Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Is This Also a Big Shot? (Burst update of 25,000, asking for votes, asking for subscriptions!!)

These ten upcoming retirees, all veterans, did not all come from the same squad.Among them were "Cannon" Kovacevic, who was responsible for demonstrating rocket artillery, and "Mechanic" Kalenitz, who was tasked with showcasing armored vehicles. These two each led four paratroopers from the 63rd Brigade, serving as the performance team for this defense exhibition. "Walnut" must have already talked to these people—all veterans who understood certain things that didn't need to be spelled out too explicitly. The final outcome would depend on the defense exhibition's results. If things went well, they could all stay and have a secure future in large state enterprises. Even if things went awry, they knew their careers would still be intact. Exactly how many would stay and how many would leave was something they could surely negotiate among themselves. Joe Ga wasn't picky; having five or six experienced veterans was enough. In Africa, where brothers are numerous and cheap, as long as there are veteran backbones, hiring and training newcomers later on if needed isn't a problem. In the hardest places, where there's food, you can find people willing to sell their service; there's no need to spend tens of thousands a year on hiring. Ad-Damazin currently had fifty people, with Karman consistently providing them with basic training. Joe Ga felt that Karman's methods were really not something just anybody could learn; having more specialized personnel to train them would be better. Seeing the "Professor" desperately trying to get closer to "Cannon" and the others, yet failing to grasp how, Joe Ga did not rashly intervene. Instead, he nodded at "Walnut" to greet him, then went upstairs to find a room to rest. The "Professor" might have many faults, but his sincerity could definitely move people. The veterans were just upset about how they had been treated before, but given time, they would naturally come to understand what kind of person the "Professor" was. If Joe Ga overshadowed him now, it would make the "Professor"'s situation very awkward. Joe Ga opened the window of the room to feel the moist Mediterranean breeze before quickly falling asleep on the bed. In a daze, Joe Ga felt his phone vibrating. Instinctively, he pressed the answer button, and a woman with poor English said, "Are you Hu Lang?" Joe Ga paused for a moment, wiped his face, and asked, "Who are you?" The woman on the phone said, "I am the Minister of Defense from Central Africa, named Mary Aenola. An intelligence broker named Chris Jansen told me that you could provide what I'm looking for." Upon hearing this, Joe Ga instinctively sat up straight and said, "Hello, what can I provide for you?" Mary Aenola on the phone paused, then said, "I think it's best we talk in person, Chris told me you are in Tunisia, and I'm here as well..." Hearing this, Joe Ga formally said, "Which hotel are you at? I'll arrange for someone to pick you up right away." Mary Aenola was apparently very eager to finalize her affairs, so she quickly gave her address and added, "I'm pressed for time and I hope this trip will be productive." It was Joe Ga's first interaction with a country's Minister of Defense, so he didn't dare make over-promises, saying humbly, "I can only assure you that I will do my best to serve you within my abilities. As long as your requests are not too excessive, I believe you will be satisfied." After the call, Joe Ga rushed out and loudly got everyone ready, then had the butler arrange for a buffet dinner that evening. Then Joe Ga took "Walnut" with him, driving the luxury car assigned to the villa, and took Dorian and Karman as bodyguards, heading towards the Central African consulate in Tunisia. Eric's friend Chris indeed had significant influence; Joe Ga had intended to visit this client himself, but then she called on her own, seemingly eager to finalize the deal immediately. This was excellent news! Joe Ga had been thinking this over for a long time in the car, as it was his first time dealing with someone at the level of a Minister of Defense. But when the car stopped at the side of the street, Joe Ga, stepping out, couldn't help but let out a sigh... It was too poor! A dilapidated little building with a consulate sign, a local Tunisian restaurant on the first floor, and a small shop, and although the Central African flag hung on the second floor, there wasn't even a guard in sight. Experience more on M V L Slightly uncertain, Joe Ga called Mary Aenola back, exchanged a few words, and in a few minutes saw a plump woman in a floral dress, accompanied by six bodyguards descend from the upstairs. Seeing the convoy Joe Ga had brought, the lead, Mary Aenola, came forward and embraced Joe Ga, saying, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Hu Lang." Joe Ga, unaccustomed to such warmth, took the initiative to open the luxury car door, saying, "Please get in the car. I have prepared dinner at Blue and White Town, and we can talk while we eat." Mary Aenola's bodyguard took the initiative to open the passenger door and took the seat that was originally Karman's. Seeing old Karman's brow slightly furrow, Joe Ga waved his hand and said, "Dragon Gecko rides with me, Elephant goes to the back." As he spoke, Joe Ga climbed into the back seat of the stretch limousine and, facing Mary Aenola, said, "Due to the rush, many things are not well prepared. If there is any lack of hospitality later, please forgive us." Mary Aenola watched as Karman and the others pulled up the car door. She patted the arm of her robust bodyguard beside her and then smiled at Joe Ga saying, "You people from China are always so polite, I like dealing with you. Chris never told me you were Chinese. I didn't expect to find Chinese people involved in arms dealing in Africa. Are you sure you're alright?" Joe Ga knew what Mary Aenola was referring to—Central Africa is one of the few African countries with a weapons embargo. The region is constantly in conflict, with inevitable infighting at every presidential election, without exception. Joe Ga had researched and found that Central Africa's current military hardware was mostly sponsored by Russia, and only one of the five big brothers could provide legal air support on a high level. But as everyone knows, this big brother is not wealthy either; squeezing out something to help his poor brothers ends up exactly as one would expect. Seeing the doubt in Mary Aenola's eyes due to his ethnicity, Joe Ga said with a smile, "I don't know how to prove my capabilities, because I don't even know what you want yet. You can give me a list right now, and I will give you an answer after dinner. Since you trusted Chris's referral enough to call me, you should keep on trusting." Mary Aenola might have sensed the change in Joe Ga's tone, and she shook her head, saying, "You misunderstand, I never doubt the capabilities of Chinese people, I am just surprised because in the past Chinese did not engage in such business, they cared too much about their legality." Joe Ga quickly waved his hand and said, "Please don't get me wrong, I am Chinese, but my business has nothing to do with my country; we should avoid this topic in the future (too risky to discuss). Mary Aenola smiled wryly and said, "Central Africa needs more capable people like you to do business; we need not only weapons but many other things. We are poor, but we have the opportunity to better our country, though first, we need to solve our domestic problems. We need the help of people like you!" Joe Ga did not want to discuss politics with Mary Aenola and said with a smile, "I am a businessman, and my pursuit is to meet the needs of my clients." Mary Aenola noticed that Joe Ga seemed temporarily uninterested in the situation in Central Africa, so she turned her gaze towards Karman and after observing him closely for a while, said, "I think I recognize you, did you fight in Uganda?" Karman, ignoring the wary gaze of Mary Aenola's bodyguard, said in a hoarse voice, "I have also fought in Central Africa, as a mercenary, and I have been to your Presidential Palace." Joe Ga wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but it seemed the short curly hair of the black bodyguard sitting diagonally opposite bristled, his pupils contracted violently, and his body tensed up instantly like a small animal encountering a natural predator, making an involuntary 'huffing' sound. So embarrassing! Joe Ga had thought that the bodyguard was quite competent, but now it looked like the guy might wet himself at any moment. Sёarch* The Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Glancing sideways at Karman who seemed unruffled, Joe Ga spread his hands towards the uneasy-looking Mary Aenola and said, "I don't know what's happening, but if there's been some misunderstanding, I apologize on behalf of my people." Mary Aenola glanced at Karman. Like something pained her eyes, she awkwardly turned towards Joe Ga and said, "You have an incredible subordinate." Then, Mary Aenola turned to her bodyguard and scolded him in Sango, the official language of Central Africa, before nodding at Karman and saying, "You killed a 'Tyrant', and by rights, we should thank you, but you…" Karman glanced at Mary Aenola and bowed slightly, saying, "I know, I killed too many back then. It's all in the past now, let's forget it." Joe Ga felt agitated by the conversation between Karman and Aenola, but he hesitated to question Karman at this moment. In Central Africa, as a mercenary who had killed many and invaded the Presidential Palace, even the current Minister of Defense of Central Africa was terrified of him. It was strange for a high-ranking official to fear an old soldier, unless what the soldier had done in the past was unforgettable and frightening to even think about, which could explain the reaction. Joe Ga touched his nose, holding back and then said, "Since it's all in the past, let's not bring it up anymore. I hope we can have a successful collaboration this time! Some things might be better kept in the heart. With time, when you look back at it, it may turn into a story or even a legend!"