94: Chapter 93: Image Spokesperson 94: Chapter 93: Image Spokesperson Uriyangko was also a martial arts enthusiast.
Being stared at with adoration by Uriyangko greatly satisfied Lee Jinfang’s vanity.
He vigorously patted Uriyangko’s shoulder, laughed heartily, and said, “No problem, I’ll teach you some moves when we have time.”
Having his wish fulfilled, Uriyangko called Lee Jinfang ‘Oriental Father’ several times before reluctantly walking up to Gao Yang.
Smacking his lips, he said, “I really didn’t expect you guys to be so formidable.
Ram, you’re famous, and your Mercenary Group is now very well-known.
People say that three Easterners have come to Misrata, one is a super-strong sniper named Ram and another one a martial arts master.
I guessed it was you guys right away.
Oh my God, if I had known ‘Oriental Father’s’ skills were so impressive, I’d definitely have given you a discount.”
Gao Yang’s vanity was also satisfied, and he said with a grin, “Now that you know, it’s not too late.
I’m always happy to welcome a discount from you.”
Uriyangko nodded repeatedly and said, “No problem, from now on, everything you buy from me will be at ten percent off.”
With a gesture of opening his hands, Gao Yang said, “That’s not very sincere.
I remember last time you said, for Glolov’s sake, you’d always give us ten percent off.
How come it’s still only ten percent off?”
Without changing his expression, Uriyangko laughed and said, “Stack the discounts.
Now, let’s talk about the big deal.
What do you want?”
Glolov immediately said, “We want to go to South Africa and are thinking of using your channels to get there.
Name your price.”
Uriyangko shook his head, looking helpless, and said, “Hey, brother, just passing through doesn’t really count as a big deal.
Please, I’m afraid I might delay your needs.
I’ve brought my entire motorcade here, and you’re telling me you just want to go home?
That’s not good, really not good.”
Glolov apologized, “Sorry, I didn’t realize your business was this big now.
You actually brought a whole motorcade, but you only took fifteen minutes to get here, right?”
Uriyangko sighed and said, “Can’t help it, business is tough, and I have to seize the opportunity.
Misrata is lively with fighting; of course, I have to take the chance to expand my stock.
Say, don’t you guys have any other needs?
I have everything here.”
After thinking for a moment, Gao Yang said, “We indeed need a lot more stuff, but right now we are going home and definitely won’t take much with us.
But when we come back, we’ll surely have a lot to buy, like a top-notch 12.7 mm sniper rifle, night vision gear, a full set of protective equipment, and so on.
Of course, that’s provided your prices are affordable for us.”
Uriyangko immediately perked up.
The items Gao Yang mentioned might not be bought in large quantities, but every single one was pricey.
For example, although there were many mercenaries in the Libyan battlefield, almost all were equipped with inferior gear.
Even the teams with decent equipment wouldn’t suddenly start buying gear in the middle of a fight.
Strictly speaking, Uriyangko claimed to be a second-level wholesaler, but times had changed since the eighties and nineties.
There weren’t that many wars in Africa anymore.
In plain terms, Uriyangko was just a weapons retailer.
He had to follow where the fighting was to seize opportunities to sell weaponry, and competition among arms dealers was fierce.
Uriyangko certainly valued an order from Gao Yang highly.
The Satan Mercenary Corps, newly entered into the business, had rapidly gained notoriety and was distinctly set on a path of elite status.
If they were to purchase gear, it would surely be high-end.
It’d be a mistake for Uriyangko to overlook business from the Satan Mercenaries.
After snapping his fingers, Uriyangko said with a beaming smile, “I have a proposal you should seriously consider.
I think we can collaborate long term.
I’ll meet all your needs, and my fees will be reasonable.
And all you need to do is explicitly tell people that your equipment supplier is me.
Just write a few sentences on your clothes, and you can then enjoy a twenty percent discount.
How about that?”
Gao Yang laughed and said, “You mean, you want us to advertise for you?
Or in other words, the Satan Mercenaries are your company’s spokespersons?
Or say, brand ambassadors?”
“Bingo, exactly!
What do you think?”
Uriyangko’s offer reminded Gao Yang that he couldn’t be polite when someone offered him such a deal.
He said unhesitatingly, “Of course, that’s fine.
No problem at all.
We will tell everyone that you provided our equipment, that you provided everything necessary, timely, and crucially, that your services are at a low cost.
We can also accept having your slogan on our clothes, no problem.”
Uriyangko’s face twisted with delight, but just as he was about to speak, Gao Yang quickly added something that made Uriyangko’s smile instantly collapse.
“As long as you can provide all our equipment for free.”
Uriyangko said in shock, “F**k, your request is too excessive, how is this possible?
Ram, we’re talking about a deal worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and you’re asking me to provide it for free?
Are you kidding me?”
Gao Yang replied with a smile, “No, I’m not kidding.
Think about it, how many years have you been in this business?
Has any mercenary group’s equipment ever been fully provided by you?
No!
Why is that?
Because your nickname is too infamous, who would do business with someone nicknamed ‘Vampire’?
I mean, without any necessity, who would pay a premium for your stuff?
Think about it, really think about it.”
Uriyangko shook his head repeatedly and said, “No, you can’t teach me how to do business, I’ve been in this industry for ten years, you’re not qualified to critique my way of doing things, and besides, all arms dealers operate the same.
We have one price during peacetime and another during war—it’s not a style unique to me, so don’t think you’re at a great disadvantage.”
Gao Yang also shook his head and said, “I’m not teaching you how to do business; I’m just telling you what we can bring to you.
Think about it, a very famous mercenary group, using your equipment, relying on you for logistics and support, and they go around telling everyone how fair your pricing is, how good your reputation is.
What is this?
This is the star effect.”
“Cut it out, Ram,” he replied.
“No matter how convincing your argument is, I can’t possibly provide anything for free.
Really.”
Gao Yang sighed and said, “Having a good spokesperson will get you more orders, and no matter if it’s wartime or peacetime.
Think carefully, what time is it now?
Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, my god, the whole Middle East is about to be in chaos.
The golden age for arms dealers is just around the corner; don’t you want to seize the opportunity to stay ahead?
Instead of pushing a potential spokesperson with a good image into the arms of competitors?”
There was no doubt that Uriyangko was tempted.
As Gao Yang said, the golden age for arms traders was coming or had arguably already arrived.
Uriyangko had to seize any chance to increase his visibility.
Of course, Uriyangko was already quite famous, but unfortunately, he didn’t have a good reputation, so a spokesperson that could provide a good image was indeed very important.
Although the temptation was great, Uriyangko struggled painfully for a long time before finally shaking his head and said, “No, it’s not okay.
Providing for free, I just can’t accept that.
Maybe I’ll change my mind after seeing the benefits you bring to me, but right now, it’s absolutely impossible.”
Gao Yang exhaled and picked up the satellite phone in his hand, but he covered the screen and said to Glolov, “See, I said to call that American, and you insisted on calling your friend.
It’s not that I didn’t give him a chance.
Let’s cooperate with that American instead.”
Uriyangko cursed in a rage, “Damn it, which American?
Sam?
Eagle Claw?
No, they’re all bitches with no credibility.
Alright, alright!
I can initially provide you with everything you need at cost price, cost price!
No more talk of free stuff, for god’s sake, cost price!
That’s the lowest I can go.
Let’s close this damn deal, for god’s sake!”
Gao Yang put on an act and said, “Just cost price?
That won’t do, why should I pay if I can get it for free, buddy?”
Uriyangko gritted his teeth and said, “Stop playing games, Ram.
No arms dealer will ever give you anything for free, nobody, never!
For free!
I’m willing to provide you with the equipment at cost price, and that’s the most generous offer you’ll get.
Let’s make this damn agreement, for god’s sake!”
Gao Yang shrugged helplessly, shook Uriyangko’s extended hand, and said with a look of feigned displeasure, “Alright, you win.
It’s a deal.
We will be your brand ambassadors from now on, buddy.”
After a firm handshake with Gao Yang, Uriyangko said grumpily, “Okay, now tell me what you need, when you need it, and where it needs to go.
But let me make it clear, shipping costs will be included in the cost.”
Gao Yang nodded and said, “No problem, the shipping costs will be included, but this time you have to send us to South Africa for free, including all our current equipment.”
Uriyangko groaned, “You’re really the devil incarnate, no wonder they call you Ram.
Fine, fine, I’ll send you to South Africa for free, damn it!
Don’t use the word ‘free’ again, I hate that word.
Just tell me what you need.”
After thinking for a moment and discussing quietly with Glolov and Cui Bo, Gao Yang handed over his old bulletproof vest to Uriyangko and said, “Here’s a sample, we need four bulletproof vests of the same model, plus a 12.7mm sniper rifle with the best scope.
I’m not sure what else we need right now, that can wait, or if you have any recommendations that would be great too.
Also, we need night vision goggles, four sets, two with image intensifiers and two with thermal imaging, and rocket launchers.
Hmm, forget about clothes and boots, we can buy those ourselves.”
Uriyangko shook his head and said, “No, leave everything to me.
I want everything you use to be provided by me, so tell me the brands you want and your sizes, and I’ll handle the procurement.”
With a sigh, Gao Yang said, “Alright, I leave it all to you.
However, things are a bit rushed, we haven’t decided what we need yet.
Let’s do this, I’ll call you when we’ve made our decision.
We need some time to rest, so there’s no need to be too anxious.”