Chapitre 41: The Best Times
Watching Kami and Ernado turn around and leave without a word, Bai Yi's smile faded slightly. He turned and walked toward the inner city. Mossen followed slowly, examining the cracked crystal in his hand. In a kindly tone, he said, "You made the right choice. At least three factions want this thing; you really can't keep it."
Bai Yi replied gently, "Thank you in advance, Commander. I only want to recover some losses. I'm sorry to cause you trouble."
A look of approval crossed Mossen's eyes. Bending his knees, he leaped lightly and landed atop his demon lion, balancing effortlessly. "Just remember that you grew up in Dongwu City; nothing else matters." The demon lion beneath him began to accelerate, and soon it was several body lengths ahead of Bai Yi. Mossen tossed his giant sword into the air, and it fell smoothly into the scabbard on his back.
"If you need a place to stay, the City Lord's Mansion is always open to you. No one will be able to harm you there," Mossen said calmly. Without waiting for Bai Yi's response, he spurred his demon lion forward. Holding the ancient god's flesh and blood in one hand, he surged straight toward the inner city, leaving Bai Yi behind.
His voice echoed through the East City District: "Tianqi, clean up the battlefield. Wucheng, start rebuilding the housing area. Within three days, I want this place restored to its original state!"
"Yes!" came a thunderous response. Soldiers on the outskirts of Dongcheng District sprang into action, and even those who had fought in the battle joined the cleanup efforts. The once-deserted district suddenly buzzed with activity.
Bai Yi paused, a fleeting tenderness crossing his eyes before quickly disappearing. This was the best era for the talented; fame, wealth, and everything imaginable were within reach for those with ability. If Mossen took the flesh and blood of the ancient god directly to the City Lord's Mansion, Bai Yi's troubles would vanish entirely.
The true targets of Night Rose and Will were the flesh and blood of the ancient god. As long as he didn't possess it, their hostility toward him would dissipate. Instead, they would focus on acquiring it rather than targeting him personally. Unless Bai Yi showed overt hostility, there was no reason for them to attack him.
On the surface, Bai Yi had no knowledge of Black Rose. Any actions he had taken tonight could be attributed to the intelligence agency that employed him. Night Rose and Will might suspect his motives, but their powerful intelligence networks would ensure they received a sanitized report absolving him of direct involvement. After all, up until today, Bai Yi had maintained an unblemished record.
Just then, the sharp screech of brakes sounded nearby, and an Apocalypse soldier stopped a sports car near Bai Yi. An elf soldier stepped out, bowing gracefully. "Mr. White Plague, do you need a ride?"
Bai Yi nodded, activated his headset, and settled into the back seat.
"Please sit tight, Mr. Bai Yi," the elf said, pressing the accelerator. The vehicle shot forward, and soldiers ahead had already cleared a path through the ruins. Moving briskly, they guided the car toward the center of the district.
With three days allotted for the cleanup, and with Dongcheng District's main roads paved with an alchemical substance similar to asphalt that dried within an hour, restoring the area seemed feasible. The 40,000 workers involved made the task easier, especially as the homes here were simple wooden structures. Thanks to the extraordinary strength of the workers, land and buildings could be quickly restored.
In his headset, Sabo's voice came through with a slight electronic buzz. "My dear friend, some preparations have been made. By tomorrow, all of Dongwu City will know there's an 18-year-old silver-level alchemist who seized the flesh and blood of an ancient god, only for the Commander of the Apocalypse Legion to retrieve it."
Sabo's tone grew more mysterious. "Additionally, many wealthy citizens in the inner city were robbed simultaneously. It's suspected that multiple mysterious organizations are operating in Tobu City, and their numbers are not small."
Bai Yi propped his head on one hand, gazing out the window. He tapped his earpiece thoughtfully. He and Sabo had worked together for half a year, building a profitable alliance with the City Lord's Mansion, and they shared an unspoken understanding.
Sabo's voice sharpened, "Heh, I know. I heard everything. But my friend, this situation is tricky; the Federation is vast, and there are few inter-city communication devices."
A thoughtful expression crossed Bai Yi's face. After a moment, he replied softly, "I'll give you 20%, but you'll need to handle everything."
"Oh, my friend…" Sabo sounded hesitant. He knew little about the specifics of this auction, and even with rare items like a soul crystal core or ancient god's flesh, it might not attract the true elite of the Dawn Federation. If these items were too trivial, calling in favors could be a wasted effort.
"What I need is a grand auction. I'll make sure you have the leverage to secure key hires by dawn." Bai Yi ended the communication, reclined in the passenger seat, and reached out to find a cup of hot milk at his hand. He sipped it thoughtfully.
The idea for the auction had come to him on a whim, originally as a way to profit from the flesh and blood of the ancient god, anticipating high bids from Will and Night Rose. But now he realized the auction could offer much more. He could introduce technologies and innovations from the future, capitalizing on ideas that hadn't even been conceived yet.
However, funding such advancements would require multiple sources, something beyond the capabilities of any single organization—or even himself. This led Bai Yi to think of "cost-free investment": selling technology in exchange for shares.
If Bai Yi became a partner with the wealthiest people, he might one day become the richest man in the Federation, making money a trivial concern. And an alchemist unburdened by financial constraints could grow faster than ever.
As ambition gleamed in his eyes, he reminded himself to be cautious. Focusing solely on potential gains would be reckless. The future arrival of players would bring radical, groundbreaking ideas, sparking a period of innovation across the federations. This fortune was enormous, but maximizing its value would require careful planning.
For now, Bai Yi decided to delay further decisions. He'd make concrete plans once he returned to his secure base at the pharmacy. His gaze shifted to the control panel, already brimming with new information.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone