At midnight, the outside world still knew nothing about the cargo ship Aquarius incident that had taken place that night.
A military helicopter sat quietly on the helipad atop the Chu Group's skyscraper.
Several fully armed soldiers had also been deployed to guard Chu Feng's CEO office, and even the security guards had been driven out.
"Chairwoman Chu, Miss Xiaoxiao, Captain Ye, let me introduce you. This is Commander Hu of the Southeast Military Region, my college classmate!" Professor Fang introduced him to the women.
Commander Hu was a typical tough-as-nails soldier, with a thick beard and a square, upright-looking face.
"Chairwoman Chu! Old Fang said your company can provide a steady, long-term supply of highly enriched uranium. Is that true?" Commander Hu nodded to the women in greeting, then asked urgently.
There were several nuclear power plants in his jurisdiction, as well as a research institute directly under the military region. The military had always struggled to meet its demand for uranium. The resources allocated by the state were barely enough to maintain the status quo, leaving them scraping by.
The Chu mother and daughter exchanged a glance, and Chu Feng spoke. "General Hu, that's right! Professor Fang examined the first batch himself. His word should be proof that we really do have access to this supply."
"I examined it. The quality is beyond anything you can imagine!" Old Fang declared, thumping his chest.
Commander Hu trusted his expertise, of course.
"May I ask where these supplies come from? Kangaroo Country? Or official forces in Maple Leaf Country?" Commander Hu was a soldier, and he spoke bluntly.
After all, only powerful, state-level defense contractors could mine uranium and enrich it to such a high concentration. And only two or three countries in the world could export nuclear materials in large quantities.
"I'm sorry, Commander Hu, but we're only acting on behalf of the supplier. The Chu family has no idea where the goods actually come from."
Commander Hu nodded in understanding. With this sort of thing, the fewer people who knew, the better.
"Then may I ask what your relationship with the supplier is?"
"Well... We've never been in direct contact with the supplier. They've simply entrusted the entire transaction to us through an agent," Chu Feng replied after a moment's hesitation.
"Good! Then the Southeast Military Region will take this deal!" Commander Hu declared with a wave of his hand.
He hadn't expected to get any useful information from them in the first place. A power of this caliber had chosen a small domestic corporation as its representative because it didn't want the matter out in the open. As long as the deal benefited them, why worry about the reasons behind it?
"I wonder what the price is?" Commander Hu frowned.
The military's budget was also tight, and this was a major expense. It would cost tens of billions at least, which left him in a quandary.
"The supplier said they don't want cash. They only want to barter for certain goods. One kilogram of highly enriched uranium is valued at five billion yuan. You just need to provide goods of equivalent value!"
"Oh? What kind of goods?" Commander Hu calculated silently. That was a fair price—if anything, it was too low!
The average price of nuclear materials imported from Kangaroo Country each year was basically twice that, and those were all low-grade ores.
Even if they didn't use these goods themselves, they could make an enormous profit by reselling them. The supplier was showing plenty of sincerity!
"High-tech products, military hardware—even secondhand equipment is fine. They'll take it all!"
"Hm?" Commander Hu frowned. Trading for military hardware? That involved national security.
Chu Xiaoxiao spoke up from beside him. "Aside from nuclear fuel, the supplier also deals in arms.
"But Commander Hu, you can rest assured. These goods are all meant for export, and none of them will circulate domestically.
"They won't ask the military to provide classified weapons or equipment, either. All they need is for the goods to go through the standard arms export process, with the buyer's information kept confidential.
"Also, even if the equipment has been retired, we'll buy it at the price of brand-new equipment! All future transactions will follow the same standard."
"Oh!" Commander Hu's eyes lit up.
Several military-industrial companies in their region were struggling to break into overseas markets. Their warehouses were also full of secondhand equipment replaced during upgrades, and they had to spend a hefty sum on maintenance every year. If they could close this deal, it would truly benefit everyone.
As for which country these weapons might end up wreaking havoc in, that wasn't Commander Hu's concern. Had he ever seen an international arms dealer picky about their customers?
"If you agree, Commander Hu, you can have your people draw up a list of goods available for sale when you get back. We'll choose what we need from the list and make the exchange!" Seeing that he was tempted, Chu Xiaoxiao immediately pressed her advantage.
"Good. I'll have people put together a transaction plan as soon as I get back!" Commander Hu was very pleased and agreed on the spot.
"Also, General Hu, could you help the Chu family obtain the qualifications to operate as a military-industrial enterprise? That would make many future transactions much easier. We're also having some trouble with our import and export permits at customs. What do you think...?" Chu Feng raised some of their needs at just the right moment.
"These are all minor matters. I'll take care of them for you!" Commander Hu readily agreed.
For a steady supply of nuclear fuel, these really were minor matters—not just for the Southeast Military Region, but for the entire country!
An undertaking this significant naturally had to be reported by Commander Hu. Using national-level resources to solve a problem like this was like using a butcher's cleaver to kill a chicken.
The two women were delighted. This would solve most of the Chu family's predicament in one fell swoop. And with military-industrial status, they could practically throw their weight around domestically.
The two sides finished their negotiations in high spirits, and the atmosphere was exceptionally cordial.
Before Commander Hu and Professor Fang left, the Chu family generously offered to hand the goods over to the military first.
There was no helping it. Even locked in a safe, this stuff didn't feel secure. It made them nervous just knowing it was there.
As for whether the other party could be trusted, the state was backing them. What was there to worry about? Besides, when it came to goods worth tens of billions versus a stable supply channel, which mattered more was obvious.
Commander Hu and Professor Fang naturally agreed without hesitation. The sooner they had the goods in hand, the better!
Professor Fang immediately grabbed the insulated cup on the table. After a moment's thought, he picked up the "Blue Sky Supermarket" bag beside it and tucked the cup inside.
"Come on, Old Hu!" Professor Fang called cheerfully to Commander Hu.
The deal had gone through, and he'd not only made a major contribution but could also get some nuclear fuel for the research institute to use in its work. He was sure the state would commend him, too. He felt that making this trip today had been absolutely worth it!
"Hey, wait. Where are the goods?" Commander Hu asked in confusion, stopping Professor Fang just as he was about to leave.
Professor Fang lifted the bag to show him. "Right here!"
Commander Hu: "..."
The corner of his eye twitched. "Th-this is the goods?"
"You don't understand. It's a disguise! If I didn't tell you, who would know this thing was inside?"
Ye Min, who had been standing behind the two women, raised an eyebrow. Why did that sound so familiar?
Commander Hu was taken aback, then thought it over. He really had been there for quite a while, and it would never have occurred to him that nuclear fuel was inside an ordinary insulated cup on the table. It was completely unexpected!
"I see! Who would've thought that a researcher like you, Old Fang, would be so well-versed in the art of deception and strategy? It's only been a few days, and you've become a master of both letters and arms!"
"Not at all, not at all! You flatter me, Old Hu! I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it! Hahaha!"
Ye Min: "..."
Who said researchers were all modest?
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