Chapter 825: Chapter 613: Five Level 0 Secret Orders (Bonus 8/11)
Zi Di’s tone was heavy, “But by that time, we can only refuse.”
“After all, the Captain Long Fu is only at Silver Level of Fighting Energy.”
“Therefore, even if we refuse, it won’t damage our reputation too much.”
Reputation will surely be tarnished, as the citizens of the Ice Sculpture Kingdom despise those who fear war.
But a Silver Level fighting against a Golden Level is understandable.
If it were Golden Level, avoiding a battle would be a fatal blow to one’s reputation. In the Ice Sculpture Kingdom, it would be social death, even common folks would strongly disdain it.
Zi Di and Zong Ge have spent a fair amount of time in the kingdom and have a good understanding of the local customs.
If “Long Fu” admits defeat or suffers a loss, it will undoubtedly bring a massive negative impact on the Magic Potion business.
Zong Ge said noncommittally, “The thirteenth prince is not a suitable candidate, but Shichijiro might be worth engaging.”
Zi Di and Zong Ge had previously discussed it. Given that the communication avenues of the Purple Vine Shop are unavailable, their current strategy is to wait in the Royal Capital and use the National Ceremony to find suitable Empire high-level target personnel for engagement.
According to the intelligence, Shichijiro’s character isn’t great, but his network is powerful.
The seven undead blessings he carries are the best evidence of this.
Befriending Shichijiro at least enables good relations with the seven sects of the Holy Bright Empire.
While Zi Di and Zong Ge were discussing matters, deep underground in the Ice Sculpture Royal Capital, within the Ten-thousand-year-old Ice Lake,
The Magic Energy Ship, disguised as a huge iceberg, named Glider was quietly drifting.
Elder Yuan Ci was in the captain’s room, watching scenes of Magic Images.
These images included many Alchemy Mages and the Magic Energy Ships they piloted or the Alchemy Puppets they controlled.
All these mages were retreating without exception.
But Elder Yuan Ci’s face looked grim.
Because just as these Alchemy Mages were retreating, Elder Yuan Ci received a message on his end.
The message was conveyed through a secretive channel, both an invitation and, to some extent, a warning. Elder Yuan Ci was very familiar with the sender and quite annoyed by him.
His judgment inclined towards believing the message was true.
“This is troublesome.”
“I thought I had much more time left.”
“Now it seems, I must quickly activate the Purple Vine Secret Stash.”
Activating the Purple Vine Secret Stash requires five Level 0 Purple Vine Secret Orders.
Elder Yuan Ci calculated; he himself had one item, the sender had one, the newly emerged Ghost Vine (Zi Di) had one. That already made three.
The sender had already contacted another holder of Secret Orders, while Yuan Ci needed to rescue the fifth order holder, who was currently imprisoned.
“Shi Liu… you old fellow, I never thought it would end up with me saving you.”
“However, with my own strength alone, rescuing him is rather difficult.”
“It’s perfect timing to contact Ghost Vine and invite him for a joint venture. Also, an opportunity to ascertain his true allegiance.”
After separating from Zong Ge, Zi Di received a contact from Elder Yuan Ci.
After clarifying the identity of the empire’s spy, her trust in Elder Yuan Ci significantly increased.
Elder Yuan Ci straightforwardly stated his intention, which shocked Zi Di.
“You mean, Elder Jiu Jin of the Alchemy Guild, who is also one of the elders of our Guild?”
Zi Di had never thought the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce also had connections within the Alchemy Guild in the Ice Sculpture Kingdom, and so strong as well.
It’s important to know that becoming an elder of the Alchemy Guild is certainly not ordinary. Even an honorary elder is not to be underestimated.
Elder Yuan Ci said, “When our Chamber was at its peak, we had shops in key cities of the Ice Sculpture Kingdom and had business dealings with the Royal Family.”
“Back then, during the branch setup on Ice Sculpture Island, we recruited Jiu Jin, financed his promotion to become an elder of the Alchemy Guild, and he fully returned the favor, helping the Chamber to establish a foothold and open up the market here.”
“After the Chamber restructured, Jiu Jin, whose own background leaned more towards the Ice Sculpture Kingdom, did not receive any settlement and continued serving as a guild elder. Moreover, he took the opportunity to boldly seize many assets of the Chamber.”
Zi Di’s face slightly sunk, “So he’s a traitor.”
Elder Yuan Ci said, “It depends on how you view it. At least, that’s what I think. But some believe that what Jiu Jin did wasn’t wrong. He was only in a cooperative relationship, mutually beneficial, and did return the favor to the Purple Vine Chamber. As for seizing the Chamber’s assets… if he didn’t do it, others would have. They say, ‘better our own people to keep it,’ right?”
Zi Di picked up the implied meaning, “So he has supporters in the current Chamber? Who are they?”
Elder Yuan Ci said, “It’s Cong Mang.”
“Who is Cong Mang?”
“The Captain of the Vegetable Basket Pirate Group. He is a Druid but also practices Fighting Energy and is skilled in staff techniques.”
“At the beginning, when the Purple Vine Chamber opened maritime routes and dealt with pirates, he was handpicked by the Chairman himself. We provided him support to grow his own force, enabling him to join the Firebeard pirate group, and through him, maintained several crucial sea routes.”
Zi Di was once again surprised: “I didn’t expect that the Guild has such arrangements at sea.”
Elder Yuan Ci chuckled softly: “Many business channels are laid secretly and won’t be documented. On the surface, all our Guild’s accounts are clean.”
“Regarding this matter, the Chairman and other elders, including myself, are all very cautious.”
“Unfortunately, when the empire’s upper echelons want to take action against us, they will not look at these clean proofs.”
Zi Di roughly understood.
Jiu Jin and Cong Mang were important partners cultivated by the Guild during its overseas business expansion. Therefore, their attitude towards the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce was relatively similar, and there would definitely be no emotional basis like Fat Tongue. When the Guild was reorganized, more accurately when it declined, they would have no loyalty to speak of.
Elder Yuan Ci said, “Opening the Purple Vine Secret Stash requires 5 Level 0 Secret Orders. Currently, you and I have two, Jiu Jin and Cong Mang have two, leaving one more, requiring us to join forces to break into the prison and rescue Shi Liu. He also has a Level 0 Secret Order.”
“Who is Shi Liu?” Zi Di found that she was almost completely clueless about the personnel of her own Guild.
Elder Yuan Ci made no attempt to conceal anything because he needed Zi Di’s full cooperation later. Now was the moment he needed to show sincerity: “Shi Liu is an Earth Element Body, precisely speaking, a Magnetic Earth Element. Why he possesses a Level 0 Secret Order, I do not know the specifics. It was personally handed to him by the old Chairman at the time.”
“Why was he imprisoned, and where is he being held?” Zi Di pressed further.
Elder Yuan Ci sighed, “He hails from Magnetic Island; you might have heard of this island group, as it involves two treasures. People have ventured to seek them for thousands of years to no avail. Of course, this is not our primary focus. But it is said that Shi Liu once came into contact with part of the treasure and grasped a key clue.”
Zi Di thought for a moment: “In this way, indeed we have gathered all 5 Level 0 Secret Orders. But how should we cooperate?”
“To be honest, what I most want to do right now is to find Miss Zi Di.”
“If this matter takes too much effort, burdens my energy, the risk is too high, and the allocation to me is insufficient, I won’t do it.”
Zi Di was probing for more information by retreating to advance.
Elder Yuan Ci said, “Time is relatively tight.”
“This is also the information that Jiu Jin contacted me to inform me about.”
“The Kingdom has been laying out plans here for many years, starting from the current King’s ascension, only this year did it formally conclude, leaking information, which Jiu Jin detected.”
“The Royal Family’s actions were huge, constructing a super Magic Array in the Ten-thousand-year-old Ice Lake. If this Magic Array is activated, it would greatly enhance the Royal Family’s surveillance and defense of the Ice Lake.”
“Therefore, Jiu Jin is particularly worried that missing this time frame, it would be very troublesome, even impossible, to secretly dig out the Purple Vine Secret Stash in the future.”
Zi Di finally understood the root cause.
She frowned: “How did Jiu Jin know of my existence?”
Elder Yuan Ci: “He is not aware. He just agreed with me that the distribution of the Purple Vine Secret Stash is related to the number of Secret Orders we invite.”
“The two of us hold the greatest advantage, and we will contribute the most effort, so naturally, we should occupy a large share. Next is Cong Mang, Ghost Vine, you, and Shi Liu. It depends on how much contribution you make in this excavation.”
“Rest assured, we will conduct further discussions beforehand, and will also sign inviolable contracts.”
“Of course, the premise is that we can invite all 5 Secret Order holders.”
“I see,” Zi Di responded, before falling into contemplation.
Elder Yuan Ci did not urge her, quietly waiting.
What Zi Di had in mind was: she didn’t need to rescue Shi Liu at all. From Elder Yuan Ci, she had already learned that, as Zi Di, the only daughter of the old Chairman, her Level 0 Secret Order could count as three.
In her plan: she, Fat Tongue, and Yuan Ci already made up 5 portions. There was no need for Jiu Jin, Cong Mang, or that Shi Liu.
Thus, she had already ordered Fat Tongue to come over from Snowbird Port.
But plans can’t keep up with changes.
“Elder Yuan Ci still can’t be completely trusted.”
“It would be best to contact Jiu Jin for a face-to-face evaluation, and also attempt to validate from other aspects.”
“No need to reveal my true identity to them. Perhaps I can use this to my advantage.”
“Jiu Jin is an Elder of the Alchemy Guild; to open the stash, we might need his official cover.”
“Cong Mang is powerful himself and also a member of the Firebeard pirate group. If he’s left out, it might anger him, causing more trouble.”
“Shi Liu… rescuing him involves taking risks.”
After thinking for a moment, Zi Di through a communication device, said to Elder Yuan Ci: “Alright, I am inclined to cooperate with you.”
“But before that, I need to personally speak with Elder Jiu Jin and Captain Cong Mang.”
Elder Yuan Ci said: “I understand, I will help you contact that old fellow Jiu Jin.”
“But Cong Mang is still on the way. You might have to wait until after we cooperate and rescue Shi Liu before you can see him.”
Zi Di frowned: “He’s a member of the Firebeard pirate group; entering Ice Sculpture Island rashly isn’t easy, right?”
Elder Yuan Ci nodded: “During the Ice Sculpture National Ceremony, the whole country is tightly defended, indeed it’s not easy.”
“But this time, the fourth leader of the Firebeard pirate group, Da Han, is also coming here. He is a Holy Domain Level existence and also has a Holy Domain Level Magic Pet. So, with Cong Mang at his side, it is quite safe. The Kingdom’s Navy can’t do anything to him.”
“And once he lands on the island, naturally, there is this local tyrant Jiu Jin to meet him. Thus, in all likelihood, we will successfully rendezvous.”