Chapter 11

Tang Dao fought to suppress the excitement bubbling within him, all while craving a cigarette. He took out a Marlboro from his pocket, held it under his nose, and sniffed a few times. In the corner of his eye, he noticed an ant observing him. He sighed and reluctantly handed it over to Grigory. The Ukrainian accepted it unceremoniously, lit it up, and puffed away like a true addict.

"Can you find a place for us to test these weapons?" Tang Dao asked.

"There's a shooting range behind the barracks. I'll take you there. But each gun has a maximum of 10 bullets," Grigory explained, trying not to come across as stingy. "I usually only provide 5 bullets to other buyers, but since we're comrades and friends, I'll give you an extra 5 rounds."

Tang Dao noticed the slip in Grigory's words when he mentioned other buyers but decided not to press further. Instead, he asked Osborne to fetch three different types of weapons: an AK-47, an APS underwater assault rifle, and an AEK-971 assault rifle. These three weapons represented different operational requirements and could cater to various buyers.

Osborne, now all business, caressed the weapons lovingly, treating them with utmost care. He even kissed one of them as if it were a cherished lover.

"Fancy, I was worried you might take it to bed with you, Osborne," Tang Dao teased, pushing his shoulder. "Go ahead and test them."

Osborne grumbled and took the three magazines. He looked at the target 100 meters away, picked up the AK-47, and chose to shoot from a kneeling position.

Chug, chug...

The bullets created small mounds of dirt behind the target.

Tang Dao had to admit that Osborne had real skills. Despite the British guy's foul mouth, his shooting was impressive. Apart from some shoulder shake due to recoil, the muzzle remained steady, and there was no sign of the weapon getting out of control.

"Nicholas, you're quite skilled," Grigory praised with a thumbs up while puffing on his cigarette.

Tire, too, recognized Osborne's expertise, as evident from his posture and his scrutinizing gaze. He sneaked a glance at Tang Dao, indicating that this guy was indeed a tough one.

"Cool!"

Even after firing thirty rounds in total, Osborne was still unsatisfied and nodded at Tang Dao. Though the weapons were old, they were in excellent condition.

"Grigory, I think it's time we discuss the price," Tang Dao suggested with a smile, politely flicking away some ash. He gestured towards the warehouse. "I want that entire warehouse, and I'll give you three thousand bottles of wine in exchange." As he spoke, Tang Dao took his hand out of his pocket and accidentally dropped a piece of paper. Although he quickly picked it up, Grigory had already seen a string of names.

Georgy Loria.

The name sounded distinctly Georgian.

Grigory grew anxious. He knew how much alcohol meant to Ukrainians. Kyiv used to provide vodka to every border guard, but with the economic crisis, even vodka became scarce. A Soviet army without alcohol was like a car without wheels.

"Nun Lars, let's continue our negotiation," Grigory said, reaching out to shake Tang Dao's hand with a hopeful expression. "I'll give you five thousand bottles! The guns in this warehouse are yours, and I'll throw in an extra fifty base ammo."

In the Soviet army, a base number of bullets was two hundred rounds.

Fifty bases amounted to ten thousand rounds of ammunition.

Tang Dao's lips curled into a knowing smile, but he quickly hid his satisfaction, furrowing his brows as if in deep thought. "Seventy bases."

"Deal!" Grigory agreed swiftly, not wanting to give Tang Dao any chance to change his mind. He nodded eagerly, his eyes shining with hope. "Davari, would you like to order anything else?"

"Are there any tanks?"

"Yes, T-62, T-64, T-72..." Grigory counted them off on his fingers. "I also have the 'Hurricane' large-caliber gun, but it's a bit pricier."

Is he planning to sell off everything?

Tang Dao sensed the empire-building undercurrents of the Soviet Union once again. He was just an ordinary border guard, and Tang Dao was just an ordinary buyer. The place was swarming with schemers.

"What about the prices?"

"Why don't we continue our discussion in the office..."

The negotiation went on for hours, and it was well past four in the afternoon.

Tang Dao had visited the restroom four or five times during the discussion, and he was beginning to feel the strain. However, the harvest was substantial. Three T-64 tanks, seven BTR-40 armored personnel carriers, decommissioned Jagtyaryov DPM machine guns, and 110 border guards. All of this was acquired by Tang Dao in exchange for a total of nine thousand bottles of "Tang Dao Baijiu."

"It's been a pleasure doing business, Nicholas. We've prepared dinner. Let's have a few drinks together," Grigory suggested, looking relaxed and content with the day's transactions.

"I'd love to stay, but I need to make my way to Lithuania," Tang Dao replied, not daring to stay and drink. He couldn't risk getting drunk and leaving room for excuses.

Tang Dao couldn't help but appreciate the keen eyesight of the man who had been silent all day. He had allowed Tang Dao to handle all the business matters, creating a comfortable and efficient partnership.

"Could you arrange for a few transport vehicles?" Tang Dao asked.

"I think I can help you with that, Nicholas," Grigory chimed in, eavesdropping on their conversation. He wore a cunning expression as he interjected, "We can provide transportation, and it will save a lot of hassle if it's listed as part of the division's equipment supplies transportation. If the police dare to check, let them try."

Tang Dao and Tire exchanged glances, sensing that Grigory was being a bit too sly.

"Twenty thousand U.S. dollars," Grigory proposed, holding up two fingers. He believed it was a reasonable price, considering he would take responsibility if any issues arose. However, Tang Dao realized he had limited cash on hand. Most of the money from selling his house had already been invested, and he could only produce around three thousand dollars.

Tire, quick to pick up on the situation, saw the embarrassment on Tang Dao's face. He grabbed Tang Dao's arm and whispered, "I'll cover the cost."

Tang Dao looked at Old Hei in surprise. His gaze was clear, but he also sensed a hint of opportunism. No one willingly offers money unless they see something of value in return, be it looks, connections, or potential.

Clearly, not all Africans were naive. This guy was quite shrewd.

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