Taxes are only within machine gun range!

Chapter 207 Cannons and Giant Ships
They're going to attack the merchant ships...

Milton listened to Eunice's words and nodded slightly.

Protecting merchant ships is definitely something that needs to be put on the agenda—the so-called cult can only use some speedboats, carrying one or two machine guns, to try to board the merchant ships and threaten the crew.

It's impossible to expect them to produce actual warships.

This kind of threat is generally only in coastal waters, and it is the kind of action that involves seizing what can be seized and running away if that fails, using highly mobile and frequent harassment tactics.

But it can indeed cause significant economic losses.

Milton once again truly experienced what it meant to be "understood," and understood why Lopez had sold his grassroots power to gangs and cults.

"I see."

Eunice's voice carried a hint of seduction: "Perfect timing... We're currently sourcing a new batch of assault boats. The Caribbean has always been a land of outstanding people and resources. Without upgrading our equipment, it will be difficult to gain a foothold here."

"I can decide whether to sell you all the assault boats I've acquired through the bargaining process."

"I'll sell them to you at a very low price... Of course, if you've decided on the marriage alliance, these assault boats can also be given to you for free, how about that?"

“No need,” Milton refused without hesitation. “That’s fine. We’ll contact you again if there’s anything important later.”

These people still believed that Milton only wanted a few assault boats to defend against pirates, and that the so-called navy he talked about was just a few assault boats, or at most small cargo ships converted from civilian vessels...

Eunice's voice immediately betrayed her displeasure: "I've shown you so much kindness, where's your return gift? Even if you didn't give a gift, shouldn't you at least try to appease me with words? No girl will like you like this."

“The mere fact that you ‘raise enemies to enhance your own importance’ is enough for you to extract many, many benefits from Arsu. At the same time, you also obtain my promise of non-aggression.” Milton remained completely unmoved. “Miss Eunice… don’t try to disguise exploitation as a gift.”

After saying that, Milton hung up the phone without waiting for the other person to say anything more.

beep...

After hanging up the phone, Milton subconsciously looked up and saw Flora huffing and puffing as she carried over a cardboard box filled with newspapers she had collected earlier.

Milton was a little confused: "What are you doing?"

"Looking for a newspaper!" Flora had already squatted down and started flipping through it quickly. "That Eunice looks so confident, I'm starting to get curious about her!"

You're so boring...

Milton ignored him and simply called Brandon over.

A few minutes later, Brandon hurriedly opened the door and asked, "Boss?"

"Help me contact those people at the DEA and see if they have any assault boats they can smuggle...and sell to us."

Milton would never forget the DEA agent team with which he had a certain working relationship.

As members of the federal police force, and specifically responsible for managing smuggling, they must have a lot of high-quality assault boats, some of which could even be equipped with 30mm cannons!
"Yes."

"Also, ask Juan and Lac how many assault boats they captured in the previous landing operation, and see how many they can spare for us."

"Finally, please call Olya over for me."

Brandon immediately turned around to carry out the order.

Milton turned to Flora and asked, "After searching for so long, have you found it yet?"

Flora made a series of "tsk tsk" sounds as she said, "Found it, found it, tsk tsk, that little face, that big breasts, that waist, those legs... No wonder everyone who sees it is satisfied. Not to mention you, I'm satisfied with everything I see, tsk tsk tsk!"

Milton reached out his hand with a skeptical look: "Is it really that exaggerated? Let me see it."

A newspaper, turned to the entertainment section, was placed in Milton's hands, and the clearest and most eye-catching photo was indeed very striking.

A standard Western beauty... except for her height of 1.7 meters, which doesn't meet the supermodel standard, her other qualities are really not much different from those of a supermodel.

Her long legs, accentuated by the form-fitting dress, were particularly eye-catching.

However, Milton only glanced at it; what really caught his attention was the information in the newspaper—a celebration was underway for the opening of a multi-purpose entertainment complex in Isabá Province, the home base of Eunice's family.

The text also specifically mentions which media outlets can conduct exclusive interviews and reports on this topic.

Before Milton could say anything, Flora spoke first, winking, "How are you? Suddenly having second thoughts?"

“I won’t give some random family the chance to get their hands on my business.” Milton shook his head. “Well… judging from the newspaper articles, Eunice’s business seems to be cultural, with various television stations and entertainment industries. It looks quite profitable, but it’s not exactly a matter of life or death.”

Flora was still rummaging through the newspaper box for photos: "Look, this photo is nice, and this outfit is really pretty!"

"Huh, I found a picture of you..."

“Oh! I remember this photo. I hadn’t joined your team yet. It’s a photo of you killing all of Fan Kang’s gang in the basement and carrying their heads out of the basement… I remember it was Olya who took this photo.”

"Look, there are ruins everywhere, and several police officers with guns, but their faces are still showing signs of shock."

"And a man covered in blood, his body a gruesome sight, weak and exhausted, but with a calm gaze, holding a severed head! Holy crap, Olya's amazing! This photo is absolutely stunning. If this photo were in America, it would definitely win a Pulitzer Prize!"

"Okay... I have to admit, you look way better in this photo than Eunice's, you're on a completely different level... No wonder she said she was very satisfied with you."

Milton wanted to say that it was because he had been working intensely that day and hadn't slept all day, which caused temporary facial paralysis.

“If you believe a word these people say, then congratulations, you’ve been fooled.” Milton shook his head. “It’s a very low-level honey trap; it won’t work on me.”

Just then, Milton's red line phone rang again.

Milton didn't hesitate and immediately picked up the phone.

On the other end, DEA Agent Winnie's voice came through: "'Hell Tax Collector,' oh no, I should call you 'Evil Khorne' now. I've heard about what you've done, amazing achievements... According to my information, the CIA in your territory has suffered unprecedented losses, or rather, the CIA in your territory has been basically paralyzed."

"congratulations."

Milton felt a little dizzy: "What the hell? What is Khorne?"

Holy crap? These nicknames are getting more and more outrageous these days. Just a couple of days ago, that evil wizard already made Milton so angry that he hung his head on an armored vehicle. And these rumor-mongers aren't afraid at all; instead, they've come up with an even more terrifying nickname, right?
The methods were too lenient!

Winnie continued, "According to our reliable intelligence, your new nickname is spreading at an extremely rapid pace. Perhaps tomorrow, or at most the day after, you'll hear it everywhere. The CIA might also be involved in this."

"Hmm... The CIA is currently trying to rebuild its intelligence network. Don't let them succeed."

"Soon, my team may be heading to your territory to investigate a large-scale and highly covert drug crime. I would appreciate it if you could provide us with some assistance and a safe house—preferably located as close as possible to enemy territory."

"In return, you can make requests of me now... I will try my best to fulfill them."

Milton covered the microphone and exclaimed to Flora, "Listen to this, look at this! This is what a truly open and honest person is like, this is what a pleasant conversation is like!"

"Everything was wonderful except for that 'evil terror'."

Flora nodded: "In a way, Eunice was right about what she said at the end..."

"..."

Milton thought for a moment and asked, "Does your DEA have any assault boats that are about to be returned? Assault boats that can be equipped with heavy machine guns and cannons. If so, how much would you sell them to us for? Preferably ones that can be delivered quickly, within seven days."

After this question was asked, Winnie fell silent.

Milton could sense that she hadn't left, but suddenly didn't know what to say, so he pressed her for an answer: "If it doesn't work, just say so, so I can look for other channels."

“It’s not impossible.” Winnie seemed to be considering something. “We can meet all your requirements, but… are you sure you want to buy from us?”

Milton was even more puzzled: "Is there a problem?"

“No problem, let’s get straight to the pricing.” Winnie’s voice was unusually tense. “Since you’re our partner, we’ll give you a discount. We’ll sell it to you at cost price: $350 million per unit, excluding ammunition.”

How many? !
Milton: "?"

"No way, are you kidding me? It's just an assault boat, a speedboat, and you're offering me $350 million? Do you know what $350 million means? Is this speedboat made of pure gold?"

"And that doesn't even include ammunition?!"

"Even when it's black, it can't be this black, can it?"

Winnie's tone carried a hint of helplessness: "'Hell Tax Collector' Mr., first of all, you should know that this so-called 'export' is actually smuggling, right? This kind of thing requires bribing people at all levels, not to mention that you have such a tight deadline, seven days is definitely going to make it more expensive."

"Secondly, I didn't lie to you. You've helped us so much, I wouldn't make money off you for such a small amount. The cost price is just that high. Not to mention you, even those old men in Congress would be furious if they saw this price."

"This is America, where everyone is treated fairly."

"Do you still need the boat? If so, I'm going to start the formalities."

Milton refused outright: "No need. I can't afford your high-end American products. You can keep these high-end products for yourselves."

Winnie chuckled. "So, what other assistance do you need from us?" "Nothing for now, just send the money." Milton was speechless at these people. "We can provide safe houses and joint enforcement operations, but these all come at a cost, and you'll have to pay for them. Also, regarding the stolen goods after the operation, you can secure evidence and take a small sample back to report, but the rest must be collected, confiscated, or destroyed by our law enforcement agencies."

"Serious criminals must stay; only minor offenders on the fringes can be taken away."

“Nominally, all activities are led by you. If we have conflicts with other U.S. agencies, such as the CIA, during law enforcement, you will be the ones to resolve them.”

Winnie readily agreed: "A very reasonable request. So, are we at an agreement?"

"Yes, now share your intelligence with me."

Winnie's cheerful voice came through the receiver, clearly pleased that the CIA in charge of Central America had suffered a significant blow: "No problem... This matter might be somewhat related to you."

"According to our intelligence, a batch of drugs of very dubious origin, whose trails always go cold no matter how we investigate them, has recently been transported to the vicinity."

"It's very likely meant to be used against you."

Milton thought for a moment and said, "It's possible... According to my information, a cult on my territory has been bribed, and their 'ayahuasca' is a drug. They may be trying to create a modified version of 'ayahuasca' to enhance their combat capabilities."

Winnie agreed, "Hmm... that's one direction. We'll discuss the specifics once we get here. That's settled then. Contact me if anything comes up. This number is relatively safe for now. If you want to change your number, I'll come to you personally to discuss it with you."

"Oh, and finally, according to unreliable intelligence, a new drug lord is consolidating power in south-central Mexico, and his influence is already taking shape."

"Moreover, in order to deal with you, the drug lords seem to be making some kind of reconciliation and alliance. Be careful."

"Ok."

The two hung up the phone, and Olya had already arrived at the door.

The journalist from the former Soviet Union nodded slightly and said, "'The Godfather'."

“I want to purchase warships,” Milton said succinctly. “Do you know anyone there, or have any connections?”

Upon hearing this, everyone, including Flora who was still admiring the photos, turned their heads and looked at Milton with astonishment.

warship?!
What is a warship?

Could it be that the navy Milton is building isn't just a few assault boats, but a full-fledged warship?!
No wonder Milton was so dismissive of Eunice's proposal.

What a big ambition!
Flora thought for a moment and said, "'Tax collectors' are different from tanks and planes; they're not so easy to buy. Besides, where are you going to find crew members? You can barely mobilize a few dozen people for tank crews and pilots, but resources like warship sailors are not so easy to come by."

Olya frowned, not immediately dismissing the idea: "Russia is impossible, but Ukraine is very likely. They'll sell anything—airplanes, tanks, warships, even production lines, all kinds of talent, they'll sell it all."

"To put it bluntly, for a monthly salary of $1500, you can find a lot of Slavs who are willing to risk their lives to fight for you... But these are mercenaries, which probably do not meet your requirements for an army."

"At most, we'll make them instructors or temporary crew members."

"Before the newspaper was dissolved, it had connections with a certain military officer, and he may have had other connections as well. I can try to help you make those connections, but it will take some time and money."

"Moreover, the maintenance of warships is also a huge expense, Mr. Godfather, you'd better set aside enough funds."

Milton sighed inwardly and nodded, "No problem, go ahead and make the contact... let me know if you hear anything."

Sure enough, things are never that simple when it comes to the navy.

This "not simple" even includes the previously all-powerful exchange panel.

Military ship exchange has been partially unlocked.

[Note! Since large warships are registered worldwide and this is not a secret, the exchange rules have changed.]

1. Currently, only warships with a sales record or no export restrictions can be redeemed. 2. Warships will no longer appear out of thin air like other equipment; the purchase and transportation processes will be streamlined to ensure the import of these ships is completely legal and that the host can obtain the ships as quickly as possible. 3. Ships redeemed with points will not come with political conditions or maintenance clauses, and will not be blocked by any factors during transit; they will arrive in perfect condition.

[Currently available ship types for exchange: Most small and medium-sized ships under 500 tons, excluding missile boats]

[Xiongfeng-class offshore gunboat...]

[The "Viper-M" class gunboat...]

[Type 1125 armored gunboat, Type 1208 offshore patrol boat...]

【…】

To be honest, these gunboats are not very large, the smallest is no more than 100 tons, and the largest is only a little over 300 tons.

Its combat capabilities also seem laughable; it's not even in the same league as the destroyers Milton will frequently encounter in the future...

However, for a local warlord, such a small gunboat of a few hundred tons was an absolute symbol of power!

Just one of these ships, if it were to take a short trip to Arsu's house, it would guarantee he wouldn't be able to sleep all night.

As Milton browsed through the listings, he remarked, "The delivery time is generally 20 days. After all, it has to travel from the Black Sea, through the Turkish Straits, the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Panama Canal, and finally to the Pacific Ocean before it reaches my hands."

To be honest, Milton wished he could get his hands on the ship immediately, but that was simply not realistic.

Twenty days is the absolute limit; it's indeed the kind of efficiency that can only be achieved through extreme process simplification, just like the function of the control panel.

What's even more frightening is that this small, seemingly dilapidated warship has an astonishingly high price tag.

Even for a Xiongfeng-class vessel weighing only 50 tons, the required points have reached the level of 200 million.

Milton was clearly not very satisfied with this 50-ton ship.

It definitely needs big cannons and giant warships; that's what makes it romantic!

Milton glanced at the gunboats briefly, then his gaze settled on an exchange item.

Type 1208 YAZ-class patrol vessel

It has a displacement of 223 tons, 3300 horsepower, a maximum speed of 17.5 knots, and a range of 700 nautical miles.

The firepower embodied the Soviet-style brutal aesthetics: two 100mm cannons, one 6-barrel 30mm rapid-fire cannon, various light and heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, and a 140mm rocket launcher!
If the firepower is unleashed at full force, a small area can be turned into a sea of ​​fire, leaving nothing but barren land.

Let alone the pirates' small speedboats, even a sizable armed merchant ship would be sunk in a very short time if it was targeted.

For Milton, this was his trump card!
A true naval vessel possesses unparalleled deterrent power in coastal waters!
If placed on an inland river, it would be considered a "battleship" for the waterway!
Milton couldn't take his eyes off her once he started watching.

Of course, it has many advantages, but also quite a few disadvantages—the most important of which is that it's expensive!
This little thing, weighing just over 200 tons, costs a whopping 1600 million red points in the exchange system!

Converted to US dollars, that's $800 million.

Milton has spared no effort in cleaning up the local capitalists and confiscating all kinds of illegal assets over the past few days, and has made up for the military expenditures, various deficits and financial loopholes during this period. In the end, he only has 2500 million red points left.

This old, dilapidated ship, weighing only a little over 200 tons, costs 1600 million.

The Navy, that's what the Navy is all about.

But in the end, after struggling for a long time, Milton still chose to redeem it.

In an instant, only a pitiful 900 million red points remained in the account balance.

"What's wrong?" Flora was the first to notice Milton's change in expression. "Why do you suddenly look so pale?"

“It’s nothing, it’s just that the money is going away too fast.” Milton shook his head and said, “The money is going away too quickly… Well, how about this, I’ll take care of the warships. Your goal now is to find me at least 20 qualified sailors at all costs.”

"Whether you find them for me from every corner or buy them... in short, I need these 20 people within 20 days."

"We happen to have a port, and many navies in Latin America have fallen into disrepair in recent years, with many crew members being discharged. We might be lucky enough to find qualified crew members."

The Type 1208 gunboat requires a crew of 34.

However, 20 skilled sailors were enough to make the gunboat exert most of its combat power.

"The cult may launch an attack on our merchant ships soon. Let the assault boats hold them off for now. In a few days, I will give these people a huge surprise."

Flora muttered, "Making it all so mysterious... You didn't actually get a warship, did you? It's a pity that many of the mercenaries in the former Soviet region don't speak Latin or English, otherwise it wouldn't be hard to find people."

Brandon said confidently, "I believe the boss can solve all the problems."

Milton waved his hand: "The most important thing now is to revive the economy and train more technical troops. We are racing against time."

"Don't forget the DEA's reminder that our enemies are not only beginning to unite in the south, but also in the north, in Mexico."

"We cannot stand idly by and watch the enemy continue to develop in this way."

P.S.: Just a reminder, I've corrected some errors. The massacre was carried out by the Rios family, not the Monte family. Eunice's family should be the Ubico family, not the Castaneda family.

(End of this chapter)