Chapter 757: Section 545: Do Not Save
Zi Di took the letter, immediately realizing it was from the Snowbird Port branch.
Previously, it would have taken several days for letters from the branch to catch up to Zi Di and Zong Ge’s party.
But this time, Zi Di’s negotiation, which led to success, allowed the survivors to deepen cooperation with the Lijian family. Consequently, communications between the branch and Zi Di and Zong Ge’s party were significantly expedited through the channels of the Lijian family.
Zi Di’s brow furrowed slightly as she immediately cornered herself in the shop, using alchemy tools to make a cursory treatment of her surrounding environment before beginning to decrypt the letter.
Zong Ge stood by her side, vigilantly scanning the area to guard her.
Both of them were deeply concerned about the contents of the letter.
Because, during negotiations with Mian licang, they had learned from his mouth that the branch had been attacked.
Although they had learned from the Lijian family that the branch had emerged victorious after the negotiation’s success, the specific losses and casualties could not be accurately accounted for by the family.
Only a proactive letter from the branch could give Zi Di and Zong Ge a correct understanding.
Zi Di decrypted the letter quickly.
As she read, Zi Di whispered to Zong Ge, "The process was somewhat complex."
"Among the enemies, there was a Gold Level assassin disguised as Silver Level. His first target was our Vice Captain Lion Flag."
Zong Ge was slightly startled, then immediately realized that Zi Di was talking about the Alchemy Puppet disguised as him.
Zong Ge feigned concern and asked, "How is Lion Flag doing?"
"Lion Flag was critically hit in one strike and passed out on the spot. But don’t forget, he has that powerful recovery Combat Skill, his life has been preserved for now, and he’s in deep slumber, repairing his body," Zi Di said.
Zong Ge immediately grasped the underlying meaning in Zi Di’s words.
He thought, with a sinking heart, "The Alchemy Puppet disguised as me, with its considerable defensive power, was knocked down in one hit. The Gold Level assassin must have left after confirming ’my’ death."
"However, this is a good situation."
The Alchemy Puppet had effectively drawn fire and made the others wary.
Its fall had also somewhat paralyzed the enemy to a certain extent. In their battle plan, the "Lion Flag" stationed at the branch was the most important target.
Next in importance was Bu Quan.
"Since the enemy mounted a raid on the branch, they surely wouldn’t have overlooked the Alchemy Workshop. How is Bu Quan?" Zong Ge inquired.
Zi Di replied, "The Gold Level assassin is named Yijiu. He attacked the ships, and after succeeding, moved on to assault the small Alchemy Workshop within the city."
"He infiltrated the workshop, captured the Mage Bu Quan. However, in a critical moment, Shuanglian intervened, capturing Yijiu alive into a Half-plane, and also temporarily took away Bu Quan."
Zong Ge’s expression remained unchanged, still surveying the surroundings, his brow slightly furrowed, "So, Bu Quan’s call for help was successful. But if Bu Quan was taken away by her teacher..."
Zi Di continued, "Bu Quan has returned."
"But it was after a period of time after the battle."
"It seems that the arrangement I made before had an effect through Bu Quan."
Shuanglian only intervened to rescue Bu Quan. For a while after, she did not take any further action. Ultimately, however, she returned to the docks with Bu Quan.
This action seemed somewhat contradictory, but Zi Di immediately reconstructed the sequence of events.
"Alchemy data from that authority was extraordinarily valuable. This was true for the Lijian family, as well as Mage Shuanglian," Zong Ge remarked.
He was not a Mage and did not understand the realm of alchemy. This time, he had truly witnessed its impact.
Zi Di, however, sighed, her expression not pleased.
Their original plan had not included deepening cooperation with the Lijian family or leveraging the power of Shuanglian.
Even if Zong Ge had underestimated the value of the War Merchant data repositories, Zi Di and Cang Xu certainly had not.
They had not proceeded in this manner due to the enormous risks involved.
It was a world of the strong.
A child holding a fortune in a busy market would not find everyone willing to trade fairly with the child.
If robbery were possible, why bother conducting business?
The survivors were much weaker compared to the Lijian family, Mage Shuanglian, and others. Engaging in such trade would be tantamount to bargaining with a tiger; a moment’s inattention could lead to being swallowed whole, leaving no trace.
It was such considerations that had prevented the survivors from implementing these plans.
But in practice, they were left with no choice.
The mysterious forces were extremely powerful and aggressively encroaching. Zi Di had considered retreating, but the sunk costs were too high now.
The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps would undoubtedly be severely weakened.
Zi Di knew that for an organization to survive, it must profit. At a minimum, income and expenses had to balance.
Halting the plan to surge into the Magic Potion Market would be a significant financial loss; the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps would soon be on the verge of bankruptcy.
This she could not accept.
As an outstanding commander, Zong Ge was also well aware of their own situation: "Right now, reaching a cooperation with both the Lijian family and Shuanglian is the best scenario. They can check each other."
"That’s right," Zi Di nodded.
According to the intelligence gathered, Shuanglian herself was a Gold Level Mage. With the Mixo Mage Tower, she possessed incredibly strong combat power.
Not only that, she also controlled a half-plane, boasting considerable wealth.
Her own identity was not simple either, being an elder of the Alchemy Guild. Compared to most elders, her position was even more important and special.
Being backed by the Alchemy Guild, this allowed Shuanglian alone to have the credentials to challenge the Lijian family.
Trapped between the two major powers, the survivors also found the cracks to cling to life, managing to catch their breath in front of a powerful enemy.
Zong Ge said, "Perhaps, we could also let Shuanglian invest in our Dragon Power Riding Potion business. Wouldn’t using the Alchemy Guild be even more effective in counterbalancing the Lijian family?"
Zi Di glanced at Zong Ge and thought to herself, "That’s a very foolish suggestion."
But Zi Di did not show any peculiar expression, instead patiently explaining, "We can’t do that."
"The Alchemy Guild and Shuanglian both possess strong pharmaceutical capabilities. If we bring them in, it would pose a huge threat to us."
"With the three parties cooperating, the formula for the Dragon Power Riding Potion won’t withstand reverse-engineering. Our pharmaceutical ability is far inferior to that of the Alchemy Guild."
"As for the Lijian family, they are not outstanding in pharmaceuticals, in fact, that’s one of the bases for our previous partnership. They need our pharmaceutical ability, and we need their retail spaces and personal connections."
"So, if we introduce the Alchemy Guild from the Ice Sculpture Kingdom, they will ally due to interests, and the eventual result would be us being eliminated by the two sides working together."
Zong Ge was stunned, then nodded slightly, not speaking again.
Zi Di continued, "In fact, in the Magic Potion Market, the Ice Sculpture Kingdom’s Alchemy Guild is one of our major competitors."
"Once they realize the substantial benefits of mount magic potions through our plan, they will definitely enter the fray and compete with us in business."
"Up to now, they haven’t made a move, which I find strange."
"However, other forces have already reacted. For example, most of the knockoff Dragon Power Riding Potions on the market come from the Jingxiang family."
"In the Magic Potion business, we only cooperate with the Lijian family because they are one of the Kingdom’s top three massive forces, robust enough to shelter this interest."
"At the same time, they have no achievements in magic potions, so they rely on us to get involved in the Magic Potion Market."
"When negotiating with Mian licang, I believe you also realized that the Lijian family is a force with a thriving spirit of enterprise."
"The commercial partnership in magic potions is an opportunity and direction for them to grow and expand."
Zong Ge nodded again.
He was not clear before, but after Zi Di’s thorough explanation, he now understood the many considerations behind Zi Di’s choice to partner with the Lijian family.
Zi Di continued to read the end of the encrypted letter.
"This is bad," her face changed color, "Big guy is lost!"
"What?!" Zong Ge also couldn’t help but exclaim in a low voice.
"Ah..." Zi Di stared at the secret letter and let out a deep sigh.
The decryption was complete, and all the text on the envelope had changed.
Zi Di handed the secret letter to Zong Ge: "Take a look for yourself."
Zong Ge skimmed through the text at a glance, reading it quickly.
Zong Ge murmured to himself, analyzing softly.
"The Golden Level Magic Chef Da Dou, did he take Big guy away?"
"After being alarmed by the previous assassination attempt by Yijiu, Big guy became frenzied, and was led into the dueling field. Then, through a series of blunders, he ate voraciously displaying extraordinary Bloodline..."
"Given his performance in the dueling field, it’s easy to guess he has Golden Level Bloodline Talent."
"But why did Da Dou act so decisively, why?"
"In doing this, Da Dou violated the laws of the Ice Sculpture Kingdom by brazenly kidnapping someone and is unable to continue participating in the National Ceremony."
"Is such a great cost worth it?"
"Was it retaliation for Sanda’s final choice to eat the Ci Haishen dish?"
"Or is it that..."
Zi Di took over, "Or is it that Da Dou has already seen through the facade, determining that Big guy’s value is much higher than just at the Golden Level!"
Zong Ge fell silent.
If that were the case, it would be very bad.
"If he is convinced that Big guy has at least Holy Domain Level potential, then this kidnapping is completely rational."
Zi Di then worriedly said, "When the squad leader comes back and sees Little Darling missing, I’m afraid we won’t be able to explain it to him."
"But if we go back right now..."
Zi Di’s business plan was equally important.
Having just launched in-depth cooperation with the Lijian family, returning now to Snowbird Port would undoubtedly greatly hinder the progress of the business plan.
Zong Ge, with a grave expression, said: "I advise against rushing back to rescue Big guy."
"If Da Dou is acting out of spite, his primary target would only be Ci Haishen."
"Even if he wants to lash out at our Mercenary Corps, it would be through an attack, not kidnapping Big guy and then fleeing with valuable alchemy tools."
"Da Dou decidedly values Big guy’s future, hence he daringly took action, forsaking his participation in the National Ceremony."
"Therefore, for the time being, Big guy’s personal safety is not in danger."
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!