Sergei opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but found he genuinely couldn't.
"...Fine, I admit you're ruthless."
"Regarding dical supplies, there are no issues. Bandages, alcohol, suture needles, dical agents—I have them in stock right now and can give them to you directly."
"What about weapons?"
Sergei's expression turned subtle.
"Weapons, huh..."
He rubbed his hands together. "Look, old friend, the front lines are stretched thin recently, and higher-ups are investigating strictly. The inventory I have on hand is inconvenient to move."
Heh, here it cos.
Pavel sneered internally.
"So?"
"So, I have a small proposal."
Sergei broke into a smile characteristic of a rchant.
He lowered his voice and leaned closer to Pavel.
"For the money for the weapons, I plan to settle it with intelligence."
"Intelligence?"
"Valuable intelligence," Sergei emphasized, "Extrely valuable."
"?"
Pavel was silent for two seconds.
Then, he started gathering the items on the table, preparing to turn and leave.
"Hey, hey, wait a mont!"
Sergei grew anxious. "Why don't you hear out first!"
"No need."
Pavel's voice was cold. "Comrade Sergei, I ca here to do business, not to listen to stories. If you don't have tangible goods, I'll find soone else."
"Ah, don't, brother, I'm calling you brother now. This piece of intelligence is truly extraordinary."
"Hear out first."
Pavel was doubtful, but he stopped anyway.
"Fine."
Pavel's voice carried a faint threat. "But I'll only give you ti for one sentence."
"However, before you speak, I suggest you think clearly about what the consequences will be if what you say next wastes the ti I've given you."
Sergei's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.
But he still prepared to continue.
He licked his lips and lowered his voice:
"Did you know that the front lines recently captured a batch of experintal weapons from Victoriana?"
Pavel's ch paused slightly.
"Experintal weapons?"
"That's right," Sergei's eyes lit up. "I heard they are Victoriana's latest research achievent, astonishingly powerful. The higher-ups treasure them like gold and specifically dispatched personnel to escort them back for study."
"What does that have to do with ?"
"Of course, it has sothing to do with you," Sergei gave a aningful smile. "Because that batch of goods is stored in a warehouse not far from here. And I just happen to know the person guarding that warehouse."
Pavel began to understand what he °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° intended to say.
"Oh, you want to steal them."
"What stealing, it's..."
Sergei carefully considered his wording. "Borrowing."
"Borrowing?"
"Exactly, borrow a few out, and we can all share."
Sergei gestured. "You make the move, and I'll provide the intelligence and cover. After it's done, you take one for free, and we split the rest three-seven."
"Three-seven?"
"Yes, three for you and seven for ."
"So," Pavel's voice drew out, "you want , a cannon fodder from the Punishnt Camp, to steal top-secret weapons guarded by the regular army, take all the risk, and after success, I have to give you seven-tenths of the loot?"
Sergei's smile froze on his face.
"I say, Comrade Sergei..."
Pavel took a step forward, his ch's heavy footfalls creating a shallow dent in the wooden floor. "Are you taking for a fool, or soone easy to bully?"
"No, no, listen to my explanation—"
"Do I look like the kind of sucker who gets fooled away by a few words?"
"Of course not, but—"
"Have you considered what happens if you fail?"
Pavel's voice was icy. "Stealing military supplies is dealt with under military law: summary execution on the spot. You hide safely in the rear, while I stick my neck out on the front lines. If sothing goes wrong, you just brush off your pants and claim you don't know . Comrade Sergei, what do you take for?"
Sergei was choked into silence by the speech.
"No matter what, it should be seven for and three for you, right?"
"?"
"Furthermore, add this batch of dical supplies on top of that."
"Pavel, you're pushing your luck a bit."
"Hmm?" Pavel’s ch stepped closer again.
"Alright, alright, I'll give it to you, I'll give it to you..."
Sergei let out a long breath.
"You are damn hard to please..."
Pavel snorted dismissively.
He had known what Sergei was planning the mont he opened his mouth.
But he never intended to refuse from the start.
Because dying on the battlefield from a lack of guns and ammo wasn't much different from being executed on the spot for stealing military supplies.
Perhaps the latter was a cleaner death.
If the so-called experintal weapons from Victoriana were truly as powerful as Sergei claid, obtaining them might give him a chance to survive the next battle.
He could even get this guy's supplies and intelligence for free.
It was a guaranteed win.
"Then," Pavel's voice beca businesslike again, "what is the specific intelligence?"
"Don't rush..."
Sergei slowly pulled out a wrinkled map from under the table and spread it out.
"I'll explain it to you step by step."
"Look here first..."
...Hiss... Wait, that's not right...
Pavel felt like he had made so kind of vow not long ago.
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