The Plane War Begins from Wandering Earth

Chapter 181 180. Guide Hannibal Zhou

Overcome it?
This almost made Marshal Stek laugh.

Not to mention the maintenance of the three mechas, even the salaries of the internal personnel of each Broken Dome base are a huge expense every month.

What's more, the three mechas had just dealt with a Kaiju and saved the people of a city.

How could Marshal Steck accept such treatment of a "meritorious official"?
He knew that with the introduction of the "Wall of Life" plan, PPDC would definitely reduce its support for the "Hunter Plan".

But he didn't expect these politicians to be so realistic. When the giant mechas were killing everyone in the Pacific Rim and dealing with those Kaiju, the top leaders of PPDC would visit the various Shattered Dome bases to express their condolences every once in a while.

Various military, technological, and economic support have never stopped.

But now, giant mechas are no longer popular.

Those huge walls made of reinforced concrete have become the new "star project".

In fact, ppdc had no choice but to do so.

In the long run, the cost of manpower and material resources consumed by the "Wall of Life" will not be much less than that of the "Hunter Project".

The most important thing is that this new plan, which has been generally recognized by all member states within PPDC, has begun to be fully implemented.

ppdc's annual funding expenditure is limited, all of which comes from the funds raised by each member.

Now they are investing all their money in the "Wall of Life" project.

The funds originally allocated to the "Hunter Plan" naturally dropped drastically.

Coupled with the withdrawal of the "big money sponsor": Europe, the total military expenditure of PPDC has become even more stretched.

The funds allocated to the "Hunter Project" are barely enough to cover the salary expenses of the base personnel.

Marshal Steck was both angry and helpless.

A penny can make a hero fail, and a good cook cannot cook without rice.

At this time, let alone the plan to rebuild the "Danger Wanderer", even the repair and maintenance of the three damaged mechas became a problem.

After the news came out, the students and workers in the Broken Dome Base couldn't believe it.

They were ruthlessly abandoned by ppdc.

They were once hunter trainees and base staff, and were the envy of countless people in the entire Pacific Rim region.

I never thought that there would be a day when I would be "abandoned".

While everyone was angry at PPDC for "demolishing the bridge after crossing it", they were also worried about the "Hunter Project" and the future of the Broken Dome Base.

As the people who have the closest interests to the "Hunter Plan", it can be said that we all prosper together and suffer together.

Once the base is closed and the "Hunter Program" is officially shut down, many of them will lose their jobs and become refugees.

As a result, many trainees and base employees spontaneously petitioned Marshal Steck, expressing their willingness to reduce their salaries so that the base could use the money and resources on the repair and maintenance of the mechas and help the base overcome the difficulties.

The performance of the mecha is closely related to the future of the trainees and base employees.

No one wants to see the giant mecha lose the battle with Kaiju due to lack of maintenance.

Marshal Steck was deeply moved by the actions of the students and base staff.

"The power system and firepower system of the Cherno Alpha are intact, but the outer shell armor is a little damaged, so it just needs to be repainted.

The Eureka Raiders were not seriously injured in the battle and were undergoing routine maintenance.

But the Storm Crimson is in some trouble..."

Faced with limited maintenance funds, Marshal Steck had to be thrifty.

But even if all the salaries of the people at the Broken Dome Base this month were taken out, it would only be enough to repair three mechas.

As for renovating and repairing the "Danger Wanderer" and restoring its combat effectiveness, it is simply a fantasy.

Marshal Stack was in a headache. He cursed the senior officials of PPDC and racked his brains to think of a way to break the deadlock.

At this moment, the base trainee and his adopted daughter Mori Asako reported that the black market businessman named "Hannibal Zhou" came to visit.

"Hannibal Cho? The notorious black marketeer?"

Marshal Steck frowned. He never looked down upon these rats in the gutter, black market traders, gang leaders, and "white gloves" who laundered money for illegal officials...

"Yes, and he specifically asked to see you, claiming that he had a great gift for you, and that unless you were willing to see him, nothing else would be allowed."

Asako Mori was also a little curious. The black market businessman wanted to meet the commander-in-chief of the "Hunter Project"?
This is as bizarre as a thief asking to see the police.

Big gift?

Marshal Stek had some thoughts in his mind, and did not order the expulsion of the daring black marketeer.

After hesitating for a while, he agreed to meet.

Soon, the base guards carefully searched Hannibal Zhou's body and confirmed that he did not have any lethal weapons before allowing him to enter the base.

"In fact, there is no need for you to be so serious. Even if you give me a gun, I won't be stupid enough to fight with a legendary mecha pilot like Marshal Steck. That would be suicide..."

Hannibal Zhou shouted loudly as if no one was around.

However, the base guards and the students watching did not deny this.

Marshal Stek once operated the "Tango Wolf" mecha alone and killed the "Demon Witch" when the co-pilot was killed. He is a legendary pilot with full strength and charm.

Hannibal Zhou, on the other hand, looked like a gangster leader who had been drained of his body by alcohol and sex, and was not worth a single leg hair of the marshal.

Among the students watching, Liu Qi was prominently present.

In order not to reveal their identities, Liu Qi and his companions never contacted the United Government after entering the base. Therefore, they did not know Hannibal Zhou's intention.

After looking into his eyes, I could only pretend not to know him.

After seeing these familiar figures, Hannibal Zhou raised his eyebrows and walked straight towards the marshal's office.

"I have to say, you are the most courageous black marketeer I have ever met."

When they first met, Stack didn't give the other party a good look.

But Hannibal Zhou didn't take it to heart.

"Your Excellency Marshal, you know that I am a businessman."

"Business? Bribing officials, buying off the guards at the PPDC, stealing the corpses of the Kaiju, and selling them around the world.

Honestly, if I were in charge of the audit, you would have died eight or ten times over."

"But I'm still alive, right?
Existence is reasonable. There is naturally a meaning for people like me to exist in this world, isn't it?

If you're just testing each other, there's no need to continue.

This time I came here with sincerity.”

Marshal Stack did not say anything after hearing this, but just looked at Hannibal Zhou opposite him quietly. It was obvious that he was very interested in the "sincerity" mentioned by the other party.

"The corpse of the 'Electric Blade' monster, in exchange for a completely intact 'Danger Wanderer'!"

"What do you mean?"

"Marshal, help me obtain the official monster corpse mining rights from PPDC.

I will be able to reward you with enough funds and resources to completely repair the Dangerous Wanderer!"

After hearing this, Marshal Stek's expression gradually turned cold.

It wasn't that he felt that doing so violated his inner moral code.

In fact, the monster corpses were of no use to him. He would be more than happy to use them to exchange for money to repair his precious giant mecha.

But he believed in his heart that the black marketeer in front of him was talking nonsense.

It's not like he hasn't thought about similar ideas to raise funds.

But turning the corpse of a kaiju into money requires a variety of tedious processes.

In order to cut up the monster's corpse and ensure that the body and the surrounding environment are not contaminated by the monster's flesh and blood, and to find potential buyers, a strong "express delivery" channel is also needed, and the PPDC and official personnel from various countries involved must also be taken care of.

After such a tedious operation, the corpse of a Kaiju is worth only a few hundred million dollars on the black market.

Excluding "mining", channels, relationship management and various costs, Hannibal Zhou could only earn 30 to 50 million at best.

And how expensive is the Danger Wanderer?
The shell alone costs $3.72 million, the power system costs $388 billion, and the weapons and equipment cost about $288 billion, for a total of about $691.12 billion.

This is also the reason why PPDC is unwilling to continue the "Hunter Plan" because it is too expensive.

Although the above exaggerated cost includes the expensive research and development costs, the cost of just repairing it would be much less.

But it will take at least tens of billions to accomplish.

Marshal Stack didn't think that a mere black market businessman could come up with so much money.

Even if the other party really has it, he would never be crazy enough to make such an unequal transaction.

“Either you take me for an ass, or you’re an ass.

You better give me a reasonable explanation before I send you to the Bay Dock Prison."

"Oh, oh, oh! Marshal, I must admit that you are as wise as the rumors say.

Well, I can only be honest with you.

My financial backer is the coalition government!"

Hannibal Zhou spread his hands, but the raised corners of his mouth and his inadvertently exposed gold teeth proved his inner pride.

"United Government?!"

That mysterious and intimidating coalition government actually likes this damn black marketeer?
Marshal Steck was filled with confusion.

But I have to say, this identity sounds much more reliable.

“Yes, I am now a candidate citizen of the coalition government.

Mr. Gust, a big shot in the coalition government, told me personally that in the near future, I might be one of the first people to obtain citizenship of the coalition government...

Having said that, the great coalition government is very dissatisfied with the PPDC because it disregards the safety of life and property of people in the Pacific Rim region.

The 'Wall of Life' plan is far less reliable than the 'Hunter Plan'.

The best defense is offense!

This is what Lord Gust said himself. He admires those who are in darkness but still believe in light.

Therefore the Coalition Government is willing to support you.

And Marshal, you don’t have to worry about being targeted by PPDC. You can use the name of cooperation with me to avoid being exposed…”

Hannibal Chau's big mouth chatters away, and his words are as tempting as the devil's whispers.

Marshal Stek had to admit that he was deeply moved.

(End of this chapter)