Hope's right hand holding the gun was trembling. After struggling for a long time, his shoulders relaxed and he finally put down the gun.
He walked forward and gently placed the pistol on the table.
Hope said dejectedly: "You are right, but I can no longer trust you."
"My entire fortune depends on the church. Although I hate the church, I don't want it to collapse or even be severely damaged."
"I have to admit that your Dajing's weapons are really powerful. With such weapons, you should have a chance to tie with the church... But no matter what, I am definitely finished! You use me as a tool, and the church has a hold on you. Holding my lifeblood..."
The more Hope spoke, the deeper her voice became.
Lai Gou'er said calmly: "Brother Hope, if you think we can just tie with the church, then you are overestimating the situation. Besides, no matter what, you have made contributions to the situation, and I will sacrifice my life for it." As a guarantor, the court will never treat you badly."
"You and I know each other quite well. You should know how I treat people. Da Jing is armed with a sharp weapon but has always maintained a restrained and low profile. This also shows the attitude of our country. Don't worry too much. I will take care of you later." Go watch something fresher."
Hope raised his hand and smiled bitterly: "Stop talking, I'll draw it for you... You won't let me go, right? I have no other ideas now. I just hope you can let me go after the drawing is completed."
"I want to think about this, you draw it first."
After hearing this, Hope stopped talking and stepped forward to pick up a pen and paper and started drawing on the paper with a frown.
Halfway through the painting, there was a knock on the door.
Duke Alves, who was dressed in fine clothes, pushed open the door and smiled when he saw him: "Master Lai, I heard that you have something important to discuss with me?"
Lai Gou'er nodded, turned his head to look at the two soldiers guarding the door, and said, "You two come in, and close the door."
The soldier then entered and closed the door.
Duke Alves was a little confused. He saw Hope lying on the table writing and drawing: "Who is he? Your new guest?"
"Come on, tie up the Duke!"
The soldiers received the order, and one of them quickly took action and pinned Duke Alves' hands to the ground behind his back.
Another person pulled out the rope from behind and tied Duke Alves to the ground in three strokes.
Everything happened in a flash of lightning, and Duke Alves' mind went blank.
His eyes were still on Hope.
Hope looked back and shrugged: "Don't look at me, I'm a hostage too."
Duke Alves' face suddenly turned pale, and he looked at Lai Gou'er in horror: "You are crazy! Why are you tying me up?"
Lai Gouer tilted his head and smiled at him, raised his pistol and shot him in the ear.
The shot went straight through the wall panel behind Duke Alves, leaving a deep hole.
The bullet passed over the Duke's head, causing his eardrums to buzz.
Duke Alves looked at Lai Gouer with a gun in his hand, his pupils shrinking sharply.
What the hell!
Lai Gouer smiled evilly: "Duke, I really have something big to talk about when I invite you here today, but I have to let you listen quietly first."
"Then I won't talk nonsense. The business conflict between the church and Dajing has been deep. We have discussed it in advance, haven't we? Our current business model is unsustainable."
"And there are many rumors on the market about Father Solje's independent development in Feka... You should know better than me what the church's attitude is towards this kind of thing."
"I'm just here to discuss one thing with you right now, which is that I, Dajing, need to station troops in Feka in advance to face possible conflicts with the church in the future, and I don't even rule out the possibility of active attacks. What do you think? "
May I ask what your opinion is?
You tied me up and wanted to kill me with that weird thing, and now you ask me what I think!
Duke Alves' eyes were red, and just when he was about to speak angrily, Hope said calmly.
"He must be trying to say, you are crazy! Your country is crazy. Who gave you the courage to attack the church? How many troops and supplies do you have?"
How did he know?
Duke Alves' words that reached his throat were immediately suppressed, and he shouted angrily: "I tell you, this is nonsense! You may not have any rivals in the East, but this is the church!"
Lai Gouer and Hope looked at each other.
Hope shrugged and sighed: "I'm sorry, my expression may have been too ferocious before."
"It's okay, I understand." After Lai Gou'er finished speaking, he immediately looked at Duke Alves.
"Duke, I invite you to come today and there is a big show to watch. After you finish watching the show, you will probably have some changes in your mind."
"Brother Hope is currently helping me draw the interior of the temple. Please wait a moment. When he finishes drawing, we will go out to watch the show."
Interior view of the temple? What are they going to do?
Duke Alves clenched his teeth and lowered his head to remain silent.
There is no way, now he can't do anything but take orders here.
This damn lazy dog had evil intentions, but he didn't even notice it at all.
The situation here must have been known to the upper management of Dajing. If they had known, he should have communicated with the church earlier.
Now I have made a lot of money, but my life is on the line...
While he was racking his brains to think of countermeasures, Hope's drawings had been completed.
He picked it up, shook it, showed it in front of Lai Gou'er, and said, "Brother Lai, I've finished the painting, and I've marked everything that needs to be marked for you. If you have any questions, you can ask me."
Lai Gouer said: "You should take the drawings first. I can't tell whether they are right or wrong. Maybe you remembered some places wrongly and need to revise them later."
"Now please come out with me and go to the port to have a look."
After Lai Gou'er finished speaking, he signaled his soldiers to loosen Duke Alves, but the gun in his hand was pointed at his body.
"Duke, you are free to move around, but it is best to stay with me."
Duke Alves stared at the pistol eagerly.
The thing he took must be a murder weapon, and he couldn't run away yet.
"Let's go." Lai Gou'er shook his pistol and led the Duke out.
As for Hope, he was accompanied by two tall soldiers.
Dajing's station was not far from Feka Port. It didn't take long for the three of them to arrive at the port.
Today's port, except for some ordinary fishermen, is almost occupied by the Brotherhood's men and soldiers disguised as Dajing merchant crew.
When Lai Gouer and others arrived at the port, people from Dajing immediately noticed him.
Lai Gouer waved his hand, and someone took the initiative to greet him.
After whispering and checking their pocket watches, the man quickly headed towards the 'merchant ship' on the shore.
The Duke and Hope were still watching quietly, each with their own thoughts.
Lai Gou'er's voice sounded: "Duke, I'm ashamed to say that I haven't told you something for so long."
"Look at my Dajing fleet. Everyone in the fleet is actually a sailor. There is no pure businessman at all. And the ships you are looking at are not simple escort ships, but the real main force of Dajing. Warship."
"Today I will let you see how good Dajing's main warship is."
...
