I said to Zhu Da, "Perhaps you should drop the mention of bare-bones configurations entirely. Let's just replace the operating systems with the standard civilian model and swap out all the missiles. Since nobody really knows what the original configuration of the Mercury-class was anyway, just tell the client the minimum price is ten billion US dollars per vessel, and we sell the entire batch of fifteen ships as a single lot—take it or leave it."

Zhu Da poked at his ear. "How much did you say?"

"Fifteen billion per ship."

Zhu Da and the others exclaimed, "That’s highway robbery! Who could possibly afford that?"

I countered, "Commander Zhu, you need to use your brain. You can tell the client this: they aren't buying these vessels for personal submarine joyrides; they'll definitely be reselling them to another nation. So, have them rally several major powers to procure them collectively. Meanwhile, have Little Raindrop send you simplified documentation on the 3X alloy, the stealth coating, and the noise suppression system. Release that data to the client, let them take it around to different countries to find buyers. I guarantee we might not even sell all fifteen of these ships."

Zhu Da slapped his forehead. "You're right! With the advanced technology we possess, those envious nations would pay even twenty billion just to get one back for research. One country might not afford the whole batch, but group buying solves that fear."

I smiled. "Exactly. They’ll be thrilled, saving massive research costs. Ten billion is just my ceiling price; you can start by boldly asking for whatever exorbitant amount you like and squeeze them for every cent. Once this first batch is offloaded, we’ll openly begin production and sales to the public. The baseline price will be around three to four billion per hull. Those nations that can’t get onto the production line but still desire the Mercury-class submarines will openly come to us for purchases. Then, our arms dealing business will establish a self-sustaining cycle, and you can just sit at home counting the money."

Zhu Da clapped me on the shoulder. "Commander Zhao, you truly are brilliant. With you leading us, it’s impossible not to get rich. I'm completely convinced—you have the financial acumen. With a blink of an eye, one or two hundred billion dollars will be in the bank."

I shook my head. "It’s not that easy to earn. Those nations probably won’t have that much liquid cash readily available. You can allow them to exchange strategic materials, minerals, or energy. If that fails, even grain will do."

Zhu Da asked, "What about real estate?"

"Yes! But it must have legal documentation, and our interests must be absolutely guaranteed."

Zhu Da wiped the sweat from his brow. "Commander Zhao, within a few years, this world will inevitably belong to your Zhao family. You’ll be leading this group of lovely ladies, siring a host of sons to be made nobles and kings, and old Zhu here might at least snag the title of Founding Grand Marshal."

A flurry of sharp kicks landed, accompanied by a chorus of shrieks: "Who are you calling his 'lovely ladies' and who is having his sons? Keep talking nonsense and we’ll kick you to death!"

The scene grew slightly chaotic. I raised my voice, "Everyone quiet down, quiet down! We need to maintain appearances and not give the three Commanders a reason to laugh."

Liu Hu, Shen Jian, and Zhang Dahai laughed heartily. "It's fine, Commander-in-Chief. We really enjoy this relaxed environment. Meetings used to be so rigid and serious in the military; everyone was tense, under immense pressure. Being here feels like being at home."

I said with a hint of embarrassment, "That may be true, but these young ladies are severely lacking in discipline, allowing you all to be made a spectacle of."

Damn it, my remark only offended the ladies, sparking a collective uprising. Fang Yanmeng led the charge, tackling me onto the sofa, and a flurry of small hands began pinching my backside and waist...

Finally, bruised but resolute, I pressed on with the meeting. "Next, let’s discuss money laundering. Commander Zhu’s arms business is booming, and the external funds we accumulate are growing exponentially. But without giving that money a legitimate identity, we can’t proceed with normal investment and production. Therefore, establishing a financial investment company is imperative..."

Taozi sprang onto the table with a whoosh. "Boss, it's finally my turn to shine!"

Taozi traditionally avoids direct verbal interaction, preferring to communicate with me via brainwave exchange. I stroked the cat's head. "I now solemnly announce to everyone, the Divine Cat..." (Taozi interjected: "I prefer Peach Blossom, not Divine Cat!") "...No, the Peach Blossom Financial Investment Company is officially established!"

The crowd applauded. I continued, "Under the leadership of Comrade Taozi, I hope our movement to wash illicit funds grows ever larger, cleaning all black money white to prepare for the crisis rapidly approaching us!"

"What crisis?" everyone asked in unison.

I explained, "It’s not really a crisis, but an inevitable stage in our group company’s growth: annexation, annexation, and more annexation; acquisition, acquisition, and more acquisition, until global unification is complete."

Yi Xiaorou, always the elder sister figure among the women, chided me lightly. "Who are you trying to annex now? We haven't even finished securing Pan-American Media yet."

I replied, "This is just the warm-up fight before we acquire Pan-American Media. I need to fight a fierce battle against Jaguar Financial Investment Company. That Edward actually harbored ill intentions toward Fen Fen Fang today. Honestly, it's mostly the fault of our country's officials being too sycophantic; my recent maneuvers have made the confrontation with Jaguar Financial Investment Company inevitable."

Zhao Fang said, "Brother-in-law, stop using us as a shield. The real focal point of conflict between you two is the Leap Forward Construction Engineering Company."

Xiao Chuchu immediately grasped the situation and exclaimed in exasperation, "Sisters, I’m so sorry to bring this upon you all! We’ve attracted a powerful enemy. The head of that company is also a great beauty; it looks like our man is hatching new schemes again."

Since I needed to maintain my image as the patriarch in front of the other men, I cut in, "Stop arguing and listen to me. The genesis of this situation is actually very complex and I won't elaborate here. But if Jaguar Financial Investment Company successfully muddies the waters in our nation's real estate and construction engineering sectors, the Great Dragon Country will suffer a massive loss. Therefore, both for public and private reasons, we must step forward to confront them."

Fang Yanmeng worried, "Their strength already surpasses Pan-American Media. If you need a warm-up, you shouldn't pick the hardest opponent. If we mess up, we could lose all the income we’ve worked so hard to earn over the last six months."

Xiao Chuchu agreed. "Exactly. Word is Edward carries 40 billion on him, and the support from his behind-the-scenes banks and family is even stronger. Are you sure you picked the right target? Maybe we should acquire Pan-American Media first."

It seemed the order couldn't be reversed; the Pan-American Media acquisition could wait, but the battle against Jaguar Financial Investment Company was imminent.

"Don't we need money desperately? Jaguar Financial Investment Company is practically delivering money to us. We can't turn them away! Besides, time is tight; we can't afford to be picky. Everyone, prepare quickly! Our current strength is admittedly limited. In the next few days, I plan to drive the global gold price down to rock bottom. Once everyone makes a killing, we'll rapidly pull the funds back to deal with Jaguar."

The women could only nod. "Fine, we'll listen to you. If we lose all the money, you have to support us for life."

After the meeting, everyone began to disperse. I pulled Zhu Da aside. "Commander Zhu, you must expand the arms market even further. Ideally, we should be the sole vendors in the world someday. Don't let the current minor success cloud your vision."

Zhu Da thumped his chest. "Rest assured, Commander Zhao. Though I haven't been in this business long, I have the world arms trade firmly in my sights. As we keep shipping, more than half of those second- and third-tier arms dealers have already gone bankrupt. Give me two months at most, and I guarantee the global arms market will be flooded only with Zhao-branded goods."

Because I pinned all my hopes on the arms trade and gold futures, the more money we managed to rake in from those fronts, the greater our chance of prevailing against Jaguar...