TYMIMA Chapter 75

Receiving Lance’s firsthand intelligence, Lan Wendao couldn’t help feeling somewhat anxious.

 

He pinched his brow, leaning on the sofa in silent contemplation, barely touching his lunch.

 

Dream Witch came in carrying baked salmon cheese rice, placing it beside Lan Wendao: “What are you thinking about?”

 

Lan Wendao sniffed hard, turning to stare at the salmon cheese rice, then sighed heavily: “Daughter, what do you think Zhan Qinghe is up to? Recruiting soldiers and gathering talent? 100,000 a month… isn’t that too outrageous!”

 

Dream Witch sat beside him, crossing her long legs: “Anyway, it’s money for little brother. If you can’t figure it out, don’t think about it.”

 

Lan Wendao slapped the sofa: “Where does he get so much money? Even I wouldn’t pay interns this much. No, why is he richer than me!”

 

This was what Lan Wendao cared about most.

 

Over the years of competition between High Tower and Ghost Eye, High Tower had actually won more often. Zhan Qinghe was somewhat unruly, not as smooth as him, putting him at a disadvantage in business.

 

Moreover, Lan Wendao had many friends—over ten small guilds were his solid allies. To put it boldly, even if he challenged the Federation government, these small guilds would side with him.

 

He had always believed his management was superior and his foundation slightly thicker than Zhan Qinghe’s, but unexpectedly received a head-on blow—Zhan Qinghe’s intern salary was more than ten times his own.

 

This meant Ghost Eye Guild’s profits also exceeded High Tower’s by at least ten times.

 

Ten times—a gap that couldn’t be closed overnight.

 

“Daughter, I’ve made a five-year plan. Have a look—we’ll strive to double profits by this time next year.” Lan Wendao took a deep breath, handing Dream Witch a thick ten-thousand-word plan.

 

“…” Dream Witch took it, and with just one glance, discovered Lan Wendao had listed this trade with Tasman Pirate Nation as a key project.

 

“Securing the Tasman project would complete at least a third of next year’s plan.” Lan Wendao tapped the sofa armrest with his index finger.

 

Tasman Pirate Nation’s wealth accumulation method differed from the Federation’s major guilds. They occupied ocean resources, with all citizens being animal-type marine Awakened ones, possessing excellent combat advantages on the seabed.

 

They made money by charging exorbitant tolls from cargo ships and cruise liners—almost no cost, pure profit.

 

No guild could compete with them in seawater. Even the seven top guilds had to honestly pay tolls to avoid disputes.

 

This made Tasman Pirate Nation actually wealthier than the Federation government, which saved on even electricity.

 

Being wealthy, they were particularly generous.

 

They never formed combat squads or risked entering underground cities for resources—everything they needed could be bought with money.

 

“I heard they’re purchasing five hundred tons of red parrot crystal ore just to throw a grand wedding for their king.” Dream Witch’s lips curved slightly, her gaze cooling. “What a luxurious wedding.”

 

Red parrot crystal ore only came from B-level underground cities, but purity varied between different underground cities. The best red parrot stones within High Tower’s sphere came from [Rainforest]. Tasman Pirate Nation claimed money was no object—they only wanted the best.

 

For most people, they might never have the chance to obtain a single red parrot crystal ore in their lifetime, yet Tasman Pirate Nation wanted to use it to build an underwater palace.

 

“After all, it’s a wedding the entire Tasman nation is watching. The king represents the nation’s face, and he’s marrying Tasman’s most powerful orca-form S-level Awakened one—in water, calling him the world’s strongest wouldn’t be excessive.”

 

“So it’s forced political marriage again.” Dream Witch raised an eyebrow.

 

Lan Wendao: “Hard to say.”

 

Dream Witch was surprised: “True love?”

 

“Unlikely.” Lan Wendao pondered a moment before explaining, “You might not know—since Tasman Pirate Nation’s founding, they’ve never changed kings.”

 

“Wouldn’t that king be… over a hundred years old? Still getting married?” Dream Witch got goosebumps.

 

Over a hundred years old—his glands would have degenerated. Would he still have those needs?

 

“Let me explain.” Lan Wendao continued from where he left off. “Deng Zhi, whom the Black Lantern Society rescued, has a skill called [Limb Regeneration]. Unless burned to ash, she can revive from any remaining body part. This skill is already powerful, but Deng Zhi will still die of old age. This king’s ability is even stronger—he’s an immortal jellyfish-form Awakened one with the power of eternal life.”

 

“What does that mean—he’ll never die no matter what?” Dream Witch was amazed.

 

“Right, his body is fixed at maturity. But once he suffers serious injury, he returns to childhood and regrows. The time from childhood to maturity is quick—about a year—then he recovers all memories and continues ruling Tasman Pirate Nation in his youngest form.”

 

“When Tasman was first established, the Federation government ordered its destruction but failed. The king suffered his first trauma and entered childhood. A year later, he recovered his memories, reestablished order, expanded power. Tasman’s development into what it is today—he deserves the credit.”

 

“Clearly got rich through shameless toll collection… fine, to Tasman people, he’s a good king.” Dream Witch reluctantly admitted.

 

“He truly has the ability to give Tasman people good lives, so they support him. Even when he’s traumatised into childhood for a year, they’re willing to keep the throne for him… until last time.”

 

“I know this—he disappeared.” Dream Witch said.

 

She remembered Tasman Pirate Nation’s global manhunt, quite a spectacle, with the Federation government cooperating by having guilds lend aid.

 

“Mm, supposedly someone betrayed him and arranged an assassination. He was severely injured, returned to childhood again, and disappeared without trace.”

 

“But he still returned punctually after a year, leaving Tasman people in a dilemma. By then, that orca had gained increasing prestige, not only temporarily handling much of the king’s work but also being an Alpha.”

 

Dream Witch was puzzled: “What’s wrong with being Alpha?”

 

Lan Wendao said with disgust: “Some people, once well-fed, start pondering ideological matters. They think having an Omega king damages national dignity—after all, no matter how powerful he is externally, he’ll ultimately be marked and penetrated by an Alpha.”

 

“Tasman people thinking this way are real ingrates. Are they planning to install a new king?”

 

Lan Wendao nodded: “Conversely, that orca repeatedly declined, saying he’d admired the king since childhood, didn’t want to compete for power, only wished to follow for life.”

 

“Oh?” Dream Witch smiled without warmth.

 

“The situation was stuck there. Many people wanted them to marry—once married, there’d be no throne competition and everyone’s positions would unite. A nation’s ruler with the strongest Awakened one would indeed be a good match.” Lan Wendao’s account held no bias; in his eyes, this was moral blackmail by Tasman people against their king.

 

“I see. To resolve conflicts and maintain peace, this is indeed the best choice. But marrying an Alpha decades younger than himself must be quite embarrassing.”

 

Lan Wendao: “But he looks much younger than that orca… though this isn’t our business. You just need to know this wedding is very important to all of Tasman—a red parrot stone wedding palace isn’t excessive.”

 

Dream Witch smiled: “Then I’ll have Old Bang and the others go deeper. If they find a large mine, five hundred tons won’t be a worry.”

 

Lan Wendao agreed deeply: “I have confidence in our squad.”

 

Dream Witch seemed to remember something: “Oh, that um-um-um will also go along.”

 

“Don’t mention him to me!” Lan Wendao immediately flared up.

 

His sweetheart hadn’t answered calls for three days—three days!

 

He dared not think deeply!

 

Dream Witch patted his shoulder consolingly: “Come on, Dad. He didn’t mind when you broke your leg driving a tractor—that shows it’s true love!”

 

Lan Wendao: “…”

 

That afternoon, Zhan Pingchuan received word he’d go underground with Old Bang’s squad. Materials about [Rainforest] were also sent to him.

 

[Rainforest] could be called the Federation’s largest underground city by area. Human development of [Rainforest] was only one-fifth complete.

 

In previous explorations of [Rainforest], people had discovered nineteen E-level mutant beasts, seven C-level mutant beasts, and two B-level mutant beasts.

 

The most difficult to handle was the B-level mutant beast giant poison dart frog.

 

But risk came with reward—underwear made from this poison dart frog’s skin granted immunity to all poisons when worn.

 

Zhan Pingchuan bit into a gem pear, reading the materials repeatedly, pondering—

 

Should he try hard later?

 

Not trying hard would be unfair to a month at a five-star hotel; trying hard would be unfair to his parents.

 

His reason and conscience were swaying on the scales when Lance’s call came through.

 

Zhan Pingchuan immediately threw aside the gem pear, sitting up from the park bench office area: “Baby?”

 

Lance stood at the bathroom door, looking at the distant toilet and bathtub with a complex expression: “I forgot to tell you after getting off the plane—I’ve moved into the… dormitory Ghost Eye Guild arranged.”

 

Could this be called a dormitory?

 

“How’s the accommodation?” Zhan Pingchuan struggled to control himself, not revealing a trace of smugness. This was the room type he’d carefully selected on property apps—practically tailor-made for little fox!

 

Though it wasn’t an 800-square-metre mansion, it had still drained his eighteen years of savings.

 

“Very… unique.” Lance had never seen such an odd architectural structure. He turned back to look at the twenty-square-metre living room, ten-square-metre kitchen, five-square-metre study, then turned around again to gaze at the hundred-square-metre bathroom.

 

“As long as you like it.” Zhan Pingchuan was thoroughly satisfied.

 

Money was just a tool to make his wife happy.

 

“…” Lance crouched down to feel the water in the hot spring pool in the bathroom. The temperature was perfect, steam rising, with rose petals floating seriously on the surface.

 

He also looked at the perfectly positioned greenery and pebbles beside the hot spring pool, as well as the highly designed window-side bathtub and artistic tiles.

 

Perhaps in dry places, people loved bathing, so they built bathrooms very large.

 

Lance tried to convince himself.

 

“Ghost Eye Guild gave me 100,000 for internship salary, plus ten days of holiday. Zhan Pingchuan, is there an exchange rate difference between your place and the capital? How many capital coins equal one desert coin?”

 

“…”

 

Zhan Pingchuan: “What are you thinking? It’s only 100,000. If Ghost Eye Guild were mine, I’d pay you a million.”

 

Unfortunately it’s not mine yet, but Old Zhan will retire someday!

 

Lance laughed.

 

“Oh, then if High Tower Guild were mine, I’d provide you with luxury hotels for life, unlimited seafood and gem pears.”

 

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 (advanced chapters available on kofi)