Free Web NovelChapter 2389: Chapter 2381: A Big Deal
When He Runxian saw the other’s outfit, he wasn’t surprised. Isn’t it normal for brokers to have a strong sense of self-protection?
Especially since this is an arms order broker, there are plenty of shady places.
He sat in the bulletproof car and spoke through the vehicle’s loudspeaker, "I heard you can help me solve the problem. Whose connections are you using?"
"Don’t ask about the source for such issues," the other responded in a low voice, "if I could tell you, would I be dressed like this to meet you? I don’t like to engage in nonsense. Let’s talk business directly... our time is quite valuable."
"My time isn’t really valuable right now," He Runxian said with a bitter smile, not wanting to beat around the bush, "I spent the whole day waiting for people, did nothing, yet I’m extremely tired... Just tell me, if you help me get the arms order, what do you want in return?"
There were no courtesies and he didn’t even ask about the type of arms order. He went straight to the heart of the matter - why help me?
Upon hearing this, the opposite party laughed, "Director He, you’re straightforward. Then I’ll be direct, too. Actually, I can’t get the arms order."
I thought so too! He Runxian was not surprised by this. He was very clear about who could influence arms orders and had made efforts, but there was no effect.
But he wasn’t in a hurry to respond. He wanted to hear what the other had to say - having come here, it was worth listening to a bit more.
Feng Jun paused, seeing He not ask any questions, he continued, "I have a big deal I want to discuss with Director He. The reason I mentioned the arms order was just to meet in person... I heard Hesheng is relatively short on energy blocks now?"
If not for the last sentence, He Runxian might have turned to leave. But precisely because of that, he replied directly, "We’re not just short on energy blocks, we’re short on electricity, manpower, food... Just tell me, how big is the order, and can we start now?"
To start, conditions are needed - cash on delivery, you’ll give all the things I lack!
"Starting is not a problem; I’ll exchange for energy blocks," Feng Jun also responded directly, "What I want is equipment from your old line, mining equipment, existing equipment. I can take away what’s compatible."
"Wait, exchange for energy blocks?" Though exhausted, He Runxian sharp-eyedly caught this key point, "Now?"
"Of course," Feng Jun answered without hesitation, "if I don’t have energy blocks on hand, would I dare come looking for you, Director He?"
An energy block at this time... He Runxian’s regard for this mysterious person suddenly increased greatly, "How many energy blocks do you have?"
"However many devices you have, that’s how many energy blocks I have," Feng Jun smiled, "What, don’t believe me?"
"Hold up, let me think," He Runxian furrowed his brows, took a deep breath, and asked in a deep voice, "Are you saying on this planet, you have enough energy blocks... Where did they come from?"
Industrial production mainly uses electricity, but electricity relies too much on transmission efficiency, and the Insect Race isn’t stupid. They attack power plants and transmission lines first. Now Xingzheng Star’s power transmission can’t be guaranteed, we still have to rely on energy blocks.
"Where they came from, you don’t need to worry about," Feng Jun answered calmly, "If you don’t trust me, we can go cash then goods. But of course, my energy stones aren’t easy to swallow. I’d hope you consider carefully before making a decision."
He Runxian pondered for a moment before asking in a deep voice, "Have you defected to the Insect Race?"
"Say any more nonsense, and I’ll kill you!" Feng Jun answered without hesitation, "Don’t think because you’re hiding in a turtle shell with a few mechas, I can’t deal with you. I’ll reiterate... I’m here to talk business."
"I truly didn’t know you had such Divine Skills," He Runxian laughed dismissively; anyone can talk tough. "Can you break through the Insect Race’s blockade and transport energy blocks here?"
He was actually trying to subtly inquire whether the other party’s energy blocks broke through the Insect Race blockade, or if they’d been hidden on the planet beforehand.
"I think you’re worrying too much," Feng Jun curtly rebuked him, "You provide the equipment, I provide the energy blocks... Just say it directly, are you trading or not? Everyone’s time is valuable."
Seeing the dissatisfaction in the words, He Runxian didn’t dare stimulate the other further, "How many energy blocks do you have? I’ll take them all."
The current production base truly isn’t short on money, it’s short on energy blocks. The material transport channel has been sealed, having lots of money gets you nowhere. Besides, if money is insufficient, headquarters would transfer funds over conveniently - the problem is transport!
"How many energy blocks I have, what’s it to you?" Feng Jun bluntly retorted, "Did I ask how much money your family has?"
"Alright then, show me the energy blocks now," He Runxian, being a decisive person, responded, "I have quite a bit of mining machinery stockpiled here. Although they were made per order, they can’t be shipped right now. You can take them."
"No problem showing energy blocks first," Feng Jun readily agreed, "but I haven’t extracted them. Can energy stones work?"
"Energy stones will certainly work," He Runxian responded without hesitation, "but if the quality is too poor, the loss calculation will be significant."
Energy stones and energy blocks, only one character difference, yet they are two completely different things—one is a natural ore, the other is a standardized unit after extraction, ready for direct use.
However, this extraction process is quite simple, and most large-scale factories can achieve this, although there are some discrepancies in efficiency. Of course, in times of peace, such differences can accumulate into large wealth, but in times of war, they are insignificant.
"I know this," Feng Jun replied indifferently, "If there’s a discrepancy in valuation, we can discuss it."
He Runxian felt like he had discovered something upon hearing this, "How about this, let’s first standardize it to Federation currency to reduce related disputes?"
There’s a clear exchange rate between Federation currency and energy stones, making such conversion sound fairer.
Feng Jun, however, laughed, "Then why don’t I just give you Federation currency directly, and be done with it?"
He Runxian was at a loss for words; he really couldn’t answer this question.
"It’s pretentious," Feng Jun stated with a cold laugh, "Can Federation currency buy energy blocks now?"
The reason he chose to trade here was naturally because barter is the least likely to be exposed, while on Xingzheng Star, Federation currency would quickly depreciate greatly; energy blocks are the hard currency.
So he stated without hesitation, "Don’t bother checking my account. Since I’ve entered this trade, I know what kind of risk I’m taking. If you don’t want to do it, you can just say so; there are plenty of people willing to take goods from me."
That’s no lie; Xingzheng Star genuinely doesn’t lack money now. Frontier stars originally received Federation’s war subsidies and have never lacked money, and now that goods can’t be brought in, prices have skyrocketed beyond measure.
The Federation wouldn’t bother with too much futile effort because prices won’t drop now; they genuinely hope someone will dare to break through the Insect Race’s blockade lines to deliver supplies—high enough profits will entice people to take risks.
As for the fact that those who take risks often die halfway, the Federation doesn’t care—that’s your own choice; if you want to earn this money, you have to accept death.
Feng Jun spoke clearly, and He Runxian understood clearly, so he naturally wouldn’t give up this opportunity, "So you’ll have to pay the deposit, right?"
"Actually, I don’t like dealing with penny-pinching pests like you," Feng Jun first expressed his stance, defining the opposite party as pests, "but it’s not easy on Xingzheng Star either; I’ll give you some energy stones first... five miles underground to the east of your house."
"Five miles underground to the east?" He Runxian didn’t really care how the other evaluated him; he just wanted to survive well and ensure the operation of his family’s industry, "Can I send someone to check it out first?"
"Sure," Feng Jun answered without hesitation, "There aren’t that many energy stones, only five hundred tons; go ahead and take them."
Five hundred tons of energy stones... He Runxian felt a bit overwhelmed; before the war broke out, this amount of energy stones was really nothing. When the base’s manufacturing capacity was fully tapped, five hundred tons of energy stones would only last half a day.
Exaggerated? Not at all. A manufacturing base with thousands of people, mostly operated by AI equipment—it’s clear how large this base is and how immense the energy demand is, no need to say.
But now, the entire base’s maintenance has been reduced to less than fifty tons of energy stones per day—the conversion of high-purity ore.
That is to say, the energy consumed by the production base now is less than one-twentieth of peak period costs.
Still, regardless, having five hundred tons of energy stones, even if the purity isn’t great, as long as it’s not too bad, is enough to sustain the base for a dozen or so days, and He Runxian thinks it’s worth gambling on this matter.
First, he doesn’t need to risk himself; he can find someone to inspect the goods, and secondly, as long as it gives Hesheng the chance to hold out for another day or two, he doesn’t mind trying—there’s no hiding it, the setup is too big; managing another day is a skill.
Better to be a peaceful dog than a chaotic person; in the war years, everyone’s days are tough.
So he nodded, "Then can we go take a look now, and take it away?"
No problem, Feng Jun’s lips curled into a mysterious smile, "Go look, go take it, I’m not short of these energy stones."
His behavior was peculiar, but He Runxian wouldn’t care a bit, "Lao Jiu, what are you waiting for, go check it out, is there any energy stone... should I go myself?"
Lao Jiu was another security personnel, but in fact, he was a branch of the He family, deeply trusted by He Runxian, skilled at probing various messages, and his family’s recent days haven’t been good either.
Feng Jun saw this and couldn’t help but twitch a little; it seems whether it’s Divine Skills True Sage or He Runxian, when people reach a certain level of success, in the realm they control, they always tend to posture.
At first glance, there’s nothing wrong, logically too nothing amiss, but ultimately can’t escape the underlying arrogance!
(Updated, summon vote.)
