Forty Millenniums of Cultivation, page 1553
His face bushing, Zuo Tianying persuaded the man passionately.
Boss Bai, however, simply looked at the map casually and sucked the last juice on the stem before he said, "It means declaring war on the four Kurfürst families, doesn't it? The risk of this deal is rather high."
Zuo Tianying smiled cunningly and blinked his eyes. "Other people may be intimidated by the risk, but for Boss Bai, have you ever been scared of the four Kurfürst families? During the battle of Blue Star City, you were bold enough to loot the coalition auction of the four Kurfürst families. Not only were all the extraordinary treasures in the auction plundered by you, but even the nobles who participated in the auction were also captured. Then, you evaded the hunting of the four Kurfürst families for thirty-seven times in the next three months, forcing the enemy to pay the ransom in order to get the hostages back. If you are bold enough to make such an astonishing deal, how can you not have the courage to declare war on the four Kurfürst families?"
It was both a secret exaltation and an indirect reminder for Boss Bai—What you did in Blue Star City was too outrageous and blatant. You were already the thorns in the flesh for the old nobles after the smack on the faces of the four Kurfürst families. Did you have a second choice other than jumping on the tank of the reformists?
As he expected, when the "glorious feat" was mentioned, Boss Bai hooted like an owl and nodded his head gloatingly. "That's right, that's right. The universe is large, but there are few businesses that Boss Bai does not dare to do. However, a businessman is not scared of risks, only returns that are not abundant enough. Tell me about it, what will I gain if I stand on the side of the reformists, and what about my Big Bai Pirate Gang as well as the youngsters who make a living with me?"
Zuo Tianying coughed and took out a jade chip from his Cosmos Ring rather mysteriously.
Although it was a "jade chip", it was in the color of dark red and had been produced in the shape of a small scepter.
Holding it in both hands and delivering it to Boss Bai respectfully, he said, "Please take a look, Boss Bai, this is a warrant just issued by the Reform Committee of the Council of Elders. You have been nominated as the highest commander of the garrison of the Hundred Phoenixes Sector. You have also been accoladed as a 'vice admiral' of the army and an honorable 'viscount'.
"As for the fleets under your command, including the affiliating pirate gangs who have joined you, they will all be enlisted into the garrison of the Hundred Phoenixes Sector as the regular army of the Imperium. They are entitled to all the privileges of the army and will have sufficient supplies and monetary support. After the soldiers die, there will be high compensations too."
"Hundred Phoenixes Sector?"
Boss Bai touched the jade chip affectionately but pretended to hesitate. "Vice admiral? Viscount?"
"The Hundred Phoenixes Sector is one of the new worlds that have just been won from the Covenant Alliance. It is a resourceful place and full of hope, enough for anyone to realize their dream."
Zuo Tianying said unhurriedly, "However, since we are on the same side, I will not lie to Boss Bai. You will naturally never report for duty in the Hundred Phoenixes Sector. This is just a title. Only when you have the title will it be appropriate to offer you the corresponding privileges!
"All in all, let's leave the empty stuff behind and talk about the more concrete things. As long as you accept the warrant, you will turn from a space pirate that everybody spits on into a regular army that is legitimate and backed by the entire Imperium!"
"Huh?"
Boss Bai laughed and craned his rat-like head over. He looked peaceful and delighted, but there was a certain infinite horror and coldness in his voice. "Why, Deacon Zuo, do you feel that it is a shame to be a space pirate, and everybody should spit on them?"
Zuo Tianying was more or less stunned. Highly uncomfortable under Boss Bai's eyes, he struggled to reply, "That-That is not what I meant. Being a space pirate is certainly not bad, except… except that it may be inconvenient now and then. If you can be a general of the government army, why would you be a space pirate?"
"It does make sense."
Boss Bai suddenly retreated his aggressive eyes and grinned, as if it were not a big deal. "However, is the warrant presented by the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors reliable or not?"
Chapter 2441: Boss Bai, How Dare You! |
"Of course it is reliable. Please trust us!"
Zuo Tianying said sincerely, "Everybody knows the relationship between the 'Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors' and the reformists. In the beginning, it was thanks to the sponsorship of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors that the reformists started their cause. One of the core concerns of the reformists is also to help us seize the business interests that are supposed to be ours.
"We've helped the reformists for a long time, and it is time for a harvest!
"Right now, Jin Yuyan, the General Deacon of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors, is in charge of the finances of the new Imperium in the Reform Committee of the Council of Elders as a central leader of the reformists. How can his promise not be reliable?
"Just rest assured. As long as you accept the warrant, your career will immediately soar to the sky!"
"Is that so?"
Boss Bai held the dark red jade chip with his fingers and played with it again and again, but he never activated the jade chip to read the content inside. Instead, he looked at Zuo Tianying with a sophisticated smile and said, "I'm afraid that it can't be so simple, right? We've both been through too many dangers to not know that there is no such thing as free lunch. Hehe. Vice admiral, viscount, and commander of the Imperium's army! What do you want in exchange for those fabulous titles?"
"Great! Boss Bai, you are truly an outspoken man!"
Zuo Tianying raised his thumb and coughed again. Then, he threw out the real terms in a low voice, "Since Boss Bai is so straightforward, I'll stop beating around the bush. If you accept the warrant and become a glorious member of the 'new army', you will naturally have to listen to the command of the Reform Committee of the Council of Elders. I know that Boss Bai is a man who does not like restrictions and is used to freedom, but you have to take action with us at least on this one."
Mysteries beamed out of Boss Bai's eyes as he asked casually, "What kind of operation are we talking about?"
"Defend the 'Seven Seas Grand Market', the largest free fair of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors, which is also where our organization is headquartered, together with us in the Seven Seas Space Zone!"
Zuo Tianying said solemnly, "According to the latest intelligence, in order to cut the connection between the reformists and the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors, and to cut the money and resources flowing from the edge of the Imperium to the heart incessantly, the four Kurfürst families have already gathered a coalition fleet, planning to clear the reformists' forces at the peripheral worlds of the Imperium. Their primary target is naturally the headquarters of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors.
"The Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors and the space pirates are interdependent. Once the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors is destroyed, your space pirates will have no place for maintenance, supplies, and exchange of assets and information, and you will be executed by the four Kurfürst families one after another.
"Therefore, the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors has been contacting the great men at the edge of the Imperium and preparing to fight a spectacular head-on battle to defend the Seven Seas Grand Market!
"Boss Bai, the reformists and the Kurfürsten are in a predicament at the center of the cosmos right now, but countless warlords and magnates from other worlds are still observing and hesitating. Those people are exactly 'the silent majority'. Whoever wins their support is likely to win this war and then seize the entire Imperium, ruling over the sea of stars!
"If the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors can win the battle to defend the Seven Seas Grand Market, the weakness and inability of the Kurfürst families will be completely revealed. By then, not only will all the worlds at the periphery of the Imperium side with the reformists, even the people within the territories of the Kurfürst families who crave for a reform will also rise up and turn the world upside down!
"The battle is of paramount importance for us. If Boss Bai can help us win this war, you will be a well-deserved great contributor to the reform. Do I need to tell you the fame, position, resources, and subordinates that will come with your achievement?"
"That explains a lot. And here I was wondering why the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors was asking for the help of so many pirate gangs so anxiously. So, the truth is that your nest is about to be occupied!"
Boss Bai said, "What about the reformists' own fleet? I was told that the reformists boast three main troops right now: the Deep Sea University, the Astounding Thunder Fleet, and the Imperial Guards. They are also working hard to sway the expedition army in the newly-conquered area. Once the expedition army changes to the reformists' side, they will be capable of a head-to-head battle against the Kurfürsten's fleets, right? Why are the fleets of the reformists not doing anything? Are the space pirates like us cannon fodder for you?"
Zuo Tianying thought to himself that, despite his arrogance, the sleazy-looking man was rather sober when it came to the critical things.
But that was within his expectation. If the man did not have such soberness, he wouldn't have become the most brilliant space pirate at the edge of the Imperium in recent years!
With even more sincerity on his face, Zuo Tianying said, "The specific military deployments are top secrets that I am not privileged to know, but I know that this is a critical battle for the reformists, and the best Deep Sea Fleet, the Astounding Thunder Fleet, and the Imperial Guards will not stand by.
"However, the universe is a vast place, and even the largest fleet is but a grain of sand. It will certainly be great if we can talk more men into joining the side of brightness and justice!
"Perhaps when the mantis is hunting the cicada, a sparrow is lurking behind to take the mantis. What if the elites of the reformists appear at their hometowns when the coalition fleets of the four Kurfürsten attack the Seven Seas Grand Market?
"How about it, Boss Bai? Almost forty pirate gangs have accepted the warrants and agreed to side with the reformists and the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors to resist the evil army of the Kurfürsten. Also, they all admire you very much and agreed that as long as you also accept the warrant, they will accept your command in the battle to come. This is a rarely-seen opportunity and the greatest glory for any space pirate!"
Zuo Tianying exclaimed in excitement, as if he were hoping to replace Boss Bai as the leader of the alliance of space pirates.
Boss Bai's breath became apparently hot.
Several red spots burst out on his face that looked like orange peel.
His throat was rolling nonstop while he swallowed hard.
"I am not a man of vanity, hehehehe…"
He finally changed his attitude and said, "Or rather, I think more highly of the practical things than vanity. Things like viscount, vice admiral, commander, or alliance leader are too far away. Let's just talk about the benefits in front of us! Deacon Zuo, about the things you promised when you invited me to come to the Blue Sky Market…"
"The things are all in the dock waiting for Boss Bai's men to pick up!"
Zuo Tianying knew that the guy had finally bitten the hook. He chuckled to himself and pulled the curtain of the office.
Through a clear window, it could be seen that there was a huge dock outside that extended all the way to the boundless space.
The parking places, like the branches of a tree, attracted bizarrely shaped and aggressive starships. Tremendous heavy tractors and spiritual puppets were busy shipping and unloadings like ants and bees.
"Twenty rapid stealth warships of the latest model, five thousand standard crystal suits of the Imperium's army, and ten heavy carriers' worth of crystals, fuel, and ammunitions!"
Zuo Tianying waved his hands and declared generously, "This is the welcome gift that the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors offers to Boss Bai—no, for Vice Admiral Bai!
"Not that I'm bragging about us, but we are never short of money when we have controlled the business lifelines at the peripheral worlds of the Imperium. Even if there is any magical equipment we can't produce, we can smuggle them out from the territories of the four Kurfürst families. Look at those starships and crystal suits. They are still hot!
"We are only short of people to control them; the good men who roam the sea of stars like Boss Bai!"
"Hmm…"
Looking at the brand-new starships and the boxes of crystals and cannons, Boss Bai finally grinned in satisfaction. "Good, good, good! The Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors''sincerity' is so touching that I'm almost in tears!"
Overjoyed, Zuo Tianying asked, "So, has Boss Bai agreed to lead the many space pirates?"
"Of course I have. Why wouldn't I?"
Baring his sharp teeth, Boss Bai said slowly, "As a matter of fact, I agreed a long time ago!"
"Huh?"
Zuo Tianying was slightly dazed as he perceived extreme danger from Boss Bai's smile. Before he figured out what was going on, deafening explosions had happened outside.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Quite a few starships in the dock had exploded uncannily, and the furious flames immediately spread into the Blue Sky Market. Intense smoke was everywhere, swallowing people's lives mercilessly like rampant black beasts.
Hundreds of starships, like crocodiles lurking in a swamp, finally lunged out of the dark and arrived at the Blue Sky Market. They opened their bloody mouths and spurted out a storm of barrages, sabotaging the defensive positions of the Blue Sky Market ruthlessly.
"Enemy incoming! Enemy incoming! Enemy incoming!"
Earsplitting alarms echoed in and out of the Blue Sky Market.
"Huh?"
Seeing that the Blue Sky Market that he had worked on for decades was reduced to debris in the blink of an eye, Zuo Tianying was shocked first and then grabbed by fury.
If he still did not realize what was going on, he wouldn't have been qualified to be a deacon of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors. "Boss Bai, you are out of your mind to attack the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors!"
As the manager of one of the largest free fairs of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors, Zuo Tianying had the combat ability of the Nascent Soul Stage too. Despite his fury, his nerves and his muscles were not affected at all. While he kicked at Boss Bai's chest, a bluish, poisoned dagger ejected from the tip of his foot, and a dark gold brilliance flowed all over his body, constituting a crystal suit that covered him.
However, the crystal suit that he had been trained with so many times that he could put on in half a second was disrupted by Boss Bai when the helmet and the breastplate were about to be closed.
Zuo Tianying did not even notice how Boss Bai blinked from the poisonous dagger on his foot at all when his throat was already pinched by a pair of burning pincers.
The enemy shook slightly, and the crystal suit that had yet to be put on fell apart like a snake skin!
How is it possible?
Zuo Tianying was scared out of his wits. He was already an expert in the Nascent Soul Stage, but the enemy had captured him even without a crystal suit.
Who was this Boss Bai exactly? And what level was he actually at?
Chapter 2442: Commander Bai, of the National Protection Army! |
"Hehe, hehehehe!"
Boss Bai sneered nonstop. The aggressiveness as if he could swallow a tiger alive popped up on his ugly, rat-like face as he picked up Zuo Tianying, the expert in the Nascent Soul Stage, with only one hand and smashed him to the floor heavily.
BOOM!
Not counting his level, Zuo Tianying was still a muscular man almost two meters tall with a weight of almost a hundred and fifty kilograms. Yet, he had been pressed into the floor by Boss Bai who was short and skinny. Stones were splashing everywhere, and a human-shaped dent appeared on the ground.
Zuo Tianying's internal organs were almost entirely shattered because of the smash. He was more confused than ever too. According to the intelligence, Boss Bai was in the Nascent Soul Stage and on par with him at best.
It was also the most important reason why he had the courage to meet with a brutal man like Boss Bai alone.
The intelligence work of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors was most effective in the entire Imperium. They had summarized Boss Bai's combat ability by analyzing all of Boss Bai's battles, including his performance when he was pushed into corners by the Imperium's army.
How on earth could he have been so terrifying?
Was it possible that this Boss Bai never tried his best when he was beleaguered by the Imperium's army and his life was at risk time and time again?
How could there be such a monster?
Also, where were the assassins he had kept outside? He had arranged for fifty tough assassins to hide next to the office, who could've charged out any moment and teach Boss Bai a lesson about the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors' capability. Where the hell were those guys?
"You small-minded dealers really need to change your pettiness. Even your warrants are so stingy."
Boss Bai pressed Zuo Tianying tightly to the ground and spat next to his head, before he chuckled and said, "A garrison commander of a minor Sector, a vice-admiral of the army, and a… f*cking viscount… Viscount! Are you trying to recruit me or insult me? Is the name of 'Boss Bai' only worth a viscount for you?
"Here, the four Kurfürsten are obviously much more sincere than you. The rewards they are offering are the Sector Master of a whole world, a lieutenant-general of the army, and an earl of the Imperium. Do you hear me? An earl!
"Also, they have offered me ten main-force warships in advance, whose firepower is five times fiercer than the rapid attack warships that you give me. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Any man would've been tempted after they saw it. How do you want me to choose, huh?"
