Chapter 819 - This Game Is Too Realistic

Chapter 819: Mosquito Fires Up the Situation At the port in front of Settlement One, two men were shaking hands with faces aglow with red. One was the owner of Goblin Technology, known as WC Really a Mosquito, and the other was no less significant—a quartermaster under the warlord command of the Tiger Army. Although this gentleman's military rank wasn't high, merely a rank of a commander of a thousand, he splurged with more than ten billion. Even for the sake of money, Mosquito displayed some respect and courtesy, warmly shaking his hand. “Happy cooperation!” “Hahaha! Happy cooperation!” Even though Chopra’s heart ached, he managed to force a smile onto his face. One silver coin was exchanged for 100 Xilan coins… This price was literally losing its shirt! Seeing the pain on his customer's face, Mosquito couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him. It wasn’t out of pity; it was mainly because he wasn’t specializing in currency exchange, and in the end, it was that dog Fang Chang who helped him swap the money, for which he had to pay a 20-point profit. In other words, that dog Fang Chang did nothing but leech a 20-point cut from his profit under the guise of a “financial service fee.” Although this meant he earned more, the thought of that smug face made him quite upset. That dog won again! Damn it! However, just then, a clever idea struck him, and looking at Chopra with a smile, he said: “Friend, I consider you one of my own. My clients are my family, but there’s something I don’t know if I should say.” Chopra quickly replied. “Please, go ahead!” “This Xilan coin, I reckon it’s bound to collapse eventually. Rather than letting you be cut like grass by the banks of Jialun Port, wouldn’t it be better to let me—or rather, I help you all!” Mosquito initially intended to educate him slowly about the relationship between currency circulation and value from the angle of inflation. But seeing the savvy look on this guy’s face, he dismissed the thought. No choice. Even if he dried his tongue, it’s likely this guy wouldn’t understand the intrinsic logic of Xilan coin depreciation. Moreover, even if this guy understood, when he relayed it to his boss General Jeha, the credibility of the information would surely take a hit. It’d be a miracle if the latter understood. After his eyes turned again, Mosquito’s face once more donned a smile as warm as the spring breeze, and he continued earnestly. “This Xilan coin keeps depreciating. I’m worried for you all. Now it costs over a billion to buy a tank. By next year, it might be 10 billion. How many shirts would you need to trade for one? Not to mention your wardrobes are almost full thanks to us. If you don’t diversify, by next year, you might not be able to cough up that much Xilan coin.” Chopra said with a bitter expression. “You think we want this? We just don’t have a choice. The printing machine is in His Majesty’s hands, and it’s his call on how to use it, including the silver coins and dinars… All our foreign exchange earnings and export tariffs are stored at the Royal Mint. We receive Xilan coins at a 1:12.5 exchange rate from them, but we can’t exchange them back for silver coins at that rate.” Mosquito said, aggrieved. “Nonsense! Why let the Emperor handle the printing? Can’t you print yourselves?” Chopra, hearing this, broke into a cold sweat and said nervously. “You can’t say that recklessly; printing money privately is a capital offense!” Mosquito tutted and said. “Who asked you to print Xilan coins? Printing those worthless papers is pointless. Why not directly print Cat coins or Tiger coins?” Chopra was amused yet confounded, not knowing how to respond to this asinine suggestion. Wouldn’t that be the same thing? No— To be precise, the situation actually differed, potentially offending even more profoundly. Issuing currency privately, using their sovereign credit as backing. Wouldn't this be tantamount to rebellion? Chopra felt a cold sweat flowing like a creek and wiped his brow with an arm. Seeing Chopra's timid demeanor, Mosquito wasn't disdainful but rather handed him a cigarette with a smile. “Don’t be so tense. I just saw you have bought so many presses, yet don’t plan to use them, and thought it a bit wasteful.” Receiving the cigarette, Chopra was confused, not fully grasping what Mosquito meant. “Bought… presses?” Mosquito glanced around, especially letting his gaze linger on the Conqueror Ten tanks. “Aren’t these just like presses? If you were to take a hundred or two back, I wouldn't believe even Weituo would dare trouble you.” Chopra swallowed and felt a bit tempted but clearly showed hesitation. “You’ve oversimplified things. Issuing sovereign currency is still a face-losing act. And not to mention, no one might accept our currency; the political risk is substantial. The royal family, if only for face, would—” Mosquito sighed and said. “It’s not that I’ve simplified it; it’s that you all are not thinking creatively. If issuing sovereign currency scares you, can’t you just issue something like silver coin vouchers as Jialun Port does? Issue ten vouchers per silver coin or equivalent financial assets, and just settle trades with vouchers.” At that moment, Chopra felt like a switch flipped in his brain, suddenly enlightening him. Yes… They copied Jialun Port’s banking system; how did they forget to copy the most crucial part! Given the economic scale of Tiger State and its trade volume with the Federation, they are entirely capable of issuing silver coin vouchers. Then they could bypass using Xilan coins for trade settlements, breaking free from the royal family’s levy. Once inspired, Chopra’s breath quickened. If this thing could be accomplished, it would solve the heartache of Tiger State! His credit for this might even surpass his credit for purchasing munitions! Excitedly looking at Mosquito, Chopra imitated the Federation’s gesture of cupping his fists. “Thanks, brother!” Seeing his high intelligence, Mosquito also revealed a joyful smile. “You’re welcome… uh, it was just a casual suggestion. For the details, you should best find a professional to tidy things up. I heard there are many financial experts in Jialun Port.” His rudimentary knowledge of economics was also garnered from Fang Chang. It, at best, gave him a general idea of things. After all, it wasn’t his specialty, and he didn’t want to mistakenly ruin a client. Even if the wholesale cost of the arms he held were dirt-cheap, someone still needed to buy them. Not long after Mosquito saw Chopra off, Yalaman finally disembarked along the gangway close to the harbor. Desolate yet filled with a mechanical vibe, it felt like a spaceship marooned in the desert—this was his most direct impression of the port and the settlement behind it. A third of the docks were metal, like bridges pieced together with steel plates, while the other two-thirds were concrete docks similar to those at West Sail Port, extending from the coastline straight into deeper waters. In addition, some docks seemed to be under construction, seemingly catered to large container ships. These docks were not only much wider than others but were equipped with fixed cranes akin to tower cranes and several gantry cranes. It wasn't just the dock sections that were impressive—the warehouse area’s situation also caught his attention. Containers were stacked like building blocks on the wide concrete lots. Forklifts and hoists shuttled back and forth between containers, along with dock workers in exoskeletons busy unloading goods… He had to admit, the Federation's mechanical technology was indeed something else; these dock workers, working in pairs, accomplished as much as five men did at West Sail Port. Though surprised, Yalaman didn’t overthink it. After all, exoskeletons, while rare in the Boruo Province, weren’t much of a novelty in the Legion. If needed, he'd be able to afford them too. As for container transport, though more efficient than loose freight, the demand for maritime transport wasn’t significantly large in the wastelands. Running a container route would require specialized ships and docks. Compared to the high maintenance costs, the increased efficiency was almost negligible. At least, that was Yalaman’s perspective. Moreover, the backlog of containers was also a problem. Not only did they fill the port, but they even reached the settlement. However, those survivors were quite clever, modifying these iron boxes with doors and windows, using them as homes. For the tropical Sea Edge Province, it wouldn't get too cold, with the only major concern being extreme weather—those empty containers could easily be blown away by a gust of wind. In short, compared to the marble-paved buildings and fancy street lamps of West Sail Port, this place undoubtedly appears much more humble. Yalaman didn’t waste too much time scrutinizing the port, as he had more pressing matters to attend to. Seeing another container ship laden with weapons departing, he hurriedly approached the port staff coming toward him. “We have eight ships here; what procedures do we need to complete?” The port office staffer on the dock glanced at the Wilantian, puzzled to see a whole fleet of eight ships empty. “One or two empty ships aren't unusual, but a whole fleet of eight empty ships is quite rare.” “... There aren't any docking procedures required, just pay the berthing fees before departure. But any goods arriving need to be registered before unloading; it's necessary to prevent smuggling. Do you need a cargo declaration form?” Yalaman shook his head quickly. “No, we don’t.” “... Alright then, I suppose there’s no need. If you need additional documentation later, you can head to the port office and apply for it.” The staff shrugged and closed the ledger he had opened. As the worker turned to leave, Yalaman hurriedly called after him. “By the way, what is this place?” The port staff looked at him strangely upon hearing his question. “You mean this place? It used to be the landing point for the Burning Legion. The respected administrators plan to help the locals rebuild, so now it’s the Federation’s Settlement One.” This guy doesn’t even know where he is; what’s he doing here? Yalaman was even more confused by the explanation and subconsciously glanced to the side again. This settlement... Was it built in just the past two months?! “This place… doesn’t have a name?” Overwhelmed with shock, Yalaman couldn’t help but ask. The staff chuckled. “Not yet—it's a minor detail according to the administrator. That gentleman plans to let the survivors living here decide the name once their numbers exceed a hundred thousand... You should ask a local for more details. If there’s nothing else, I have other work to attend to.” Yalaman nodded blankly, watched the worker leave, and then turned his gaze toward the port area, feeling a tingling at the back of his neck. He was certain that this equipment was certainly the Expeditionary Army of the Eastern Legion’s gear! Yet what baffled him was why this equipment appeared at the Federation’s port! Could it be… That esteemed General Lium has already sold it to the Federation?! Yalaman’s face subtly changed as an ominous feeling crept into his heart. To reach the Dead Coast quickly, he had made the special effort to empty the cargo hold, sailing over with empty ships. If this deal falls through, he’d be at a massive financial loss! The supervising captain disembarked and noticed the state of the port warehouses, approaching Yalaman. “What’s the situation?” His share of the profits was invested in this venture, so he had to be concerned, at least for the sake of his dinars. Yalaman, looking grim, shook his head. “I don’t know... it seems there’s an issue.” Just a small issue? The captain watched Yalaman with a concerned look and hesitantly asked. “Are we still heading to that Northern Coastal City?” “Of course, but before we go, I need to ask around nearby...” He needed to figure out what the deal was with the stockpiled weapons! Without hesitating, Yalaman went back to the ship, picked a few crew members, and led them in the direction of the warehouse. Coincidentally, as he reached the warehouse gate, Mosquito happened to be coming out. The two made eye contact and immediately recognized the significance of the other. Noticing the large nose, Mosquito quickly extended a business card with a smile. “Goblin Technology! We provide the most professional explosive services. Wherever there’s an explosion, you’ll find us. Here’s my card; do take a look!” Yalaman, bewildered, took the card and noticed the words “military equipment” under the services section. “Wait, you deal in arms?” As soon as the topic of arms came up, Mosquito perked up and nodded eagerly. “Absolutely! Our company’s hottest sales are arms—from rifles to planes and tanks, we have it all! Need any recommendations?” “Wait... hold on a second!” Yalaman didn’t bother listening to the rest and hastily searched himself, pulling out a purchase certificate and letter of introduction from the Governor’s Office. Seeing the papers handed over, Mosquito was dumbfounded. “What’s this?” Yalaman swallowed nervously, forcing a smile onto his face while saying tensely. “A purchase certificate and introduction letter issued by the West Sail Port Governor’s Office...” At this moment, he felt like a drowning man, trying desperately to grasp any straw drifting by. He knew it was unrealistic, but he held onto a shred of hope that the Governor’s Office had communicated with the Federation and that the person in front recognized these documents. However— The person accepting the papers was baffled, looking at them and then at him. “What is this?” Seeing the unfamiliarity with the documents on the man’s face, Yalaman felt true despair. All negotiation tactics seemed worthless at this moment. He felt like a clown standing there, but still, he stammered, “This is, uh, the purchase certificate and introduction letter I mentioned. We’re here at the invitation of the West Sail Port Governor’s Office to help transport arms…” Mosquito impatiently interrupted him. “Alright, alright, I don’t want to hear this stuff. Name your price if you want the goods.” He didn’t care where these Wilantians planned to ship this equipment. He’d be all the better if they sold it to the Empire. That way, he could sell gear capable of dismantling these metal scraps to the various warlords in Boruo Province. Things like the Type-2B Tanks, W-2 aircraft, and the upcoming W-3. Clinging to that last unrealistic hope, Yalaman despairingly proposed. “Following the quote on the purchase certificate, we can buy back these weapons at 10,000 dinars per ton—” Hearing this outrageous quote, Mosquito nearly choked on his saliva. “Ten thousand dinars per ton? What are you trying to buy, a load of cabbages?” After all, he had traded excavators for those tanks! And these swindlers wanted to buy wholesale by the ton, and ‘buy back’—what a joke! “But, but the Governor’s Office…” Looking at the stammering big-nosed man, Mosquito cut him off impatiently. “Don’t drag your Governor’s Office into this. We’re the Federation! It’d be better if you gave me Xilan coins…ugh, we don’t accept Xilan coins here. Pay in silver coins, at least, or Cr!” Yalaman felt every cell in his body tremble, finally squeezing a sentence from his pale lips. “So...how much do you sell them for?” Not holding much hope for this buyer, Mosquito casually replied. “Depends on what you buy. For a Conqueror 10, the price would be a million silver coins.” “One million silver coins?!” Yalaman’s eyes widened in anger. “You dare sell used equipment at such a price? Why don’t you just rob us!” If it were between twenty or thirty thousand silver coins, he could grit his teeth, buy them, and sell them at a profit of six or seven hundred thousand dinars without losing much. But Mosquito wasn’t even inclined to negotiate. “If you think it’s expensive, don’t buy it then!” Rolling his eyes, he returned the papers to the big-nosed man and even retrieved the business card he’d given earlier. Damn it! All this while, these guys had come to leech off for free! And he got worked up for nothing! Not wasting a moment, Mosquito and his crew hopped into the off-road vehicle waiting at the entrance and vanished down the road in under half a minute, leaving a group of Wilantians flustered at the warehouse entrance. After a long pause, a follower standing behind Yalaman cautiously spoke. "...Maybe the Eastern Legion only sold off a portion, and there's still some left in Northern Coastal City. Perhaps... we should try our luck there?" "Let's hope so..." Yalaman managed a bitter smile, seeming to have aged a decade in moments, with none of the confidence and vigor he had when setting out. This whole round trip had cost him at least a month. He originally hoped that the profit from this deal would cover part of the overdue penalties for late shipments of sugar and tea. But now, he had no choice but to swallow the loss himself. Moreover, he had to pay storage fees for the goods piled up in the warehouses at West Sail Port, adding to his expenses... As Yalaman fretted over the mounting bills, ship shadows appeared on the distant sea. They charged toward the port of Settlement One like frolicking ducks. Zhang Ze, busy transporting goods in the port area, looked up with surprise on his face. “Why are there so many ships?” This job as a porter had been arranged through Settlement One's employment guidance center, with an hourly rate of eight silver coins like Reyno, who left midway. As for which job was tougher, it was hard to say. However, Zhang Ze was still young and couldn’t do this forever. This job was just a transitional role for him. Once he saved enough money and obtained Federation citizenship, he planned to return to his old business ventures. A colleague nearby, clad in an exoskeleton, set down his cargo, laughing. “Who cares how many ships come; it has nothing to do with us. Let's grab a couple of drinks at the tavern after work.” Another worker standing by grinned and wiped the sweat from his forehead with a raised arm. “I doubt it. With so many ships, we’d probably have to work overtime. We might be busy until dark.” This isn’t Fry Port, where bars stay open past midnight. Most small businesses here cater to scavengers returning from the nearby ruins and close early, around eight. Zhang Ze watched the distance for a moment, pondered, and said, “...Not necessarily. I noticed the last batch of cargo ships seemed to be empty.” “Empty ships?” His coworker, working alongside him, paused in confusion. “Coming here?” Settlement One was still in its early construction stages, with no output whatsoever. What could empty ships possibly be doing here? Buying trash? Everyone was bewildered, staring at the ships rushing to the docks, unable to make sense of it. The confusion wasn’t limited to the dockworkers; even the chief of the port office was dumbfounded after hearing reports from his subordinates. “That’s odd...are these Wilantians here for a vacation?” Some of the fleet even included passenger ships, albeit seemingly empty... While Federation staff were left baffled, the Wilantians standing on the dock were equally stunned as ships laden with weapons swept past them. Damn... They had barely reached the Sea Edge Province, and others were already returning fully loaded?! That was unbelievably fast! To be continued...