Negotiation

Howard slowly recovered from his shock. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "You want to consolidate the underground forces? Including drugs and human trafficking?"

Han Lin shook his head. "No, I haven't fallen that far. The Strategic Scientific Reserve can't be involved in this, but you need research funding, and what we need to do is consolidate every inhumane industry except drugs, human trafficking, and the like. I have the ledgers and records of every transaction from the three major gangs. As long as we take their businesses into our own hands, your funding problem will be solved. In those ledgers, I found smuggling, arms dealing, nightclubs, casinos, and all kinds of illegal businesses. We need to make the illegal legal. The smuggling business at New York Harbor is larger than you can imagine. The wealthy and powerful love precious calligraphy, paintings, and antiques brought over from China. Arms dealing is your old profession. We can trade weapons for Chinese treasures, then sell them to those capitalists. I think they'll pay a high price for our goods. We can establish an auction house and invite those capitalists to spend money every three months. As long as the promotion is good, I don't think cash flow will be a problem for you. We'll submit an application to the government to buy all of New York Harbor, then purchase a large tract of land on Long Island and build an auction venue with a large casino and bars. With you, an arms tycoon, taking the lead and giving others a share of the benefits, I don't think the government would refuse to make things convenient for us."

After hearing Han Lin's words, Howard swallowed hard twice. He knew that all of his businesses were built upon the support of the United States government, and that his arms deals were all with the U.S. military. Without the United States government's support, he might not be able to sell a single gun or round of ammunition.

But things were different now. Han Lin's appearance had broken the deadlock. I won't use your channels. I'll take my surplus equipment to that Eastern nation, trade it for exotic treasures, and then exchange them for money from the capitalists. I'll still pay you all kinds of taxes. I'll conduct my legitimate business. What's wrong with that?

If you disagree, fine. Our major shareholders will have a good talk with you.

Howard said eagerly to Han Lin, "Do you have a way to get the country to approve your project?"

Han Lin nodded confidently. "My discharge from the military wasn't exactly honorable. Congress has remained silent because they know they tacitly approved much of what happened this time. Now that things have turned out this way, they bear a great deal of responsibility. If I go negotiate, they may ask for some benefits, but in the end, they'll agree."

Howard nodded in understanding. "I don't have that much available cash. Where will the money to buy land and construct the buildings come from?"

"Look at the newspaper in your hand. Last night, I swept through every gang in New York, and all their cash is in my hands. You underestimate their assets. I got $400,000 in wealth from just one small gang back then. I calculated the cash they held altogether—it came to around $15 million, and that doesn't even include their other businesses. Their combined real estate holdings are worth nearly $25 million. That's my estimate. So, are you still going to lie in that hospital bed, Mr. Stark? I need someone to help me turn those properties into our capital. Then I need to find some people capable of handling affairs and let them give me some good returns." Han Lin said jokingly.

The moment Han Lin finished, Howard could no longer sit still. He knew there were enormous benefits behind this project. He knew Han Lin was looking after him—he would receive a large share without putting up anything at all. All he had to do was help Han Lin manage the project.

While Han Lin and Howard discussed the plan, President Roosevelt convened a council meeting. The discussion centered on the four missing men and Han Lin. The evidence in Roosevelt's hands indicated, more or less, that the four men were connected to Hydra. The Strategic Scientific Reserve's operational report had also been submitted here. Of the five congressmen, only two had been successfully brought back; the others had been intercepted by the National Security Agency and taken away for interrogation.

At the end of the meeting, they decided to send Senator Michelle Lawrence, who had met Han Lin once before, to negotiate with him.

Han Lin had just been wondering how to discuss his project with the United States government when Michelle Lawrence arrived.

Han Lin looked at the senator with a soft chuckle and asked directly, "Senator Lawrence, what brings you here? A retired captain like me shouldn't have the chance to meet such an important figure as you."

Michelle Lawrence looked at the seemingly harmless young man. They had sufficient evidence to believe that Han Lin was behind the disappearance of the four senior government officials.

"We know that the disappearances of James Quinn, Horton Blade, Shaw Brian, and Eaton Hopes are related to you. The United States government does not mind arresting you and charging you with attacking key government personnel without cause." The senator wanted to seize control of the negotiations and spoke forcefully.

Han Lin shrugged indifferently. "Do you have evidence? I'm an American citizen. If you have evidence, then come arrest me. I won't resist. But if you don't, I'll send a lawyer's letter to your office tomorrow. As one of Stark Industries' major shareholders, I have the right to sue you for defamation and maliciously damaging Stark Industries' stock price."

Han Lin knew he had left no evidence at the scene indicating that he had done it.

His utterly unconcerned attitude left Michelle Lawrence somewhat choked with anger.

They all knew Han Lin had done it, but they had no evidence. The agents who had captured the congressmen had received their orders from Carter.

"Then, Senator, how about we discuss something else? I've received intelligence proving that those four senior government officials were Hydra spies, while you used Congress to pressure a captain with outstanding merits on the European battlefield into early retirement. There are Hydra spies among you as well. I think if this report is handed to the major newspapers, quite a few people in Congress will need to step down tomorrow. And the mayor of New York, who orchestrated the recent attack on Stark Industries—Stark Industries' surveillance footage showed that every attacker carried standard-issue military weapons. Stark Industries has every reason to suspect that the government wants to swallow Stark Industries whole." Han Lin's words made the senator break out in a cold sweat.

If reports emerged tomorrow claiming Hydra spies had participated in Congress and forced Han Lin out, then regardless of whether it was true, public opinion across the country would turn against the government.

And if this reached the military, nearly 5,000 soldiers on the European battlefield had been saved by teams led by Han Lin, and they had friends and comrades as well. Forget whether rebels might emerge—Han Lin's good friend, Captain America, would certainly be the first to object. The entire country would be dragged into a quagmire.

The government and military would be branded incompetent, and military morale would suffer an unprecedented blow.

On the European battlefield, which had originally been advancing with unstoppable momentum, the first thing those rescued soldiers who feared no death would do was submit retirement applications on a massive scale.

Because their idol had been oppressed by his own country, and that hero had been treated unfairly.

And if Stark Industries chose to stop cooperating with the U.S. military, the entire global battlefield would descend into hell.

Michelle Lawrence cried out somewhat irrationally, "You can't do this! You'll let NC win this war. You're an American citizen."

Han Lin gave a mocking snort. "When I returned from the battlefield, you claimed I had stolen classified national resources and demanded that I hand them over. You never actually cared whether I had taken them. You only wanted to obtain from me a way to strengthen yourselves. You intended to use the power of an entire nation to pressure me. Back then, I wasn't treated like an American citizen at all. And now you say I'm an American citizen? Let me tell you, I can give up that citizenship. I can conduct trade as a Chinese businessman, return to China, and negotiate with Hitler so that he doesn't attack China. That would be enough. I think he would definitely be willing to make a deal with me, because he doesn't want to face me. As for you pigs with nothing but your own interests in your heads, who cares whether you live or die? Dr. Zola has been rescued. I believe Schmidt will grow stronger again, and more people will die on the European battlefield. I don't care. Why don't you go to hell and repent to those soldiers who died in battle?"

Every word from Han Lin struck at Michelle Lawrence's heart, making her feel that coming here today had been a mistake. Why had she been at that council meeting in the first place?

That bastard spy James Quinn had pushed her into the abyss like this.

Michelle Lawrence seemed to lose all her strength. Slowly, she said, "What are your conditions? What will it take to keep this information from getting out?"