Star Odyssey

Chapter 3148: Replacement

Bi Lan’s confident expression quickly shifted into a bitter one. "However, ever since Lord Bi Rong went into seclusion, the Merchant Exchange’s business has declined. While no one from the Sixverse Association has targeted us, Aeternus has been constantly coming after us in rather large numbers, as well as sending spies to infiltrate us.

"Honestly, I’m very curious about why Aeternus is so fixated on the Merchant Exchange. If not for that, we would have never been forced to ask the Heavens Sect for help.”

The woman’s emotions welled up. The moment the Merchant Exchange had sought help from the Heavens Sect, freedom had become a thing of the past. The Merchant Exchange was incapable of breaking free from the Heavens Sect. The higher Lu Yin’s status and the stronger his personal strength became, the more impossible it was for them to escape his influence.

In fact, Bi Lan questioned whether even Lord Bi Rong could free the Merchant Exchange from the Heavens Sect’s grasp, should he reappear.

Bi Lan believed that Bi Rong was a powerhouse on par with the rulers of the Sixverse Association’s member universes, such as Lord Xu and Mu Shen. But Lu Yin had already tied those universes and their rulers to the Origin Universe.

That was absolutely terrifying.

Bi Lan was unable to understand Aeternus’s purpose in targeting the Merchant Exchange, but Lu Yin understood the matter thoroughly. He was eavesdropping on the conversation.

There were two key areas where humanity could not measure up to Aeternus. The first was that humanity was too scattered, whereas the Aeternals could easily communicate and even unite to work together. Often, human civilizations did not even know that other ones existed, which had led to a significant disparity in effective strength.

This also impacted how the two sides’ resource allocation worked. The Aeternals were able to pool all of their resources, while humanity’s resources were spread out among all the different civilizations scattered across the various parallel universes. A simple example of how this impacted things was how Aeternus could easily and repeatedly hire Astral Anura, and they could even raise the price at a whim. On the other hand, humanity was barely able to afford hiring Astral Anura just a few times.

Humanity’s scattered resources had resulted in an ever-widening gap in absolute strength between them and Aeternus.

The Merchant Exchange, while ostensibly nothing more than a currency exchange, indirectly helped consolidate human resources through their exchanges; this even included the profits they collected. The Merchant Exchange received a small commission on each transaction, and over time, the company had amassed significant wealth.

Even Lu Yin was taken aback by the Merchant Exchange’s ability to pay 170 trillion star essence as compensation. This was nothing more than star essence, which meant that the Merchant Exchange’s total liquid funds was unimaginable.

The Merchant Exchange most likely also had access to various parallel universes where time flowed faster.

The Merchant Exchange could most likely use their wealth to hire Astral Anura multiple times, which presented a considerable threat to Aeternus. If the Merchant Exchange funneled all of their resources into fighting Aeternus, it would have a terrifying impact.

“Liu Fuxue,[1] 170 trillion star essence is all that my Merchant Exchange can mobilize without affecting our regular operations. If we need to produce more, we’ll need to exchange resources with parallel universes, which would disrupt our business. Do you think that this amount is sufficient?” Bi Lan asked nervously.

Madam Nalan smiled gently. “Of course, it’s enough. Our Dao Monarch isn’t someone who drains the pond to catch the fish.”

Hearing the phrase “drains the pond to catch the fish” left Bi Lan momentarily stunned. What did Dao Monarch Lu think of Merchant Exchange to even say such a thing?

Madam Nalan did not care about the impact of her words on Bi Lan. The woman needed to understand the reality of her situation. Removing Bi Teng would be pointless if his replacement wound up acting exactly the same.

Bi Lan snapped out of her daze, her expression darkening. “And what is the other condition?”

Madam Nalan’s eyes flickered. “The Merchant Exchange needs a new leader.”

Bi Lan’s face turned pale as she shot to her feet. “Impossible!”

Madam Nalan remained calm. “Why is that?”

Bi Lan’s expression grew increasingly grim. “Liu Fuxue, while it’s true that my Merchant Exchange has offended Dao Monarch Lu, this compensation is more than enough. Throughout the entire history of the Merchant Exchange, we have never compensated anyone with such a vast amount of resources before. This is because of our great respect towards Dao Monarch Lu. However, the Merchant Exchange’s leadership is an internal matter, and it has nothing to do with Dao Monarch Lu or the Heavens Sect. No one can interfere in our company’s internal affairs.”

Madam Nalan stared intently at Bi Lan. “Bi Teng offended the Dao Monarch. Does the Merchant Exchange really want to settle this matter with mere money?”

Bi Lan opened her mouth, but she could not find anything to say. The idea of resolving such a matter with money sounded awful and was extremely condescending towards Lu Yin. However, it was well known that Dao Monarch Lu wanted money more than anything, right? The Merchant Exchange was offering an astronomical sum, one which would cause even the Great Sovereign herself to shudder.

“This isn’t about using money to settle things—it’s about compensation.

“However, your Merchant Exchange’s Bi Teng has offended the Dao Monarch, and yet the Merchant Exchange intends to settle this matter with money. If word of this gets out, how will our Dao Monarch ever be able to manage the Sixverse Association?” Madam Nalan spoke harshly. “Do you want outsiders to believe that our Dao Monarch is a money-grubbing person?”

Isn’t he? Bi Lan’s face turned ashen. In the Merchant Exchange’s perspective, Lu Yin was exactly that, someone who could be bought off by money. This perfectly fit the Merchant Exchange’s preferred manner of handling things; they had the money to resolve an issue, and Lu Yin needed money.

How had the situation turned so sour?

Madam Nalan stood up. “The Merchant Exchange’s offer of compensation lacks sincerity. You want our Dao Monarch to suffer public criticism. You should leave.”

Bi Lan quickly tried to explain herself, “We don’t mean that at all! If star essence isn’t enough, then we have other resources that will satisfy Dao Monarch Lu. Please, just don’t interfere with the Merchant Exchange’s leadership.”

Madam Nalan’s eyes grew cold as she stared at Bi Lan. “Leave.”

Bi Lan stared back at Madam Nalan, desperate, but all she saw were increasingly cold eyes.

Despite Bi Lan’s close relationship with Liu Fuxua, business was business. Madam Nalan had raised the Nalan family into one of the four largest conglomerates in the Outerverse, and she had done so not through her beauty, but rather through her shrewdness. She could be as ruthless as the wintry ice or as gentle as a spring breeze.

The coldness in Madam Nalan’s eyes caused Bi Lan’s heart to sink further than ever. In the current era, offending Lu Yin was nothing less than total disaster. Even the Great Sovereign was not immune to this. She had been forced out of seclusion by Lu Yin on several occasions, and the rumors claimed that the Great Sovereign did not dare to touch Lu Yin due to his numerous connections.

Lu Yin had done amazing things to improve the situation for the Sixverse Association and humanity as a whole. Whatever he did would be accepted simply because he was seen as humanity’s flagbearer.

If he wanted to destroy the Merchant Exchange, Lu Yin would not even need a valid reason to do so. Countless people would find excuses for him, while simultaneously condemning the Merchant Exchange on his behalf. This was Lu Yin’s power. This was the influence of Dao Monarch Lu.

Bi Lan understood perfectly well that, if Madam Nalan left, the Merchant Exchange would have no future.

She stared at Madam Nalan, pleading, “Liu Fuxue...”

Madam Nalan’s expression remained cold, though it did slowly soften slightly.

Seeing that, Bi Lan dropped to her knees, but Madam Nalan quickly pulled the woman back up. “Lanlan, this isn’t your fault.”

Bi Lan begged, “Fuxue, the Merchant Exchange can’t disappear! We don’t care about Bi Teng, but this company is Lord Bi Rong’s legacy. The Merchant Exchange can’t just vanish. Fuxue, please help us! I’m begging you!”

Madam Nalan sighed. “You haven’t even asked who we want to lead the Merchant Exchange.”

Bi Lan looked at Madam Nalan in a confused manner.

“You.”

Bi Lan showed a bitter smile. She had already suspected as much. When she heard that the Heavens Sect wanted someone different to lead the Merchant Exchange, she had already known that they wanted her to helm the company. Who else would the Heavens Sect support? Liu Fuxue? She was an outsider, and therefore not a viable option.

Lu Yin was able to dominate the Sixverse Association, and even all human civilizations, but there were certain matters that could not be done publicly.

Changing the leader of the Merchant Exchange was a negotiation condition that could not be exposed.

“I wish to speak with Dao Monarch Lu,” Bi Lan stated softly.

Madam Nalan was about to refuse, but then Lu Yin stepped out.

“Dao Monarch?” Madam Nalan was caught off guard. A matter like the Merchant Exchange should not warrant Lu Yin’s personal intervention.

Bi Lan stared at Lu Yin before quickly bowing. “Greetings, Dao Monarch.”

Lu Yin stared at Bi Lan, his hands clasped behind his back. “Go and take charge of the Merchant Exchange. I won’t interfere with the company’s affairs unless it’s a matter that concerns the survival of humanity itself. You should understand the implications if there’s a need to use the Merchant Exchange’s resources.”

Bi Lan stared at Lu Yin in a daze. She had assumed that Lu Yin’s goal was to seize control of the Merchant Exchange for their wealth and resources, but his words carried a very different meaning. Just what was he planning?

In the past, Lu Yin would have needed the Merchant Exchange’s resources, but he had other ways to obtain such things at the moment. Thus, the Merchant Exchange had a unique role to play.

Listening to Bi Lan had let Lu Yin realize why Aeternus had targeted the Merchant Exchange this whole time.

The more that Aeternus opposed something, the more it indicated that a thing was detrimental to them. Because of this, Lu Yin wanted to pursue the matter further.

Initially, he had not planned to get directly involved, but matters had escalated, and the importance of the negotiations had risen.

“Give me the 170 trillion star essence and take over as the leader of the Merchant Exchange. As for Bi Teng, I don’t want to ever see him again. From now on, the Merchant Exchange should carry on as usual, without worrying about anything. I won’t interfere in your business, and the company will be yours to do with as you wish. What do you say?” Lu Yin asked.

Bi Lan felt quite uneasy, and asked, “Dao Monarch Lu, you won’t interfere with my Merchant Exchange?”

Lu Yin gave a small smile. “Are you afraid that I’ll treat Merchant Exchange like my wallet?”

Madam Nalan’s expression grew strange, as that was precisely what she had assumed. She had been certain that this had been the Dao Monarch’s original goal, so what had changed?

Bi Lan pursed her lips, but she did not respond.

Lu Yin frowned. “Bi Teng is nothing more than a servant. If a servant is disloyal, he cannot retain his position. If you’re willing to let the Merchant Exchange disappear because of him, then that’s your choice.”

Resolve flickered in Bi Lan's eyes. "Alright, I will follow Dao Monarch Lu's suggestion and take over the Merchant Exchange."

She then looked at Madam Nalan. "Fuxue, you will need to help me. Without your assistance, I don't know if I will be able to manage it."

This was a clever move.

Bi Lan returned to the Decaying Diablo Universe with Madam Nalan right behind her.

Bi Teng was waiting, and he hurried forward when he saw Bi Lan return. He noticed Madam Nalan, but he left her alone, and she went straight to her old quarters.

A cold glint flickered through Bi Teng's eyes, though it was quickly suppressed. "How did it go?"

Bi Lan answered in a low voice, "170 trillion star essence, and Dao Monarch Lu will not take any further action."

"What? 170 trillion star essence? Are you insane? That's the most that the Merchant Exchange can mobilize!" Bi Teng shouted.

Bi Lan shot a cold glare at the man. "Do you have another answer?"

Bi Teng glared back at Bi Lan as he clenched his fists. "That's too much! Do you have any idea how many years of work this is going to cost us?"

"Would you prefer to pay with your life instead of resources?" Bi Lan mocked.

Bi Teng took a deep breath. Hatred filled his eyes.

"Also," Bi Lan continued after seeing Bi Teng's grim expression. "You need to go and apologize to Fuxue."

Bi Teng lost his temper. "I have to apologize as well?"

Bi Lan replied, "The star essence is nothing more than a punishment for the disrespect you’ve shown Dao Monarch Lu. You were the one who fired Fuxua without valid cause. Should you not apologize to her?"

Bi Teng suppressed his anger. "Aren’t the resources we’re paying more than enough for that?"

"Do you want the Sixverse Association to believe that Dao Monarch Lu can be bought off with money?" Bi Lan retorted.

Can’t he? Bi Teng gritted his teeth.

1. Just a reminder, but this is Madam Nalan's real name. She married into the Nalan family, and was then widowed. ☜