Fatal Strike: Mercenary Road of Gunfire Ranger-Chapter 15 - : The World of Black Gold

Blood Fox wasn't very thorough, but Mountain Eagle had already pieced together an outline of the Underworld.

Money is the foundation of everything, and according to data released by the United Nations and the IMF (World Bank), the global flow of Black Money is about 2~3% of the global Gross Domestic Product each year.

The global GDP in 2014 was 80 trillion US Dollars, so taking the lowest estimate, the GDP of the Underworld this year should also be around 1.6 trillion.

This is just the data reported by the United Nations and the IMF; actual figures may be higher since much of the Black Money formed by high-end corruption and tax evasion is concealed under the guise of legitimate transactions.

If we really calculate it, 1.6 trillion US Dollars doubled would be more accurate!

In the past, he had seen a related report and didn't pay much attention then, viewing it merely as tabloid news.

But now that he is really entering this world, he realizes its terrifying nature!

A specialized agency of the United Nations has issued a report on Black Money, stating that globally, in the last year, 2013, money from drug trafficking amounted to about 500 billion US Dollars.

The second largest source of Black Money is human trafficking and smuggling, roughly at 160 billion US Dollars.

The third, unexpectedly to many, is not the so-called arms trade but illegal logging.

The global illegal logging of trees generates nearly 150 billion US Dollars in Black Money each year, while the total amount of legal logging last year was only 450 billion US Dollars.

Fourth is illegal tax evasion, around 120 billion US Dollars, but this figure has huge disruptions due to investigation challenges, so the actual situation could be several times higher.

Fifth is illegal mining, last year around 40 billion US Dollars.

Sixth is the trade of wildlife, last year around 20 billion US Dollars.

Seventh is theft of crude oil, last year approximately 14 billion US Dollars.

The eighth is the well-known arms trade, last year the black market for light weapons only amounted to about 8.5 billion US Dollars.

This figure may be far lower than people imagine, but during the period around '14, this is what it was.

Those familiar with the trade know, the arms trade is nearly a monopolized industry.

Small traders selling some light weapons have already reached their limit; real bulk transactions are essentially legal, with at least a big boss standing behind them.

Then there are other things like selling drugs, gambling, and various crimes generating hard-to-quantify Black Money...

It's not that these industries aren't valuable; in fact, just selling drugs alone roughly generates about 180 billion US Dollars globally each year, and the amount from online gambling could be even higher...

Yet, this stuff is hard to define, because in some places, it's legal...

For instance, gambling is illegal in his hometown, but they go to legally run online casinos in Southeast Asia, and the money they lose there is at least legally earned in Southeast Asia.

For all contentious money, statistical agencies can't categorize it as Black Money.

All these facts, together with unquantifiable cybercrime and corruption funds from various countries, prop up the tremendous GDP of the Underworld.

Just hearing from Blood Fox, Mountain Eagle only grasped a small corner of the Underworld, but looking through this inaccurate report, viewed through money, the so-called Underworld becomes much clearer!

Fighting and killing are just a small part of the Underworld; the part that generates economic benefits is the main portion.

But as Blood Fox mentioned, because of the thin concept of rules in the Underworld, the most important premise for establishing a trade is to have the capability to sanction the other party...

Thus those who can guarantee transactions such as middlemen and platforms, those who can help process Black Money like accountants, lawyers, bankers, and those who can handle problems like mercenaries and assassins, these are the service industry talents that thrive.

And the fees generated by these service industry workers are included in the transaction costs of the Underworld.

Mountain Eagle wouldn't dare to guess the specific ratio, but it definitely wouldn't be lower than 40%...

This is truly the core output value of the Underworld!

But looking at the price Killing Bee and his team demanded, combined with what Blood Fox had said earlier, Mountain Eagle suddenly realized that being a mercenary, a profession that seemed legendary to many, was definitely at the bottom of the Underworld food chain.

The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.

This realization made Mountain Eagle somewhat resistant to the profession of mercenaries...

After all, he was someone who had worked his way up to a regional manager in a trillion-level central enterprise, not to mention handling transactions; he saw and participated in deals worth almost ten billion RMB every year...

For him, a wanted criminal, becoming a mercenary wasn't really a big deal, but the sudden fall to the bottom, engaging in a profession where one had to fight and risk life just to make a living, was something he was very unaccustomed to.

Blood Fox seemed to figure out what Mountain Eagle was thinking. After signing the contract and uploading the photo to the platform, he smiled and said to Mountain Eagle, "Not used to it, right?

People seldom choose to risk their lives for money when they have other options.

You're smart and capable, indeed you don't need to be a life-risking mercenary...

The truth is, in this profession, those who really make money don't do so by risking their lives, but by solving problems for others.

Low-end mercenaries only know how to fight; faced with non-lethal tasks, a gang underling might even do better than a mercenary.

Solving killings doesn't bring in big money, but solving problems does!

You're pretty clever. The first moment you woke up, you recognized your 'value' and centered yourself in a nonexistent deal using Naokan's bounty.

Now, what I'm doing includes roles like broker, investigator, mercenary—I solve problems, so I make the most money.

But the core is actually about solving problems on the premise of your voluntary risk and cooperation!

'Solving problems' isn't really a rare skill...

You have abilities that ordinary people don't, which is 'creating demand'!

I can firmly say, you suit this profession!"

"Creating demand?"

Mountain Eagle muttered to himself, then, somewhat perplexed, said, "Do I?"

As he spoke, Mountain Eagle, looking at Killing Bee with a complex expression, spread his hands and said, "Do I?"

Killing Bee, seeing Mountain Eagle as naive, thought for a moment and then frustratingly shook her head, saying, "I don't understand, otherwise I wouldn't even struggle to scrape together surgery fees...

FUCK, I understand every word you say, but I just don't get what you're talking about, FUCK..."

Saying this, Killing Bee touched her delicate cheek, stared at Mountain Eagle for a few seconds, then suddenly broke into a smile, extending her hand in a friendly gesture, "Nice to meet you, I'm Killing Bee, I own a bar in Kamui, if you're free come hang out, I can introduce you to some sisters...

Yeah, real sisters!"

Mountain Eagle looked at Killing Bee's somewhat rough palm and forcibly suppressed the urge to shudder, managing a slight smile, "Thanks, I'll visit when I have the time."

With that, Mountain Eagle let go of her hand and earnestly said to Blood Fox, "I need to hear your plan, eight people seems too few to me...

You've told me so much and even made me the core of the deal, so you wouldn't be sending me to my death.

I need to know all of your plans and be well-prepared before taking the risk..."

Blood Fox nodded in admiration and smilingly said, "Kid, always remember we are problem solvers...

This is the heart of the Golden Triangle, a land of lawlessness; Naokan controls a major stake here, he has enemies, and many of them!

His biggest enemy isn't other drug lords, but the government army of Thailand...

Remember that woman named Luo Mai?

She's key to manipulating the government army..."