Tehran Grocery Store: My Intelligence is Priced Clearly

The factory was extremely quiet.

Suleiman's chest heaved violently, his heavy breathing echoing in the empty factory.

He stared at Zhang Jian's phone as he put it back in his pocket, his eyes churning with turbulent emotions.

Zhang Jian slowly smoked his cigarette, letting the bluish smoke rise between the two of them.

A full minute passed.

Suleiman suddenly raised his hand and slapped his face hard.

He rubbed his rough, stubble-covered cheeks with his hands and slowly began to speak.

"What exactly do you want from us?"

Zhang Jian flicked his cigarette ash and looked up at them.

"Do what you do best."

"Protect my safety and, incidentally, help me deal with some troublesome people."

"This job could be against Mossad, or it could be against the CIA."

"Going up against those bastards?"

Yasin looked at Zhang Jian with a longing expression.

"I like this job."

"It's better than being a henchman for those thugs in this godforsaken place."

Suleiman raised his hand to stop Yassin, his gaze still fixed on Zhang Jian.

"Let's get the ugly truth out of the box."

Suleiman raised one finger.

"Although we were kicked out of the military, our bottom line remains."

"Don't kill civilians, don't take jobs for anti-government groups, and don't touch drugs."

"If you're asking us to do this, then there's no point in even talking about it."

Zhang Jian laughed.

He casually threw the cigarette butt on the ground and stomped it out with the sole of his shoe.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I'm a legitimate businessman."

"I run a grocery store, not a terrorist base."

Zhang Jian stood up and patted the dust off his trousers.

"We hired you for self-defense, not for rebellion."

"Besides, if I really wanted to do those things, do you think General Salehi would give me a friendly welcome?"

Suleiman's tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

"Since it's an employment arrangement, let's talk about the price."

He pulled over a broken wooden box and sat down.

"How much are you going to offer us?"

Name your price.

Zhang Jian held onto the wooden plank with both hands, watching him with great interest.

Suleiman gritted his teeth and held up two fingers.

"There are five of us, and we make $20,000 a month."

"Bullets and medical expenses are separate."

Upon hearing this number, Farhad, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.

Twenty thousand US dollars? To be split among five people?

In Tehran's underground black market, this price is indeed the absolute maximum.

But compared to their boss, who could easily rake in millions or tens of millions of US dollars, this amount of money was nothing.

Looking at Suleiman's forced composure, Zhang Jian suddenly felt a little sorry for these murderers.

Once elite soldiers, they were forced to haggle with people here for a little bit of living expenses.

"Twenty thousand US dollars?"

Zhang Jian shook his head.

Suleiman's face darkened.

"Too expensive?"

"Then there's no room for negotiation. Our strength is worth the price."

"No, no, no, you've misunderstood."

Zhang Jian sighed.

"I think you all look down on yourselves and you all look down on me too much."

Zhang Jian turned to look at Farhad.

"Farhad, tell them about our situation."

"Okay, boss."

Fahad raised his head and looked at Suleiman opposite him.

"Currently, our grocery store's security team consists of ten members, who come from different places."

"Although we are in different branches of the military, we all receive the same salary."

"Ten thousand US dollars per person per month."

These words were spoken.

The factory fell into a deathly silence.

Hassan rubbed his ears hard, wondering if he had misheard.

Yasin's homemade explosive pack made a soft "click" sound as it was squeezed.

Zhang Jian's eyelids twitched.

Did this guy accidentally blow up the explosives?!

He shifted his buttocks slightly towards the factory gate.

"Also, you don't need to worry about the equipment."

"If my mission results in your injury or disability..."

"I will support you for the rest of your lives."

Suleiman stood up abruptly, his voice trembling.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"I never joke about things like this."

Zhang Jian glanced at them, his gaze lingering for a moment on the weapons in their hands.

"These are all minor matters."

Zhang Jian pointed to Kamran upstairs.

"How many years has he been using that old relic? He's never replaced it, has he?"

"And you."

Zhang Jian looked at Yasin in front of him.

"Was the fuse for this explosive charge made from gunpowder salvaged from firecrackers?"

"Once it gets damp, you won't even hear a sound, and you're not afraid of it exploding in your own hands."

Yasin scratched his head awkwardly and chuckled dryly twice.

"Since you've followed me, don't go out and embarrass yourself with these pieces of junk."

Zhang Jian clapped his hands, his tone relaxed.

"You have a day to rest."

"Report to my grocery store tomorrow morning."

"By the way, here's a list. Write down what equipment you want."

"HK416, M110, these are all fine."

"As long as it's not too outrageous, you can choose whatever you want."

Suleiman took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently.

He turned his head and looked at his four brothers.

Everyone's eyes were gleaming with a green light, as if they were hungry wolves eyeing fresh meat.

They get paid, have access to top-tier equipment, and can fight openly and legitimately.

What the hell are you still hesitating for?

Suleiman turned around and strode up to Zhang Jian.

Stand at attention, and slam your heels together with a thud.

He didn't salute, but instead extended his right hand.

"Boss."

Suleiman's voice was louder than ever before.

"From today onwards, we've sold our lives to you."

Zhang Jian reached out and shook hands with him.

Feeling the thick calluses on the other person's palm, a satisfied smile curved his lips.

"Farhad, transfer some money to them from the public account."

"Tell them to take a shower and change into something decent."

Zhang Jian released his hand, gesturing to Fahad.

"Okay, boss!"

Farhad smiled and agreed.

Settle everything down.

Zhang Jian walked out of the factory; the sunlight outside was a bit dazzling.

He squinted, walked to the pickup truck, opened the door, and got in.

Recruiting this squad went more smoothly than expected.

With Suleiman's group and his existing strength, the security framework for the grocery store was finally established.

The rest is just a matter of slowly filling in some people.

This is something I'm not in such a rush for.

Farhad gave them a few more instructions inside the factory before coming out.

Open the driver's side door and insert the key to start the engine.

Suleiman and his five companions followed behind, forming a line at the entrance.

Zhang Jian rolled down the window and waved to them.

The car then slowly drove away.

However, before he had gone very far, his phone suddenly started vibrating wildly in his pocket.

Zhang Jian took out his phone and glanced at the screen.

Wow, it's my dear mother!

Zhang Jian raised an eyebrow slightly.

Why would she call me at this time?