“Society has rules, governments have rules. It’s all bullshit,” Dahm said. “To reach one’s potential, one must live beyond these conventions. Nationalism, patriotism, progressivism—all these isms are just shackles the midwits impose upon us to keep us away from the sun. Don’t you agree?”
Fung suspected maximum danger here. But also, maybe, an opportunity.
“I’m grateful for America and what it has done for my family and for me.”
“As am I. You know, I was born in Holland, but my parents immigrated to this country when I was only two. You and I are both hungry because we are immigrants, or the children of immigrants.”
“That’s what makes America great, isn’t it? The constant influx of hungry, ambitious immigrants.”
“Chinese and other Asian communities, especially. By the way, most people don’t know this, but my father was born in what used to be called the Dutch East Indies but is now known as Indonesia. He was half Dutch and half Chinese.”
“Oh, really? Fascinating.”
“And while I’m as grateful as you are for the opportunities this country has given me, it’s clear as day that the future belongs to China, don’t you agree?”
Fung studied the handsome face across the table. The clear blue eyes seemed to devour him, like a lover or a killer. Fung wasn’t sure which.
“Yes,” Fung agreed. “Western liberal democracies seem to be standing on their last legs. The China model appears to be more stable and dynamic.”
“Exactly. And to hell with all governments, by the way, including China’s. Laws are only the tools of the powerful few, to keep the rest of us in line.”
“It certainly feels that way at times.”
“And so now you know why my focus is on China. CloudServe needs to expand aggressively there before it’s too late, and I think you are the man to help us get there.”
“Why? Because I’m ethnic Chinese?”
“Yes. But a brilliant and driven ethnic Chinese with language and cultural skills, along with the perfect hacker skill sets needed for the task at hand.”
Fung’s blood pressure rose. Where is this going?
“You’re the head of IC Cloud Red Team, which means you have management skills, and most important of all, you think like a hacker.” Dahm laughed. “I sure as hell wouldn’t want you coming after me!”
Now Fung’s alarm bells were screaming.
“What are you proposing, exactly?”
“I want you to start your own China-focused cybersecurity company. Build it from the ground up. It will be your company, your vision, your baby, but tethered to CloudServe for protection and support.”
“For what purpose? To hack the Chinese—or the U.S.?”
“Both, certainly. But legally. You’d be offering the Chinese and American governments a safe and secure way to check for vulnerabilities in any system anywhere. The money potential is limitless.”
“I’m stunned. I don’t know what to say.”
Dahm sat back. “Look, let me be perfectly honest. If you went out and started your own company, which eventually you would, at some point we’d be going to war, and I’d do everything I could to destroy you—I’m speaking businesswise, of course. We’re not actual killers, are we?” He smiled mischievously.
Fung’s eyes widened. “I sure hope not.”
“I prefer instead that we form an alliance, here and now. I want you to achieve your wildest dreams, but I want you to do it as my partner, not my competitor. What do you think?”
“It’s a dream come true. I just don’t know how to wrap my mind fully around it.”
“Of course, with the CloudServe board and the SEC breathing down my neck, it’s going to be up to you to raise the capital. It will take millions. But that won’t be hard for you, will it?”
Again, Fung was confused, thrilled, and panicked. What was Dahm suggesting?
Fung was like CloudServe itself—fantastic cash flow but always on the verge of bankruptcy. If Dahm knew that, they wouldn’t be having this conversation. Or would they? CHIBI knew all about it and played on his vulnerabilities. Was Dahm doing the same thing as CHIBI?
Wait. What? No. It couldn’t be. Could it?
“I’m not exactly a venture capitalist myself, Elias. I’m not sure how I could be your point man for raising that kind of money.”
“You helped start a couple of unicorns—yeah, they went belly-up, but they were good bets. I even had a little money on one of them. You just need to go back to the VC people that funded those projects with a virtual letter of intent from me, and raising the money shouldn’t be a problem. What do you think?”