CHAPTER 397: CHAPTER 344: THE FINAL PREPARATIONS_2

If the Eternal Domain really couldn’t provide better guns and cannons, this would be a decent alternative weapon.

Lady Karol asked, "How many smoothbore guns and cannons can you sell to us?"

Yan Xing consulted Chui Chui, then replied to Lady Karol, "The first batch will be twenty thousand smoothbore guns and a thousand cannons. I’ll provide the gunpowder formula and the bullet-making method. You’ll have to prepare the ammunition yourselves."

Lady Karol hadn’t expected Yan Xing to offer so many right off the bat and readily agreed to the arms sale. Then, she asked, "What about the Beak Eagle planes, and those smaller planes that were just in the sky? Can you sell us some of those?"

This time, Yan Xing flatly refused. "You wouldn’t be able to form an effective fighting force with the Gryphon Fighter Jets in a short period. As for the Beak Eagles... My Alchemists are upgrading them to make them easier to mass-produce. I plan to build a Beak Eagle Transport Plane assembly factory within the Principality, and delegate the manufacturing of some materials and components to you, Lady Karol..."

Before Yan Xing could finish, Lady Karol excitedly asked, "You’re going to teach me how to make Beak Eagle Transport Planes?"

Yan Xing smiled. "Not make, assemble. Many parts of the Beak Eagle Transport Planes are beyond your manufacturing capabilities, but processing wood, covering, and internal fittings shouldn’t pose a problem for you."

In Yan Xing’s plan, the Eternal Domain had a huge demand for transport planes. The size of the transport planes meant their material consumption far exceeded that of a fighter jet. Gathering and processing these raw materials was a massive undertaking. Currently, every production line in the Eternal Domain was a precious resource, so Yan Xing had conceived the idea of outsourcing some non-critical parts. This would not only increase the Eternal Domain’s production capacity but also help Lady Karol improve her status within the Silvermane Principality, further deepening their alliance.

For Lady Karol, even though she hadn’t acquired the technology to manufacture an entire Beak Eagle Transport Plane, she was still involved in its construction. The economic and political benefits were substantial, allowing her to further increase her authority and influence within the Principality.

Lady Karol raised her glass to Yan Xing. "Leave this matter to me. Rest assured, once I return, I’ll build the Beak Eagle Transport Plane assembly factory as quickly as possible."

Yan Xing clinked glasses with Lady Karol and then, remembering something, added, "You can’t have the Gryphon Fighter Jets right now. However, Karol, you can arrange for some of your people to come to the Eternal Domain for fighter jet pilot training. They can also participate in actual combat against the Wildwind Highlands Legion. When you need the fighter jets, you’ll be able to immediately organize a Gryphon air force to be deployed to Dawnspirit City."

Yan Xing’s meaning was crystal clear. The Silvermane Principality wanted Gryphon Fighter Jets? They couldn’t have them. When Lady Karol wanted them? There would be plenty.

Lady Karol flashed a charming smile. "I’m rather looking forward to the arrival of spring."

"Spring will be here soon!"

Yan Xing downed the red wine in his glass in one gulp.

Outside the window, a squadron of fighter jets roared past.

Information about the changes in the Eternal Domain, along with the increasing number of aircraft in its skies, traveled down the trade routes to Nuta City every day. The number of flights from Nuta City to the Eternal Domain had increased to five passenger planes, and many people returning to the Principality’s mainland made stopovers in the Eternal Domain.

The city’s roads were crowded with vehicles from the Eternal Domain, and a private automobile had become the standard mode of travel for Nuta City’s nobles and merchants. To make their rides more comfortable, many had approached the Lord’s Mansion with suggestions for widening the city streets, wanting them to be as smooth as those in Eternal City.

Aside from cars, the cheaper motorcycles became popular among the more affluent citizens of Nuta City. Bicycles were ubiquitous, found on every main road and alley. More and more people were accepting the distinctive clothing style from the Eternal Domain.

Additionally, the city power grid project, which the Eternal Commerce Guild had taken over from the Lord’s Mansion, became the most talked-about topic among all Nuta City citizens. Miss Li Jiya, the interim head of the Eternal Commerce Guild, had announced that once the Nuta City power grid was completed, any family that purchased light bulbs sold by the Eternal Commerce Guild could have their homes as brightly lit in the evenings as the Thunderous Swamp embassy. Street lamps, free for residents to use, would be installed on city roads. By then, Nuta City, like Eternal City, would become a city that never sleeps, the twin shining stars of the Wildwind Highlands night.

After handling matters in Thunderous Swamp, Yan Xing accelerated his non-military infiltration of Nuta City. Using his debt relationship with Nuta City, he secured many large-scale city reconstruction projects, including hotels, shopping malls, and logistics. Leveraging intelligence consolidated from the Creed Intelligence Exchange, he maximized the profit potential of commodities from source to end-user. During what should have been an economically sluggish winter, the Eternal Commerce Guild’s vigorous business operations attracted many traders. They not only knew how to make money but also how to spend it, and the Eternal Commerce Guild became an integral part of the daily lives of Nuta City’s residents.

Count Theodore, however, completely ignored all of the Eternal Commerce Guild’s business activities. From the moment he borrowed the first sum from the Eternal Grain Bank, he was powerless to stop Yan Xing’s soft conquest of Nuta.

It wasn’t until he realized he had lost control over Nuta City that he learned such a method of conquest even existed. However, only he and Yan Xing were privy to this knowledge.

To outsiders, Count Theodore was still the Lord of Nuta City. In fact, with Yan Xing’s help, he held more power than before.

But Count Theodore was very clear-headed; he was still in this position because Yan Xing needed him to be.

At night, sitting in his study illuminated by electric lights, Count Theodore watched the city, parts of which were now electrified, and saw a Beak Eagle airliner blinking its lights as it flew away. He looked very relaxed, like an old man who truly understood the decrees of fate.

After a while, Butler Attlee knocked and entered, holding a silver tray with a stack of papers.

"Master, today’s intelligence regarding the Eternal Domain and the Eternal Commerce Guild has been compiled."

"The Gryphon Fighter Jets from the Eternal Domain had a brief standoff with the Divine Beasts at Outpost Fort and Riftfort."

"Twenty-three Beak Eagle planes flew from the Eternal Domain airfield towards Dawnspirit City, and twenty-one have returned."

"The Eternal Domain has established a military zone ten kilometers northeast of Outpost Fort; its purpose is currently unknown."

"Today, the people entering and leaving the Eternal Commerce Guild included..."

At this point, Count Theodore interrupted, "That’s enough. Whatever we’re able to find out is exactly what Yan Xing wants us to know. If he doesn’t want us to know, we have no way of discovering it. The little fox has become an old fox. Has there been any important news from Marquis Anderson’s side?"

Butler Attlee placed the tray on the table and replied to the Earl, "Lord Yan Xing has been continuously expanding his military and introducing new weapons and aircraft, which is putting pressure on the Marquis. Storm City frequently sees large numbers of airships taking off and landing, and rechargeable magic wands have been distributed to everyone. Such fine Alchemical Weapons are even given to the lowest-ranking militia. I hear that Cloud Tower, in response to the arms race sparked by Thunderous Swamp, has specially summoned a group of Goblins and gathered equipment to produce Alchemical Weapons for the Marquis. I can’t even imagine... what the scene will be like when war breaks out. But it will definitely be a war unlike any I have ever seen."

Count Theodore said, "Not only is it a war you have never seen, it is one I have never seen either! It will certainly be more devastating than all the wars I have witnessed. Moreover, it seems that the Principality and the Empire also want to get involved in the dispute between Cloud Tower and Thunderous Swamp."

"Yes, Master. Someone saw officials from the Empire in Storm City. They seem to be negotiating with Cloud Tower, through the Marquis, about the sale of Alchemical Weapons. The large number of weapons that Thunderous Swamp has sold to the Principality puts a lot of pressure on the Empire. Do you think Cloud Tower might sell their Alchemical Weapons to the Empire?"

"They will!" Theodore said conclusively. "Cloud Tower arming Anderson to such an extent shows they regard Thunderous Swamp as a true enemy. The enemy of an enemy’s ally is a friend. If Cloud Tower is willing to arm Anderson, they will naturally do the same for others. In the future, if other countries and noble domains don’t want to be left behind by the world, they must acquire Alchemical Weapons, and to get them, they must join the war. Yan Xing’s open military expansion and engagement in an arms race are intended to escalate this war indefinitely. He is doing this because it benefits him. Cloud Tower is being led by the nose by Yan Xing; they’ve already lost the first round in the preparations for war..."