Chapter 111: Crap, Are We Wasteland Succubi?

Chapter 111: Hell, are we succubi of the wasteland?

What the Circular Trade Association truly is remains a mystery to Chen Jian, at least for now.

Yet he could fairly conclude that it was a markedly malformed, inadequately formed organization.

Though they possessed some advanced tech and gear, they never managed to convert it into meaningful productivity, nor did they alter the harsh reality of survival in this doomed wasteland.

They are more like some kind of...

Perched high above, they have wholly severed ties with the practical world, becoming an aloof academic oligarchy.

Still the sort bereft of real ability and erudition.

Expecting them to salvage the world is out of the question; yet, through restrained collaboration, extracting whatever resources we can from them remains essential.

Accordingly, the agreement was quickly hammered out.

Moreover, the squad's docket received yet another fresh entry.

“​The situation in Shan Cheng lies too distant to consider presently; if we turn to the immediate future…​”

“​Proceed to Jinling to scout emergency fortifications, make contact with the Jiangnan Consortium there to secure a trade corridor, guarantee passage for the Jinling Consortium, and slay the tier‑three beast tagged by the Circular Consortium lurking near Wushan Lake.​”

“​Good lord, all four tasks line up along the same vector—how fortuitous, is fate laying out a straight path for us?​”

Lei Jie scanned the PDA’s list, tsk‑tsking in wonder, and remarked:

“​If so, then we ought to chart our forthcoming Jinling operation.​”

“​Should we clear every entry on the roster, we could very well strike it rich.​”

“​Quite so.​”

Chen Jian gave a curt nod, then went on:

“​The only snag lies in Huangshi.​”

“​Should we depart Huangshi, we are surely barred from coming back for no less than fifteen days.​”

“​That fortnight is neither ample nor scant; should misfortune strike, we would lack the leisure to mount a rescue.​”

“​We must still equip them with rudimentary self‑protection, and concurrently deepen their ideological instruction.​”

“​He Shuo, Shen Yue, commence drills with the squad from dawn tomorrow.​”

“​Let us devote a couple of days to hammering out the basics.​”

“​In that span we might as well neutralize the Wushan Lake menace right on our doorstep.​”

“​At that point we will barter with the Circular Consortium for a fresh cache of materiel, to reinforce Huangshi’s fortifications.​”

“​With the walls shored up, we may freely push beyond the perimeter to scout and expand.​”

“​Understood.​”

“​No problem.​”

Shen Yue and his companion answered sequentially, whereupon Chen Jian, as though a thought had just struck him, inquired:

“​Where’s Zhou Qin? Have him come in.​”

“​And Zhou Qin? Summon him inside.​”

“​Showing up at this hour suggests something out of the ordinary may be afoot.​”

“​Very well.​”

Zeng Yi turned on his heel and exited; shortly thereafter, Zhou Qin, who had been lingering afar, was ushered in.

In Chen Jian’s presence, his bearing stayed markedly deferential.

He eschewed bluntness, instead choosing courteous words:

“​My lord, I imagine you have already struck a deal with the Circular Consortium.​”

“​Such advancement is the envy of many; even our own liaison with them has been painstakingly built upon lengthy feelers.​”

“​You have scarcely unveiled your prowess, and already they have acknowledged you.​”

“​This attests to your singularity, and to the distinct nature of the Huaxia forces.​”

“​Let me offer my congratulations on what you have accomplished, and my hopes for still loftier triumphs to come.​”

“​You truly have a silver tongue.​”

Chen Jian exhaled gently, then continued:

“​At times I cannot discern whether your speech springs from sincerity or is merely hollow praise.​”

“​Thus, it’s wiser to keep our words few.​”

“​Let us cut to the chase.​”

“​You observed our full clash with the beast on that vessel—what is it you desire to convey?​”

“​Or, what brings you back to Huangshi?​”

As Chen Jian’s utterance died away, a faint, bitter smile touched Zhou Qin’s lips.

After a brief pause, he ventured:

“​To be frank, I was not the one who chose to come here.​”

He related to Chen Jian the exchange he had with the capital‑sent overseer, stressing that the overseer had insisted he come solo to survey the scene and thereafter file a report.

The longer Chen Jian listened, the more peculiar the tale grew.

The discontent threaded through Zhou Qin’s speech had become impossible to mask.

Did he harbor profound disappointment toward that overseer?

Objectively, when circumstances remain opaque, it is natural for subordinates tasked with peril by their superiors to nurture a measure of resentment.

Yet such resentment could never escalate to this degree.

It could never become so blatant that even an outsider such as I could discern it.

Thus, what truly unfolded between them on that vessel?

Chen Jian scrutinized Zhou Qin’s visage, curious; the man glanced aside, then resumed:

“​In brief, that is the cause.​”

“​I must hasten back to Jiujiang to deliver my report, yet ere I depart I desire to apprise you and the Huaxia forces of fresh tidings.​”

“​The delegation dispatched from the capital had initially planned to arrive at Huangshi to open negotiations, a plan rooted in former conditions.​”

“​Yet circumstances have shifted.” “Having felled a beast verging on tier‑two before their eyes, their view of Huangshi and of the Huaxia Army will inevitably alter.​”

“​Thus, should you have already laid out your bargaining conditions, you may likewise adapt them in kind.​”

“​Understood.​”

Chen Jian gave a contemplative nod, then inquired:

“​Do you imply we may raise additional stipulations?​”

“​I never said that.​”

Zhou Qin shook his head at once, yet Chen Jian had already read between the lines.

After a moment's thought, he spoke:

"So if, besides the conditions already proposed and the usual compensation, we also wanted a cannon like that of the Holy Guard Brigade of the Machine God's Temple, do you think they would agree?"

"I cannot answer that question."

Zhou Qin said cautiously:

"But for the Holy Blood Sanctum, if you wish to obtain some special equipment or technology, I think the Holy Father would consider it."

"I understand."

Chen Jian stopped pressing and said to Zhou Qin:

"In any case, thank you for the information—although we have already made the necessary preparations, hearing it from you personally makes me glad."

"Well, it's getting late; you should head back to Jiujiang."

"I will have our people take you to the far shore of the lake, hoping that when we meet again tomorrow our communication will remain as pleasant as today."

"I think so."

Zhou Qin bowed slightly and then left under the guidance of Huang Yu.

Chen Jian saw him to the door, watching his retreating back, his eyes involuntarily bewildered.

"So what on earth is wrong with him?"

Chen Jian looked at Zeng Yi, curious, and asked:

"I feel that he seems to have undergone some kind of change."

"It is even somewhat similar to the change you experienced back then."

"That is natural."

Zeng Yi let out a long breath, then replied:

"The Holy Blood Sanctum has always been an organization that venerates strength, and the Holy Blooded are individuals who worship the strong."

"Although in the upper echelons of the Holy Blood Sanctum, the 'Holy Father' is their supreme leader."

"But have you ever heard the term 'Holy Father' from me, from Xie Liu, or from Li Shi?"

Chen Jian was stunned.

After careful recollection, he was astonished to discover that the first time he had ever heard the term "Holy Father" was from the lips of an attendant named Zhou Yan.

"So that is why?"

Chen Jian asked.

"Because the vast majority of lower-ranked Holy Blooded worship not the Holy Father, but the Holy Blood itself."

"We do not habitually mention the Holy Father, for to us he is merely a symbol."

"So the Holy Father is not your leader?"

"That, of course, cannot be said either."

Zeng Yi sighed again, then explained:

"I recall that back in Chuan Sha, Xu Lie told you why converts cannot integrate into normal human society."

"In fact, for the Holy Blooded, our situation is similar."

"Our community is bound together by the Holy Blood, forming a natural tie."

"This leads us to be naturally brothers and sisters, so the upper echelons need not expend much effort on controlling us."

"We are more 'free' than the Machine God Cult, which is why many Holy Blooded consider us superior to them."

"However, precisely because of this system, betrayal within the Holy Blood Sanctum is not uncommon."

"Because no one can clearly say whether it is betrayal or... evolution."

"Understood."

Chen Jian nodded in realization, then corrected:

"Actually, the word 'progress' is more appropriate here."

"Indeed."

Zeng Yi laughed heartily, his demeanor relaxing a bit.

"So I guess Zhou Qin, most likely, also wants to progress."

"We can seize the opportunity; perhaps we can draw him into our camp."

"We'll talk about that later."

Chen Jian shook his head instinctively, then said:

"What I cannot fathom now is how, after such a short time, a Source-Blooded would already seek progress."

"I truly don't understand. Are we really some mimic heresy spreading a plague of thought?"

"Or perhaps we are actually succubi of the wasteland?"

(End of chapter)