Munitions Empire

The Suthers Kingdom is actually not as exquisite as the Leite Kingdom because the King of Suthers is not as wise as the King of Leite.

This is a country that is crude and careless, one that, though established on military might, has somewhat degraded into a state of disrepair and decadence. The ease with which the Shireck Consortium could convince them to send troops to the Northern Ridge is indicative of a myriad of issues inherent within the kingdom.

Fortunately, the country has some capable generals, such as Earl Tucci, who shines in comparison to Count Fisheo, and Duke Montbar, the Prime Minister of the Suthers Kingdom.

Tang Mo did not have a deep understanding of the Suthers Kingdom, so he treasured the intelligence he obtained from John. To his new friend Tang Mo, John was quite forthcoming with everything he knew.

He spoke of the relaxed military preparations at the northern ports of Suthers and also mentioned that the Suthers Kingdom was indeed reinforcing its southern borders, a very dangerous signal.

Since John's intelligence was roughly a year old, it also meant that the war preparations of the Suthers Kingdom had actually begun over a year ago.

From this perspective, it was evident that the Suthers Kingdom's war preparations were more thorough, and with Shireck's financial and arms support, the war was clearly to the advantage of Suthers.

Of course, if it weren't for Tang Mo, the transmigrator bearing the golden finger, it is very likely that the tale would end with Count Fisheo's bitter defeat.

But now that Tang Mo had arrived, bringing with him his advanced breech-loading rifles, the outcome of the war seemed to have quietly shifted.

"In fact, before meeting you, I did not think Count Fisheo has a chance of winning," John said candidly to Tang Mo without avoiding Alice by his side, "Suthers Kingdom has been preparing for over a year, and no matter what, the outcome of the war would not be subject to change."

"Even if Count Fisheo commands his troops like a deity, he won't last long in front of an enemy force that is more than three times larger," he shook his head, then continued, "However, after getting to know you and seeing your weapons, I think that if Count Fisheo is truly as remarkable in his command as the legend says, then Northern Ridge may well become the victor of this war."

"You, or rather your father, encountering Tang Mo, might have been the only chance you had throughout the year," he said to Alice with a smile, "Cherish this only variable. If it weren't for Mr. Tang Mo, Northern Ridge would be destined to lose."

"Since he has already sold the K1 Quick Guns to you, there's no need for me to hide anything. You know full well the power of the weapons I possess, and now Northern Ridge holds the winning ticket!" Alice declared defiantly, her beautiful eyes fixed on John.

"It's still too early to say you hold the winning ticket, Miss Alice! Who can be sure about matters on the battlefield," John shrugged, "Tang Mo's K1 Quick Guns have merely pulled you back from the edge of a cliff. Now, this war can finally be said to have a winner and a loser, as opposed to the outcome being decided... "

"I truly wish we could decide the outcome of the war over dinner, but unfortunately, I'm not yet capable of that," Tang Mo toyed with his fork, glanced at the two, and said, "However, as a gambler, I've decided to place my bet on Count Fisheo's side."

As he spoke, he turned to Alice, "I hope Miss Alice, and Lord Earl, do not disappoint me."

"Rest assured! My father will defeat that bunch of fools from the Suthers Kingdom!" Alice clenched her teeth, and finally managed to say the words as she looked at Tang Mo.

"I think it's time to end dinner!" John was eager to go back to gather funds and hand over the ships, so he wanted to leave halfway through the meal.

He took a glance at the captain standing by his side, then apologetically gestured to Tang Mo, stood up, and cheerily said his goodbyes, "It's getting late, I won't disturb you two any longer. I'll have my men bring the collected treasures later on."

He waved the contract signed before dinner and stepped back, "Thank you for the hospitality. I hope my goods will be delivered on time to the dock in three days."

"Of course!" Tang Mo also stood up, responding in kind, "Would you like an escort from me?"

"No need, I'll just borrow your carriage for a bit, and have it returned to you later. Goodbye." John, ever so graceful, bowed slightly and then left the tent with the Elf captain.

Meanwhile, Alice, who had been taken aback by John's words "I won't disturb you two," inexplicably blushed a deep red.

"Scoundrel!" She cursed John under her breath, venomous and silent, "I curse, curse you, you bastard, to never have... have... offspring in your life! Bastard! Son of a bitch!"

"Miss Alice, what are you muttering?" Tang Mo, after watching his major client John leave, turned and looked at Alice with concern.

"It's nothing..." Alice, upon hearing Tang Mo's question, immediately became flustered, shaking her head and looking down at her shoe tips.

She had just glanced subconsciously when she noticed the outfit Tang Mo was wearing today, which seemed quite rare. It was very proper and accentuated Tang Mo's slender figure.

"This is so baffling…" Tang Mo glanced at the distracted Alice and then at Tagg standing beside her before giving his order, "Miss Alice has just arrived and might not be used to this place. Take her around for a walk. I will be occupied with the inventory of the Elf's assets for a while. After Miss Alice has adjusted, bring her to my room."

"Understood, Lord," Tagg nodded slightly and then watched as Tang Mo departed. To be honest, during the meal, Alice was the only one who ate absentmindedly, as her plate still had quite a bit of beef left.

Alice felt like a startled little animal; it was only well after Tang Mo had left and several workers had started to eat in the corners of the tent that she lifted her head, having adjusted her state of mind.

She touched her cheek, feeling a slightly abnormal warmth. It was only after that warmth had also warmed her small hand that she looked up, somewhat bewildered.

For many years now, there had been no shortage of suitors chasing her. However, those true scions of great families and fitting members of the nobility always maintained a nebulous distance from her.

She was not foolish, but very intelligent; she knew she might not marry a desirable groom like the other daughters of Earls.

All this time, she had been searching for her other half in Northern Ridge, often resigned to her fate, thinking she might end up marrying a young officer and controlling the Wolf Banner and her father's estate as the female Earl of Northern Ridge.

She did not dislike this outcome, but as she grew older, the pressure on her shoulders increased—over the past year, with war on the brink of breaking out, her dream of marrying one of her father's officers and inheriting the family business seemed to be shattering.

Even with the most optimistic assumptions, Alice knew she might end up as a trophy, given to some Suthers noble who would take over Northern Ridge, or even die inexplicably in some room in Wolf City...

However, when she saw Tang Mo's K1 Quick Gun, the revolver, and the smile that had appeared on her father's usually furrowed face, a glimmer of hope suddenly arose within her.

A prince on a white steed, bearing an artifact capable of changing the Ronin Family's fate, had appeared out of nowhere and entered her life.

She felt this was divine will, or rather… this might be her last chance to break free from her destiny.

Compared to marrying some frivolous heir, or a dull-witted officer in order to continue controlling the family business, or being treated like a trophy and throttled in some dark corner… perhaps this somewhat handsome man in front of her wasn't so bad…

"Miss…" Tagg, who had been watching Alice sitting there as if lost in thought since Tang Mo's departure, finally couldn't help but speak up. Suddenly, Alice lifted her head, startling Tagg.

"I'm fine! I was just… just thinking… thinking about how to negotiate with Mr. Tang Mo, to get him to agree to Northern Ridge's terms…" Alice lied, covering up her unease, then stood up and looked in Tang Mo's direction: "Take me to him!"

As she spoke, Alice had a determined look about her. She straightened her clothes, which were not at all disheveled, and only then did she realize her hands were trembling slightly from nervousness.

"I'm doing this for Northern Ridge…" She didn't even believe her excuse, yet she tried to convince herself with it in her mind.

"Say… miss… are you feeling unwell?" Tagg, observing Alice's unusual demeanor, inquired kindly.

Alice, like a startled rabbit, quickly shook her head in denial: "No, I'm fine! I'm just a bit, a bit nervous."

"Nervous?" Tagg was even more puzzled now; in his memory, as the sole daughter of the Earl, Alice had never shown nervousness during business negotiations.

Alice, whose thoughts had been read, took a deep breath, lifted her chin as if in defiance, and walked toward the building not far away.

However, upon reaching the door, she began to get nervously jittery again. Tagg, as well as the old butler following her, both noticed Alice's hesitation.

"Miss, perhaps we should do this tomorrow…" The old butler weighed his words carefully before suggesting.

"No need!" Alice bit her lip and then instructed deliberately, "Tagg, stay here; no one… well, no one is to come in!"

Then, finally… after several minutes of hesitation at Tang Mo's door, Alice clenched her teeth and knocked. "The worst that could happen is like getting bitten by a dog! I'm going all in!"