Note Intelligence Building · Board of Directors Conference Room
"Good. We've exchanged our views. Does anyone have anything to add?"
The Old Man at the head of the conference table looked around the room and asked with a smile.
"One more question."
A young man from Vester Steel raised his hand and looked at the Old Man. "What about the Federal Bureau of Investigation? All our security personnel followed that useless man you put in charge to surround an empty building. Who's protecting us?"
Expressions shifted around the table.
The middle-aged man from Vester Steel seated beside the Old Man merely closed his eyes and said nothing.
"That is a concern,"
the Old Man said, his expression unchanged. He knew the young man wasn't truly angry about security. He was using it as leverage to win concessions for Vester Steel.
He glanced calmly over the Vester Steel delegation and continued, "Locke Te will open the city gates by noon at the latest and let the Mercenary Group in. Once they're inside, the Federal Bureau of Investigation won't be a problem."
"And what about Locke Te's list?"
the young man asked. "Are we supposed to give that old fox everything he wants? Isn't he afraid he'll choke on it? Besides, Note Intelligence took the lead in dealing with 'Sot.' Now that it's gone wrong, you want both sides to bear the cost. That hardly seems fair."
"Locke Te will compromise,"
the Old Man said evenly. "I trust you've all received your orders from Vetland. This cooperation directive came from the supreme board of directors.
"Of course, we did take the lead. To make this cooperation work, Note Intelligence is willing to make concessions. We'll cover seventy percent of what Locke Te has demanded.
"We're also willing to sell our heavy-industry subsidiaries