1087: Chapter 1034: Cunning and Strategic!

Luxurious Treatment!

1087: Chapter 1034: Cunning and Strategic!

Luxurious Treatment!

“It’s really that one!”

Wu Jie found the decrypted secret message a bit unbelievable.

This message was a secret presidential authorization order.

The content of the authorization was simple.

The core message was one thing: no matter the cost, at least one usable nuclear warhead must be acquired.

What a firm determination!

For world powers that already possess nuclear weapons, nuclear warheads aren’t really anything new.

They own various kinds of nuclear warheads with different sizes and weights, explosive yields, and delivery platforms like bombers, intercontinental missiles, and nuclear submarines.

The top-tier powerful nations all have the capability to launch a nuclear strike anywhere on Earth at any time.

But for small and medium-sized countries without nuclear weapons, and even those without sufficient conventional military strength,

it’s like the secret communication, they would spare no expense to get their hands on a nuclear warhead, such as Xiezhou Continent.

Despite holding 4% of the world’s oil reserves, 2 billion tons of iron ore, nearly tens of billions of tons of coal, and trillions of cubic meters of natural gas…

it’s also one of the major resource-exporting countries in the world.

However, the quality of the country’s oil is poor, and the cost of extraction and smelting is high; where it costs only a few Gold Coins per barrel in the Persian Gulf, it costs more than twenty Gold Coins in Xiezhou, and the production costs of other minerals are also high.

When the global economic situation is booming and oil and mining prices are high, Xiezhou, with its substantial profits, is truly ‘dripping with wealth,’ and its public welfare is envied by the world.

In recent days,

as the number of Graphene Composite Batteries produced and sold by Tanglong Industrial Group increases…

and as the number of swapping stations built and operated by Liuli Continent Green Energy Industry across the region climbs…

the public increasingly prefers to buy various electric vehicles, causing oil prices to plummet…

Therefore, the good days of relying on exporting oil and minerals have basically come to an end.

When oil prices aren’t high, and mineral products aren’t selling, life is too tough.

Without being able to export mineral resources on a large scale in exchange for high profits, and thus import large amounts of food, daily necessities, and industrial products, how can the prices not soar and welfare not decline?

How could the common people’s lives be good?

Once internal troubles and external threats arise, there’s even more need to have powerful military force to protect oneself.

If they can possess one or two nuclear warheads, then handling various international affairs and disputes will come with firm backing.

So, the firm tone and decisive attitude in this presidential secret message isn’t hard to explain.

What’s interesting is…

The Auxiliary Business Association of Rosdelle, under the guise of the ‘Dark Knight Order,’ had already sent out a secret invitation for a nuclear warhead auction.

Aside from international criminal organizations and extremist terrorist groups, many countries eager for nuclear warheads have already sent representatives to Nabiya, and Xiezhou’s delegation undoubtedly received authorization before departing.

Why would they still send a secret presidential authorization order today?

And why was it sent as an encrypted message, using multiple layers of encryption?

Obviously, someone has negotiated privately with Xiezhou’s delegation, claiming they can sell them nuclear warheads directly.

The emphasis in the message on ‘at least one’ means the other party might sell them two.

It’s guessed that they’ve just made contact, and the price has not yet been agreed upon.

Such a valuable weapon must surely come with a high price.

Considering Xiezhou’s current economic situation, if it’s too expensive, they’ll just buy one.

After all, they’re only trying to resolve the issue of whether or not they have nuclear weapons, and don’t care about the quantity.

The greatest value of nuclear weapons is not in the destructive power at the moment of explosion, but in their deterrent power when hung on planes or missiles or installed on submarines, always ready to threaten the enemy.

This proves three things.

Firstly,

Lemur has lied; he is very familiar with the other two mercenary squads guarding the nuclear warheads, not ignorant at all.

Before dawn, he made a hefty profit by selling his squad’s warheads to Wu Jie.

Presumably, after leaving the security base, he immediately tipped off the other two squads.

They were worried about not having the nuclear codes, making the nuclear warheads practically useless to them, so colluding with Lemur was exactly what they needed.

Secondly,

The three squads are still lingering within Nabiya’s territory, just hidden in a covert location.

They never intended to leave with the nuclear warheads but planned to sell the two warheads while in Nabiya.

Mercenaries are known for living on the edge, risking their lives for money.

With such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a fortune, how could they easily let it go?

Lastly,

Xiezhou’s delegation has already declared that they have received a secret presidential authorization order.

But Xiezhou’s recent situation is not good, and its economic strength is worrying, which is a well-known fact worldwide.

The authorization order also makes it clear, aiming for at least one but not expecting to buy both.

Xiezhou’s president still has self-awareness.

Lemur and the others must also know that Xiezhou is strapped for cash, and at most could afford to buy only one by selling off all their assets, so they would naturally look for more potential buyers.

The rarer the commodity, the more valuable – with only these two warheads, they’ll devise every means to sell them for a high price.

Who knows, they might imitate the Auxiliary Business Association and hold a private auction.

…

After clarifying these three points,

Wu Jie knew that to find Lemur and his group, and to find those two nuclear warheads,

he only needed to keep a close watch on Xiezhou’s delegation, of course, while continuing surveillance and monitoring.

With the first one in sight, it’s estimated that a second potential buyer will appear soon.

Ever since Wu Jie had leaked the news of Hittory’s defection and his subsequent capture and trial, those who wanted the nuclear warheads would certainly know to find Lemur and his group if they wanted to buy.

The Auxiliary Business Association of Rosdelle?

Now it’s utterly useless.

If they refuse to return the deposit, then not only the Sea Shark super-cruise ship is not safe, but nobody from the Auxiliary Business Association can hope to operate in the world anymore, as anyone with the capacity to deal with nuclear warheads is not to be trifled with.

Before long,

Tang Xiao, who had completed the interrogation work, returned.

She didn’t expect the hunt to be easy, and much less the interrogation work to be even easier.

Hittory confessed everything he knew, only wishing for a swift death, not wanting to endure various tortures and suffer unspeakably.

The experienced agents from the War Statistics Institute gave him a pill.

Special agents working undercover on espionage missions definitely don’t have it easy once they’re caught.

That’s why the War Statistics Institute specifically developed a colorless and tasteless pill that can be swallowed when necessary.

Death comes painlessly within three seconds, leaving no chance for resuscitation.

“Hittory is dead, what’s our next move?”

Tang Xiao’s eyes were filled with eagerness.

Wu Jie remained silent, merely showing Tang Xiao the encrypted message.

With her intelligence, she grasped the meaning instantly.

“This Lemur is really insatiable!

Why won’t he sell the other two to us as well?

Is he afraid we can’t afford them?

Sister has plenty of money!”

Tang Xiao complained somewhat indignantly.

Wu Jie chuckled and said, “If they really sell one to Xiezhou, the price will be more than just two hundred million.

The sale price will definitely be much higher.”

“The reason they want to sell us one first is probably to set a benchmark!”

“By spending money on it, we would be validating for them that the nuclear warheads are the real deal!”

“This would allow other buyers to confidently and boldly enter the auction without an actual nuclear detonation.”

Tang Xiao nodded slightly and said, “That makes sense, if we don’t buy it, how could the other buyers trust it?”

“But on another note, this Lemur really lives up to his title as a special forces commander.

His considerations are truly comprehensive, one linked tightly to the next!”

Wu Jie smiled but said nothing.

Special operations aren’t just about combat.

An excellent commander not only knows how to steal information and judge the situation but also how to use every favorable condition to create the greatest victory for his side.

Bravery without strategy will only make you a foot soldier, only knowing to take orders.

That’s far from enough to become a commander.

Of course.

Lemur’s display of remarkable capabilities naturally ignited Tang Xiao’s competitive spirit.

She is a woman who refuses to accept defeat.

With such a love for competition, how could Tang Xiao not desire to excel in this shocking case?

It bothered her that she didn’t get to infiltrate and raid Strehl Manor in Sangkrei.

The successful capture and interrogation of Hittory today was too smooth, making her feel a lack of accomplishment.

Now a seasoned and cunning Lemur emerges, and if she were indifferent, she wouldn’t be Tang Xiao.

And having such a fiercely competitive wife, Wu Jie really didn’t know whether it was a blessing or a curse.

Without needing a word from Wu Jie, she had already begun to take action.

She ordered all the departments involved in the case to shift their investigative focus to countries like the Xiezhou Continent.

Countries with severe international tensions, a strong demand to buy, and an urgent need for nuclear warheads.

Lemur and his people would certainly communicate with them to sell the remaining two warheads at a good price.

Because as mercenaries, they certainly knew that selling to the utterly evil would lead to endless trouble.

Mercenaries seek wealth, not to plunge the world into chaos.

If sold to some terrorists, who might detonate a nuclear warhead in a major city suddenly, it could very well blow themselves up, whereas selling to smaller countries would be different.

That’s because what they value is the deterrent power of the warheads.

Buying nuclear warheads is only for self-defense, to avoid being bullied by large countries, and to have the determination for a do-or-die resistance when faced with invasion and suppression.

But…

It seems Tang Xiao was too accustomed to being a CEO.

Accustomed to controlling situations, coordinating overall, and dispatching commands.

She never considered that she’s already retired, and her sole identity now is that of a businesswoman.

In this control center, the real person with overarching authority is Wu Jie.

However, seeing Wu Jie didn’t intervene nor stop Tang Xiao, Qian Le, Zhang Ren, and the rest naturally followed orders.

…

Time slowly passed.

Around three o’clock in the afternoon.

Disaster befell the Auxiliary Business Association in Rosdelle.

With Chairman Hittory defecting and captured, what more is there to deny?

The nuclear warheads were indeed stolen through collusion from within and outside, with ‘Dark Knight Order’ as a mere front.

Utter nonsense!

In the interrogation video, Hittory had already clearly confessed all.

Wu Jie shared the recording, as well as various incriminating materials found in Hittory’s luggage, with intelligence agencies of various countries.

Now, if they don’t end up in a tragic state, justice would be hard to come by.

Auxiliary Business Association affiliates hiding around the world, disguised in various industries, and many who had unsavory dealings with the Association – some were arrested, some fled, and those who dared to resist were eliminated on the spot.

As for that super cruise ship still sailing in International Waters, it received ‘extra luxurious’ treatment.

Countries with warships escorting in the nearby waters all sent out strike forces to join the combined operation.

A multinational siege!

Warships surrounding on all sides!

Never has there been a crime organization that received such a treatment.

And those on board the cruise ship, the Sea Shark, weren’t necessarily ready to surrender.

Those who were already heavily laden with crimes and facing inevitable death, why not fight back?

Better to take a few down with them!

Consequently, what was once an extremely luxurious cruise ship has now turned into a battlefield.

Probably by the end of the battle, if it doesn’t sink to the bottom of the ocean, it’ll at least be reduced to a wreck.

By the evening.

Wu Jie received news that after a violent explosion occurred inside the cruise ship, it caught fire quickly.

Apparently, someone intentionally ignited the fuel storage, and thousands of tons of fuel burst into flames which even the most sophisticated fire systems couldn’t combat.

In the midst of continuous explosion and burning, the cruise ship transformed into a ‘fire ship’, its towering flames reflecting the bloody sunset.

Additionally.

Upon verification, Lemur had indeed invited several countries for a secret bidding negotiation in Seleck Port overnight.

So tonight, a deceitful and deadly struggle for possession would surely unfold…