Chapter Sixty-Eight: A Den of Foxes

“Any three viruses from the Class One Prohibited List of the Leviathan System’s Virus Management Bureau!”

“Viruses and bioweapons manufactured by the Corpse Collectors may be freely traded across the Leviathan System, provided they are not classified as high-risk by the Virus Management Bureau!”

After a moment of silence, Nangong laid his cards on the table.

At the sound of these terms, not only were Ye Hai and the others left speechless, even Teach was taken aback with surprise.

The Virus Management Bureau was nominally a neutral organization, yet, as with many such ‘neutral’ institutions, it was in fact a servant to the Four Great Stars.

Especially organizations like the Virus Management Bureau, which had been established wholly at the behest of the Four Great Stars—very few could interfere in their affairs.

But from what Nangong had just revealed, it was clear to everyone present: the Virus Management Bureau of the system had already been thoroughly infiltrated by the Taran Army.

Everyone could not help but reassess the Taran Army’s strength. To pry away a corner of the Four Great Stars’ power with the force of a single faction required not only capability, but also tremendous courage.

Ye Hai and Qiao exchanged glances, recognizing the joy in each other’s eyes.

“Your sincerity is evident to us Corpse Collectors. Now, perhaps we can discuss the particulars of our cooperation…”

“No, before we speak of cooperation, there is a personal matter I must settle with Mr. Zela!” Teach’s eyes gleamed with menace as he fixed his gaze on Zela.

Nangong spoke as well: “The Taran Army has its own account to settle with Mr. Zela.”

“Though Miss Zexi and I are not related by blood, I watched her grow up.”

“She fell for a slave from the Zombie Star. General Taran and I respected Miss Zexi’s choice and did not intervene.”

“But Mr. Zela took advantage of Miss Zexi’s kindness and deceived her.”

“When I departed, General Taran had already issued a death warrant.”

“I hope, Brother Ye Hai, that you will not stand in our way.”

Ye Hai merely shrugged, replying nonchalantly, “Do as you please. If you must kill someone, take him away and do it elsewhere…”

“The dining hall has already been reduced to chaos. If you turn the banquet hall into a bloodbath as well, cleaning up will be a dreadful chore.”

At this, both Teach and Nangong were momentarily stunned.

Ye Hai’s attitude was unexpected. They had assumed he would insist on protecting Zela; had Ye Hai spoken up, the Corpse Collectors would have been forced to pay compensation for the loss of their messenger and the heartbreak of the Taran Army’s princess.

In fact, when both men saw Zela appear in the banquet hall, their minds had already been plotting how to use Zela’s life to extract maximum benefit from Ye Hai and the Corpse Collectors.

But Ye Hai had never been one to play by the rules.

It seemed that neither Teach nor Nangong had expected that, when they threw their punches, Ye Hai simply refused to take the bait.

Teach glowered at Zela and said, “So be it… I’ll be taking this man with me.”

Hearing Teach’s uncompromising tone, Nangong’s brows creased slightly.

If he could not use Zela to extract value, he naturally hoped to bring back Zela’s head as proof, to put an end to Zexi’s hopes. Moreover, there was already friction between him and Teach—now, they were faintly rivals.

Just as he was about to rebuff Teach—

From the corner of his eye, Nangong caught a glimpse of Liana’s anxious look and the faint upward tilt of Qiao’s lips.

In that instant, Nangong was struck by realization.

He turned to look at Ye Hai’s calm face and noticed a subtle twitch at the corner of his eye, then saw him quietly smack Qiao on the back of the head.

A smile crept onto Nangong’s lips.

So, this little trickster was playing such a game.

Letting Teach and himself quarrel, so that Ye Hai could mediate.

Then it would not be Ye Hai begging to protect Zela, but rather mediating between two rivals… And with only a small price, Zela’s life might be spared.

Having seen through Ye Hai’s little scheme, Nangong found himself even more intrigued by him.

A native of the Zombie Star, yet adept at leveraging circumstances, using every advantage to craft the outcome he desired—such traits already revealed the makings of a famed strategist.

Earlier, he had maneuvered using Javier, forcing both the Great Tree Star and the Taran Army to first offer substantial benefits.

Perhaps it was because he understood perfectly the value of the virus technology and bioweapons he possessed, knowing both the Great Tree Star and the Taran Army coveted them.

Thus, he was able to openly extract a windfall—a modestly clever stratagem.

Now, he intended to use Zela to spark conflict between the two, then step in to mediate and shift the balance of negotiations—a cunning plot!

“This fellow transitions smoothly between stratagems,” Nangong mused. “But his vision is still too narrow. These petty tricks are beneath him.”

“If it were me in his place—after Teach and I had paid so dearly for a chance to cooperate with the Corpse Collectors—I would have realized I held exactly what they desperately desired.”

“Then, with open force, I would press my advantage.”

“To save or to abandon Zela would lie within a single thought! Why bother with such convoluted machinations…”

“But since this youngster wants to play games before two seasoned strategists—”

“Let’s play, then!”

Thinking thus, Nangong smiled and addressed Teach:

“Commander Teach, I know you need to bring Zela back to your flagship and execute him publicly to pacify your followers.”

“I won’t contest you for him, but after you’ve killed Zela, lend me his head for a few days—so that I may report to General Taran.”

Seeing Nangong’s amiable smile, Teach was momentarily taken aback. Then he looked around the room and burst into hearty laughter.

“Chief Advisor Nangong, since you’ve asked, I must show respect!”

“Let’s settle it so—we’ll do as you say. Besides, I’ll be stopping by Chaos Star for supplies before I return to Great Tree Star.”

As the two played off each other, Ye Hai could only roll his eyes in resignation, sighing inwardly, “Qiao and Liana just can’t keep their composure!”

“The situation hardly required them to escalate the conflict…”

“As long as Nangong spoke up, and I intervened directly, the game would have been in hand… Now, the plan is ruined.”

With a sigh, Ye Hai smiled and said, “You both saw it from above—Miss Liana’s successful evolution owes much to Mr. Zela’s efforts.”

“If you treat Mr. Zela this way, Miss Liana will surely be distressed.”

Teach shook his head and replied, “Miss Liana, Zela killed my messenger, deceived Princess Zexi of the Taran Army!”

“There’s no need to pity such a man. I know you were coerced by him and that your camp was destroyed by him as well.”

“A life for a life—there’s no need for guilt. In the end, he owes you far more.”

“Afterwards, Nangong and I will each send Miss Liana a generous gift.”

By now, Zela had gone completely limp in his chair.

Liana, at a loss, could only widen her eyes and gaze pleadingly at Ye Hai.

Letting out a sigh, Ye Hai knew he would have to relinquish a considerable benefit today.

After all, this young girl, remembering Zela’s kindness, still hoped he would help her find her biological parents!

So he said, “Miss Liana’s ability can cover a radius of fifty kilometers, controlling all mutants within.”

“It creates an absolutely safe airfield…”

Checkmate!