Chapter 612: Five Level Zero Secret Orders
Zi Di’s tone was heavy, “But when that moment comes, we can only refuse.”
“After all, Commander Long Fu is only a silver level fighter.”
“Consequently, even if we decline, it won’t lose too much prestige.”
Prestige would undoubtedly take a hit, as the Ice Sculpture citizens greatly looked down on those who feared battle.
But if a silver level was facing a gold level, it was pardonable.
If it was a gold level avoiding battle, then their reputation would take a mortal blow. In the Ice Sculpture Kingdom, it would most certainly be a death sentence socially, and ordinary people would strongly disdain them.
Zi Di and Zong Ge spent some time in the kingdom and knew quite a lot about the customs here.
If “Long Fu” conceded or suffered a defeat, then their magic medicine business would be negatively impacted immensely.
Zong Ge was noncommittal, “The Thirteenth Prince is not a suitable candidate, but perhaps Qi Ci Lang is worth contacting.”
Zi Di and Zong Ge had discussed this before. Since the Wisteria Store’s communication channel could not be used, right now, they are now waiting in the capital for the National Ceremony, then would use it to look for appropriate imperial higher ups to contact.
From what could be gleaned from the information, Qi Ci Lang didn’t have a good temperament, but his network was formidable.
His seven blessings of immortality was the best proof.
Being on friendly terms with Qi Ci Lang meant they could get along with at least seven churches in the Sheng Ming Empire.
While Zi Di and Zong Ge were discussing, things were happening in the subterranean depths of the Ice Sculpture Capital, in the Ten Millenia Ice Lake.
The magic ship Ice Skate was disguised as a massive iceberg as it calmly drifted through the current.
Elder Yuan Ci was in the captain’s room, looking at magic images.
These images had the figures of many alchemists in it and also the magic ships they drove or the alchemy puppets they controlled.
Without exception, these magicians were all evacuating.
But Elder Yuan Ci’s expression was very unsightly.
Because while these alchemists were evacuating, Elder Yuan Ci had received some information.
The information had been conveyed by secret means, and it was both an invitation and also some kind of diplomatic note. Elder Yuan Ci was very familiar with and greatly loathed the sender.
He was inclined to interpret this information as true.
“There is trouble this time.”
“I thought I still had more time.”
“Now it seems I have to open the Wisteria Cache as soon as possible.”
To open the Wisteria Cache, one needed 5 level zero Wisteria Secret Orders.
Elder Yuan Ci counted them; he had one, the sender had one, and the newly emerged Gui Teng (Zi Di) had one. They had three in total.
The sender had already contacted another who possessed a secret order, and he needed to rescue the one who held the fifth, as they were currently in prison.
“Shi Liu…you old codger, I didn’t expect that I would come save you.”
“However, with my strength alone, rescuing him will be somewhat difficult.”
“It is a good time to contact Gui Teng and invite him to make a move. That will also be an opportunity to clarify his true allegiances.”
After Zi Di and Zong Ge parted ways, she received Elder Yuan Ci’s message.
After she determined who the imperial secret spy was, her trust of Elder Yuan Ci had increased greatly.
Elder Yuan Ci directly expounded on his purpose in contacting her, stunning Zi Di.
“Are you saying the Alchemist Guild’s Elder Jiu Jin is one of our merchant alliance’s elders?”
Zi Di didn’t think the Wisteria Merchant Alliance had such powerful contacts in Ice Sculpture Kingdom’s alchemy guild.
One knew that to become an Alchemist Guild elder, one had to be extraordinary. Even honorary elders could not be looked down upon.
Elder Yuan Ci said, “When our merchant alliance was at its peak, we had stores in all of Ice Sculpture Kingdom’s major cities and business dealings with the royal family.”
“At the time, we recruited Jiu Jin when operating in Ice Sculpture Island. We subsidized his promotion to being an Alchemy Guild elder, and in turn, he repaid us by helping the merchant alliance get their footing here and open things up.”
“After the merchant alliance was reorganized, because Jiu Jin was more inclined toward the Ice Sculpture Kingdom, he was not liquidated and still remains as a guild elder. He even took advantage of the situation to rise up and annex many of the merchant alliance’s assets.”
Zi Di’s expression slightly sank, “So you’re saying he’s a traitor.”
Elder Yuan Ci replied, “That depends on how you look at it. At least that’s what I believe. But there is also a subset of people who believed Jiu Jin did nothing wrong. He just had a working relationship of mutual benefits, and he had repaid the Wisteria Merchant Alliance. As for annexing the merchant alliance assets… if he didn’t do it, someone else would have. As the saying goes, keep the good things within the family, isn’t it better if one of our own took it?”
Zi Di heard the unspoken implication, “So he still has supporters in the current merchant alliance? Who are they?”
Elder Yuan Ci replied, “It is Cong Mang.”
“Who is Cong Mang?”
“Cong Mang is the Vegetable Pirates commander, he is a druid, but dual cultivates battle qi and is proficient in the staff.”
“When the Wisteria Merchant Alliance was offering maritime trade routes, they came into contact with these pirates. He was one the president personally selected, and we subsided and helped him expand his force to facilitate his entry into the Fire Beard Pirates. Several important maritime trade routes were protected by him.”
Zi Di was flabbergasted, “I didn’t expect that the merchant alliance had such arrangements on the sea.”
Elder Yuan Ci laughed, “Many business channels are built secretly and aren’t recorded. On the surface, our merchant alliance accounts are all clean.”
“With regards to this, the president and others, me included, were very careful.”
“Regrettably, when the imperial higher-ups wanted to act against us, they didn’t look at this proof of innocence.”
Zi Di understood it more or less.
Jiu Jin and Cong Mang were important partners the merchant alliance cultivated while expanding abroad. Therefore, they had a close relationship with the Wisteria Merchant Alliance, though they would never have the emotional base for it someone like Fei She had. When the merchant alliance was reorganized, or to be more precise, when it deteriorated, they had less loyalty.
Elder Yuan Ci then said, “To open the Wisteria Cache, we need 5 level zero orders. You and I have two, Jiu Jin and Cong Mang have two, and for the last one, we need to join forces and get Shi Liu out of prison, he also has a level zero order.”
“Who is Shi Liu?” Zi Di found that she had a near ignorance of her own merchant alliance’s personnel.
Elder Yuan Ci did not conceal anything, because he needed Zi Di’s full cooperation. Right now, he needed to display his sincerity, “Shi Liu is an earth elemental; to be more precise, he is a magnetic earth elemental. As for why he has a level zero order, I am unsure, the old president had personally given him one.”
“Why was he imprisoned and where is he held?” Zi Di questioned.
Elder Yuan Ci sighed, “He came from the Magnet Archipelago, that group of islands as you might have heard is involved with two hidden treasures. People have searched for them for countless millennia but never found them. Of course that isn’t what we’re focused on. But it is said that Shi Liu once came across a part of one of these treasures and that he knows crucial clues to them.”
Zi Di pondered, “If this happens, we will have five level zero orders. But how will we work together?”
“Truth be told, what I really want to do most right now is search for Miss Zi Di.”
“If this matter wastes too much time and effort, involves my energy, is too risky, and not enough is given to me, I won’t do it.”
Zi Di retreated to advance to pry for more information.
Elder Yuan Ci replied, “Time is quite scarce.”
“This is also the information Jiu Jin told me about.”
“The Kingdom has been preparing for many years here, starting since the current king ascended the throne, and only when it finished this year did information begin to leak.”
“The royal family has constructed a super magic formation on the Ten Millenia Ice Lake. If this magic formation is activated, it will increase the royal family’s supervision and defense of the Ten Millenia Ice Lake immensely.”
“Therefore, Jiu Jin is especially worried that if this chance is missed, then stealthily excavating the Wisteria Cache will be extremely difficult or even impossible in the future.”
Zi Di knew the whole story.
Her brows tightly creased, “How does Jiu Jin know about my existence?”
Elder Yuan Ci replied, “He doesn’t. Only that I stipulated that the Wisteria Cache’s distribution is related to the number of secret orders we invited in.”
“We two have the biggest advantage and are also the strongest. Naturally, we hold a big share. Next is Cong Mang, you Gui Ten, and Shi Liu. It will depend on how much you contribute to this excavation.”
“Don’t worry, we will discuss the next steps beforehand and will sign an inviolable contract.”
“Of course, the prerequisite is that we are able to get 5 level zero order holders.”
“So that’s how it is.” After Zi Di responded with that, she sank into contemplation.
Elder Yuan Ci didn’t urge for an answer and calmly waited.
Zi Di thought about it, she naturally didn’t need to rescue Shi Liu. From Elder Yun Ci she had learned that as Zi Di, the old president’s sole daughter, she could make three level zero orders.
In her plan, she, Fei She, and Yuan Ci already had 5 of them already. They didn’t need Jiu Jin, Cong Mang, and that Shi Liu.
Therefore, she had ordered Fei She to rush over from Snow Bird Harbor.
But the plan couldn’t keep up with change.
“Elder Yuan Ci cannot be completely trusted.”
“It would be for the best to contact Jiu Jin and make a judgement in person. At the same time, I can also try to inspect the other people too.”
“I cannot tell them who I really am. Perhaps that can be utilized to hold an advantage.”
“Jiu Jin is an Alchemist Guild elder, and to open the cache, we might need his official protection.”
“Cong Mang is powerful and is a member of the Fire Beard Pirates. If he is cast away, it might infuriate him, provoking more trouble.
“Shi Liu…rescuing him will be risky.”
After a time of pondering, Zi Di informed Elder Yuan Ci through the communication device, “I can do it, I am inclined to work with you.”
“But before that, I need to personally discuss things with Elder Jiu Jin and Captain Cong Mang.”
“Elder Yuan Ci replied, “I understand, I will help you contact that old bastard Jiu Jin.”
“But Cong Mang is still on his way here. You may have to wait until after we work together to rescue Shi Liu to see him.”
Zik Di frowned, “He is a member of the Fire Beard Pirates, won’t a hasty infiltration into Ice Sculpture Island be challenging?”
Elder Yuan Ci nodded, “The Ice Sculpture National Ceremony is upon us, the capital’s defenses are tight and won’t be easy to get past.”
“But this time, the Fire Beard Pirates’ fourth in command Da Han has also rushed over too, he is a saint level existence who also has a saint level magic pet. Therefore, Cong Mang following in his stead will be very safe and the kingdom’s navy won’t be able to deal with him.”
“After he gets onto the island, Jiu Jin, that local bully, will be responsible for providing him support. Therefore, there will be a high chance we’ll meet without a hitch.”