40: Chapter 40 The Plan Begins

“So that’s how it is!” Yan Zhengping understood.

At the same time, he also thought more highly of this base.

Things that the entire Huaguo hadn’t figured out were all answered here, which was amazing.

“Commander Yan, to be honest, although I need crystalss, I don’t want the soldiers to risk their lives for them. So, I propose a compromise; please listen,” Oriental Chen said.

“Speak!” Yan Zhengping said.

“For the first batch of equipment, I’ll lend you 100 sets to equip some of your soldiers. With the protection of the equipment, it will be much easier for the soldiers to acquire crystalss. You can repay me once you’ve gathered enough crystalss,” Oriental Chen said.

“Aren’t you worried I’ll default?” Yan Zhengping asked.

“Commander Yan, you’re joking. Our cooperation has just begun; these few Combat Suits are nothing,” Oriental Chen said with a smile.

Yan Zhengping increasingly felt that the young man in front of him was excellent, and the initial sense of distance he felt was gone.

“What’s your price for one set of this Combat Suit?” Yan Zhengping asked.

“100 crystalss per set, no bargaining,” Oriental Chen said.

Yan Zhengping thought for a moment. Although he felt it was a bit expensive, there was a reason for the high price. So, he agreed:

“Alright! Then it’s settled.”

That’s how men buy things: if they like it, they’ll buy it no matter the price. If they don’t, they won’t take it even if it’s free.

Yan Fangfang didn’t even prompt her father to bargain, which surprised Oriental Chen a bit.

After discussing the Combat Suit, Oriental Chen also briefly introduced the Laser Gun.

However, the Laser Gun’s damage was limited, and it had situational restrictions. The energy rods also had to be purchased separately, which really didn’t pique his interest, so he had to give up on it.

After discussing these matters, it was time for dinner.

Oriental Chen had someone bring in some food and a bottle of high-proof Fen wine. The two began to drink and chat in the office.

Around 8 PM, a messenger came in to report an urgent call from the military headquarters.

Yan Zhengping took the phone and said:

“This is Yan Zhengping.”

“What?” Yan Zhengping stood up, his drunkenness instantly gone.

“Are you sure?”

“Good, good, good!”

“Immediately seal off the experimental building! No one is allowed in or out. All relevant personnel must sign non-disclosure agreements. All experimental samples and results are to be sealed. This matter is to be designated as top secret; no one is to access it without permission!”

Yan Zhengping paced back and forth excitedly, issuing a series of orders.

He hung up the phone and sat down. He looked at Oriental Chen, then at Yan Fangfang.

The two also knew what was happening and just watched him without speaking.

“Tell me your demands!” Yan Zhengping looked at Oriental Chen and said.

“What demands?” Oriental Chen feigned ignorance.

“Contribute the technical data,” Yan Zhengping said.

“Commander Yan! What nonsense are you talking about? How could that be possible!” Oriental Chen refused.

“Hmph! I’m telling you, you can’t keep this thing safe,” Yan Zhengping warned.

“And you can?” Oriental Chen asked with a smile.

“You!” Yan Zhengping was frustrated; he was being looked down upon.

But then he thought, out of the 19 council members, he was only one. If all of them came to pressure him, it would be a handful.

“Commander Yan, do you know who has no qualms? I’ll tell you, it’s those who have nothing! So, let’s talk about the price,” Oriental Chen said.

Yan Zhengping no longer insisted and asked:

“Let’s hear your offer.”

“200 crystalss per dose,” Oriental Chen replied.

Is it that cheap?

This was Yan Zhengping’s first reaction.

This was a life-saving item; even at 20,000 crystalss, people would be scrambling to buy it.

However, after a brief thought, he felt it wasn’t entirely true.

He still hoped that ordinary Citizens could get this. For ordinary people, this price was already very high.

Yan Zhengping repeatedly pondered the price.

Oriental Chen took advantage of this pause to glance at Yan Fangfang, curious why she wasn’t bargaining.

He still had his prepared lines unsaid.

Yan Fangfang knew what he meant and gave him an indifferent expression, meaning she didn’t care.

“Ah, these father and daughter, truly… inscrutable,” Oriental Chen said with an expression of enlightenment.

Actually, Yan Fangfang didn’t speak up for her father for two reasons:

Firstly: Who told him not to trust people?

Secondly: Oriental Chen needed resources, a large amount of resources. With resources, he would have a greater chance of defeating the virus.

Therefore, her not helping Oriental Chen conspire against her father was already fulfilling her duty as a good daughter.

“Alright, that price is fine. However, your antigen can only be sold to me,” Yan Zhengping said after long deliberation.

“Commander Yan, I’m sorry. At most, I can give you 80%; that’s the limit,” Oriental Chen refused.

Oriental Chen said 80% verbally, but in reality, he was just bluffing. He reserved 60% for Niu Xingwang, leaving only 40%. How could he give him 80%? In reality, he would only give him 30%, keeping 10% for himself.

Why could he do this? The reason was simple: no one knew his output. Whatever percentage he said it was, that’s what it was; he could make it up.

“You foolish boy! I’m protecting you, don’t you understand?” Yan Zhengping was genuinely amused and annoyed.

“Commander Yan, famous people don’t beat around the bush. Since I have the ability to produce the antigen, don’t I have the strength to protect myself? So, you don’t need to worry about my safety. Furthermore, although 80% of the output is for you, I have an additional request,” Oriental Chen said.

“What request?”

“It cannot be sold publicly,” Oriental Chen replied.

“What exactly is this kid up to? I completely don’t understand!” Yan Zhengping was confused.

He thought for a long time but couldn’t figure it out, so he simply asked:

“Why?”

“No why, because you don’t have the ability,” Oriental Chen said.

“You!…” Yan Zhengping pointed at him, speechless.

This is truly unbelievable! Did he not check the almanac today? He was repeatedly looked down upon by this kid.

“Commander Yan, I don’t mean to look down on you. I’m thinking for your sake. Think about it, you have a vaccine in your hand, and you’re selling it at such a high price, how will the ordinary Citizens evaluate you? How will the other council members attack you? Your position is too high, and you have too many concerns, so it’s better not to get involved in this. Besides, the output is very low in the short term, only two doses a day, so it’s not even enough to sell,” Oriental Chen patiently explained to him, also giving him a way out.

“Only two doses a day?” Yan Zhengping asked disdainfully.

See, it was the exact same reaction as Yan Fangfang’s back then.

“Yes!” Oriental Chen answered with certainty, never showing any fear when lying.

“Then what’s the point! It’s settled,” Yan Zhengping agreed decisively.

Two doses a day weren’t even enough to go around; there was no surplus to sell.

…

The two discussed until the early hours of the morning.

In between, Yan Zhengping learned more about the Red Oxygen matter, a matter he had to prepare for in advance.

Finally, it was decided that Yan Fangfang would act as the intermediary, fully responsible for their transactions.

Additionally, Oriental Chen informed Yan Zhengping that after they left, the base would be destroyed. Afterwards, the base would “cease to exist.” And the destroyer would be Yan Zhengping himself.

Was this asking him to be the scapegoat?

However, Yan Zhengping considered it and still agreed.

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.

If the base’s secret were exposed in the future, a “destroyed” base would be safer than an existing one.

If someone came to Yan Zhengping, at most he wouldn’t admit it, wouldn’t deny it, and wouldn’t express an opinion.

Sun Tzu’s Art of War says: The best defense is not letting people know where to attack.

Without an attack target, the base would naturally be safe.

December 10, 2054 AD.

At dawn.

Oriental Chen stood on the wall, watching Yan Zhengping, Yan Fangfang, and the others board the plane.

Subsequently, Zhang Yuankui and Ling Zhenhai also left the base, each with his simulated mechanical dog.

Oriental Chen stood on the wall for a long time until the two disappeared from sight, then turned and descended from the wall.

Afterward, under the destruction of countless bee ants, the base’s walls and ground structures were reduced to a pile of rubble….