Chapter 557: Too Busy to Spare Time for Anything Else

According to Tripleblade's original assessment: Shuang Lian's chances of retrieving the big guy this time were quite high.

His greatest concern was the big guy's safety during the struggle.

Unexpectedly, Shuang Lian, who possessed a mage tower, had suddenly lost contact and vanished without a trace!

Just as Tripleblade paced restlessly, consumed by doubts, Men Shi knocked on the door and entered with a loud report.

"The alchemists at the workshop can't sit still anymore. They've completely lost focus on refining potions. What are we going to do?"

Men Shi brought back bad news.

The alchemists overseeing potion brewing at the workshops were almost entirely from the Honey Snow Tower, Shuang Lian's students.

Following Shuang Lian's orders, they had taken up residence in the four alchemy workshops, working tirelessly to brew the dragon rider potion.

The news of both the Honey Snow Tower and Shuang Lian vanishing together was impossible to conceal.

In fact, these alchemists were among the first to learn of it, even before Tripleblade.

Tripleblade lowered his head, silent.

“How can we get these magicians to continue brewing?”

Tripleblade realized he couldn't manage it.

He lacked the authority to mobilize sufficient funds to hire them.

Even if he wanted to spread false information to deceive these magicians, it would be difficult.

Because Tripleblade had nothing to offer that could persuade them.

“Forget it...”

Tripleblade sighed deeply within.

The situation was unclear now. If he tried to deceive these people...

Even if the deception succeeded, there would come a time when Shuang Lian, bearing the Honey Snow Tower, returned to Snow Bird Harbor. Once she learned of this matter, she would certainly make an issue of it.

Given the current strained relationship between the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps and Shuang Lian, they weren't on such friendly terms that she'd overlook a false order.

If mishandled, this could turn potential allies into sworn enemies.

After much deliberation, Tripleblade concluded this risky maneuver was best avoided!

"Let them go. They're not part of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps; we can't control them." Tripleblade said to Men Shi.

Men Shi nodded and immediately left the cabin.

Since the battle at the alchemy workshop, Men Shi's regard for Tripleblade had grown significantly.

Despite only possessing iron level strength, the valor Tripleblade displayed in combat had greatly elevated his standing within the mercenary corps.

Consequently, Men Shi was now more willing than before to follow Tripleblade's orders.

However, Men Shi departed swiftly and returned even faster.

He brought back even worse news.

The magicians left behind by Shuang Lian in the alchemy workshop were now heading toward Snow Bird Harbor Dock, led by several silver level leaders. They sought out Tripleblade, demanding answers from the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.

After all, their teacher had gone missing while searching for members of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.

Upon hearing this news, Tripleblade immediately dispatched a mercenary messenger to notify Chi Lai to return as quickly as possible.

Among the alchemists left behind by Shuang Lian, there were three silver level individuals. This represented a formidable transcendent force. Tripleblade had to muster all his strength and prepare for battle!

But merely recalling Chi Lai was insufficient.

Chi Lai and Men Shi were only two silver fighters. Facing three silver level magicians, they would undoubtedly be at a disadvantage.

"I guess ‘Shi Qi’ succeeded in healing his wounds. Now, we need his return."

Currently, the role of Zong Ge was filled by an alchemy puppet, imbued with the Deceptive Disguise spell and Anti-investigation and Prophecy spell.

Yet, requesting the “Deputy Commander” to return after recovery did little to ease Tripleblade's pressure; instead, it intensified it.

For an alchemy puppet remained an alchemy puppet, lacking the agility of a living being.

The more the alchemy puppet was deployed, the greater the risk of exposure.

“If Lord Zong Ge could display his gold level cultivation...”

“At least the situation here at the branch would be much more stable.”

“There's a fundamental difference between gold level and silver level forces!”

“Lord Zong Ge has already reached gold level. He's more suited to be our leader than the commander.”

“Shuang Lian went missing, but our commander vanished even longer ago!”

“To rescue his confidant, our commander hasn't made a single move to this day.”

“This is utterly dereliction of duty!”

“And he dragged Lord Zong Ge into covering for him, forcing him to pretend to go to the Ice Sculpture Capital instead.”

As time dragged on, Tripleblade grew increasingly disappointed in the dragonman youngster, his impression of the latter steadily worsening.

Tripleblade steeled himself to face the alchemists' accusations, yet he did not neglect to compose a confidential letter detailing the branch's situation and dispatch it.

Tripleblade's letter was swiftly delivered into Zi Di's hands.

Following the deepened cooperation with the Li Jian Clan, survivors leveraged the clan's channels to achieve revolutionary progress in their mutual communications.

Zi Di effortlessly deciphered the coded message. After a quick scan, she handed it to Zong Ge beside her: “The situation has changed.”

Zong Ge's expression darkened upon reading the letter.

“Shuang Lian is a gold level magician, and this time she's deployed Honey Snow Tower.”

“That mage tower stands a full five stories tall.”

“According to intelligence we obtained from the Li Jian Clan, before leaving the royal capital, Honey Snow Tower clashed with three magicians from the Alchemy Guild.”

“Both Magician Da Bei and Cai Jing are tight-lipped about the details of that battle, clearly, they suffered losses.”

“Such combat power should be more than sufficient to handle the magic chef, Da Dou.”

“But now, both Shuang Lian and her Honey Snow Tower have gone off the grid...”

“Could it be... she discovered the big guy's innate talent?”

In this regard, Zong Ge and Tripleblade shared the same concern.

For now, the big guy's bloodline hadn't been precisely tested. But the survivors knew his power ceiling was at least saint level.

That alone was enough to make Shuang Lian change her stance, capture big guy privately, and make a clean getaway.

Zi Di didn't pursue the topic further.

She glanced at Zong Ge: “In the secret letter, Tripleblade proposed an idea. He suggested you directly reveal your gold level cultivation. What are your thoughts?”

Zong Ge shook his head slightly.

“I'm currently playing the role of the commander. Even if I exposed my gold level cultivation, it wouldn't provide immediate help in our current situation.”

“The enemy is so powerful. Shuang Lian and her mage tower are likely under attack.”

“And I believe that possibility is far greater than Shuang Lian discovering the big guy's talent.”

"It's simply not enough for just me or the commander to advance to gold level. It holds no deterrent for our enemies whatsoever."

“It would be better to keep this situation hidden, as a small trump card to play later.”

“In truth, we aren't lacking deterrence, are we?”

Zong Ge was naturally referring to his feat days prior: single-handedly defeating three gold level opponents, Jia Bing, the Axe Gang leader, and Lin, in rapid succession.

This achievement had genuinely shocked the duelists. It had bought Zi Di, Zong Ge, and their group ample time and breathing room.

Otherwise, they would never have had the chance to negotiate in Igloo City.

And the outcome of those negotiations had secured them even more time and space.

Zi Di mused, "Tripleblade wrote in his letter: Shuang Lian's students can't be relied upon. Given that, we might as well shut down the alchemy workshop at Snow Bird Harbor."

“Under our new cooperation agreement with the Li Jian Clan, we can fully utilize their production lines to mass-produce dragon rider potions.”

When Zi Di negotiated with Mian Li Zang earlier, she hadn't known Shuang Lian would arrive.

Therefore, the condition of leveraging the Li Jian Clan's potion production capabilities was explicitly written into the cooperation contract between the two parties.

Zi Di had even planned for the mercenary company to secretly establish an alchemy workshop.

After Shuang Lian's arrival, this collaboration had yet to formally commence. With the four alchemy workshops ready to restart operations, there was no need to partner with the Li Jian Clan in this regard.

Proceeding with this collaboration would allow the Li Jian Clan to claim a share of the profits from dragon rider potions. They wouldn't work for free.

For the survivors, this meant reduced profits.

But given the current circumstances, a smaller share was negligible. Capturing this niche potion market segment was paramount.

Achieving this would mean Zi Di's business plan was more than halfway to success.

The survivors wouldn't lose out either.

Leveraging the captured distribution channels and War Merchant’s endless database, they were certain to achieve even greater commercial success.

And splitting a portion of the profits with the Li Jian Clan was well worth it.

This way, the survivors could use the Li Jian Clan as a buffer. If the duelists wanted to continue targeting the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, they'd have to go after the Li Jian Clan's alchemy workshop.

This would undoubtedly divert the majority of hostile fire away from the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.

By doing this, Zi Di indirectly protected the Snow Bird Harbor branch.

A thoughtful expression crossed her face: "Magician Shuang Lian is a powerful elder within the Alchemy Guild. She is currently missing. Could we leverage the power of the Alchemy Guild?"

Zi Di had previously sought the help of Shuang Lian through Bu Quan. Now that both Shuang Lian and Bu Quan were missing, she sought to repeat the tactic to harness the Alchemy Guild's strength.

Moreover, Zi Di had already handed over crucial intelligence regarding the mysterious faction to the Li Jian Clan. This information would be relayed upward through the Li Jian Clan's channels.

Both Zi Di and Zong Ge eagerly anticipated the Ice Sculpture Royal Family's next move.

For now, the strength displayed by the duelists far surpassed anything the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps could muster.

Given this situation, both Zi Di and Zong Ge favored seeking external support wherever possible. The more external forces they could enlist, the less risk and pressure they would bear.

“We must press forward.”

"The store setups are already three-quarters complete. With the Spatial Shuttle Squad's assistance, we've saved immense distance and time."

Zi Di conveyed her assessment to Zong Ge.

The disappearances of Shuang Lian, Bu Quan, and the big guy, she could no longer concern herself with them.

This had long surpassed her limits.

Zi Di's choice revealed profound helplessness.

It was a choice born of necessity.

Yet Zi Di had no better solution.

Neither did Zong Ge.

The half-beastman showed no hesitation or deliberation, simply nodding in agreement to Zi Di's subsequent arrangements.