America 1982-Chapter 621 - 139: Do Me a Favor_3

If you can’t stand the normal speed, you can choose the express service. For example, if you want to write a love letter in New York and have your lover in Los Angeles receive it the next day, the cost would jump to 9 US dollars.

The annual subscription fee for an email box is actually just the price of four express physical letters.

"To keep up with their interactions on various classified forums, they’ll likely need an online email box to stay connected. So, although the annual fee is waived, the normal cost for sending emails would increase significantly because they want to chat privately. They either use expensive long-distance calls or opt for fifty cents per five hundred characters for emails," Tommy explained.

Jay Miner opened the MCI-Mail software interface and then expressed his doubts, "Why don’t we develop our own communication software based on the supercomputer application center at Stanford University and integrate it into our system? This software isn’t difficult to create. It was developed by Professor Winton’s students at Stanford. We just need to develop something similar."

"The software development isn’t difficult, what’s challenging is we can’t offend MCI for now. Launching a substitute in our current network environment would only turn MCI into another competitor," Tommy explained to Jay Miner why they shouldn’t integrate their own email system to make money:

"Only when the internet is truly refined can we consider launching a similar instant communication software. Otherwise, MCI can easily set up some tricks to trouble our Miss Amiga. But don’t worry, we’ve donated to related development work at Stanford University. As soon as the time is right, I assure you we’ll be the first..."

"Tommy, you have a phone call." While Tommy continued his conversation with Jay, Sophia gently knocked on the conference room door and quietly spoke to Tommy.

Tommy stood up, walked toward the door, and said to Susy, who had been silent, "Susy, think about how you should promote our Miss Amiga."

Stepping out of the conference room, Tommy looked at Sophia, "Susan’s call?"

"No, it’s Dennis." Sophia shook her head and gave Tommy a name that astonished him.

Hearing it was Dennis, Tommy immediately wanted to go back to the meeting room, "I’m not interested in chatting with him. Tell him to pick a better day to call back or send his message in a greeting card."

"He says it’s an urgent matter that he needs to discuss with you; getting through your phone was harder than Germany invading the Soviet Union," Sophia said, relaying Dennis’ message while covering the mouthpiece of the phone.

Tommy sighed, "Fine, an urgent matter. When he says that, I feel it’s pretty much like him asking me, ’Hey, Tommy, you know how I can get an American call girl to service me on the other side of the Earth?’"

While speaking, he took the phone from Sophia’s hand, "I’m Tommy, Dennis, tell me what’s so important that you’re using my precious time."

"Buddy, we struck gold. We’ve got a big deal worth five million US dollars. Just agree to split it fifty-fifty with me, and I’ll share with you," Dennis said excitedly on the phone.

Tommy responded listlessly, "I’m not interested in such small-time deals."

"You mean the five million is all mine? I knew you were my most reliable brother. Then I can give Glen a bigger share. Initially, I planned to give him only a hundred thousand. The thing is, I’m still in Lebanon, but there’s been a change of plans. I’ve been sent down south to hand out leaflets and broadcast, basically to call on the Lebanese to bravely step up, to help us foreigners fight their countrymen, to take bullets for us, to gather intelligence. We’ll give them cash, food, and freedom and all that. Of course, in reality, besides some terrible-tasting rations and empty promises, we give them nothing. If there’s any real benefit, we’d have to keep it within our circle, you know..." Dennis rambled on.

Tommy immediately cut him off, "Get to the point, Dennis."

"Here’s the thing. The great America has a just assistance policy that started in ’84. If someone provides valuable information or exceptionally helpful assistance, the U.S. State Department will give them a large cash reward. Down south, Glen and I are promoting this policy to the Lebanese, encouraging them to share intelligence. Sounds dumb, right? But believe it or not, some Lebanese fool is actually willing to betray his fellow countrymen for money," Dennis sped up, trying to explain his situation as clearly as possible:

"Glen knows him well. They’ve had dealings before in Beirut. The guy trusts Glen and revealed to him a terrorist group’s hostage location because he’s responsible for delivering various supplies to the terrorists hiding there. He gave Glen the names of the nine hostages. I thought the guy was making it up, but Glen checked the just assistance policy rescue roster in Lebanon and found that five of the nine names matched, three Americans, two Israelis. The policy clearly states that if you assist the Federal Government in rescuing these people on the list, there’s a reward of a million per person. Now with five of them, that’s why I say we’re going to make five million dollars, buddy!"