Munitions Empire

Brunas, Tang Mo had just sent off Leite VII who came for the Expo and had returned to his office when Li'ao brought some good news, "Master, a message has just been delivered."

Putting on an air of mystery, he placed a telegram on Tang Mo's desk, smiling as he stepped back two paces to let Tang Mo read the freshly translated telegram himself.

Tang Mo picked up the paper and glanced at it with lowered eyelids then a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He pressed the telegram down on the desk and said to Li'ao, "Reply to the telegram, tell them that three days from now will be a good day."

"Your subordinate understands." Li'ao bowed slightly, responding with his head lowered.

Tang Mo turned to Harry and continued to speak, "I hear, Sofia's maid seems to have taken an interest in you?"

"Many women take an interest in me, she's not the best of them," Harry hurried to explain for himself.

As a joke, the identities of Sofia's confidant Shireck and others were seen as an advantage in the eyes of others.

But in Harry's view, these were all significant drawbacks — so much so that even if she were willing to renounce these identities, he wouldn't dare to trust easily.

Moreover, as a student personally trained by Tang Mo, Harry's standards were exceptionally high; unless it was one of the knowledgeable and sensible females from the Great Tang Group's school, he probably wouldn't spare a second glance.

Even the female nobility of this world or those high-positioned female powerhouses couldn't keep pace with Harry in matters of knowledge, so he was genuinely reluctant to get involved with such women.

"To straighten what's bent, you're already quite capable," Tang Mo said, his words somewhat puzzling to Harry, who was bewildered as Tang Mo continued, "No worries, find an appropriate opportunity and invite this maid out today."

He leaned back in his chair and commanded, "Tell her to inform Sofia that within three days, the old man known as 'Smiling Tiger' will be gasping his last... If they don't want to take advantage of the situation, then we will make our move."

"Master, for such a confidential operation, prematurely revealing it to the other party... might it not..." Harry began to remind Tang Mo with some astonishment upon hearing the news.

"Firstly, Sofia is aware of our power, she... dares not!" Tang Mo confidently spoke, "Secondly, if she doesn't know to cooperate with such a good deal, she couldn't have climbed to her position today."

"Go on! Do as I say, and don't be so paranoid. If you really like her, you can even consider taking Sofia as your lover," Tang Mo waved his hand, signaling Harry to go ahead with the "leak".

Harry's old face turned red, and he promptly left Tang Mo's office.

As he and Li'ao exited Tang Mo's office, another person passed by them, appearing somewhat nervous. Harry saw clearly that this was the envoy from Suthers to Brunas.

"My lord!" As soon as he entered, the envoy from Suthers bowed respectfully to Tang Mo.

To be honest, even when facing the Prime Minister of his own Kingdom, he wouldn't necessarily be as cautious and tentative.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"I know what you're here for," Tang Mo said with a smile, not giving the envoy a chance to speak, "Northern Ridge is indeed amassing troops, more than 30,000."

Reaching out his hand, Yulin, who had been standing by, walked to the liquor cabinet, opened the door, and took out a three-year-old Brunas bottle, removing the cork.

She poured two cups, then handed one to Tang Mo and brought the other to the envoy, speaking softly and courteously, "Sit."

The envoy sat nervously on the couch. His purpose for coming here was to clarify whether the Great Tang Group was genuinely considering another war.

For Suthers, this was a pressing concern.

Before coming here, he had already ascertained through intelligence that places like Jade City under the control of the Great Tang Group and Northern Ridge were both mobilizing, and troops were being redeployed.

"Don't be nervous, this military operation is not directed at Suthers," Tang Mo picked up his glass, signaling him, and explained, "If it wasn't to reassure you, Harry would be the one meeting with you."

"But sir, I've been racking my brain and truly can't think of any force that warrants such a large mobilization of Great Tang Group's troops..." The envoy from Suthers was still very anxious. He couldn't simply drop his concerns and trust the Great Tang Group's intentions based on a few words from Tang Mo.

"Simple, if I wanted to target Suthers, the troops should be amassing at Ice Crystal City, right?" Tang Mo sipped his fine wine, patiently explaining, "Moreover, if I wanted to attack Suthers, would I need to mobilize so many troops?"

Explore more stories with empire

Leaning forward, he stared into the envoy's eyes, "If I station troops in Jade City, Leite and Dorne get uneasy, if I station them at Ice Crystal City, you in Suthers become highly anxious. But if I assemble them at Brunas... What are you all afraid of, huh?"

After speaking, he put the glass down on the table, stood up, walked over to the Suthers envoy, gesturing for him not to rise, "What the Great Tang Group does and plans to do, must we report it to you? Should we inform everyone in advance about where we're going and what we're doing?"

"No, no, that's not necessary," the Suthers envoy immediately waved his hand, he was merely probing, not questioning. After all, Suthers wouldn't consult the Great Tang Group about everything they intended to do, right?

The Great Tang Group had been in a foul mood lately, moving troops, preparing for war—who would dare to provoke them? Were they looking for death?

"Relax! The formation of the Tri-Kingdom Alliance was facilitated by the Great Tang Group, I'm not about to create an uncontrollable mess! As long as you don't betray me, I won't consider disturbing your affairs." Tang Mo walked behind the envoy and gave a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

After a few seconds of silence, he continued, "This move is intended westward... However, it's best if you don't spread this around. After all, I'm sharing my strategic intentions to put your worries to rest, not to give away secrets for you to exploit!"

"Understood, understood..." The Suthers envoy took out a handkerchief and dabbed the sweat from his forehead, promising Tang Mo, "I assure you, this matter will not be spread... leaked."

"I hope so! This is about mutual trust. If you betray my trust, I will be very disappointed..." Tang Mo's hand on the envoy's shoulder pressed down harder, giving a firm squeeze, "Don't let me down!"

"It won't happen, it won't." The envoy from Suthers secretly heaved a sigh of relief—apparently, this time, the Great Tang Group's operations truly weren't aimed at Suthers...