While in America, the system says Roosevelt was an emperor.

Bach was so shocked he didn't know what to do. Tom frowned and stared intently at Bach.

Bach felt as if he had returned to Germany, where Tom was his strict instructor. He instinctively raised his right hand and replied:

"Hi!"

Tom was delighted; he had easily revealed the depth of Bach's abilities with a casual remark, and it seemed he could easily manipulate Bach.

Tom stepped forward and questioned in a low voice in German:

Which department are you from?

"Whose men are they?!"

"How long have you been in America? Why are you still wearing this outfit? Are you afraid people won't know you have ties to the Kuomintang?"

Bach already had a high opinion of Tom, and after hearing Tom's Berlin-accented German, he subconsciously assumed Tom was his superior and blurted everything out at once:

"Reporting, sir!"

"I have been working in American intelligence for three years, but I have basically had no contact with Americans."

"Previously, I was simply posing as a smuggler to acquire more strategic materials for the Party and the State."

"Gathering intelligence is just a job that I can do or not do."

"This is my first time being assigned to frontline work, and it was my mistake that the clothes didn't fit properly."

Tom nodded, signaling him to continue, and Bach said:

"Sir, after your promotion, my superiors sent me to contact you, hoping to see if we can obtain more strategic materials from you."

"If possible, I'd also like to extract some information from you while I'm at it."

"By the way, my superior now also works for the New York Department of Finance, his name is..."

Just as Bach was about to say his superior's name, Tom immediately covered Bach's mouth and continued to lecture him in German:

"idiot!"

"Who were your teachers at the intelligence school, and how did they teach you?"

"How come you spilled everything as soon as I said a few words to you?"

"If I were a spy from the U.S. government in disguise, would you have already betrayed your boss?"

"Remember, besides your own superiors, even with me, you should think carefully about whether the information can be revealed."

Bach instantly broke out in a cold sweat, realizing how careless he had been.

As for whether Tom was really a Nazi spy, Bach was absolutely convinced.

Tom's every word and action was entirely for the sake of the Party and the country.

Such a person is not a member of the Party-State, so the man with the small mustache is not a member of the Party-State either.

Bach continued to explain:

"The officer is right!"

"Thank you for your guidance, sir."

"Sir, my grades have always been among the worst in the intelligence school."

"He's repeated a grade several times, otherwise he wouldn't be only responsible for pretending to be a smuggler."

"Gathering intelligence has never been my strong suit."

"This incident happened so suddenly that they sent me to contact you."

Tom continued in a condescending tone:

"Hmph~"

"What a complete idiot, good for nothing but causing trouble!"

Considering Tom's "disguise" in front of the "outsiders," Bach couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

He truly deserves to be called a veteran intelligence worker.

Looks like I still need to practice Bach.

Seeing Tom's serious expression, Bach asked curiously:

"Sir, how long have you been in the United States? You've even gotten close to the head of the Treasury Department."

"I heard my boss complain that the party and the state had sent many people to contact her, hoping to get in touch with senators through her, but all of them failed."

"And why haven't I ever heard my superiors mention that you're a member of the Kuomintang?"

Seeing Bach's foolish expression, Tom continued:

"Is my rank something that you and your boss could possibly know?"

"All I can say is that it's inconvenient to say more; those who know, know."

Bach nodded. That's true. To be able to get close to the director of the finance bureau, one's rank must be quite high, and the confidentiality of one's file must be very high.

Tom continued to ask:

"Tell me, besides wanting to get in touch with the Finance Bureau Chief and make connections with the senator, what else does your boss need you for?"

This time, Bach was more cautious. He considered for a moment whether the information could be revealed before speaking:

"Sir, as you know, despite the size of the party and the country, the party and the country actually lack everything."

"Iron ore, tungsten and manganese ore, petroleum, rubber, pharmaceuticals..."

"Especially tungsten and manganese ore. Since the Party-state declared war on the United States, within just one day, almost all the smugglers of tungsten and manganese ore were arrested by the American government."

"Therefore, my primary objective in contacting you was to expand the smuggling channels for tungsten and manganese ore."

"The second goal is to see if we can get in touch with the senator."

Tom nodded and asked directly:

"Tungsten manganese ore, right?"

"Forget about manganese ore. Even if I were a senator, I couldn't get my hands on it."

"Tell me the price of tungsten, and I'll see if I can get you some."

Bach didn't hesitate this time; getting tungsten was already quite an achievement. He simply said:

"Currently, the normal market price for tungsten is slightly higher than that for gold, at approximately $1.6 per gram."

"I'm willing to pay $2 per gram for the tungsten you found."

(Gold is $35 per ounce. That's roughly $1.25 per gram.)

(Tungsten costs $45 per ounce, which is roughly $1.6 per gram.)

(Anyone who uses imperial units is an idiot; you get the idea.)

Tom had already inquired about the prices of the supplies that Germany needed, and sneered:

"Heh, $2 per gram?"

"Are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?"

"Tungsten on the black market has already been driven up to $2.5 per gram."

"Moreover, their tungsten is mostly scrap material, and its purity is not good."

"Without further ado, $3.5 per gram, I'll try to get you some high-purity tungsten."

$3.5 per gram!

Bach's eyes widened instantly. Even if the tungsten on the black market wasn't pure enough, with a little refining, the cost of pure tungsten would be no more than $3 per gram.

If Bach offers Tom this price, Tom can use his position to sweep up the black market and resell it to Bach for a profit.

This is blatant solicitation of bribes!

This is outrageous!

Tom noticed Bach's shock and said directly:

"You think it's too expensive?"

"Go back and have a good talk with your boss."

"If I'm not satisfied with this price, I'll have to have a serious talk with my boss."

"The next time you and your boss come to see them, it might not be me, but the Gestapo!"

"Even if you and I confess, given the nature of the Party-state, you'll be the only one arrested."

"Because I've already made contact with the senator, I'm still useful."

Bach's heart skipped a beat. Looking at the insatiably greedy Tom, he cursed inwardly:

That damn Tom!

They actually used my exposure to threaten me!

This isn't about discussing smuggling prices; it's about forcing me to find ways to inflate prices and undermine the Party and the State!

I just thought you were someone who was wholeheartedly loyal to the Party and the country!

I never expected that Tom, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, would also be a person who uses the Party-state as a front to profit himself!

How come you're just like those high-ranking party officials in Germany?

I really misjudged you.

Bach cursed inwardly, then suddenly remembered something and looked sharply at the greedy Tom.

Tom looks more like the elite of the Party and the State in Bach's memory.

If Tom were truly devoted to the party and the country, Bach would not believe Tom's true identity.