Return to Africa to become a tycoon

Chapter 36 I Have 10 Square Kilometers

"Is this his laboratory?"

As she pushed open the door and stepped into the room, Monica looked at the equipment in the laboratory with curiosity in her eyes.

This is Liu Yide's laboratory.

By the moonlight, I struck a match and lit an oil lamp, and finally saw it clearly.

The laboratory was small, filled with rows of glassware, thermometers, and various metal instruments. A faint smell of chemical reagents permeated the air.

"Was this where he invented aspirin?"

After walking around the laboratory, she could almost picture Liu Yide conducting research there.

Serious and focused.

When this image came to mind, the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up slightly.

"A doctor? An inventor... and now an adventurer..."

Considering his many identities, Monica couldn't help but feel somewhat unable to see through the man.

"He's a really unpredictable guy."

But the owner of the laboratory isn't here. Where did he go?

"We should have given them a heads-up beforehand. We were too hasty. Could this have given him the upper hand?"

Thinking of this, Monica's heart skipped a beat.

Just as she was about to leave, she heard steady footsteps in the corridor.

Before even entering the laboratory, Liu Yide smelled a fragrance in the air, a rich aroma that made him raise his eyebrows.

"Has someone come in?"

Upon entering, he immediately spotted a woman.

She stood quietly by the window, the light casting a soft, bright glow on her, precisely outlining her graceful, curvaceous figure. The woman wore a gorgeous long dress, her figure slender and her appearance extremely beautiful.

Bellucci?

Oh no.

It was Mrs. Asolo.

However, they do look very similar. When Liu Yide first saw her, he felt like he had seen her somewhere before, but later he thought she looked a lot like Monica Bellucci, a movie star from another time and space.

But it's only similar, because she's more beautiful and younger.

Is it because they are younger?

"You? What brings you here?"

Liu Yide, who had just returned from the port, looked at her with some surprise.

How did she get here?

He never expected to meet the Duchess here.

Why is she here?

Before he could react, Monica looked at him, smiled slightly, and spoke in the most indifferent tone possible.

"Mr. Liu Yide, I heard you just bought a boat, congratulations."

Liu Yide frowned slightly upon receiving the Duchess's congratulations.

This woman didn't come here just to say those two sentences, did she? As he placed the flower wreath he'd bought on the table before leaving the port, Liu Yide smiled broadly.

"I have to thank your bank for the loan."

Noticing the change in his expression, Monica cut to the chase:

"I'm here to discuss something with you."

As she spoke, she took out an elegant paper tube, opened it, took out the documents inside, and placed them on the table. Her expression became somewhat complicated.

"This is the lease that many people have coveted for years. It was signed by my father with the local Sultan when he went on an expedition to East Africa twenty years ago."

East Africa, Sudan.

Before the person even walked over, Liu Yide said:

"It's Sambagel Sultan, isn't it?"

Although his voice wasn't loud, it exploded in Monica's ears like a thunderclap. She opened her eyes wide in surprise and looked at Liu Yide, her small face filled with astonishment.

"You, you really know..."

Liu Yide shrugged and said:

"The entire East African coast is the territory of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, at least nominally sovereign, covering about 10 miles of coastline."

The knowledge and videos he had seen about East Africa came to mind one by one, allowing him to clearly explain the local situation.

"However, the actual control there is held by some city-state lords of mixed Arab and local indigenous descent, who are all agents of the Sultanate of Zanzibar."

"You really are an explorer!"

Monica's gaze toward Liu Yide changed once again.

In fact, although the world had entered the modern era by the end of the 19th century, information access was still limited. Unless one was a professional, ordinary people would have no knowledge of another continent, especially "uncivilized" places like Africa.

Liu Yide did not answer her question, but asked directly.

"What is the lease term?"

"25."

"That means there are only five years left..."

Liu Yide stared directly at Monica, and although he didn't say anything, his eyes were sharp as knives—woman, your betting agreement is for ten years!

Feeling a little uncomfortable being stared at, Monica guiltily looked away.

"The lease can be renewed; it's stipulated in the lease agreement."

"But we need to make sure they're willing to renew their contracts!"

Monica did not answer his question, as if it were not his question at all.

"Oh, right, here's a map too."

Finally, after Monica unfolded the map, Liu Yide walked over and stood beside her. They finally saw the legendary leased land—leased, not yet a colony.

Because of colonization, you have to start colonizing before you can call it a colony.

Looking at the area circled in red, Liu Yide was instantly stunned, not because it was indeed Somalia in the future, but because—this circle is so big!

"How big is this place...?"

Liu Yide didn't even notice that his breathing had become a little rapid, and he even couldn't help but swallow a few mouthfuls of saliva.

"My father said this place is called Jubaland, and it's estimated to be about 10 square kilometers."

Nima... 10 square kilometers!

Provinces like Zhejiang and Jiangsu are only slightly over 10 square kilometers.

"What is the annual rent?"

"2000 Indian rupees a year, which is about 5000 lira."

As soon as Monica finished speaking, Liu Yide broke down completely.

"Fuck colonialism!"

Is it really that dark?

In that instant, he finally understood why colonialism was being criticized; it was something that had to be criticized.

Imagine leasing Jiangsu or Zhejiang for 5000 lira—such a deal is even more shady than the Dutch exchanging a glass ball for Manhattan.

"What did you say?"

Monica repeated:

"Tamade... what does that mean?"

"In my hometown dialect, it's said to praise your dad for being so capable... He managed to close such a lucrative deal."

Upon hearing that she was being praised for her father, Monica immediately broke into a smug smile.

"You're right, my dad is the best. He became a captain at the age of 17 and commanded merchant ships to Egypt. He started planning this when he was very young."

Do you know why he chose this place?

The sudden question made Liu Yide stare at the map for a moment.

Yes, why are you here?

Further south lies the fertile Kenya, which is the traditional East African savanna.

At this point, Monica began to explain:

"Because the climate here is dry, the environment is more pleasant. Although it is located at the mouth of a river, it does not lack water. Moreover, the river mouth is a natural harbor, and the land in the valley is fertile and suitable for developing agriculture. In addition, unlike the south, it is not plagued by mosquitoes and malaria..."

Listening to Monica's explanation, Liu Yide had to admit that her father was indeed quite capable.

In the context of the times, this place may not seem as fertile as the south, but it was indeed the most suitable place for this era.

"When I was little, he always said that one day he would put the queen's crown on my head..."

When the topic turned to the crown, Monica couldn't help but glance at Liu Yide and said:

"You... are the second person, after my father, to crown me! You're just like my father—that damn Liu Yide!"

God knows, the night she told him she could be queen, she couldn't sleep, not because of the dream he spoke of, but because she thought of her father.

He remembered his father's dream—to give the Cornaro family a fiefdom of their own again!

But can he really bring all of this to me?

Ah... is this a reality report?

Seeing the seriousness in the woman's eyes, Liu Yide felt a mix of emotions. He glanced at the wreath on the table, picked it up, and held it above her head before she could react, saying...

"Monica Katrina Cornaro—"

What?

While Monica was still a little dazed, the flower crown was placed on her head, and his voice reached her ears.

"In the name of the Lord of Africa, I hereby bestow upon you the title of Queen of Jubaland!"

She froze, staring blankly at him—what did he say?

Crown me Queen!

Liu Yide straightened the flower crown and gently parted the leaves beside his brow with his fingers.

At this moment, the room was quiet, without any sound.

Suddenly, she laughed, a very happy laugh that echoed throughout the laboratory…