harleyscars Page 207
Page 207
Because below Wanggongchang lies the Nibelungen.
The master of the Nibelungs is the king of the earth and the mountains.
Therefore, it's not wrong for Xia Mi to say that she's from the capital.
But her age is zero, so it must all be a lie...
The two continued drinking coffee and chatting about the Zhang family in Southeast Asia.
Since Gu Ran slashed Zhang Ronghua on the cruise ship and saved Su Xiaoqiang, the Zhang family in Nanyang has disappeared without a trace.
Gu Ran asked Norma to investigate the crime rates in Southeast Asia and South Asia. The rates had dropped by two points recently, leading him to suspect that the Zhang family in Southeast Asia was hiding their activities.
Zhang Wanjun revealed the Zong family's recent activities: "We are currently having people in the Philippines and Myanmar closely monitoring the human trafficking and drug trafficking lines."
Gu Ran thought for a moment and asked, "Does the clan's library have any records of that medicine?"
The Zhang family of Southeast Asia possesses a gene-enhancing drug that can instantly improve the bloodline of mixed-race individuals.
“No.” Zhang Wanjun shook her head. “The characteristics of this medicine… are somewhat similar to those of the Outer Mongolian Dead Servants.”
Gu Ran nodded slightly.
"The meaning of Nuwa is... that you should go to the border of Outer Mongolia when you have time," Zhang Wanjun continued, "to take a few young people with you and let them gain experience."
"You're already taking care of kids at Kassel College, and now you have to take care of them again back home? That's going too far!" Gu Ran asked, dissatisfied. "How much tuition are you paying?"
"Go ask Nuwa."
Zhang Wanjun smiled gently; she was already used to his money-grubbing nature.
Just last month, he spent 80 million US dollars to buy a building in Beijing.
"Sigh, I'm broke!" Gu Ran had to keep some cash on hand for both Xiaomi's follow-up investment and buying Moutai stock.
These are all long-term investments, and you won't get your money back in the short term.
The same goes for Bitcoin. After mining for almost a year, Gu Ran has accumulated more than 180,000 Bitcoins.
Theoretically, Bitcoin's early peak production was 262,800 coins per year.
Gu Ran, relying on Norma's theft of computing power from all over the world, secretly mined so much that if it were worth $100,000 a coin ten years from now... he would probably be richer than the Gattuso family by then!
But that's all for the future; right now, he's short of money.
“Since you’re short of money, I do have a way to make money. I wonder if you’re interested?” Zhang Wanjun took a sip of coffee and looked at her nephew.
Chapter 238 Ways to Make Money
When Gu Ran heard Zhang Wanjun say that there was a way to make money, he was naturally interested.
Zhang Wanjun took out an explosive talisman from her pocket: "Could you teach us how to make this kind of talisman? We're willing to pay tuition."
Gu Ran smiled and took the explosive tag, which was made using magic.
He asked, "Have you tested its power?"
"Ah."
"How powerful is it?" Gu Ran asked curiously. "To be honest, I haven't used it myself yet!"
The explosive talisman created with magical powers exudes a terrifying aura that sends shivers down one's spine.
Because he was always at the Kassel College, he didn't have a place to conduct experiments. Even in China, he didn't dare to do any blasting experiments casually, lest he attract unnecessary attention.
"We found an open space in Lop Nur to test it. The power of this talisman is equivalent to the explosion of a Maverick air-to-ground missile. This refers to the high-explosive damage, not including fragmentation damage and the penetrating damage of the warhead."
Gu Ran and Lu Mingfei played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare together.
He had witnessed the power of the Maverick air-to-ground missile in the game. In the game, the scene of launching missiles for air support from a black-and-white perspective in the sky used the Maverick air-to-ground missile.
A typical hand grenade contains about 100 grams of gunpowder.
The Maverick air-to-ground missile, on the other hand, carries approximately 38 kilograms of explosives. By comparing the amount of explosives, one can understand the difference in power.
This type of missile can destroy a large area nearby with a single explosion; it can penetrate modern tanks and even sturdy underground bunkers.
Gu Ran's detonating tags don't have very high fragmentation or piercing damage, but their high-explosive damage is quite formidable.
Even a typical second-generation species would be severely injured by the explosion if caught off guard.
Zhang Wanjun knew that such powerful prisoners had high strategic value.
She said, "As long as you are willing to hand over this technology to us, the Zhang family is willing to pay you a price that satisfies you."
Gu Ran knew the Zhang family's plan: if these talismans could be mass-produced, it would be enough to change the landscape of aristocratic families.
Unfortunately, this is one of a kind in the whole world!
He shook his head and laughed, "To be honest, even if I taught you, you wouldn't be able to learn this kind of talisman. You don't have the talent, you know?"
Zhang Wanjun silently took a sip of coffee, as if she knew this would happen.
"So, it really does require an 'edict'?" she asked.
Gu Ran smiled but didn't explain much.
The detonator requires a specific type of ceramic paper, which is relatively easy to buy.
However, drawing talismans requires the use of Sage Chakra, which ordinary people don't have.
“Then let’s compromise and supply us with these talismans,” Zhang Wanjun said. “These highly destructive talismans are already considered strategic-level. They can play a crucial role in the fight against the Dead Servants.”
“That’s possible…” Gu Ran took out his phone, opened his browser, and searched for the price of the Maverick air-to-ground missile. “How about $22 per missile?”
This price is the price South Korea paid for Maverick missiles when it purchased them from the United States.
Zhang Wanjun glanced at his phone and rolled her eyes: "Your talismans only have high burst damage, they're not worth that much."
The Maverick air-to-ground missile not only has penetrating damage but also fragmentation damage, making its overall power significantly greater than that of the explosive tag.
“But my talisman also has its advantages, namely, its surprise. People who don’t know it will think you’ve just thrown an ordinary piece of paper.” Gu Ran tried to raise his own value.
“But if talismans are used too much, the enemy will become more wary after they’ve seen them,” Zhang Wanjun said calmly. “You should know the principle of diminishing marginal returns.”
Diminishing marginal utility can be illustrated with a simple example: Suppose you are very hungry and about to starve, and you go to buy steamed buns. The first steamed bun is the one you absolutely must eat, otherwise you will starve to death, so the first steamed bun has the greatest value to you.
The second steamed bun is not as valuable as the first, but you are still not full and need to eat another one to feel full.
The value of the steamed buns you buy next gradually decreases.
You won't buy steamed buns anymore until you're stuffed, can't eat anymore, and don't want to eat anymore.
This is the principle of diminishing marginal utility.
Gu Ran had heard Su Xiaoqiang mention this concept before, so she understood.
Knowing there was no way to negotiate, he said, "Then... $7.3?"
"You even need to calculate 0.3?"
"So, rounding it up, you're giving me 10?"
“…” Zhang Wanjun didn’t beat around the bush with him. “Fifty thousand dollars, that’s a reasonable figure.”
"Fifty thousand..." Gu Ran appeared reluctant and deep in thought.
Actually, I was secretly smiling.
As his Sage Mode progresses, the time he spends in Sage Mode begins to shorten, while the duration he can maintain it increases.
Now, he can maintain Sage Mode for fifteen minutes.
However, to enter Immortal Mode, one needs to remain motionless for four minutes to gather the power of nature.
With his current strength, once he enters Sage Mode, he can create one in one go.
Spend a little time each day to make seven or eight explosive tags, no problem.
"How much do you need? It shouldn't be too much, right?" Gu Ran asked. "It takes me a lot of time to make these talismans."
How long does it take to make one?
"Five days, I guess," Gu Ran lied without batting an eye.
If they could be supplied in bulk, the limited number and high quality of the detonating tags would not stand out.
You have to make the buyer feel that this thing is very valuable!
"Then give me ten checks first." Zhang Wanjun took out checks from her purse and paid him 3.5 million yuan at an exchange rate of 1 to 7.
Gu Ran accepted the check calmly.
Having seen large sums of money before, he felt no emotion at all when he saw this small amount.
This amount of money is only enough to buy a little over two lots of Moutai stock. (One lot equals 10,000 shares; in 2010, Moutai's stock price was approximately 150 yuan per share.)
After accepting the money, Gu Ran said, "I'll give you five detonating talismans in a couple of days. These are ones I drew beforehand. The rest will have to be made slowly before they can be delivered."
“Okay.” Zhang Wanjun nodded, thinking to herself, this kid gave them a few explosive tags for free before, without even charging them.
She knew in her heart that the explosive tags she had given them were for them to use to protect Su Xiaoqiang, which was why Gu Ran hadn't mentioned the money.
It seems he really likes that girl.
Zhang Wanjun thought for a moment and said, "There's something I'm not sure if I should say, and of course, you won't be happy if you hear it..."
"Then you won't talk about it?"
"...But I want to say..."
"...Then why are you still asking?"
“The Zong family… isn’t very satisfied with Su Xiaoqiang.” Zhang Wanjun carefully chose her words before continuing, “Some people might come over and say some unpleasant things, please don’t mind them.”
"Hehe," Gu Ran finished the last sip of milk tea in her cup, "They can't control me, can they? I'm not a member of your Zhang family."
Although Gu Ran is now the swordsman of the Zhang family, his relationship with the Zhang family is only one of cooperation.
As for blood relations?
That thing is just an abstract concept.
Humans and gorillas are actually related by blood!
Zhang Wanjun is now Gu Ran's contact person; she knows that this child responds better to gentle persuasion than force.