Chapter 386 ·The Military Seizes the Benefits
Chapter 386: The Military Seizes the Benefits
Outside Bohai Base, more than a hundred ships with displacements exceeding ten thousand tons were docked at the harbor, nearly occupying the entire port.
Apart from a small number of vessels unloading cargo, most of the ships were moored here as though sheltering from a storm.
On the docks, several sailors with nothing to do gathered together, chatting about the various rumors they had heard.
“I don't know who provoked the Seafolk these past few days. Our company can't even head out to sea to hunt anymore.”
“Not being able to go out hunting is already the better outcome. I heard Hurricane Group had two giant fishing vessels sunk by the Seafolk in the Near Sea.”
“I heard it was because a Seafolk patrol squad was wiped out by some powerful expert. That's why the nearby Seafolk became enraged, dragging us into this mess.”
“Which great expert had nothing better to do than bring this disaster upon us?”
“Watch what you're saying.”
Hearing someone complain about one of the Alliance's experts, another person immediately interrupted him, and everyone dispersed without continuing the conversation.
At this moment, Zhou Ming, who had already returned from the Cloud Mist Sea, was hidden high in the air as he overheard their conversation, seemingly having guessed the reason.
“A single patrol squad being wiped out caused such a huge incident. The Seafolk certainly are overbearing.”
Although he knew the cause, Zhou Ming had no intention of stepping forward to offer compensation.
Just then, Zhou Ming suddenly sensed something and looked toward Bohai Base several kilometers away.
“You still haven't returned to Serpent King Fortress?”
Seeing a familiar aura approaching, Zhou Ming murmured softly before taking the initiative to fly toward Bohai Base.
Before he even entered Bohai Base, a graceful figure appeared before him.
“My Lord, I've missed you so much.”
The newcomer was none other than the Catwoman Aina. Her adorable and exquisite face wore a smile capable of captivating one's heart.
Faced with Aina's initiative to throw herself into his arms, Zhou Ming rejected her once again with the demeanor of a man of steel.
The Serpent Soul Seal on Aina's abdomen acted like an invisible barrier, preventing her from making any intimate movements.
“Hmph, what a hopelessly dense man.”
Without needing to think, Zhou Ming knew that she had learned that line from watching movies.
“Why are you still at Bohai Base? Didn't you pick up Fu Shiyuan?”
Aina had come to Bohai Base under Zhou Ming's orders to bring back Fu Shiyuan and his clansmen, who had chosen to pledge allegiance to him.
Judging by the time that had passed, Aina should have already returned to Serpent King Fortress with Fu Shiyuan and the others.
Just then, another figure arrived from Bohai Base. It was none other than the Scorpion-Lion, who had accompanied Aina here.
Since Aina was a member of the Foreign Races, there was always the possibility of unexpected trouble if she acted alone. That was why Zhou Ming had instructed her to invite the Scorpion-Lion to accompany her.
“Ten Thousand Snakes, you've actually broken through to the Mid-level Transcendent Rank.”
Unlike Aina, who had been eager to get close to Zhou Ming, the Scorpion-Lion immediately noticed the change in Zhou Ming's strength. His tone carried an unmistakable hint of shock.
After all, once one reached the Transcendent Rank, improving further was exceedingly difficult.
The fact that more than twenty Transcendent experts had gathered in the Blood Sea Secret Realm, yet not a single one had reached the High-level Transcendent Rank, was proof enough of how difficult advancement was for Transcendent experts.
The Scorpion-Lion had originally thought he had caught up with Zhou Ming's pace, but he had never expected Zhou Ming to pull even farther ahead.
“I gained a little from this journey.”
Hearing those words, the corners of the Scorpion-Lion's mouth twitched slightly. If this counted as “gaining a little,” then would advancing to Legend count as a major harvest?
“All I can say is that your luck is really good.”
There was an unmistakable sourness in the Scorpion-Lion's words. Even Aina beside him could sense it, causing her to let out a crisp laugh.
After the brief reunion, Zhou Ming immediately asked why the two of them were still staying at Bohai Base.
The Scorpion-Lion and Aina briefly explained that Xiao Zhong of Bohai Base had refused to allow Fu Shiyuan and the others to enter Alliance territory on the grounds that they were overseas humans who had betrayed humanity.
After learning the reason, Zhou Ming immediately guessed Xiao Zhong's true intention. It was nothing more than demanding benefits in exchange.
“Let's go. I'd like to see just how big Major General Xiao's appetite really is.”
Without wasting any more time, he entered Bohai Base together with the Scorpion-Lion and Aina.
At the City Defense Army headquarters, Zhou Ming met Xiao Zhong and Lin Yueyao once again. However, this time he had already successfully advanced to the Mid-level Transcendent Rank.
Yet when Xiao Zhong and Lin Yueyao saw Zhou Ming, neither of them showed any surprise at his breakthrough, as though they had already known about it.
“Major General Xiao, during my voyage through the Cloud Mist Sea, I encountered a group of overseas descendants of our Blue Star Human Race. They longed to join our Alliance and refused to submit to the Seafolk, so I specially brought them back.”
“May I ask why Major General Xiao, as a member of the Alliance military, is obstructing this matter?”
Inside the reception room of the City Defense Army headquarters in Bohai Base's inner city, Zhou Ming did not waste time exchanging pleasantries and instead asked directly.
“Mr. Zhou Ming, it isn't that I don't wish to let the people you've brought enter the Alliance. It's because overseas Blue Star humans have previously used the pretense of seeking refuge while secretly acting as spies. Therefore, this matter still requires approval from Alliance Headquarters.”
Upon hearing this, not only did Zhou Ming fail to believe it, but even Aina, who knew little about human social customs, curled her lips in disdain.
Although Aina had lived in seclusion for many years without much contact with the outside world, she had watched plenty of movies while staying in the camp. She had long since become familiar with this kind of official rhetoric.
“Major General Xiao, you weren't the least bit surprised that I've advanced to the Mid-level Transcendent Rank. I believe you've already learned what happened in the Cloud Mist Sea.”
“Let's not beat around the bush. State your conditions. If Alliance Headquarters has any objections, I'll take full responsibility.”
Neither Xiao Zhong nor Lin Yueyao had expected Zhou Ming to be so straightforward.
However, now that everything had been laid bare, there was no point in continuing to circle around the issue. After exchanging a glance, the two immediately stated their demand.
“Fifty percent of the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid.”
Aina and the Scorpion-Lion had never heard of the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid, so confusion immediately appeared on their faces.
However, Zhou Ming only now realized that the Alliance military's intelligence network was even more terrifying than he had imagined. They had actually learned that he had obtained the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid.
Half of the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid.
What an outrageous appetite.
“Aina.”
“My Lord, what is it?”
Hearing Zhou Ming call her, Aina immediately responded.
“Since Major General Xiao claims that Fu Shiyuan and the others are spies, kill them all.”
“Okay.”
Aina felt nothing about killing a group of unfamiliar humans. As long as it was Zhou Ming's command, that was enough.
Just as Aina stood up, Xiao Zhong hurriedly stopped her.
“Mr. Zhou Ming, there's no need to go that far. If you're dissatisfied with my condition, we can continue discussing it.”
Xiao Zhong understood that if Fu Shiyuan and the others died, they would gain absolutely nothing.
“Ten percent.”
Had Zhou Ming not considered that Fu Shiyuan had the potential to advance into an Ability User, thereby giving him another subordinate comparable to a Transcendent expert, he would not have been willing to give up even ten percent.
After that, no matter what Xiao Zhong said, Zhou Ming's stance remained perfectly clear.
Either Aina would kill Fu Shiyuan and the others, or Xiao Zhong would accept ten percent of the Bloodspring Spirit Liquid from Zhou Ming.
In the end, Xiao Zhong had no choice but to accept Zhou Ming's proposed condition.
Ten percent was still better than nothing.
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