Chapter 101: More Worlds
by xennovelWhite Reed had a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Mr. Akide, you must be joking. I’ve already risked my head for one bicycle production line. Another ironclad ship production line? Haha, I assure you, if I agree now, the Empire’s navy will bombard the harbor tomorrow.”
Yu Sheng’an relaxed, leaning back in his chair.
“Don’t be so serious! As an arms dealer, the more chaotic the situation, the more gold coins you earn. How can one bicycle production line cause chaos?”
White Reed squinted, sitting up slightly.
“Mr. Akide, I’ve always thought you were smart. Don’t be unwise.”
What he said earlier about not affecting his industry was just an excuse.
The real purpose was exactly what Yu Sheng’an mentioned.
Yu Sheng’an’s revelation embarrassed him while also astonishing him at Yu Sheng’an’s foresight.
Yu Sheng’an chuckled softly, addressing Ben Keming: “Do you see? There’s no class betrayal, only personal betrayal for profit. His actions ultimately still serve his own interests.”
Whoosh!
White Reed suddenly stood up, his old face showing a bit of ferocity.
Yu Sheng’an looked at him teasingly:
“I’ve heard you worship the Lord of Storms. I’m curious, if the Lord of Storms stops you from making money, would you think of killing him?”
At his words, Ben Keming was shocked.
“Get out!”
White Reed shouted angrily, though in his eyes there was a flash of thought.
Compared to his anger, Yu Sheng’an revealed a meaningful smile.
He stood up gracefully, removed his gentleman’s hat, placed it on his chest, bowed slightly, and turned to leave.
Ben Keming followed him in astonishment.
After they left, White Reed left his seat, pacing in the reception room.
His face was indecisive.
He was willing to meet with Ben Keming and even fund them secretly; his purpose was as Yu Sheng’an said.
On one hand, to cause chaos and profit from selling arms;
On the other, to use this force to destroy competitors and seize more assets.
How could he, who started from nothing, have reached such power relying solely on legal business?
But Akide’s ability to see through everything made him suddenly feel a bit scared!
He realized he might not be able to control this monster.
Akide, able to see through his plans, would certainly take every opportunity, and eventually, their influence would grow.
Today’s events made him hesitant.
Should he report to the Church and cut them down in the bud?
Or should he pretend not to know, let them grow, and profit by taking risks?
White Reed paced for a long time in the reception room.
Rationality and greed were in a heated battle!
Finally, he took a deep breath and left the reception room.
Served by his servants, he began to enjoy his supper.
But he didn’t have much appetite. The snowflake beef imported alive from Wagner was barely tasted before he set down his knife and fork, feeling a bit irritable and went for a bath.
A hot bath relaxed him a lot.
The night was still young. Holding a crimson wine glass, he wandered to the open-air balcony, gazing at the distant lights of Puen City, his thoughts boiling.
“If the citizens of Puen knew that Sir White Reed was a vampire, I wonder what their reaction would be?”
The gentle voice caused White Reed’s pupils to suddenly dilate.
He abruptly looked up towards the voice, only to see Akide, whom he had parted with not long ago, standing on the roof, looking down at him with a smile.
“They wouldn’t have any reaction; the commoners have no right to comment!” White Reed sneered.
Yu Sheng’an gently jumped down to the open-air balcony.
“Have you considered my proposal?”
“What?”
“Another ironclad ship production line!”
“Do you think I would betray the Empire?”
White Reed laughed mockingly.
Profit is profit, but he still had the big picture. Otherwise, how could he have survived until now?
“Oh, then the profit isn’t enough!”
“Haha, it sounds like you can offer me more?”
“Of course, as a small factory owner, at best you’ll be an oligarch for life. Some people can crush you easier than a fly. But things are different now. If you help Ben Keming overthrow the Infir Empire, you’ll be a founding elder, and the positions in the new dynasty will be yours to choose.”
Yu Sheng’an looked casual.
“A minister position? Hahaha…”
White Reed laughed wildly, then suddenly stopped, scoffing:
“Do you really think you can overthrow the Empire’s rule? Ridiculous!”
“I admit your manifesto and slogans are indeed stirring, even moving me.”
“But I’ll tell you, even if you armed all your workers with the latest weapons, and gave you the entire navy, it wouldn’t matter!”
“You will never succeed!”
White Reed said decisively. He didn’t know why he was saying so much, maybe just to refute Yu Sheng’an.
He didn’t like his all-seeing eyes!
“Why?”
“Because of the Church! Do you think the Four Primordial Gods are just spiritual beliefs?”
Yu Sheng’an smiled at these words:
“Can you tell me if the Church helped the Infir Empire when it took over this land?”
White Reed’s pupils suddenly dilated.
“You are just God’s lambs. God doesn’t care who herds for him. Man or dog, once the general trend is set, do you think the Church would kill all his lambs for a wretched shepherd?”
At these words, White Reed was shaken!
He saw deeper than imagined, even seeing through God’s motives.
Is God really as he says?
On reflection, although the Church has intervened in historical dynastic changes, the final outcomes seem as he stated.
When the tide turns, God won’t intervene in dynastic changes.
White Reed’s face suddenly became uncertain.
He had to admit he was tempted.
As a new industrial aristocrat, all he relied on was a balance between factions and money.
Compared to the old nobles in the capital who hawk and hunt, receiving piles of money from rich merchants, he was far behind.
Even with his power in Puen, he was just like a dog, tail tucked and begging in the capital.
But could he bear the cost of failure by fully supporting Akide and his people?
Selling some arms, even bicycle production lines, wasn’t really a big problem.
To some extent, the Empire was also allowing worker uprisings.
Like boiling water, some must spill to make room for obedient and compliant cool water.
His so-called support was just adding some firewood.
But if he truly supported them fully, he was betting everything he had!
More importantly, as one of the Empire’s arms dealers, he knew better than anyone the terrifying power of the Empire!
“Still hesitating? It seems the offer is too low! Since you’re not satisfied with a minister position, how about I give you the Infir Empire?”
White Reed was bewildered.
Wasn’t this too casual? It sounded like a random empty promise to win him over.
White Reed’s gaze suddenly became sharp.
“Not satisfied with the Infir Empire? How about I give you the whole world?”
White Reed’s eyes changed completely!
Was this guy a cult lunatic?
“Not satisfied with one world? Tsk tsk, it seems I underestimated your ambition. I can offer you more worlds, but you must prove your worth.”
“More worlds? Are you an idiot?”
White Reed couldn’t hold back anymore, cursing!
Was the wise man he discussed so seriously a fool?
Maybe too smart, leading to madness?
Like many engineers in his factory, the smarter they were, the crazier.
“Snap!”
Yu Sheng’an abruptly grabbed White Reed’s arm.
“What are you doing?”
White Reed was startled, instinctively preparing to unleash his vampire power.
At that moment, mysterious magical patterns suddenly emerged and spread at their feet, intertwining and forming a teleportation array.
The teleportation array suddenly lit up, and both of their figures disappeared.