Chapter 32: Let’s Agree on a Few Rules

If Joga had been greedy before, now he was genuinely scared. The Americans had torn YLK apart with a single can of laundry detergent. If anyone found out he had chemical weapons, what would happen? Especially with people outside searching for these items, the situation would become even more dangerous. If his secret was exposed, it would lead to a comprehensive attack.

It didn't matter whether he could use them or not; merely 'possessing' such weapons was a grave offense, and no one would sympathize with him.

At this point, Joga wasn't sure if Niss wanted to repay him or set him up. He laid out the stakes and then stopped Kaman, who was glaring angrily. Looking at the still calm Niss, he shook his head helplessly and asked, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Niss looked down in silence for a few seconds before replying, "As long as we don't speak of it, there won't be any danger. You can always choose to abandon this place and never come near it again."

Joga chuckled wryly and shook his head. "But greed is inherent in people, and I'm no exception!"

Niss was surprised by Joga's honesty. She nodded and said, "You're more honest than I thought. Those who are honest with themselves are strong. I need help for my revenge, so everything here is yours to handle as you see fit."

Niss's straightforward attitude left Joga speechless. She casually offered him items worth over a billion dollars. Despite some underlying issues, she was clearly in her right mind.

Joga had seen Kaman's fierce gaze earlier but noted that Niss was unperturbed. Although he didn't fully understand Niss's motives, he believed she had no reason to set him up since there was no advantage for her in doing so.

As the boss, Joga needed to think carefully. He couldn't silence them because both Kaman and Niss had saved him. 

For Joga, the best course of action was to make an anonymous call to the relevant UN departments. The destruction of leftover chemical weapons in Liberia had been an ongoing task for years and was no news. If the place was exposed, the pursuers would likely abandon their efforts.

However, Joga was reluctant to part with the arms. As a concerned citizen, he would gain no benefits, only the stress of fear. What kind of deal was that?

After much thought, Joga finally looked at Kaman and Niss and said, "Before I deal with this place, you both need to work for me. Is there a problem with that?"

Niss seemed to have anticipated this outcome. She nodded first and said, "If you're not considering silencing us, you'll be a good boss. I have no objections. As long as you help me with my revenge, I'll follow you wherever you go."

Joga looked at the unusually straightforward Niss and said, "Why do I feel like you're eager to 'sell' yourself? It makes me uneasy because you've given me so much!"

Niss was stunned by the question, but Kaman provided an answer.

"Because she's a woman, and she's a trained fierce hunting dog. Without a master, she can't survive. I've seen many like her—boy scouts, terrorists, soldiers. Their common trait is that they quickly self-destruct after losing their master."

Joga couldn't quite grasp this logic, but seeing Niss's expression, it seemed Kaman might be right.

Joga didn't understand that this so-called arsenal was meaningless to Niss because she lacked the capability to handle it and it could potentially lead to her demise. Her upbringing emphasized obedience and loyalty, but these traits required a focus to manifest.

Her brother had protected her but never attempted to develop her potential. Niss was like an elephant with its legs chained from birth; even when the chains were removed, the mental chains remained.

After years of living under pressure and hiding, Niss had found this life painful. When her brother was killed, she instinctively sought someone she could rely on or who needed her.

Joga was a suitable candidate. Niss was quite intelligent. She might not be aware of her psychological issues, but a 'treasure' that seemed useless to her could still serve to test many things.

Greed could lead ordinary people to make irrational choices, such as Kaman's earlier idea of silencing. If Joga didn't meet her expectations, she had ways to coerce him into helping with her revenge, leading to either separate paths or mutual destruction.

However, Joga's current performance pleased her. She didn't mind working for him. Dangerous and stimulating work suited her at this stage. Only when she found meaning in life and overcame her inner 'demons' could she potentially return to a normal life.

There are two types of people in this world: one is the tree, growing alone and seeking sunlight—Joga was one of those. The other is the vine, which must rely on the tree to find its place—Niss was one of those.

Joga didn't dwell too much on confusing matters, believing that everything had a cause and effect. He trusted that Niss had no reason to harm him and risk her own safety. 

He didn't fully accept Kaman's hunting dog theory, but since Niss didn't contradict it, he went along with it.

Being a competent boss shouldn't be too difficult, right?

Having figured things out, Joga looked at Kaman and said, "Sorry, buddy, but you might need to push back the timeline for enjoying life with your son."

Kaman waved dismissively and said, "You're a good boss. I just want my son to live safely and comfortably. As long as the salary is secure, I don't care about the rest."

Joga trusted Kaman and smiled, nodding. "Alright then. Let's discuss the salary.

I believe in setting things out clearly to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts over profit distribution."

Niss shook her head and said, "I only need a salary that's enough to support myself. The rest, I need you to provide me with the best weapons and equipment. I like the TAC-50 you gave me, and I want more specialized ammunition, along with a better automatic rifle and pistol."

Joga waved his hand and said, "That's not feasible. Providing weapons is the boss's duty. We're all in this together, so mutual support is the best approach. We must acknowledge that people can change, especially when profit distribution is uneven. I want to minimize that possibility."

He then calculated briefly and said, "You work for me with an annual salary of $30,000. This isn't high, but it's the salary for a regular job. If there's combat, you'll receive a $1,000 combat allowance per day. 

If valuable spoils are obtained, regardless of their worth, they'll be divided into ten shares: you'll each get two shares, and I'll take six. 

Most importantly, the contents of this arms cache must be handled entirely by me. When money is made from it, it will be divided into five shares: each of you will get one share, and I'll take three. 

If you agree, we'll proceed this way. Salaries can be adjusted based on my business situation, and the distribution of spoils will change with the number of participants, but the division of the arms cache will remain the same. 

You should understand the risks I'm taking and the costs I'll incur to manage these items. I have a rough plan: first, to digest part of the arms here, and second, to rid ourselves of this hot potato, but it will take some time.

Before everything is settled, I expect you to keep this place confidential and never mention it to anyone outside our trio, not even in your dreams."

After speaking, Joga spread his hands and looked at the two with strange expressions. "I've said my piece. Who's in favor? Who's against?"