Inside the warehouse, rows of silver and black cars were lined up neatly.
Sixty automobiles glead under the cold lights, stretching before Pierre.
The hood ornants bore familiar emblems: a blue-and-white roundel, four interlocked rings, a circle marked with three overlapping crosses — all clear signs these were German-made vehicles.
"You see this? BMW 326."
John pointed proudly at one of the sedans.
"Just like you asked — luxury cars, the best of the best."
Without hesitation, John continued:
"Sixty rcedes, BMWs, and Audis. All for twenty thousand pounds. Before the war, that would barely buy you ten of them."
Such was the opportunity that war created.
Pierre said casually,
"Without , they'd just be scrap tal. Deal."
As his words fell, a translucent screen appeared before his eyes:
[Exchange completed: 60 automobiles traded for cigarettes and coffee worth 5,432 USD. Including 15 BMW 326s, each valued at 1,700 pounds. rcedes... Bonus: 115,500 experience points.]
A system reward had arrived!
Almost simultaneously, new text appeared:
[Congratulations, user! Experience points upgraded — you are now a Level 2 user. Keep up the good work!]
Level up!
Excited, Pierre barely cared about the details of the transaction anymore. He just wanted to complete it quickly.
As the boxes of cigarettes and sacks of coffee were loaded into the trucks, John, unable to contain his curiosity, finally asked:
"May I know... how you managed to bring all these goods over?"
Pierre smiled slightly.
"I have connections — with soone influential in the military. As long as we keep working together, there will be a steady stream of goods coming in. You just need to prepare funds... or rather, prepare more cars. My contact can arrange for navy transport ships to ferry the shipnts over, in batches."
Dealing with the Razor Gang required caution.
By implying he had the backing of a high-ranking figure — soone who could mobilize navy ships for smuggling — Pierre made it clear he wasn't soone to be easily crossed.
This way, he could minimize the risk of betrayal.
...
The truck beds were packed full of cigarettes.
Tommy, a cigarette dangling from his lips, glanced at the goods.
To him, this was a minor deal.
Even the highly sought-after coffee beans didn't impress him much.
Still, he had shown up personally.
Spitting out the stub of coffee bean he was chewing, Tommy asked:
"All these were traded for cars?"
"That's right,"
John answered directly.
"And he told us to be ready — he'll bring even more next ti."
"He ntioned he knows an important figure who can arrange shipping,"
John added,
"and transport those cars to Arica."
"Shipping to Arica? That's no small feat..."
Tommy took a slow drag on his cigarette.
"So you think... he really does have powerful backing?"
Tommy asked.
"He must,"
John said firmly.
"Ordinary people could never move goods like this."
"Exactly. If it were possible, car dealers would've already shipped their surplus inventory to the U.S. themselves. In Arica, even secondhand cars are in high demand."
"I know,"
John nodded.
After a mont's thought, Tommy said,
"Tell him — we want two hundred thousand pounds' worth of coffee beans.
If he can deliver, we'll keep doing business."
As if recalling sothing else, Tommy added:
"And withdraw the n we stationed outside the warehouse."
...
"Chengjie, you've been at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for so ti now. By any chance... do you have connections in Cuba?"
At a high-end restaurant near Grosvenor Square, Louis paused midway through his steak.
He shot Pierre a slightly odd look, then said:
"To be honest, little brother, the full ambassador, happens to be my uncle."
It was thanks to his uncle's influence that Louis had secured a posting in Britain in the first place.
"Such a coincidence!"
Pierre could hardly believe it.
Ever since learning that Cuba was a major source for black-market cigarettes and other goods, he'd been keeping a close eye on it.
Or rather, he had set his sights on Arica — because compared to Britain, the Arican market was broader, richer, and full of opportunity.
If he could seize the right chances over the next two years, it would be enough to build his fortune.
And Cuba would be his first stepping stone into that market.
"Indeed,"
Louis smiled.
"If you ever need help in Cuba, just say the word. I'm very close to my uncle."
"Then I'll thank you in advance,"
Pierre said happily.
In high spirits, he ordered a bottle of whiskey.
The restaurant, recomnded by Louis, catered mainly to diplomats from various countries.
Though the prices were steep, there was no need for ration coupons here — rare wines, whiskies, and fine steaks were all available in abundance.
As they ate, Pierre ntioned — without much concealnt — that he had already set up a company in Arica.
Louis was surprised, but full of admiration.
"Ah, in tis like these, if you want to make real money, you have to do business with the Aricans... Just look."
He gestured around the restaurant.
"Most of the people dining here are Aricans.
So of them control the distribution of Lend-Lease supplies.
So are officers planning bombing raids on Germany.
The number of Arican soldiers in Britain keeps growing."
Then, with a hint of mischief, he asked:
"But do you know who the truly powerful ones are?"
"Who?"
Pierre asked curiously.
"Those n — the ones who ca directly from Washington."
Louis nodded subtly toward a group across the room.
"You know why they're here?"
"No idea,"
Pierre admitted.
"They're here to dismantle the British Empire."
"To dismantle the British Empire?"
"Exactly.
You know about the Atlantic Charter signed two years ago, right?"
"I've heard bits and pieces."
"In short, that charter is the trap the Aricans set for Britain.
It declares that all peoples have the right to choose their own governnt — sounds noble, right?
But it's really a landmine."
Louis leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"The Aricans made it very clear: if Britain wants continued Arican support, it must give up its overseas colonies.
They even forced India — Britain's prized colony — to sign on."
"In other words,"
he said with a aningful glance,
"Arica is openly telling Britain: if you want aid, you must dismantle your empire."
Listening to him, Pierre couldn't help but see him in a new light.
Even with his limited knowledge of history, he knew that Arica had used World War II to erode Britain's global dominance, forcing it to surrender its colonies and paving the way for Arican hegemony after the war.
There was even that famous saying:
"Britain won the war, but lost the world."
"And once Britain gives up its colonies, others will follow — France, the Netherlands, all of them.
You, my dear brother, should see this as an opportunity."
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