Chapter 367 ·Variables
Chapter 367: Variables
Skyscrapers towered into the sky, traffic flowed endlessly, and the prosperous scenery of Bohai Base came into view.
Although Bohai Base was the foremost frontline against the Sea Race Tidal Empire, the true battlefield lay along the chain of islands in the Near Sea. That was the key position for defending against the Sea Race's invasion.
Once the island chain, whose defenses were as impregnable as an iron fortress, fell, there would be no natural barriers left on land. The Sea Race would then be able to advance or retreat at will.
It was precisely because Bohai Base was spared from directly confronting the Sea Race, combined with the abundant resources provided by the Near Sea, that its prosperity ranked among the very best within the Alliance.
On a tree-lined pedestrian street, Zhou Ming wore plain, understated casual clothes, his waterfall-like black hair draped behind him as he recalled the conversation he had just had with Xiao Zhong.
The other party had clearly wanted him to become the Alliance's undercover informant, gathering intelligence on the actual trade between the various forces of the Gloom Domain and the Overseas Human Factions.
There was no need to elaborate on the risks involved. Any force qualified to participate in the Trade Fair would certainly possess Transcendent experts.
With so many Transcendent experts gathered together, surviving alone with his current strength would already be an achievement. Zhou Ming had never underestimated them simply because of his own accomplishments.
“However, gatherings where Transcendent experts trade with one another are extremely rare. Even if I don't help the Alliance military gather intelligence, it's still worth going to take a look.”
“If I happen to find a suitable treasure, I can save a great deal of time advancing to Legendary Saint.”
After leaving the military headquarters, Zhou Ming admired the bustling city before him while strolling leisurely, contemplating the information Xiao Zhong had revealed.
As for helping gather intelligence on the Trade Fair, he truly had no interest in doing so, even if the other party had promised generous rewards.
Since it was Zhou Ming's first visit to Bohai Base, after making up his mind, he decided to take the opportunity to wander around and relax.
Ever since leaving Qinshan Base, he had rarely stayed within an Alliance Base. It was also a chance to reminisce about his former life.
“What a beautiful big sister.”
Just as Zhou Ming was about to continue sightseeing, a childish voice suddenly praised him from nearby.
Instinctively, Zhou Ming turned his head and saw an adorable little girl looking him up and down.
Beautiful big sister... she couldn't possibly be talking about me, could she?
“I'm very sorry, sir. My daughter mistook you for someone else. Please don't take it to heart.”
Standing beside the little girl was a young married woman carrying a handbag, clearly the child's mother.
The moment she noticed Zhou Ming looking over, she immediately apologized.
“It's alright. She's a very cute child.”
Zhou Ming couldn't very well argue with a little girl only a few years old, so he simply rubbed the bridge of his nose and accepted the woman's apology.
However, his mood for sightseeing instantly vanished. He walked to the roadside, hailed a taxi, and headed straight for the Hunter Guild.
Meanwhile, atop a building within the Bohai Base City Defense Army headquarters, Xiao Zhong and Lin Yueyao watched Zhou Ming disappear from sight before Lin Yueyao asked,
“Xiao Zhong, do you think Zhou Ming will help?”
Although she had only met Zhou Ming that day, their brief conversation had already given her a rough understanding of his personality. He was definitely not the kind of person who would willingly place himself in danger for the Alliance.
“Whether he helps isn't important. What's important is whether Zhou Ming becomes interested in this transaction. As long as he goes, the Trade Fair gains another variable.”
“No matter what, his girlfriend, Academician Lei Yuan, is still one of our Alliance's people.”
Ever since Zhou Ming advanced to Transcendent Master, the Alliance had greatly increased its level of attention toward him, even assigning specialists to analyze his behavior and decision-making style.
As the actual commander of the Bohai Base City Defense Army, Xiao Zhong naturally had the authority to review part of Zhou Ming's file.
Before making his request, he had already guessed Zhou Ming would refuse to gather intelligence on the Trade Fair. His real intention had simply been to use the request itself to arouse Zhou Ming's curiosity about it.
Just as he had said, although the Serpent King Fortress founded by Zhou Ming barely belonged to the Gloom Domain, his beloved girlfriend was a member of the Alliance.
As long as Zhou Ming attended the Trade Fair, there would be one more unpredictable variable, which would, to some extent, benefit the Alliance.
Furthermore, so long as the Trade Fair did not threaten the Alliance's interests, there was no need for them to devote additional attention to it.
After hearing this, Lin Yueyao silently nodded, acknowledging Xiao Zhong's open strategy.
As for whether this approach was somewhat underhanded, neither of them gave it any thought. As Transcendent experts serving the Alliance military, the only thing they considered was the Alliance's interests.
There was no right or wrong—only differences in allegiance. That was the way Transcendent experts conducted themselves.
Meanwhile, after suffering a critical blow from the little girl's innocent remark, Zhou Ming had already arrived at the Hunter Guild of Bohai Base by taxi.
After getting out, a thirteen-story building came into view. It was the Bohai Base Hunter Guild headquarters.
Everything within several hundred meters belonged to the Hunter Guild, with the Hunter Bar and the Hunter Market situated on either side.
Compared to every other Hunter Guild Zhou Ming had visited, only the one at Alliance Headquarters surpassed the Bohai Base Hunter Guild.
However, what truly caught Zhou Ming's attention were the Beast Tamers' Phantasmal Beasts all around him.
There were gigantic sea crabs covered in heavy armor, waving their massive claws menacingly.
There were also enormous lobsters that looked as though they had already been boiled.
There was even a colossal octopus floating through the air, drifting across Zhou Ming's field of vision.
It could be said that most Phantasmal Beasts in Bohai Base had been chosen specifically to adapt to the maritime environment.
Although he found them quite interesting, Zhou Ming did not linger for long before heading straight into the Hunter Guild building.
Because of his distinctive appearance, Zhou Ming's arrival attracted the attention of quite a few Hunters. After all, some Hunters with rather unusual tastes happened to like that sort of appearance.
While several Hunters quietly joked among themselves, Zhou Ming walked directly over to a Hunter Guild staff member.
“Sir, how may I assist you?”
The staff member sized Zhou Ming up briefly, vaguely sensing that he was no ordinary Hunter. His attitude immediately became much more respectful.
“I want to meet your Hunter Guild Branch President.”
Before the staff member could react, Zhou Ming directly produced his Silver Hunter Emblem.
It had been a gift from Mu Tianqing at the Hunter Guild Headquarters, making it more convenient for Zhou Ming to conduct business at Hunter Guild branches throughout the Alliance.
A Transcendent expert.
The moment the Hunter Guild staff member saw the Silver Hunter Emblem gleaming with its metallic radiance, he immediately bowed deeply.
“My sincerest apologies for the discourtesy, my lord. Please follow me to the reception room while I notify the Branch President immediately.”
Fortunately, the Hunter Guild staff member was experienced enough to remain composed and responded appropriately without delay.
Zhou Ming simply nodded before following him upstairs toward the reception room.
As for the Hunters who had just been making crude jokes, their faces had already turned deathly pale. Their bodies went limp as they sat frozen in their chairs, not daring to move.
As for their companions, only one thought remained in their minds.
Don't drag me into this.
We don't know each other.
We're not familiar.
We're not companions.
I can even kill him to prove it.