socalfunplaces Chapter 39 Negotiation and Transaction
Chapter 39 Negotiation and Transaction
"I see, you want me to make some props."
Miao Meng and the investigator sat in the living room, with a tightly sealed small box on the coffee table between them, containing a kilogram of fire stone.
"Yes, Mr. Miao, your skills are exceptional. Even within the Bureau of Investigation, there are few alchemists who can rival you."
Therefore, we naturally want to establish a cooperative relationship with you, and this gift is our way of welcoming you.
The person speaking during the negotiations was not the team leader, but the new investigator. After all, everyone has their own expertise, and it's best to have a professional negotiator in charge if you want to reach an agreement.
The captain's main purpose was to provide psychological comfort, and of course, the team members believed it was a guarantee of strength. They never imagined that the captain was actually no match for the opposing team.
The negotiation experts then proceeded to discuss the matter at hand, outlining the benefits the Bureau of Investigation could offer from various perspectives, as well as the advantages that could be achieved through cooperation between the two sides, continuing until they were both exhausted.
"Simply put, as long as you agree to cooperate, you can get anything you can think of, whether it's forbidden knowledge, special materials, wealth, or even power."
The negotiation expert performed steadily as always. In the captain's eyes, although the other party did not immediately agree, their face showed interest rather than aversion.
For the Bureau of Investigation, this was enough. It was much better than when they used to visit civilian psychics, and most of the time they would be turned away.
However, this would put more pressure on the rest of the investigation team, since replacing a combatant with an auxiliary staff member, and an unstable one at that, would be a huge risk for the team.
"That sounds good, but I refuse. Don't rush me, I'm not saying I refuse to cooperate, but I refuse to join the Bureau of Investigation."
Although joining would guarantee a rank of major or higher, it feels too restrictive for me. I imagine there would be mandatory missions once I'm in.
Upon hearing Miao Meng's statement, the negotiation expert glanced at the team leader discreetly, then fell silent; he couldn't guarantee anything on this matter.
Once you join, even if you don't do any tasks, you'll definitely be forced to make a certain number of items. Otherwise, what's the point of giving out a position?
"It's okay, as long as you're willing to cooperate. It's perfectly normal not to join."
After a brief respite, the negotiating experts adjusted their approach and continued discussing the cooperation between the two parties.
The low-level potions made by alchemists are fine; many things can be bypassed using modern technology, so they don't consume much energy from psionicists.
However, alchemy tools are different; basically, every one of them will have an impact on the alchemist when it is made.
In addition, alchemists have very low production efficiency, and the items they create are not necessarily as useful as modern technology. Therefore, alchemists tend to make potions rather than items.
Therefore, after Miao Meng agreed to cooperate, the Investigation Bureau offered him a very generous deal.
He was given a basic living allowance and assigned the position of an unofficial technician at the Investigation Bureau's research institute. In addition to a monthly salary of 5, he also received various year-end benefits, making him a semi-official employee.
With this technician status, the student can freely take any courses they want at the school without worrying about credits, and access to a lot of knowledge that previously required special permissions has been unlocked.
Miao Meng's price to pay is that the props he produces will be given priority to the Investigation Bureau. Only if he is not satisfied with the price offered by the Investigation Bureau can they be distributed to the civilian psychic market again.
When the Investigation Bureau customizes items, in addition to requiring three times the amount of materials, it also gives a considerable amount of internal points, which can be used to purchase many items that are not available on the market from the Investigation Bureau's treasury.
Miao Meng did not stand on ceremony with this treatment and directly ordered a batch of weapons, twenty long and short firearms, and a sufficient amount of ammunition.
If his purchase limit weren't restricted by his authority, he might even be considering getting a few rocket launchers, mortars, or tanks.
"Mr. Miao, I want to emphasize this again: I know you're using it for research, but you must take precautions against explosions and theft."
If these weapons and ammunition appear in places they shouldn't be, not only will your privileges be revoked, but you may also face imprisonment.
The team leader, who had watched Miao Meng's massive purchase from the sidelines, was sweating profusely. What was this guy trying to do by buying so much weaponry?
The authority required to purchase modern firearms within the Bureau of Investigation is not high; even newly recruited investigators can buy several for self-defense.
These things are not very useful against the minions of evil gods and mythical races, but they are extremely useful when facing investigators and psionicists who are also human.
Therefore, in order to ensure the safety of investigators and to maintain control over civilian psychics, the Bureau of Investigation does not have particularly strict control over firearms.
However, this does not mean that these firearms can be circulated freely. If an investigator fails to recover the lost weapons in time after a battle, he will no longer be facing an ordinary investigator.
Instead, they are internal auditors transferred from the military. These soldiers, who have undergone accelerated psionic training and modern formal education, will tell these investigators what efficiency really means.
"Don't worry, I will absolutely not let a single bullet or shell appear outside. I just need to study and disassemble these firearms in order to create better fire-based items."
After all, ordinary firearms aren't particularly terrifying to psionicists; only by combining this and that can they create a sufficient deterrent.
As Miao Meng spoke, he pointed to the guns on his iPad and the one-kilogram Fire Stone on the table, then clenched his fist.
"The fireball necklace I sold before was just a practice piece. I think that after absorbing the essence of these modern weapons, the next product will definitely be stronger."
Hearing the other side's blunt and aggressive remarks, the captain became somewhat expectant, but the negotiation expert felt apprehensive.
"Although I'd known for a long time that psionicists weren't exactly mentally stable, I never imagined someone would dare research gunpowder and firearms in the city. Aren't they afraid of causing an accident and blowing everything up?"
Although he was thinking to himself, the negotiation expert kept his expression well under control; however, he still knew too little about psychic energy, a power originating from the mind.
Although the other two couldn't fully read minds, they could still sense emotions. His sudden display of fear, especially when the others were excited, was quite striking.
"By the way, speaking of the fireball necklace, I remembered something. I was attacked by a fire spirit at the beach before, and an investigator helped me a lot at that time."
Can I ask about his current situation? I remember his name was Yu Renjie, which sounds like "April Fool's Day" in Chinese. I even checked to make sure it was his name.
Miao Meng ignored the negotiation expert's fearful state of mind, and instead looked at the Fire Stone on the table, suddenly remembering the investigator he had encountered last time.
"Captain Yu? Uh, this..."
The head investigator glanced at the negotiation expert beside him and told him to leave the room, go outside for a smoke, and then come back in.
"Captain Yu is not in a good condition right now."
He used too many spells in that battle, causing his body's transformation to become irreversible.
If he hadn't chosen to be cryopreserved, he would probably be back in the sea by now, searching for the legendary Ralleya.
After the negotiation expert left, the captain didn't hide much about Renjie's situation, but what he said made people feel particularly uncomfortable.
Moreover, the captain's expression didn't change much when the topic was discussed.
It wasn't sadness, nor heartache; it was as if I had become numb to such things.
As for kicking out the negotiation experts, it's probably because such matters require a high level of authority, and if they were spread indiscriminately, it could easily cause panic among those at the grassroots level.