Gao Guang and Tom were currently engaged in a test; they wanted to see if the most basic intentions aligned.
If the most fundamental part of the process couldn't move forward, like if the arms depot refused to decommission more ammunition, then they would need to find another way. The job definitely had to be done; it was just that the method would be different.
Arriving unannounced as they were now, even skipping the step of identity confirmation, was certainly not part of a normal trading process.
But then again, abnormal was to be expected; doing anything with Tom was only normal if it was abnormal.
If everything were by the book, it would take the Emirati days just to send back a reply, then a few more days to proceed to the next step. By the time all the necessary preliminary work was done, at least a month would have passed, and by then, the opportunity would likely be lost.