Chapter 631: Fanning the Flames
Sure enough, what other business can these active and retired officers do...
Angel was not surprised by Stewart's words. She had long anticipated that the business in the "gray area" was most likely weapons and equipment, and the so-called "obsolete" items were usually almost brand new, or even just shipped from the factory. They were just looking for an excuse to sell them.
The only thing she had to think about was whether this business had any political implications.
"Do you just want money, or do you need to sell it to some specific target?"
He frowned and thought for a moment, then picked up the teacup and took a sip before Angel slowly asked back.
If they only want money, it means that this business is probably the work of a few military officers who are just trying to make a fortune; if there are many conditions attached, it means that the military is probably behind them and they have other purposes for smuggling arms.
And this purpose is probably not a good thing... Angel is not worried about his personal safety, but he has to pretend to be like this, otherwise a shrewd woman who has seen the world in Trier and done a lot of gray business will foolishly agree to their request, which will make this identity even more suspicious.
According to Ribak's introduction before the meeting, the retired Sandel received a lot of help and donations from the New Party in the process of promoting military welfare, so his political inclination is very clear. As an active-duty officer, Stewart cannot express his own inclination, but his appearance here with Sandel can also explain a lot of problems.
So, are they trying to earn some political funds for the new party, or do they have other purposes... Angel pondered until Sander chuckled and replied:
"Don't worry. The origin of this batch of arms is absolutely legitimate. Even if MI9 were to investigate, they would reach the same conclusion... We only have one small request. We hope that most of them will end up in the Gargas Islands, in the hands of local pirates, adventurers, or even protesters against indiscriminate whaling."
The Gargas Islands, that was the overseas colony of the Feysac Empire... Angel immediately thought of the Gargas capital, Nas Port, where he had visited once, and the parading crowds and the rampant pirates there.
Unlike the Rorsted Islands, which had a large population, Gargas was almost entirely populated by Feysac people. However, being isolated overseas and too far away from the mainland, the Empire's rule was not solid.
Selling a batch of military weapons there would be like adding fuel to the fire of the colonial government there. Even with the help of Beyonders, I'm afraid the Feysac Empire would not be able to sit still...
It seems that Sander and his group, or the New Party, are not only looking to make money, but also intend to fan the flames of chaos in the Feysac colony and avenge the defeat in the war on the east coast of Balam?
After figuring all this out, Angel pretended to be hesitant and slowly asked:
"Isn't Loen still in a truce with Feysac?"
"Of course, we have no intention of provoking a war. After these arms are sold to the merchants in Intis, where they sell them to is none of our business."
The smile on Sander's face became more obvious.
So that's how it is. The purpose of involving me, who has connections in Trier, is to create an extra layer of leverage, so that even if the Feysac Empire knows that Loen is up to something, it won't have enough evidence?
Angel nodded and was about to speak when Stuart interrupted:
"What's more, the pirates supported by Feysac intercepted our fleet at sea, and Intis's consulate in Bayam was almost openly smuggling military weapons to the local resistance, including high-pressure steam rifles... You don't have to worry about retaliation for this matter. The fighting will only occur between ambassadors, not in public."
I always feel like he's just trying to fool me. Haha, if I were really caught for arms smuggling, I'm afraid they wouldn't admit any connection with me. After all, I'm just a discarded pawn... Angel muttered inwardly, but an expression of interest appeared on his face as he asked,
"How much ammunition is there?"
"It can arm about 2,000 men. We'll calculate the price based on scrapping, 5,000 pounds... Of course, you have to pay 7,000 pounds, otherwise there might be some trouble with the transaction."
Sandel replied, without hiding the fact that he had asked for an extra 2,000 pounds, as if that was the norm in the army.
So, they wanted money, and they also wanted to disrupt the Feysac colony... Angel felt that he had underestimated these people's appetite.
Of course, the weapons that could arm two thousand men could easily fetch 15,000 pounds in Bayam, according to the market conditions she had learned from Elaine. Even in Naas, where she was unfamiliar with the place, 12,000 pounds wouldn't be difficult either. Excluding the 7,000 pounds in costs, as well as possible risks and expenses, she could earn at least 4,000 pounds, a very high profit.
Of course, the corresponding risks are also very great. This is considered an act of opposing the Feysac Empire. Once discovered by the Feysac fleet on the sea, there will be only one outcome.
Moreover, they had to contact Intis and prevent Feysac from finding evidence of Rune's involvement. It seemed that Elaine's "Redhead" had to make this trip. I wondered if she would dare to take the job... Angel quickly planned a plan in his mind, but said:
"That sounds like a good profit. I'll think about it and give you an answer this weekend."
Even if she had made up her mind, she couldn't agree to it now. Not only would it make the other party feel that she was eager to do this smuggling business, but it would also make them think that she lacked sufficient consideration and was not steady enough.
"Don't worry, just let Ribak inform me when a decision is made. This is just the first transaction, and there will be more cooperation in the future."
Sander answered with a chuckle, his expression showing that he was quite satisfied with the meeting, and he casually made a promise to Angel.
The premise is that the matter is not exposed, otherwise, let alone a second transaction, I will even have to give up my current identity... Angel forced a smile and brought this conversation to an end.
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"The New Party and the Conservatives have always had conflicts, but these have generally manifested themselves in parliamentary issues and confrontations over various policies, rather than foreign military strategy...Accepting this deal probably won't make me fully aligned with the New Party; at most, I'll be considered a 'high-quality military partner'...
"I'm not familiar with the situation in the Gargas Islands, but Elaine goes there often. I can leave the smuggling to her. All I have to do is pretend to contact those non-existent 'connections' in Intis and finally transfer the arms to Elaine... If nothing unexpected happens, Sander will send someone to monitor the whereabouts of the arms, but I don't intend to lie to him, so don't worry.
"After this business is successful, they'll let down their guard and take my current identity seriously, which will help us investigate the truth behind the smog... Hmm, it seems I need to go to Trier and make sure this is flawless. Coincidentally, the source of the 'Man in the Mirror' is likely that city, so I have to go there after all."
Contact Elaine and prepare for the transaction; choose the right time to go to Trier.
Angel marked these two things in his mind before leaving his living room and going to the first floor hall.
In the hall, the housekeeper Kayla was directing several servants to hang a newly purchased oil painting on the wall, adding a touch of Intis's lively atmosphere to the interior of the building, making it more in line with the hostess's life experience, and giving Angel more topics to talk about when he receives guests later.
Seeing Angel coming, Kayla stepped forward, bowed and said:
"Mademoiselle, all the arrangements for tomorrow night's ball are complete, and the gift for Mr. Dantès is also ready. Would you like to take a look?"
By the way, tomorrow, Saturday, is the Klein family's dance. I said last time that I would give a special gift... Angel nodded and followed Kayla to the side hall, where he saw the rather "heavy" gift.
"Vase? Does it have any special meaning?"
She asked in confusion.
"This is a vase made of elephant bones from the southern continent," Kayla explained, reaching out to touch the several-kilogram white vase. "I heard that Mr. Dantes lived in West Balam for a period of time in his early years. He may not miss the climate and dangerous jungle there, but he was certainly impressed by the giant creatures. Having a piece like this in his home further highlights his experience, which is different from that of the locals of Backlund."
Gifts for banquets and dances don't have to be expensive, but it's best if they have a story to tell. After listening to Kayla's explanation, Angel was quite satisfied with the gift. She nodded and said,
"Let's take this one. At least it will attract more attention than red wine."
Of course, after hearing that the gift was worth 200 pounds, Angel's face quickly fell. She muttered a few words silently, took the ball guest list handed to her by Kayla, glanced at it casually, and quickly found a few acquaintances.
"Dr. Allen and his wife, Bishop Elektra and his wife, Senator Macht and his wife... they're all people I see every day. It seems that if I don't expand my social circle through the military and other nobles, I can only reach friends of similar level to me...
"This is also the biggest difficulty faced by most people who want to enter Backlund's upper-class circles. They have no one to introduce them to, and they are unwilling to lower their status to others. Ultimately, they are trapped in a fixed social circle."
She thought about it and memorized the greetings designed by Kayla and Ribak at the bottom of the list. These words might not be used in her life, but if she met the other party, it would be best to remember them all in order to avoid making the conversation awkward or causing bad luck for the other party.
After that, she tried on a custom-made dress and chose accessories for the ball... All these trivial matters kept her busy until the evening. After dinner and a comfortable bath, Angel returned to the bedroom on the third floor, closed the door, and had her own private time.
As usual, after setting up a mirror stand-in on the bed, Angel changed into clothes that were convenient for movement, tied his hair, which was getting longer and longer and had returned to his waist, behind his head, took all the magical items and amulets, an ordinary large-caliber revolver and matching ammunition, and did a simple divination. After confirming that the action tonight would go smoothly, he stood in front of the full-length mirror in the bedroom.
A moment later, she appeared in Klein's bedroom at 160 Böklund Street in the North District.
The latter was wearing a trench coat, a half-top hat, and gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. He had regained the thin face of Herman Sparrow and was also fully armed.
Seeing Angel coming, he didn't say anything, just stretched out his right hand and made an invitation gesture.
After the other person extended his hand for him to gently grasp, the black glove on Klein's left palm became transparent, as if he could see into the spiritual world through it. Then, the pale yellow carpet on the ground, the crimson moon that had just risen outside the window, and the dim light of the gas lamp all became rich, like a casually splashed oil painting.
The two figures disappeared into the bedroom.
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