"Are you planning to return millions of Chinese cultural relics to their rightful owners?"

Lin Dong was in a good mood, and even the Longjing tea he had just tasted seemed much more fragrant.

“Your Excellency, your country’s awareness is quite good, but... there is still a small problem.”

“What’s the problem, Mr. Lin?” John asked quickly.

Lin Dong flipped through the thick ledger in his hand:

As the saying goes, the things you steal always taste the best.

"You've illegally possessed most of the things in this book for at least a hundred or two hundred years, haven't you?"

"Besides returning it to its rightful owner, isn't there any interest?"

Prime Minister John was startled and exchanged a glance with Schnock, who had just returned to his seat, unsure of how to respond.

"What? Does the Prime Minister disagree?" Lin Dong said casually.

“Um… Mr. Lin, isn’t it difficult to calculate the interest?” John’s expression was a bit grim. “After all, national treasures aren’t like bank loans, so how can we determine the interest rate?”

"Besides, for Mr. Lin today, money is just a string of numbers, isn't it?"

Lin Dong shook his head and chuckled: "Prime Minister, who said that interest always has to be paid in money?"

"What does Mr. Lin mean?"

“It’s simple. In a few months, Hong Kong will officially return to China, right? It was loaned out for 100 years. Why don’t we follow suit?”

"don't know."

Lin Dong continued to explain:

"In the past six months, my team has acquired no fewer than 50 shipping companies."

“It suddenly occurred to me that your country’s Southampton port, located at the gateway to the English Channel, is quite good and could come in handy.”

"Just like when you leased Hong Kong back then, I only want the right to use the Port of Southampton for 100 years free of charge!"

As soon as Lin Dong finished speaking, the ministers involved in the peace talks immediately erupted in anger and opposition.

Even the usually calm Schnok felt that Lin Dong's actions were absurd.

In modern states, even significant losses of money and resources are generally within the acceptable range for most people in power.

However, damage to territorial sovereignty is difficult for the regime and the people at the grassroots level to forgive.

The Port of Southampton, located in the southern part of the United Kingdom, is an important strategic port guarding the English Channel.

Besides its normal harbor access, it was also one of the most important naval bases for the British Empire, guarding the strait and providing direct access to the Isle of Wight and the Atlantic Ocean.

"Your Excellency, Mr. Lin's proposed condition is outrageous; we absolutely cannot agree to it!"

"Yes, cultural relics can be returned, and even compensation can be paid, but how can we just hand over a strategic location like the Port of Southampton?"

"Exactly, how is this any different from treason?"

......

....................................

Seeing the group's outrageous reaction, Lin Dong smiled and remained silent.

He calmly flipped through the ledger in his hand, without a trace of anxiety on his face.

It's perfectly normal for politicians to bicker.

He's not a politician, so he doesn't intend to waste time arguing with them; his own words have already made himself clear enough.

Whether it's compensation or interest, Lin Dong is determined to get Southampton Port!

He didn't care what others thought; he was just a gangster boss.

Have you ever heard of gangsters taking over territory and needing to reason with you?

"Prime Minister, should we lend it or not? Please give us a clear answer."

"Oh, by the way, wouldn't you like to report this to your esteemed Queen first?"

Lin Dong joked:

"I would like to add one last thing: the 100-year lease of the Port of Southampton is a purely commercial matter and has nothing to do with national sovereignty."

"However, for operational security reasons, the port still needs to be equipped with the necessary armed forces."

Prime Minister John Jack's facial expression was incredibly varied, as if he had been forced to eat a lump of meat, clearly in great discomfort.

"Mr. Lin, is this really necessary?"

"What do you think?" Lin Dong's eyes turned cold, and a murderous aura that seemed to have walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood burst forth.

Who could withstand such a palpable killing intent?

Prime Minister John shuddered and dared not meet Lin Dong's gaze:

"Alright, Mr. Lin, please rest here for a while. I'll be right back. I'm so sorry!"

Lin Dong nodded; he certainly knew what the old man was going to do.

He must have been undecided, so he went to Buckingham Palace next door to consult the Queen.

Lin Dong remained noncommittal, watching as the Prime Minister and several ministers left the reception hall.

The fruit and snacks on the coffee table next to me hadn't been touched much.

He reached out and picked up a piece of cake, then put it in his mouth and ate it with relish.

....................................

Buckingham Palace.

The morning sunlight pierced through the thin mist, illuminating the lush flowers and foliage scattered throughout the garden.

Queen Elizabeth, 72, sat under a parasol, leisurely sipping a glass of pine nut wine, wearing a loose white long dress.

She has been drinking this wine for many years, three cups every day, morning, noon, and night, without fail.

A sip of pine nut wine, its unique sweetness and refreshing coolness, seems to permeate every cell in your body.

It's warm and cozy, incredibly comfortable...

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister John requests an audience."

The male butler, who was in his forties, walked up to the Queen and spoke softly.

"Oh? What brings you here so early in the morning, Prime Minister John?" Elizabeth put down her wine glass and asked slowly.

"I heard that a man named Lin Dong has arrived, and 10 Downing Street is quite lively," the butler replied.

"Lin Dong? He really came!"

Elizabeth's cloudy eyes lit up, and she raised her right hand:

“Let Prime Minister John come in alone; I don’t want to turn this place into a noisy marketplace.”

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

A few minutes later.

John Jack, led by his butler, came before Queen Elizabeth.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.” John bowed.

The Queen smiled and nodded: "Prime Minister John, would you like a drink?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but I don't drink alcohol in the morning."

"That's right, look at me, I'm old, and I've forgotten what you said, haha..."

"Her Majesty is not old at all, she is very young!"

"Stop joking around, did you need something from me?"

"Yes... there is something."

"Sit down and talk, Butler Kane, pour the Prime Minister a cup of coffee."

Elizabeth raised her right hand slightly, the movement gentle and graceful.

"yes."

The butler turned around, walked to the white dining table next to him, and skillfully poured a cup of hot coffee.

John took the coffee, feeling the warmth and comfort emanating from the cup; his slightly chilled heart felt a little better.

“Your Majesty, Lin Dong has accepted our proposal to return the artifacts, but... he has made a condition.”

“Oh? What conditions did he propose?” Elizabeth asked.

"He wants a 100-year usage right to the Port of Southampton!"