860: Chapter 850 This is Not Extortion 860: Chapter 850 This is Not Extortion Gao Yang did not want to hide what abilities he and his comrades possessed, but whether to use those abilities depended on whether they would receive enough compensation.
“Airborne drop!
I see, if I want to hire you to rescue my friends by way of an airborne operation, would it cost a fortune?”
After thinking it over, Gao Yang said, “There’s no fixed price.
We can do an airborne drop, but that doesn’t mean we will do it.
Considering the risks associated with an airborne operation and my philosophy of ‘no use earning money if you can’t live to spend it,’ no matter how much you offer, I won’t take the job.”
“There must be a price that would interest you, right?”
Gao Yang smiled and said, “As I’ve said, when I say no amount of money, it means that you cannot sway me with cash, because I don’t want to die and I don’t want to send my people to die either.
Not a single one of them, so this isn’t about money.”
“I’m not afraid of problems, I just fear having nothing to negotiate.
Mr.
Ram, those people, those who are in danger, are my friends, my brothers.
I can’t bear to watch any one of them die.
So, can you list any requirements you have all at once?”
“Alright, money is not the main issue.
If you want us to do an airborne drop, we can.
I require a drop zone, an opening in the rainforest.
Mr.
Friend of Nature, if you think you can manage that, we have something to talk about.
If you can’t provide me with a landing area, then there’s no need to waste any more time.”
“I think that can be done.
My people brought a lot of fake medicine.
If they can clear an open area in the rainforest for your landing, does that mean you would take on the task?”
After some thought, Gao Yang said, “Sir, it must be a safe landing area.
I think you need to understand something.
Once our dozen men jump from the sky, our lives depend on the landing zone.
If it’s poor, we might get injured or even die.”
“I understand the risks of parachuting.
You don’t need to emphasize the dangers to me.
Tell me, how large of an area do you need for a safe landing spot?”
During sport parachuting often seen on TV, it’s common to have a small target for skydivers to land on with great precision.
However, such target spots are surrounded by flat ground, providing ample time and space for adjustments upon landing.
An opening created in the forest is different and must be entered precisely on the first attempt.
Gao Yang considered it carefully.
With their capabilities, choosing a high-altitude, low-opening jump, and selecting parachutes suitable for precise steering, all twelve men could land in an area as small as a basketball court.
However, if surrounded by tall trees, a space as big as a football field would be required to ensure sufficient safety.
“I need a space as big as a football field.
I have created drop zones in the jungle before, so I know that with enough fake medicine, a large enough landing zone can be cleared quite quickly.
Once the big trees are down, even though there might still be upright branches and other obstacles, the risk remains within an acceptable range.
Moreover, the ground must mark the landing zone, or else it would be too difficult to discern from the green sea around it.”
Friend of Nature was excited as he said urgently, “Please wait, I’ll immediately ask if we can clear a landing zone and mark it.”
Gao Yang hung up the phone and then gave Yelena, who looked disheartened and anxious, a bitter smile, though he had no idea what to say.
Yelena trembled as she asked, “Is it very dangerous?”
Gao Yang shook his head with a smile, “It’s somewhat dangerous, but not extremely so.
However, as you understand, if we don’t play up the danger, how can we ask for a higher price?
Rest assured, if they clear a landing zone, it won’t be very dangerous.”
Clearing a landing zone merely made it possible to land; of course, there would still be significant danger.
But the greater the danger, the more Gao Yang had to pretend to take it lightly in front of Yelena.
Yelena was not only smart but very sharp.
She managed a difficult smile and did not say much more, simply sighing lightly before embracing Gao Yang tightly again.
After not too long, Friend of Nature called again, urgently saying, “Ram, the landing zone can be cleared.
They have enough fake medicine and enough light sources to mark the landing zone, and they also have smoke grenades.
They have seven red smoke grenades left, enough to mark the landing zone.”
Gao Yang spoke softly, “Alright, if that’s the case, then we can continue our talks.
So, how much are you planning to offer?”
Friend of Nature said in a quiet voice, “Thirty million dollars, do you think that’s acceptable?”
The offer had gone up, but to tell the truth, thirty million dollars, while not a small sum, was not particularly high either.
To engage the Iron Madonna in combat, and to make a parachute jump over the rainforest, just these two things alone meant that very few mercenary groups would be capable.
Gao Yang even doubted whether, aside from Satan, there was any other mercenary group up to the task.
Basically, no mercenary group would fund their own training, especially not full-member unified training.
They’re mercenaries, not sustained by a country.
Who would spend that kind of money?
Therefore, unless it was a mercenary group composed entirely of retired paratroopers, it was impossible for there to be a group that could perform a full-member airborne drop.
“Angels are impressive, but Gao Yang knew that the Angels couldn’t achieve a full airdrop capacity because they included armored troops and ex-police forces.
And among those he was familiar with, Can Opener Sirte, for example, wouldn’t parachute.”
“Iron Madonna is large in scale and consists entirely of special forces, so they should be able to put together an airborne squad.
But full airdrop capability, needless to say, is even more out of the question.”
“This money from Friend of Nature—it’s something Satan Mercenary Corps can earn, but no one else really can.”
“Rarity commands a premium, so it’s him who asks for a hundred million, and it’s him who asks for thirty million.”
“If it’s something many people can do, taking advantage of the situation to demand a high price is extortion.
But when nobody else can do it and only he can, it’s no longer extortion; it’s value for money.”
“With a business mindset, Gao Yang decided to bargain and said solemnly, ‘Fifty million!'”
“Gao Yang also wished to imitate Nate Schumacher.
Since the other party had no ground to haggle, he had to make a hefty opening demand.”
“Unfortunately, Gao Yang was disappointed because almost immediately Friend of Nature responded with a troubled voice, ‘Ram, I can’t afford that amount.'”
“Gao Yang said gravely, ‘I just want to tell you that this price is fair.
You can ask around and see if anyone is willing to accept fifty million dollars to parachute into the Amazon and then go to combat against Iron Madonna.'”
“Friend of Nature sighed and said, ‘I’m not trying to haggle with you, but I really can’t pay that much.
Ram, right now I have less than forty million US dollars available.
Besides paying your commission, I have to spend a lot on chartering planes and other expenses, so thirty million is all I can pay you.'”
“Demanding a high price is one thing, but when the employer truly has no money, that’s really a problem, and one without an apparent solution.”
“Gao Yang sighed and said, ‘That’s regrettable.
May I ask why you’re so determined to rescue those people?'”
“Friend of Nature stated firmly, ‘They are my friends, my brothers.
I sent them to Brazil, so it’s my duty to bring them back at all costs, even if it means losing everything and ending up in prison.'”
“Gao Yang valued loyalty, and he liked people who were loyal.
Just for the sake of Friend of Nature’s statement, he decided to take the job, and besides, thirty million was already a substantial amount.”
“Gao Yang hadn’t expected Friend of Nature to be a sentimental person.
He had thought Friend of Nature would say it was for the environmental cause or something.
Just as he was about to agree, Friend of Nature said with conviction, ‘Of course, it’s also for our goal, for the environmental cause!
The path is difficult, but we will keep moving forward with determination!
That’s why I will fight those who harm the environment to the bitter end!'”
“Gao Yang, finding the situation both funny and sad, then said solemnly, ‘Alright, I’ll go.
Get a plane ready to pick us up.
I hope you have a suitable aircraft that can take us directly to Brazil and then drop us off.’ ”
“Friend of Nature suddenly spoke with a voice full of emotion, ‘I knew you’d agree, Ram, I just knew it!
Although the money isn’t much, I knew you’d still choose to help me, because you are the initiator of the Green Tide!
You won’t abandon your followers!'”
“Gao Yang, once again caught between amusement and exasperation, realized that whether he accepted it or not, he really was the greatest promoter of the newly emerging global movement, the Green Tide; he was the founder of the Green Terror Organization.”
“In all honesty, Gao was only acting out of spite, but his righteous indignation inadvertently sparked the global movement of the Green Tide.
He couldn’t deny the responsibility, and indeed, Friend of Nature was marching forward following his lead, although the claim about sinking the whaling ship for environmental reasons was nothing more than a diversion he concocted.”
“Gao Yang became wary of Friend of Nature.
It didn’t matter what kind, but fanaticism was not to be trifled with; it was best to keep a safe distance, the further the better.”
“After a few bitter laughs, Gao Yang whispered, ‘Let’s not talk about that.
I’m just here to make money, not for some environmental cause.
Please bear that in mind.'”
“Friend of Nature, clearly moved, said, ‘I understand your concerns.
Actually, I’m starting to understand them now because I’ve encountered some trouble myself.
Keeping one’s identity a secret is indeed critical.
You’ve managed that much better than I have; I’ll take extra care with that in the future.'”
“Gao Yang, finding the situation both funny and sad, could only respond with a wry smile, ‘Can we continue with the main issue?
Let’s get back to the point.
Give me the detailed information about your people, like their names, oh, nicknames will suffice, what they’re good at, their current physical state, the planned routes for battlefield evacuation, rendezvous points, and the ways to leave Brazil.
I need all of this, the more details the better.'”
“Friend of Nature responded loudly, ‘No problem, I’ll send you the personnel information and the action plan as soon as possible.
Is there anything else you need?'”
“Gao Yang thought for a moment and said, ‘If possible, try to gather as much intelligence as you can about Iron Madonna, like how many are in their squad, what they’re skilled at, and so on.
The more detail, the better.
I think Justin should be able to do this.
I need all the information before we depart, as there won’t be much time for us to study it.'” (To be continued.
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