The conflict between the Research and Development Department and Han Xiao became a popular topic of conversation within the Thirteenth Bureau. Members of the other departments knew nothing about Han Xiao's background. They thought he was just an ordinary mechanic with no backing, so how did he dare challenge the organization?
The next few days passed peacefully, with no action from Han Xiao. The members of the Thirteenth Bureau thought he had decided to swallow the insult and let the matter rest.
Although they knew he had no choice, they could not help looking down on him a little. The Research and Development Department's attitude also surprised everyone. Although its inventions drew plenty of criticism, its conduct within the bureau had always been fairly proper. Why was it being so aggressive this time?
For the past few days, Li Yalin had been surrounded by agents giving her strange looks, making her scalp tingle with anger. She could not get through to Han Xiao on the phone, either, so she could only stew in silence by herself.
While the rumors spread like wildfire, Han Xiao had not been idle.
He had earned nearly a hundred thousand Aquamarine Dollars selling Folding War Blades before. After deducting the cost of materials for High Combustion Bullets, he had seventy thousand left.
Han Xiao spent thirty thousand on a batch of materials for Folding War Blades, then worked day and night over the next few days to forge a large batch of them-a full hundred blades.
"That should be enough."
Han Xiao found a box and packed all the Folding War Blades inside. He put on a mask to conceal his face, headed to the Eighth District, and sought out an underground arms dealer.
Undercurrents were stirring throughout society on Planet Aquamarine, and war could break out at any moment. The Six Nations had all imposed gun controls and did not sell firearms to civilians. Without a special status, anyone carrying a weapon could not pass through city checkpoints. The same went for players.
Each of the Six Nations was a separate faction, and players often received missions to cause trouble or carry out assassinations in other countries. They would usually buy weapons from local arms dealers or commission them to transport their equipment. The location of every arms dealer and information broker was valuable intelligence compiled by countless players in his previous life. For a city as important as West Capital, Han Xiao knew those arms dealers' backgrounds well.
The man he sought out was Matthews, a long-established arms dealer backed by the Farian Group, a major power that specialized in selling arms. It did business on a grand scale, buying and selling among various countries, warlords, and factions. It even had channels to acquire missiles, tanks, and fighter jets.
Major arms dealers like the Farian Group were in high demand in the current chaotic times. Their biggest customers were the wandering warlords, and even the Six Nations occasionally placed orders with them.
Matthews was happy to receive suppliers who came to him. Han Xiao met with Matthews without a hitch, brought out the batch of Folding War Blades, explained in detail how to operate them, and made his intention to sell them clear.
Matthews could naturally see the Folding War Blade's advantages. Although melee weapons were not in particularly high demand, the Folding War Blade had the advantages of concealment and surprise. Intelligence agencies in every country were sure to love it.
"Can you supply them long-term?"
Han Xiao smiled. "Are you interested in buying the blueprint?"
Matthews stared at him in astonishment. Blueprints were a mechanic's livelihood; controlling the blueprint was the same as controlling the supply. Unless they had no other choice, mechanics never sold their blueprints. Matthews was overjoyed, thinking he had run into a clueless greenhorn. Suppressing his excitement, he said, "Name your price."
"There are a hundred Folding War Blades here, five thousand apiece. The blueprint is another million."
Matthews sucked in a breath. Five thousand for one? A million for the blueprint? Why not just rob him!
"That's my price. No haggling."
Matthews immediately swallowed his urge to bargain and frowned as he considered the potential profit.
Han Xiao was calm. He was confident Matthews would agree. The Folding War Blade blueprint was not worth much, but that was precisely what made it possible to exploit. It could be sold outright without the slightest regret, and there was a substantial profit hidden in reselling it to other factions. A large batch of Folding War Blades could also be bundled with the sale, just as Han Xiao was doing now.
This deal could only be made once, but if the blueprint could be offered to multiple customers at the same time, leaving those factions no time to make inquiries, it could bring in an enormous profit. The Farian Group happened to be in a position to do just that, with its extensive customer channels.
Matthews worked it out and nodded. "Deal!"
Money and goods changed hands at once. Matthews had money to spare. He had someone open a Dark Net account with 1.5 million in it and personally handed Han Xiao the slip of paper with the account details. The banks of the Six Nations were not connected to one another. Dark Net accounts were the designated banking method for transactions in the underground world, usable anywhere in the world and highly confidential.
Han Xiao logged into the account on the spot to check it, registered his fingerprint and iris credentials, then tore up the account slip.
"If you have more business in the future, remember to come to me." Matthews produced a black-and-gold card. "This is a Farian Group VIP card. We have branches in most cities. If you need weapons, they'll provide you with the best service."
Han Xiao took the card and put it away.
Arms dealers were another sales channel. He would not remain confined to Stardragon's intelligence agencies forever. Once his wings were fully grown, he would leave Stardragon, and building good relations with these arms dealers would be very helpful.
Money was only one of Han Xiao's needs. What he needed more was experience from manufacturing machinery. If the Thirteenth Bureau had chosen to buy his blueprint from the start, Han Xiao might have considered it and agreed, but the Research and Development Department had no intention of doing business with him. It looked as though he was being targeted, but Han Xiao understood that the two factions were merely using him as a bridge for their struggle from a distance. He had no interest in their messy demands for profit or political leanings; he only cared about the benefits he could get for himself. Although Han Xiao wanted to make money in harmony, he would not back down if someone came looking for trouble.
Han Xiao smiled to himself.
Since the Research and Development Department had seized the credit for inventing the Folding War Blade, it had to bear the corresponding responsibility. How did that saying go? Heavy was the head that wore the crown... Well, it did not seem quite right here, but the meaning was close enough.
The higher-ups would not all speak with one voice. The conservatives might well be holding back their anger, and he was merely supplying the ammunition. If he were an ordinary Thirteenth Bureau agent, his current actions would leave both sides hurt. Unfortunately, he was not...
Old Man Gao, after I gave you a bionic prosthetic for free, you'd better come through.
The head of the Research and Development Department had been in high spirits these past few days. When he ran into the head of the Intelligence Department in the corridor, he spoke first, saying smugly:
"The person you chose to work with turned out to be a coward too. We only had to be a little firm, and he gave in. If you ask me, we should strike while the iron is hot, take him into custody, and interrogate him for everything he knows."
The head of the Intelligence Department, however, showed no anger. His gaze was peculiar, and his smile did not reach his eyes. He patted the research and development chief on the shoulder. "Good luck to you."
The research and development chief looked baffled. Good luck? What did he mean?
He was not left wondering for long. He soon found out.
The bureau chief summoned him to his office for a private conversation, and the research and development chief hurried over eagerly.
"Chief, you wanted to see me?"
"The Research and Development Department's report was approved yesterday. The Folding War Blade is your invention now."
The research and development chief beamed and offered a polite response. "Thank you to the higher-ups for their trust."
With a faint smile, the bureau chief said mildly, "Don't celebrate too soon."
"What's wrong?" The research and development chief's eyes darted about. Thinking he had guessed what the higher-ups were thinking, he said unconcernedly, "There's no need to worry about Han Xiao's reaction. He needs to cling to our Thirteenth Bureau's coattails, so we can take whatever we want from him. He wouldn't dare cause trouble."
"Oh, is that what you think?"
The research and development chief nodded.
"Good, then." The bureau chief chuckled, pulled out another document, and suddenly flung it in the research and development chief's face. "You're suspected of abusing your authority to resell arms. You've disappointed me greatly!"
The research and development chief was dumbfounded.
What? Reselling arms?!
I'm a department chief! If I needed money, couldn't I just skim it straight from public funds? I'd have to be an idiot to resell arms!