"Tsk tsk, living like a real-life castaway at sea. A little interesting."
"If you manage to survive here, maybe you can even establish your own kingdom."
"Hahahaha, a kingdom of a few hundred people? Don’t make me laugh."
"This is an active map, not one of those where you won’t run into another Tuiyuan for decades or centuries. With so few people, you’ll probably just be hunted down as savages."
"Come on, do a savage dance for us. If you do a good job, I’ll reward you with a chicken leg."
The people around them were talking and laughing, conversing as if no one else was there after figuring out Yang Long’s identity.
In their eyes, someone who had their Tuiyuan status revoked was no longer one of them, no different from the local natives.
Surrounded, the smile on Yang Long’s face had long since frozen. He hunched over, head bowed, doing his best to appear harmless, not daring to give anyone a reason to think twice about him.
"If you hadn’t activated a Home before, I could’ve taken you into mine to work for me. A pity. Someone like you, who failed a competition and lost their status as a Lord of the Homeland, is worse than the guard dog in my Home," a bronze-skinned man with braided hair jeered, pointing at Yang Long’s nose.
Yang Long forced a smile and said humbly, "Our opponents were too strong. We couldn’t win."
The braided man sneered, "How strong could they be? Weak is weak. You were just too useless. You’re lucky you didn’t run into me. If we had met on a free-for-all map, I’d have taught you a lesson."
Someone next to him chimed in obsequiously, "Brother Meng’s iron cavalry is unmatched! If we ever have the chance to meet, please look after us."
The braided man, known as Brother Meng, laughed. "Of course. We’re all on the same side. If we meet, I’ll definitely look after you."
After speaking, Brother Meng turned to the old man in the center of the crowd and said, "President, I have matters to attend to back at my Home. The opponents on this map are a bit troublesome, so I need to go back and keep an eye on things. I’ll have my second-in-command stay and help, and I’ll leave the men I brought with me."
The old man, sitting in a chair on the deck, had his eyes slightly closed as if he were asleep.
As he didn’t speak, Meng Ye remained standing where he was.
"President, I also have matters at my Home. I’ll leave the men I brought with me on the ship," a man in red spoke up from the side.
"President..."
Once one person spoke, the others on deck quickly followed suit, each adding their own excuse.
The old man spoke slowly, "If you’re busy, go on back. Just leave the people you brought."
Before long, the crowd on the deck had dispersed.
Only a few people remained. A woman in a black dress said indignantly, "President, they’ve all left. They use your name to get by, but now that there’s trouble, they all run and hide."
The old man opened his eyes, which showed little surprise. "It’s normal. Our relationship was always one of mutual convenience, and we’re all in different places. How much loyalty can you expect? Besides, this is for a personal matter of mine. Go take a headcount."
"Yes." The woman turned, took two steps, then stopped. Looking back, she asked casually, "President, what should we do with the man we just fished out of the water?"
"Lock him on sub-level three. Give him food regularly; don’t let him die. Capture all the other survivors on the island as well. We’ll deal with them all together." After speaking, the old man covered his mouth and coughed a few times.
The woman nodded slightly. "Yes, President."
...
Jia Liangcai handed a ledger to Qin Ziwen. "My Lord, everything from Great Yong has been delivered."
Qin Ziwen took it and placed it on a nearby table. "Good. And how has Xue Wang been behaving these past few days?"
"He’s been very docile."
Qin Ziwen tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. "Invite him to a meal. When he’s finished eating, send him back."
「Ten minutes later, in a private room on the top floor of the Wanfu Grand Restaurant.」
Xue Wang stared at the large, roasted centipede on the table, his expression complicated.
The chefs at the Wanfu Grand Restaurant were all recruited from the Gated Community.
With several thousand people in the Gated Community, quite a few had worked as chefs before.
One of them had previously worked in the kitchen of a Five-Star hotel and was skilled at plating.
In a large iron basin on the table, a meter-long garlic centipede steamed, presented just like a Boston lobster. Its shell had been peeled away, but its carapace and tail feelers were left intact, making it look lifelike. Beneath the opened shell lay tender, pinkish-white meat.
"Is this a local specialty?" Xue Wang asked, pointing to the meter-long centipede on the table.
"You could say that. The meat is very tender, yet firm. Try some."
Xue Wang considered it. Since arriving, he had obediently provided all sorts of supplies; the other party had no reason to harm him. So, he picked up a piece with his chopsticks.
"Is the flavor to your liking?"
"It’s good." Xue Wang nodded and picked up another piece.
’A centipede this big must be practically a magical beast,’ he thought. ’As long as it’s not poisonous, eating it should be incredibly nourishing.’
The meal came to an end.
Qin Ziwen clapped his hands. Xue Wang’s heart sank; he instinctively thought of the classic signal for an ambush—a thrown cup.
Fortunately, it wasn’t axemen who walked in, but the restaurant’s Shopkeeper, Liu.
But when he saw what Liu San was carrying, his heart, which had just settled, leaped into his throat again.
"Take a look at this blade. See if it suits you." Qin Ziwen’s voice reached his ears, and Xue Wang’s heart fell back into place. He took a few deep breaths.
’My heart has been on a real rollercoaster today.’
Xue Wang took the blade and inspected it. Its edge gleamed with a cold light, and it felt reassuringly heavy in his hand. When he flicked it with a finger, the blade hummed.
"A fine blade."
Qin Ziwen smiled faintly. The blade was mixed with a small amount of Ghost Gold, making it a standard-issue weapon for the Gated Community’s Hunting Team. With the various enhancements from the Military Equipment Supervisor, it would absolutely be considered a divine weapon in a normal ancient society.
"The blade is yours."
Xue Wang hesitated. As a Military General by trade, he found it hard to resist the temptation of a fine blade. "What’s the condition?"
"No conditions. It’s a gift."
Xue Wang was suspicious but didn’t let it show. He drew the dagger from his waist and struck it against the blade. CLANG!
A sesame-seed-sized nick appeared on his dagger, while the blade remained completely unscathed.
Xue Wang was secretly delighted. ’My dagger is made of hundred-forged refined iron, yet this blade is even better.’
Qin Ziwen asked, "How much would a blade like this be worth where you’re from?"
Xue Wang replied without hesitation, "Priceless. I wouldn’t trade it for a thousand pieces of gold."
Qin Ziwen picked up his teacup. "I have more. If you want them, I can sell you some."
Xue Wang finally relaxed. ’Ah, so he just wants to sell me blades.’
Xue Wang said, "I might not have that much more grain. I have a large army to feed. I can provide another 20,000 shi at most. Can I trade with something else?"
"What can you offer?"
"Money." Xue Wang took a gold leaf from his robes and placed it on the table. In Qin Ziwen’s eyes, the surface of the gold leaf had a faint, fluorescent glow. "One thousand taels of silver per blade!"
...
...