"As a partner, isn't Tianou being too arrogant? Do you truly believe you are qualified?"
Lin Lan's cold words, spoken through his mask, made Jian Qianou's heart sink.
He knew this would not be easy to achieve.
Judging by the terrifying strength displayed by the other party, they might genuinely look down on the Tianou Group.
If the United States of Orlan were to be destroyed, it would take only a single thought from the man standing before him.
"Please forgive me, my Lord, I—"
"You ants are only fit to be dogs beneath the Head of State's feet!"
Encircled by the fearsome dragon-like ship equipment, Deutschland grinned, sneering as she interrupted Jian Qianou's words.
"What makes you think you can stand on equal footing with the President—let alone be his partner? Heh..."
Hearing the black-haired girl's scornful words, Jian Qianou felt deeply humiliated. Yet, he remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to refute a single word.
Because it was the truth. Tianou was no longer the colossal conglomerate that once spanned the world. Now, it lacked even the competitiveness to rival other financial groups.
What could they possibly offer to impress the other party?
Just as Jian Qianou's mind raced, searching for a way to plead for mercy, Lin Lan's cold voice reached his ears once more.
"But I do think the five major financial groups of the Zhuhai Commercial Association are a bit too many."
"An honest and obedient vassal might not be a bad option."
Jian Qianou trembled at those few, brief words.
He suddenly raised his head, staring at the masked man before him, his expression shifting from disbelief to elation.
"Your Excellency, does this mean... I have this opportunity—"
"Akashi, Ulrich, I'll leave this matter to you. He's a smart man—I trust the discussion will go smoothly."
Lin Lan did not let Jian Qianou finish his sentence before issuing an order to Akashi and Ulrich, using their pseudonyms.
"Meow, no problem, my Lord, meow!"
"As you command, Your Excellency."
Ulrich, her expression still cold, slowly retracted her ship equipment into the void. She descended from midair, landing steadily beside Lin Lan.
Akashi, the small-time profiteer of the port area, also stowed away her ship's equipment, which bristled with anti-aircraft guns.
Rubbing her hands together, she stepped forward with a beaming smile.
Lin Lan had entrusted the negotiations to Ulrich and Akashi because he understood that everyone had their own strengths.
It was only fitting to leave such treaty matters—especially those concerning future cooperation—to the cunning merchant Akashi and the meticulous Ulrich.
The Ironblood faction had once been a large and ruthless camp, possessing a wealth of experience in drafting treaties of power and coercion.
Petty profiteers, on the other hand, had an innate talent for sniffing out vested interests.
Lin Lan couldn't help but chuckle as he watched the two begin their negotiations with Jian Qianou.
Even Teacher Nimi at the side had taken out paper and pen, meticulously recording each clause of the contract.
Of course, it would have been ideal if Bismarck or Friedrich's mother had been present.
However, as the second ship of the Friedrich class, Ulrich had learned plenty from the two Ironblood leaders over time.
She was more than capable of dealing with these Orlan businessmen.
Meanwhile, Sun Dewang was not idle either.
He directed the fleet personnel to unload all the goods they had brought from Yunhai City, stacking them neatly in the open space near the dock.
With nothing left for him to do, Lin Lan took Deutschland with him to inspect the cargo, hoping to broaden his horizons regarding the so-called "specialties" of the Teaching Country.
But he soon made a rather embarrassing discovery.
Apart from a few boxes labeled "Handle with Care," which contained parchment rolls resembling scrolls and test tubes filled with unknown liquids, the shipment also included weapons that were unmistakably enhanced by magic.
Yet, beyond these items, he couldn't recognize much else.
After all, since arriving in this world, his education had taken place at the Orlan Naval Academy.
His knowledge and experience, inherited from the brave man's memories, were largely limited to Liao Continent.
This meant that these magical artifacts from the Teaching Country were entirely new to him—he had no idea what they were even used for.
Fortunately, Sun Dewang had thoughtfully prepared a detailed inventory list and instructions, sparing him from being completely lost.
Even so, some of the materials still left Lin Lan deeply shocked.
"What the hell is this? This is considered a specialty of the Teaching Country?"
He approached a crate, pried it open, and found it packed with dried, salted fish, exuding a strong pickled aroma.
The workers had already returned to the docks to await the next cargo shipment, leaving Lin Lan alone as he frowned at the discovery.
"Let me see... Pfft, this is hilarious, you lower animal. Look."
Deutschland picked up the instruction manual attached to the crate. After skimming through it, she burst into laughter and handed it over.
Taking the manual from the Ironblood heavy cruiser, Lin Lan's face twisted beneath his mask as he read.
Item Name: Pickled Sacred Fish.
Source: Edible fish with a high affinity for magic, raised in the church's holy pond.
Usage: Eat it.
Effect: According to the missionaries of the Teaching Country, consumption is believed to enhance the consumer's aptitude for learning sacred magic.
Comments from the Yunhai City Tianou Magic Artifacts Business Association:
"I didn't notice any difference after eating it. I don't know whether the fish is fake or if the believers who provided it were lying. But the taste is excellent, boasting a distinctly traditional flavor."
"Suitable as a premium New Year's gift—perfect for bringing home to impress family and friends."
"What the hell?! Did Sun Dewang actually spend money on this nonsense to fool people...?" Lin Lan was just about to curse him outright when he suddenly stopped.
Akashi had instructed Sun Dewang to purchase authentic national specialties from Yunhai City.
And technically, this did count as a specialty.
Realizing this, Lin Lan found himself caught between exasperation and amusement.
This single crate of salted fish had utterly shattered all his expectations of the so-called "mystical specialties" of the Teaching Country.
He no longer held any hope for the cargo in the remaining shipments.
He figured he would likely end up sending a large portion of the goods directly to Ron in the future, so the port could stock up on more fresh vegetables instead.
As the sun gradually dipped westward, Akashi, Ulrich, and Jian Qianou finally concluded their negotiations and finalized the contract.
When Lin Lan saw Jian Qianou again, the man—who had likely lived for an incalculable amount of time—looked deathly pale.
Beside him, Sun Dewang bore a similarly helpless expression.
By contrast, Akashi stood to the side, a smug smile plastered across her face.
That feline grin instantly reminded Lin Lan of the sheer satisfaction he had felt in Paradox strategy games when he used overwhelming military power to coerce rival AI empires into signing unequal treaties.
Of course, he understood that the Tianou Group did not represent all of Orlan.
But this was enough.
Beneath his mask, Lin Lan's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
At this moment, the first step in his plan to reach the wives from other regions had been completed.
With the Tianou Group now dealt with—
The entire Western Continent no longer needed a second conglomerate.
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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