Xia Lei spotted the agreement soon after getting back to the hotel. There was no mention of the French government in the agreement — just a “Gallia Science S.A.” in there. This was obviously a newly-made sh.e.l.l company. The legal representative of this company was Jacqueline Eva, the person who was to sign the agreement with him.
The contract stipulated the time frame that Party B, the Thunder Horse Group, would supply the Thunder Dragon Intelligent Lathe to Gallia Science S.A. on top of building the XL2500 sniper rifle, Gust a.s.sault rifle, and h.e.l.lhound One-soldier Cannon a.s.sembly lines. In exchange, Gallia Science S.A. would make payment to Thunder Horse Group in four batches, 25% each time.
The so-called “payments” were the Eurofighter Typhoon avionics and stealth technologies. The agreement did not mention them explicitly.
“You guys sure are careful.” Xia Lei frowned after seeing the agreement and said, “The contract states what Thunder Horse Group has to bring out, but you guys used the word ‘payments’ to represent what you guys want. And 25% for each payment? Are you guys pulling my leg here?”
“Please understand our difficulties, Xia. We cannot have anything which will prove to become a weakness that the Americans can take advantage of. If we state the technologies on the contract, we will have a lot of trouble with the Americans when they find out. It is just names, isn’t it? You guys want technology, not a contract. Whatever is written in the contract will not change what we are going to exchange. If we go by what we’ve agreed upon in the contract, we will both get what we want. Doesn’t that work for you?” said Jacqueline Eva.
This contract could help the French government get out of trouble if the Americans discovered it in the future, because it could prove that the French government did not make the exchange, but it was “Gallia Science S.A.” that did, and they had bought Thunder Horse Group’s technologies with money.
Xia Lei gave a laugh. “You French people sure are clever. All right, I have no issues with this contract. I’ll decide on how the exchange shall proceed.”
“How do you plan to have it carried out?”
Xia Lei thought for a bit. “I will produce all that is needed in China, then have it all a.s.sembled in France. The first will be the XL2500 sniper rifle a.s.sembly line. Make preparations for when my engineers are to leave China, and you guys should pay me in the 25% of technologies promised. I will supply you with the Thunder Dragon intelligent lathe last, and you guys will have to make the last payment.”
“This…” Jacqueline Eva looked troubled. “The higher-ups mean to start giving you the technologies after you finish building the production lines, but you want payment when the parts and engineers leave China. I’m afraid that they won’t agree.”
“Then there is no negotiation. I’ve already made concessions. You guys are using the word ‘payments’ to represent that technologies you want to exchange, so there will be no proof when the Western media inevitably claims that we stole your technology. You can’t be the ones reaping all the benefit, right?” said Xia Lei.
Jacqueline Eva shrugged. “Okay. I’ll call them right away. I think I will be able to convince them. Your weapons really impressed them.”
Xia Lei smiled. “We can sign once you’ve settled it with them.”
Jacqueline Eva took out her phone to make the call. She did not avoid Xia Lei at all.
As Jacqueline Eva made the call, the faces of Hattori Masao and Beryl appeared in Xia Lei’s head, and he couldn’t help wanting to cause trouble for them. He got up and went to the bathroom. In the bathroom, he gave Amanda a call. “Amanda, help me find out the addresses of two people.”
“Who?” asked Amanda.
“Lockheed Martin’s CEO’s head a.s.sistant, Beryl. She also has a j.a.panese name — Hattori Mei. The other person is Hattori Masao. He is the captain of the land-based Self Defence Force of j.a.pan. Be careful when looking into this person, and don’t let yourself be discovered,” said Xia Lei.
“Roger that. I’ll call you when I’ve got it.” Amanda hung up.
Footsteps came from behind him.
Xia Lei hurriedly put away the satellite phone, pulled his zipper down, and watered the toilet bowl.
The footsteps stopped at the door. One second later, Jacqueline Eva pushed the door open and stuck her head in. She smiled very sweetly. “Xia, I’ve talked with the higher-ups. They say it’s no problem. We can sign the contract now.”
Xia Lei glanced back at her and seemed a little taken aback. “I’m relieving myself, can’t you see?”
“I do see.” Jacqueline Eva kept a straight face. “You are relieving, indeed.”
Xia Lei was speechless.
“Let’s both sign after you’re done here, then we can celebrate.” Jacqueline Eva giggled, then pulled her head out of the doorway.
The bathroom door was finally shut.
Xia Lei then let out a breath of relief. He started to let his water flow again and he muttered to himself while it splashed. “Hey, little soldier, sorry but I have to make you work hard again today. Do you like the taste of a big, romantic French meal?”
Xia Lei walked out of the bathroom a while later.
Jacqueline Eva had everything prepared, contract and pen, and herself too. She had already opened up a bottle of Chateau Lafite.
Xia Lei walked over and picked up the pen. The pen scratched against the paper as he signed. Jacqueline Eva signed too, and he abruptly picked her up, his hands around her waist, and walked towards the bed.
“I have a boyfriend,” blurted Jacqueline Eva. Her gaze was searching.
“Then he’ll have to bear with his woman being taken by someone else,” said Xia Lei.
Jacqueline Eva was speechless.
Xia Lei carried her to the bed and threw her on it. The Frenchwoman suddenly reached out her arms to circle Xia Lei’s neck as her body left his embrace, and pulled him down on the bed with her…
It was not enough to have a French feast just once.
Who was her boyfriend? Xia Lei cared not, and bothered not. He was going to have this woman.
Early the next morning, Jacqueline Eva left with the contract in hand.
Xia Lei received Amanda’s call after he had the hotel’s breakfast.
“Boss, I found it,” said Amanda.
“Speak. Where are they?”
“Strasfuh Street, Building 123. It’s one of Lockheed Martin’s integrated offices in Paris, and also a research centre of theirs in Europe,” said Amanda.
“What are they researching?”
“Biotechnology.”
Xia Lei’s heart thumped. “Biotechnology? What is it about?”
“Probably biological weapons. I’m not too sure either. That building’s firewall is impressive. I only managed to hack in after several hours, but I only saw the two people you wanted, and not what they are researching in there. They do have a laboratory there, but it’s isolated. I can’t get into their research lab system.”
Xia Lei thought for a bit. “Can you get in?”
“Boss, I’d advise you to not take such a risk. That place is under guard and their defence system is very advanced. If you want to get in there, your chances of being discovered will be practically one hundred percent.”
Xia Lei couldn’t help the sharp intake of air. Amanda was quite knowledgeable about his capabilities, and her prediction for him was practically 100%. He couldn’t help wondering just what they were hiding there that their security was so tight!
“How’s Alessio’s injuries?” Xia Lei stopped thinking about it.
“He’s recovering quickly, but I’m afraid that it would be a month before he is combat-ready.”
“Take good care of him, and keep the status quo.” Xia Lei hung up.
Half an hour later, Xia Lei came to the exhibition centre. The decorating company had finished installing the gla.s.s walls and the artwork were all mounted on the walls. On the other side, Qing Caiyue was leading the Thunder Horse Group employees in finis.h.i.+ng up the setting up of the exhibition booth.
Thunder Horse Group had few products, but this booth of theirs was the most unique in all the booths of the exhibition. Art and weapons. These two themes which normally had little in common with each other were put in a way which was very unique, very eye-catching, and gave people a strong impression.
Xia Lei was just about to chat with Qing Caiyue when some people entered the Thunder Horse Group exhibition booth. The two leading the group were people Xia Lei had seen yesterday in the military compound. Hattori Masao and Beryl.
Several subordinates followed both Hattori Masao and Beryl. There were Asians standing very properly, and strapping Europeans. It was easy to tell that those Asians were j.a.panese, and they were from the Self Defence Force, subordinates of Hattori Masao. The Europeans were Beryl’s subordinates, and most likely her bodyguards. Another possibility was that the Europeans were Lockheed Martin employees.
Qing Caiyue was about to go greet them when Xia Lei nudged her with his elbow. “You go about your duties. These people are not clients, so no need to greet them. I’ll handle them.”
Qing Caiyue paused, then nodded and turned around to walk away.
“Heh heh.” Hattori Masao had a smile on his face, and a friendly att.i.tude to match. “We meet again, Mr Xia.”
Xia Lei went forward to greet them and also spoke in English. “Yes, Mr Hattori. We meet again. However, the Paris International Weapons Exhibition has yet to begin. You are a little early.”
“No, we’re not early,” said Hattori Masao. “I have come specially to meet you, Mr Xia. I am not concerned about when the Weapons Exhibition will begin.”
“What do you want from me?” said Xia Lei. “If it’s about yesterday, then dispense with the formalities. I don’t want to talk.”
An awkward expression appeared on Hattori Masao’s face, and he glanced at Beryl beside him.
This seemed to be a signal.
Beryl took a small step forward and bowed deeply to Xia Lei. “I was rude yesterday, Mr Xia. Please forgive me.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine, you don’t have to apologise to me. I didn’t think you were rude either.” As he spoke, he reached out to give Beryl a helping hand up… and right at that moment, he deftly slipped something into the pocket of her suit.
Beryl was face to face with Xia Lei and the people behind her could not see his movements. Even if Beryl had not blocked it from view, those people would not have been able to see it. Xia Lei was very quick, and his skill had already far exceeded that of Qin Xiang by several times. How would an ‘outsider’ ever discover his tiny movement?
“You are a forgiving man, Mr Xia.” A smile appeared on Beryl’s face.
Xia Lei smiled too. “Let’s not beat around the bush any more. What do you guys want? Just say it.”
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