“In other words, they won’t be buying as much bioenergetic jade from Anorco as you’d hoped.” Sunto gave Wyles a shrewd look. “But if I know you, Art, you’ve already figured out a way to make the shifting political winds blow a few hundred million thalirs into your pocket.”
“And yours as well,” Wyles replied. “Operation Firebreak is going to be scaled down, at least officially. But even if the National Assembly and the Espenian public lack the political will to fight the proselytizing of the Ygutanian Protecks, there are devoted Truthbearers in the War Department and in the Munitions Society and, confidentially, in the Premier’s Office as well. Men of reason who won’t let shortsightedness put the world at risk of being overrun by unTruthful ways.”
Wyles handed Sunto an envelope. With curiosity, the former soldier removed the pages inside and began to read. The man’s face remained composed as he took in the meaning of the contents, but the rapid rustling of the pages soon betrayed his excitement. “Is this . . .”
“A confidential memo from the secretary of the War Department, authorizing the engagement of private military contractors in Operation Firebreak.” Wyles sipped from his glass tumbler with a smile.
Sunto looked up from the papers, stunned. “Art, this is a huge step. Maybe too huge.”
“It’s our big break, Jim,” Wyles said. “There’s only one PMC with jade-equipped, IBJCS-trained personnel capable of fulfilling this government mandate, and that’s GSI.”
Sunto slowly folded the memo and returned it to the envelope, staring awestruck at it in his hands as if it were the original scripture of the Seer. “I always knew that once I got it off the ground, there would be demand for GSI’s services.” He stood and paced back and forth in front of Wyles’s bookshelves, his brow knitted as he absorbed the implications. “This is what I hoped for all along, but it’s happening sooner than I expected. I’ve been building GSI and taking on clients gradually. I don’t have enough qualified people, equipment, or bioenergetic jade for an operation of this scale.”
Wyles steepled his fingers. “I’m prepared to put another three hundred million thalirs into GSI.”
Sunto broke into a cough. When he recovered, he exclaimed, “That would make . . .”
“GSI a subsidiary of Anorco Global Resources. I’m offering to buy you out, Jim. You’d remain president and CEO, of course.” He gestured out the window toward the Amaric Ocean where his ships were churning the seafloor. “Anorco has the capital and the jade. GSI has the expertise and personnel. Together, we have a vertically integrated private army. One that’ll make us rich, but even more importantly, beat back encroaching unTruth around the world.”
Jo Boy Gasson was not the only one with a knack for putting money on a sure thing. With the acquisition of GSI, Wyles’s conglomerate would own the means of procuring jade as well as soldiers with the ability to use it. And, as president of the Munitions Society, Wyles would possess the political connections and influence in Adamont Capita to make wars happen. “I realize this is a lot to digest,” Wyles said. “But my advice is that you start stepping up your recruitment efforts.”
“God, Seer, and Truth,” Sunto muttered. He held out his whiskey glass. “Let’s have another drink.”
CHAPTER
34
Unreasonable
the twentieth year, second month
Our college student gets to pick first,” Hilo announced, brushing aside Jaya’s quick reach toward the plate of sticky fruit cakes that Wen placed in the center of the dining table. “Ru’s the one we’re celebrating tonight. Go on, son, take the one you want.”
Ru elbowed his sister out of the way and chose the peach cake. “Good choice,” Hilo said, putting an arm around Ru’s shoulders. “Always go for the best.” The teenager grinned blearily. His high school graduation ceremony had been yesterday, and he’d woken up around noon after a night of partying with his classmates. Tonight’s dinner had been a celebratory meal with all of Ru’s favorite foods—short ribs with red pepper sauce, shrimp cake, crispy fried green beans—and now the new graduate was too full to even finish his cake. Koko sat eagerly thumping his tail and eating morsels that Ru snuck him under the table.
After the upcoming New Year’s break, Ru would enter Jan Royal University. The campus was less than thirty minutes away by subway, but Ru had decided to live in student housing to get the full college experience. Hilo understood. At eighteen, the young man needed to break away from his parents. He was the only one of his siblings and cousins not to have lived at Kaul Du Academy. Nevertheless, the thought of his son moving out saddened Hilo. Ru was the most agreeable of his children. He didn’t have moods like Niko or a temper like Jaya. He got along with everyone and only ever ran into trouble as a result of jumping at ideas without entirely thinking them through, which was natural for a teenage boy. Occasionally he clashed with his mother, but only, Hilo thought, because Wen was too hard on him. Overall, he was a joy to have around; it would be too quiet without him.