Chapter 544: Not Saving

Zi Di took it and immediately recognized it as a letter from the Snow Bird Harbor branch.

In the past, letters from the branch would take at least several days to catch up with Zi Di, Zong Ge, and their group.

But this time, the negotiations led by Zi Di had been a resounding success, allowing the survivors to deepen their cooperation with the Li Jian Clan. Consequently, communication between the branch and Zi Di and Zong Ge's group had been expedited many times over through the Li Jian Clan's channels.

Zi Di's brow furrowed slightly. She immediately moved to a corner of the shop, used an alchemy device to briefly treat the surrounding environment, and then began decrypting the message.

Zong Ge stood beside her, scanning the area for threats while keeping watch.

Both were deeply concerned about the letter's contents.

During Zi Di's negotiations with Mian Li Zang, they had learned from the latter that the branch had come under attack.

Although they had received urgent military intelligence from the Li Jian Clan after the successful negotiations, confirming the branch's victory, the Li Jian Clan couldn't accurately assess the specific losses and casualties.

Only a direct letter from the branch could provide Zi Di and Zong Ge with a proper understanding.

Soon, Zi Di successfully decrypted the message.

As she read, she transmitted her thoughts to Zong Ge: “The details are rather complicated.”

"Among the enemy forces was a gold level assassin disguised as a silver level fighter. His first target was our deputy commander, Shi Qi."

Zong Ge froze momentarily before realizing: Zi Di was referring to the alchemy puppet disguised as him.

Zong Ge feigned concern: “How is Shi Qi faring?”

"Shi Qi was critically wounded by a single strike and lost consciousness immediately. But don't forget, he possesses that powerful restorative battle skill. His life is currently preserved, and he's in a deep slumber repairing his body," Zi Di explained.

Zong Ge instantly grasped the underlying implication.

His heart sank as he thought: "The alchemy puppet disguised as me possessed considerable defensive capabilities, yet it was taken down in a single strike. The gold level assassin departed only after confirming ‘my’ death."

“However, this situation is advantageous.”

The alchemy puppet effectively drew fire, alerting the others.

Its fall also paralyzed the enemy to some extent. In their battle plan, “Shi Qi” commanding the branch office was the most crucial target.

Equally important was Bu Quan.

"Since the enemy assaulted the branch, they won't spare the alchemy workshop. What about Bu Quan?" Zong Ge inquired.

Zi Di replied, “The gold level assassin, Yi Jiu, attacked the ship. After succeeding, he moved to assault the small alchemy workshop within the city.”

"He infiltrated the workshop and captured the alchemist Bu Quan. However, at the critical moment, Shuang Lian intervened, capturing Yi Jiu alive and bringing him into the demi-plane, also temporarily taking Bu Quan away."

Zong Ge's expression remained unchanged as he continued surveying the surroundings, his brow slightly furrowed. "So Bu Quan's distress signal succeeded. But if her teacher took her away..."

Zi Di continued, “Bu Quan returned.”

“Though it was some time after the battle.”

“It seems my prior arrangements worked through Bu Quan.”

Shuang Lian intervened, rescuing only Bu Quan. For a time afterward, she made no further moves. Yet ultimately, she returned to the docks with Bu Quan in tow.

This sequence seemed contradictory, but Zi Di swiftly reconstructed the events.

"The alchemy materials from that great person are of extraordinary value. The Li Jian Clan values them, and so does Magician Shuang Lian," Zong Ge remarked.

He was no magician and knew little of alchemy. This time, he had finally witnessed its true power.

Zi Di, however, sighed, her expression far from cheerful.

Their original plan had never included deepening cooperation with the Li Jian Clan or leveraging Shuang Lian's influence.

Even if Zong Ge had underestimated the value of War Merchant's database, Zi Di and Cang Xu certainly hadn't.

They avoided such moves precisely because they carried immense risk.

This was the world of the strong.

When people saw a child holding gold in a bustling market, not everyone would trade fairly with the child.

If you could just take it, why bother with business?

Compared to the Li Jian Clan or Magician Shuang Lian, the survivors' strength was minuscule. Trading with them was tantamount to playing with fire. One misstep, and they'd be devoured whole, leaving nothing behind.

Such considerations kept the survivors from pursuing these plans.

Yet in practice, they had no choice.

The mysterious force was overwhelmingly powerful and relentlessly aggressive. Zi Di had considered backing down, but the sunk costs were too high to retreat now.

The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps would suffer a devastating blow.

Zi Di knew for an organization to survive, it must turn a profit. At the very least, it must break even.

Abandoning the potion market plan would be an economic disaster, pushing the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps to the brink of bankruptcy.

This was unacceptable to her.

As an excellent leader, Zong Ge understood their situation well: "Our current alliance with both the Li Jian Clan and Shuang Lian is the optimal scenario. They can check each other's power."

“Exactly,” Zi Di nodded.

According to the intelligence gathered, Shuang Lian herself was a gold level magician. Possessing the Honey Snow Tower granted her formidable combat prowess.

Beyond that, she controlled a demi-plane, boasting immense wealth.

Her personal status was also extraordinary—she was an elder of the Alchemy Guild. Compared to most elders, her position held greater importance and uniqueness.

With the Alchemy Guild as her backing, Shuang Lian alone possessed the standing to challenge the Li Jian Clan.

Caught between these two major powers, the survivors had found a narrow space to survive, allowing them a moment's respite from their formidable enemies.

Zong Ge suggested, "Perhaps we could offer Shuang Lian a stake in our dragon rider potion business. Leveraging the Alchemy Guild would give us greater leverage against the Li Jian Clan, wouldn't it?"

Zi Di glanced at Zong Ge, thinking to herself: This is an incredibly foolish suggestion.

Yet she revealed no hint of disapproval, instead explaining patiently: “We cannot do that.”

“Both the Alchemy Guild and Shuang Lian possess formidable alchemy prowess. Bringing either into our fold would pose a grave threat to us.”

"In a three-way partnership, the dragon rider potion formula wouldn't withstand reverse engineering. Our alchemy capabilities are far inferior to the Alchemy Guild's."

"The Li Jian Clan isn't exceptional in alchemy—in fact, that was one foundation of our previous alliance. They need our alchemy skills; we need their shops and connections."

“Therefore, after introducing the Ice Sculpture Kingdom's Alchemy Guild, they'll unite for profit. The end result will be us being eliminated by their combined forces.”

Zong Ge paused, nodded slightly, and fell silent.

Zi Di continued, “In truth, within the potion market, the Ice Sculpture Kingdom's Alchemy Guild is one of our primary competitors.”

“Once our plan makes them realize the enormous profits in mount potions, they'll definitely enter the fray and compete with us commercially.”

“It's a bit strange they haven't made a move yet.”

"However, other factions have already reacted. For instance, most counterfeit dragon rider potions appearing on the market originate from the Jing Xiang Clan."

"In the potion business, we only partner with the Li Jian Clan. This is because the Li Jian Clan ranks among the kingdom's top three major powers, possessing sufficient influence to protect this interest."

“Simultaneously, they lack expertise in potion-making, so they need our assistance to enter the potion market.”

“As you likely observed during negotiations with Mian Li Zang, the Li Jian Clan is a faction that maintains a vigorous spirit of enterprise.”

“For them, entering into a commercial potion partnership with us represents an opportunity and direction for growth and expansion.”

Zong Ge nodded again.

He hadn't fully grasped it before, but after Zi Di's detailed explanation, he finally understood: there were so many considerations behind her choice to partner with the Li Jian Clan.

Zi Di continued reading the final lines of the secret letter.

“Oh no.” Her expression darkened. “The big guy is gone!”

"What?!" Zong Ge couldn't help but gasp.

“Ah...” Zi Di stared at the decoded letter, letting out a deep sigh.

The decryption was complete; all the text on the envelope had transformed.

Zi Di handed the letter to Zong Ge: “Read it yourself.”

Zong Ge scanned the entire text at a glance.

He murmured to himself, quietly analyzing.

“Gold level magic chef, Da Dou... he took the big guy away?”

"The big guy, traumatized by the previous assassination attempt by Yi Jiu, went mad and was led straight into the arena. Then, through a series of misfortunes and feasts, he displayed extraordinary bloodline potential..."

“Based on his performance in the arena, it's easy to speculate he possesses gold level bloodline potential.”

“But why did Da Dou act so decisively?”

“By doing so, Da Dou violated the Ice Sculpture Kingdom's laws, openly abducting someone. He can no longer participate in the kingdom's grand ceremony.”

“Was it worth such a heavy price?”

“Is this revenge for Tripleblade choosing to eat Ci Hai Shen's food in the end?”

“Or could it be...”

Zi Di interjected, “Or could it be that Da Dou has already caught on, recognizing that the big guy's value far exceeds that of a gold level treasure!”

Zong Ge fell silent.

If that were the case, it would be disastrous.

“If he believes the big guy possesses at least saint level potential, snatching him away makes perfect sense.”

Zi Di voiced her concern: “When the commander returns and finds Xiao Guai missing, we won't be able to explain ourselves.”

“But if we rush back immediately...”

Zi Di's business plans were equally crucial.

Having just established deep cooperation with the Li Jian Clan, returning to Snow Bird Harbor now would undoubtedly severely hinder the progress of the business plan.

Zong Ge's expression grew grave. “I don't recommend rushing back to rescue the big guy.”

“If Da Dou seeks revenge out of resentment, his primary target can only be Ci Hai Shen.”

"Even if he wants to vent his anger on our mercenary group, it will only be through an attack, not kidnapping the big guy and fleeing using precious alchemy artifacts."

“Da Dou holds the big guy's future in high regard, which is why he abandoned the grand ceremony and acted so boldly.”

“Therefore, in the short term, the big guy's personal safety is not at risk.”