America: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 255 Abstraction

Zhang Ailun gestured to Zorro next to him to open the box and check the goods. He went back to the truck, found a handy wrench, pried open the tightly sealed box, and sure enough, he saw some mechanical parts inside.

Nuts, screws, and plastic sealing strips were all sealed in plastic bags, along with some steel plates, wires, buttons, displays, and mechanical parts that were not easily understood.

Marushin handed the prepared list to the Grand Master for his review. "This is the price and project list for recycling this scrap steel. If it's acceptable, transfer the money over. This time, let's be more formal and use two accounts: one for the aircraft graveyard scrap sale project and one for our personal account."

Zhang Ailun glanced at the printed project list, which was filled with the selling prices of the parts. All of them had official scrap labels on them, indicating that they were being sold through legitimate channels.

Furthermore, to further legitimize their actions, they became more cautious, labeling parts as "about to be scrapped" or "remaining service life xx times" when determining whether they were considered scrap parts.

Because attack aircraft have a limited lifespan of sorties, they are forcibly retired and sent to aircraft graveyards for hibernation when they are nearing the end of their service life. Ground crew will then remove some mid-term or recently replaced parts from the airframe and continue to store them as spare parts for use on aircraft still in service.

Parts that are about to be scrapped or have reached the end of their service life are reviewed as scrap steel resources and will be exported to metal recycling companies or scrap recycling stations. These are all done through official and legal procedures.

Parts that are about to be scrapped or have reached the end of their lifespan are not necessarily unusable. Military standards are much higher than civilian standards. Even if a service aircraft has reached the end of its takeoff service life, it can still be used for many years in civilian applications, since it is not used in combat and the piloting intensity is not high.

Even if you buy airplane parts and manage to assemble them yourself, what then?

But this thing is too risky, and the official company won't compensate for any accidents that happen.

To make more money, Marushin and his buddies would slap these labels on good parts to exploit bugs. Even when retired machines appeared in various regions, the authorities wouldn't pay much attention, because checking the registered part serial numbers would easily identify whether they were using scrapped parts. Even if someone assembled a retired, scrapped machine for their own amusement, how long could it last?

Why not give those civilian military enthusiasts a little something? Even scrap metal can be sold for a high price.

The initial intention behind any bill is good, but I never expected there to be bad people in the team!

There are policies and measures to counter.

Those unscrupulous intellectuals, in their eagerness to make a fortune, exploit every loophole. They claim that a certain part doesn't meet service standards, or that a certain part is simply scrap. There's no stopping them!

Auditors dare not investigate; every time they try, it's either a plane explosion or a heart attack, and they can't find anything at all.

Blocking someone's path to wealth is like killing their parents; who would dare go there? Who can afford to offend a warlord?

After inspecting the parts, Zhang Ailun immediately took photos and sent them to Dominic, instructing him to transfer a sum of money for scrap metal recycling to the aircraft graveyard's account through Alfred's Scrap Metal Recycling Station, WALL-E's Scrap Metal Recycling Station, and two other recycling station accounts.

The recycling price of scrap steel, the total steel price of the entire warthog, is only about forty to fifty thousand US dollars.

The remaining $145 million was all the difference that Marushin and his team made!

Of course, the mastermind made an even bigger profit. He bought warthog parts for 150 million, assembled them, and then resold them to his Mexican buddy for 888 million US dollars.

This is an A10! I'm selling it here for a lower price, and I guarantee it's sturdy and durable. If you go through other channels, they'll sell it to you for at least 1000 million, and they won't even guarantee the quality of the parts.

Zero negative reviews! Because the attack aircraft disintegrated and exploded in mid-air right after takeoff.

Marushin received a text message notification that his money had arrived, and his face beamed with the joy of making a fortune. "This time I only sent you some small parts. Next time I'll disassemble the main unit and ship it to you by air."

"Then just send it to the airport in the suburbs. It's not very convenient to receive packages here," Zhang Ailun suggested. "It's too much trouble for me to come all the way here every time."

"Okay." Marushen noted down the cargo location provided to him by the Grand Master, and then waved goodbye with a flourish.

Zhang Ailun and Zorro started unloading the goods, spending half an hour packing everything up before getting into the car and heading to the airport in the suburbs.

After processing these parts, I sent a message to Qibatu, informing him that some new parts had arrived and that he could try to arm the device when he had time.

Qibatu sent the leader a photo of a cabin in the suburbs, filled with rubber barrels of clay explosives, barrel after barrel, and drones that he had ordered online and personally went to purchase.

The brand includes not only Thunderfire drones, but also several drones produced by Mayweather, as well as other miscellaneous drone brands.

Judging from the appearance, only the Thunderfire and Mayweather drones are of relatively good quality. Qibatu and several Beggar Clan disciples are making detonators and clay detonators by hand, tearing off all the labels of the generic drones and replacing them with Thunderfire logo labels. They have already modified more than a hundred drones, and they are quite easy to operate.

Zhang Ailun: How much did you spend on this thing?

Qibatu: Sig and Bailey went to San Francisco this morning to buy 500 drones from a friend. They were priced at $120-$160 each, totaling over $8. The transaction went through Armed Nation's account. The quality is definitely not a problem; I've already tested them, and they can operate using the electromagnetic radar matrix.

Zhang Ailun: I almost forgot, you didn't mention it. Radar Matrix also charges a fee. After all, this is software we programmed ourselves, and they have to pay copyright fees to use it! $20 per hour, fair and square, including future software updates. If they want to buy it outright, we'll charge them an extra $5.

Qibatu: ...

$20 per hour, $480 for 24 hours a day.

When it comes to making money, they can't compare to the leader. That's why he can be the boss, while they're just lowly employees.

Zhang Ailun: But it's still a two million dollar deal, so let's let it go this time and give them a free trial. Next time, we'll charge them.

Qibatu: OK.

Zhang Ailun contacted Sieg again to discuss whether to ship the goods by sea or air. In the end, they chose the more cost-effective sea freight, renting a Matson Express for only $2000 a day.

Matson Clipper prices are affected by market demand and shipping market fluctuations. Recent market data shows that chartering a clipper fluctuates between $9 and $12 per kilogram. If the cargo volume exceeds 500 kilograms, the Matson Clipper price is $13 per kilogram. This batch of munitions, worth two million dollars, actually weighs less than two tons, approximately 1600 kilograms, with a shipping cost of over $20,000.

From the southern port of Los Angeles or the port of Long Beach to the port of Manzanillo, it takes approximately 7-10 days. Customs clearance usually takes about 2 days, container pickup and unloading takes about 3 days, and delivery takes 3 to 6 days. If you pay extra for express shipping, which waives customs clearance and container pickup/unloading procedures, it can actually arrive in just two days and 48 hours.

By ordering through official channels, they only need to send the goods to the port in Mexico, and someone will pick them up, saving them the cost of delivery.

Of course, in order to better promote the cooperative project, the leader also plans to take a helicopter to the other party to promote the popular products.

After settling the transportation matters, Zhang Ailun had Zorro drive to the mountain camp in the Kilimanjaro Mountains. He visited the Beggars' Sect disciples stationed there, and also went to see the laborers who were being forcibly detained there, as well as several victims.

Looking through the window at the victims who had recovered well mentally and physically, and the priest who had become demented and confused, Zhang Ailun didn't hold back his praise. He patted Dr. Jerry on the shoulder and said, "You're quite capable."

"Sir, could you please not send me to prison? I can stay here and continue my research on chemical agents and neurotoxins. You'll need me sooner or later," Dr. Jerry pleaded.

Zhang Ailun thought about it for a moment and felt that although this guy had no conscience, he had stopped doing bad things under Zhang Ailun's tutelage. He couldn't be considered to have turned over a new leaf; at most, he had used the neurotoxin where it was needed.

It's such a pity that such talent has been wasted.

What if they throw him in jail and then get him out? Wouldn't that mean he'd be persecuting someone else again? These days, who doesn't have a few chemistry geniuses on their payroll?

He immediately nodded in agreement. "Okay, I can spare you from prison and let you work for me alive. However, you cannot leave the mountain camp or the Kilimanjaro Mountains from now on, unless I need you to leave. You also need to promise me that you will never use those neurotoxins on innocent ordinary people again, otherwise I will use them on you sooner or later!"

"Aren't those laborers you've detained here innocent ordinary people?" Dr. Jerry asked.

"Human traffickers aren't even human, how can you call them ordinary people? I'm talking about the people you bought."

Zhang Ailun even suspected that the old man might have been exposed to too many chemical agents and inhaled too many neurotoxins, causing brain damage.

Dr. Jerry's expression softened. "That's alright then. I've been thinking about how to increase the potency of the drug and improve its effects these past few days. I was just wondering whether or not to give it to them!"

He gets all excited when this is mentioned, but unfortunately, the people present know nothing about chemistry and try to minimize contact with him. They even wear protective suits and masks when meeting him to avoid getting infected.

This has left him with no one to discuss academic issues with. He can only chat with priests and believers on weekdays, and now even the priests are getting emotional and can't speak properly.

"Don't end up causing some kind of biohazard crisis for me..." Zhang Ailun's expression changed slightly.

"How could that be? That would require at least porphyria patients and rabies patients as research samples and data, and injecting them with large amounts of stimulants and hallucinogens for it to have any infectious properties."

Dr. Jerry immediately gave the leader, who was unqualified in chemistry, a science lesson.

"Actually, I met several academic experts while I was in prison. They had even collaborated with the CIA on human research in a small town. However, after the new president took office, he enacted a ban on human trafficking and cracked down on human trafficking. As a result, the research institute in that town was shut down, and the people involved were imprisoned and sentenced to death. Before I even got out, they were bailed out and I heard they were working with a wealthy tycoon on organ transplantation and human cloning research."

"And then?" Zhang Ailun asked.

"Later, that wealthy man died from foot rot."

Dr. Jerry answered honestly, "Because they used cloning technology to grow animal kidneys, and at the insistence of the wealthy son, they used sheep kidneys to transplant into his father. Unfortunately, the kidneys were infected with animal pathogens and were beyond saving."

Zhang Ailun: "..."

Holy crap, are all rich people this abstract? Are human organs no longer enough for them?

"That's nothing. Some wealthy people have even had their lower bodies fitted with donkey organs. If you don't know that, it just means you're ignorant," Dr. Jerry said, adding that these were minor issues.

"He must have died from organ rejection later." Zhang Ailun knew his fate without even thinking.

"That's right. Some people are much crazier than you think. Maybe it's because they're too empty-headed. Because they're too rich and have enjoyed everything, they're prone to going to extremes."

Dr. Jerry sighed, "That wealthy man who has connections with the priest has considered gender reassignment surgery. I don't know if he's had the operation or not. Before you came, their people even ordered Twilight Lovers' anesthetic from me."

"..."

"If, and I mean if, you could help me find a few academic experts, I'm sure I could develop an even more powerful best-selling product," Dr. Jerry stated his request.

"You mean your fellow inmates?" Zhang Ailun asked, puzzled.

"That's right. With them here, I'm definitely more motivated," Dr. Jerry nodded.

"If there are any relevant leads, I will have someone bring them over."

After Zhang Ailun finished speaking, he turned and left. He really couldn't talk to this madman anymore. He could only say that he was indeed worthy of being the attending physician of the mental hospital and the abstract leader of the second-in-command of Heaven's Gate.

Still somewhat worried about Dr. Jerry, Zhang Ailun also went to visit the laborers. Fortunately, they were eating well and working with great energy, and at least no mutations had occurred.

He found a member of the Beggars' Sect and instructed him, "Keep a close eye on him, don't let him misuse medicine and cause someone's death."

"Don't worry, boss, the guns we have aren't just for show. We also put electronic ankle bracelets on him when he's in the research institute. If his heart rate increases or he has unrealistic ideas, he'll definitely trigger the electric shock mode on his own!" the Beggar Clan disciple immediately assured him.

Zhang Ailun nodded in satisfaction, took another stroll around the camp, and then felt relieved to leave the Kiliyad Mountains with Zorro in a car.

We stopped at a cabin in the suburbs to watch Qibatu and his disciples modifying drones, as well as the alchemy site that Johnson was working on with the Mexican short-tailed dog.

Some gold and precious metals have already been extracted. However, it will take some time to process all 20 tons of electronic waste; we'll have to work overtime.

As it grew late, Zhang Ailun and Zorro drove back to the downtown campground in Los Angeles, boarded the RV, and fell asleep with Jennifer by his side.

The next day.

Zhang Ailun woke up in the RV, stretched, and took out his phone to check the daily news.

[Daily Intelligence: The fire at Parker Recycling's suburban site was orchestrated by their arch-rival, Azure Recycling, and carried out by Magee's team of unemployed scavengers from District 7. Azure paid his team $60,000 to hide a batch of highly flammable and explosive white phosphorus in cans and freeze it, plotting to ignite the fire. They're now preparing to join your gang of beggars to avoid trouble.]

Hmm? Home delivery?

[Daily News: The owner of Parker Recycling Company has received a bank bill. You might be able to buy his fully furnished apartment in Fifth Street and his Newport Beach waterfront villa in South Los Angeles at a low price. He has already submitted Parker's auction credentials and is awaiting processing. The credential review is being handled by Philip, the chairman of Whale Auctions, who is acquainted with Senator Jason of Fifth District.]

Multiple choice, right?

If the head of the gang buys those two houses, he might still try to put up a fight and withdraw the auction permits that are currently under review.

If the head of the company doesn't buy his house, he might not be able to withstand the pressure and will have to sell the company.

So here's the question: why don't I speed up his paperwork and buy his house while I'm at it?

Zhang Ailun acted immediately, planning to contact Supervisor Cooper after breakfast and find him something to do.

(End of this chapter)