Chapter 540 - 519: Multilateral Transaction
Does Grasse know how to play his cards?
Grasse certainly does. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have made it to where he is now.
Although Grasse hasn’t officially joined the Garden Federation, he’s an old friend of Gao Yi. When something comes up, you certainly can’t forget your old friends.
"Hey, Grasse, there’s something I need to tell you. The Pentagon has a mole. The CIA has a handle on it. Now, the CIA is willing to hand the mole over to you, but... you know how these things go."
Grasse was silent at first, stunned by the news, but he quickly responded in a low voice, "Is it important?"
"Of course, it’s important. Otherwise, I wouldn’t go out of my way to tell you. The CIA is willing to negotiate now. It depends on whether you can show enough sincerity."
Grasse’s initial reaction was hesitation, and then he said softly, "But this isn’t just about money, is it?"
"Of course not. It’s not a money issue, buddy. It’s about whether you have enough to offer them in return. If you don’t, talk to your superiors. If the CIA is the one to expose the mole, it’ll be embarrassing for your agency. But if you’re the one to uncover the mole yourselves, buddy, the Secret Intelligence Bureau might actually get some recognition."
Grasse is responsible for that small slice of the Middle East. No matter how many resources he has, they’re geographically limited, and the CIA—especially Panetta—doesn’t think much of the chips he can offer.
So, Grasse wanting to claim all the glory and benefits for himself is a stretch. However, just being able to connect his superiors with Panetta would already be a major achievement. If not a monumental one, it would at least prove that Grasse is someone who can get things done—big things.