319: Chapter 304 Joining the Degenerate 319: Chapter 304 Joining the Degenerate Joelson was flying around the Middle East and North Africa on a CIA business jet in the capacity of a headquarters inspector, which ant Gao Yi could have flown directly to the United States with Joelson.
However, Gao Yi chose to go by himself.
There was more than just Joelson on the plane, and since it was a CIA aircraft, being photographed would have been problematic.
But more importantly, if Gao Yi took the CIA plane to et Crawford in Lanli, it would appear as if he rushed over imdiately upon Crawford’s summons.
That couldn’t happen; it would place Gao Yi in a subordinate position to Crawford.
Gao Yi wasn’t the type concerned overly with face to the point of suffering, but he knew his place and status.
He would address soone as “big brother” when necessary but wouldn’t do so to just anyone.
If he called everyone “big brother,” that would demote the real “big brother’s” status.
His relationship with Crawford could only be one of cooperation, with the emphasis on Gao Yi providing Crawford with opportunities and not the other way around.
To highlight this distinction, Gao Yi needed Crawford to co to see him, not the other way around.
So, it wasn’t about pride; it was about profit.
Of course, Crawford couldn’t possibly travel to Libya to et Gao Yi or even leave Lanli for another location in the United States, given the nature of his job and his position.
Gao Yi couldn’t inconvenience Crawford.
So, the location of their eting required careful thought.
Joelson was skilled in many areas, but he lacked finesse in interpersonal relations; he could not make suitable arrangents, particularly misunderstanding the delicate nuances of who should visit whom.
“Sorry, there’s no suitable place for your eting at the mont.
Most importantly, I can’t ensure a location where both Crawford and you would feel safe…”
This was the first task Joelson handled, and he had not done it well.
Joelson had returned to the United States first; logically, he should have already arranged a eting place where the money would be exchanged, making them collaborators.
Yet, such a minor detail of setting the eting point had not been arranged.
With a look of embarrassnt, Joelson said, “Crawford wants to et you outside the CIA headquarters.
After you arrive, I’ll call him, and he’ll briefly co out to et you and then return.
But I knew you wouldn’t agree, so I suggested to him a place in Washington D.C.
However, Crawford refused, fearing it wasn’t safe.
He worries about recording devices, he worries about many things.”
“Is this the first ti doing such a thing?
If he lacks the resolve for this, then I’ve already given him enough respect by agreeing to et in Washington.
If he can’t handle even a neutral eting place and is still concerned about being secretly recorded, then he shouldn’t be making this deal.”
Gao Yi expressed his dissatisfaction explicitly.
Still, it wasn’t directed at Joelson, but rather in front of Joelson towards Crawford.
This was yet another issue of attitude.
Those unfamiliar might think Gao Yi was making a big issue out of a small matter with Joelson.
But those in the know understood it was an underlying tactic—demonstrating that Gao Yi and Joelson were insiders together, and Crawford was the one they needed to strategize against.
Patting Joelson on the shoulder, Gao Yi smiled and said, “This has nothing to do with you; let think.
Crawford has already decided to collaborate with us, but he still has reservations.”
“Yes.”
“Taking the first step is always hard, it’s normal for Crawford to have concerns.
Since he won’t co to Washington, and I can’t go to Lanli, we’ll have to choose a middle ground.”
After a mont of thought, Gao Yi spoke sternly, “Let’s et in a car, find a central location, an empty area where we can et face-to-face.
Each of us drives to the middle?”
“Empty area?”
“Parking lot, green space, park, or roadside; any place will do.
It can be close to Lanli, but rember, I must designate the spot.”
Gao Yi smiled, then looked at Joelson, “I’m not familiar with the local terrain, do you know of a suitable place?”
Joelson paused for a mont, then said, “There are many such places.
How about eting at National Square?
How about in front of the Natural History Museum on the north side of National Square?
It’s not far from Lanli and is in the District of Columbia, with a large parking lot and lots of people.
The place is sizable; during the day, there’s no parking, but if it’s at night, it’s quite convenient.”
Unhesitatingly, Gao Yi said, “That’s the place, and it’s perfect.
Set the ti for 8 PM; I’ll bring one person, and Crawford will bring one.”
“That person can only be .”
“Yes.”
Joelson thought for a mont and said, “Eight o’clock is a bit rushed, how about ten?”
“No, eight o’clock.”
Gao Yi earnestly said to Joelson, “We can’t be the only ones accommodating Crawford; we need to make him understand that this is a process and result of joint negotiation and compromise.
If we leave him with the impression that he can decide everything at the first eting, it will be difficult to change that impression later.”
After explaining to Joelson, Gao Yi couldn’t help saying, “I see now, you really haven’t handled this kind of matter before.”
“I’ve never done this before.
If we’re eting at eight, then I must contact him imdiately.
If possible, let’s et at the Natural History Museum at eight.
If not, then we’ll have to discuss it further.”
Gao Yi seriously said, “If we can’t et today, I can’t guarantee when the next eting will be.”
Joelson nodded, then quickly walked to the side and began to make a call in a low voice.
It was already past six now; arranging a eting for eight o’clock indeed seed rushed.
However, Joelson returned quickly and said to Gao Yi, “He needs to think it over.
If he can et, he will be there.”
Gao Yi didn’t say anything, just smiled and said, “I will arrive on ti and wait for five minutes.
I hope to see Crawford then.
I’ll be leaving first.”
For his first eting with Crawford, to waste ti and energy on such minute details was not the mark of a man who handles big affairs.
But with no more to say, Gao Yi bid farewell to Joelson, turned, and got into the car he had rented from the airport, then said to Lucy, “Now we’re heading to the Natural History Museum.”
Lucy was dressed in a black robe, with a hood and a mask, her face completely covered.
Since Gao Yi and Lucy had flown to Dubai from Libya and then transferred from Dubai to Washington D.C., Lucy had been wearing the common attire of Middle Eastern won during the flight and hadn’t had the chance to change after landing in the United States.
She kept wearing the black robe because revealing her face was truly troubleso; she was too beautiful, which could lead to people staring at Lucy.
To avoid trouble, she simply covered up her figure and face, saving both worry and hassle.
However, Lucy’s black robe wasn’t a Middle Eastern style but a simplified nun’s habit.
Lucy was accustod to wearing this type of clothing and liked it too.
Initially, Gao Yi hadn’t felt anything, but now every ti he saw Lucy in the black robe, he always thought of the first ti he t her.
It was a sentint, or perhaps a mory hit; Lucy had left a deeply profound impression on Gao Yi, so much so that he always imagined Lucy wearing stockings under that black robe.
Lucy was about to drive, but glancing at the look in Gao Yi’s eyes, she suddenly said, “Should I change my clothes?”
The sa black robe wasn’t quite appropriate in Washington D.C.
Gao Yi thought for a mont and said, “No need, but show your face and take off the headscarf.
You’ll join to et Crawford later.”
It was purely a matter of face-value; although Lucy and Joelson would have to step aside when the real business matters were discussed, having a suprely beautiful woman by his side often proved a man’s strength.
What followed was rushing to the eting; although getting from Dulles Airport to the Natural History Museum was a bit out of the way, since it was the chosen midpoint, they had to make the effort.
The next period was just traveling and then waiting.
At precisely fifty-eight minutes past seven, Gao Yi arrived at the square in front of the Natural History Museum, just across the street.
There were still people around, but they weren’t clustered thickly, so standing and talking there was convenient.
Lucy stood slightly behind Gao Yi; although her attire was sowhat unusual, it hadn’t attracted much attention at the mont.
After standing for two minutes, Gao Yi looked at his watch and decided to wait another five minutes.
If Joelson didn’t show up with Crawford, Gao Yi would leave.
Then at exactly eight o’clock, not a minute late, a car briefly stopped on the road in front of them, and two people got out—one of them was Joelson who, without looking around or hesitating, walked directly towards Gao Yi with a Black man.
This behavior explained a lot—Crawford hadn’t been late nor had he made any new demands through Joelson.
Arriving on ti at the eting place indicated he was indeed ready to take this critical first step.
Crawford was a tall, strong Black man with a dignified and handso appearance, absolutely one of the most handso among Black n.
Walking straight up to Gao Yi, he stood firm.
Just as Joelson was about to introduce them, Gao Yi extended his hand first, smiling at Crawford, “Hello.”
“Hello,” Crawford responded.
He didn’t say much; his handshake was serious and formal but was quick to let go.
Just as he was about to speak, his eyes caught a glimpse of Lucy, and his expression was staggeringly shocked, frozen for at least two seconds.
Gao Yi was still thinking of how to best describe Crawford when Crawford finally snapped back to reality.
Forcing his gaze back to Gao Yi, he repeated, “Hello.”
Distracted and discomposed, for a man in a high position to lose composure at the sight of a beautiful woman indeed demonstrated Crawford’s lack of substance.
Gao Yi, holding a Black Card in his left hand, transferred it to his right hand, then casually and presumptuously flashed the card and smiled, “Here is ten million dollars, a small gift for our first eting.”
Without saying much and not pleading for Crawford to accept it, he handed it over as if it were a re formality.
That casual disregard for ten million had the essence of Shaman’s cousin Harold’s butler.
Crawford’s eyes flickered hard for another five seconds, scanning between Lucy and Gao Yi, finally resting on the Black Card in his hand before he eventually said, “Thank you.”
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