The contract signing went very smoothly.
When they t, Mr. Turner couldn't help but complain about Black Water Company.
"Those guys are too dirty!"
Song Heping, holding a signing pen, signed the contract while secretly feeling elated, but didn't forget to feign ignorance, "Mr. Turner, what does this have to do with Black Water Company?"
Turner said, "Lars's team is a subcontractor under Blackwater International. Our contract for the Cook Oil Field was also signed with them. However, Black Water Company is currently involved in a ss, and we do not want our own image to be damaged, nor do we want any trouble because of this."
Song Heping signed all the contracts, kept one for himself, and handed the rest back to Turner.
"Is it that serious?"
"Of course!"
ntioning this, Turner appeared very angry.
"Previously, we had heard that they had dealings with the CIA and were involved in dirty work covertly, but this ti they even made the news headlines. Song, did you know? Lars and his team actually killed so of the Kurd Ard Forces mbers. This has created a huge stir, and we certainly do not want to provoke the Kurd Ard Forces, nor get involved in their CIA ss."
Song Heping hadn't seen the news content, nor what was said in the news television of Country M, but from Turner's words, he got a rough idea of how Blackwater International is currently portrayed in their dostic dia.
The power of the dia is indeed significant.
Song Heping seed to understand so principles.
After signing the contract, Song Heping took the contract and went back to the camp to find Ferrari.
The latter had his computer chair at a half recline and was sleeping soundly on it.
"Wake up, Ferrari."
Song Heping reached out and shook him awake.
"What's the matter..."
Ferrari, rubbing his sleepy eyes, sat up straight with a displeased face, stretched, and complained, "I was just on a date with a beauty in my dream, and you woke up right at the critical mont..."
"A beauty?"
Song Heping smiled, "Is it that black lady from the United Security Council?"
At the ntion of this, Ferrari shivered all over.
"Don't ntion that! By the way, you need to give so extra nutritional supplents when we get paid this month. That chick might be exhausting!"
Song Heping really couldn't help but laugh.
While laughing, he nodded, "Alright, an extra two thousand US dollars for nutrition."
"Is the contract signed?"
After stretching, Ferrari shifted the topic to business.
"It's signed."
Song Heping shook the contract in his hand and placed it in front of Ferrari.
"Keep it safe."
Ferrari picked up the contract, glanced through it, and nodded, "Mm, now that we have these two contracts, we'll be able to secure our foothold in the rcenary circles of Illiguo."
Then closing the contract, he changed the topic, "Song, have you thought that your actions this ti were a bit too bold? It could affect our future developnt."
"Are you referring to the news incident?" Song Heping asked.
Ferrari nodded seriously, "Exactly, now you have managed to offend both the CIA and the top brass at Black Water. Although they can't do anything to you temporarily, I estimate our company's future operations will definitely face resistance, and you might find it difficult to secure other orders."
Song Heping sneered, "Do you think I have a choice? If I hadn't done this, I doubt you'd see alive today, helping collect my body more likely."
Ferrari had to admit that what Song Heping said was true.
Were it not for using Angel's connections to set up this dia and public opinion drama, Simon and Thomas, those scum among n, could have made the entire "Musician" squad disappear.
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. These next few days will be busy. Although the contract is in hand, we currently don't have enough personnel at the oil field. According to the scale of two major oil fields, we need to recruit at least 100 people, ideally 150. Each oilfield must have 100 rcenaries for security.
If business stabilizes, for safety, I think each oil field needs 150 staff, but we're short on ti now, so you just stay here these next few days and focus on recruitnt."
"No problem." Ferrari suddenly turned his head to look at the container room, "I think now that we're officially a company, shouldn't we get sothing like an office building? A small building's rent isn't too costly, just rent one, we have a monthly budget of 1.8 million US dollars!"
"I agree with that, but you need to discuss it with the cook, as we should respect his opinion."
Song Heping was also soone who understood how to handle interpersonal relationships.
Having been in society for several years, he knew how to manage face-saving matters.
Even though he now acted as the legal representative of "Musician" Defense, the team was initially established by the cook.
The other man had given him this position, which was giving him face.
Give a little, get a lot in return.
Respect is mutual.
So he communicated with the cook on many issues.
Partners in business should avoid any rifts.
A rift once ford can be irreparable.
And even a rcenary group is not an exception.
"Alright, I'll discuss it with him." Ferrari was clear-cut since he had been brought back to handle administrative and logistical tasks; these were his responsibilities.
Twenty thousand US dollars a month in salary.
While core team mbers were out risking their lives, he sat in the camp enjoying the air conditioning every day.
Not doing sothing would make the money feel like hot potatoes.
"Let's go, co with to soone's house as a guest tonight." Song Heping said, "Before that, let's buy so things in the Green Zone store."
"Whose house are we visiting?" Ferrari was curious, "Do you have local friends here?"
"A very important person," said Song Heping. "Let's talk as we walk."
The two left the house, headed to the store to buy gifts, and then drove straight to Fat Yusuf's house following the address.
Yusuf's house was right next to the Green Zone, less than a kiloter away.
This area was currently the pri district in all of Baghdad.
Because of the Green Zone, the patrols around here were relatively frequent.
While one couldn't say it was completely safe to live here, it at least offered extra security.
Yusuf's house clearly indicated that he was one of Baghdad's wealthy families.
Two buildings, the front and back yards totaled eight hundred square ters.
When they parked at the gate, Fat Yusuf and Samir had already co out to greet them.
Samir seed in a much better mood.
He had received a ten thousand US Dollar bounty and shared half of it with a brother from his team who had helped by leaking information, then he took five thousand US Dollars ho.
Five thousand US Dollars might not have been much in Illiguo twenty years ago,
but in the current war-torn Illiguo, it definitely was a substantial amount.
Most ordinary people in Illiguo now earned less than fifty US Dollars a month.
Previously, Samir had worked as a translator in the ISF Special Forces, earning only 150 US Dollars per month, with so additional compensation, the total scarcely reached 250 US Dollars at best.
Although Samir's family used to have so savings as they ran a stone business, the war had completely halted it.
Constant fighting might lead to houses being demolished—who would buy stone to build and decorate houses then...
This five thousand US Dollars could sustain his family for a year back ho.
After a bit of chatter, Song Heping took out the gift for Yusuf, which was a Motorola cell phone.
He had noticed that Yusuf's phone was an old Nokia model, so he got this idea.
After all, a good phone represents a man's status.
Indeed, Yusuf was delighted with the phone, his eyes narrowed into slits when he smiled.
Samir couldn't help but mockingly tease Yusuf for a while.
Song Heping quickly played peacemaker and asked Samir to go to the trunk to get the gifts for the won and children.
Between Samir and Yusuf's families, there were more than twenty people, with children making up more than half.
People here were particularly prolific, each family having at least four or five children.
When Samir went inside to call the children out for their gifts, Song Heping ticulously distributed each well-thought-out gift according to their age and gender, and even made them burst into laughter.
Having been raised by his siblings since losing his mother at a young age, handling kids was no difficult task for Song Heping.
Such was the atmosphere: filled with laughter and warmth, becoming lively and heartwarming.
Most importantly, it put Yusuf and Samir in a good light.
People in Illiguo highly value etiquette, placing even greater importance on mutual respect.
Especially post-war, when the locals lost their deserved dignity to the Caucasians who rarely respected their customs and religions, let alone their lives.
So seeing a defense company's foreign boss like Song Heping being so approachable greatly satisfied their long-lost national pride.
Suddenly, their fondness for Song Heping skyrocketed.
Upon entering the house, the won ca in one by one to greet and then left.
That was the custom here.
Won did not dine with the n.
Soon, only the n remained, seated in a circle, enjoying authentic Illiguo delicacies like grilled fish, skewers, grilled lamb...
As the al drew to a close,
they spent nearly an hour eating.
Then ca tea,
and the won brought Arabian water pipes.
Although Song Heping was not a smoker, he smoked a few puffs to be polite, and ended up coughing violently.
"You don't know how to smoke?"
Yusuf curiously asked Song Heping.
Wiping the tears brought on by the cough, Song Heping nodded.
"Right, I don't know, I've never smoked before."
Yusuf was deeply moved.
A defense company's boss coming to his ho, bringing mobile phones and gifts for the children and won,
had never smoked, yet tried out of respect, even to the point of choking.
This...
was only because Illiguo lacked the tradition of swearing siblinghood over burning joss paper and drinking chicken blood, otherwise Yusuf would definitely have beco sworn brothers with Song Heping on the spot.
"Boss Song, I'm sincerely touched by the friendship you've extended. You didn't only save my life but also gave a precious show of respect. From now on we are brothers, and if there's ever anything you need from , please don't hesitate to ask. If I can do it, I certainly will," Yusuf said.
Seeing the opportunity had arrived, Song Heping really wanted to speak up right then but held back. First, he sipped so tea, let out a long sigh, and then slowly said, "I'll be frank with you, brother Yusuf, there is indeed a tough issue at hand that you might actually be able to help with."
"What is it?"
Yusuf patted his chest passionately and declared, "Just say the word!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers