Chapter 265: The Forces Behind the Scenes
The next day, after returning to Yunhai Base, Scorpion-Lion received a message from Zhou Ming.
He was asked to help investigate which forces within Alliance Headquarters were targeting Lei Yuan.
“That guy really thinks I’m omnipotent, doesn’t he?”
After learning the reason behind Zhou Ming’s request, Scorpion-Lion immediately felt the difficulty of the matter.
This issue involved the Alliance Academy of Sciences as well as various forces within Alliance Headquarters. It was no longer something he could decide on his own.
However, Zhou Ming had just assisted the Duanmu Family, so this was not something he could ignore. After thinking it through, Scorpion-Lion decided to seek his grandfather’s opinion.
Inside the Duanmu Family’s residence, within a private garden, stood a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties. He had a broad face and thick hair, and his entire body radiated an imposing aura even without anger.
He moved slowly through a set of拳法, appearing like an elderly man exercising in a public park.
Yet this man was none other than Duanmu Ruibo, the current head of the Duanmu Family. A few years ago, he had advanced to War Knight, restoring the former glory of the Duanmu Family.
When Scorpion-Lion appeared in the garden, Duanmu Ruibo slowly came to a stop.
“Lingyuan, what made you think of coming to see this old man again?”
The day before, when Scorpion-Lion had returned to the Duanmu Family, he had already met his father and grandfather, reporting in detail everything that had happened during the trip to Tamu World.
With Scorpion-Lion’s personality, he would not take the initiative to visit again in such a short time unless something was up.
“Grandfather, I have something I need your help with.”
“Oh? What is it?”
Hearing that his personal involvement was required, Duanmu Ruibo became somewhat curious.
Without hesitation, Scorpion-Lion explained Zhou Ming’s request in full, including his relationship with Lei Yuan.
“I didn’t expect your friend to have such a relationship with that rising young girl from the Academy of Sciences.”
As the leader of the Duanmu Family, and with his current strength, Duanmu Ruibo naturally kept track of changes among the Alliance’s upper ranks.
Although Lei Yuan was merely an ordinary person, she had already become an important component of the Alliance’s scientific reform and would be involved in significant interests in the future.
“What’s your opinion?”
Instead of immediately agreeing to help, Duanmu Ruibo asked for his grandson’s thoughts.
Scorpion-Lion understood that this was an assessment from his grandfather. After thinking briefly, he stated his analysis.
“Ten Thousand Snakes is not weak. It can be said that among those of the same rank, he is nearly invincible. Even though he chose an incomplete system, based on my understanding of him, he will definitely not stop at Professional Beast Tamer.”
“Moreover, he has cooperated with our Duanmu Family multiple times, and each time he brought us considerable benefits. We cannot sever ties with such a valuable partner.”
“Additionally, Ten Thousand Snakes’ girlfriend holds no low position within the Alliance Academy of Sciences. If our Duanmu Family wishes to secure interests within Alliance Headquarters in the future, we can also rely on this connection.”
As the heir of the Duanmu Family, Scorpion-Lion did not mix in personal feelings. He evaluated everything purely from the perspective of family interests.
After hearing the analysis, Duanmu Ruibo showed a trace of satisfaction.
Being able to distinguish between personal emotions and family利益 was a quality a qualified heir should possess.
“Your analysis is sound.”
“Now that Blue Star’s integration into Tamu World has become a foregone conclusion, and since our Blue Star Beast Taming Cultivation System places high demands on talent, if we wish to gain a firm foothold in Tamu World in the future, the technology Blue Star excels at cannot be abandoned.”
“However, Tamu World’s natural rules differ from those of Blue Star. The Alliance’s technological reform is inevitable. Your friend’s girlfriend will hold a pivotal position within the Alliance Academy of Sciences in the future.”
“If our Duanmu Family wishes to continue expanding, we must enter Alliance Headquarters. That little girl indeed cannot be ignored.”
“I will handle this matter. When the time comes, I will have someone deliver the intelligence gathered to you.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
For the first time, a hint of delight appeared on Scorpion-Lion’s normally cold expression.
Though his reasoning had been based on family利益, deep down he was inclined to help his friend.
“Your friend already knows how to find himself a girlfriend. What about you?”
With Zhou Ming’s matter settled, Duanmu Ruibo casually asked about Scorpion-Lion’s plans regarding his other half.
“Grandfather, I still have matters to attend to. I won’t accompany you further.”
With that, Scorpion-Lion fled immediately, completely lacking his usual aloof demeanor.
“That brat.”
Seeing his grandson flee in embarrassment, Duanmu Ruibo—renowned as a powerful figure—could only shake his head helplessly.
……
Several days later, after dismissing Zhuo Xiong and the others, Zhou Ming received the intelligence sent by Scorpion-Lion.
“Flame Tiger Lu Family, Wind Eagle Yang Family?”
Inside the laboratory of the Lake-center Small Building, Zhou Ming flipped through the documents Scorpion-Lion had delivered.
Within Dawn Base at Alliance Headquarters, there were more than a dozen forces possessing Transcendent Master-level figures. Each force had several Transcendent Beast Tamers.
Among them, the Flame Tiger Lu Family and the Wind Eagle Yang Family had the deepest involvement with the Alliance Headquarters Academy of Sciences. Thus, both families hoped to bring Lei Yuan into their clans.
If they succeeded in absorbing Lei Yuan, they would gain the qualification to control a portion of the benefits brought by the Alliance’s technological reform.
However, Lei Yuan’s current identity and status were no longer ordinary. The two families were unable to employ forceful methods.
Moreover, Lei Yuan had her mentor and other academicians within the Academy’s administrative council protecting her. These two forces could only send their younger generation to pursue her in a normal manner.
Unfortunately for them, with Zhou Ming’s presence, how could love-struck Lei Yuan possibly take interest in other suitors?
It was precisely for this reason that after learning of Zhou Ming’s existence, they naturally sought to remove this stumbling block.
However, with Zhou Ming’s current strength, unless a Transcendent-level existence personally took action, there were very few Professional Beast Tamers who could rival him.
As for gathering a large number of Professional Beast Tamers to besiege him, it would not have much effect.
Even though Withering Flower could not currently unleash its full might, it was still more than capable of dealing with Beast Tamers. Skilled in the Poison Art, Zhou Ming did not fear being surrounded.
“With Lei Yuan’s current situation, there’s no need to worry in the short term.”
After learning that Alliance Headquarters had begun its technological reform, Zhou Ming felt no immediate concern for Lei Yuan. No matter how powerful the Lu and Yang families were, they could not alter the Alliance’s overall direction.
With the Alliance Legendary Saint paying attention, no one dared to stir up trouble recklessly.
As for himself, unless a Transcendent-level existence acted, he did not need to worry about his own safety.
If they attempted to use slanderous methods, Zhou Ming would not mind openly living off Lei Yuan either. After all, he owed her far too much.
At present, his primary focus was to perfect the Class Advancement Ritual and its related preparations as soon as possible.
Once his own strength reached Transcendent Master, all conspiracies and troubles would naturally dissipate. That was the benefit of Supreme Power Belonging to Oneself.
After finishing reviewing the intelligence on the Lu and Yang families, Zhou Ming devoted all his energy to refining the ritual.
He had now acquired vast amounts of knowledge. What remained was to transform that knowledge into the Advancement System he required.