John was a little embarrassed. He took a step forward, stared at his father and asked: "I don't understand, you mean..."
"To put it bluntly, I don't plan to pay him the debt! One hundred thousand gold coins is not a small amount, and I don't plan to pay this fee." Leiter was very proud of his decision. He felt that there was no need to pay him in front of a witness.
One hundred thousand gold coins were wasted on a dying man.
"But, father! I promised Mr. Tang that I would make up the payment within four months... That's close to 100,000 gold coins! It's not a small amount." John felt that his reputation seemed to be damaged.
Leiter snorted disdainfully, and then said: "When did our Augustine family become so concerned about 'promise'? Children, what we care about is always only profit."
"Compared with the immediate benefits from defaulting on debts, father, I am more optimistic about the long-term benefits from cooperation with Mr. Tang." John reminded his father.
He didn't think Tang Mo was a simple character. How could a man who dared to sell steam engines and needle guns at will be a simple character?
Therefore, John is more willing to maintain a friendly cooperative relationship with Tang Mo than to refuse to pay. This is his most intuitive judgment.
And he never questioned his judgment, because he had really met Tang Mo and knew what kind of person Tang Mo was.
Frankly speaking, he didn't think he had seen through Tang Mo, so he felt that Tang Mo was a dangerous person. It was not a wise choice to antagonize a dangerous person, so he thought it would be better to convince his father to obediently pay.
Earl Leiter has recently attached great importance to his son John, because John brought back very important technologies such as steam engines and needle guns to the Poplar Kingdom.
For a kingdom, these technologies are more important than gold coins. So Earl Leiter is willing to explain his thoughts to his son. This is a kind of cultivation and a kind of trust.
He stood up, walked in front of John, and explained: "According to the information we have... the Cyric Consortium is preparing to attack the Kingdom of Wright. Believe me, kid, your Mr. Tang will be captured soon."
The Cyric Consortium was crushed to pieces! Do you think it is appropriate for us to give the 100,000 gold coins we have worked so hard to give to the Cyric Consortium?"
This was an important reason why he was unwilling to give Tang Mo another 100,000 gold coins. It was impossible for him to give money to a dead person or a dying person.
After all, that is 100,000 gold coins, which is not a small amount. If he withholds this money, he can at least speed up the development of his factory several times.
If it goes into production one day early, his factory will bring him huge profits, and it will also bring him unparalleled huge benefits from the political aspect.
In comparison, fulfilling an empty promise is obviously unattractive - Earl Leiter has reason to believe that the money is more useful in his own hands.
"But, you have also seen Tang Mo's new weapons. He is very likely to win that war!" John still wanted to persist, because in his mind, the young man who could not see through had always made him feel very dangerous.
This feeling comes from instinct. Every time John thinks of those eyes, he feels as if he is being targeted by some terrible monster - just like a little mouse being targeted by a poisonous snake.
"You are right, so we only need to wait for news, news of Cyric's victory or defeat." Leiter smiled and said to his son: "Son, it doesn't cost anything to wait."
"You mean, if Tang Mo wins, we will give him the money?" John felt that in front of his father, an old fox, he was as innocent as a rabbit.
"Money? What money? I have no intention of lending him a hundred thousand gold coins." Earl Leiter shook his head with a smile, picked up a paper tube from his desk, and handed it to his son: "You
Let’s take this with us tomorrow and head to Bunas!”
"What is this?" John was stunned, and then took the paper tube from his father's hand. He opened the somewhat worn cover and pulled out a yellowed map from inside.
He unfolded the map, then widened his eyes and looked up at his father: "Father, father, this, this is... the navigation map of Black Dragon Island!"
"That's right, I can't give you 100,000 gold coins, because you need that money to develop and expand the Augustine family." Earl Leiter patted his son on the shoulder: "I don't have money, but I can give him an island."
"Father, this island is a disputed area... between us and other countries..." John began to feel that his little brain was not enough.
In fact, this island is not the territory of the Yangmu Kingdom. There are even pirate settlements and simple ports on the island, so giving this island to Tang Mo is basically a act of generosity.
"I know, child, I know...but how could I allow you to give away the territory of the Poplar Kingdom to others?" Earl Leiter continued to explain.
John held the map with a puzzled look on his face and stood there not knowing where to start. After holding back for a long time, he asked: "But, father, how do you know that he will definitely accept this exchange?"
.”
"Because he has no choice." Earl Leiter laughed loudly: "Because, I refused to give money, and you went to him with this map... it was a personal act."
"Then, I will announce that you have been expelled from the Augustine family because of your defection." Leiter pointed to the signed document on the table and said to John: "Now, the choice is yours.
"
"Aren't you optimistic about this weapons dealer named Tang Mo? Then I will give you two choices. If you think he is worth your risk, then go to him with this map and use Black Dragon Island as a gift for your surrender. Or
You can also choose to give up. I will tear up this document now, put away this map, and forget about the fact that we still owe others 100,000 gold coins." Leiter stretched out two fingers and gave John two different ones.
choose.
"Why." John seemed to understand the reason why his father did this, but he still wanted to ask clearly and hear his father's answer.
"Actually, when I decided to withhold the money, I was thinking about many things, kid." Augustine Leiter did not try to be mysterious, but directly explained to his son: "I'm not sure either...
I not only want to withhold 100,000 gold coins, but I am also worried that I will form a quarrel with Cyric the Second, who will rise in the future."
"So, you just hedge your bets?" John pointed out the key.
"What do you think the Augustine family relies on for its standing for thousands of years? We have always been hedging our bets. There is nothing to be ashamed of, my son." Leiter smiled disapprovingly and said, "In this way, our family will last forever.
Everyone is on the side of the winner."
"..." John was silent, because he also needed to make a choice, think, and weigh an answer by himself.
Staying in the Yangmu Kingdom is obviously the most comfortable choice. He has just made great achievements, so he can naturally rest on his credit book and eat and drink for a while. No one will have any objection to this, because the achievements he has made are real.
It's too big.
However, that uneasy feeling prevented him from enjoying this calmly. The unsteady feeling like a ray of light on his back really made John feel the pressure that was always there with him.
"I can't help you with this matter. Only you have seen the weapons dealer with your own eyes, so only you know best how capable he is." Leiter did not urge him, but comforted: "
Think about it slowly, and if it doesn't work, go back and think about it. You have two months to think about it, so don't be too anxious."
"No, I'll make preparations and take the ship out to sea tomorrow." John raised his head and met his father's gaze: "Since I can't fulfill my promise, I can at least win something for him by bringing him 100,000 gold coins!
"
"Your kindness and credibility are your precious assets... However, believe me, sometimes, letting go appropriately is also a choice that must be made, kid." Leiter patted John on the shoulder again: "I wish you all the way.
Fair wind.”
"Don't worry! No matter who of us bets the chips correctly, we can guarantee the safety of the other. If Mr. Tang loses, you can just bring him back and work for us. And if I lose, you can also be safe.
Augustine Family." Leiter said as he walked back to his desk, picked up the pen, and signed his name on the unsigned document.
"I don't know if he would kick me into the sea and drown me if I didn't bring 100,000 gold coins." John laughed at himself as he stuffed the precious map back into the paper tube and closed the lid.
Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and asked his father: "This is the only one? What about the title I promised him?"
"Are you stupid? Since I viciously withheld 100,000 gold coins, how could I ask for a title from someone I had an enmity with?" Earl Leiter was very angry at his son: "Go, go! Get out of here!"
!”
"Hey!" John laughed, and then walked out of his father's office with the paper tube. The guard at the door still held his head high, and the revolver John brought back from Bunas was still hanging on his waist.
At the same time, in another corner of the world, in the royal city of the Kingdom of Wright, the heavy gate was slowly pushed open by the guards guarding the gate. A knight in armor held high the Northridge Wolf Flag with a white border and rushed into the city.
It is a street for refugees.
The knight did not slow down, but galloped down the street. As he ran, he shouted loudly: "Great victory in Beiling! Great victory in Beiling!"
People crowded on the roadside and watched, watching the knight galloping past them and watching the wolf flag fluttering in his hand.
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