Chapter 376 ·Encountering the Ghost King Again
Chapter 376: Encountering the Ghost King Again
“That's Black Knight Zhao Ting.”
Just as the shop fell silent, a customer who had come to buy Lark Shells looked at the corpse on the ground and cried out in shock.
Upon hearing those words, everyone's gaze toward Zhou Ming immediately changed.
Although Black Knight Zhao Ting was not a Beast Tamer, he had undergone five genetic modification procedures, allowing his strength to reach a level comparable to a Professional Beast Tamer.
No one had expected him to die so easily here, without even having a chance to resist.
At that moment, the guards, having noticed something unusual had happened in the shop, entered wearing protective suits and carrying firearms and began securing the area.
Leading them was a bald, muscular Professional Beast Tamer, who swept a cold gaze across everyone present.
When he saw Black Knight Zhao Ting's corpse, the bald man immediately narrowed his eyes, inwardly feeling a trace of shock.
Although Zhao Ting was not a Beast Tamer, after successfully undergoing five genetic modification procedures, he possessed not only a terrifying physique but also the ability to accelerate instantaneously.
It was said that he had relied on this unique ability to launch a surprise attack and instantly kill an Early Professional Beast Tamer.
Even he himself was not confident of killing Black Knight Zhao Ting, yet Zhao Ting had died so cleanly.
Just as the bald man was hesitating, the Sea Breath Pearl finally absorbed enough energy. Its entire body shone brilliantly like a sapphire before dropping straight into Zhou Ming's hand.
At this point, the bald man could only bite the bullet and step forward. After all, if the force behind him learned that he had simply stood by and watched someone take away the Sea Breath Pearl,
then even as a Professional Beast Tamer, he would still receive severe punishment.
“Sir...”
“What? The Lark Shell I bought can't be taken away?”
Seeing the bald man speak, Zhou Ming naturally understood what he was thinking and immediately questioned him in return.
“Of course not. I only wanted to ask whether you're willing to sell the Sea Breath Pearl. Rainbow Island is willing to purchase it at a high price.”
Naturally, the bald man could not say otherwise. However, he still brought up the force behind him, allowing everyone to realize for the first time that the shop belonged to Rainbow Island.
At this moment, everyone present understood that unless Zhou Ming possessed the strength to contend against Rainbow Island, there was no way he would be able to take the Sea Breath Pearl away.
That was because the Sea Breath Pearl possessed the effects of extending one's lifespan and restoring one's youth, enough to make Extraordinary experts nearing the end of their lives fight to the death over it.
“What if I'm unwilling to sell?”
“If Your Excellency is unwilling to sell the Sea Breath Pearl, Rainbow Island naturally won't make things difficult for Your Excellency.”
Just as Zhou Ming smiled and gave an uncompromising reply, a deep, powerful voice suddenly came from outside the shop.
The next moment, a burly man over 2.3 meters tall, built like a bear, with a broad face and thick eyebrows, walked inside.
“Elder White Whale.”
Upon seeing the newcomer, everyone in the shop immediately greeted him. He was none other than Rainbow Island's Extraordinary expert.
At this moment, everyone's eyes also turned toward Zhou Ming. None of them had expected that he too was an Extraordinary expert.
“Your Excellency isn't from our Cloud Mist Sea, are you?”
White Whale walked up to Zhou Ming, gave him a brief look, and then asked.
“I'm Myriad Serpents of Snake King Fortress. I can also be considered a member of the Dark Domain. I came uninvited to attend the Trade Fair this time. I trust Your Excellency doesn't mind?”
“Of course not. This isn't a convenient place to talk. How about visiting my humble residence?”
“Then I'll trouble Elder White Whale.”
Zhou Ming did not refuse the invitation. The reason he had opened the Lark Shell inside the shop in the first place was precisely to attract the attention of the Trade Fair organizers.
He had never expected that the Lark Shell would actually produce a Sea Breath Pearl, directly attracting an Extraordinary expert of the same rank.
After Zhou Ming and White Whale left, the bald man, drenched in cold sweat, hurriedly ordered his subordinates to dispose of Black Knight Zhao Ting's corpse.
As for everyone else, they quietly began discussing what had happened.
Not long afterward, all the major factions also received news about Zhou Ming and the Sea Breath Pearl.
Within the core area of Yellow Sand Island, inside a temporarily constructed courtyard, Zhou Ming unexpectedly encountered an old acquaintance—the Ghost King of the Dark Card Organization.
“Myriad Serpents, it's been a long time. I never expected your strength to have improved so rapidly.”
Inside the courtyard, the Ghost King was still dressed in a crimson robe, carefully sizing up the unexpectedly encountered Zhou Ming.
He had never imagined that after only two years, Zhou Ming had already successfully advanced to the Mid Extraordinary Rank.
“It was merely a stroke of luck. Besides, Ghost King has also successfully broken through to the Mid Extraordinary Rank.”
Zhou Ming had likewise never expected that the Ghost King would appear at Elder White Whale's residence.
Sensing the strange aura emanating from him, Zhou Ming also noticed the changes in the Ghost King's strength.
Standing nearby, White Whale was equally surprised after hearing their conversation. He had not expected the two of them to be old acquaintances.
Since they already knew each other, neither side exchanged excessive pleasantries and soon began discussing this Trade Fair.
Meanwhile, as half the host, White Whale also occasionally answered Zhou Ming's questions.
The three of them chatted quite happily.
However, Zhou Ming did not ask about the Trade Fair's true purpose, while Ghost King and White Whale also never mentioned it. It was as though all of them had reached an unspoken understanding regarding the matter.
The only thing Zhou Ming gained from the conversation was learning that Modular Genetic Modification Technology was precisely Rainbow Island's greatest specialty.
After learning this, Zhou Ming finally understood why Ghost King was so familiar with White Whale.
After the conversation ended, Zhou Ming excused himself on the pretext of needing to rest, and White Whale immediately ordered his subordinates to arrange accommodations for him.
“Ghost King, since you know Myriad Serpents, why didn't you invite him to join?”
After Zhou Ming left, White Whale immediately voiced the doubt in his heart. After all, this plan required quite a number of Extraordinary experts.
“White Whale, you don't understand Myriad Serpents. His background isn't as simple as it seems.”
Ghost King then briefly introduced Zhou Ming's circumstances, allowing White Whale to realize just how many forces Zhou Ming was connected to.
His girlfriend was an important Academician of the Academy of Sciences.
His close friend was the heir of the Duanmu Family and had just advanced to the Extraordinary Rank.
The Snake King Fortress he had established could barely be considered a force of the Dark Domain, yet it maintained extensive cooperation with the Alliance.
The Alliance, the Hunter Guild, the Duanmu Family, the Academy of Sciences, the Dark Domain.
He had even raised an Extraordinary Catgirl of another race.
After learning about Zhou Ming's network of connections, as well as his astonishing rate of advancement, White Whale immediately understood why Ghost King had not invited Zhou Ming to participate.
Although all the Extraordinary experts participating in this plan were bound by contracts, contracts did not guarantee absolute security. If an Alliance Legendary Saint were willing to intervene, the restraints imposed by those contracts could easily be removed.
Moreover, Zhou Ming's sudden arrival during the Trade Fair might very well have been due to intelligence secretly provided by the Alliance.
Meanwhile, under Rainbow Island's arrangements, Zhou Ming moved into a relatively quiet small building.
“It seems Ghost King and the others really do have another objective.”
Standing by the window, Zhou Ming looked into the distance as countless thoughts surfaced in his mind.
Although Ghost King had concealed it well, Elder White Whale had still inadvertently revealed a slight clue.
However, Zhou Ming was not gathering intelligence for the Alliance, so he did not directly question Ghost King and the others, lest he invite unnecessary trouble upon himself.
Even so, he kept the matter in mind. If he discovered an opportunity to profit from it, he would slowly make his plans.