NOVPUBChapter 727 -676: Indignation
“As far as I know, the Chairman of the Forest Group, Mr. Lin Rui, has unparalleled influence and vast connections within the Earth Federation. Whatever the Light God Sect seeks, unless it’s exceedingly rare or advanced, this Mr. Lin should be able to procure.”
Lin Rui, within the Earth Federation, undoubtedly lives up to the phrase “unparalleled influence.”
His cooperation with East Asia is deeply entrenched—not only in the co-development of the new armament, but Lin Rui has also personally participated in the East Asia Science Academy’s X Project.
The East Asian side even wishes to dispatch three Academicians to intervene in the observational research on Abyss Battle Dragons and two Heavenly Maidens. However, the conditions offered by East Asia have not yet met Lin Rui’s expectations, so he has temporarily declined.
Lin Rui naturally wishes for sufficient strong scientific support to help him and his two sisters devise strategies against the Abyss revival and seek methods to further enhance the Abyss Battle Dragons and strengthen their human bodies. But the premise has to be absolute safety and reliability.
Thus, the items Lin Rui now seeks from the East Asian side are essentially all negotiable. Even the bakery owner, Mr. Alexey Vasiliyev, has expressed willingness to strengthen cooperation with him.
The Federation Government, meanwhile, dares not provoke him. Just yesterday afternoon, the Procuratorate withdrew charges against him.
Moreover, the two Generals of the Security Bureau have tacitly allowed his forbidden trade dealings with the Light God Sect.
Lin Rui, speaking and smiling simultaneously, stood up and said, “You two, have a good discussion. This Marquis has important matters to attend to, so I shall not accompany you further.”
At this moment, Zhao Chongling’s expression shifted slightly, and he spoke up, “National Guardian Marquis, recently rumors have spread inside and outside Luojing City, saying that Cui Peipei is very likely to let her disciple Han Xian’er challenge you on the day of Star Port’s opening. There are even betting pools wagering on the outcome between you and Han Xian’er.
According to our Light God Sect intelligence, Han Xian’er has been staying at your Great Song relay station for three months, practicing an Eight Realms Super Monarch-level Secret Sword. Please, National Guardian Marquis, be extremely cautious.”
Han Xian’er is a master at Emperor Rank of the Seventh Realm, surpassing this Hidden Crown Prince of Great Song by an entire realm!
If this woman truly possesses the Eight Realms Super Monarch Secret Sword, her odds of victory will significantly increase.
If Lin Hao falls to Han Xian’er, that would certainly stir some excitement.
“Han Xian’er?” Lin Rui, hearing this, didn’t feel worried but instead his lips curled slightly in a smile, and his eyes revealed an expression of anticipation: “This Marquis has it under control, Divine Envoy, rest assured!”
After this Star Port opening, his fourth Quasi-Member-level subordinate would soon fall into his pocket—how could he not be happy?
Don’t be fooled by Lin Yi and Lin Xi’s ability to wield Abyss Battle Dragons, achieving Immortal-level combat power for a minute’s duration. The reality is that his faction still sorely lacks top-level experts like Han Xian’er and Xianyu Yan to bolster its prestige.
This time, Lin Yi and Lin Xi might have demonstrated their divine prowess, but the pollution accumulated within their bodies remains a dire problem. Even Lin Rui now requires at least a month’s time to completely purify the toxins within them.
In other words, for the upcoming month, the two sisters can only serve as ornaments—not only unable to engage in combat but also unable to train normally.
Thus, at present, his two sisters can only act as trump cards and not conventional combat forces.
Lin Rui, in the Federation, entirely relies on bluffing; his greatest fear now is multiple factions harassing him, leaving him exhausted and stretched thin.
Lin Rui’s sales channels across various Base Cities, along with a few sect zones and hospitals, are currently beyond his reach and the most easy to strike.
He cannot always send his two sisters into action.
The Longevity Association has many astute members—they should quickly discern his weak points.
Lin Rui has already begun establishing communications with various Base City bigshots, planning to entrust these hospitals and chain pharmacies’ security at high costs to their private security companies.
Beyond that, however, he needs reciprocal deterrence capability to counter the Longevity Association tooth-for-tooth.
After Lin Rui departed, Lu Hanyuan smiled faintly and said in a sincere tone, “I wonder what items Divine Envoy Zhao wishes to procure, and what quantities? Let’s make it straightforward—you can make a list now, and I’ll provide you with a price quote right away?”
He actually had a lot of tasks to handle and couldn’t spare much time for small talk with Zhao Chongling.
Lu Hanyuan, aside from overseeing and organizing the trade fleet, had to assist Lin Rui in acquiring some companies and recruiting Dragon Transformation Martial Artists.
In this instance at Ninth Base City, the deaths of three Congressman-level individuals and five Quasi-Members had left a number of valuable assets.
Among them are a drugstore chain with 22,000 outlets, a hospital chain with 37 branches, two Alien Companies, and two Dragon Transformation Martial Artist teams of 60 to 70 members each, which can significantly bolster Lin Rui’s strength.
However, the issue up for discussion with Zhao Chongling next holds greater importance to Mr. Lin.
“As the National Guardian Marquis just mentioned, as long as the items you wish to buy aren’t the absolute top-tier controlled goods, our Forest Group can get them for you. And on behalf of the Marquis, the prices will never exceed the normal black market rates of Sky Extreme Star.”
At this moment, Lu Hanyuan’s voice paused, his tone sinking coldly and seriously: “But our Chairman also has a matter—one that he wishes to request the Light God Sect’s assistance with, precisely an intervention from King Ming himself!”
A moment later, Zhao Chongling’s expression subtly changed.
The matter Lu Hanyuan entrusted him with understandably caught him by surprise.
※※※※
Not long afterward, Lin Rui received a message from Lu Hanyuan: BOSS, it’s settled. Regarding the rescue of the Second General, the man surnamed Zhao didn’t agree outright. He said they need to consult King Ming and conduct an internal discussion first.
Lu Hanyuan: The man surnamed Zhao is incredibly tough with bargaining. He said if King Ming consents to act, the goods we provide cannot exceed 85% of the black market price.
When sending this message, Lu Hanyuan shrugged.
Consulting “King Ming” is essentially asking the BOSS himself for his opinion.
Zhao Chongling didn’t realize that his supposed “negotiation” here was essentially a show orchestrated by the BOSS, simply to mislead other observers.
Even at 85% of black market rates, the margin remains highly profitable—at least 155%. Nonetheless, the Light God Sect is not yet part of the BOSS’s personal empire, so they must earn what they can, especially given the risks involved.
Shortly after, Lin Rui received a forwarded message sent by the Heavenly Fragrance Divine Envoy from the Shancai Divine Envoy.
Currently, internal communications within the Light God Sect, including all notes from the “Three Pillars, Five Envoys, Seven Kings” directed to King Ming, are received and forwarded by the Heavenly Fragrance Divine Envoy.
As for the Shancai Divine Envoy’s request, Lin Rui naturally had no reason to refuse.
His proposed price had been determined long ago: three 9SSS-grade Outer Elixirs, six units of Type-9 High-Strength X Source Essence Injections, one Emperor 9S+ Exoskeleton Armor, and two 9SS+ Red Spider Combat Robots.
The 9SSS-grade Outer Elixir represents the pinnacle of Earth Federation’s Outer Elixir technology, with each unit costing up to 3 billion federal coins.
As for SSS+ units, they remain unstable at present.
The Type-9 High-Strength X Source Essence Injections were requested specifically for Luo Wangshu. Luo Wangshu’s Martial Intent conceptualization had already reached a sixfold level. To progress further, reach the threshold of Immortal Level, and optimally enhance physical attributes, X Source Essence was required to help Luo Wangshu manifest her own Abyss Source Material.
Similarly, the Emperor 9S+ Exoskeleton Armor was asked for Luo Wangshu, who coveted the Invincible Dharma King’s set dubbed “Mad Dragon.”
Thus, Lin Rui requested a blank white Emperor 9S+ model as the base to ensure functionality at the 9S+ level, later allowing Luo Wangshu to seek out the Mechanical Master for custom modifications.
While Lin Rui’s asking price might seem steep, it was entirely fair.
After all, activating the Supreme Divine Artifact entails not only increasing pollution for King Ming but likely even shortening his lifespan, alongside facing the risk of antagonizing the Abyss in dormancy.
Had Lin Rui offered low prices, Li Xianglong and Lin Tianchen would have suspected him of wrongdoing.
Lin Rui knew that the negotiation baseline for the Second General was 10 trillion federal coins, which had been fully entrusted to him and the Ming Sect for negotiation. Thus, he planned to offer only two 9SSS-grade Outer Elixirs: one each for “King Ming” and his master.
As for High-Strength X Source Essence Injections, only four could be provided. At present, each injection’s market price reached 500 billion federal coins. Meanwhile, the Exoskeleton Armor and Red Spider Combat Robots posed no significant obstacles.
The Security Bureau would surely cover all material costs.
Although Lin Tianchen didn’t operate within commercial avenues, his wealth was undeniably substantial. Not only did he control between 3 trillion to 7 trillion federal coins in emergency funds within the Security Bureau, but his immovable assets alone exceeded 20 trillion federal coins. Moreover, plenty of connections in the corporate and political realms depended on Lin Tianchen’s protection.
Following several rounds of negotiation by “both sides,” terms were finally agreed upon, prompting Lin Rui to send a message to Lin Tianchen: General, the negotiation is complete; the specific plan has been sent to your inbox for review.
Gu Ying Tiandao (Lin Rui): Apologies, old Lu mentioned that Zhao Chongling is a tough negotiator. He said the price he could settle for you at most is this—delivery could take 3 to 5 days, provided you supply sufficient materials for the Array Altar in advance.
At this moment, Lin Tianchen remained in the East Asia Science Academy’s Ninth Base Branch Laboratory—a fortress-like institute.
He was staring at a list—the death toll of his direct subordinates.
After the Longevity Association’s setback at the Ninth Base City, their offensive intensified rather than waned, pushing the casualty numbers on the list up to 43!
Within the Security Bureau, Lin Tianchen’s direct lineages and core affiliations had been purged nearly halfway, leaving the rest in a precarious, anxious state.
Though they’ve sought refuge or hidden themselves in the bureau’s secure facilities, today alone word came that three had encountered misfortune.
Lin Tianchen’s expression appeared indifferent, but his eyes harbored extreme resentment and guilt.
None of his trusted associates had defected so far. While this brought him a sense of relief, it also deepened his anguish and frustration.
At this juncture, he received Lin Rui’s message and email.
Lin Tianchen’s heart momentarily jolted, his eyes shimmering with a glimmer of hope.
“King Ming agreed?” Agreed to intervene—to activate his Supreme Divine Artifact.
Lin Tianchen subsequently skimmed through the email, paying it little attention afterward.
Requesting King Ming’s intervention certainly required a hefty price. The steeper the terms, the more genuine the intentions were. Moreover, all the requested items were obtainable, with some at no personal cost to him.
Supporting King Ming was highly beneficial for the Earth Federation.
Lin Tianchen exhaled a long sigh of relief and replied to Lin Rui: Xiao Rui, once the Star Port opening is completed, let’s arrange time promptly to replace my armament.
With Lin Rui’s expertise, it’s estimated the replacement for armament would take just a day.
Once replaced, he could free more of his spiritual power and ensure, as King Ming took action, his True Spirit could ascend from his Divine Country.
Lin Tianchen cast another glance at the death list on his virtual screen, before clenching his fists tightly, accompanied by a crackling sound.
