European Financial Emperor

042 Second Journey (3)

“There are a lot of marks of people coming and going in this area. Take a good look. Broken grass, broken branches, and something like human footprints in the mud.”

Lee Hwan traced the floor with his hands, looking for human footprints.

Then, right in front of him, there was a footprint that was thought to be a human footprint.

“… … It really is.”

“I was skeptical of whether it was a human footprint or not, but now that I see it, it is clear.”

Grass grows relatively poorly on roads frequently frequented by people.

If a small number of people use the sparse road, it may be difficult to find the road because of the thick forest, but if more than a dozen people use the road every day, it is a different story.

Lee Hwan decided to keep moving forward.

“Then let’s keep moving forward.”

“all right.”

Lee Hwan advances forward with the hunters at the fore.

Then he heard a ticking sound.

Tick!

Lee Hwan immediately lowered his posture and approached the side where the sound was heard.

A second ticking sound was heard this time as Lee Hwan, hiding among the bushes, made a ticking sound.

Tick! Tick!

After that, the third tick rang, just as Lee Hwan watched.

Tick! Tick! Tick!

“fish.”

“Lightning.”

“Sir?”

“someone.”

“This is Squad 2, Corporal Bluegill.”

Corporal Bluegill came to Lee Hwan with his posture lowered.

He told Lee Hwan that he had found a light that was thought to be a private house in the vicinity.

“There seems to be a village. There were quite a few lights.”

“Town?”

Lee Hwan looked at the hunters who were right next to him.

Then they shook their heads.

“There is no such town. To say that there are people living in this area is a rarity.”

After checking the existence of the village with his own eyes, Lee Hwan decided to find out about their identities.

He convened the soldiers to a point.

The reconnaissance team met again in the middle of the point where the light was visible, and decided to carry out the second operation under Lee Hwan’s order.

“From now on, the first group will go as it was supposed to. Now let the base know the exact location of this point and report it to the commander so they can prepare for battle.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“For the rest, divide the three groups in half and check the enemy’s movements.”

“Yes… … !”

“From now on, the gathering area will be decided here. So that the liaison team can relay the communication of our allies here.”

The soldiers moved in unison according to Yi Hwan’s orders.

After a while.

Lee Hwan, along with Sgt Oliver, observed the enemy’s movements and gathered information about their weapons and personnel composition.

The village had a total of 50 households, and it was estimated that at least 500 people could live there if natural caves and tree huts were included.

Oliver memorized what the allies brought and delivered it to Lee Hwan.

“It looks like the British Ferguson rifle is used as the main weapon. From what it can be seen, it has been confirmed to have eight cannons, and it appears that they are storing prisoners and loot in a cave in its natural state.”

“slave?”

“It seems that there is a market here where slaves are traded and loot is exchanged for gold.”

It was not a pirate island built in the sea, but a forest of pirates built by selling the British navy lurking in Brazil.

Lee Hwan decided that a surprise attack was absolutely essential in order to strike them all at once.

He gave the order to wait for the main force to arrive.

“Until the main force arrives, we are closely monitoring the enemy’s movements, and then deliver all available information to our allies. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Perhaps this battle was also highly likely to be commanded by Lee Hwan.

In the case of a new tactic with a new rifle, it was because he had no experience in properly operating it except for Lee Hwan.

Hana Lee Hwan also experienced only tactical training using blank shells and training for all-out warfare, but it was his first time conducting at night.

He recalled Jeff’s words.

‘Everyone has a first. Let’s calm down!’

good! good!

To overcome the tension, Lee Hwan slapped himself in the face twice.

That was then.

In an instant, Lee Hwan’s eyes flickered, and then something cold and cool energy started pouring down from his brain.

‘Huh!’

It feels like waking up every cell in the body.

Since then, a new world has unfolded.

Bark… … .

I could hear the small sound of grass bugs brushing through the grass very clearly in my ears. And despite the night vision, the surroundings were clearly seen as intra-vision.

In a word, once again the body transcended human beings.

‘Doesn’t this really make you a monster?’

Lee Hwan immediately recognized the sound of someone approaching from afar.

He gave the passphrase almost reflexively.

“fish… … !”

“Huh! Burr, lightning!”

“Who are you?”

“This is Catherine of the Black Whale.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Catherine is a tactician and soldier who studied Yi Hwan’s tactics most in depth in the entire Dutch army.

He told Lee Hwan the details of the current situation.

Catherine smiled contentedly.

“Yeah, the staff are different even if something is different.”

“What about Prince Ben-Heren?”

“You are now leading the main force and marching. They were probably planning to besiege the entire forest.”

“Hmm, that’s right.”

“Duke Ben-Herren has told me that if you are scouting this place and firecrackers explode from behind, you must retreat immediately.”

“I see.”

Catherine eventually turned and turned around.

That was then.

The sound of heavy footsteps resounding in the ground began to be heard from the front.

Woo doo doo… … !

The hunters shouted.

“Enemies are pouring out!”

“… … Enemies?!”

Lee Hwan wanted to quickly grasp the situation, but he didn’t have much time right now.

He decided to go to each group and give the order to retreat to the soldiers.

“Go to each of the captains right now and give them orders so that they can retreat, and you too, follow them and retreat to the rear!”

“Yes, I understand!”

I don’t know how on earth he knew that Lee Hwan had come here, but he would end up dying as it is now.

Lee Hwan made Catherine his interim lieutenant.

“Can I order you as my lieutenant until I get out of here?”

“of course!”

“Okay, then I will only trust you.”

“Just leave it to me!”

Leading the crew back to the rear, Lee Hwan ordered Katrina to continue reporting the situation.

He constantly delivered information to Lee Hwan like a reporter.

“Enemies move in one direction. It looks like you have a different destination, right?”

“Destination?”

“We don’t know yet whether we’re preparing for battle, but we’re sure the numbers are huge.”

“About how much do you think it is?”

“No matter how small, it seems like 500 people.”

If he succeeded in the siege like this, he could be victorious, but if he made a mistake, it was enough to cause damage to his allies.

Lee Hwan decided to get out of the forest as fast as possible.

“It is easier to attack outside the forest as if you are surrounded by enemies. If we make a mistake and fight each battle in the same forest as this fortress, we will suffer.”

The term home ground effect is not for nothing.

This is their home ground, and Lee Hwan’s unit is an expeditionary force from abroad, so they do not know the topography of this place well and do not know the characteristics.

In the worst case, they could be defeated and become slaves here.

“Then what do you do?”

“Hmm.”

Lee Hwan shook his head.

It would be a disappointment if they united and met Ben Heren.

Then there is only one way.

“Gender Gender Book.”

“Is this a gender-neutral book?”

“Setting fire to the forest and firing while they agitate to let us know that our main force is near. Instead, Prince Ben-Heren’s main attack will come from the enemy’s side.”

“No, if that’s the case, isn’t that saying that someone has to act as a bait?”

“Of course.”

“Who the hell… … .”

Lee Hwan smiled and looked at Catherine.

“Do you want to be successful?”

“Well, that’s… … .”

“Then let’s play with fire together.”

“Huh! Are you going to take me with you?”

“Didn’t you say that you would serve as a lieutenant until you get out of here?”

“… … That’s right.”

“If a man speaks two words with one mouth, he cannot use it.”

“Okay, I see.”

“Get ready to set fire to the forest right now. Even the smallest fire doesn’t matter. I don’t even expect it to catch fire in this damp forest anyway.”

The hunters, who were quietly listening to Lee Hwan’s story, devised a plan.

They advised Lee Hwan to set the ship on fire.

“I don’t know where the main force is coming from, but if we burn the ship we’re on, it will burn quite well.”

“Ah, that’s right!”

“Even if it’s impossible to burn this forest all down, it’s sure to attract their attention.”

“good. Then let’s aim there and lure the enemy in.”

Lee Hwan was doing his best in the current situation.

***

Sunny spring morning.

East Stella was busy with production and research like any other day.

smart.

A buzz was heard in the office of Vice President Joshua.

“Yes, come in.”

The person who opened the door was Lee Hwan’s assistant and apprentice accountant John Morgan.

He tilted his head.

“What happened?”

“Someone has come.”

“Are you human? Who are you talking about?”

“It is said that he came as a request for investment.”

“Hmm, okay?”

Somewhere in continental Europe, it was clear that the inventor came to hear the rumors of Lee Hwan.

Not long ago, Lee Hwan instructed me to come up with a way to establish a comprehensive financial company.

Accordingly, Joshua faithfully traveled around England and France, looking for ways to launch a comprehensive finance business.

In the meantime, rumors circulated that Lee Hwan was looking for an investment place, and people were lined up who wanted to receive investment several times a day.

‘I hope I’m not rambling.’

In the midst of being very busy these days, when even a useless person comes to visit, the stress is so great that even Joshua, the world’s best, can’t stand it.

However, it is the boss’s instructions, so you have to follow them.

“Let’s see.”

“I’m still waiting behind the door right now.”

After a while, the emaciated, platinum-haired middle-aged man poked his head out through the door.

He is in his 40s or so, so he doesn’t look very old, but he seems to have suffered quite a bit.

He took off his fedora and greeted me.

“This is George Stevenson.”

“That’s right. What did you come here for?”

“I want to get some investment.”

“Invest.”

I thought I would be really upset if someone like that came to visit me this time as well.

But, what kind of character he is, you have to hear the story, right?

“Sit down for a moment.”

“thank you.”

With crude hands and a reliable size, he looked more like an engineer than a scholar.

Joshua put his hand on the kettle with the faintly fragrant, low-grade black tea, and suggested a drink because he thought it was quite drinkable.

But George refused the car.

“Oh, no. Rather, I want you to listen to me first.”

“That’s right. What are you inventing?”

“We are inventing the steam train.”

“A train?”