Request

"I’m afraid I can’t agree to all of your terms."

Shirakawa Rin shook his head and laid his cards on the table with Gu Sheng. "The Shirakawa Trading Company does indeed have considerable influence domestically, and some influence over Mitsubishi as well. Obtaining some advanced production lines would still be possible.

"But right now, I haven’t seen anything at all. All I have is your verbal promise regarding the development of a mineral deposit. I can’t explain that to the higher-ups in the trading company!

"How about this? To show my sincerity, I can authorize one brand-new Rifle Production Line, a decommissioned Grenade Production Line and Small Artillery Production Line, as well as the Gunpowder Workshop."

Shirakawa Rin was putting a great deal on the line. The thing the Arsenal needed most was gunpowder. Without gunpowder, it couldn’t produce bullets or artillery shells, and a rifle would be nothing more than a fire poker.

"No. I’ll stick to my original terms—the most advanced production lines. However, I can give Mr. Shirakawa a reason to persuade the trading company. Take a look at what I brought before making your decision."

As Gu Sheng spoke, he waved to Mei Daizi. "Miss Mei Daizi, please go downstairs and have my two guards carry up what I brought."

Mei Daizi glanced at Shirakawa Rin. After receiving his confirmation, she turned and left the room.

"Heave-ho~"

Not long after Mei Daizi went downstairs, two soldiers carried in a wooden chest. The chest didn’t look particularly large, but it seemed extremely heavy. Even the two young men struggled to lift it.

"Thud~"

The wooden chest hit the floor, and the two soldiers carrying it were drenched in sweat.

"That’ll do. Go downstairs and wait for me."

Gu Sheng gave them an instruction. After the two men left, he got up, walked to the door, and shut it. Then he went over to the chest and opened it with a clatter. "Mr. Shirakawa said he hadn’t seen the actual goods and was worried he wouldn’t have a reason to persuade the trading company. Well, this actual item is a truly enormous mine!"

The moment the chest opened, Shirakawa Rin sprang to his feet and hurried over. Ignoring the dirt on the ore inside, he reached in and felt around, repeatedly rubbing a stone marked with pale golden veins.

"This is Gold Ore. It’s incredibly pure."

Shirakawa Rin stared at the Gold Ore in his hand, his face filled with disbelief. Even a layman like him knew that a gold mine whose veins were visible to the naked eye had to contain a considerable Gold Vein, with absolutely no shortage of reserves.

The Gold Mine on Pig Head Mountain had been mentioned in the television series. Its reserves were abundant and its quality exceptional. It had only taken a little ore that Wu Xin and Chuchenzi had picked up and brought out for Gu Xuanwu and Zhang Xianzong to realize that there was a major Gold Mine there.

"Chief of Staff Zhang, do you mean that this Gold Mine is also covered by the agreement?"

Shirakawa Rin was somewhat excited. Ordinary mineral deposits didn’t interest him, but this was a Gold Mine. When cultivators forged magical artifacts, most of the Gold Qi they used came from Gold Mines.

Gu Sheng now had the upper hand, so he casually countered, "That depends on what Mr. Shirakawa can add to my Arsenal."

Shirakawa Rin assured him, "As long as the Gold Mine’s reserves are large enough, and Chief of Staff Zhang allows my Shirakawa Family to oversee its development, there naturally won’t be any problem with the Arsenal."

"As for the Gold Mine’s reserves, I’m no professional, so I can’t say anything about them."

Gu Sheng continued, "I imagine your Shirakawa Trading Company should have a way to find experts. This chest of Gold Ore will remain here with you. Once your experts have assessed its reserves, we’ll discuss the partnership again. How does that sound?"

"That sounds fine as well. Rest assured, Chief of Staff Zhang. I’ll arrange for professionals to conduct an assessment as soon as possible."

Shirakawa Rin said solemnly, "Regardless of the result, Chief of Staff Zhang will always be a good friend of my Shirakawa Trading Company. As for the Arsenal, I’ll arrange everything directly. The first batch of the most advanced rifle and ammunition production equipment will arrive in Wen County alongside the professionals.

"Chief of Staff Zhang, you can arrange for people to begin constructing the factory buildings and recruiting workers as soon as you return."

Shirakawa Rin acted decisively. The Gold Ore Gu Sheng had produced showed him sincerity, convincing him that Gu Sheng genuinely wanted to cooperate and was different from the warlords who had cheated the Japanese before. Thus, he used this method to demonstrate his sincerity.

If he knew that Gu Sheng was currently thinking about how to kill him after the Arsenal was completed and swallow the Shirakawa Trading Company in a justifiable manner, he would have no idea what to think.

"Then, to a pleasant partnership~"

Gu Sheng extended his hand toward Shirakawa Rin. Although he wanted nothing more than to kill the man in front of him, he still needed to observe the proper etiquette and maintain a little "hypocrisy." Otherwise, how could he trick him into helping build the Arsenal?

"To a pleasant partnership!"

Shirakawa Rin smiled brightly. He seemed to see a future in which he led the Shirakawa Trading Company onward in triumph, turning it into the number-one trading company in Japan.

"By the way, Mr. Shirakawa, I have one small request. I hope you can agree to it."

Now that the minor matter was settled, Gu Sheng was ready to get down to business. While speaking with Shirakawa Rin, he had been sizing up the female ninja, Ryoko, from the corner of his eye.

After a brief moment of surprise, Shirakawa Rin laughed readily. "Mr. Zhang, please go ahead. As long as it’s something Shirakawa Rin can do."

Gu Sheng didn’t beat around the bush. Pointing to the cold-faced female ninja Ryoko on Shirakawa Rin’s right, he said, "I witnessed Miss Ryoko’s skills at the wedding banquet that day, and I was deeply shocked. The world is in turmoil now, and it’s easy to fall into danger if one isn’t careful.

"My marksmanship is decent, but I’m not very good at fighting people. I would like to ask Miss Ryoko to become my swordsmanship—no, my kenjutsu instructor, so I can have one more means of protecting myself."

Gu Sheng truly couldn’t understand the Japanese. They clearly used a Tachi, yet insisted on calling it kenjutsu and wouldn’t let anyone call it swordsmanship. As he spoke, his eyes repeatedly roamed over Dokua Ryoko’s body, lingering on certain special areas for quite a while.

"This…"

Shirakawa Rin cautiously glanced at Dokua Ryoko. Of course, he agreed with a proposal that could win Gu Sheng over, but Dokua Ryoko could only be considered half an underling, more like a mercenary. As her employer, he couldn’t force her to do anything excessive.

Demanding that she teach swordsmanship already involved her family’s heritage, making it a private matter among private matters. Besides, Gu Sheng’s gaze at Dokua Ryoko was rather ill-intentioned. Who knew what he was plotting?

Dokua Ryoko remained silent for a while. Her emotionless gaze swept over Gu Sheng. After looking over his fairly sturdy limbs, she finally nodded. "If you’re willing to learn kenjutsu from me, I agree as well. But let me make this clear beforehand: my training is extremely grueling, and some of my requirements are even harsh. Can you endure it?"

"Miss Ryoko, you don’t need to worry about me. Since I’ve chosen this path, I won’t regret it."

Gu Sheng was brimming with confidence. He had already overcome plenty of challenges that were even more difficult. How could he possibly fall during basic training?