Chapter 266: Mysterious Black Crystal Stone
“Chief Su, this is the intelligence sent by the Han Family.”
“They stated that it was not them who leaked the news of my lord’s assassination of the Elder of the Qi Family. Rather, the Qi Family discovered that we had dealings with the Han Family and inferred it from that clue.”
Inside Su Mei’s private office at the camp, Lu Tao, Minister of the Internal Affairs Department, presented a report.
“In addition, Director Zhuo of the Inner City Public Security Bureau of Qinghui Base sent over a third-tier spiritual item, the Azure Jade Fruit.”
“He asked me to pass on a message to my lord, saying that his previous visit here had been out of necessity and that he hoped for your understanding.”
After placing the intelligence report and the gift box containing the Azure Jade Fruit on the desk, Lu Tao stepped aside and waited for Su Mei’s instructions.
Now, Su Mei’s status in the camp was second only to Zhou Ming. Coupled with her strength as a Professional Beast Tamer, even veteran senior executives like Lu Tao did not dare show the slightest disrespect before her.
“Hmph. Even if they didn’t leak the information, their confidentiality work was still inadequate.”
Su Mei’s eyes sharpened, and a fierce aura immediately rose from her.
Though she was a woman, her upbringing had forged a temperament even more resolute than many men, and her style of handling affairs was swift and decisive.
The only change was that under Zhou Ming’s guidance, she was no longer as taciturn as before.
“I will report this matter to my lord. You may leave first.”
After pondering for a moment, Su Mei did not dare make a decision on her own and intended to report the situation personally to Zhou Ming.
Hearing this, Lu Tao did not leave. Instead, a trace of hesitation appeared on his face.
“Is there something else?”
Seeing him remain in place, Su Mei immediately asked.
“It’s about the bloodline modification.”
After a slight pause, Lu Tao bowed slightly and voiced the thoughts in his heart.
“You failed the physical assessment last time, didn’t you?”
“I was just a little short.”
Upon hearing her mention it, Lu Tao still wanted to fight for another opportunity. However, Su Mei firmly refused.
“Just a little short is still unacceptable. Besides, my lord currently has important matters to attend to. Even if I apply on your behalf, he has no time to perform the surgery.”
“You should diligently continue training in martial arts. Once my lord finishes this busy period, it will also be the right time for him to carry out your bloodline modification.”
Faced with this, Lu Tao’s expression changed several times. In the end, he did not continue arguing.
After he left, Su Mei did not dwell on the minor episode. She immediately organized the various materials to report everything at once to Zhou Ming.
……
A short while later, Su Mei brought the relevant documents and headed alone to the underground lake to meet Zhou Ming.
“Aina, where is my lord?”
Arriving at the Lake-center Small Building, Su Mei entered the living room just in time to see the catgirl Aina watching a movie with Tianqiong.
With nothing much to do in the small building, and recently having become obsessed with romantic films, Aina passed the time with movies whenever she had no tasks assigned by Zhou Ming.
“Sister Su, my lord is currently busy. Based on past experience, he should come down shortly to take a brief rest.”
Su Mei and Aina were similar in strength, and both were Zhou Ming’s personal assistants. Over time, their relationship had grown fairly good.
Especially with occasional reminders from her father, Su Mei would sometimes bring Aina items she needed.
According to Su Ningfeng, “Aina is my lord’s personal maid. It’s always right to maintain good relations.”
“Perfect timing. I brought some things for you and Tianqiong, along with cosmetics and clothes.”
Though Aina was of a different race, she was still female and naturally liked such things.
Seeing Su Mei take out a large pile of items from her spatial ring, Aina immediately leaned in beside her. The two began whispering and discussing them.
Before long, Zhou Ming came downstairs to rest and saw Su Mei and Aina chatting and laughing together.
“Su Mei, you’re here.”
“My lord.”
“My lord.”
Upon seeing Zhou Ming approach from downstairs, both women bowed in greeting.
“Mm.”
“Su Mei, what is it?”
Seeing her lord take the initiative to ask, Su Mei hurried forward to report.
Meanwhile, noticing that Zhou Ming did not pay attention to her, Aina quietly returned to her bedroom with Tianqiong, carrying the gifts Su Mei had given her.
“My lord, the matter you asked me to investigate previously has yielded results.”
Su Mei then carefully explained the reason why Zhou Ming’s assassination of the Elder of the Qi Family had been exposed.
“The Qi Family is considered an old-established force in Qinghui Base. If not for the Giant Race descending upon the Panlong Mountain Range, our cooperation with the Han Family would have been discovered long ago.”
After hearing the explanation provided by the Han Family, Zhou Ming was not surprised.
The transactions between the Han Family and the camp had been unusually frequent. Even though the Han Family had used the name of the Violent Bear Hunting Group, large-scale resource mobilizations were difficult to conceal.
“Since the Qi Family has already guessed that I was the one who acted, use the connections the camp has built over the past few years to secretly monitor them. Once an opportunity arises, eliminate the three Professional Beast Tamers of the Qi Family completely.”
At present, the Qi Family feared Zhou Ming’s strength and had not made any moves. However, they were like a venomous snake hidden in the shadows.
Once an opportunity appeared, Zhou Ming believed they would launch a frenzied retaliation.
Therefore, he did not entertain any illusions about reconciling their enmity, even though their true enemy was the Han Family.
As long as the three remaining Professional Beast Tamers of the Qi Family were eliminated, the Qi Family would no longer pose any threat. Moreover, the Qi Family’s former enemies would help Zhou Ming deal with the hidden dangers posed by their descendants.
“My lord, please rest assured. I will handle this properly.”
Su Mei did not find Zhou Ming’s decision problematic. In struggles over利益, there was no right or wrong.
Just as she and her father had once struggled to survive in the wilderness—when it came to survival, anything could be done.
After finishing the matter of the Qi Family, Su Mei continued her report.
“There is confirmed news regarding the information you previously asked me to look into.”
She handed over a photograph and began introducing it.
“Based on the information you provided, the Transcendent Material you are searching for is called Mysterious Black Crystal Stone. On Blue Star, it is considered a relatively rare second-tier spiritual item.”
“This spiritual item can not only be used to forge Transcendent Equipment, but also to strengthen the defensive abilities of earth-attribute phantom beasts.”
“Although its grade is not high, it has currently only been discovered in the peripheral regions of the Endless Tree Sea.”
“According to the quantity you requested, neither Qinghui Base nor the black market currently has any force capable of meeting your demand.”
“Mysterious Black Crystal Stone… Endless Tree Sea…”
Upon hearing the news brought by Su Mei, Zhou Ming’s brows furrowed slightly. After all, deep within the Endless Tree Sea dwelled several Legendary Beast Kings.
However, the Mysterious Black Crystal Stone was a required material for constructing the ritual altar—an indispensable item for the job-change ceremony.
The ritual altar inside the Secret Realm Tower had already been fused into one with the tower through runes. Moreover, the Mysterious Black Crystal Stone used in its construction had been affected by the ritual and could no longer be removed for Zhou Ming’s use.
Now, although the material required to build the ritual altar had been confirmed, the quantity he needed was far too great. There was nowhere to purchase it.
At present, the only solution was for Zhou Ming to personally make a trip to the Endless Tree Sea.
“I understand. Is there anything else?”
Seeing that her lord did not mention the Mysterious Black Crystal Stone further, Su Mei proceeded to give a detailed report on the camp’s other affairs.