation, some things would have been very difficult for us.
I’m curious, how many people here speak English?”
Lucica replied coldly, “Not many.
Besides me, no one here speaks English.”
Gao Yang laughed and said, “In that case, things have become quite simple.
Just wait here with us.
We’ll be leaving shortly.
Test Tube, keep your girlfriend company.
The rest of you, get ready.
You know what I mean.” (To be continued.
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