Chapter 186: Do we need to strengthen security?
Xiao Peng lay on the lounge chair on the rooftop, holding a bottle of beer and saying nothing.
Pascal, who was standing aside, asked in confusion: "Xiao, what are you thinking about?"
Xiao Peng said, "I'm thinking about the corruption of capitalism. Even if you count Emile and me, there are only two of us living here, but now I have four bodyguards and three nannies at home."
Pascal nodded after hearing this: "I understand what you mean. It's indeed a little too few, especially since the four bodyguards are all male. They are not very suitable for protecting Emile's safety."
"What?" Xiao Peng sat up. "What did you say?"
"I said less. After all, your bodyguards also need to take shifts, so you only have two bodyguards in total," said Pascal.
Xiao Peng coughed twice: "Brother, how many bodyguards do you have?"
"I have an agreement with the security company. I have six regular bodyguards whose main task is to guard the house, and eight reserve bodyguards waiting for assignments." Pascal said, "But I don't have any female relatives."
Xiao Peng asked in confusion: "Pidang, how much do you spend on these bodyguards every year?"
"Not much. I don't need to go to too many dangerous places. Basically, I only take them with me when I go abroad. According to the agreement between me and the security company, it's 600,000 a year, and they've arranged everything for me." Pascal said, "But from what I know, the four people Walter found for you are not cheap. It's almost the same amount a year. After all, the service method is different. They provide 24-hour personal protection."
Xiao Peng counted on his fingers: "If we don't calculate it, the monthly salary for each person is only 10,000?"
"That's the average number," Pascal said, "but it can't be calculated that way. After all, Walter's pay should be higher."
Xiao Peng scratched his head: "So low?"
"Low?" Pascal asked. "The average full-time private security guard earns around $60,000 a year. They're the best, so they're worth it. The competition in this industry is far more intense than you might think! Where is this? France! How do those people from foreign groups make a living after getting French citizenship? Ninety out of a hundred work as private security. After all, they don't have any other skills, right?"
France has a very interesting thing about its famous "French Foreign Legion," which has been in existence since 1831. It's essentially a mercenary force equipped with the same equipment as the French army. The French have a very interesting approach to this. The Geneva Convention prohibits countries from having mercenaries, and the Foreign Legion is essentially a mercenary force. So how do they solve this problem? They simply pay them a stipend.
Initially, all applicants could conceal their identities and nationalities, leading to a high number of criminals and illegal immigrants. Since 2000, screening has been implemented, ostensibly to prevent criminals from joining, but in reality, it's been completely ineffective. Deserters, homeless people, drug addicts, and prostitutes from other countries have all signed up. The French Foreign Legion has now become a means for foreigners to obtain French citizenship.
Joining the French Foreign Legion is both easy and difficult. It's easy because there are recruitment centers in major French cities. Marseille is home to the 1st Infantry Regiment. Bring your passport and fill out your application form, then go through an interview. If you pass the interview, you'll be sent directly to the 4th Infantry Regiment for four months of recruit training and then sign a five-year contract. However, since joining the Foreign Legion is a means to French citizenship, competition is fierce at nearly every recruitment center, with a large crowd of applicants.
Moreover, joining the French Foreign Legion does not mean that you can obtain French citizenship.
Originally, the French Foreign Legion had a stipulation that citizens could obtain French citizenship after completing a five-year contract. However, at the time, the Legion was a frontline combat unit with a mortality rate exceeding 10%, a rule that persisted even during the Iraq War. Many people joined the Legion solely for the sake of citizenship, then served in support units like the kitchen for five years before leaving.
To combat this, the French Foreign Legion has changed its policy. First, contracts can be terminated for legitimate reasons within the first year. Furthermore, those who retire after their first five-year contract do not receive direct French citizenship. Instead, they receive ten years of French residency and a certain amount of retirement benefits, along with the ability to apply for French citizenship. However, the approval rate is low.
If he signs a second five-year contract, it means that he can basically obtain French citizenship, but it also means that he will be trapped in the French Foreign Legion for ten years and will not be allowed to leave.
Of course, if you are seriously injured while participating in a battle, you can directly become a French citizen, provided that you survive.
In fact, Xiao Peng had once considered joining the French Foreign Legion, but he gave up without hesitation after learning about the treatment of the French Foreign Legion.
He came here to make money, but the French Foreign Legion's salary wasn't high: after deducting housing allowance, he could only get about 1,500 euros, which was the French minimum wage. If he could only make that much, he might as well stay in China.
Even those Foreign Legionnaires who, after ten years of perseverance, have obtained French citizenship, face a difficult life in France. Knowing little beyond French and combat skills, they find themselves in France, where many choose to work as mercenaries in war-torn areas or join private security companies.
As Pascal said, the monthly salary of a full-time private security guard is only 5,000, but for them it is much higher than before.
Pascal said, "Anyway, with your current wealth, you do need to increase your security. I know you're powerful, but the wealthy are always the most direct targets for criminals."
Xiao Peng said helplessly, "Honestly, after hearing what you said, I want to go back home now. I don't have to worry about these problems in my country. There are more kidnappings in France in a single day than there have been in our country in the past ten years. I'll go back home as soon as Fabian finishes processing this batch of rhodium!"
"Are you satisfied now?" Pascal asked.
"Of course I'm not satisfied!" Xiao Peng said, "But I really want to see my grandpa now! No, I want to go back now! How about going back with me to see him and then coming back?"
"Sorry, you can't go back yet!" Fabian pushed open the door and walked out to answer the question: "Brother, there are a few things I need you to take care of."
"Huh?" Xiao Peng was stunned. "What do you want me to handle? Can't you handle it?"
"I'm meeting with relevant French officials to discuss the handling of this batch of rhodium." Fabian said, "This matter is more troublesome than I imagined."
"What's wrong?" Xiao Peng asked puzzledly.
Fabian said: "The French authorities want to get this batch of rhodium cheaply!"
"Bang!"
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