The former small city of Batasim on the border of Translancia has now spread twice, and even more outrageously, a third expansion in 11 months has been put on the agenda, as the walls of the original city have been torn down and expanded outwards to make way for a wider area for constant trade.

The city is the headquarters of the Batasin Chamber of Commerce and is the current overland commercial core of Transencia, with the exception of Fort Rapids.

Commercial routes to the Icy Bay, the Krafthoka region and even further afield are all routed here, and the fleet of the "Lion Pride" trading company, which has monopolized the logistics industry in Translasia, is loaded and unloaded hundreds of times a day on average.

It is no exaggeration to say that the city of Batasim today is like the economic heart of Translasia.

Once this place is destroyed or occupied, it is absolutely necessary to completely destroy Translasia, whose financial situation has been on the verge of collapse for many years.

This important area naturally has to be defended, so in Batasin, there is not only an elite People's Army that has been withdrawn from the Maginot Line, but also 1,500 hussars stationed here all year round, the Midnight faction of the Blood Vulture Clan has built two mage towers here, and the Midnight Psionists trained by the eldest lady herself are also stationed here.

This defense is strong enough to ensure that even in the worst-case scenario, the city can be transferred and retreated before it is destroyed.

I heard that Perfect Shipping is about to set up a commercial site in Batassin City, and once the airship tower under construction is completed, there will be 100% armed airships with strong firepower as a defensive force.

But it is precisely because of the importance of this place that external forces with evil intentions against Translancia frequently provoke it.

Boss Huo treats every guest generously, but our Blood Rat Gang has another way of doing things.

The man in front of him grabbed him by the collar and roared:

As the largest gray force in Translancia at present, seven of the ten bad things in the shadow of this land are related to these guys, but being able to develop to this point under Translasia's harsh management policies can only show that the background of the Blood Rat Gang is definitely a black glove domesticated by the government.

"Blanch, I also want to pay back, the problem is that I have to have money!"

The broken sack was torn from his head, and the drunken Major Ivankov couldn't help but squint, and there was a bright light in front of him that was so dazzling that he couldn't see the real situation in the house.

So he cried out:

"Give me some more time! I'll think about it again. ”

Ivankov was a little panicked, he knew the style of the Blood Rat Gang.

Especially for those bastards who borrowed money and hid back in the barracks with no intention of paying it back."

For example, Marshal Heracliu, who had been transferred to the post of governor of the Kavhoka region more than half a month ago, and the military aristocracy around him were interested in creating a successful border friction in Transncia and developing it into a full-scale invasion.

Alas, the Crimson Fort is getting more and more rolled up now, and even us sewer rats are saddled with KPIs.

You see, we used to be friends, and we should do things with our hearts and minds when we treat our friends, and you are gambling on our future, is this the right way for NORD people to treat friends?

Therefore, if you don't give me an explanation today, I can only show you what it means to be a real 'heart-digger'. ”

The cold blade was pressed against Major Ivankov's neck and then pulled away in the next moment, a trace of blood splattered but it was only a threatening gesture, and the man sat down on the table in front of the lamp with the knife, and his voice was so enveloped by light that the major could not see his face at all.

The Translancian People's Army is currently helping the halflings expel the gnolloll invaders in the Genoa Peninsula, and in this case, Nordtov, a member of the civilization camp, will take the initiative to attack Translasia, which will cause a terrible diplomatic scandal.

As a veteran of the battlefield, the barbarians, and the gnolls, Ivankov knew he shouldn't be reckless, but the pressure of facing danger made him sober up quickly, and he began to think in a delicate mind that was very different from his rugged appearance, who had he offended lately.

Soon, he got an answer.

The vicious minions trained by the vampires have many strange ways to get the information they want from the most die-hard gnolls, and if they can't withstand the torture skills, they probably won't be able to survive it.

But.

We don't just ask you to come to collect debts, Your Excellency Ivankov, we have a business that we need your help with. ”

You're a fool who doesn't fear anything!

Thinking of the rumored connection between the Blood Rat Gang and the Phantom Intelligence Bureau, Major Ivankov felt a sense of urine.

But both Marshal Heraclius and the officials of Batasin, know very well that if the border provocation is allowed to continue, sooner or later the two sides will definitely fall into flames.

"Damn! I've said it all, give me a few more days, and I'll pay you what I owe!" I was a well-known figure in the barracks in Kakhovka. ”

His own saber and gun were taken away, and even the sword in his boot hidden in his stinky boots was searched, and all this happened a few minutes after he was knocked unconscious in the dark alley, which fully showed that the other party was prepared.

The old marshal is just a hawk, he is not a fool.

"Smack"

There is nothing in this world that is worth protecting, so you feel like you are not afraid of anything.

"You don't have a wife, you don't have children, just a few courtesan you know well. Son is a lover, your relationship with your cheap father is terrible, and the only poor mother you care about died a few years ago.

"Huh"

He was also very dissatisfied with the quality of the soldiers in the Kakhovka area, and was working on strengthening training and rearmament, which would take time to complete.

The Major scolded:

"I'm still a VIP customer of your Treasure Bay! That delicate card is in the chest clothes on my left, hell, I drank with your boss Huo, that's how you treat your important customers? ”

Another reason is diplomatic obstruction.

The first reason is that after the fall of the Crimean fortress, Cadman's position at the southernmost point of Kafhoka is clearly a military hazard that needs to be solved urgently, and the old marshal, who has fought all his life, will not be foolish to start a war on two fronts until this matter is resolved.

He scolded even more excitedly:

"Blanch! 003！ You bastard, why are you here? ”

Amid the crisp sound of a mechanical lighter, the man in front of him lit a cigarette and said:

"Sister Dorothy is not in Transia right now, but if she comes back and finds that such a large sum of money has not been recovered, many people will not be able to sit still, and in the worst case, your Excellency, someone will lose their heads.

The glare light was turned off, and Ivankov, who had a pain in his eyes, finally did not have to endure the bright light, and then the softer light in the room came on, allowing him to see the person in front of him clearly, and then the major's eyes widened.

In the glare of the light in front of him, an indifferent voice scolded:

"In order to turn over the book and put a lot of money in front of that plump and seductive lady, you have borrowed six sums of money from our Blood Rat Gang, and with the stipend income of your position, you will have to go without food or drink for fifteen years to pay off that money, and that's not counting the interest.

"But you don't owe a small sum that can be dissolved with friendship, Major."

I'm sure if I let you go here, maybe tomorrow you'll be able to run out into the wilderness.

"You've got a way to fart!"

During his years in the Valley of Shadows fighting the Tranciles against the Gnolls, he had seen firsthand how the agents of the Shadow Intelligence Service dealt with their enemies.

And in this sensitive window of time, in a basement in the old town of Batasin, something is happening that is very "wonderful" from any angle.

He scolded.

The guy in front of him who pretended to be a member of the Blood Rat Gang was the domestic 003 who had fought the gnolls with him in the pit of the Phantom Valley before, and the two were not close friends, but at least they had carried guns together and killed enemies together.

For men, this is already a great friendship.

"I just stopped by to take a look, I didn't expect you to be so miserable."

Domestic 003 smiled, popped out a cigarette and handed it to Major Ivankov to light the cigarette for him, stepped back and leaned on the table, folded his arms and said:

"You are a war hero, why did you come back and only be promoted to the rank but take away the military power?"

"Don't mention it, Heraclius is an arrogant idiot, he thinks we're disloyal."

Ivankov, who was tied to a chair, spat out a smoke ring, sighed and said:

"It's not just me, many of my brothers who participated in the war in the Shadow Valley have been seized of power, and we have been left with a marginal position, which is called a quiet life.

!

Lao Tzu struggled for more than ten years, but in the end he didn't get anything except a medal, if it wasn't for this bastard, I wouldn't have gone to Treasure Bay to gamble for money. However, you just said you have a business to do with me? ”

Ivankov raised his head and stared at 003 in front of him, and he said with some uneasiness:

"Look at your battle, I'm a little scared, man, is it too late to quit?"

"Of course, the choice is yours, friend."

Domestic 003 shrugged his shoulders and said:

"Outside the door, there are debt collectors who really belong to the Blood Rat Gang, all of whom are 'proud disciples' trained by the blood torturers of the Shadow Intelligence Bureau, who are proficient in all kinds of torture punishments, and it is said that they have recently practiced a thing called 'Ling Chi'.

If you don't want to talk to me, I'll invite them in?" ”

"Don't! I'm just kidding. ”

Major Ivankov smiled awkwardly, observing the expression on 003's face, and said:

"So, what kind of business is it?"

"It's a big business on the Earl of White Mountain's side, you know, Lord Earl is noble, and there are some things that are not suitable for him, so he needs to find a reliable agent, his servants have applied for the name of a trading company in the North Wind Castle, and now they need a professional manager to help run the business.

Since the main trading location is in the Kafhoka region, it is best to find someone with local connections.

You're a perfect fit in every way. ”

003 shrugged his shoulders, took out a piece of paper and a pen and placed them on the table next to him, and said:

"As long as you agree to join, there will be someone to teach you how to operate, how to act.

We also helped you invest a sum of money into the company, and you can also get dividends. Oh, by the way, you have to resign from your position in the army, and you just said that there are many commanders who have been marginalized by Marshal Hiraclius just like you?

Why don't you make them the first target customers? ”

"Wait, I'm a little dizzy."

Ivankov said with a painful face:

"I've never done business at all, so why are you looking for me to be in charge? Just my brain, let alone making money, it's all blessed by the goddess of luck, I want to get rich, but I know exactly how much I can do, I don't believe in myself, where did you have so much confidence in me?

On top of that, you didn't make it clear at all what this trading company was going to do? ”

"It doesn't matter what you do, the important thing is that the profit is high enough, and the return to shareholders is rich enough to even make people crazy."

003 smiled, spat out a smoke ring to cover his face, and said:

"So you can understand that we are going to sell the Misty Seafood Shark Pearls to Greeney Island to make a good profit."

"Will this work?"

Ivankov said suspiciously:

"Let's not mention how you want to get in touch with the merman, it's a long way to get to Greeney Island from the Misty Sea."

"Oh, why don't you open your mind? Having said that, it doesn't matter what kind of business you do, it's just an excuse for others to believe, and it seems that you are really not very good at business. ”

003 sighed and said:

"But that's fine, a blank piece of paper is the best to paint, let's not discuss these now, I just need you to give me an answer, are you willing to join the gang?"

"I'll think about it."

The major coughed and whispered:

"Then my gambling debts."

"Huh? What gambling debts? How did I not know? ”

With a gentle smile on his face, 003 stepped forward to help Major Ivankov untie the rope, and took out a delicate coat of arms of the Treasure Bay Platinum VIP customer from his pocket and stuffed it into the major's hand, saying:

"I only know that you have made a lot of money doing business outside, and have become a prominent figure in the customer base of Treasure Bay, and have lived a good life of singing songs every day and night, many women who are greedy for vanity want to enter your life, and many rich people who are eager to get rich want you to take them with you.

You will eventually become a generation of business tycoons and a famous figure in history.

Ivankov, a true great man

Now, come with me, go through the onboarding procedures, and then be patient and trained.

You'll have the best economists to teach you how to deal with your clients, and the most professional accountants to help you manage a thriving trading company, and you won't even have to be involved in the business.

You just need to make good use of your connections and connections and keep moving up.

I still remember when you were in the tunnel, you always complained to me about your father and your half-brother, and you said that your sister-in-law was a famous lady and looked down on you.

Oh, how miserable, brother.

But don't worry, soon, they'll be pleading with you with a different face.

I promise! ”

"I'm a little scared."

The Major put the cigarette butt at his feet and stepped on it even more uneasily, he stared at 003 and said:

"I don't think anything you described can happen to me. It's certainly not pure business, maybe."

"Shh

003 made a silent gesture as he took the pistol from his waist and placed it on the table, which took up the sides of the table with the stacked pen and paper, and said:

"There's only one option left when you walk through this door, Ivankov, we're not just a candidate, there are so many disappointed people in Kafhoka, and I chose you because I think you've done a lot of work in the fight against the gnolls.

I want to give you a hand.

But if you're not going to crawl out of your mud pit and don't want to accept this help, then seriously, I'm just going to have to do business.

But you don't have to worry, a proletarian like you has nothing but shackles to lose in this operation, now put away your weakness!

Follow me, someone is waiting for you. ”

Colonel Ivankov glanced at the loaded pistol on the table, then at the closed door in front of him, and finally at the chair in which he had just been bound.

He gritted his teeth and scribbled his name on the piece of paper filled with terms he couldn't read, and followed 003 out of the basement and up the stairs to the first-floor lobby, which was being decorated by the workers as if it were going to be a chamber of commerce.

A man dressed in the robes of the Believer was sitting on a chair next to him, holding a copy of the "Avalon Book of Nature" and reading it seriously, out of step with the busy scene around him, and at first glance he looked like a person of status.

It wasn't until 003 brought Ivankov to him that the Raven Brother, who wore the Fortune Lady Sacred Emblem on his chest, raised his head.

He pushed his glasses and smiled gently, looked at the down-and-out major in front of him, then rubbed his chin and said:

"You need to change your look, take off your military uniform and change into a tuxedo, tidy up your hair, style your beard.

Your demeanor also needs to change, the big businessmen who are successful don't put on this flattering smile, and you need to straighten your back and be angry in the face of those who are praying for wealth. The louder your voice, the more true your lies will be.

Finally, you need a new identity to say goodbye to the past and embrace the future.

Tell me, Your Excellency, what is your name? ”

"Ivankov, sir, my name is Ivankov."

"It's not like that, head up!

The eyes are more serious, the abdomen makes a sound, the left hand is placed on the chest before saluting, the right hand is naturally drooping, imagine that you are standing in the ice palace to introduce yourself to the wolf girl, tell me, who are you! ”

"Ivankov! I am"

"Stop! Be louder, think about how the most prominent big man you've ever seen in your life introduces himself, and again, don't rush, think about it, and then imitate him, tell me, who are you? ”

(End of chapter)