Apocalypse Gachapon

Chapter 2329: Crack (2)

Were Bashilu's words truthful? Naturally.

But could he say them? No.

Because it meant opposing Ye Zhongming.

And Ye Zhongming was far too important to the current Star-Eye Clan.

Lady Star was the first to speak: "Our strength will certainly be affected somewhat, but it's only temporary—it will be made up for in the future."

"It may seem like a sacrifice now, but compared to the Star-Eye Clan of before, we've already become far too powerful. With the Su Clan and the Sheke Star people behind us, even if we slow our pace, there's no problem—there's no need for worry."

Cheng Liujin glanced at Bashilu, feeling annoyed. Hadn't he made things clear just now? Why did his old friend still have to jump in?

Others in the Star-Eye Clan might not understand Ye Zhongming's importance, but Bashilu, as a high-level member, should. Without the cultivation methods and resources he'd brought, could you have become this strong?

And as for Jie Su and White Robe becoming great experts—didn't you know how that happened?

Moreover, though the clan wasn't clear on how the agreement with the Su Clan had been reached, White Robe had already said that ninety percent of it was Ye Zhongming's doing.

That had to be true, because White Robe and Jie Su had been brothers for years—so why hadn't the two races allied before, and only did so after Ye Zhongming arrived?

When you're just starting to improve, why would you offend the source of all that progress for the sake of some supposed "greater strength"?

Had his old friend lost his mind?

"What Bashilu said isn't entirely without merit. As the logistics chief, I know that any major decision often means a massive outlay of Moonspan Gold and prolonged labor for many warriors. During that time, they produce no output and need to be fully supported by the clan. We may seem to have gained a lot, but our liquid income isn't that high. If we pour everything into this, many already-planned projects will have to be shelved."

Yashinan thought for a moment before voicing his view.

He didn't think he was taking Bashilu's side—he was simply laying out the downsides of changing the plan from a logistics chief's perspective.

"Most of the Moonspan Gold we received has already been distributed—for rewarding soldiers, paying compensation, and fulfilling promised payments to the small-race alliance. Reclaiming it would be very difficult, and even if we could, the resentment would be immense."

Hearing this, Lord Eye asked, "What about the real estate?"

Strictly speaking, the real estate was the bulk of the gains.

Yashinan shook his head.

"With Dark Strip City going through a reshuffle and the Eight Heads destroyed, there's too much vacant space. After dividing it between us and the small-race alliance, we're basically saturated. At this stage, these properties can't be sold, and even if they could, the prices would be a bloodbath. Having just established ourselves, we can't afford to invite more powerful outside forces in—that would be inviting wolves into the house. So they have to be absorbed internally, which brings us back to the issues above."

Lord Eye fell silent.

Ye Zhongming watched from the side, his unmasked face showing no change in expression—only his eyes growing deeper.

"I'll think of something—and also, the gains from the planet hunting ground this time..." Before White Robe could finish, Bashilu was already shaking his head vigorously.

"Before you came back, that portion was already traded away in exchange. The Su Clan and the Sheke Star people stuck their necks out for us—we couldn't just give nothing."

Hearing this, White Robe was taken aback, and Ye Zhongming frowned.

They had just returned and hadn't heard about this. Neither Jie Su nor Isewei had mentioned it to them.

The gains from the planet hunting ground—Ye Zhongming had absolute say over that. He wasn't here, so it had been taken away without even notifying him?

"I'll go ask about it." Ye Zhongming stood up, nodded to everyone, and walked out.

No one in the meeting room moved.

A moment later, White Robe abruptly stood up, his voice filled with anger: "What exactly are you trying to do? Do you think the Star-Eye Clan is fine now? That we don't need Zhongming anymore? How could you have such thoughts?"

"White Robe, what are you talking about?" Bashilu wouldn't accept the accusation.

"I'm not entirely against his ideas—I'm just hoping for a middle ground," Bashilu said to the clan's rising star. "You know, though we gained a lot from this planet hunting ground and cleaned up others in Dark Strip City, have you thought about what we lost? How many people died on the planet hunting ground? That was our heaviest loss in years—and under the Bronze Order Leader's promises, the compensation is astronomical. Plus the promises to the small-race alliance—all money!"

"Beyond compensation, what about other combat losses? Replenishing weapons and equipment, long-term care for the severely wounded who've retired, settling the families of fallen soldiers—there are so many things! Under these circumstances, to take out a huge amount of Moonspan Gold for infrastructure and joining organizations with expensive membership fees, just for a mid-level race title—our clan will be dragged down!"

"We've just started to improve—are we going to fall back to where we were? Can't we just postpone this plan?"

By the end, Bashilu was also on his feet.

"Your views are shortsighted. With Zhongming around, what hurdle can't we overcome? You don't really think we earned the Su Clan and She Ke Star people's protection on our own, do you?"

"I don't know about the Su Clan, but isn't the Sheke Star people's support because a certain woman of yours has taken a liking to you?"

"Shut the hell up!"

"I'm the training chief—my rank is no lower than yours. Watch your language. And don't think being a great expert makes you so special."

With that, Bashilu's aura surged—he, too, had become a great expert.

At this moment, White Robe suddenly calmed down.

Staring coldly at Bashilu, he said, "No wonder—you broke through while we were away. I wonder, when you broke through, did you practice the techniques Zhongming brought back?"

With that, White Robe slammed the door and left.

Cheng Liujin also stood and walked to the door, pausing to say quietly, "On the planet hunting ground, they killed a peak expert."

……………………

The two Star-Eye leaders walked down a corridor. Lady Star suddenly asked, "What made you start rejecting Zhongming?"

"I'm not rejecting him—I just think Bashilu..."

"We've been married for many years."

Lady Star kept walking, her voice calm.

Lord Eye paused, then caught up.

"Come. I'll take you to meet someone."