MTLNOVEL Chapter 1080: Bustling
Actually, Boss Qiao wanted his son to stay with him a few more days...
But old Karman found an excuse this time, saying that a film director had caused a mess in Sangha Town, so he needed to take Igor home to hold down the fort.
Joe Ga didn't understand what use a baby like Igor would be at home, but when he saw the impatience in Karman's eyes, he knew he shouldn't mess around anymore.
Pushing his son around in Djibouti was seen by old Karman as extremely irresponsible.
Because the terrorists on the other side were almost daily emphasizing, "Our assassins have already arrived in Djibouti, just you wait!"
Although knowing that the other side was likely exaggerating, and Boss Qiao's security measures were sufficient, Karman, worried about Igor, was still uneasy.
In the end, the old guy swore to catch a bigger crocodile chauffeur in Uganda, while taking Gino and Adel along for fun, only then did the kids happily agree to go back together.
The old guy didn't even look back when he left, which hurt Boss Qiao a bit, but he was soon distracted by the lively defense exhibition...
France and the Italian brought their training synthetic battalions and shipped them to Djibouti.
The two jointly rented a cargo ship to transport P·B soldiers and the synthetic battalions to Djibouti, then unloaded the training equipment for display, using the reason that training must not stop, urging P·B soldiers to demonstrate.
Such a large-scale operation certainly stood out at the defense exhibition.
The equipment companies attending the exhibition were very displeased with the practices of the two, but there was nothing they could do.
Synthetic battalions are a systematic project, not something that any single equipment company can manage; others had no competing products, so they could only watch France and the Italian show off.
The defense exhibition preparation was nearly complete, and nearly all the well-known big companies worldwide were present.
Super arms giants like Raytheon and Northrop attended with their product models and sales personnel, even though they didn't sponsor the war.
The nearly three-month-long hype surrounding the Yemen war brought arms buyers from the Middle East and Africa to Djibouti.
Any country with some background sent people to Djibouti, wanting to procure some big equipment based on the real combat results from the Yemen war.
Karman's concerns about safety were really unnecessary, as the Djibouti government mobilized all available forces to patrol the streets; any suspicious individuals without exhibition credentials would spend a few days in jail first.
The defense exhibition hadn't officially started, but deals were already being made...
Dassault was about to lose its mind with joy; although the United Arab Emirates hadn't officially stated anything, the recent training results of P·B pilots brought them an order...
Kuwait declared its intention to purchase four Rafale fighters even before the exhibition began.
Similarly happy was JF-17, as Nigerians, after seriously reviewing their budget and skimming some off, decided to purchase the only JF-17 they could afford.
Old Li was stunned by this sudden windfall and realized that exporting the JF-17 under the patronage of his Pakistani brothers would greatly reduce obstacles in selling fighter jets.
Everyone knew what the JF-17 was about, but neither buyers nor sellers mentioned the old mother nation, contracts were signed with yellow-skinned, black-eyed fellows, and Nigerians praised Pakistani ST's products as affordable.
Joe Ga was dumbfounded when he arrived at the defense exhibition site...
The event wasn't even open yet, and the defense exhibition was already swarming with people...
Journalists from all over the world, and a large number of fearless freelance journalists, made the exhibition as lively as a concert venue.
Compared to the enthusiasm of the journalists, those who truly wanted to purchase were not in a hurry; they were just browsing and listening, ready to verify whether those salesmen were bluffing once the war began.
But the lack of enthusiasm from the buyers didn't mean the sellers weren't eager...
Unlike other defense exhibitions, this one led by P·B focused on open experience.
Except for the big shots who were picky about sellers, all exhibitors brought actual items.
If you dared to glance at my armored vehicle, I'd daringly pull you into the synthetic battalion's training ground for a spin.
If you so much as touched my gun, not firing two magazines meant you were looking down on me.
The journalists were thrilled, as turning a serious defense exhibition into something like a flea market was indeed novel.
The close quarters battle and CQB grounds built by major firearms manufacturers were always crowded...
Starting with one-on-one, then two-on-two, four-on-four...
Gradually, as exhibitors adapted to the pace and felt they could manage the field, they began ten-on-ten, twenty-on-twenty, escalating into a grand clash.
The drill pellets provided by P·B made the journalists suffer, but they found it immensely enjoyable.
Old Niu, together with Tony, made a fortune selling protective gear labeled with P·B professional logo outside the exercise grounds!
God knows, P·B's people never use protective gear for training, because they're more confident in their own body armor.
Joe Ga was bewildered by such an unserious scene and turned to look at the eager Dorian, asking, "Whose idea was this?"
Dorian spread his hands and said, "Boss, our trade show doesn't even have basic rules, and the safety regulations are all brainstormed by different groups."
"Anyway, it's all about selling stuff. If people think it's good, then I guess it really is good!"
He saw a chubby guy with curly hair wailing as he ran out of the urban combat area. Then, he pulled out a few hundred bucks from his pocket to buy two boxes of bullets from Old Bull and Tony. While loading his magazine, he was cursing and wanting to go back for revenge...
Joe Ga glared angrily at Old Bull, who was about to lead Tony astray, made a throat-cutting gesture at him, and then pulled Dorian and the others away, quickly arriving at the synthetic camp's outdoor display area.
To be fair, the weapons designed and manufactured by the French are eye-catching, setting aside the performance for now.
The VBCI Infantry Fighting Vehicle is incredibly stylish, with the main weapon inside the Dragon Turret on top being a 25mm autocannon, and there's a 7.62mm caliber machine gun serving as auxiliary.
Forty-eight VBCI Infantry Fighting Vehicles, teamed up with sixteen AMX-10RCR main assault vehicles mounted with 105mm rifled cannons, plus fourteen Renault VAB anti-tank armored personnel carriers, and eight military trucks, form a light version of a digital synthetic camp for mercenaries.
In comparison, the Italian Fiat Group's six-wheeled armored vehicles teamed with Sagittarius 120 self-propelled artillery form a synthetic camp, although practically similar, fall short in terms of appearance.
Joe Ga watched the soldiers recruited from Brazil driving various models of armored vehicles conducting obstacle crossing exercises in the area. Just as he was about to ask the French and Italians about the situation, people from the Fiat Group and the French Ground Arms Group approached him.
The Frenchman's name was Noto, a very handsome middle-aged man. He had been following Boss Joe since Brazil, and finally spent a long time together with the Dassault people at the resort.
The Italian's name was Chielli, a short and bald guy, whose hooked nose and sunken eyes made him look more like a Mafia member.
Both of them were in a great mood now because ever since the synthetic camp landed yesterday, they had been in the spotlight.
The soldiers recruited by P.B from Brazil were all top-notch. After some simple training, they could smoothly operate the equipment of the synthetic camp.
Moreover, because Boss Joe had already made it clear that the synthetic camp would be the focus in this Yemen war, they immediately garnered enormous attention and envy from competitors upon arrival.
This feeling of being the center of attention is thrilling!
Noto was the first to notice Joe Ga's arrival. Using his past encounters with Boss Joe in Brazil, he enthusiastically came forward to embrace Boss Joe and said happily, "Hu Lang, you're a genius!
I love the atmosphere here. Look at those fanatics. It feels like anything that can spark here can be sold."
Joe Ga disdainfully waved his hand, shook hands with Chielli for a brief acquaintance, and then sneered, "I heard that in Liberia you guys taught Northern Industries and Yogeinbert a lesson...
Why did you come here early?"
Noto was taken aback, then awkwardly smiled...
He couldn't possibly say that it was because China's synthetic camp arrived, putting him at a disadvantage, that he had to leave early...
So he spread his hands and said, "Those Chinese people's synthetic camp equipment is very complex, our commanders aren't used to it.
He was worried about the situation in Yemen, so he requested to come early to adapt to the environment here."
Joe Ga listened, and disdainfully said, "If you lost, you lost. Don't kid about being uncomfortable!
They have vehicle-mounted mortars, rocket launchers, and the weapons on armored personnel carriers are more advanced than yours, isn't it normal they beat you?"
Noto immediately responded seriously, "Weapon configurations are determined by the situation on the battlefield. The Chinese people's synthetic camp configuration is very complex, not only complicating command but also increasing logistical burdens.
Sir, maybe we did lose out, but I assure you, in terms of assault capability, our synthetic camp is certainly more excellent."
Joe Ga looked at Noto with disdain and said, "You act as if they don't have vehicle-mounted artillery...
But that's not important. You tell me, why are you using my people as labor, did you ask me for approval for using them for demonstrations?"
Upon hearing this, Noto nervously said, "Sir, sir, I think you must have misunderstood. In fact, we are still conducting final training with them.
This must be done to perfection, so we felt the need to seize every moment...
I assure you, this is beneficial to them!"
Joe Ga waved his hand dismissively, saying, "You guys are just trying to be clever!
Haven't you figured it out yet?
The final sales decision depends on whose products perform better in Yemen, not on who puts on a circus act here."
Saying this, Joe Ga looked at the two, meaningfully saying, "Northern Industries coordinated with the Chinese Navy, and will have two Type 071 amphibious transport docks assist them in seizing the beach...
And you?
Waiting for them to take over the dock, then pulling in a cargo ship to unload goods with a crane?"
Upon hearing this, Noto and Chielli exchanged looks and then said, "Sir, this isn't fair!"
Joe Ga spread his hands and said, "I find it fair. You can also have the French Navy bring over the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship.
I don't mind you guys getting the spotlight!"