Magic? My Iron Torrent will sweep it all away!

Chapter 167 Home-cooked meals to build rapport

Number Two nodded slightly, quite satisfied with Lin Mo's performance.

"You've done a great job. The World Tree seeds need to be brought back as soon as possible to see if they can survive in the environment of Earth."

"According to the elves, it needs to grow on special energy veins."

"If that doesn't work, we'll have to buy a lot of energy crystals from Terra to use as fertilizer."

Lin Mo nodded: "Yes, currently, General Long is leading the expeditionary force back to the Firefly Town base from Emerald Leaf City."

"We expect to arrive in three days. At that time, the Holy Humans and Elves will open the portal for us again for the arms trade."

"In the meantime, we can first make a list of requirements."

"For example, more mithril, the armor metal needed to make 'Zheng Jin', as well as life spring water, holy water, and so on."

Number Two listened attentively and gestured with his chin towards Secretary Li beside him.

Secretary Li immediately understood and quickly jotted down the key points on his tablet.

After reporting the key information, Lin Mo took out the vacuum-sealed USB drive from his pocket and presented it with both hands.

"Commander, Brother Zhao asked me to give this to you personally."

"It contains records of everything that happened to us on Terra after the portal closed."

"Brother Zhao specifically asked me to pass on a message to you."

Lin Mo cleared his throat and, mimicking Zhao Gang's loud and unrestrained tone, grinned.

"Produce more weapons!"

Number Two was taken aback for a moment, then burst into a hearty laugh, lightening the atmosphere in the entire meeting room.

"Haha, good! This Zhao Gang!"

He took the USB drive, carefully placed it on the table, and gently tapped the surface with his knuckles.

"That's right! We definitely need to produce more weapons."

"Now that the elves and the holy humans have tasted the benefits, they will inevitably become dependent on this deal. This business must be large-scale and sustainable!"

As the laughter subsided, Number Two's expression returned to its usual somber tone.

"In the next deal, we'll go even further."

"We need more than just resources; we also need a permanent portal."

He held up one finger and pointed it in the air.

"And, a permanent fiefdom on the continent of Terra that belongs entirely to our Great Xia!"

Lin Mo's body tensed instinctively, and he stood up straight.

"Please rest assured, sir!"

"The think tank has rehearsed all the contingency plans countless times; we are confident we will achieve our strategic goals!"

"good!"

Number Two stood up, walked up to Lin Mo, and the hand that had patted the shoulders of countless generals now landed heavily on Lin Mo's shoulder.

"Let's go, it's lunchtime. Let's go to your house and try your aunt's home-cooked meal."

……

Number Two's home is an ordinary three-bedroom apartment in the underground city.

There are no luxurious decorations, only some solid wood furniture that looks old, and a few calligraphy works with vigorous strokes hanging on the wall. The whole space exudes a low-key and calm atmosphere.

On the dinner table, there were four dishes and a soup, all simple home-style stir-fries, steaming hot.

A gentle and elegant woman was carrying the last dish out of the kitchen. She looked to be in her early forties and was well-maintained. She was the wife of the high-ranking official.

When she saw Lin Mo, she immediately put on a warm smile and invited him to sit down.

"Xiao Lin is here, come sit down! Eat more. Look at you, so young and carrying such a heavy burden, you must be exhausted."

Before Lin Mo could even be polite, a piece of braised pork was placed in his bowl.

He buried his head in his rice, but the speed at which he ate rice couldn't keep up with the speed at which the other person picked up food, and the food in his bowl piled up into a small mountain.

With his mouth full, he mumbled, "Thank you, Auntie, that's enough, that's enough. I'm twenty-three already, I'm not growing anymore."

"Please eat some too, I really can't finish it if you put any more on my plate."

Lady No. 2 added another large spoonful of fish soup to his bowl, looking him over with a smile.

"You're twenty-three already, the perfect age for dating. So, do you have a boyfriend yet?"

"Cough...cough cough!"

Lin Mo, who was eating, choked on his rice and his face turned red from the sudden question.

Indeed, all elders in the world are concerned about the same issue.

"Oh dear, eat slowly, have some water." The lady quickly handed over a glass of water.

Lin Mo took a sip of water and finally caught his breath. He waved his hand, as if to say that he was fine.

But as the words were about to come out, another image involuntarily surfaced in my mind.

If his parents were still alive, they would probably do the same thing, serving him food while smiling and asking him if he had a girl he liked.

What a wonderful scene that would be.

His hand holding the chopsticks froze in mid-air, and a sudden, intense ache welled up inside him.

The lady, with her keen observation, immediately sensed that something was amiss.

"What's wrong? Did you have a fight with your partner?"

Lin Mo shook his head, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"I'm single, I just...miss my parents."

The atmosphere at the dinner table froze instantly.

Number Two's hand, which was about to pick up some food, stopped. He remembered Lin Mo's file: both parents were deceased.

The lady's smile froze, and she looked at Number Two with a questioning look in her eyes.

"this……?"

Number Two put down his chopsticks and sighed softly.

"Xiaolin's parents passed away early."

Upon hearing this, the lady's eyes were almost overflowing with apology.

"Child, I'm so sorry, Auntie didn't know..."

Lin Mo picked up his chopsticks again, smiled, and this time seemed much more natural.

"It's alright, Auntie. So many years have passed, you've gotten used to it."

The lady had a thousand questions in her mind, but she knew she shouldn't ask them now.

She reached out and patted Lin Mo's shoulder tenderly.

"Good child, if you don't mind, please treat this place as your home and come for meals often."

Number Two also spoke up:

"Yes. It's always just your aunt and me, it's so lonely. That brat, she hardly ever comes back. It'll be more lively when you come."

A warm feeling welled up in Lin Mo's heart, and he nodded vigorously.

"Great! Auntie's cooking is so good, I'll definitely come over for meals often!"

The atmosphere became lively again.

Lin Mo picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth. Remembering what they had just said, he asked curiously, "Commander, do you have a daughter?"

Upon hearing this, the lady pursed her lips.

"That's right, a drafty little cotton-padded jacket, it's such a worry."

"Back then I said, let's have another one, or as you young people would say, let's create a new account." She said, glancing wistfully at Number Two.

"Unfortunately, someone isn't cooperating..."

"Ahem!" Number Two immediately coughed to interrupt, trying to change the subject.

"Let's eat, why are we talking about this? One is enough of a headache. The doctor said back then that older mothers face risks..."

He stopped speaking before he could finish.

Oops, I said the wrong thing!

Instead, you're in danger!

Sure enough, the lady's eyebrows furrowed, and she tapped her chopsticks lightly on the rim of the bowl.

"Huh? Older? You think I'm too old?"

"No, no! Absolutely not!" Number Two's survival instinct kicked in instantly, and he quickly put a large piece of fish into his wife's bowl.

"Xiao Lin is still here, eat your food, eat your food."

"Hmph!" the lady snorted softly.

"I'll let you off this time for Kobayashi's sake."