The Mightiest Tycoon

""I joined the army at seventeen and became part of the world's strongest land force, the Northern Confederate Army, at eighteen. Ten years of military service left me with many scars and made a significant mark on the modern warfare history of the military. When I decided to retire, the military region leaders were the first to oppose me and they were very angry."

Inside an upscale coffee shop, Richards, dressed in a loosely fitted suit, was eloquently boasting about his military career.

Sitting directly opposite him was an arrogant and aloof beauty. Her name was Hannah Harrison, Richards's fiancée. Although the two had never met, Richards had long heard of Hannah's ruthless ways and that she was a notorious femme fatale in Birmingham City.

"The Northern Confederate army commander would actually get so angry over a cook retiring?" Hannah said with disdain. "It seems your cooking skills are truly excellent."

“Of course. I’ve served in the military for ten years, honing my skills to perfection. Whether it’s the eight major cuisines or various private dishes, I can cook them all with ease,” Richards said proudly. “In the army, whether it’s an internal banquet or entertaining foreign guests, the leaders only trust me. It’s no exaggeration to say that without me, this banquet wouldn’t be possible!”

"Since the leaders value you so much, why did you retire?" Hannah narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly.

“I’m tired and weary.” Richards exhaled a breath of stale air: “For the past ten years, I have followed the Northern Confederate army all over the country. Although I have received many honors, I am like a rootless duckweed, with no place to rely on.”

After a pause, Richards said with a weary expression, "I want to live a normal life for a few days, with simple meals and playing with my wife and children."

A look of disgust flashed in Hannah's eyes. This man she was engaged to was a million times worse than she had imagined. Ten years of military service failed to forge his fighting spirit; instead, he became a smooth-talking, pedantic soldier. Marry him? Hannah felt a chill run down her spine.

Richards took a sip of coffee and glanced at Hannah discreetly. Her face looked disgusted, as if she had swallowed a fly, and I was that fly…

Richards, who was forced to go on a blind date by her aunt, was quite satisfied. Judging from Hannah's miserable state, she probably wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.

"What kind of woman do you like?" Without warning, Hannah asked.

“I like women with short hair.” Richards glanced at Hannah’s thick, cascading hair and her exquisitely sculpted features. “She should have a fleshy nose, a round face, big breasts, and a round bottom.”

After saying that, Richards made an extremely exaggerated S-shaped gesture and solemnly said, "The elders say that women like this are good at bearing children."

After hearing Richards's extremely disrespectful words towards women, a cold glint flashed in Hannah's eyes, but she remained expressionless: "What about personality?"

“Lively, quirky, preferably a bit funny,” Richards said calmly. “I don’t like women who are always aloof, like everyone owes them tens of thousands of dollars. They’re too pretentious.”

Even though she knew Richards's words were meant to disgust her, Hannah remained unfazed: "Then what's your view on marriage?"

"Marriage is nothing more than going through the motions of getting a certificate, and then each going their own way. As for the so-called 'forever,' it's just about not being able to find someone better and living together as a couple."

Richards spoke eloquently, vividly portraying a morally corrupt scoundrel. Having said all that, he figured the engagement was basically off.

To everyone's surprise, Hannah not only didn't get angry, but instead said, word by word, "Let's get married."

Silence. A deathly silence.

Richards's horrified gaze fell on Hannah's lower abdomen, and he cautiously asked, "How many months pregnant?"

Hannah's face turned cold, and she said in an icy voice, "You think you're funny?"

"If you're not pregnant, why are you in such a hurry to marry me?" Richards asked, exasperated.

"We are engaged," Hannah said indifferently.

"What kind of reason is that?" Richards said magnanimously. "As long as you break off the engagement, I will never pester you."

"Why don't you back out?" Hannah said coldly. "If you're willing to back out, I'll leave right now and even give you a hefty breakup f*e."

Richards was speechless. If he dared to break off the engagement, his bullying aunt would break his legs. Judging from this situation, Hannah was also forced into the marriage.

Richards felt lost and dejected. He had always been a strong-willed man, and now he was being forced into an arranged marriage. It was truly pathetic.

After a long silence, Richards, with a tragic and heroic air, gritted his teeth and said, "If you want to marry me, you must agree to a few conditions; otherwise, I would rather die than comply."

Hannah frowned, too lazy to correct him, and waited silently.

"First of all, you can't develop feelings for me over time, and you certainly can't seduce me." Richards glanced at Hannah's ample bosom, feeling a little uncertain.

"Unless I'm insane!" Hannah felt nauseous.

"We can have sex after marriage, but we can't share a bed," Richards stated as her second condition.

Hannah fell silent, not wanting to speak.

"Last and most importantly, this is a marriage of convenience. You can't prevent me from finding love freely. If I find true love but the time isn't right for a divorce, you have to protect me. I don't want to be misunderstood, and I don't want to be labeled a heartless man."

Hannah felt a storm raging in her heart, utterly disgusted, but she managed to utter only two words through gritted teeth: "Scumbag!"

Having reluctantly accepted Richards's utterly shameless conditions, Hannah struggled to control her emotions, which were on the verge of exploding, while her heart was in turmoil.

The reason she reluctantly married this disgusting man was because her grandmother had been on a hunger strike for two days to force her to fulfill the marriage agreement.

With the old lady's stubbornness, if he dared not go through with this marriage, she would starve to death in bed.

In the end, Hannah gave in.

Just as Hannah was about to lead Richards, who was still rambling on about the details of their marriage, to the Local County Court, a piercing air raid siren suddenly sounded outside the coffee shop.

The sirens blared throughout the city, startling pedestrians on the street who looked around in panic.

Today was not a national day for sounding horns. Moreover, all administrative units within sight have lowered their flags to half-mast. What exactly happened?

"Look!" Inside the coffee shop, a man pointed to a large, suspended television screen and exclaimed excitedly, "The air salute and half-mast flag. This is a time of national mourning!"

Moreover, it was broadcast live on the news during prime time!

"Which important figure has left?!" The man's blood was boiling, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Inside the coffee shop, discussions were rife, and the entire coastal city was immersed in a sense of oppression and grief.

Who was that important figure who treated the nation in mourning?

On the screen appeared an elderly man with a white beard, his chest adorned with medals, his face filled with sorrow: "Today, Harrison Morgan, the leader of the Northern Confederate Army and the renowned American figure, has died for his country!"

Upon hearing this, Hannah's face turned deathly pale.

Harrison Morgan?

The strongest General in America in the last decade? In her heart, no man of her time could compare to him. Even his portrait wasn't published! No one had ever seen his face!

After the ten-minute national mourning period ended, Hannah, with her hardened heart, was overwhelmed with emotion. The reason she was so emotional was that a year ago, she was kidnapped by pirates while trying to discuss international shipping business, and her life was hanging by a thread.

The man who saved her from life-or-death danger was none other than the leader of the Northern Confederate army. That year, she caught a glimpse of his back from afar, but had never had the chance to say thank you.

Upon learning of his death, Hannah was overcome with grief.

Chaos erupted inside the café as all the citizens grieved over the loss of this national hero.

Richards, however, looked disdainful and even secretly curled his lip, seemingly looking down on this great hero who was given a grand funeral!

Seeing this, Hannah felt utterly devastated.

"Alas, it's such a pity that I couldn't be there to see him off on his final journey," Richards sighed.

Seeing Richards's pretentious act, Hannah felt a surge of disgust: "You know him?"

“More than just acquaintances, Harrison and I were like brothers. Back when he first joined the Northern Confederate army, his favorite food was my braised lion's head meatballs.” Richards sighed with regret. “I never imagined that heaven would be so jealous of such a talented person, that he would die so young.”

"You're so shameless. " Compared to the legendary General, this man who was about to marry her was utterly worthless!

"I was just saying, why are you getting so worked up?" Richards said, pouting. "Do you have a crush on him?"

Hannah stood up angrily and coldly said, "Take your documents and see to it."

After saying that, she walked towards the door.

Richards sat blankly in the chair, slowly lighting a cigarette. A hint of vicissitude quietly appeared on his originally frivolous and unrestrained face: "Watching my own funeral on TV is really awkward."