[A/N: Hello everyone.
Thanks for supporting the novel and continuing to read. The chapters are over now, or at least for now, hahaha.
Can you please rate my novel?]
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In the morning.
I was carefully looking at one of the steps in point 6, "Searching Clandestine Markets", when I remembered a rather important event in my work.
About two years ago, I was delivering one of the orders I had that day. My truck was in perfect condition, and the cargo I was carrying consisted of some electronic products. It was the first load I'd ever carried of this type, and I had to be very careful. I arrived at the delivery location and began unloading the boxes with some of the workers there. But what surprised me most was that some of them, directed by their supervisor, began transporting some of the products to private trucks. However, since it wasn't my job to check where the products ended up, I didn't pay much attention.
Although there was a problem at the end of the delivery: when I asked the supervisor to sign the invoice, he asked me to come back another day to complete it, as the person in charge of signing documents wasn't there. However, as protocol dictated, I asked him to sign the invoice again, but he insisted he couldn't complete the paperwork. So, I called Rick, my supervisor, to ask him what I should do. He immediately told me to stay put and that he would take care of everything. After a few minutes, the supervisor from this company returned and, with a bad attitude, signed the papers for me, but not before threatening me, which I dismissed as just bad behavior on his part.
Upon returning to the company, I consulted with Rick again about what had happened earlier. He explained to me that this is a company that has illegal dealings with some of the gangs and that they trick their customers into believing that the stolen products they have are legal. They exchange the stolen products for the products we deliver to them, sell them, and if they have legal problems, they refer the problem to the shipping company that delivers the products, in this case our company. After explaining everything to me, Rick mentioned that the boss would blacklist them, as this is the third time this kind of problem has happened to him.
"Now I'll have to contact some of them", I told myself, remembering that problem I had a few years ago.
The only good thing is that there are other companies like them operating in gray areas, not as obvious and a little more professional in their work. Our company works with them on legal business, and they operate illegal products through other shell companies.
"I'll call Ron. I have no other choice", I thought resignedly as I looked up his contact information on my cell phone and immediately dialed the number.
"Hello? Who is this?", the voice on the other end asked.
"It's Alex", I said in a serious tone.
"Alex? Which Alex?", he asked again.
"The truck driver", I said.
"Oh! The transporter, hahaha", he said, laughing.
"I'm not bald", I said, annoyed.
"Hahaha… You always fall for the same joke", he said, almost choking on his laughter. "What do you need? Are you going to accept my job offer?", he asked.
"No. It's something else...", I said as I was about to explain what I needed, but he interrupted me before I could finish.
"Come on, I need a driver like you. I'll pay you well", he said, trying to tempt me.
"No, I'm doing very well in my current job", I said in a serious tone to show how convinced I was not to get involved in that kind of work. "Why do you want me to work for you? You've already offered it to me several times", I asked curiously.
"Because you're the kind of driver I need the most", he said, laughing.
"What kind of driver am I?", I said, a little annoyed, thinking he was making fun of me.
"The one who just drives and doesn't ask questions", he said in a serious tone, displaying a different attitude than he usually displays.
"Anyway, I don't need to change jobs right now. What I need is a favor from you", I said in a softer tone, showing that I would consider his proposal if necessary.
"Tell me, I'm all ears", he said, returning to his usual demeanor.
"I need to buy some things that aren't generally available to the general public", I said, sounding somewhat embarrassed.
"Hahaha… And you didn't want to work for me, yet you're asking me for these kinds of products", he said, laughing loudly.
"It's not that, Ron", I said, trying to explain myself.
"Hahaha… I know, I was just joking", he said, still laughing. "But no matter how hard you ask me, I won't sell you drugs. I know you, and I don't want you to fall into these kinds of vices", he said, his demeanor changing suddenly again.
"Could it be bipolar?", I thought before answering. "No, don't worry, it's not that. I need some medicine, and in large quantities", I said in a calm tone, showing him that this wasn't what he thought.
"Are you sure it's not drugs?", he asked. "Well, if it's not that, no problem", he said after seeing me deny his question.
"Great, I didn't know who else to call", I said, a little cheerfully.
"What exactly do you need?", he asked.
"Anything you can get", I said, convinced.
"Are you going into the pharmaceutical business?", he asked.
"It's not that", I said.
"I've already seen the series Breaking Bad, and it'll end badly for you", he said mockingly.
"I'm telling you, it's not that", I said, annoyed.
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[A/N: Alex White will be his name from now on, hahaha just kidding.]
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"Hahaha… So why do you want so many medications?", he asked me after he stopped laughing.
"A little paranoia", I said, avoiding the real reason.
"Paranoia? Well, this paranoia will cost you dearly", he said.
"I have money, or rather, I'll buy as much as I can with what I have", I said hesitantly. It seemed that spending a lot of money isn't everyone's cup of tea, after all.
"Are you sure?", he asked again. It seemed he didn't want me to regret this decision later.
"Yes, I'm sure", I said without hesitation.
"Well, since I like you, I'll get you whatever you want, and I'll only ask for a small advance. However, if the business you have planned doesn't work out, you can pay me back. It's a kind of loan, but only because I like you, Alex", he said, proposing a plan.
"His help could be very useful", I thought, as I analyzed how much I could save with Ron's proposal. "I'd like to accept your offer, but I don't want to hurt you", I said after analyzing the situation a bit. "Relax, no problem. Just take care of the product I'm going to sell you so you can return it if your plans don't work out", Ron told me.
"Really?", I asked again, just to be sure. I didn't want to be in debt to someone who can be so dangerous if you go against him.
"Of course! Trust me", he said. "Is there anything else you need?", he asked.
"Well… To be honest, I do need your help with something else", I said, a little embarrassed.
"Tell me, what do you need?", he asked. He didn't seem bothered by my repeated requests.
"Hmm… Well, it's a little complicated", I said hesitantly. "I need weapons", I said in a low voice, almost a whisper.
"I have good hearing, but just to check. Repeat what you said", he said hesitantly. He seemed to find my request a bit odd coming from me.
"I need weapons", I said, but this time with a firm tone.
"Fuuu… I'll get them for you", he said after letting out a long sigh after looking at me in surprise. "But you have to tell me what you need them for", he said in a firm tone, showing that he wasn't going to take a "no" for an answer.
"Yeah, if I told you, you wouldn't believe me", I said in a resigned tone of voice.
"Look, you tell me the reason and I'll decide whether I believe you or not", he said in the same serious tone of voice. "I just want to know that you won't use them for anything bad. I don't want you to get in trouble, or make a really bad decision", he said in a slightly softer tone of voice, as if he were trying to show that he was only worried about me.
"It's not what you imagine", I said, responding to what Ron had thought I thought he was going to do with the guns. "It's just that the reason is a little illogical… even to me", I said in the same resigned tone of voice.
"A woman isn't worth what you're planning to do", he said, somewhat frustrated, not quite believing what I was saying. "You like women, right?", he said with a small chuckle as if to lighten the mood.
"It's not because of a woman… And of course he likes women", I said, a little annoyed by his assumptions. "It's just that a big problem is coming for everyone, and I need guns to protect myself and those close to me. Besides, I don't need one gun; I need a lot of guns", I said after thinking about it for a while, and considering excuses Ron might believe.
"A problem?", I murmured doubtfully. "What kind of problem could make you want so many guns? I'm sorry I don't believe your word, but now it seems illogical to me too", he said after thinking a bit about what I had said. He couldn't seem to think of any event that would justify me asking him for guns.
"Hmm… well, I don't know how to explain it", I said hesitantly. "Do you remember COVID?", I asked.
"Of course, I remember", he replied. "I have information about a similar virus, but this time it won't end as easily as that pandemic did, if you can call it easy, considering the consequences of this virus", I told him after thinking of a logical excuse for the approaching apocalypse.
"You're telling me that a worse pandemic than the last one is coming, and that this one will be so dangerous that you'll need a lot of weapons. Is that what you mean?", he asked after analyzing what I had said.
"Exactly", I said, a little cheerfully, since Ron would be the first person I could bear the burden of knowing the impending catastrophe. "I guess he believes me", I thought.
"Although it sounds reasonable. It's still crazy", he said, not fully believing my explanation. "Who gave you that information?", he asked, as if seeking an explanation for my excuse.
"I can't tell you", I told him as if I were keeping a capital secret, although the truth was, I didn't want to tell him the reasons, or he'd see me as crazy. "However, you're a man with many connections. Surely you can find information about this government's preparations, about people with resources, or perhaps even information from abroad", I said, trying to find a way out of an explanation I didn't want to give him.
"So, you can't say it", he said hesitantly. "Well, you're right about that. I have people I can ask, and if your source is right, then I'll be very grateful. The last pandemic almost took my baby, and if I can prevent something similar from happening to him, I'll owe you a debt", he said, moved by his memories. "He probably had a really bad time during the previous pandemic", I thought after hearing his tone.
"Honestly, I also hope my source is wrong", I said, sounding dejected. "It would be better for everyone than nothing at all. You have nothing to thank me for; with what you're doing, you're helping me a lot. I hope it won't be necessary to use all the things you're going to get me", I told him, grateful for everything he was doing.
"I hope the same too. I'll let you know if this information is true after consulting with some acquaintances", he told me, sharing the sentiment. "On the other hand, as for the weapons, I can't get them for you directly", he said, trying to change the subject.
"So, I won't be able to get them?", I asked, a little discouraged.
"No. I mean, I don't do that kind of business, but I know the people who deal in those kinds of goods", he explained.
"Uh-huh… You can give me their phone number and I'll contact them", I said, trying not to bother him with more requests.
"Hahaha… Don't worry. I'll take care of it", he said after laughing a little. "Besides, you don't want to get involved with those people", he said to me in a serious tone.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Thanks everyone for reading.
Alex starts preparing items that are difficult to acquire through normal means.
Will he get in trouble for teaming up with Ron?
Comment if you have any questions or find any mistakes.
Read my other novel called Vinland Kingdom: Race Against Time.
You can find it on my profile.]