He was curious, but judging from Suzy’s expression, it was obvious she did not want to explain further, so he wisely stopped asking questions.

"O-Okay. Got it."

Jason fell silent for a moment before deciding to speak with his cousin again and see if he could somehow negotiate more cement for Suzy.

After all, she had saved his life. Naturally, he wanted to do everything he could for her. Whether it would succeed, however, was another matter entirely.

Before leaving, Jason gave Suzy a warning in advance.

"Suzy, I’ll try helping you negotiate again, but I can’t guarantee it’ll work."

Suzy’s eyes immediately brightened. "Thank you! Just effort is enough."

The fact that Jason was still willing to help already moved her deeply.

"That’s great. Then wait here for a bit. I’ll go talk to my cousin."

After saying that, Jason left the lounge.

Once again, only the three of them remained in the room.

Leonard looked at Suzy curiously.

"Suzy, what exactly do you need that much cement for?"

"Renovations," Suzy answered smoothly.

Leonard looked even more confused. "Huh? What kind of renovation needs that much cement? Over a thousand bags! You sure you didn’t miscalculate?" he asked tactfully.

Suzy gave him a serious look. "Don’t worry, Uncle. I know what I’m doing."

Leonard understood her personality well enough to know she would not act recklessly, so he chose not to press further.

As for how Suzy planned to transport more than a thousand bags of cement back if the deal actually succeeded...

That was even less of his concern.

After all, Suzy had her space.

The three waited quietly inside the room.

Outside, Jason once again found Robert. The latter was speaking with several subordinates. Noticing Jason’s arrival, he glanced over and gestured for him to wait nearby.

About five minutes later, Robert finished the discussion and walked over.

"Well?" he asked. "Did you tell your senior?"

Jason forced a smile onto his face. "Yeah. I told her."

"And? What was her reaction? Did she agree?"

Jason let out two awkward dry laughs.

The moment Robert saw that expression, he already understood Suzy was clearly unsatisfied.

He raised a brow. "Just say it."

Jason carefully peeked at him while frantically organizing his thoughts.

One thousand bags of cement. Just thinking about that number made his scalp tingle. How was he supposed to say something so outrageous out loud?

He hesitated for so long that Robert finally glanced down at his watch.

"I’m giving you one more minute. If you still don’t speak, I’m leaving. I’ve got things to do."

"I’ll say it! I’ll say it!"

Jason braced himself. "Suzy still needs more cement."

"Mhm. How much?"

Jason silently gestured with his fingers.

Robert frowned. "Use words, dumbass."

Jason swallowed hard. "One thousand bags."

For a second, Robert genuinely thought he had misheard. He stared at his cousin with a dumbfounded expression.

"Are you people joking with me? One thousand bags? Seriously?"

Jason waved his hands frantically. "No, really! She seriously said one thousand bags!"

Sometimes people laugh when they are too speechless to respond properly.

Robert distinctly heard his cousin let out a short incredulous laugh.

"This is what you call ’a little’?"

Jason laughed awkwardly. "Suzy only asked me to check your attitude first. If you disagree, then forget it."

Robert exhaled slowly. "At most, I can add another fifty bags. Any more than that is beyond my authority."

Jason immediately wilted with disappointment. "Alright... figured it wouldn’t be that easy."

After all, it was one thousand bags. That number was enormous. Honestly, his cousin had already made the biggest concession possible. Jason could understand that much.

"Then I’ll go tell Suzy now," he said.

The moment her name left his mouth, Robert unexpectedly pictured Suzy’s dazzling smile again.

For some reason, he suddenly spoke before thinking.

"You could try talking to the old man yourself."

Jason’s eyes lit up instantly before dimming again. "Would Uncle even agree?"

Robert shrugged lightly. "No idea. That depends entirely on you."

"Alright, then I’ll go ask Uncle myself. Rob, you said he’s here too, right? Can you take me to see him now?"

Jason figured that since there was still a chance, he had to try helping Suzy negotiate again.

Even if he could not secure one thousand bags, getting more was still better than nothing.

"Mhm. He’s here in the factory," Robert replied. "But I’m busy right now. If you want to see him, I can have someone escort you over."

Jason nodded furiously. "Yes, yes, please have someone take me there."

Robert still had work to deal with, so he called over a soldier to guide Jason.

Before Jason left, Robert warned him, "The old man’s sick lately, and his temper hasn’t been great. Watch your mouth when you see him. Don’t say anything you shouldn’t."

"Sick?" Jason’s expression changed instantly. A stream of questions burst out of him.

"When did that happen? Why didn’t you tell me? Wasn’t Uncle always healthy?"

Robert let out a sigh. "You’ll understand once you see him."

He waved a hand impatiently, signaling for the soldier to hurry up and take Jason away.

Following behind the soldier, Jason made his way toward the core office area inside the factory compound.

Along the way, he chatted nonstop with the soldier and learned that the military unit had already been stationed here for quite some time.

Naturally, Jason could not stop himself from asking about his uncle’s condition.

Jason’s uncle, Isaac Hunter, was the true leader of this military force.

The men under him all knew he had indeed been injured, though apparently not severely.

As for anything beyond that, the soldier knew nothing. Those details were classified.

After turning a corner, Jason spotted armed soldiers standing guard outside a room.

"I’ll stop here," the escorting soldier said. "That room up ahead is where Commander Hunter is staying."

He raised a hand and pointed toward the room in question.

One glance was enough for Jason to figure out which room his uncle was in.

"Thanks, man." Jason patted the soldier on the shoulder. "You can head back. I’ll go in myself."

The soldier left, and Jason strode toward the room guarded by the armed soldiers.

Since his face was unfamiliar, the guards immediately stopped him with wary expressions.

"What business do you have here?" one soldier asked.