One of the cold-faced officers guarding Ouyang Elder's side tapped on the door and entered.
After a standard salute.
The officer handed a document to Zhang Weimin.
"This is a draft of the military exercise script, ordered by Elder. Please review it!"
Elder decided on a military exercise.
He hadn't heard about it.
Putting aside Meng Hao's matters for now.
Zhang Weimin took the document.
Hiss!
He gasped.
This document was very detailed.
It revealed that the true intention of this overseas military exercise was to protect Meng Hao from being held hostage by the Western Allied nations led by the United States.
Elder Ouyang truly cared about Meng Hao!
The intelligence document even specifically mentioned four scrapped lithography machines in Honolulu.
This also explained Meng Hao's intention to travel across the ocean to Honolulu.
It's just that.
What was the significance of buying four scrapped lithography machines even if they were brought back?
Meng Hao couldn't possibly repair them, right?
As if seeing Zhang Weimin's confusion, the officer asked with a probing expression.
"Brigadier General Zhang Weimin, this document is currently classified as top secret. If you have finished reviewing it, please return it..."
"Elder's intention is very clear. No matter what decision Meng Hao makes, we will respect it and support it one hundred percent..."
"Even if all he brings back this time is a pile of scrap metal, the military will unconditionally support his decisions and actions..."
Good heavens.
Elder Ouyang's feelings for Meng Hao were more than just "good."
It was almost doting.
"By the way."
"The main reason you were promoted to Major General is to handle daily interactions and maintain relations with Meng Hao!"
"If the United States makes an exorbitant demand, you can provide Meng Hao with necessary financial assistance!"
Hmm.
That's right.
This was definitely true love.
Even if Meng Hao brought back a pile of scrap metal, even if the United States made an exorbitant demand for these scrapped lithography machines.
According to Elder Ouyang's wishes, they would still unconditionally support Meng Hao.
This.
Was it unconditional support, or unconditional trust?
Even Zhang Weimin was a little confused.
"I have finished reading the document, please take it back!"
"Furthermore, please convey a message to Elder that we absolutely support any decision and action of Meng Hao."
"Oh, and please send my regards to Elder!"
The expressionless officer nodded, took back the document, turned, and left.
...
The next day.
Honolulu.
Sunlight streamed down.
Meng Hao stretched.
He woke up on a hotel bed in a foreign land, feeling a bit groggy.
The good news was that he had adjusted to the time difference.
This act of forcing himself awake to adjust to the time difference was truly troublesome.
Thinking about having to adjust back to the time difference again when he returned to China made his head ache faintly.
The previous night.
Jarvis had arrived and checked into the same hotel as Meng Hao.
They were old acquaintances.
After contacting each other via the hotel's internal line, Meng Hao, still in his slippers and pajamas, headed to the dining area for breakfast.
Breakfast was abundant.
The large amount of fruits and seafood made Meng Hao feel a bit overwhelmed.
Meng Hao, holding a pre-mixed fruit juice and chatting with Jarvis, who was still feasting, seemed a bit listless.
"Dear Meng."
"You are truly amazing."
"How did you manage to use the shells of my F-35 fighter jets to build military robots and combat mechs that have caught the attention of the entire world?"
Jarvis mumbled his compliments while gnawing on the succulent meat of a spiny lobster.
Meng Hao's forehead creased.
Military robots?
Combat mechs?
Damn it, you're the one producing military equipment, and your whole family is!
Hmm.
Meng Hao had developed a nervous breakdown from the system and netizens who constantly claimed that Huarong Technology was a military factory.
As soon as he heard someone call his Huarong Technology a military factory.
His first reaction was to retort!
Hmm.
However, Jarvis probably meant no harm.
He suppressed himself and swallowed back the retort he was about to utter.
Meng Hao smiled and shook his head.
"Dear Jarvis."
"I need to correct you on one point."
"My Huarong Technology is not a military factory."
"The mechs produced by our company are toys, just of exceptionally high quality."
Uh!
Jarvis was stunned.
He gulped down the lobster meat in his mouth.
Then, with a sheepish smile, he shrugged.
"Okay, dear Meng."
"Whatever you say."
"After all, I'm just a businessman."
"Even if you bought nuclear bombs from me and went to Japan to set them off as firecrackers, I would say 'What beautiful fireworks!'"
"Well, of course, that's assuming I actually have nuclear bombs in stock, and you actually intend to buy them!"
See.
This is professionalism.
As long as the money is right.
It doesn't matter what you buy or what you call it... it's all the same.
After a few pleasantries.
Jarvis, who had finally finished an entire spiny lobster, washed his hands with the complimentary mint lemon water to remove the grease, then took a napkin and wiped his mouth and hands.
Then, he moved on to the main topic of their discussion.
"Dear Meng, do you know Mr. De Vries?"
"He is a descendant of a very ancient ducal family from Holland... He is an absolute nobleman, very elegant... It's a shame his family's fortunes have declined, and by his generation, he can only serve as a director at Asman Company... and in a redundant position with very few shares!"
Meng Hao felt a surge of impatience.
What kind of pathetic Dutch duke was this?
One must know.
In the Middle Ages, the land of the Western Allies had hundreds of large and small countries.
Kings were as common as dogs, and princes were everywhere.
Let alone a duke from Holland, a former small Western Allied nation.
Damn it.
The Qing Dynasty had fallen, and you're still talking to me about dukes and nobles.
However.
Meng Hao did know about Asman Company.
It was the pillar industry of the modern small nation of Holland and a top-three global lithography machine manufacturer.
It was just that.
This De Vries, as one of Asman's redundant directors, seemed to have a close connection to the lithography machines Meng Hao was about to purchase.
He endured his impatience and continued to listen to Jarvis babble.
"Mr. De Vries has a very close personal relationship with me. My goodness, he is truly an extremely graceful nobleman. Even though his family has fallen on hard times, he still preserves the family crest and shield..."
Hmm.
Meng Hao understood.
Jarvis's long-winded speech was meant to elevate his status in Meng Hao's eyes, to show that he had a good relationship with this fallen, impoverished, but still ostentatious De Vries... and then make Meng Hao feel that paying a bit more in intermediary fees was quite worthwhile.
Alas.
This Jarvis.
He was still a pure businessman, an unadulterated money-grubber.
Everything he did seemed to be a prelude to making money.
"Alright, dear Jarvis, can we get to the point?"
"5% intermediary fee, is that satisfactory?"
Lithography machines were bulk commodities that cost hundreds of millions each.
A 5% intermediary fee.
That was already a considerable sum!