Munitions Empire-Chapter 942 - Expand it by 865

Chapter 942: Expand it by 865 Chapter 942: Expand it by 865 “Flame Emblem?” When he saw the flame, the bartender subconsciously associated it with the “Red-haired Witch” who had once led the resistance against Shireck and the Great Tang Group.

Because the woman lived in a place called Flame Castle, because the woman had flaming red hair.

Although there was no evidence to link the card with Sofia, the bartender still shrewdly connected it to her.

“There has always been a rumor that Sofia didn’t die back then… She just found a body double and pulled off a vanishing act,” tossing the gold-embossed card onto the table, the bartender looked at his several subordinates.

One of the subordinates nodded and said, “The people we sent did indeed see Sofia alive, but her mental state at that time seemed not good.”

“At that time, we thought her breakdown was due to defeat and the impending thought of her own death… but now it seems much more likely it was a disguise, a ruse the body double used to escape,” the person in charge who always suspected Sofia wasn’t dead voiced his opinion.

At that time, he and his subordinates rushed to Flame Castle, joining Shireck’s people who were monitoring Sofia, and witnessed the entire process of Sofia’s suicide.

...

However, even though he saw the suicide happen before his own eyes and indeed checked the body, he still didn’t believe that Sofia would die so decisively, “A fake can’t become real! The body double couldn’t possibly have Sofia’s distinctive aura. If the double didn’t seem dispirited, it would have revealed more flaws!”

“But this is all hypothetical; we have to consider the possibility… that Sofia truly died,” another subordinate shared his view, feeling that without definitive evidence, it was not worth investing more resources for someone who was “dead.”

The bartender neither agreed nor disagreed, he simply ordered an investigation into everything behind the card, “Maybe so! But why this flame card appeared, what it ultimately represents… that’s something we must figure out.”

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“If it’s only an isolated incident…” a subordinate suggested. A single card didn’t prove anything.

“It’s not an isolated incident…” the bartender interrupted the guess, “This is another identical card we found in Beiyuan City! Someone is secretly building up their power!”

As he spoke, he threw another identical card onto the table. The card also had dried bloodstains on it, whose blood was unknown.

“The nature of this matter is different then,” seeing the second card, especially one with blood, changed everyone’s expression.

Daring to stir up trouble right on the doorstep of the Empire Intelligence Bureau, they took no regard for them, the Silver Foxes.

“I’ve heard that such cards have also appeared in the Eastern Continent! They’ve sent the photos over there, they’re on the way,” the bartender continued, “So, at the very least, we can determine this is a mysterious organization, the purpose… still unclear. But if they want to operate right under our noses, they are enemies!”

“Find out what exactly they want to do!” He looked at his most effective subordinate and instructed, “If it’s just about making money, then give them a warning, make them go and register properly. If they have other motives, things get much more interesting.”

“Yes!” The subordinate stood at attention and bowed his head.

Tang Mo, upon seeing these cards, thought along the same lines as the bartender. He had always harbored doubts about whether Sofia was dead, having recently mentioned “an old friend with red hair.”

Now, after seeing the card with the Flame Emblem, he found the bartender’s speculation to be quite plausible. So his instruction for the bartender was very targeted, “Find a few agents, disguise them as disheartened businessmen or minor nobility, wait for these people to come knocking, infiltrate them, and see whom they’re really working for.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” the bartender immediately understood: this plan to insert a mole was excellent. If the other side was developing their forces in secret, then let’s make them “develop” a bit quicker!

…

After witnessing the wealth of Tang Country and seeing the prosperity of Chang’an, Sofia had already boarded the train heading south—she wanted to see the industrial development in Tongcheng.

In fact, the industry in Tongcheng had grown to a shocking extent, factory chimneys densely packed like trees in a forest, the smoke billowing out and blanketing the sky as if dark clouds.

Despite Imperial Concubine Yue’er personally overseeing environmental protection, sometimes industrial advancement truly does require the sacrifice of some environment.

The good news is that the natural environment of this world hadn’t been destroyed to the point of no return. The bad news is that while all the nations of this world were developing industry, only Tang Country was managing the so-called pollution.

At least Tang Country was making an effort… The rivers in Tongcheng might not be clean, but they were at least within tolerable limits.

If you went to see the rivers of the Ice Cold Empire, it was very likely that amidst the icy wasteland, you’d behold a river of miraculous colors.

Water pollution was only a part of the problem, air pollution was equally vexing. Indeed, the air in Tongcheng wasn’t great, and the Nature-Worshipping Elves faction certainly didn’t like such places.

Unfortunately, the Poplar Empire was industrializing too, and the Elves were desperately chopping down trees to clear land for factories.

Although they disliked it, they still had to recognize the importance of industry. Because if they were just a bit more stubborn, industrial products from Suthers and Laines Empire, as well as the northern Ice Cold Empire, could destroy their fragile economy.

Sitting on the train headed south, Sofia looked out at the patches of farmland passing by and fell once again into deep thought.

What she hadn’t anticipated was that the Great Tang Empire, already so powerful and wealthy, still placed such high importance on agriculture.

In those fields, she saw oxen plowing, as well as tractors, and some machinery she couldn’t even recognize—each plot of farmland was well-tended, and looking at the crops, Sofia knew it would be another bountiful year.

“Damn it… Does Tang Mo not trust anyone else? He has grown so strong, yet remains so vigilant!” Sofia grew increasingly convinced of Tang Mo’s invulnerability, “He could have imported a large amount of grain. Other countries are also selling huge quantities of grain to Tang Country, yet he persists in extensive farming and even… is providing exaggerated agricultural subsidies!”

The term “agricultural subsidies” was something Sofia had read in the newspapers; the Great Tang Empire was providing massive subsidies to all their farmers, amounts so large they could rival the finances of a small country.

Tang Country not only set a supremely vast agricultural cultivation warning line but also stipulated a basic population number for those engaging in agricultural production.

So, Sofia, who had initially thought to exploit the grain issue, once again came to nothing—her plan had failed before it even started.

However, it was fine, she still had her “Mutual Aid Society.” Those who had taken her Gold Coins would become her support and would join the force opposing Tang Mo!

As long as she patiently built up her assets and continued to lie in wait, one day her opportunity would come. At that moment, she would be able to act and defeat that man named Tang Mo!

“You just wait! One day, I will take back everything that belongs to me! And you will grovel at my feet like all the other men.” Sofia’s vengeful rage churned within her, as if wanting to erupt and burn away all the fields before her eyes.

Unfortunately, her gaze could not ignite anything, so in the fields outside the train window, the crops continued to sway in the wind. The farmers there were working joyfully, for it was another good year for them.

Their lives were getting better: the country was powerful, the people were wealthy, and every household had electric lights, with several tractors in each village. They didn’t have to go hungry, nor worry about their belongings being stolen. What was there to complain about in such a life?

“What are you thinking about?” The Countess returned to the train carriage she had booked, handing a bottle of milk to Sofia.

“They sell this on the train? Can commoners afford it?” Sofia was a bit surprised to see the milk; near Flame Castle, the commoners couldn’t afford to drink milk.

“Though it’s not cheap, buying milk and other food on the train is nothing unusual in the eyes of Tang Country’s commoners,” responded the Countess, reluctant to sing Tang Country’s praises in front of Sofia and instead explained carefully.

Suddenly, Sofia lost the desire to drink the milk. She ended the conversation and began to talk about matters concerning Tongcheng.

The more they talked, the worse she felt, and soon she made a decision, “Buy me a plane ticket from Tongcheng to Dahua Empire… I want to experience a flight.”

She felt so out of place here that she urgently wanted to escape, or rather leave this place.

“Of course, as you wish, my lady,” the Countess replied considerately.