Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

But we had a good partnership before. Why couldn't we talk things out? Why use this kind of method?

Lai Gou'er isn't this kind of person, is he?

Hopkins had completely lost his composure and couldn't imagine what Lai Gou'er was trying to do.

Lai Gou'er said, "Brother Hopkins, some things you and I should know very well, but you just don't want to say it, right?"

"What is it that I don't want to say?" Hopkins swallowed.

"The goods from Da Jing are selling well in the West, but such a large piece of meat, the Church can't get any benefit from it," Lai Gou'er said slowly. "Based on the Church's greedy nature, they will take action sooner or later. In fact, they have already sent people to find me."

"If I'm not mistaken, you are selling goods from Da Jing, and someone from the Holy City has already begun investigating you, right? I guess you must have temporarily settled it through your connections."

Hopkins gritted his teeth: "That's right, but we trade privately, and even if the Church came to you, I have nothing to sell you out with. Why are you doing this to me!"

"How long can you smooth things over?" Lai Gou'er asked, "I'm afraid you can't last more than a few months, right? Will our business be cut off after a few months?"

"Plus, Father Solje is independently developing in Fika. It is not difficult to connect the priest with Da Jing. The conflict between Da Jing and the Church has been accumulating and will eventually erupt one day."

"The situation is already quite tense. Even Duke Alvis has hinted to me, intentionally or unintentionally, to actively negotiate with the Church."

"What you said is right, but you can negotiate with the Church head-on! I can still be your agent, and even help you fight for benefits... What's the use of tormenting me like this?" Hopkins cried out in grievance.

Lai Gou'er chuckled: "I think you've forgotten something."

"I am not a pure businessman. Behind me, there is also a powerful country."

"The Church is asking for too much, wanting to take away most of the profits. This is unacceptable to Da Jing. The moment the Church makes excessive demands, it will forever lose the qualification to negotiate with Da Jing."

"Right now, the only thing Da Jing wants to do is wait for the Church to start a war, and then we will destroy them and continue doing business. It's that simple."

"And you, my friend, you have been to the Holy Temple. I need you to draw the internal map of the Holy Temple for me. After the war is over, you will be a hero of Da Jing. You can live openly and honestly, and it is even possible for you to get an official position. Moreover, I guarantee that you will still have a share in Da Jing's overseas business!"

Hopkins' eyes darted around, his face already filled with horror.

War! Da Jing wants war!?

This was something he had never thought of.

A country thousands of miles away actually dares to wage war against the Church!

And listening to Lai Gou'er's meaning... it seems they want to take the Holy City directly. Otherwise, what's the use of the internal map of the Holy Temple?

"You're crazy! Your country is crazy! Who gave you the courage to attack the Church? How much military strength and supplies do you have?" Hopkins questioned loudly. "I'm telling you, this is a pipe dream! You may have no opponents in the East, but this is the Church!"

Lai Gou'er laughed loudly, and then said with an extremely arrogant expression: "Brother Hopkins, you will understand when the war starts."

"There is only one word in Da Jing's dictionary, and that is, Win~!"

"When the war is over, there will only be one word left in the Church's dictionary, and that is, Submit~"

Hopkins closed his eyes in pain, cursing incessantly in his heart.

Damn Da Jing people, where did they get such confidence?

Just as he was thinking of a countermeasure, Lai Gou'er said loudly: "Come in, everyone."

As soon as he finished speaking, a dozen soldiers pushed the door open and entered.

Lai Gou'er carefully handed the phonograph to the soldier, and instructed: "Guard it heavily, don't bump it. Also, go to the palace and inform Duke Alvis that I have something extremely important to discuss with him in private today. Ask him to come to my place alone."

"Yes!" The soldier responded and left with the phonograph.

Lai Gou'er took paper and pen from a bookshelf on the side, swept away the wine and dishes on the table, and spread out the paper and pen.

He stood up, slowly put his hands on his hips, and looked at Hopkins: "Brother Hopkins, don't blame me for being unrighteous. I'm giving you a great fortune. Draw it."

Hopkins clenched his teeth, and finally shook his head violently.

Drawing it would mean death! Giving his lifeline to others.

If he didn't draw it, he could gamble on Lai Gou'er's character... and delay until the Church sent someone to negotiate. Maybe there would still be room for maneuver?

Seeing that he was completely uncooperative, Lai Gou'er sighed softly.

"I know what you're thinking. War is indeed not a simple matter, but this time the opponent the Church is facing is different from before."

Hopkins was about to raise his head to ask.

He saw Lai Gou'er suddenly pull out a strangely shaped iron lump from his waist and aim it at the vase in the room.

There was a bang... and the vase shattered.

A wisp of green smoke slowly rose from the top of the iron lump.

Hopkins opened his mouth wide and said in a daze, "What is that?"

Lai Gou'er said lightly: "A kind of weapon. You can think of it as a bow and arrow. But this weapon can be used just by moving your fingers. Its power can even penetrate armor. Anyone untrained can easily kill several well-trained elite soldiers with it."

"The army of Da Jing is equipped with this kind of weapon. So, do you understand... how great the gap in strength is?"

"Da Jing is a peace-loving country and only comes for cooperation. If war is inevitable in the future, Da Jing hopes to directly capture the Holy City and support Father Solje to take the throne. This will also allow more civilians to live and maintain a stable life."

After Lai Gou'er finished speaking, he unexpectedly turned the muzzle upside down and directly threw the revolver to Hopkins.

Hopkins instinctively reached out to catch it and stroked the gun body a few times in a daze.

He had just seen the power of this thing. The sound was like thunder, like a punishment from heaven.

In his past memories, there was no weapon that could compare with the thing in his hand.

Small and exquisite, easy to carry.

If the army of Da Jing is really equipped with such weapons... then maybe the Church will be difficult to match...

Hopkins' thoughts raced.

After regaining his senses, he immediately raised the gun, as if he had mastered it without being taught, and put his finger on the trigger.

Pointing at Lai Gou'er, he said vigilantly: "Aren't you afraid that I will kill you?!"

Lai Gou'er didn't panic at all, and said with a smile: "You are a smart person, besides, killing me is useless."

"This is the strategy set by Da Jing. I am just an ordinary general. If you kill me, someone new will replace me. And you, your family, and the Church will be retaliated against by Da Jing even more."

"Brother Hopkins, you have two choices now. One is to kill me, and the other is to cooperate with me to draw the picture. We are friends, and I will give you a chance to choose, just as my apology for my previous injustice to you. Please."