Chapter 2695 - 2669: The Traitor’s Sorrow

Quick on the uptake, no need for nonsense—dealing with smart people is a pleasure.

Gao Yang smiled at Baskov, then he nodded and said, "That’s exactly what I mean. I hope to cooperate with you. Sorry, I don’t like using such blunt words, but you said that to you the Black Demon is like a soldier’s old unit, so I think there are some things it’s better to make clear in advance, to avoid any misunderstanding between us."

Baskov said with a grim face, "Calling it an old unit is just a metaphor. You should understand that the Black Demon is not something an ordinary unit can be compared with."

Gao Yang spread his hands and said, "But you’re right. I don’t want any unpleasantness because I overestimated your feelings for the Black Demon and ended up making some request you can’t agree to. So, we talk about cooperation first, then feelings—no, I said that wrong. It should be we talk about interests first, then feelings."

Baskov started laughing. Looking at Gao Yang, he said, "All right, what you’re saying makes sense. Then please tell me, on what basis do you think you’re qualified to cooperate with me on equal footing? Just because you have a strong hand of cards? With all due respect, your assets are indeed something no one in the Underworld dares ignore, but compared with the state of Russia, heh."

Gao Yang said very seriously, "I never sought to move into Russia because there’s nothing to be made there. So please widen your view to the whole world. Mr. Baskov, if the KGB only ever operated inside Russia, then just pretend I never said anything."

The KGB is gone; now it’s the Russian Federal Security Service. The name KGB is gone, but it’s really just a change of name, that’s all. How could Russia’s current Foreign Intelligence Service possibly not operate worldwide? How could it!

As long as the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service is still active across the world, then Gao Yang has a status equal to Baskov’s, and the qualification to cooperate on equal terms.

Baskov nodded and said to Gao Yang, "Outside of Russia, you and I are indeed equals. That’s right, you’re qualified to conduct an equal-status deal with me. So go ahead."

Gao Yang smiled and said, "I’ve got some trouble that’s not really trouble, involving the CIA, the Shah Intelligence Agency, and IS. Given Russia’s current level of involvement in Syria, I believe you’ll be interested."

Baskov extended his hand. "Please, go on."

Gao Yang slowly recounted his feud with IS, and how it ended up involving the Shah Intelligence Agency and the CIA. Basically, he didn’t hide anything.

Baskov was a smart man—more importantly, he was an exceptionally favorable partner to work with. So Gao Yang dared to show some of his cards to Baskov; he also had no choice but to lay a few on the table.

But what gave Gao Yang the confidence to reveal a few cards to Baskov was, above all, the fact that he was the Black Demon’s captain.

Gao Yang laid out everything he wanted to say to Baskov, and Baskov would occasionally raise a question, which Gao Yang would then answer in detail.

Finally, Gao Yang said to Baskov, "The cooperation I’m seeking is to get more detailed intelligence from you, and to obtain the KGB’s cooperation so we can pull off this fishing operation and reel in the real big fish."

Baskov looked at Gao Yang, half smiling, half not. "You think it’s IS that has the Shah Intelligence Agency and the CIA investigating you?"

Gao Yang shook his head. "No. But I believe if we follow this line of investigation, we’ll be able to find Badadi."

Baskov let out a breath and said, "Good. You almost made me doubt your IQ. Because IS is just a dog co-raised by the CIA and the Shah, and a dog doesn’t have the right to order its masters around."

Gao Yang laughed. "Dealing with the masters is your job. That’s a game I can’t afford to play. So all I want is to defuse the crisis, and while I’m at it, track down that dog and beat it to death."

Baskov laughed very happily. He suddenly reached out and patted Gao Yang’s shoulder, saying with a smile, "You’re already playing that game."

Gao Yang froze for a moment. Baskov exhaled and said, "We can cooperate. Let’s settle it at that."

Gao Yang smiled. "I haven’t said how we’re going to cooperate yet."

Baskov shook his head. "No need. I know. Seems you’re not very familiar with intelligence work. And there’s something else I need to tell you—you’ve got one thing wrong."

"What is it?"

"Even if you and I are equal in status, I still wouldn’t cooperate with someone from the Underworld. Do you know why? Because working with you might be good for Russia, but it wouldn’t do me personally any good at all! The only reason I’m willing to cooperate with you is because I’m Black Demon!"

Gao Yang’s expression turned solemn, then he bowed his head slightly to Baskov and said in a low voice, "I’m sorry. Please accept my sincere apology."

Baskov sighed. "I accept your apology. Putting interests before feelings is indeed the right order. But you need to understand, the Black Demon’s bonds are not something any interest can shake."

Gao Yang nodded again. "I understand."

Baskov exhaled and waved his hand at Gao Yang. "Let Glewatov discuss the specifics of the cooperation with me, because I can see you really don’t understand intelligence work very well. Talking about many things with you would be pointless. Is there anything else?"

Gao Yang said at once, "Yes, and it’s something even more important!"

"Go ahead."

Gao Yang said quietly, "Yarebin’s health isn’t very good, and he’s very old."

Baskov only nodded in silence.

Gao Yang continued in a low voice, "I hope that after the teacher passes away, we can let him rest here forever. You’re the only one who can help with this."

Pain slowly surfaced on Baskov’s face. He slowly shook his head and said, "I’m sorry. In this matter, I’m powerless."

Gao Yang asked in surprise, "Why? It’s just a small matter. Once he’s gone, it’s only about burying him here. You’re not willing to help?"

Baskov looked somewhat angry. He said in a low voice, "You have no idea what the Black Demon means to Russia! You think Yarebin’s death would mean everything is over? Impossible! There’s no longer any issue of secrecy now, but Yarebin is such a symbolic figure. He..."

Baskov suddenly shut his mouth. His expression was painfully twisted as he turned his head aside, then he said quietly, "I’m sorry. Shifting responsibility is not something the Black Demon should do. I’ll be blunt: when it comes to getting Yarebin buried here, anyone can bring it up, anyone can do it—except me! I understand the captain’s wishes, but I really can’t do this, simply because I’m Black Demon too."

Realization dawned on Gao Yang. Since Baskov was Black Demon, there were things he truly couldn’t do. Even after so many years, the Black Demon was something Baskov could not touch. This was the sorrow of a traitor. There were things Baskov could quietly take care of, but submitting a request to have Yarebin buried in the New Saintess Cemetery was obviously not something that could be handled quietly.

Once Yarebin passed away, secretly burying him in the New Saintess Cemetery would be easy enough. With Baskov’s power, it would be child’s play.

But Gao Yang would never allow Yarebin to be quietly snuck into the New Saintess Cemetery. If Yarebin was to be laid to rest, it had to be in a grand, honorable funeral, with a monument and a place in the record. And clearly Baskov thought the same way—that’s why he said he couldn’t do it, wouldn’t do it.

Gao Yang said in a deep voice, "I’m sorry. I apologize to you again. Leave this matter to me. I will find a way. I promise!"