Pirate Kingship-Chapter 771 - 491: Loved Ones Are His Weakness! (Part 2)

Ultimately, although Edward IV felt that even the best offer from the "Salted Fish Second-hand Trading Company" was still far from his psychological expectations, he could only reluctantly accept the bidding results.

After all, with a dozen companies bidding together, it couldn't be that they were all colluding, right?

But in fact...

Hey, guess what?

They were all "escort bidders" shell companies!

While the York Brothers were smugly congratulating themselves on their "wisdom," they had no idea of the commercial secrets hidden within "Sun Xingzhe, Zhe Xing Sun, Xingzhe Sun..." and "Sprite, Ray Sprite..."

[Mithril Dragon] Catherine registered these arms companies, although they all have their own office addresses.

In reality, they were all just production under different brands, and the true source factory was the "Torrent Fortress" arms factory.

It was a rework of the stock scam group "all were stooges" technique, not something brand new, but the results were unexpectedly good.

Not only did they seize the opportunity to make a fortune, but they also successfully confused the view, making it difficult for the Royalist Party and the Earl's Party to discover the truth of "one party selling to two buyers" in a short time.

By the time it's really investigated, it doesn't matter anymore.

Edward IV picked up another report from various royal arms factories and, upon seeing the final numbers, finally flashed a satisfied smile:

"Outsourcing these arms factories' business to the Rhine Metal Company was indeed the right choice.

Slashing away high-investment yet non-directly profitable arms manufacturing has significantly lightened the state's financial burden.

Last quarter's financial statements have successfully turned from deficit to profit.

Reinvest the saved money into Rhine Metal, all you need is to give them direct requirements, skipping procurement, management, production, maintenance... etc., a series of troubles.

Outsourcing military industry is a genius concept.

Extending that, could other industries also be outsourced like this? Such as the whale oil power technology that's pressing?

In the last communication with the people from Rhine Metal, they said they were preparing to launch related projects, only lacking funds, and asked if I wanted to invest.

After all, the root issue is money.

I shall convene a royal council tomorrow, letting them cut the Academy of Engineering, use that R&D funding for a plan, and call for another bid.

After quelling rebellions, I will mobilize the national strength to develop the Southern Continent; once a few gold mines are secured, everything else will follow. Hmm?"

At this moment, Edward IV suddenly discovered the Law Network had been triggered, and an urgent letter from the colony of Jamestown fell into his mind.

He saw the emblem on the letter and couldn't help but frown deeply:

"Count of Torrentfort? Suddenly sending a letter at this time, could that last Lancaster be up to something again?"

The Earl's Party had already made Edward IV exhausted, and now the last thing he wanted was news from the Bantaan Archipelago.

No news would already be the best news.

Yet he had to restrain his impatience and open the letter. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

He skipped over the irrelevant greetings and went straight to read the main content.

"Your Majesty, today I obtained an important message from [Mad Hunt] Byron Lancaster through a mole within the Black Sail Pirates at Black Sails Harbor.

It turns out he's actually united all pirate warlords and great pirates in the Bantaan Archipelago, preparing to plunder the Castilia people's Treasure Fleet!"

"What? Mad Hunt cracked [Treasure Ship's Key]? He must not get that money!"

Upon seeing the contents of the letter, Edward IV's hand involuntarily jerked as he quickly read downward.

"Due to the emergency situation, I had to immediately lead the colony's Seventh Fleet on a rapid deployment.

Luckily, with the creator and the Tri-Phantom Sun's blessing, we arrived in time to catch the Treasure Fleet and pirate allied army already caught in a melee.

Moreover, the initial battle progressed smoothly.

Taking advantage of the Black Sail Pirates entangled with the vanguard and rear guard forces, the Seventh Fleet successfully defeated the flagship [Ox City] and Castilia people's remnants, capturing a Treasure Fleet detachment.

I also managed to break through to the Fourth Order by lucky chance, and leveraging the extraordinary knowledge plundered from Lancaster Party earlier, successfully transferred to [Storm Lord]."

"The Count of Torrentfort actually seized a Treasure Fleet detachment? Great, I'm going to make a fortune!"

After Edward IV's great joy, his eyes immediately flickered with cold light:

"[Sea Hunter] not only plundered the Treasure Fleet but also leveraged this battle to successfully break through to the Fourth Order, transferring to [Storm Lord]?

If I recall correctly, Torrent Castle Baron is only twenty this year.

Too fast, even for the rumored unconfirmed reincarnation of the Holy Spirit, his progress is truly too rapid.

If things continue like this, how will I wield this sharp blade?

I must find a way to further limit his growth.

Young climbers shouldn't grow too fast; steady progress requires frequent honing, and I'm doing this for your own benefit.

Moreover..."

A hint of blazing greed appeared on his face, silently whispering in his heart:

"The old rule was to submit one-tenth of the loot.

But this time, the plunder includes a Treasure Fleet averaging one million pounds per ship, and I have to support you against the official pressure of Castilia people; just one-tenth isn't enough?

At least a seventy-thirty split, I seventy, you thirty.

Impossible, I must find a way to dig out this big slice of meat from his mouth first."

Unfortunately, a second ago, he was gleefully contemplating how to eat Byron's meat and drink Byron's blood, yet after seeing the "but" later, he couldn't help but stand up with a "whoosh."