Chapter 313: The Self-Cultivation of a Pay-to-Win Whale

Morin didn’t delay. Since Cecilia wasn’t at the manor at the moment, Morin asked the butler to help notify her, and then immediately set off for the Teutonic Knights forward base in Koblenz.

His orderly and driver had also stayed with him at the manor these past two days, so they could also set off quickly at this moment.

When his car drove into the base, Leonia was already waiting for him in the temporary office.

This Grand Master seemed always so energetic. Even though she was still wearing that uniform white shirt, she was still heroic.

“Lieutenant Colonel Morin, you don’t look so good.”

Leonia looked at him and raised an eyebrow: “I know the training intensity of your instruction unit is high, but you still have to pay attention to your health.”

“You flatter me.” Morin touched his nose, “Actually, these days I wasn’t engaged in training, but in tackling key technological problems…”

“Tackling key technological problems?”

Leonia signaled him to sit down, then personally poured him coffee.

“Is it the same as the ‘HEAT weapon’? But why did you come to me?”

“Because some technologies are related to Armored Knights.”

Morin’s expression also became serious: “Your Excellency Grand Master, I need your help. More accurately, I need the technology authorization from the Knights.”

He explained in detail to Leonia the power distribution and material problems encountered by the half-track armored vehicle.

“—My armored vehicle is now at a critical stage, just short of breaking through these technical bottlenecks, and I know your Knights have the key to solving the problem.”

Morin looked into Leonia’s eyes, his tone sincere: “Look, your knights move as flexibly as dancers… Their power distribution technology, suspension shock absorption technology, and the alloy steel used for the skeleton are exactly what we need most now.”

Leonia listened quietly, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.

After Morin finished speaking, she spoke slowly.

“Lieutenant Colonel Morin, the technologies you mentioned do exist, but you should know that they are the core secrets of the Knights. Many are confidential patents like the HEAT warhead, protected at the highest level.”

Her tone was calm, but the meaning was clear—these things are not for you to take just because you want to.

Morin naturally knew this would be the answer; he was prepared.

“Your Excellency Grand Master, of course I understand the value of these technologies.”

He leaned forward slightly, emphasizing his tone: “But I hope you can understand that I apply for these technology authorizations not for personal benefit, but to enhance the combat effectiveness of the entire Imperial Army!”

Immediately after, Morin talked eloquently, explaining the prospects of motorized and mechanized troops, as well as the idea of mechanized infantry cooperating with Armored Knights for short, rapid assaults.

Much of the content made Leonia fall into thought while listening.

After Morin finished speaking, Leonia just looked at him, the light of contemplation flashing in her sharp golden eyes.

This young Lieutenant Colonel could always propose a plan that people couldn’t refuse from an angle unexpected by everyone.

His vision seemed to be always focused on the next war, or even the war after the next.

“What you said makes a lot of sense.” After a long time, Leonia finally nodded, “Moreover, you are willing to pay for it, which makes things much simpler.”

She stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the Armored Knights conducting combat training on the training ground.

“The patents for these technologies are partly in the hands of several research institutes affiliated with the Knights, and partly in the hands of some enterprises or individual inventors who cooperate deeply with us.”

“The process will be very complicated, requiring coordination among the military high command, the Imperial Patent Office, and our Knights.”

She turned around and looked at Morin again.

“However, since it is for ‘military purposes’, and with my intervention, plus the influence of the Falkenstein family—I think the problem is not big.”

“I agree.”

The corner of Leonia’s mouth curved into a meaningful arc.

“I will help you clear all the joints and let you sit at the same table with those old guys. As for whether you can convince them with money, it depends on your own ability.”

“Many thanks, Grand Master!” Morin was overjoyed and stood up immediately.

“Don’t be in a hurry to thank me.” Leonia waved her hand, “I also have a condition.”

“Please speak.”

“For the subsequent R&D and upgrading of Armored Knights, I hope you can participate throughout the process… Your ‘whimsical ideas’, Lieutenant Colonel, can often open up some new ways of thinking for us.”

“No problem, you can call me anytime!” Morin agreed without hesitation.

This was originally one of his plans.

For the next half month, Morin was busy.

Under the professional legal team provided by Cecilia and Leonia’s matchmaking, he embarked on a “crazy purchasing journey.”

He frequently shuttled between various departments in the imperial capital, factories in major industrial cities, and some old workshops hidden in rural manors.

He met all kinds of people.

There were bureaucrats in the Armaments Department slippery as loaches. They knew nothing about technology but recited procedures and regulations fluently.

Morin wasted a lot of time on them until a phone call from the Army Department came. These people instantly became enthusiastic, and their efficiency was surprisingly high.

General Falkenhayn naturally knew about Morin’s recent actions. After all, before doing these things, Morin had already submitted a specially prepared report and even found a way to send a copy to Crown Prince Georg on the Ardennes Forest front line.

So clearing the military joints was very smooth…

And those highly respected, eccentric mechanical masters immersed themselves in their own fields all their lives, indifferent to the outside world.

Facing these technology maniacs, Morin showed 120% patience and respect, discussing technical details with them, and could even rely on his knowledge beyond the times to occasionally propose one or two ideas that made their eyes light up.

Once these masters recognized him, negotiations became unusually smooth.

Of course, more were enterprises shrewd to the bone.

They became patent holders of these technologies through some means and keenly sniffed the “scent of Gold Marks” on Morin.

They asked for sky-high prices, trying to extract maximum profit from this young officer.

At such times, the financial and legal teams sent by Cecilia played a huge role.

These elites wearing crisp suits and gold-rimmed glasses would use the most professional knowledge and the coldest numbers to refute the other party’s quotation completely…

Then give a reasonable authorization plan with almost no premium.

Morin played the role of making the final decision.

He didn’t care about spending a little more or a little less money; he wanted speed.

As long as the other party’s request wasn’t excessive, he would wave his hand and sign directly.

“I want this hydraulic shock absorption technology.”

“But this is a military secret—”

“I’m also using it for the military. Two hundred thousand Marks, buying patent usage authorization, and there will be profit sharing later…”

“Deal!”

“This high-strength alloy formula—”

“Five hundred thousand.”

“Sir, this is—”

“Eight hundred thousand, cash.”

“You truly have a discerning eye!”

This generous posture made those merchants accustomed to haggling somewhat stunned.

Just like that, deals were concluded one after another.

And the cooperation with Krupp Arsenal on the other side was even more convenient because the long-barreled anti-armor artillery was not only needed by Morin but also by the Teutonic Knights.

So with Cecilia helping to bridge the gap, the Equipment R&D Department of the Army Department giving the green light all the way, plus the three-party docking communication, the procedural problems were solved at once.

Krupp Arsenal also officially accepted the order from the Teutonic Knights.

In this process, Morin had basically spent almost all of the first two installments totaling 10 million Imperial Marks in patent fees. To be honest, no officer richer than him could be found in the entire imperial army.

Or rather, few enterprises in the entire Empire could produce such a large amount of liquid capital in a short time…

Through these funds, Morin directly completed shareholding in three vehicle manufacturers and Krupp Arsenal.

The latter was also able to open new production lines at the fastest speed and conduct R&D and production of anti-armor artillery precisely because of Morin’s capital investment.

Being a pay-to-win whale is correct…

This money isn’t gone; it just changed form to continue accompanying me…

Morin thought so after the R&D and production of armored vehicles and anti-armor artillery finally got on the right track.

Time came to the end of October. The Imperial Guard Instruction Assault Unit, which had basically completed motorization, was also about to start the first round of full-personnel, full-equipment live exercises.

Whether veterans of the Instruction Assault Battalion or newcomers transferred later, they could be said to be eager for this live exercise, just waiting to show their skills.

As the date approached, the entire Regimental Headquarters also fell into a “relatively confident” atmosphere.

Kleist, Manstein, Paulus, and other headquarters officers and clerks all believed they were fully prepared for this full-regiment joint practice.

Their nearly half a month of high-intensity work resulted in an extremely detailed joint practice exercise plan.

After completing the preparations, the officers of the headquarters made a concentrated report to Morin.

“Sir, this is the final version of the exercise plan, please review it.”

In the Regimental Headquarters office, Kleist placed a thick folder on Morin’s desk, with a trace of unconcealable pride and fatigue on his face.

Behind him, Manstein and Paulus, who was newly transferred to the headquarters, also had serious faces, but their eyes also flashed with confident light.

From exercise subject settings, route planning, to logistical support, communication liaison, and emergency plans—every word in the plan condensed their countless painstaking efforts.

“We must win over the Commander in one go this time!”

The three thought simultaneously in their hearts.