Ultimate Firepower

Luca was in Yemen, still waiting for the right moment to utter the crucial word.

After returning to the United States to receive direct instructions from Panetta, Joelson first went to Baghdad for a secret meeting with Gao Yi, carrying Panetta’s directives with him.

"I’ve come with a mission!"

Joelson’s pride and joy could no longer be concealed. Upon meeting with Gao Yi, he declared that he had received his mission.

Of course, when Joelson said this, it wasn’t because he wanted to boast, but rather to inform Gao Yi that he had received Panetta’s approval and was no longer just someone remotely controlled by Crawford through Panetta.

If Joelson hadn’t received Panetta’s approval, he wouldn’t have shown up at all, and the most likely possibility would have been that he disappeared forever.

Now that Joelson had come with a mission from Panetta, it meant that he had become Panetta’s man. Perhaps not yet trusted enough to be his confidant, but definitely deemed reliable by Panetta.

Gao Yi immediately responded, "Congratulations, you’ve succeeded."

Joelson took a deep, satisfying breath and then whispered, "Panetta asked me a lot of detailed questions, including our first contact, his opinion of you and assessment, and the development of the entire situation. In the end, he sent me back to collaborate with you, to see if you really have the capability, if you are truly able to provide the funds, and finally, he tasked me with collecting the money on his behalf."

Gao Yi asked in surprise, "Collect the money for him? To manage it?"