American Tax Officer

He assumed that David wanted his help in extraditing Rodrigozki.

"You misunderstand, Consul, I don't need your help, I just want to make a deal with you."

"A deal?"

A look of confusion appeared on Tugenev's face.

David pulled out the files of the five from Elsina and pushed them across to Tugenev.

Tugenev paused momentarily before picking up the files and flipping through them, but soon, after digesting the contents, his complexion turned dark.

"Consul, these five individuals are suspected of espionage in our country, and according to criminal law, they should receive severe punishment. Luckily for them, they fell into the hands of our Tax Bureau rather than the FBI or CIA. So, I'm thinking of exchanging them for Rodrigozki. What do you think?"

In fact, after reviewing the files of the five individuals, Tugenev had already guessed David's intention, so he wasn't surprised when he heard this offer.

But after contemplating for a while, he still refused, "No, we will not make the exchange."

Firstly, Bear Country and America had always been arch-enemies, and the Rodrigozki affair had stirred up a storm.

If they from Bear Country were to extradite Rodrigozki to America, what would other countries think of them?

And what about the people of Bear Country?

Other nations would think that Bear Country was showing weakness in the face of America, choosing not to protect its own citizens.

This would be an incredibly weak action!

It concerned the face of Bear Country!

David let out a cold laugh and said, "Not exchanging? I'm afraid your citizens would not agree to that!"

"What do you mean?"

Tugenev frowned.

"If you refuse to exchange, I will immediately hold a press conference and announce this to the world, telling everyone that, between the five warriors who served their country and a despicable drug dealer, you chose the drug dealer. Afterward, I will impose the death penalty on these five individuals. How do you think your citizens will view you then?"

"You..."

Tugenev's forehead veins popped, clearly infuriated.

If David truly announced this to the world, setting aside how other nations would view Bear Country, their own citizens would definitely be enraged.

The citizens would accuse the officials of Bear Country of abandoning the loyal servants of the nation for a worthless drug dealer.

And this would also chill the hearts of other spies and agents of the Bear Country Security Bureau.

David's move was ruthlessly cunning!

"Consul, exchanging Rodrigozki with us might tarnish Bear Country's dignity, but your citizens will surely understand. If you refuse, you will find it very difficult to explain to your citizens," David argued.

Of course, Tugenev understood this logic.

He also knew how David operated, as the latter had said that if they didn't exchange, the five spies would face the death penalty.

What is the death penalty?

Like the other members of the Rodrigozki Group before them, it would certainly mean an outrageously long prison sentence of a thousand years.

If that happened, he feared that their country's public outburst would be even worse.

After deliberating for a while, Tugenev realized that the decision was out of his hands and said gravely, "I need to make a phone call."

David made a gesture of 'please, go ahead.'

About half an hour later, Tugenev returned with a heavy expression and said, "In addition to these five individuals, I suppose another four of our people have fallen into your hands, right?"

David responded, "Your intelligence is quite accurate."

"Including these four, we agree to the exchange," said Tugenev.

David sneered condescendingly, "One drug dealer in exchange for nine of your elite talents? That's a bad deal."

"Your Tax Bureau has no use for them, you just want some tax money, which we can provide."

"Sorry, but there is no discussion about those four. I am willing to offer these five for exchange, which already represents a significant gesture of good faith. Don't push your luck. If you really want to exchange, you could talk to the CIA as I believe they too have caught quite a few of your Bear Country agents."

Tugenev's brow furrowed deeply, and after a long pause, he finally spoke, "We have some conditions."

"Let's hear them."

"First, this matter proceeds discreetly; we will not publish any statement about exchanging people with you, and second, you must not announce it!"

"I can accept not making a public statement about the exchange with your side, but I can't agree to keeping it discreet. In any case, I won't involve your officials, but as to how the media and public speculate, I cannot control that."

Tugenev pondered again before finally nodding in agreement, "So how do we make the exchange?"

"Very simple, you can arrange for someone to take your people away and send them back to your country right now. As for Rodrigozki, have him delivered here by 9 AM tomorrow morning. That shouldn't be a problem for you, right?"

Upon hearing this, Tugenev was taken aback, then asked, "We can take our people back to our country now? Aren't you afraid that once we send our people back, we won't deliver Rodrigozki to you?"

David flashed his bright white teeth and casually replied, "Do you think, having managed to capture your nine spies, I can't catch more spies lurking in other places?"

Tugenev's expression froze.

David's words were a warning—if he dared renege on the deal, many of Bear Country's spies would suffer the consequences.