King Of War: Starting with Arms Dealer
Chapter 908 - 819: That's a Different Price

Joe Ga looked at the name on his phone and felt a jolt in his heart...

Instructing Dorian and the others to sprinkle a large amount of preservatives on the 'wall', Joe Ga walked to the side as he answered the call...

"Hey, Mr. Alexander, what's going on that you're looking for me at this time?"

"Hu Lang, something big has happened!"

Alexander's voice on the other end of the phone sounded very weary. He didn't beat around the bush with Joe Ga, but quickly said, "A dirty bomb has exploded in a small town in West Virginia..."

Joe Ga had actually anticipated that this would inevitably happen, but when he truly heard it, he was still shocked by Hafali's audacity.

This was essentially the same as flying a plane into a building in nature, and perhaps even more severe in consequence.

A building can be rebuilt, but the impact of a dirty bomb is long-lasting.

The explosion would scatter radioactive materials into the air, rivers, and soil...

Just look at the aftermath of the depleted uranium munitions left by NATO in Seville; cleaning up radiation contamination completely is nearly impossible.

The area around the explosion had already become a no-go zone for humans, and the value of everything within it was instantly nullified!

That's why America is so nervous, especially because the same kind of explosion, if it occurred in a big city like New York, would bring consequences no one could bear.

Alexander, a medical general in charge of chemical and biological defense, must have been one of the first to receive the news.

However, Joe Ga didn't understand why Alexander would call him about this?

So, furrowing his brow and intentionally lowering his tone a bit, he asked, "Sir, why tell me this news? Is there something I can help you with?"

Alexander listened and seemed quite embarrassed. After a long silence, he said, "Hu Lang, the White House and Congress have unanimously decided to conceal the truth of the matter.

And at this time, the Pentagon hopes that you can make some big moves..."

Alexander's words were a bit implicit, but Joe Ga instantly grasped his meaning...

The Pentagon was hoping he would use the current media frenzy to create a few major diversions to shift the domestic public's attention.

A small town with just a few hundred households doesn't really count for much; it's the other two dirty bombs that are truly deadly.

Telling the public that a dirty bomb has exploded, with two more whose whereabouts are unknown, is easy to say, but the consequences would be disastrous!

Having "Boss Joe" stir up major attention serves to distract the media through domestic frenzy, provides a measure of retaliation against ISIS, and given P·B's identity, whatever Joe and his team do, the Pentagon still has room to maneuver.

All three matters are very important. The first point is self-evident, the second, 'retaliation', aims to appease the domestic warmongers.

Doing nothing would lead many to lose face.

The third point makes even more sense; ISIS and P·B are already sworn enemies. P·B doing anything excessive wouldn't hinder Hafali from negotiating with the American Government.

For Joe Ga, all these matters are straightforward. If Alexander was the President of the United States, Joe Ga would call in the air force for a grand bombardment without a second thought...

It's a pity Joe Ga is not on the same page as the now-ruling Democratic Party!

Joe Ga knew that Alexander definitely didn't call him on his own initiative; there must be many people around him waiting for his response...

So he deliberately remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "I have a contract with the Pentagon, my task is to capture 'Teacher' and to hold back ISIS's offensive.

The latter I am working on, and 'Teacher' is right across from me, ready to be handled at any moment.

I'm fulfilling my responsibilities, but what about you...

Sir, the actions of the United State Army and the Kurdish in Syria are putting me at a great disadvantage; I respect the contract, but it doesn't mean I'm a fool...

If I cornered ISIS too hard, could I become a pawn in your hands, to be included in your negotiations with that Hafali?"

As he spoke, Joe Ga heard Alexander's somewhat awkward cough. Smiling, he said, "Sir, we have a longstanding relationship, I trust you, but I don't trust that Defense Secretary Carter, let alone the one in the White House.

If that Hafali threatened you with the remaining two dirty bombs and demanded you betray me, what would you choose?

Sir, we are friends; I never make it difficult for friends.

I suggest you deal with the dirty bomb explosion; that's your field of expertise. As for ISIS, I suggest sending someone else to negotiate with me."

After Alexander heard this, he let out a sigh of relief and said, "Hu Lang, thank you for your understanding!"

Once Alexander spoke those words, Joe Ga realized he had guessed correctly!

The Pentagon asking him to take action was not only a way to divert media attention but also made P·B a more significant bargaining chip.

This was a natural gamble, but being in the midst of it, P·B felt somewhat disregarded!

I use you, make you important, then sell you!

As Joe Ga was discussing who should come forward on the other end, he decisively hung up the phone and sent Aaron a message...

Aaron seemed to have something important to contend with; he didn't send an online address as usual but rather a message...

"MPAI, unmanned airship, Baghdad Airport, artillery positions"

This cryptic message made Joe Ga furrow his brows tightly...

Among these contents, apart from the MPAI company left using Predator drones for work in Baghdad, the rest were vital points of P·B.

If the information provided by Aaron was accurate, it meant America planned to use MPAI company to fill the gap, intending to have them destroy these core points of P·B to satisfy the conditions set by Hafali.

This is about pushing Joe Ga into a corner!

Even if Joe Ga escapes unscathed in the end, they can still push MPAI forward as the scapegoat.

Joe Ga reckons that the Pentagon and MPAI have probably already negotiated the terms!

They don't even need to fabricate a story, the reasons for MPAI to attack P·B are already there...

Because they once stood with the board-of-directors-annihilated Halliburton in Iraq, competing against P·B, eventually surrendered reluctantly, and sent a retired major general with two Predators to Baghdad for nothing.

Understanding the crux of the matter, Joe Ga wasn't particularly angry; Aaron's information proved one thing, that is, American politicians did not yet intend to seriously harm P·B.

They are negotiating with Hafali in a back-and-forth manner; otherwise, they could easily arrange for a stealth bomber to launch a strike on the village.

Hafali certainly wants all of P·B's people dead, but the Americans could never agree because once they give in to an exorbitant demand, more would follow.

Only by negotiating on the edge of Hafali's psychological limit can the problem be solved!

Most importantly, P·B is no longer that small company that can be easily manipulated, and this plan could not even pass internally at the Pentagon.

The network formed by the Heinz list doesn't have decisive power, but standing on the side of justice, opposing superiors from doing things against conscience is absolutely legitimate.

The Pentagon now can't even afford to advocate for this matter; they can only choose to beat around the bush, letting MPAI do the dirty work, and take the blame if things go south.

Facing such a situation, how could Joe Ga indulge these people?

You use the taxpayers' money to let me risk my life, I accept, because that's what I do.

But if I do the work and you still sell me out...

Well, that's a whole different price!

Joe Ga hung up the phone and, after weighing the pros and cons in a quiet place, took out a satellite phone and dialed out...

He needed to make a series of arrangements to ensure that his people wouldn't become cannon fodder in these matters!

To ensure that in the worst-case scenario, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage.

The fact is, P·B's presence in Syria is nothing but a bargaining chip.

Under the immense pressure of dirty bombs, they will continue regardless of your agreement.

If you run, you're breaching the contract, and if you insist and seek retribution afterward, you have to consider the cost of that retribution.

There are no winners in this!

To seek momentary satisfaction by doing things that hurt loved ones and please enemies is truly stupid!

This is what some people refer to as a tricky question, 'If the country requires you to sacrifice your interests for national interests, would you do it?'

Of course, Joe Ga doesn't have much affection for America, but from America's perspective, the meaning is the same.

When it comes to national security, every individual has to step aside.

It's still that question, 'Would you do it?'

Some people don't hesitate; such people are heroes!

Some disagree and complain, 'Why not those in power, why not the wealthy, you're just bullying honest people.'

Ordinary people facing this situation would cry out loud, hoping to gain external sympathy.

But they don't realize that as ordinary people, why do they think they can resist?

And most importantly, many people don't realize that 'sacrificing interests' in itself is a bargaining chip.

For a country, if individual sacrifices are needed, it means that this person's sacrifice can bring great benefits.

If the sacrifice is valuable, that is a bargaining chip!

P·B and America have no comparison; on some extremely critical issues, Joe Ga has no room for negotiation.

The simplest example: if Hafali says the dirty bomb is in New York, and he wants Hu Lang's life, if you don't give it, Manhattan will become Chernobyl.

Then the only thing the Americans can do is to bargain, like tricking Joe Ga to America, giving Hafali the chance to solve it himself.

For Joe Ga to win, he can't simply treat those shameless American politicians as enemies; otherwise, there would be no winners in the end!

If P·B turns its back forced to withdraw from Iraq and Syria, the result is the bomb goes off, America suffers heavy losses, the army overwhelms ISIS with bloodshed, followed by settling accounts with the uncooperative P·B.

In such matters, there is no reason to speak of, because America, which has suffered huge losses, needs to find a scapegoat for the people!

Or the dirty bomb doesn't go off, ISIS continues to exist, and the war goes on...

If that's the case, Iraq and Syria's interests have nothing to do with P·B, and all the funds and manpower invested by Joe Ga previously would be wasted.

Now, with the help of double agent Aaron, Joe Ga is thinking about how to sell himself for a good price, secure enough benefits, and then start fighting and negotiating at his own pace.

This time, it's not only about pushing ISIS into the pit but also remembering those politicians who betrayed him, and immersing them in the cesspit for a while longer.

But all this is predicated on ISIS being the biggest loser...

America can win on the dirty bomb issue, but those trying to betray P·B must lose.

Joe Ga has a unique talent; he always finds the right position for himself and then finds those who want to win, letting everyone win a round first...

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