Chapter 111: Cooperation (1)

"Brother, have you ever considered returning to China?" Lin Fan set down his teacup and signaled to Xu Qiang, gesturing for him to drink without hesitation. Since Jin Zhengyang already regarded the Dragon Soul as his ally, there was no need for unnecessary formalities. Besides, this 'Immortal's Drunkenness' tea was truly a top-tier delicacy, and Lin Fan found it hard to resist its allure; he suspected his brother felt the same way.

"It would be a lie to say I don't want to go back. But even if I did, the Qing Dynasty is long gone, so it's better to stay away. Besides, I rather enjoy playing king in this lawless Golden Triangle; it’s much more carefree," Jin Zhengyang said with a hearty laugh. "Furthermore, the environment here is perfect for growing poppies. I wonder, brother, are you interested in the drug trade? The profit margins in this business are absolutely heaven-defying right now."

It was exactly what he had been thinking about. Lin Fan mused to himself that he had just been considering how to break into the drug industry and hadn't known how to bring it up; he hadn't expected Jin Zhengyang to offer it on a silver platter.

"Oh? Tell me more," Lin Fan asked, feigning deep interest.

"Brother Lin, you must know that while international crackdowns on drugs are intensifying, those are merely superficial. The global demand for narcotics is growing every day. As the saying goes, 'wealth is sought in danger.' As long as one is willing to take risks, the money comes pouring in," Jin Zhengyang explained. "The poppy harvest in the Golden Triangle has been bountiful these past few years. I wonder if you have any interest in getting involved? With the influence of the Dragon Soul, it shouldn't be difficult to distribute these narcotics to various countries overseas."

"Though there are risks, it is indeed a lucrative path," Lin Fan nodded thoughtfully.

Seeing Lin Fan’s interest, Jin Zhengyang chuckled and added, "To be honest, the land I have dedicated to poppy cultivation is vast, so the annual yield is beyond question. If you’re interested, I’d be more than happy to help."

Although Jin Zhengyang didn't provide specific figures, Lin Fan knew the yield must be substantial. The Blue Flag Army had so many men; maintaining such a force required a massive sum of money, Lin Fan reasoned.

After a brief pause, Jin Zhengyang asked, "Brother Lin, surely you didn't come to the Golden Triangle just to visit me? Did something happen? Or is there something I can assist you with? Just let me know."

Lin Fan nodded. "One of our brothers has suddenly gone missing here."

"Oh? When did this happen? Who had he been in contact with?" Jin Zhengyang inquired.

"It was just a few days ago. He came to the Golden Triangle on a mission but lost contact. I figured your network in this region far exceeds ours, so I wanted to ask if you could look into it and see if there is any news," Lin Fan explained.

"I wonder what the mission was? Could you tell me, Brother Lin?"

"There's nothing I can't disclose. He came here to assassinate a local drug lord." In Lin Fan's view, these were trivial details; telling Jin Zhengyang wouldn't hurt. Moreover, providing more clues would make it easier for the Blue Flag Army to find Li Nanxing.

After speaking, Lin Fan handed over the intelligence files on the drug lord that Tan Zhiyong had given him before his departure. With these, Lin Fan was certain that given the Blue Flag Army's influence, they would soon track down Li Nanxing's whereabouts.

After reviewing the documents, Jin Zhengyang frowned slightly before patting his chest. "Brother, rest assured. Leave this to me. Since he is your brother, he is naturally a brother to Jin Zhengyang. I’m not boasting, but in this lawless Golden Triangle, there is nothing I cannot find out. Stay here for a couple of days and set your heart at ease—I guarantee I will find him for you."

"Then I thank you in advance, brother," Lin Fan said. Though he appeared calm, he was deeply anxious about Li Nanxing’s safety.

Jin Zhengyang was, after all, a descendant of the Aisin Gioro family and a true Chinese at heart. The Blue Flag Army was also affiliated with China—a fact evidenced by the Chinese leaders sending him the 'Immortal's Drunkenness' tea.

The rapid development of the Blue Flag Army over the years was inseparable from the Chinese government's backing. It was this support that allowed them to establish a firm foothold in the Golden Triangle. It could be said that if the Blue Flag Army claimed to be second in power here, no one dared to claim first. Compared to them, the local drug lords were insignificant.

However, Lin Fan knew that the arms and funds provided by the Chinese government were far from sufficient for the army’s expenses. If they were enough, Jin Zhengyang wouldn't need to cultivate such massive poppy fields or engage in the drug trade. After all, supporting so many men with only a token amount from the state—which was likely further embezzled by high-ranking officials—would never cover the costs.

"I won't indulge in empty courtesies. Since you are helping me with such a large favor, I should offer you a gift in return," Lin Fan said. With Jin Zhengyang’s help, he hoped to have news of his brother soon.

"Brother, you insult me by saying that. There is no need for such formalities between us," Jin Zhengyang said, his face darkening with slight displeasure.

"Brother, that is not what I meant." Since Jin Zhengyang had put it that way, Lin Fan had to offer a symbolic explanation. "Friendship is friendship, and business is business. Even brothers must keep clear accounts. I have no objections to what you proposed earlier, but the drug processing..." Turning poppies into narcotics required many complex steps. It was too troublesome; Lin Fan only wanted the finished product, which was why he had intentionally left his sentence unfinished.

Smuggling drugs was profitable, but it was high-risk and not a respectable trade. Honestly, Lin Fan did not want to touch this industry, but he would never push away money delivered to his door. He already had an idea in mind: a way to sell these drugs that would generate profit while simultaneously reducing the drug abuse rate in China.

In truth, Lin Fan knew that even if he didn't cooperate with Jin Zhengyang, someone else would. And if that happened, he would have no control over which countries the drugs flowed into.

Jin Zhengyang caught the implication and said directly, "You don't need to worry about that. Just handle the sales; I will provide the goods. As for the profits, let’s split them fifty-fifty. What do you think, brother?"

Lin Fan felt a surge of joy. To get fifty percent of the profits without doing anything but selling was like pie falling from the sky. With the Dragon Soul's influence, distributing the drugs would be trivial.

However, Lin Fan would not let greed cloud his judgment. Han Feng had once told him: "If you ever encounter a deal that is too good to be true, a deal you cannot refuse, you must ask yourself 'why' three times. Because pie doesn't fall from the sky for no reason—and even if it does, you should believe it won't land on your head without a motive."

Lin Fan remembered this lesson vividly because Han Feng had been extremely serious when he said it, repeating it three times.

In his years at Falcon, Lin Fan had been shielded from the outside world. But in his time with the Dragon Soul, Han Feng had taught him many things he couldn't have learned at Falcon, helping him grow rapidly from an ignorant youth. Through these years of tempering, Lin Fan’s skills, intellect, and even his temperament had undergone a radical transformation.

*Why?* Just by asking the question once, the answer began to take shape in his mind.

Two years ago, he had accompanied Han Feng to visit the Blue Flag Army to conduct an arms deal. If his guess was correct, Jin Zhengyang would soon ask him about weaponry. As the leader of the Dragon Soul, the world's largest mercenary organization, he certainly didn't lack arms.

But the Blue Flag Army was different. Despite Chinese government support, they were limited by the state, which would never allow any military force to grow without bounds.