Chapter 538: Chapter 313: Are You Willing to Join Now? (Third Update)
(Nailed it before the stroke of midnight, completing the third update.)
“Ke Qingshan…”
Chewing over the name, Mu Fan had no idea what it represented, and with Black currently unable to converse with him, he found himself at an informational disadvantage in an instant.
“This name is not a secret among the upper echelons, but perhaps those people have already forgotten my name by now.”
The voice coming from the other side, heavily distorted by layers of voice filters, sounded stilted yet profound.
“I’m sorry, Mountain Master Ke, I have not heard this name before.”
“My father was the former Commander of the Federation’s First Army Group… Ke Qilian, although sadly, he died in melancholy on Capital Star six years ago.”
The person behind the screen casually tossed out a name, which Mu Fan also did not recognize, but that did not prevent him from feeling a jolt run through him upon hearing the title.
No wonder Ruan Xiongfei had come to an agreement with him back then, no wonder the matter was never pursued after Purple Jade Star.
Perhaps with his status at that time, he wouldn’t have even noticed someone of Mu Fan’s level.
If it weren’t for the Bald Instructor’s incident becoming such a big deal, prompting the deployment of Thunderhawk, someone of his status would likely not have turned his attention to Purple Jade.
“How? After all, he is now the former Commander.” The shadow behind the screen stressed the word “former,” and despite the layers of filtration, the self-mockery in his tone was detectable.
“I truly did not expect this,” Mu Fan said with a tone of contemplation. There was a lot he did not anticipate; both the surprise that the other party would so readily reveal his identity and the astonishment at the magnitude of the other party’s background.
All these feelings merged into that single sentence.
“I also did not foresee that after my father’s death, I would be chased away from Capital Star like a stray dog. From Capital, to the second Star District, the third, and finally, it was at the fourth Star District where I managed to stabilize my footing. Now I can only maintain a living through some lowly industries… it’s really like monkeys scattering when the tree falls.”
The figure above the screen spread his hands, not without nostalgia.
Before such sentiment, Mu Fan did not casually respond. Even without Black, the other party had told Mu Fan his background as if it were idle chatter. So what was his intent?
Mu Fan, who had come from the wilderness, now deeply felt that his perspective did not rise to the level needed to hold an equal conversation with this person.
Since he could not figure it out, he chose not to dwell on it.
Thinking this, Mu Fan’s mind stabilized even more.
“Mountain Master Ke, please state the purpose of this meeting.”
Mu Fan’s directness, never playing by the conventional rules, clearly took the other by surprise.
“Alright, straight to the point. I want you to join the Mountain Mist Association.”
Ke Qingshan did not hesitate either, directly laying out his intention.
This immediate response was somewhat unexpected, but it did not unsettle Mu Fan.
Mu Fan sat quietly on the cushion, silently gazing at the floor: “Why seek me out?”
“Potential. Your potential,” I know your status at Dingchuan Academy, the only core student among the freshmen and also the direct disciple of Ruan Xiongfei. Let’s not even mention your personal capabilities; just these facts alone are enough for the Mountain Mist Association to make their first investment.”
“Next is something even more important. Ever since you came into the Mountain Mist Association’s view on Purple Jade Star, your score in our database has been rising steadily. Such a rate of increase has not been seen by the Mountain Mist Association within three years. That’s why you have been officially included in the scope of my invitation.”
“And the villa before was merely an apology gift; it wasn’t considered part of the investment.”
Ke Qingshan spoke in an orderly fashion, with a metallic timbre to his voice that sounded strangely resounding and strong, while the information revealed in his words showcased the formidable strength of the Mountain Mist Association.
“What kind of organization is the Mountain Mist Association? Why should I join?”
Upon hearing Mu Fan’s question, the figure opposite fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking:
“Before answering your question, I’d like to ask for your view on the nobility and the Federation.”
“Nobility, Federation?” Mu Fan repeated these two words in surprise and organized his thoughts. “The nobility possesses immense wealth and esteemed status; their lives have little intersection with my ordinary one.”
“As for the Federation, it’s the owner of the land beneath my feet and also possesses a vast military. Right, it seems like the nobility controls most of the federal power. As for the people among the nobility, I’ve met quite a few; some good, some bad, hard to judge.”
Mu Fan spoke his understanding candidly; coming to Yunlan Mountain Villa and meeting with the owner of the Mountain Mist Association seemed to be merely small talk, which caused him to slightly relax his vigilance.
“Hahaha, well said!” The laughter sounded like metal rubbing and sent shivers down one’s spine. The person opposite stood up, casting a straight silhouette against the screen.
“But did you know that the nobility doesn’t just control most of the political power; they control nearly all of it! Even if geniuses emerge among the commoners, they would be bought off with money, seduction, and even wedlock to co-opt them. Even if a few incredibly talented individuals refuse to bend, they would eventually be crushed by the deeply-entrenched, complicated web of vast influence.”
“With the continuation of this situation, the ultimate outcome is the nobility, a bloated and decadent circle, becoming increasingly inflated, firmly controlling all of the upper echelons of the Federation’s resources. The two Councils have become chessboards for various families to gamble with, politics turning into an exchangeable resource, constantly expanding themselves, desperately suppressing their opponents. This has resulted in the current state—a decaying and corrupt Federation! A vast superpower, unaware of its own internecine decline, is aging slowly.”
“And one day, it will die!”
This time, Mu Fan could definitely detect the deep hatred and hostility towards the Federation in Ke Qingshan’s words, which caused him to be alert again. Thinking about the military personnel he had encountered, Mu Fan organized his words and presented his counterargument.
“I disagree. I’ve encountered many soldiers and officers who, driven by their own sense of justice, disregard life and death, and power.” While he said this, the images of those officers he had come across flashed through Mu Fan’s mind.
Aside from a few against him, he had so far been left with a very positive impression by those soldiers.
“Heh, mere pawns. Over the past year, the Federation has erupted into 3,244 wars, large and small. Only less than 200 were legitimate resistances to foreign invasions. The rest were the corrupt nobility seeking their own interests; they concocted some laughable reasons which led to the death of tens of thousands of soldiers!”
“The new force, the Expeditionary Army, is formed by some who spontaneously organize to oppose these vast interest groups! The special recruitment for reservists you experienced is related to them. But do you know how much of the military force they wield within the Federation army? Less than one percent…”
“The asteroid belt you visited, do you know about the mineral wealth contained within those planets? You were merely scouting for the owners of those planets! Those asteroids were divvied up by major political families upon discovery, and the soldiers you saw were merely adding a layer of blood to the noble’s gold mines.”
Ke Qingshan’s words struck Mu Fan like a blow to the head, and he stood up abruptly: “How do you know all this?!”
“Heh. No matter how you put it, that’s the military. This information is merely post-dinner conversation amongst the true upper class. The position you’re in means you cannot see this spectacle of the enormous power decaying and withering away.”
The silhouette above the screen paced back and forth.
“So, I formally invite you to join the Mountain Mist Association. We are merely, in this great interstellar era, amidst countless rising and clashing powers, seizing a share of what belongs to us.”
“Now, do you… wish to join?”