Chapter 285: Placing Bets on the Outcome
Inside a hotel at Sunrise Large Base, because there were temporarily no airships headed to Qinghui Base, Zhou Ming had no choice but to stay at Sunrise Large Base for two days.
While he was waiting for an airship to Qinghui Base, he unexpectedly received intelligence sent by Scorpion-Lion.
“Interesting. I didn’t expect that as Blue Star was about to merge into Tamu World, undercurrents had already begun surging among the Alliance high command.”
After reading the detailed information in the email on his phone, Zhou Ming gained some understanding of the struggle within the Alliance’s upper ranks.
In order to deal with Blue Star merging into Tamu World, the Alliance high command had already initiated a top-secret plan.
No one knew the specific contents yet, but that did not stop various factions from wanting to get involved, and each was employing its own methods.
Among them, although the Wind Eagle Yang Family had a long inheritance, its strength was comparatively weak. After the only Mid-level Transcendent Rank Beast Tamer in the family passed away, their power had fallen to the bottom among the major forces.
Therefore, they had wanted to marry Lei Yuan into the family, since she was participating in the top-secret plan, thereby striving for the hidden benefits within it by another means.
However, faced with someone as love-struck as Lei Yuan, the pursuit by the Yang Family’s younger generation had been completely useless. In the end, they had decided to take the risk of eliminating the longing in Lei Yuan’s heart.
Although this method was somewhat risky, if they did not resolve it, their chances were zero. If they resolved it, there would at least be some possibility.
Moreover, as long as Zhou Ming’s death could not be proven to have been caused by the Yang Family, they would have enough excuses to deal with Lei Yuan and then seek a sliver of opportunity.
Otherwise, given the Yang Family’s current situation, it would have been almost impossible for them to interfere in the Alliance Headquarters’ top-secret plan.
Unfortunately, not only had the Yang Family’s plan now failed, but a hidden faction had even taken advantage of the situation to publicize the matter, clearly intending to use the Yang Family as a scapegoat.
Once anything happened to Zhou Ming, the blame could be placed on the Yang Family, thereby gaining Lei Yuan’s assistance through other means.
For example, promising to avenge Zhou Ming.
As Zhou Ming’s friend, Scorpion-Lion, after learning of the situation, had promptly informed him, hoping he could prepare in advance.
Because some forces, whose strength was insufficient yet who still wished to meddle in the Alliance Headquarters’ top-secret plan, might set their sights on him.
Thus, after reading the intelligence, Zhou Ming had commented that it was interesting.
He had never imagined that the struggle among the Alliance high command would involve a minor figure like himself, even using him as a sacrificial piece to obtain benefits.
“It seems that Lei Yuan helping me obtain the materials for the Three Mainstream Profession Systems should have been on the condition of participating in this top-secret plan.”
Ever since he had last received news from Lei Yuan, as well as the class advancement materials delivered by Alliance Headquarters Security Bureau Special Operations Personnel, Zhou Ming had received no further messages from her.
Otherwise, given the two-year agreement he had previously mentioned, that girl would have excitedly replied long ago.
She was clearly in a state of isolation now.
After understanding the changes within the Alliance high command and his current situation, Zhou Ming pondered in the hotel guest room for a long time.
In the end, he chose to send Scorpion-Lion a reply.
“Help me secure one year. One year later, your Duanmu Family will obtain a favor from a Transcendent Master.”
After prolonged consideration, Zhou Ming had ultimately decided to have the Duanmu Family step forward.
Although the Duanmu Family’s strength ranked near the bottom among the Alliance’s upper ranks, their ancestor had come from the Hunter Guild. With the old master of the Duanmu Family advancing to War Knight, much of the Duanmu Family’s former connections within the Hunter Guild had been restored.
It must be known that within the Alliance, the Hunter Guild’s strength was second only to the official authorities.
As long as the Duanmu Family could help him secure one year, he could devote himself wholeheartedly to fully integrating the knowledge he possessed into a path toward Advancement to Transcendent Master.
With the Duanmu Family giving birth to a new Transcendent powerhouse, they would inevitably want to obtain more benefits and would absolutely hope for another Transcendent powerhouse with whom they could cooperate.
Moreover, he also had Lei Yuan behind him. Through cooperation between both sides, they might even be able to intervene in the Alliance high command’s top-secret plan.
After all, even obtaining a small portion of benefits from a top-secret plan led by the Alliance Headquarters would be enough to leave both parties thoroughly satisfied.
After sending the message to Scorpion-Lion, Zhou Ming saw that it was getting late and immediately headed toward the airship takeoff and landing field at Sunrise Large Base.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, when Scorpion-Lion saw Zhou Ming’s reply, his expression stiffened.
A favor from a Transcendent Master one year later?
What did that mean? I had just advanced to High-level Professional Rank not long ago, and you were already preparing to advance to Transcendent Master?
At that moment, it was as if a storm had erupted in Scorpion-Lion’s mind. The message was simply too absurd.
Yet in the next instant, Scorpion-Lion suddenly recalled the news of ten High-level Professional Beast Tamers of the Yang Family falling, and instantly began to suspect that it had not been a third-party force acting—but that Zhou Ming himself had resolved that crisis.
“That Ten Thousand Snakes fellow really doesn’t act human anymore!”
Regarding Zhou Ming’s reply, Scorpion-Lion felt it was somewhat unbelievable.
There were examples of people advancing to Transcendent Master in their thirties, but they had all done so through mainstream profession systems.
For Zhou Ming to guarantee advancement to Transcendent within one year meant that he had also perfected his incomplete profession system.
After taking several deep breaths in response to this explosive news, Scorpion-Lion hurried to see his grandfather.
After all, this matter was no longer something he could decide on his own.
A short while later, after hearing the news, Duanmu Ruibo began contemplating the authenticity of it.
“Lingyuan, what do you think about this matter?”
“Grandfather, this still requires your decision. I can only say that although Ten Thousand Snakes likes to lie, he has always been reliable in his actions.”
Since Zhou Ming’s matter involved multiple factions, Scorpion-Lion did not dare express himself recklessly, as it concerned the interests of the entire family.
Although he had a good relationship with Zhou Ming, he could not treat the family as a gambling stake.
“Then we’ll gamble once.”
After a long silence, Duanmu Ruibo ultimately chose to believe Zhou Ming’s promise.
“Grandfather…”
Hearing his grandfather’s reply, Scorpion-Lion feared that it was because of his own influence and immediately tried to speak up as a reminder.
Unexpectedly, Duanmu Ruibo directly waved his hand to interrupt him.
“I have already considered this matter. Even if your friend does not advance to Transcendent Master, he ultimately has a deep relationship with that little girl.”
“Since there is a guaranteed baseline to this gamble, why not take the bet?”
“This is no longer the past. Blue Star is about to merge into Tamu World. Our Duanmu Family must also set our sights further ahead.”
Like the leaders of other forces, Duanmu Ruibo was not thinking about the present, but about the inevitable great upheaval that Blue Star would face in the future.
“This matter is settled.”
“However, since your friend is about to advance to Transcendent Master, if you do not wish to marry for now, you must advance within ten years.”
Before Duanmu Ruibo could continue, Scorpion-Lion immediately made a promise.
“Grandfather, rest assured. Five years. If I cannot advance to War Knight within five years, the family may arrange my marriage as it pleases.”
Thinking of Zhou Ming about to advance to Transcendent Master, a strong competitive spirit also rose in Scorpion-Lion’s heart.
“Good, good. As expected of the qilin of my Duanmu Family. Since you have such determination, from now on, you may use the family’s resources as you wish.”
At this moment, Duanmu Ruibo, this Transcendent powerhouse, was exceptionally pleased. Hearing his grandson speak with such bold ambition brought him joy no less than when he himself had advanced to Transcendent Master.