My wife is an immortal black snake.

Page 145

Just as Therese was feeling disheartened, she overheard the duke say these words—

"So why don't we go to that tavern and discuss the details here? I highly recommend their Gallic pastries."

"what?"

She was stunned for a moment.

I never expected things to take a turn for the better.

Chapter 64

Yang Hao, accompanied by his guards, Regent Therese, and her Sarkaz guards, arrived at the Lille Tavern, not far from the place they were visiting.

When they arrived, Mr. Napoleon was still hunched over his desk, fretting over the upcoming funding issues—they had blown up far too many buildings, and the reparations for those buildings were giving him a real headache.

When Mr. Yang Hao first arrived, he was subconsciously pleasantly surprised, thinking that he had something to do. However, when he noticed that Mr. Yang Hao was accompanied by a very distinguished-looking female guest, he was stunned and disappointed to realize that Mr. Yang Hao, whose desires were not being satisfied, was probably taking his new lover out shopping.

He really thought so, if Lord Yang Hao hadn't come in and said that:

“Mr. Napoleon, right here, bring out your treasured liqueurs—I have something to discuss with a big shot in Kazdel.”

"...yes."

Mr. Napoleon, who almost blurted out "Lord Yang Hao's lover," nodded nervously and gestured for his portly servant to bring out the liqueur he had recently bought from the Gallic refugees. He then led the two distinguished gentlemen to the quietest part of the tavern.

......

After Yang Hao and Ms. Therese took their seats, he rested his cane against the counter, propped his elbow on the counter, and then tilted his palm to support his cheek as he looked at Ms. Therese beside him.

“Kazdel may be barren, but it’s not without its merits,” he said. “Your strategic advantage lies in your awkward position: whether it’s Ursus, Flame, Victoria, Letania, Rembiton, or even Syracuse or Laterano—you’re caught in the middle by various countries and regions with ulterior motives. It seems like you’re restricted no matter which direction you develop, but in other words…”

"...No country wants to see us swallowed up by a rival...Is that your opinion?"

"Correct."

Therese was clever; she immediately understood that Kazdel's decline was precisely the key reason it could continue to exist, and at the same time, a major advantage of the Kazdel region—that no one wanted to touch it, but they couldn't let their opponents create a mess for them.

Is conquering Kazdel difficult for the surrounding major powers? Not really. The question is, which major power would want to occupy a nearly useless piece of land that only produces large numbers of infected? Of course, none.

However, they certainly wouldn't be happy to see their rivals occupy such a region and gain a new border out of thin air—take Ursus for example, if Ursus occupies the Kazdel region, it wouldn't be good for the Rembitoids: it would mean that Ursus's border cities would border theirs, and it would also mean that Ursus might set their sights on them for the next war.

They might not be worried about Ursus gaining a lot of resources after Kazdel is occupied, but they are definitely worried about who Ursus will declare war on after gaining control of Kazdel and having a new, further south border.

The same logic applies to other countries and their rivals, leading to a kind of tacit agreement: they'd rather Kazdel remain half-dead, wasting its resources (which it actually has) rather than personally conquer it. Because if they did, neighboring countries would certainly retaliate fiercely against the first to act. If they could withstand one blow, who could withstand two or three?

The final result was predictable: the major powers deliberately ignored the current situation of Kazdel. They knew it existed, but as long as no one else had any intention of occupying it, they would simply remain inactive.

"The great powers do not want to see your region occupied by their rivals. This is partly due to the border issue, and partly because if Kazdel is occupied, it may become a springboard for the great powers to invade more distant countries."

"While I'd like to say the Sarkaz won't just sit idly by, you're right... So, how will we solve the supply problem after the occupation?"

"We'll talk about that later. Besides, my investment doesn't require you to hand over your territory, does it?"

For small countries and independent cities, is attacking Kazdel easy? Not at all. And even if they did take it, they wouldn't have the resources to control this barren land that had spawned countless mercenaries.

Not to mention, for small countries and independent cities, attacking Kazdel is like asking for trouble—even Colombians on paid leave wouldn't do it. After all, this place is just too poor.

We need resources, but we don't have any.

The population consists almost entirely of infected individuals.

Having mercenaries isn't a problem, but Sarkaz mercenaries are a major security concern around the world, so... you know what I mean.

Rather than attacking this place, it's better to just leave it alone. Besides, the Kazdel region itself needs commerce to sustain its livelihood, so letting Kazdel thrive is more beneficial for small countries and independent cities.

In conclusion, large countries don't want to fight, small countries are unwilling to fight, and those who want to attack Kazdel's independent cities may lack the capability and confidence to raid the fiercely independent wasteland. This forms the most important factor that allows Kazdel to survive—everyone needs this wasteland as a buffer, so everyone just lets it live.

This is a major setback for Kazdel, but also a major advantage. Yang Hao meant that although Kazdel cannot develop openly, it does not mean that the people of Kazdel cannot forge a new future in another form.

“My personal investment idea is—you guys form a company.”

"A company?"

Therese raised an eyebrow, surprised and bewildered by this unheard-of investment method.

"Yes, a company—Kazdel's company—doesn't have much connection with Kazdel. So, in other words, when Ursus invests in a company in Kazdel, it doesn't count as investing in the Kazdel region. As the CEO of that company, whether you use that money to develop your own business or to help Kazdel's economy is your business."

Yang Hao accepted the Gallic liqueur sent by Mr. Napoleon, took a sip with relish, and then recalled the once-powerful East India Company of his hometown—this "company" that established British India in the name of the company possessed administrative and military control, and in a sense, it was a country that was called a "company".

Ursus may not be able to openly invest in the Kazdel region, but it's perfectly reasonable for me to invest in companies in Kazdel, isn't it?

Yang Hao's idea was wonderful, but Therese frowned, and after careful consideration, she discovered a problem:

"But according to what you're saying... other countries won't allow you to continue investing."

Although Yang Hao will invest ample amounts of pure gold in Therese under the name of the "investment company"—other countries aren't stupid either, are they?

This sudden move of yours is obvious to everyone what you're planning! They'll definitely try everything to stop you, and might even be pushed to the brink to impose sanctions on Kazdel instead of Ursus...

What should we do now?

"Haha, that's natural—but let's think about it another way. What if your company not only has shares in Ursus, but also in Victoria, Yan, and other neighboring countries?"

Yang Hao had an expression that said, "She's teachable." He smiled and gestured for Therese to take a sip of liqueur, then looked at her with interest, wondering if she could express her thoughts.

He was not disappointed.

"This—this means that the company... has gained multiple checks and balances, and has acquired a neutral stance?"

"correct."

Therese is indeed a worthwhile investment opportunity.

Yang Hao did indeed need such an investment target—just like the United Cities, the Duchy of Koschche and Ursus would always have inconvenient occasions, and in those occasions, these neutral "clients" who had invested in them would be the best spokespeople.

United City seems too small here; a Kazdel would be just right.

He took another sip of wine, already plotting how to tie the suddenly enlightened Miss Therese to his chariot.

Chapter 65

For the next period of time, Yang Hao and Therese mostly discussed "investment".

Even if the question of "how to invest" is resolved, the fundamental question of "why should I invest in you" remains unresolved. In this situation, it shouldn't be Yang Hao raising the question, but rather Ms. Therese herself should articulate her strengths and weaknesses.

She understood this principle; after all, Kazdel was now in need of her help, so humbling herself was the practical thing to do. She racked her brains, considering the company's foundation and Kazdel's characteristics, and finally, she suggested three points that greatly pleased Yang Hao:

1. Even if Kazdel establishes a company, as a resource-scarce region, the best it can offer is a professional, standardized mercenary group service, similar to the Foreign Legion. In this situation, without strong initial client support, it could easily go bankrupt by competing with other mercenary companies for market share.

Her main enemy should be Blacksteel International Security, a similarly emerging company in Colombia. However, while the Sarkaz are reliable in combat, their Sarkaz identity makes them untrustworthy... What to do?

“Then we need to screen and train. As long as your first business transaction makes a good impression, others will naturally trust you more—but this is a long process, and perhaps we can speed it up artificially. But until then, please continue.”

2. After Therese's company has stabilized, in order to escape the barren land of Kazdel and then [reasonably] obtain more resources and, most importantly, address the issue of [mobile cities], she needs Yang Hao's help to conduct a [limited] [local conflict] and, in turn, [naturally] obtain what belongs to her.

This is a bold yet feasible plan. After all, even if the major powers do not want the other side to occupy Kazdel, it does not mean that they do not want Kazdel to stab the other side in the back under their guidance. In this case, they would even be willing to pay some rewards to "pay" for Kazdel's bold actions. Moreover, when the group involved in the action changes from the Kazdel government to a "private company" in Kazdel, they would even pay more in order to secretly acquire ownership of the company.

The danger lies in the fact that if Theresa is not careful, she could lose control of the company. The benefit lies in the fact that if she operates properly, she can dance a ballet on a knife's edge and obtain what she wants in stages.

"A feasible plan, but you have more to consider—because you will eventually break free from the constraints of the major powers, and how will you face the surrounding countries then? You don't need to answer now; this is a long-term issue. Next."

3. This is also what Yang Hao admires most about Therese—she never forgets that this future is based on Yang Hao's willingness to invest in her, so she is also very clear that she should give something in return...

She also knew that, at that time, her company could only provide overseas military services, high-quality soldiers, and help handle matters that Ursus was not suited to handle, while also offering much more...

“I invested in you, so you should give me something more in return. You understand this principle, and I appreciate that.”

"Well, what do you think?"

“I am very satisfied with this, and your idea does indeed meet my needs... However, I need to go back and discuss this with my wife. After all, I don't have full authority over everything—in some important matters and occasions, I resolve them together with my wife.”

"I see..."

Hearing this, Therese breathed a sigh of relief, but she didn't relax—because it meant she still had to get through the Duke of Koschei's ordeal.

But before that, she could still ask Duke Yang Hao exactly what his plans were...

But then again, why does this duke look so worried?

Therese was deep in thought when her face suddenly fell, because Yang Hao realized that Koschke might not agree to his "investment".

After all, once they've resolved the Imperial Civil War, they'll have to deal with the war between Casimir and Colombia. That will cost a lot of money...

Sigh... I should have thought things through more before doing things like this.

He sighed softly, opened his mouth as if to say something, when a new event popped up in front of him—or rather, an optional event tree.

[Event: The Birth of the Kazdel Giant]

Under your guidance, the Regent of Kazdel has decided to pursue a path to prosperity for Kazdel through "corporation." However, she is well aware that this depends on your support.

So in exchange for your "long-term" support, Therese is willing to offer you more in a manner that is as equal or even humble as possible—but the decision is still in your hands, and in the hands of your wife.

'Megacorporation? Cannibalistic Company?' Effect: Kazdel will gradually develop into a megacorporation dictatorship, and will eventually transform into a vassal state or subjugation of Ursus—of course, you can also choose to be as egalitarian as possible.

Um...

The advantages outweigh the disadvantages; this way, I can explain things clearly to my wife...

He thought for a moment, then smiled and said:

"However, even if we win the battle regarding investment, it may take some time before we can provide you with support—after all, I think you came here after sensing the situation in the Ursus Empire, right?"

"...Yes."

"Then let's leave it at that. I'll give you an answer regarding the investment within the next day or two. But we'll need to wait a while before we can finalize the implementation date. You could also register a company in Kazdel, Victoria, or even Ursus to prepare. That way, once we officially invest, you can officially begin your own development. What do you think?"

"I think it's a good fit."

"so be it."

Yang Hao took another sip of liqueur. He wondered if he'd drunk a little too much today.

But it doesn't matter—if we can close a big deal, what's wrong with having a few more drinks?

With this thought.

He clinked glasses with Ms. Therese and thought to himself, "Should I go see Mother Sonia this afternoon?"

Chapter 66

On the afternoon of June 7th.

After Yang Hao finished entertaining Kazdel's distinguished guests and took a stroll around Sonia's mother's R'lyeh headquarters, he was almost dragged into a bath by this maternal deep-sea hunter. Finally, under her displeased but gentle gaze, he managed to escape back to the Duke's mansion. He found that the atmosphere in the Duke's mansion seemed a bit strange.

He was somewhat at a loss, but after retrieving the things Margarita had sent him through the messenger, he carried her gifts back to his chambers. There, he found Kosiché, who appeared to be having afternoon tea, and Monica, who was serving her. After temporarily placing the gifts on the table in the room, he asked curiously:

"Why does the atmosphere at the Duke's mansion seem so strange since I came back?"

His wife, who was drinking tea from her teacup, looked up, took the letter she had been holding between her thighs, and handed it to Yang Hao: "Here. Take a look."

"Oh? Monica—I'll have black tea too."

"Yes."

Looking completely bewildered, Yang Hao sat down next to his wife, holding the letter. He also asked Monica to bring him a cup of delicious black tea. As he flipped through the letter, Yang Hao asked his wife:

"So, could you give me a summary of what happened?"

“Yes. Duke Nikolai’s troops will arrive at our border in ten days.”

"what?!"

He froze, turning to look at his nonchalant wife, lost in thought. Then, as if listening to the world's best joke, he let out a helpless laugh: "Haha... Koschche. Can you stop joking about something this serious?"

Do I look like I'm joking?

"A bit..."

"Then I'll just tell you directly, darling—I'm not joking. For details, please see the letter."

He nodded with a grim expression, then unfolded the letter, still warm from Kosic's thigh. He read through the intelligence gathered on it word by word, and his expression naturally grew worse and worse.

The intelligence report didn't contain anything puzzling—it simply stated clearly that Duke Nikolai planned to attack the Duchy of Kosiché.

Yang Hao looked at the letter and estimated the total number of the various budgeted armies listed on it. Duke Nikolai might send an army of 100,000 to attack the Duchy of Kosiché. Apart from the originally estimated 50,000 regular troops and mind-controlled militia, there would also be a small number of powerful flesh puppets and a large number of civilian units.

In other words, these are zombie-like units—to be honest, Yang Hao isn't worried about the threat of zombies in terms of combat power, but Duke Nikolai is killing off the future population of the Ursus Empire! That's intolerable!

Of course, Yang Hao was also aware that the current Duchy of Kosiché was completely outmatched by Duke Nikolai in terms of total military strength... In other words, they couldn't devise any offensive plans at all and could only defend actively or passively.

“Koschei…it seems we might have to ask Lady Therese for more mercenaries.” He sighed, took the black tea offered by the head maid who had appeared before him, took a sip, and then sighed to Koschei, “But I suspect that if His Majesty the Emperor remains stuck there and unable to advance quickly…even if we can withstand Duke Nikolai’s full-scale attack, the population of the Nikolai Duchy will drop to an unbearable level, and our civil war will be a huge loss.”

“Indeed. So my dear husband, do you have any good ideas?” Kosiché sighed, placed the teacup on the saucer held by the head maid, lay on her side on the bed, rested her head on Yang Hao’s thigh, and closed her eyes: “I have no other choice... My abilities as an immortal have their limits.”

"Yes, yes, Kosic, you've done a great job. Leave the rest to me." Yang Hao put down the letter and tea, reaching out to ruffle his wife's hair, then her cat ears. He felt like something similar had happened before, only their roles were reversed. "But speaking of which, I finalized an investment deal with Ms. Therese..."

"Hmm? I'll tell you the details later... Sigh, I feel like this year is the most tiring year of my long life... I want to take a good rest this afternoon."