NOVEL NEXT Chapter 274 Chris's Proposal
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Joe Ga was unaware of what was happening outside, and in fact, his understanding of the outside world still came primarily through news.
Currently, the intelligence range of P·B was only limited to the vicinity of Sangha Town, and they couldn't even reach the Central African Capital Bangui, which was why he was determined to win over Chris.
So far, P·B didn't have a sophisticated intelligence system, and Joe Ga himself lacked the ability to handle such a thing, He could take a grassroots approach near Sangha Town, but for the outside world, he could only try to find "finished products."
Chris had mixed in well enough to secure "aid shares" from the Americans, his abilities were definitely sufficient, but it was necessary to shift his focus to P·B.
He needed to collect not only "offensive intelligence" but also "defensive intelligence," which was to have a general understanding of the outside world's view of P·B and identify individuals or organizations that were hostile to P·B.
The specifics were not complicated, but they were very tedious and required the attention of professionals.
Chris's intelligence consultancy workshop was far from as magical as people imagined it.
After getting rid of that unfortunate private detective, Joe Ga let the slightly disappointed crowd go back to rest, while he kept Chris to fulfill his duties as chief of security.
Chris, drinking beer, trusted Joe Ga enough to explain his own operational model.
The so-called intelligence consultancy workshop was actually a small consulting company composed of several dozen analysts.
There was a reason why Chris was able to be with Gami—his consultancy didn't solely deal in criminal consulting business; in fact, the main part of it consisted of corporate collaborations, offering professional market intelligence consulting and also providing strategic advisory services, namely networking and facilitating lobbying opportunities for clients.
This guy dove into the chaotic international intelligence circle because first, several of his family elders had backgrounds in intelligence, and second, his hopeless love for Gami, that free-spirited woman.
The two met through a business collaboration, and using his information advantage, Chris preemptively helped Gami terminate an investment destined for a loss.
The reason Chris said it would take 1.5 billion to marry Gami was not because of the Kopke family's issues but his own pride, which led him to start doing all sorts of businesses.
Because running a small consulting firm could never make the amount of money Chris envisioned, he used his family connections to recruit a group of professional intelligence analysts, integrated the resources around him, and gradually developed into a broker with a bit of a reputation.
Joe Ga could never imagine that Chris and his family were Irish, his grandfather had once been a major general in a NATO military advisory intelligence division, and although retired, he still wielded influence.
His father was currently an official in NATO's 'Support and Procurement Agency' (NSPA), dealing with complicated and often thankless tasks, but its worth would depend on how and who viewed it.
Anyway, when Chris was determined to make big money, the gates to the new world opened for him.
The retired intelligence analysts his grandfather found for him were very capable, and they weren't like the spies in movies who would take up arms and work on the streets.
They would clock in and out daily, like accountants, meticulously sifting through all open information from NATO and European Union member countries, and when needed, let the boss recruit professional accountants and IT talent to establish a professional database for the company.
First, Chris's consulting business took off, and then he found that no matter which type of European intelligence he needed, the analysts could always provide a report, even if the details weren't comprehensive, they could point out key nodes or individuals within the intelligence.
Since Chris started making contact with those people as per his clients' needs, using his identity convenience, a network of personal contacts slowly took shape.
In 5 years, this guy went from being the owner of a small consulting firm to an outstanding broker worth 70 million euros now.
Chris remained tight-lipped about the incident that started his venture into the gray industry, and he was quite pessimistic about Joe Ga's idea of establishing his own intelligence network, as he himself had suffered a few severe setbacks when he first set foot in Africa, which damaged his credibility.
He earned his money mediating intelligence, but even with his family's advantages, he hadn't made a nine-figure sum yet.
And now, Joe Ga wanted to establish his own intelligence system, without any concept of the expenses involved for an outsider like him.
However, facing the request from the leader of the 'Pirate Fund,' Joe Ga, Chris eventually agreed to try to help him, looking to see if he could recruit a suitable candidate from the ranks of retired NATO intelligence officers for Joe Ga.
This task was not as miraculous as the outside world imagined, just a simple headhunting job.
Find the right target, make contact, and finally offer a price that entices the candidate.
Having agreed to Joe Ga's 'headhunting request,' Chris might have felt that he really "got on board," he relaxed and, looking at Joe Ga whose eyes seemed to be shining, said, "Why do you absolutely need an intelligence officer?
An intelligence officer's role in Africa requires a lot of money and manpower to show its effectiveness.
I don't believe you will stay in Africa for a lifetime, to develop a complete intelligence system here is simply not worth it.
But if you want to enter Europe or even the Americas, I can offer greater assistance, and you won't have to waste all this money."
Joe Ga had just settled a concern and lay comfortably on the recliner in the corridor, smiling and saying, "Because my brother has come, and he and his classmates can set up a surveillance network on my turf that doesn't go offline.
It might be a bit of an exaggeration to say this, but theoretically, 24-hour aerial surveillance is achievable, it doesn't need to be too advanced, just able to track large groups of armed people is fine.
The number of people in P·B is not too large, and I don't plan on expanding the number in Central Africa just yet.
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With Sangha Town at the center, within a 200-kilometer radius, I want that area to become an iron barrel.
But I don't want my people always appearing as warlords, so I need someone who can utilize intelligence and surveillance networks to make my people's actions more efficient.
I think it shouldn't be difficult, just collecting and integrating some information, then combining aerial surveillance to strike at the enemy."
After hearing this, Chris looked at Joe Ga as if he were looking at a ghost and said, "That's called a tactical surveillance team, not at all the same job as an intelligence officer."
Joe Ga said indifferently, "I know, but should a small company like mine really have to set up several departments? As you said, dumping money into Africa is just a waste of bills.
So I think I should hire a competent person, let them filter targets based on intelligence provided by the locals, and conduct selective searches and tracking. Otherwise, just watching surveillance footage is enough to blind many people.
You may not know, but recently, drug traffickers and guerilla movements on the China-Congo border have started to mobilize, and even with a bunch of natives providing intelligence, finding them in the jungle is becoming increasingly difficult.
It's not hard to find people who can monitor surveillance, but finding someone who can sift through intelligence, judge the targets' directions, and search selectively to confirm targets can save the company a huge amount of costs.
You may not believe it, but last month the P·B assault team's deployment cost me nearly 600,000 US dollars just in fuel.
This is Africa, where I get my fuel cheaply from Chad, and yet that's just the cost of fuel.
Now my assault team averages one valuable target found every four outings, then we can organize a raid depending on the situation.
I know that war is about burning money, but I'm finding the current way a bit too much to bear. I know I have to keep going, but I want to burn money more efficiently."
As he spoke, Joe Ga looked at Chris, who seemed disagreeable, and said with a smile, "How about I give you 10 million a year to take on the intelligence operations around Central Africa?
Those damned drug traffickers and guerilla troops are like fleas, I can't catch and crush them, yet they continue to make my territory bleed, and those are all labor forces important to me.
I made promises to ensure the security of the surroundings, and if I can't deliver, how can others trust me?"
As an intelligence broker emerging from globalization and information integration, Chris surrendered with his hands up and said, "Forget it, jungles don't suit me, but I can develop an informant in both the Central African Capital Bangui and Addis Ababa for you, to help you keep an eye on intelligence in both places.
This is a discount for a business partner!"
Chris went on with a bit of resignation, "Hu Lang, Africa drives me crazy, I even think the Middle East is somewhat easier than here.
You have to give me a chance to prove myself, like you're even heading to the United States soon, I could set the stage for you."
Joe Ga looked at Chris with a smile and asked, "For free?"
Chris decisively shook his head, "Of course not, I have many people to support too.
But I can give you a discount rate, considering the purpose of your visit to America and the people you'll be contacting, well, 300,000 US dollars.
Explore more adventures at empire
I can help you find the right place to live, ensure that every time you invite someone for a meal or even just for coffee, they leave satisfied.
A Navy Admiral might be able to settle your company's qualifications, but there are some things you'll still need to fight for yourself.
Like certain shares of contracts...
The United States military procurement has a very complex bidding system, but I have ways to solve that.
If you can access NATO's armament channels, I might even secure a contract for you to supply the United States Army in Africa.
Of course, at first it would only involve small things like bullets. You can only discuss other projects once trust is earned."
As he spoke, Chris saw Joe Ga's face filled with shock and couldn't help but laugh triumphantly, "This is the kind of business you want, isn't it? I forgot to tell you, this is actually one of my areas of expertise.
Although I'm not as familiar with America as I am with Europe, it's still better than you fumbling around on your own, right?"
Joe Ga responded, incredulous, "Is that even possible?"
Chris replied as a matter of course, "Of course, as long as you obtain the military contracting qualifications and then the contracts, legally you will be the American military's partner in Africa.
Some people at the Pentagon are a bit troublesome about taking money, but once the cooperation is successful, they pay up promptly. You'll understand once you've dealt with them yourself."
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(It seems that Chapter 271 can't be resolved, so I can only continue along the modified outline, clarifying some of the content related to the main character that got lost and letting the unpublished parts drift away with the wind...
After that, things should keep flowing smoothly.)