114 Play a Bad Guy for Me (2/2)
”I have my own troubles, Robert, just like how you have your own,” Jiang Chen said meaningfully.
”... All right, I understand. Now that you say it, it does make sense. Once sh*t touches your hand, you can never wash it off, hehe.”
Despite stepping out of the business after Iraq, trouble seemed to always follow Robert. He spent most of the money, and though the producer title was pretty nifty, ultimately, it boiled down to money. With money, directors were more than happy to make friends with you.
And without it, who gave a fu*k about you?
He did invest quite heavily, but he had no idea how much profit would come out of it. In the movie industry, he was a completely outsider.
”Then let's talk about your pay first. Twenty million USD—”
”Deal!”
Jiang Chen paused, then began laughing. ”Are you not going to ask me what the deal is? If I told you to go bomb a place, would you do it?”
With a sheepish laugh, Robert touched his nose and said, ”Ahem, my friend, I trust you won't do things like that to me. If I did receive your money to plant explosives somewhere, you'd be in trouble, too.”
Jiang Chen didn't deny it.
”Back to the topic. First, mercenaries. I don't care how, but I need ten people with experience.”
The other side lapsed into silence.
”I'll get Nick to go to Kane—I have some connections with General Markanov. Although I won't be there in person, a recommendation letter should be enough. This guy really loves money.”
”I'll make a trip myself, so get Nick to wait for me. Would it be acceptable to pay with gold?”
”Of course, they only recognize gold and USD there.”
”Secondly, refugees. Europe has many refugees, right? I'll take some of their burdens for them. Help me think because I need around one hundred people.”
”Sh*t, what are you trying to—”
”I remember you said yes,” Jiang Chen said casually.
After deliberating, Robert let out a sigh of defeat.
”Okay. Let me think, where do you want these people to get off the boat?”
”Africa.”
”Okay, I think I get what you mean. Do you want to start your own mercenaries? Or for the people behind you—”
”Ahem, I don't think you should know too much, am I right?” Jiang Chen interrupted with a smile.
[Mercenaries? You are underestimating me.]
”My fault.” Robert forcefully chuckled. Suddenly, he remembered the last time in Iraq, Jiang Chen had brought out a drone and a heat-sensor grenade. The organization behind him was likely something he shouldn't know too much about. ”Mhmm, capture a trafficking shop in the Mediterranean Sea, and get off at Libya. Then go on land to Nigeria?”
”Is Nigeria chaotic enough?”
This was the question Jiang Chen was most concerned about.
”Somewhat. It's poor enough there. A few hundred thousand USD is enough to buy a plot of land from the chiefs and have them keep their eyes closed to whatever you do there.” Robert laughed.
Africa was a haven for mercenaries.
Poverty provided them with a source of troops, and the chaos allowed them to pass freely between borders with weapons. Although he didn't know why Jiang Chen refused to recruit cheap people from there, Robert knew by now not to ask anymore.
”Great, then transporting them will be up to you. I'll take care of the other things.”
”Is that all?”
”No, one more point.” Jiang Chen smiled mischievously. ”I heard you're a producer in Hollywood?”
”Ugh? Yes, I remember that you know.” Robert was uncertain of the meaning behind his words.
”Play the bad guy for me. Your paycheck will be twenty million, in gold.”
Jiang Chen laughed malevolently.