In an unassuming small bar in Antwerp''s port district, Mark Vlaminck and Ivan Sernechevich sat facing each other at a small table in the corner. On the table sat a glass of beer, a bottle of Russian "Green Label" vodka, a serving of fries, and a small plate of pickles.
The bar''s lights were off, and the atmosphere was a bit dim. Mark had specifically chosen a seat with his back to the window, allowing him to observe his companion in the slanting sunlight, while Sernechevich couldn’t clearly see Mark''s facial expressions.
They had been chatting aimlessly for a while, but Mark hadn''t mentioned anything about buying a ship. Observing Sernechevich''s growing impatience as he repeatedly tried to broach the topic, the Belgian finally confirmed that the man was very eager to captain the "Kristo."
When the vodka bottle was down to less than half, Mark drained his beer, set down the glass, and said, "To be honest with you, my boss doesn’t plan to buy the ''Kristo'' just to transport peanuts." He paused before continuing, "The cargo will involve some risks, but loading and unloading will be done on the high seas. Your only job is to get the goods from Point A to Point B."
Sernechevich''s expression shifted slightly, but he remained silent.
"Woldenberg is about to retire, and that ship needs a new captain. Gusan recommended you to me, saying you''re the ideal candidate. I asked my boss last night, and he said that if you’re willing, you’ve got the job."
"Hmm—"
Sensing his interest, Mark added persuasively, "He’s also offering you double the salary, and an extra $20,000 upon the cargo''s successful delivery."
Sernechevich listened without interruption, then smiled and extended his hand. "Please tell your boss, he''s got himself a captain."
"Great!" Mark shook his hand and added, "I''ll confirm the ship purchase with Gusan tonight. But the first shipment schedule is tight, and my boss hopes for a quick departure."
"When are you planning to set off?"
"The transfer paperwork will take about a week. You’ll need to handle any crew changes and prepare for the voyage in the meantime."
"No problem."
"And about the choice for the new first officer—any thoughts?"
"Don’t worry about that," Sernechevich replied confidently. "I know plenty of sailors in Antwerp, a few of whom are reliable enough for the role."
"Alright, it’s up to you."A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Mark stood up, they shook hands again, and then left the bar after settling the bill.
Johan Schlink was efficient. By the time Deng Shiyang returned to Durban that afternoon and opened his computer, he found an email from him. Inside was a bank account and a detailed breakdown listing the price per unit and quantity for various weapons and ammunition, as well as the total expenditure.
Weapons:
- Mini-SS Light Machine Gun: $1,460/unit (20 units) - $29,200
- SS-77 Machine Gun: $2,360/unit (20 units) - $47,200
- Note: Each weapon includes a spare barrel and cleaning kit.
- MGL MK-1L Grenade Launcher: $2,500/unit (20 units) - $50,000
- RPG-7 Rocket Launcher with PGN-1 night vision scope: $1,200/unit (10 units) - $12,000
- M8 81mm Mortar: $13,000/unit (3 units) - $39,000
Total: $177,400
Ammunition:
- 81mm Mortar Shells: $240/unit (300 units) - $78,000
- PG-7VS (HEAT-FRAG): $250/unit (400 units) - $100,000
- M381 40mm Low-Pressure Grenades (with M552 fuse): $50/unit (3,000 units) - $150,000
- M680 40mm Low-Pressure Smock Grenades: $30/unit (1,000 units) - $30,000
- M26 Hand Grenades: $18/unit (5,000 units) - $90,000
- .223 Caliber Bullets: $260/1,000 rounds (500,000 rounds) - $130,000
- .308 Caliber Bullets: $510/1,000 rounds (400,000 rounds) - $204,000
Total:$782,000
Other Expenses:
- End-User Certificate: $95,940
- Processing Fees: $95,940
Grand Total: $1,151,280
Deng Shiyang double-checked the figures and used his computer to verify the total before forwarding the quote to Harobi''s email.
"What’s with this quote?" Harobi voiced his dissatisfaction over the phone at the start of the evening briefing. "We’re nearly over budget already, and that’s without the rifles."
Keith immediately defended, "You know that arms pricing isn''t fixed; we can only estimate costs when planning. Plus, South Africa''s regulations are stricter now, so additional costs are unavoidable. That’s why we kept a reserve in the budget."
"But remember, that reserve is limited."
"Alright, my oversight," Deng Shiyang interjected, having remained silent until now. "I don’t know if the R5s are truly discontinued, or if he''s lying to push those MAZ rifles on me. Either way, I don''t want to risk buying questionable arms."
"I agree with JD''s decision," Keith backed him up before Harobi could respond. "Du Preez said the guy isn’t capable of trafficking arms, so I suspect that stock is being o some black-market dealer. Of course, if you’re willing to take that risk, we can go ahead with the purchase."
"No!" Harobi said quickly. "I’ll find a solution for the rifles. Don''t act on this without my say-so."
Deng Shiyang shot Keith a meaningful look, then continued, "If you’re okay with this quote, please transfer the $120,000 to the account listed in the email."
There was silence on the other end. Despite his frustration with the two of them for working in tandem, Harobi eventually agreed to the request.
"Anything else to report?"
"Yes," Deng Shiyang replied. "Mark called this afternoon. He’s already found a new captain for the ship and reached a verbal agreement with FEMAS. He said he’ll ask a contact experienced in ship transactions to draft the transfer contract, and we should send him the buyer’s information as soon as possible."
"No problem."
"And, SkyLink’s two helicopters are priced at $1.98 million each. Not sure how much we can negotiate, but they agreed to a full inspection."
"That’s acceptable. Keep pushing for a better price and verify flight hours and maintenance records carefully."
"Got it."
"We’re nearly out of funds from the last disbursement," Deng Shiyang added. "Also, we need funds for clothing and equipment."
"How much?"
"Another ￡30,000."
After a brief pause, Harobi replied, "I’ll approve the ￡30,000, but make sure it’s put to good use."
The call concluded before 9 p.m.