Free Web NovelChapter 39: The negotiation
Leo drove out of the city , the engine of his truck humming steadily until he reached the perimeter of a heavily fortified military zone. He brought the vehicle to a halt. All around the area, sharp rows of disciplined soldiers patrolled around with calculated precision. Further back, a massive command tent stood pitched against the landscape.
Two armed officers immediately stepped forward, their weapons held at the ready.
"Halt, you can no longer proceed further. This is a restricted area."
Leo calmly rolled down his window. "I want to sell intelligence to the military."
The officer raised his eyebrow in skepticism. "If you want to sell intelligence, there is an intelligence centre set up inside the city. Go there."
"I don’t think they have the resources or authority to pay the amount I will be asking."
The officer opened his mouth to snap back, but Leo interrupted him before he could speak.
"Go inform the higher ups, I have information regarding the aliens, their characteristics and abilities."
The officer squinted his eyes, assessing the driver. "Wait here, I will go and ask for instructions." He turned around, signaled to his comrade to keep a sharp eye on Leo, and hurried inside the large tent.
Leo waited patiently in his truck. After a few minutes, the officer emerged from the tent and walked back over.
"You have been permitted to enter."
Leo nodded, switching off the engine, and stepped out of his vehicle. He underwent a thorough body inspection and handed over all of his weapons to the guards. Once the security procedures were finished, Leo was escorted inside the tent.
Inside, a group of high-ranking officials in camouflage uniforms had gathered around a large table buried under maps and tactical papers.
Leo’s attention was instantly grabbed by a middle-aged man seated at the head of the table. The man wore a pristine military uniform with a nameplate that read Colonel Adrian Caine. He carried a jagged scar across his cheek, and his eyes were a calm, steel-gray.
Right away, Leo’s danger sense flared, warning him of the sheer threat this man possessed.
He quickly figured out that the colonel must be a superhuman—someone much stronger than William and himself. Despite the internal alarm, Leo remained perfectly calm.
Just as Leo was estimating the Colonel’s strength, likewise the Colonel was doing the same to Leo.
The Colonel kept trying to gauge Leo’s strength, but he couldn’t quite figure it out. Leo appeared like a normal human to him, yet there was a faint, undeniable trace of threat emitting from him.
The Colonel raised his hand and signaled him towards an empty chair. Leo didn’t stand on ceremony and took a seat.
The Colonel looked at him and asked, "I heard you have intelligence concerning the aliens."
"Indeed, I do. I know their appearance, abilities and weaknesses." Leo said while nodding.
The Colonel raised his eyebrows and was prepared to speak, but Leo beat him to it. "But are you willing to pay the price I will be asking."
"Oh , So what do you want "
Leo reached into his pocket, took out a glowing nucleus crystal, and placed it firmly on the table.
"I want 2000 of this crystals "
The Colonel narrowed his eyes, but one of the officers sitting at the table instantly lost his temper. He stood up, slamming his fist hard against the wood.
"Are you nuts , do you know how precious these crystals are?"
Leo didn’t pay that man any attention. Instead, he calmly crossed his legs and folded his hands. In truth, Leo just wanted to test the military. He was not completely sure if the military actually possessed the crystals yet, but the man’s explosive reaction confirmed his doubts.
"I haven’t completed my request . Other than the crystals , I want two large calliber machine guns , automatic rifles and ofcourse I want enough ammunition"
The man responsible for the outburst earlier spoke again, turning to the commander. "Sir , this person is a madman . Just Listen to his absurd demands . We should just throw him out of here"
The Colonel raised his hand, signaling the man to stop speaking any further. Then he looked at Leo, and calmly replied, "I know the importance of the information you have but your demands are really excessive "
"I see " Leo only said this and stood up, turning his back around towards the exit.
Witnessing this sudden move, the Colonel signaled another man sitting at the table. The man stood up and questioned Leo, who had his back turned.
"You know the information you hold will save many of your fellow human compatriots’ lives . Does it not hurt your conscience to withhold this information?"
Leo stopped dead in his track when he listened to this. The officer instantly had a victorious smile plastered on his face, thinking to himself, ’Ahh, the moral coercion tactic always works.’
Leo turned around with a completely blank poker face and replied to the man, "I am a morally corrupt person , but if you are so morally upright then why don’t you accept my demands and give the sacrifice to save your fellow human compatriots lives "
The man’s smug smile froze solid on his face.
Having said his piece, Leo turned around again and resumed walking to the exit. freewebnøvel.coɱ
"Wait " the Colonel called out.
The price that Leo had asked was indeed somewhat excessive, but it wasn’t significant enough for a force as large as the military to fret over. If what Leo claimed he knew was true, it would be a game-changing opportunity for the military in the upcoming war. The earlier outburst and moral guilt-tripping were just common mind games they used against independent survivors.
The Colonel realized that someone like Leo was not easy to deal with. The man didn’t even negotiate according to the standard rules; the moment he was denied, he completely flipped the whole table, stood up, and began to exit.
The Colonel rubbed his temple with one hand and said, "Ok , I agree to your price "
"But sir " the men sitting around tried to object but the Colonel made them shut up with his eyes .
Leo turned around, a satisfied smile finally appearing on his face, and sat back down in the chair.
"Ok then , bring me a pen and a paper"
