Chapter 574: The Wisteria Cache is Here?

Elder Yuan Ci was also aware of the Wisteria Cache, which didn't surprise Zi Di.

But considering her ambush and the Imperial Secret Spy Agency's arrangements at the Wisteria shop, she formed another theory!

Why would the Imperial Secret Spy Agency expend such effort to establish a presence within the Wisteria shop in the capital? The teleportation formation they set up was exceptionally sophisticated, capable of both transmission and aura suppression, undoubtedly costing a fortune.

And the alchemy laboratory within the Ten Millenia Ice Lake was guarded year-round by a gold level fighter.

Gold level!

This was no ordinary individual.

Within any faction on the Main Plane, such a level signified an extraordinary pillar of strength.

The Imperial Secret Spy Agency had invested such immense effort in this setup here, they must have sensed something, formed some conjecture. The actions of such a massive organization, even when based on conjecture, followed logic and had grounds for it.

Though Zi Di wasn't an outstanding commander like Zong Ge, as an exceptional merchant, she excelled at discerning her opponents' intentions.

From the Imperial Secret Spy Agency's actions and deployments, she deduced numerous implications.

Immediately, Zi Di turned to Yuan Ci: “I understand!”

“Elder Yuan Ci, you are the person appointed by the old President specifically to oversee the Wisteria Cache, correct?”

“The Wisteria Cache... Could it be within the Ten Millenia Ice Lake?”

Elder Yuan Ci paused, then shook his head with a smile. “What on earth are you thinking?”

Zi Di's gaze remained steady as she continued her analysis: “The Imperial Secret Spy Agency wouldn't deploy such heavy forces here for random placement or ambushes.”

"The late President's selection of the Wisteria Cache's location faced many constraints. It must be both hidden and secure, satisfying both requirements is extremely difficult."

“If placed on some deserted island or remote wilderness, we'd have to build the chamber from scratch.”

"A low-grade chamber couldn't conceal the transcendent aura of the treasure. Since it's the Wistoria Cache, it must contain vast quantities of extraordinary artifacts and precious resources."

"A high-grade chamber would require immense manpower and resources to construct. But this makes the construction process less covert, inevitably leaving traces behind."

"The ideal location would be a pre-existing, high-level secret chamber. One that's already been excavated, its contents taken by discoverers, and subsequently abandoned."

"Such a chamber could be repurposed with minor modifications and repairs. But while this approach is discreet, it isn't secure. The previous discoverers represent the greatest vulnerability. Even if those individuals are dead, they may have left behind records. Even without records, the manpower and resources expended during the renovation would still be a telltale sign."

Ever since learning of the “Wisteria Cache,” Zi Di had spent her free time pondering its location.

These were conclusions she had reached through her own independent reasoning.

Zi Di continued, “Now that I've seen the Ten Millenia Ice Lake and the ice-skating alchemy chamber, I believe the Wisteria Cache is most likely here!”

“Because this place is both secure and concealed!”

"This is beneath the Ice Sculpture Royal Capital. Even secret agents wouldn't dare excavate here openly. Any saint level entering the kingdom must be registered. If infiltration is discovered, it would cause a severe diplomatic disaster."

"This ice layer alone has four layers, teeming with magic beasts, offering limited visibility. Most crucially, alchemy chambers are as numerous as stars. Whether we build our own or find abandoned structures left by predecessors, it's incredibly easy."

“I trust the alchemy chambers our merchant alliance has established here aren't limited to just the one we're in, right?”

Though Zi Di phrased it as a question, her expression betrayed absolute certainty.

Elder Yuan Ci stared at her blankly for a moment before nodding with a bitter smile. “Since you've already deduced this much, I won't pretend anymore.”

“Indeed, I am the elder appointed by the President to oversee the Wisteria Cache!”

Zi Di's pupils contracted slightly.

“No wonder you've been hiding here all this time...”

“Precisely because the Wistoria Cache is here!” Zi Di sighed deeply before pressing, "The Imperial Secret Spy Agency is the Sheng Ming Empire's intelligence agency. I refuse to believe the entire Empire is searching for the Wistoria Cache. It must be some high-ranking figure or faction leveraging the agency to pursue their own agenda!"

“Who is this person or faction? Are they the true masterminds behind the Wisteria Merchant Alliance's downfall?”

The Imperial Secret Spy Agency was a vast organization serving the Sheng Ming Empire.

The Sheng Ming Empire's current strategy is to invade the beastman continent. A minor target like the Wistoria Cache would never be the primary objective for the entire secret spy organization to mobilize its full strength toward.

Yuan Ci sighed deeply once more and nodded. “On this point, your guess is correct.”

“Who?” Zi Di's gaze sharpened to a piercing intensity as she pressed immediately.

“The Seventh Prince.” Yuan Ci replied.

Zi Di's body and mind shook violently.

The Seventh Prince...

The son of Emperor Sheng Ming, the Son of God?

Immediately, immense doubt surged within Zi Di: "Why? Why would the Seventh Prince, such a lofty figure, come searching for a mere Wisteria Cache?"

Two Eyes Island.

A hidden location, within a secret chamber.

Guided by Yan Yi, Tan Mo secretly arrived here, where he encountered someone already waiting in the chamber.

“The bishop of the Wealth Church?” After this person introduced themselves, Tan Mo raised his eyebrows in sudden realization.

He glanced at Yan Yi and instantly understood why Yan Yi had claimed he could offer Tan Mo a full 50,000 gold in return.

The reason was simple: this man belonged to the Wealth Church!

The Wealth Church... the name alone hinted at its immense financial resources.

As for why the Wealth Church sought him out, Tan Mo had long been aware of Two Eyes Island's situation—it was all about the parish struggle.

Two Eyes Island had originally been the Wealth Church's territory. After the fishmen attacked, Two Eyes Island managed a narrow victory, but the true winner was only one: the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.

In that battle, the Wealth Church's top leader had been killed.

Leaderless and in the midst of chaos, this presented Hun Tong with an opportunity.

Hun Tong's disguise was flawless, convincing everyone he'd plundered the ocean floor's spoils, amassing staggering wealth until he was rolling in riches.

Seizing his moment of dominance, Hun Tong wielded political maneuvering to intimidate opponents, prying open cracks and shifting the balance. He brought in the Justice Church.

Once the Justice Church's dominance was solidified, Two Eyes Island would become a battleground between the two factions. Hun Tong, the so-called secular island lord, would then hold the upper hand, standing on the sidelines to effortlessly balance the religious powers and emerge as the ultimate winner.

This undoubtedly constituted a grave infringement upon the Wealth Church's interests.

Thus, this time, the Wealth Church secretly dispatched a bishop to take charge of the situation, leaving Hun Tong completely unaware.

“To bring a gold level Wealth Bishop to Two Eyes Island, your capabilities are truly impressive, Shadow,” Tan Mo probed.

Yan Yi hastily waved his hands, offering a few modest words.

The Wealth Bishop stated, “Major Tan Mo, with your profound wisdom, you must surely understand our position.”

Tan Mo frowned. “I grasp your motives, but I haven't seen any sincerity yet.”

The Wealth Bishop laughed heartily. “Our Wealth Church may lack manpower, may lack land, but we absolutely never lack money!”

“Fifty thousand gold. If you agree to cooperate, we can deliver thirty thousand into your hands right now.”

Tan Mo's heart skipped a beat, but his frown deepened.

Such sincerity must conceal a grand scheme!

Thus, Tan Mo did not agree immediately. Instead, he asked, “Tell me your plan.”

The Wealth Bishop and Yan Yi exchanged a glance before the former spoke: “We want to replace the island's ruler.”

Tan Mo's brow knotted into a tight knot. He hadn't expected them to play such a high-stakes game.

In his own scheme, he'd merely intended to force Hun Tong into submission and extract a sum of money.

But the Wealth Bishop aimed to remove Hun Tong entirely!

This involved the replacement of a local ruler!

In an instant, Tan Mo realized he'd been swept into a vortex.

A vortex of political struggle.

He'd become a pawn being manipulated!

His first impulse was to flee this chamber, to extricate himself from the vortex.

Yet hesitation gripped him.

After all, the promise of 50,000 gold pieces was no small sum.

Upon reflection, he began to see this as an opportunity!

“If they truly intend to eliminate Hun Tong, assassination won't suffice.”

“That's not standard practice in imperial political struggles!”

"Especially now, when the Empire is pouring all its resources into conquering the beastman continent. If internal strife became this extreme, the Wealth Church would face the wrath of Emperor Sheng Ming!"

Tan Mo quickly deduced: the intensity of this political struggle wouldn't be too great; it would remain within the bounds of established rules.

Further evidence for this deduction was himself.

If the Wealth Church intended to eliminate Hun Tong through assassination, they wouldn't have revealed this plan to an outsider like him.

After a moment of silence, Tan Mo looked at the Wealth Church Bishop: "You want to replace Hun Tong? Who do you intend to install in his place?"

This was a crucial question.

Because this concerned a fundamental founding principle of the Sheng Ming Empire, the hereditary system of nobility.

If the Wealth Church were to support an outsider, Tan Mo would turn and leave immediately.

But if the Wealth Church sought a candidate from within the Duo Mu Clan, then there might be room for discussion.

Two Eyes Island was the domain of the Duo Mu Clan; the new ruler had to be a Duo Mu Clan noble.

This was the law of the Sheng Ming Empire, the rule of the nobility!

Facing this question, the Wealth Bishop merely smiled without speaking.

Beside him, Yan Yi stepped forward slightly and bowed slightly to Tan Mo: “Lord Tan Mo, do you think I am suitable?”

Even Tan Mo, greedy as he was, was utterly stunned at the sight of Yan Yi and the Wealth Bishop's calm expression.

“Are you serious?” he snapped, glaring at the Wealth Bishop, who gave a slight nod.

Tan Mo turned to Yan Yi and declared bluntly, “You're merely a bronze member—and you dare covet the position of ruler?”

"You're even more greedy than I am!"

Tan Mo scrutinized Yan Yi as if seeing him for the first time, his eyes darting up and down in disbelief.

Yan Yi chuckled. “Precisely because I'm only bronze level that the Wealth Church finds me suitable, wouldn't you agree?”