Munitions Empire

Chapter 64: 64 come again

A few minutes later, deep in the wilderness, Redman was shoveling soil into a pit, working away merrily.

Meanwhile, Tang Mo stood within sight of Redman, his face a mask of unpleasant contemplation. He had decided to let the person he trusted most take control of the intelligence organization he planned to establish.

So, he said to old Roger, "Uncle Roger, we need our own intelligence system! I think that you are the most suitable for this task."

"But, I really know nothing about this kind of thing," Roger said awkwardly, scratching his head.

Tang Mo was aware that tasking old Roger with building an intelligence system was indeed a bit too challenging.

Because Roger was clearly not the ruthless type, merely an ordinary businessman, ill-suited for a position that might involve many dark deeds hidden from public view.

Yet the position was so important that Tang Mo did not dare entrust it lightly to anyone else—after all, on this job, loyalty seemed more useful than capability.

Therefore, Tang Mo reluctantly had Roger start the work, planning to find someone more suitable to take over eventually.

He spoke again, "No choice, Uncle Roger. You're the one I trust the most right now. First, help me find some people. Later, I'll write a manual for you, and you train them according to its requirements."

"For now, you can talk with parents who have kids studying at schools. When Brunas's children are not in class, they can help gather information, and their parents can get involved too," Tang Mo decided to make use of his resources.

In the era he had come from, teachers seldom dared to trouble parents, but this era was different; parents were still filled with reverence for the school.

As Tang Mo spoke, he was already calling up relevant spy training manuals in his mind: "You'll be responsible for consolidating these reports. This task can be handed to Yulin; the girl is more meticulous... Then sort out the useful... the urgent... you teach her..."

He was speaking when he saw Wes and Tagg riding their horses at full speed along the road toward him. The two dismounted one after the other, leading their horses by the reins to Tang Mo.

"It looks like good news," Tang Mo smiled.

Some people may seem formidable and smart, but they still die humbly in a corner—like Beiji, for example.

A notorious figure, he was quite capable. Unfortunately, his hesitation and greed led to his abrupt death in the wild, without even putting up a fight.

Even Tagg and Wes felt a bit regretful; during the process of ambushing Beiji, they hadn't had the chance to exhibit the superiority of their secret weapon, the Revolver...

The thrill of crushing an opponent at a crucial moment with a secret weapon went completely unexperienced, diminishing their enthusiasm for boasting about killing Beiji.

So, Wes simply nodded, "We each fired a shot and took care of the nuisance that was Beiji."

"However, we don't know where the other servant went; we might have a lot of trouble following up," Tagg added, sounding bored.

"No problem, if you need money, go ask Roger," Tang Mo ordered, then saw Redman walking over with a shovel.

"All taken care of?" Tang Mo asked, looking at the sweaty Redman.

Redman nodded and replied, "All taken care of. The search squads have returned, the convoy has already set off again... and we've lifted the checkpoint we set up in the Vicious Forest."

"Let's go! Back we go! We still have a lot to do," Tang Mo was very satisfied with Redman's efficiency and led the way to the distant construction site.

After being busy for so long, they were all hungry. Aunt Cui Xi probably already had food ready, and Tang Mo was even a bit impatient.

He always ate at the canteen with everyone, the only difference was that Aunt Cui Xi's hand holding the ladle barely trembled when she served Tang Mo's food...

Two men were killed and buried in the damp soil, yet none of the people following Tang Mo seemed to think there was anything amiss.

Wes was glad that he had pledged his allegiance, now irrevocably tied to Tang Mo... Tagg was thrilled to be able to help, and murder was nothing new to him... Redman followed behind with his shovel, only he felt somewhat nauseous.

After all, this was his first time killing someone, so his face was pale, but he still stubbornly followed the others.

He was a hunter from Northern Ridge, but he had earned Tang Mo's favor. The moment he was chosen by Tang Mo, like many from Northern Ridge, he offered his most precious loyalty to his master.

Just now, he had proven his loyalty with two bullets and a shovel!

"Redman!" As he was lost in thought, Tang Mo's voice came from ahead. He instinctively stopped and realized he almost bumped into Tang Mo.

"Well done!" Tang Mo patted Redman's shoulder. An eighteen-year-old youth patting a man in his thirties—it might have seemed a bit awkward, but no one present felt it was out of place.

As if everything were as it should be, after praising Redman, Tang Mo continued, "The new recruits are doing very well! Don't relax; I hope you can do even better!"

"Yes, my lord!" Redman, having received Tang Mo's praise and affirmation, straightened up like a child commended by a teacher, lifted his chin, and promised, "I will do even better!"

Unnoticed, the group had returned to the construction site, where Mathews was assembling a brand-new, just-completed device with several apprentices.

Seeing Tang Mo, Mathews curiously inquired, "How did it go? No hiccups?"

"Obviously not," Tang Mo replied with a smile, "How about things here?"

"Everything is smooth," Mathews responded, "But with all the copper wire you got, and this strange device, what exactly are you planning to do?"

"To light up the world," Tang Mo said with a mysterious smile.