Tehran Grocery Store: My Intelligence is Priced Clearly

hang up the phone.

Zhang Jian put his phone back in his pocket.

Karimi couldn't exert any strength, so he had to find a solution himself.

He quickly issued instructions in his mind.

"System, retrieve all information on US warplanes, their units, and pilots that mistakenly bombed civilian targets in southern Tehran during the Twelve-Day War."

[Ding! Target intelligence retrieval in progress...]

[This intelligence involves U.S. Central Command operational files, and a deduction of $8000 is required. Do you wish to pay?]

"Payment".

As the account balance fluctuates.

An extremely detailed file appeared on the blue virtual screen in front of me.

"Shahra, get me some paper and a pen."

Shahra quickly handed over the items.

Zhang Jian leaned against the wall, pen cap dangling from his mouth, and quickly recorded all the information in front of him using a piece of cardboard as a backdrop.

He then folded the paper and stuffed it into his pocket.

"Go get the car, come with me to find someone."

Shahra nodded and went back inside to get her car keys.

Half an hour later.

The pickup truck stopped in front of an old apartment building on the southern edge of Tehran.

The environment here is not much better than where Zhang Jian used to live.

The paint on the walls was peeling off badly, and the stairwell was filled with a musty smell.

Following the address given by Karimi, Zhang Jian climbed the dimly lit stairs to the top floor.

"Bang bang bang".

Zhang Jian knocked on the rusty iron door in front of him.

However, there was no sound from inside the house for a long time.

He thought he hadn't knocked hard enough, so he increased the force and knocked several more times.

"roll!"

From inside the door, a hoarse, furious roar finally came.

"I've told you all so many times, no matter which department you're from, stop bothering me!"

Then came the sound of a glass bottle shattering against the door.

Shahra frowned, and her right hand instinctively reached for the gun handle at her lower back.

Zhang Jian raised his hand, pressed down on her arm, and shook his head.

"She has quite a temper."

He turned his head to look at the rickety iron gate.

"Shahra, kick the door open."

Shahra pondered for a moment.

He took a half step back, then suddenly raised his right leg and kicked hard at the door lock.

"Clang!"

The already flimsy door lock was rendered unusable.

The iron gate slammed heavily against the wall and bounced back.

She pushed aside the iron gate and opened the inner door.

A smell mixed with alcohol and tobacco immediately hit me.

Zhang Jian frowned slightly.

He fanned the air in front of his nose, then stepped into the house.

In the room.

The living room curtains were drawn tightly, letting in no light at all.

The only light source was the three computer monitors placed against the wall.

The screen's pale blue light shone on a disheveled man.

Amir slumped in his computer chair, surrounded by scattered cigarette butts and instant noodle boxes.

On the wall directly opposite him hung a photo of a middle-aged man and woman, both smiling broadly.

"You can't understand human language, can you?"

Amir stood up unsteadily.

He grabbed an empty wine bottle from the table and pointed it at Zhang Jian.

"I don't care if you're from the General Staff or the Revolutionary Guard, get out of here right now!"

"Take one more step, and believe me, I'll hack into your entire department's intranet and cripple all your computers!"

Shahra stepped forward and stood in front of Zhang Jian.

Zhang Jian pushed her aside, took out a cigarette case from his pocket, and lit one.

"Brother, don't get so angry."

He exhaled a smoke ring.

By the light of the computer screen, I looked at the former computer genius in front of me.

"Let me make this clear first, I am not a member of the military."

"I'm not here to persuade you to go back and serve your country."

Amir paused for a moment, staring suspiciously at Zhang Jian's distinctly Eastern face.

"Then who the hell are you?"

"If I told you I came to get my computer fixed..."

Amir sneered, slumped back into his chair, and downed a mouthful of wine.

"The door's in the back. Get out of here, and close the door behind you."

"Don't disturb me while I'm talking to my parents."

Zhang Jian looked up and glanced at the photo on the computer screen again.

He slowly walked up to Amir, looking down at him across the computer desk littered with trash.

"To be honest, it was Karimi who introduced me to this place."

Upon hearing Karimi's name, Amir visibly paused in his drinking, but quickly resumed his previous actions.

"Karim?"

"It's no use him coming."

"I've said it before, I'll never touch those messes again in my life."

Zhang Jian pointed to the portrait on the wall.

"So, you're just going to stay here aimlessly like this forever?"

"Do you get drunk every day and cry to photos about your helplessness?"

These words were like a thorn, piercing Amir's heart.

"You don't know anything!"

He abruptly slapped the empty wine bottle off the table and onto the floor.

"Bang!"

Glass shards were scattered all over the floor.

Amir's eyes were bloodshot, like an enraged beast, as he stared intently at Zhang Jian.

"If it weren't for those idiots in the military delaying things, my parents wouldn't be dead!"

"They can't even sound an alarm properly, why should I risk my life for them?"

"I hate them!"

"They, like those Americans, are the murderers who killed my parents!"

Amir was breathing heavily, his chest heaving violently.

"You're saying I'm just raging here in a state of impotent rage..."

"But what can I do? I'm just a programmer!"

"Can I shoot down American planes, or can I command the military's missiles?"

"There's nothing I can do!"

Amir roared, his face contorted in pain.

Then, as if all her strength had been drained, she covered her face with her hands and let out a painful sobbing cry.

The room fell silent.

The computer's fan is still spinning.

After taking the last drag of his cigarette, Zhang Jian threw the butt on the ground and stomped it out.

"You really can't shoot down American planes, nor can you command the military's missiles."

"But if I say..."

"Can I help you achieve these things and avenge you?"

Amir suddenly raised his head and looked at Zhang Jian as if he were a madman.

Are you crazy?

Zhang Jian didn't say anything more.

He simply took the note he had written earlier out of his pocket and handed it over.

"Open it and take a look."

Amir glanced at the note, then at Zhang Jian.

After hesitating for a few seconds, he reluctantly reached out and took the note.

He opened it and glanced at it, then froze.

His breathing became rapid instantly.

Zhang Jian pulled over a chair and sat down with an air of authority.

"The bombing mission was carried out by the 105th Fighter Squadron of the US Fifth Fleet, Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, based in the Gulf."

"Fighter aircraft serial number, VFA-105-04."

"Weapon loadout: Two GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions."

With each sentence Zhang Jian spoke, Amir's body trembled.

"And this too."

Zhang Jian pointed to a personnel record written at the bottom.

Amir looked down, trembling.

"David Miller."

Zhang Jian read the name aloud.

"The pilot whose code name was 'Viper' was the one who carried out the bombing mission."

"By the way, I have some good news for you."

A slight smile appeared on Zhang Jian's lips.

"This guy was promoted to major because of his outstanding performance in that battle."

"He is currently being transferred to U.S. Air Force Base Al Udeid in Qatar as a squadron commander."

Amir's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

He turned his head sharply and stared intently at the photos of his parents on the wall.

His once lifeless eyes were now ablaze with flames.

A full five minutes passed.

He hastily wiped his face with his dirty sleeve.

He turned around and looked at Zhang Jian.

The previous irritability and dejection vanished, replaced by a chilling calmness.

"Can you help me get revenge?"