Munitions Empire

"And then?" Tang Mo asked with curiosity. His interest in the man in front of him had been rekindled, due to the other's almost mad pioneering spirit.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

For the sake of human progress, those who would even put their lives on the line were worthy of admiration. Although the successful were dazzling, the failed still commanded respect.

Tang Mo would not look down on anyone just because he had a "cheat" like the Golden Finger; when facing these natives who were inspired to step forward, he was full of reverence.

In the recent period, many such individuals had come seeking fame and had become part of Great Tang Group.

These people included Elves and Dwarves, and of course, humans. They improved upon Tang Mo's designs and exhibited unparalleled keenness in many areas.

Even though some designs were actually unnecessary and proved to be of no use, this spirit still left Tang Mo with a feeling of admiration—this world also had its brilliant minds!

Reiner replied somewhat sheepishly to Tang Mo's question, "Then I saw the flyer for Brunas's Industrial Expo... I thought, maybe there's someone here who can understand me, maybe there are technologies that can support my continued exploration, so I came."

"Great Tang Group must have more advanced engines, the lighter kind, if only there is a way to make the wings flutter, it really could fly into the sky! Like a bird!" Reiner said, gesticulating excitedly as he spoke.

"Flutter?" Tang Mo was taken aback; he had assumed Reiner was looking for an engine to provide power to an aircraft with a propeller.

But he found he had guessed wrong again because the other hadn't even thought about using a propeller to propel the aircraft forward; he was thinking... of flapping wings like a bird.

Although airships from Great Tang Group had been around for quite a while, most were still the type without power.

Even if they were powered by propellers, their speed was just too slow—ordinary people found it hard to associate this kind of propeller power with faster flying machines.

Reiner nodded as a matter of course, acknowledging, "Yes, flutter!"

"Alright." Tang Mo paused for a moment, then nodded, "Have you ever thought about staying in Brunas?"

"Stay, stay in Brunas?" Sir Reiner seemed taken aback, repeating Tang Mo's question uncertainly.

"Yes, stay in Brunas," Tang Mo answered affirmatively. "Stay with Great Tang Group, work for Mr. Tang, and engage in the design and research of flying machines."

"Uh..." Reiner was visibly flattered and hesitated before he emphasized the original intent of his visit: "Well... I, I just came to, to attend the Expo..."

"Don't worry, we can send someone to bring your family to Brunas, or even take you straight to Dragon Island... You could be exposed to the most advanced flying machine design and development work at Great Tang Group, probably something you've dreamed of," Yulin, knowing Tang Mo's intention to recruit, took the initiative to extend the invitation to Reiner.

"I..." Reiner seemed tempted but also hesitant.

"Don't rush your decision, you might even get what you want, a better engine, more refined aircraft designs... and we can even find you a few pilots, so you don't have to go up in the air yourself to test the planes you design," Yulin interrupted, continuing to tempt him.

"Can you really... make such a decision?" Reiner was somewhat incredulous of Yulin's words and turned to Tang Mo, asking uncertainly.

"Certainly." Yulin introduced, "Because sitting in front of you is Mr. Tang from Great Tang Group."

"Tang, Mr. Tang? You, you are..."

"Yes, I am Tang Mo. I heard someone had designed a flying machine, so I became curious and came over to have a look," Tang Mo said with a smile as he introduced himself: "I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Koss Laina."

"Very, very pleased...to meet you, Mr. Tang Mo! I, I am willing, willing to stay, to stay... to research, research flying machines..." Reiner stammered his agreement, clearly overwhelmed.

"But..." Then, he seemed troubled: "I, I have businesses back home, a canvas workshop, and a manor, and I have a wife... and two sons and a daughter..."

"I will arrange for someone to bring your family here, you can be assured about that," Tang Mo soothed Reiner: "I will have people ensure your family's safety all the way, without any mishaps."

He was very confident in his security forces; without a full-scale war, one of his troops could turn any country upside down and do as they pleased.

"As for your property." Tang Mo leaned back into the sofa, gave a glance at Yulin, and then turned again to Reiner: "Name your price..."

"What?" Reiner was startled; he had no idea what Tang Mo meant.

"Your industry, your workshops, and your estates... name a price, I'll buy them all." Tang Mo continued to smile.

"My lord... I... I didn't mean that, I... I... didn't think..." After grasping Tang Mo's intention, Reiner immediately panicked.

He feared he had given Tang Mo the impression that he was greedy; he merely wanted to work on flight designs, not to extort a fortune from Tang Mo.

"Heh heh heh..." Wes was the first to break into laughter, unable to help himself.

"I think you still don't grasp the situation, Mr. Reiner." Yulin also started laughing, then explained, "Compared to yourself, the value of your estates and your workshops is insignificant."

"So, name a price. 100,000 Gold Coins? How about that? Is it enough?" Tang Mo continued to inquire.

"No, no need for that much..." This price genuinely frightened Reiner, who had never seen so much money before.

"Then make it 200,000." Tang Mo nodded, "Write a check for Mr. Reiner right now. You can buy a house here, buy a car... or if you want to exchange it for Gold Coins, that's fine too."

As Tang Mo stood up and walked towards the door, he instructed, "Find Mr. Reiner a spacious house in the factory district for him to settle down, prepare a set of the relevant documents on propellers for Mr. Reiner, and give him the 'Principles of Aerodynamics' I wrote to read while he waits for his family..."

Before he left, Tang Mo paused, turned to look at Reiner who was still a bit dazed, "From now on, all your research belongs to Great Tang Group! So first, confidentiality! Second, don't disappoint me!"

"Yes... Mr. Tang." Reiner stood up, bowed slightly, and watched as the three left the room. Experience more tales on empire

"Mishe! Well done." As they stepped out of the room, Tang Mo saw Mishe, who was waiting nearby, and praised, "How about an interest in going to Osa? They're short on hands there."

"I'd be delighted, Principal..." A smile spread across Mishe's face; students were always at ease in the presence of the amiable Tang Mo.

However, when he caught sight of big sister Yulin, he immediately restrained himself—while the principal rarely punished students physically, big sister indeed gave a real thrashing.

"After the fair is over, you will head to Osa! Go report to your senior!" Tang Mo patted his shoulder, and Mishe immediately showed a look of bliss.

"Rest assured, Principal! Even if I have to toil away to the bone, I will do my utmost to repay the nurturing kindness of the Principal," Mishe assured with a bow.

"Just do your best, no need for all this dying and toiling talk, it's pointless," Tang Mo let go of Mishe's shoulder, walking away with Yulin and Wes, "Live well! That's what's interesting..."

"Wes! Arrange for someone from the security troops to take two squads to Reiner's hometown and bring back his family. Don't let anything go wrong," Tang Mo ordered Wes who was driving the car in front of him as he got into his own vehicle.

"Understood," Wes said, keeping his gaze on the road and without turning back.

The car fell into silence, and Tang Mo pondered, if someone on this world had thought of something like airplanes, might they also, inspired by Great Tang Group, think of other various concepts?

For instance, what if someone thought of using propellers to power warships? Would there be a ship like the Brunas-class ironclad warship being built somewhere in this world?

Following the same logic, since it is already common knowledge that installing steel plates on cars to create armored cars, might someone think of using tracks to pair with engines, and likewise develop tanks?

Great Tang Group had already opened a door, and among those who entered, or even saw this door, might there be a prodigy who could actually produce something native to this world?

He hadn't underestimated the world, nor had Great Tang Group become complacent, so Great Tang Group's mentality of embracing talents from all over remained superior even to Shireck's.

Moreover... this was an atmosphere he had deliberately cultivated—on this path of continuous progress and development, Great Tang Group's advantages would only become more and more apparent, more and more immense!

"What are you thinking?" Yulin tenderly wrapped Tang Mo's arm, asking in a soft voice.

"Nothing much! I just feel that my fighting spirit has grown stronger!" Tang Mo said with a smile, patting Yulin's hand, and withdrew his thoughts, "This world is already moving forward according to my plan, which is a good sign... As long as it continues to do so, to develop, one day, it will become what we want it to be... the form."

"I don't care what form it takes, as long as I have you, that's all I need," Yulin said with a sweet smile, leaning her head on Tang Mo's shoulder, looking every inch the contented woman.