Sure enough, what other business can these active and retired military officers have?
Stuart's words did not surprise Angel. She had long expected that the business in the "gray area" would most likely be weapons and equipment, and the so-called "obsolete" items were generally almost brand new, or even just shipped from the factory, and were just found for a reason to sell.
The only thing she had to think about was whether there was some political significance attached to this business.
"Is it just money, or does it need to be sold to certain designated targets?"
First he frowned and thought for a moment, then picked up the tea cup and took a sip before Angel asked slowly.
If it only requires money, it means that this business is probably the work of a few officers, just to make a fortune; if there are many conditions attached, it means that the military is probably behind them, and Smuggled Military Supplies has other purposes.
And this kind of purpose is probably not a good thing...Angel is not worried about personal safety, but she has to act like this, otherwise a shrewd woman who has seen the world in Trier and has done a lot of gray business foolishly agrees to their request, which will make her identity even more suspicious.
According to Ribak's introduction before the meeting, retired Sander received a lot of help and donations from New Party in the process of promoting military welfare, so his political leanings are very clear. As an active-duty officer, Stuart cannot show his own leanings, but appearing here at the same time as Sander can also explain a lot of problems.
So, are they earning some political funds for New Party, or do they have other purposes... Angel thought about it, until Sander chuckled lightly and replied:
"Don't be nervous. The origin of this batch of arms is absolutely legitimate. Even if MI9 comes to investigate, they will come to the same conclusion... And we only have a small request. We hope that most of them will appear in the hands of Gargas Archipelago, local pirates, Adventurer, and even marchers who oppose indiscriminate hunting of whales."
Gargas Archipelago, that is the overseas colony of the Feysac Empire... Angel immediately thought of the capital of Cargas, Nast Port, which he had visited once, and thought of the crowds marching there and the overflowing pirates.
Unlike the Rhoside Islands, which has a large number of local residents, Gargas is almost entirely Feysac people, but it is isolated overseas and too far away from the mainland, so the empire's rule is not strong.
Selling a batch of military weapons there is equivalent to adding fuel to the fire of the colonial government there. Even with Beyonder's help, I'm afraid Feysac Empire won't be able to sit still...
It seems that Sander and the others, or New Party, really not only want to make money, but also intend to bring chaos to Feysac's colony Adding Fuel to the Fire and avenge Balam East Coast's defeat in the war?
Wanting to understand all this, Angel pretended to hesitate and asked slowly:
"Loen and Feysac are still in a state of truce, right?"
"Of course, we have no intention of provoking a war. After these arms are sold to the businessman Intis, where do they sell them, and what does it have to do with us?"
The smile on Sander's face became even more obvious.
So, the purpose of letting me, a person with channels in Trier, get involved is to have an extra hand, so that even if Feysac Empire knows that Loen is up to something, there is not enough evidence?
Angel nodded and was about to speak when Stuart interrupted again:
"What's more, the pirates supported by Feysac intercepted our fleet at sea, and Intis almost semi-openly smuggled military weapons to the local resistance forces at Bayam's consulate, including High-Pressure Steam Rifle... You don't have to worry about retaliation. The battle will most likely occur between ambassadors, not openly."
I always feel that he is perfunctory with me, hehe, if I am really caught for smuggling arms, I am afraid they will not admit that they are related to me. In the end, he is just an abandoned son... Angel cursed, but showed an interested expression on his face, and asked:
"Approximately how many munitions are there?"
"It can arm about two thousand people. We will calculate it based on the scrap price, which is 5,000 pounds... Of course, you have to give 7,000 pounds, otherwise there may be some trouble in the transaction."
Sander replied, not covering up the fact that he wanted an extra 2,000 pounds, as if that was already the norm in the military.
Therefore, money is also needed, and the goal of disrupting the Feysac colony is also needed... Angel feels that he still underestimated the appetite of these people.
Of course, with arms that can arm two thousand people, according to the "market situation" she learned from Helene, it would not be a problem to sell it for 15,000 pounds in Bayam. Even in Nass, where she is unfamiliar, it is not difficult to get 12,000 pounds. Excluding the cost of 7,000 pounds, as well as possible risks and expenses, she can earn at least 4,000 pounds, which is a very high profit.
Of course, the corresponding risks are also very high. This is considered an act against the Feysac Empire. Once discovered by Feysac's fleet on the sea, there is only one outcome.
Moreover, it has to be connected with Intis. Feysac cannot be allowed to find evidence of Loen's participation. It seems that Helene's "Red Haired Woman" can only be allowed to make this trip. I wonder if she dares to take this order... Angel quickly planned a plan in his mind, but said in his mouth:
"Sounds like a good profit. I'll think about it and give you an answer this weekend."
Even if she has made a decision, she cannot agree now. This will not only make the other party feel that she is eager to do this Smuggling Business, but will also think that she lacks sufficient consideration and is not stable enough.
"Don't worry, just let Ribak notify me if you make a decision. This is just the first transaction, and there will be more cooperation in the future."
Sander replied with a smile. The look on his face showed that he was quite satisfied with the meeting, and he casually made a cake for Angel.
The premise is that the matter is not exposed, otherwise I will have to abandon my current identity, let alone the second transaction... Angel squeezed out a smile and ended this conversation.
"New Party and Conservatives have always had conflicts, but this is generally reflected in parliamentary issues and confrontations with various policies, rather than external military strategies... Accepting this business should not allow me to completely side with New Party. At most, it can be regarded as a 'high-quality military partner'...
"I'm not familiar with Gargas Archipelago's situation, but Helene often goes there, and the smuggling can be left to her. What I have to do is pretend to contact Intis's non-existent 'relationships', and finally transfer the arms to Helene... If nothing else, Sander will send someone to supervise the direction of the arms, but I have no intention of lying to him, so don't worry about it.
"After this business is successful, they will relax their vigilance and take my current identity seriously, which will help investigate the truth about Great Smog... Well, it seems that I have to go to Trier to make things flawless. It just so happens that the source of 'Mirror Person' is probably also that city. I have to go there once."
Contact Helene and be prepared for transactions; choose the right time to visit Trier.
Angel marked these two things in his mind before leaving his living room and coming to the lobby on the first floor.
Female Butler Keira is directing several servants in the lobby to hang a newly purchased oil painting on the wall, adding a lively atmosphere belonging to Intis to the interior of the building, making it more in line with Mistress's life experience, and allowing Angel to have more things to talk about when receiving guests later.
Seeing Angel arriving, Keira came forward, bowed and said:
"Miss, everything related to the dance tomorrow night has been prepared, and the gift for Mr. Dantès is also ready. Do you want to take a look?"
By the way, tomorrow and Saturday is the dance at Klein's house. I said last time that I would give a special gift... Angel nodded and followed Keira to the side hall and saw the rather "heavy" gift.
"Vase? Does this have any special meaning?"
she asked confused.
"This is a vase made of elephant bones from the Southern Continent," Keira explained, reaching out to touch the white vase weighing several kilograms. "I heard that Mr. Dantès worked in in his early years. West Bayam has lived for a while, and he may not miss the climate and dangerous jungle there, but he will definitely be impressed by the giant creatures. Having such an ornament in his home can better highlight his experience that is different from that of the locals Backlund."
Gifts for guests at banquets and dances do not have to be expensive, but it is best to have a story to tell. After listening to Keira's explanation, Angel was also quite satisfied with the gift. She nodded and said:
"Just this one, at least it will attract more attention than the 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 from Keira, glanced at it casually, and quickly found a few acquaintances.
"Doctor Aaron and his wife, Bishop Electra and his wife, Councilor Macht and his wife... are all people who look up but never look down. It seems that if I don't expand my social circle from the military or from other nobles, I can only come into contact with these friends who are at the same level as me...
"This is also the biggest difficulty faced by most people who want to enter Backlund's upper-class circles. No one recommends them to the upper class, and they are unwilling to lower their status to the lower class. In the end, they are trapped in a fixed social circle."
She thought about it and memorized the greetings designed by Keira and Ribak at the bottom of the list. These contents may not be used, but when meeting the other party, it is best to remember them all if you want to avoid making the conversation awkward or getting into trouble with the other party.
After that, she tried on the custom-made dress and chose the accessories for the ball... All kinds of 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.
After placing a Mirror Substitution on the bed as usual, Angel put on clothes and pants that were easy to move around, tied the longer and longer hair that had returned to the waist, and brought all Mystical Item and Charm, an ordinary large-caliber revolver and matching ammunition. He did a simple divination and confirmed that the operation tonight would go smoothly before standing in front of the full-length mirror in the bedroom.
A moment later, she appeared in North Borough's Böklund Street No. 160 and in Klein's bedroom.
The latter wears a trench coat, a half-top hat, and gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose. He has restored Gehrman Sparrow's thin face and is also fully armed.
Seeing Angel arrive, he didn't talk nonsense, he just stretched out his right hand in an inviting gesture.
After the other party stretched out his hand and let him hold it gently, the Black Gloves worn on Klein's left palm became transparent, as if he could see Spirit World through it. Then, the light yellow carpet on the ground, the Crimson Moon that had just risen outside the window, and the dim yellow light of the gas lamp became rich, like a casually splashed oil painting.
The two figures disappeared into the bedroom.