149: Take a chance
An Agent?
Qin Yun sized up the fellow in front of him suspiciously.
His face was deathly pale, his eye bags were swollen, and he looked weak and listless, as if he had overindulged in debauchery.
He couldn't help but doubt: could an Agent really be this frail?
"What news is it?"
Regardless, he would listen to what the man had to say first. As for whether to believe it or not, Qin Yun would make his own judgment.
"How much do you know about this man, Haishizi?"
The man didn't answer Qin Yun's question, but instead threw back a query of his own.
Qin Yun shook his head. "Haishizi and I were strangers before this. I only know he's in the transportation industry. I only agreed to come here with him for various reasons."
This man was being very mysterious, risking exposure to avoid Haishizi's bodyguards. He concluded that this man and Haishizi were likely enemies rather than friends.
With the mindset that the enemy of his enemy is a friend, and hoping to use the man's strength to his advantage, he revealed part of the truth.
The man looked like he had a sudden realization. "So that's how it is. You shouldn't have come to Belgium in the first place."
"He monopolizes the transportation industry in several cities on the northern border because he has significant armed force at his disposal. Others simply don't dare to cross him."
"The transportation industry is just the tip of the iceberg for Haishizi. He secretly controls many mercenary groups. He's more eager to incite war than even the military or arms dealers, especially profitable chaotic conflicts like this."
"For the sake of profit, people like him not only disregard the lives of the common people, but actually use their lives to blackmail officials and make a fortune. There's no benefit in following someone like him. It's for your own good to get away as soon as possible."
The man quickly explained Haishizi's background.
Qin Yun already believed most of it, but he still asked, "How do I know if what you're saying is true or false?"
"In a hellhole like Belgium, how am I supposed to get back to the United States without him? Haishizi is so powerful; what if he turns on me?"
Faced with Qin Yun's counter-questions, the man thought for a moment and said, "As long as you help me find some things, we can provide you with assistance."
Qin Yun shook his head, acting as if he didn't trust the man.
"I'm not even sure of your identity right now. Why would I believe your promises?"
Hearing Qin Yun's words, the man directly handed his credentials to him.
Taking the credentials and seeing the photo and position on it, Qin Yun was stunned for a moment.
The photo only bore a slight resemblance to the man in front of him; their spirit and temperament were completely different.
The man here looked weak and wretched, while the one in the photo looked shrewd and capable.
Even more exaggerated was that this man was a Federal Agent with the rank of Major.
In the field of intelligence, most work was vertically managed in small groups. A Major was already a supervisor in charge of a region.
The name on the card was Robus.
Qin Yun looked at Robus and said, "Why do you look different from the photo on your ID?"
Robus smiled helplessly. "It's a combination of makeup and staying up late. Otherwise, if the organizers found an Agent had infiltrated, there would definitely be chaos."
"If you don't believe me, you can call the Council Member in Borton City. You two have a relationship; he shouldn't lie to you about this."
After saying that, Robert directly pulled out a satellite phone, dialed a number, and handed it to Qin Yun.
"Hello, this is Qin Yun. I met an Agent named Robert during a Warehouse Auction. Do you know him?"
Since his personal safety was at stake, Qin Yun didn't refuse and directly stated his purpose.
"Robert? How did you run into that guy? He is indeed an Agent, but his rank is quite high. I'm not sure exactly what he's responsible for."
The voice on the other end was full of surprise. He couldn't understand how Qin Yun could have any connection with Robert.
Qin Yun now believed him ninety-nine percent and handed the phone back to Robert.
Robert chatted with the Council Member for a few more moments before hanging up.
"What exactly is it that you need?"
There were too many good things here. Qin Yun didn't know what Robert needed, so he asked directly.
Robert hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's a survey map for a large oil field. It also records the locations for pipeline laying."
"If it's obtained by warlords or ill-intentioned armed groups, they will plant landmines and dirty bombs around the planned pipelines and mineral deposits in advance, or even massacre nearby residents to blackmail the company. So, it cannot be leaked before the military is deployed. Otherwise, it will have a very serious impact on both the company and the local residents."
Qin Yun fell silent. He hadn't expected this situation.
It was ironic. Both the US military and companies were here to plunder Belgium's resources, yet the US government was actually the best toward the local commoners.
As the world's policeman, the US still cared somewhat about its image, but for the sake of power and profit, the warlords were capable of anything.
They would even use their own country's residents as leverage.
Qin Yun was pondering whether or not to help the US government.
The US's presence in Belgium was an invasion—clearly an evil act—but compared to the local warlords and external private armed groups, they were much more civilized.
The warlords did too much evil. Even if they gained benefits, it was impossible for them to share even a bit with the local residents.
If the oil company could build a plant and successfully extract the oil, even if only twenty or thirty percent of the profit remained local, it would still be good for the indigenous people.
Thinking of this, Qin Yun decided to help Robert complete this mission.
"Alright, I'll do my best."
"I don't know exactly where the documents are placed. Based on my observations today, there's a high probability they're in number nine, thirty-seven, or forty-five. If you get what you want, could you help me ship the remaining warehouse back to my country!"
Qin Yun told Robert the numbers of the two warehouses with Pale Gold Treasure Qi and the one with Blue Treasure Qi.
There was an element of risk this time. If this person was thick-skinned enough to take all the warehouses, there was nothing he could do.
But Qin Yun really didn't want to give up the warehouses with the Pale Gold Treasure Qi.
He couldn't bid on warehouses while staying by Haishizi's side, so he could only take a risk.
Perhaps the officials would want to save some face.
He specifically added a warehouse with Blue Treasure Qi so as not to seem too exaggerated.
Finding two exceptionally good warehouses through safes and cardboard boxes without any clues would look too suspicious to an outsider.
Robert hadn't held much hope for Qin Yun. It was simply too difficult to judge the quality of goods without clues; he had only approached Qin Yun to have one more option.
He never expected that Qin Yun would actually give him three warehouse numbers.
Robert sized Qin Yun up again with a scrutinizing gaze and found that Qin Yun was full of confidence in his judgment.
"Alright, if the things we need are in those three warehouses, I guarantee in my personal name that I'll help you ship the remaining two back to the US."
"If the documents I need aren't in those three warehouses, this matter will have to be handled by my superiors. You don't have an objection to that, do you?"
Given that Haishizi had found good things under Qin Yun's guidance and considering Qin Yun's achievements in the US, Robert decided to trust him once.
"I hope you're a man of your word!"
Qin Yun glanced at Robert, washed his face, and turned to leave.
He had been away for quite a while. It wouldn't be good if Haishizi's bodyguards became suspicious.
Qin Yun could only choose to trust Robert; for the rest, he would just have to deal with things as they came.
In any case, in dangerous Belgium, having an extra way out was always a good thing.