My Computer Leads to an Instance Dungeon-Chapter 193 - 159: Making Money, Going Abroad, Buying Guns (Part 2)

"Oh?" Fang Zhen raised an eyebrow.

’Other identities would be one thing, but the Hongmen...’

"Is the information reliable?" he asked.

"I can’t say for sure. It’s all hearsay from the underworld. I heard my former boss mention it, but he was vague about the details," said He Yilin.

Fang Zhen thought for a moment, then said, "Alright, contact Chen Baokun. I won’t be involved directly. I’ll give you a price, and you can handle the negotiations."

He Yilin seemed to consider it for a moment before replying, "Alright."

Fang Zhen wasn’t keen on getting too close to Chen Baokun, mainly because he didn’t want to draw any attention. Having He Yilin handle the talks would create a firewall. It would also be a good way to test He Yilin’s abilities and see if he was truly trustworthy.

’This connection to Chen Baokun is worth keeping. I can activate it when the time is right.’

’If Chen Baokun really does have that status, he could be a great help in the future.’

"And the second matter?" Fang Zhen asked.

"Yes, General Manager Fang. I submitted the visa application you asked me to prepare for the American consulate. They got back to me. They need you to come in for an interview in two days. You’ll have to go in person," He Yilin said.

"Oh? That was fast," Fang Zhen said, somewhat surprised.

After getting the Silver Moon Treasure Box, he had started thinking about buying a gun and had He Yilin submit an application on a whim.

In truth, if it was just a matter of buying a gun, he could do so in Thailand, Myanmar, or even Xiangjiang. It was just that each option came with its own set of risks.

Xiangjiang had legitimate gun stores where one could purchase firearms.

The problem with Xiangjiang was the limited selection of firearms. Furthermore, you could only obtain a gun through a handful of clubs whose licenses were approved by the Commissioner of Police. The regulations were relatively strict. They also measured a gun’s power by muzzle energy, which used a different standard than the mainland. Some airsoft guns purchased there would be classified as real firearms by mainland authorities at the border, and an actual firearm could never be brought across.

Myanmar was out of the question. ’What kind of respectable person goes to Myanmar, anyway?’

Thailand was a viable option. Many people didn’t know that it was one of the countries in Southeast Asia with the highest rates of gun ownership per capita. There were nearly six million civilian-owned guns, meaning that on average, ten out of every one hundred Thais owned a firearm.

However, despite the abundance of guns, there were restrictions on purchases by tourists.

In addition, a major shooting incident had occurred there in ’23, and gun control had since become much stricter. It was basically Thailand’s version of a "strike hard" campaign. Without an inside connection, it would be easy to run into trouble.

Fang Zhen had no connections there. Going through official channels would be just as restrictive as in Xiangjiang. But using other means in an unfamiliar place meant he could easily get ripped off, not to mention all the other added risks.

He was keeping Thailand as a backup plan in case America didn’t work out.

After all, if he wasn’t concerned about risk, there were plenty of places to buy firearms. He could probably get an RPG in Afghanistan with ease, but he could just as easily end up on the receiving end of a full magazine.

But when it came to variety, nothing beat the great arms-bearing nation of America.

As long as you had the money, the risks of buying a gun there were relatively low, the selection was vast, and there were plenty of places to test them out.

Fang Zhen was planning for the long term. If he could find larger spatial equipment in the future, he would buy more weapons. From a long-term perspective, establishing a network of contacts and channels in America had the most potential.

’But American visa approvals have been tightening up recently. How did my application get a reply so quickly this time?’

"The American consulate was so efficient this time because Xiahai and Houston, Texas are sister cities. I applied for a B2 business visa for you, with the business proposal being a trip to Houston. I have a contact at a partner company there; I arranged these things often at my old job and was able to get a formal business invitation letter."

"As sister cities and trade partners, Xiahai and Houston have always had frequent commercial dealings. On top of that, your financial records are excellent, which shows a strong intent to return home. That’s why the consulate was quick to approve it," He Yilin explained.

"I see," Fang Zhen said, understanding.

"Alright, I’ll go in two days," he said.

After finishing his business with He Yilin, Fang Zhen hung up.

After a moment’s thought, he called Xia Siwei.

Fang Zhen actually had classmates in America, but he hadn’t spoken to them in years. It would be strange to suddenly reach out. Besides, those on work visas probably wouldn’t have the time, nor would they likely be willing to help him with something as risky as finding firearms. It wasn’t like they’d have the right channels anyway.

Xia Siwei, on the other hand, had only returned to the country a few years ago. She might still have some useful connections back in America. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

The call connected.

Xia Siwei’s voice came through the line.

"Hey, I was just about to call you in the next few days to thank you for all your help. I sent you a few messages, but you never got back to me, so I figured you were busy and decided not to call," Xia Siwei said.

"Yeah, I was away on business for a bit. Are you all healed up?" Fang Zhen asked.

"All better! What’s that saying? Oh, right—’in one piece.’ It’s a new phrase I learned recently." Xia Siwei was clearly in high spirits, her usual energy restored. "So, did you call about something specific?"

"I do, actually. I wanted to ask if you know anyone in America who’s into guns. Specifically, someone in Houston or a nearby city who has the right connections?" Fang Zhen asked.

"Oh? Why the sudden interest?" Xia Siwei sounded a little surprised.

"Heh, I’m going to America for a business trip soon. I’m a bit of a military enthusiast, so I was hoping to take the opportunity to do some shooting. Best-case scenario, I’d like to buy a couple of high-end models for my collection. Know anyone reliable?" Fang Zhen asked.

"As a matter of fact, I do," Xia Siwei said. "I have a friend from high school. She’s also Chinese, a second-generation immigrant. Her family moved to Houston—it’s the biggest city in Texas, with a large Chinese population—and they opened a gun store there."