Chapter 663: Not Just an Envoy, but Trouble

Chapter 663: Not Only Envoys Came, But Also Trouble

On the elevator leading to the airship.

Elf King Fugui, carrying his backpack, was waving goodbye to his good brothers standing on the platform.

"Goodbye, brothers! Once I become the overlord of the southern seas, I'll treat you to the finest food and drink!"

He heard there were pre-war space station ruins in the southern seas, so he specially bought a set of diving gear to try his luck there.

Maybe he'd fish out a still-functional power armor?

Wouldn't that be an instant god-tier equipment graduation!

Even if it's broken, as long as ten percent of the parts are good, selling it for tens of thousands or even a hundred thousand silver coins would be more than enough.

Canyon Escape Mole, standing on the platform, smiled and waved.

"No worries, I have a feeling I'll see you again in a few days."

He wasn't interested in such small events; as long as the money came in, that was fine. Besides, in a few days he had to fly to Ideal City to check on how his game company was doing.

The battle royale game launched by Skeleton Studio was receiving rave reviews on Endpoint Cloud, and recently he was planning to move several skin sets into the game to ruthlessly harvest the leeks of Ideal City.

Elf King Fugui: "Damn! Is that how you curse your brother?"

Yilena, standing beside him, said with a comical expression.

"Isn't that good? It saves you a return ticket."

"Old Na?" Shaoche Duzi, carrying fishing gear, glanced at him and exclaimed in surprise, "Wow? You came too?"

Yilena chuckled.

"Just joining the fun, don't mind me. And I heard there are many unfamiliar xenomorphs there; I mainly want to go see what they look like."

Mole said with a mischievous grin.

"Don't eat all the xenomorphs there into extinction."

Yilena rolled her eyes.

"Piss off! Am I that kind of person?"

While they were chatting, the elevator slowly rose, bringing the last batch of players into the cabin.

After loading was complete, the airship began to ascend, and then the propellers hanging from the belly and tail started up, pushing the airship, carrying dreams and hopes, toward the distant horizon.

"Ah, I'm so jealous, damn it!"

Watching the airship gradually sail into the distance, Debt Big Eyes, standing on the platform to watch the excitement, had a face full of envy, jealousy, and hatred.

He also wanted to go there, but unfortunately he now had a whole family of sub-entities to raise.

Although he felt that Baiyue Province should have opportunities for those sub-entities to show their skills, the freight costs were too high now.

He could only wait for the brothers of the Ox-Horse Group to run a few more flights, bring down the ticket prices, and then go there to check it out...

"Let's go, let's go." After seeing off his good brothers, Mole put down his waving hand and prepared to leave the platform.

Just then, another inflatable airship docked above the inflatable station, slowly dropping its mooring ropes and elevator.

The man standing on the elevator was dressed in luxurious attire, with a haughty expression, his two small mustaches curling upward like the king on a playing card.

Including Mole, Big Eyes, and a group of veteran players, the players on the platform all simultaneously sensed the scent of a plot, stopping their dispersing steps and casting curious glances at the elevator.

The elevator came to a stop.

A group of people descended from the airship.

When they saw the familiar face mixed in among them, Mole, Big Eyes, and the others widened their eyes and couldn't help blurting out, "Wow."

Bathed in those upward gazes, Bannott's face was filled with pride and arrogance, quite satisfied with the "admiration" of these barbarians.

He now understood a little bit why those unsociable Eastern Expansionists were so fanatical when mentioning the expedition.

Although this place lacked the prosperity of Triumph City, being surrounded by envious looks still felt pretty good.

However, his understanding was only a little bit, no more.

Just to satisfy that pitiful vanity, to expend massive manpower and resources, to launch a great expedition against an inexplicable enemy with no visible benefits.

This kind of behavior was too selfish.

There were many doubts about Griffin's death, but he did not die unjustly.

Immersed in his own world, Bannott suddenly heard the exclamation of "Wow," and casually leaned toward the pangolin following behind him, whispering.

"What does 'Wow' mean?"

Zhandi Lao, who was frantically exchanging glances with his bad friends, almost choked on his own saliva and quickly replied.

"It expresses amazement and reverence... You can think of it as a polite greeting."

"I see."

Squinting his eyes slightly, Bannott curled his lips, looking quite pleased.

But Zhandi Lao's scalp tingled, silently praying that this guy wouldn't follow local customs and say it too when meeting the Administrator.

Him losing face was a small matter.

If the truth came out, that would be disastrous!

"Respected Mr. Bannott, welcome to Dawn City. I am Cheng Yan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Alliance. The Administrator specifically instructed me to treat you well. Although we have had some conflicts before, the war is over, and those who come are guests."

"I am also very pleased to meet you, Mr. Cheng," Bannott said with a formulaic pleasantry, then glanced around and asked bluntly, "Where is your Administrator? I want to speak with him directly."

"The Administrator has entrusted the Alliance's foreign affairs to me. It is the same to discuss matters with me."

Facing Bannott's perfunctory expression, Cheng Yan's face showed no change, still maintaining a polite demeanor as he continued.

"As for our Administrator, he is currently discussing the relevant charter and cooperation details of the Slime Mold Research Consortium with representatives from the Academy and the Corporation. If you wish to meet him, according to the charter, you need to make an appointment in advance... The Academy and the Corporation are the same."

Bannott's eyebrows twitched slightly.

The Legion's envoy had never been so slighted, which stirred a hint of displeasure in his heart.

However, upon hearing that the Academy and Corporation were also treated the same, he restrained himself, though his expression remained displeased as he continued.

"Our delegation has over a hundred people and needs a piece of land to camp."

Cheng Yan continued in a gentle tone.

"We have prepared a hotel for your stay."

"No need," Bannott raised his chin slightly. "I should have mentioned in the written diplomatic letter that we Valliant people only live in our own houses."

Cheng Yan made a helpless expression.

"Please don't misunderstand. We are only offering a well-intentioned suggestion... If you insist, then please feel free."

Seeing the other side yield, Bannott's eyebrows relaxed slightly. He nodded and led the dozen or so people behind him down the platform.

The elevator slowly rose.

There were still over ninety people on the airship, who would have to come down in several batches. Some were Valliant, and some were their servants.

The staff member following Cheng Yan couldn't help but mutter a quiet complaint.

“These savages are just ridiculous… We prepared houses for them, yet they refuse to live in them and insist on pitching their own tents.”

The other staff members nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

Glancing sideways at his subordinate, Cheng Yan spoke softly.

“On the wasteland, settlements with customs different from ours are everywhere. You have to learn to understand them to build good relations… We just need to do our part well.”

In truth, the odd ones weren’t just the Valyrians.

In his view, the researchers from the Academy were equally strange—they had perfectly good houses but chose to sleep in their vehicles instead.

And those vehicles were always parked in hidden spots, only landing near their airport when absolutely necessary.

By comparison, the personnel from the Corporation seemed a bit more normal.

The only gripe was their obsession with high-rise buildings.

Rumor had it that in that hundred-story Ideal Hotel, floors below the fiftieth were left empty, with few travelers from Ideal City ever choosing rooms under the fiftieth floor.

Just as the Legion’s envoy arrived at Dawnlight City, Chu Guang, who was in a meeting, learned of this through Xiao Qi.

During a break in the meeting, in the spacious lounge.

Settling onto the sofa, Chu Guang took out a holographic computer pen from his pocket, placed it on the table, gently touched the button to unfold the screen, and listened to the report from the Alliance’s Foreign Minister, Cheng Yan.

“The Valyrian delegation requested to camp near Dawnlight City. As per your instructions, I granted their request and allocated them the open ground near the First Legion’s garrison.”

Looking at Cheng Yan in the pale blue floating window, Chu Guang nodded.

“How did they react?”

“Nothing. They didn’t care about the location. That chiliarch named Bennett is leading the delegation in setting up camp.”

Pausing for a moment, Cheng Yan continued.

“Also, I noticed that some of the attendants accompanying them appear to be slaves, which contradicts our laws… I’m worried this could be a problem.”

Long ago, when the Alliance was not yet strong, it had made some compromises on the issue of slavery.

For instance, it allowed merchants with slaves to pass through Dawnlight City, only restricting them from abusing prisoners or slaves, and forcing slave owners to house slaves in designated dormitories at trading posts to keep them separate.

Later, as the Alliance’s military and economic power grew, the semi-official organization “Home for the Displaced” would buy freed survivors from slave owners at market prices and guide them toward normal lives.

Now, the Alliance had enough strength to say no to those slave traders, even equating them with raiders and actively intercepting them.

Whether awed by the Alliance’s military might or coveting its market, passing merchants, for the sake of silver coins, would voluntarily empty their carriages and distance themselves from such dirty dealings.

After all, most merchants chased profits; they wouldn’t abandon an entire forest for a single trade.

Order, like chaos, radiates outward.

But the Legion’s delegation was not a merchant caravan, and handling them with the same methods was clearly inappropriate.

After hearing Cheng Yan’s report, Chu Guang frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said.

“Send them a copy of the Alliance’s laws along with their supplies, and tactfully remind them to respect our rules. The camp we provide is not diplomatic territory. We do not recognize ownership of one person over another, nor will we protect illegal rights. Their diplomatic immunity only guarantees their lives, not that they won’t be expelled.”

“Understood. I’ll convey that to them.” After hearing Chu Guang’s words, Cheng Yan nodded in agreement, though he also felt a headache coming on.

The approach seemed fine to him, but he couldn’t figure out how to tactfully express such a stern message.

Chu Guang glanced at the time and, seeing that the meeting break was almost over, asked.

“Anything else?”

Cheng Yan immediately replied.

“One more thing… about the Xilan Empire.”

Chu Guang was momentarily taken aback, taking a moment to recall the intelligence on that survivor faction, then asked with a slightly odd expression.

“They… what about them?”

Cheng Yan nodded subtly and continued.

“I only learned recently that they sent an envoy to us some time ago. Their delegation has already left the Lion Kingdom and is expected to reach Fallen Leaf City within three days… They want us to meet them at the border, claiming it’s so they can mark our location on their map.”

Chu Guang couldn’t help but chuckle, but he suppressed his amusement and asked seriously.

“Are they also here for the Mutant Slime Research Consortium?”

Cheng Yan shook his head.

“They didn’t mention it, and I suspect they might not know our situation here. According to the Lion Kingdom’s royal court, the Xilan Empire delegation’s original itinerary only planned to visit the Falcon Kingdom and the Camel Kingdom, with no intention of going so far east… As a result, they caused quite a few bizarre incidents when they arrived in the Lion Kingdom.”

Chu Guang asked curiously.

“What incidents?”

Cheng Yan hesitated.

“Well… the Lion royal family didn’t volunteer details. Should I ask?”

“No need. If they didn’t mention it, forget it,” Chu Guang said after a moment’s thought, giving a straightforward instruction. “Guests are guests. Arrange a few vehicles to pick them up.”

Cheng Yan nodded.

“Yes.”

The communication ended, and the pale blue holographic screen dissolved into specks of starlight.

Chu Guang picked up the holographic computer pen from the table, slipped it into his pocket, stood up, left the lounge, and returned to the adjacent meeting room with a smile.

Now, the representatives of the Legion, the Academy, and the Corporation were gathered once again.

The moment to decide the fate of this wasteland had arrived once more!

…

The news of the Legion’s envoy arriving at the Alliance spread quickly throughout the city.

Though rumors of the Legion sending envoys had circulated long ago, few paid attention because Pioneer City was too far from the Alliance’s core territory.

It wasn’t until people saw the Valyrians with their own eyes in Dawnlight City that the news spread at an incredible speed.

Evening fell.

In the lobby of the Highway Town Inn.

Drunkards sat at tables, chattering noisily, exchanging news from the newspapers and hearsay.

“No way?! The envoy from Triumph City is in Dawnlight City?”

“Of course! They disembarked from their airship at that inflatable port—lots of people saw it!”

“I’d recognize those big noses anywhere!”

“Haha! Those big-nosed bastards have the nerve to come back? Haven’t they had enough of losing?”

“Looks like they’ve really been beaten into submission, or they wouldn’t have sent an envoy to negotiate with us.”

“Unbelievable… So now Dawnlight City has envoys from the Academy, the Corporation, and the Legion all at once?!”

“Amazing!”

Listening to the excited chatter, Lisa, holding a tray in both hands, had eyes full of astonishment.

An envoy from Triumph City?

Thinking that the pangolin had indeed gone to Triumph City, a hint of expectation gradually crept into those eyes wide with surprise.

Those people might have news of him...

Seeing the expression on the young girl’s face, Old Bai, sitting at the bar, took a sip of beer and said with a teasing tone.

“The legion’s camp is next to the First Corps barracks—go ask there... while it’s still not dark.”

He knew perfectly well that Battlefield Guy was there.

But he thought it would be more of a pleasant surprise for her to discover it herself.

Lisa shot him a grateful glance, bowed deeply, then hurried off to the kitchen behind the bar to ask Old Hook for leave.

Watching the swaying cloth curtain at the kitchen door, Old Bai grinned. The Mole beside him let out a beer burp and said in a joking tone.

“I’ll bet that bastard Battlefield Guy will be totally shocked... someone’s been waiting for him for a whole year in a place he never knew about.”

“You guys are too sneaky—keeping it from her for so long,” Vine, sitting nearby and drinking sparkling water, teased.

“Haha, that makes it more fun!”

The Mole chuckled maliciously, then turned to look at the table next to him and asked Spring Commander.

“Do you think he’ll accept it?”

Spring made a helpless face.

“Who knows? I’ve known that bastard for ages, and I still can’t figure out what he’s into.”

Vine, sitting at the bar and sipping sparkling water, suddenly chimed in with enthusiasm.

“Is it possible... that his heart actually belongs to Corway? After all, they’ve been through life and death together for so long—some friendship is bound to develop, right? Right?”

The men sitting by the bar couldn’t help but shudder, and Edge Paddling, who was drinking, choked and coughed.

Spring coughed too.

“I think that’s pretty unlikely... otherwise, I’d have lost my dignity long ago.”

“???” I’m the Darkest, struggling with a disconnect, looked up in confusion, about to retort when he dropped out again.

“What if?”

Seeing Vine’s flushed cheeks from excitement, Crow made a helpless expression.

“Sorry, our Vine’s had too much to drink.”

Vine quickly turned to her.

“Hey! I’m drinking sparkling water!”

“Ahem! Since everyone’s so interested, why don’t we make a bet?” Debt-Eyed grinned and pulled out a notebook. “Small bets for fun—I’ll be the banker... I’ll put 100 silver coins on that bastard Battlefield Guy not being picky!”

“I bet he’ll chicken out... otherwise he’d have made a move back then, no need to wait till now,” Spring raised his hand to bet 100 silver coins, but after a moment’s hesitation, changed his mind. “Make it 50 silver coins.”

Vine eagerly raised her hand too.

“I, I, I bet on Co—”

“Denied! Only two options, next!”

“Tch!”

“I bet Battlefield Guy will definitely wimp out! I mean, he’s so fast, he probably doesn’t want anyone to know.”

“Haha! Then I’ll bet the opposite!”

Everyone joked back and forth, and within a few minutes, twenty or thirty onlookers had placed bets.

Debt-Eyed scribbled away, then looked up at Old Bai, who was just drinking in silence, and grinned.

“What about you, Old Bai?”

“Me?” Old Bai paused, then smiled. “I don’t care—whatever he chooses is his own business.”

Debt-Eyed said cheekily.

“Of course, would I force the guy’s head down for 100 silver coins? It’s just for fun.”

Old Bai made a helpless face and pulled out a 100-silver-coin note.

“I’ll put 50 on each side.”

Debt-Eyed: “Damn! That works too!”

Mole on the Run from the Canyon: “Betting both sides is way too sneaky!”

Outside, it had unknowingly turned dark, and streetlights flickered on one by one.

Nearly an hour had passed since Lisa left, and the group’s topic gradually shifted from Battlefield Guy to the port of Baiyue Strait.

Just then, I’m the Darkest, finally successfully reconnected, stood up shakily, hands on the table, carrying the topic from an hour ago.

“Burp—talking this long, why not go check it out? Bros, anyone wanna come with me for a peek?”

“Let’s go,” Spring Commander at the same table pulled out his VM to settle the bill, steadying the unsteady I’m the Darkest. “Waiting for that bastard to show up is pointless—I’ll go take a look too.”

Crow, sitting at the bar with Vine, also raised her hand curiously.

“Me, me, me! Count me in for the fun!”

Just as the crowd was stirring, the innkeeper Old Hook suddenly came out from the kitchen, looking worried, and said to Old Bai at the bar.

“Lisa said she’d be back in an hour, but now it’s dark out... I’m not stingy about the time, but that kid’s always punctual—this has never happened before.”

Seeing the old man’s uneasy face, Old Bai set down his glass and gave him a reassuring look.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go check.”

“Thanks, this round’s on me!” Old Hook looked at Old Bai gratefully, then suddenly remembered something and quickly pulled out his terminal to draft a task.

Almost every tavern and inn in the Alliance had this “Mercenary System”—whether clearing out mutant nests or finding a lost cat, you could place an order through it.

As long as it didn’t violate Alliance law, someone would come to help.

Seeing the old man’s action, Old Bai grinned and reached out to stop his wrinkled hand.

“No need—the drink is payment enough.”

With that, he got up from the bar, followed Spring Commander, I’m the Darkest, and a few other players out of the inn, heading toward the brightly lit street...

...

On the other side, Norreg, the foreign minister of the Bugar Free State visiting Dawn City, also received word that the legion’s envoy had arrived in Dawn City.

Though he wasn’t surprised that the legion was interested in the “Slime Research Collective,” the Velantians’ speed still caught him off guard.

Triumph City was over ten thousand kilometers away!

And between them lay the vast, boundless desert!

For an ordinary caravan traveling from the Sunset Province to the west coast of the continent, it would take at least half a year—stop-and-go, maybe even a whole year!

Arriving in such a short time showed how much the other side valued this meeting, and word had it the envoy was a Chiliarch!

After hearing his subordinate’s report, Norreg’s expression grew unusually grave.

Though Mayor Odo was a pro-corporate politician, that didn’t mean the Free State had to completely abandon its old friend the legion.

Yet now, Triumph City has sent envoys to Dawn City!

And this was not the unilateral decision of some faction within the Legion, but an order from the supreme Marshal himself.

A trace of worry crept across Noregg's brow.

Could it be...

That the Eastern Expansion faction had completely lost its influence within the Legion?

Just as he was hesitating over how to report this news to Mayor Odo, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the door.

Moments later, his secretary appeared at the doorway.

"Breaking news!"

With an expression of joyful surprise, the secretary, not even pausing to catch his breath, spoke hastily to Noregg in the room.

"The Legion's delegation! Those Vellant people! They've gotten into a conflict with the Alliance!"

"What?"

Noregg was taken aback for a moment, then a look of ecstasy spread across his face.

"Take me to see it at once!"

The secretary nodded excitedly and hurriedly.

"Yes!"