Chapter 781.2: Don't Even Think About It

After the day’s work ended, Cheng Yan reported the matter to Chu Guang. Chu Guang didn’t say much after hearing it. He merely sighed with slight regret. “What a pity. They got smart for once.”

The New Alliance was no longer the New Alliance of old. Sure enough, using the same old methods to fleece people was getting more difficult.

Thinking about it, that made sense. If the New Alliance in its current form had existed a year ago, then even a fool like Sid would probably have stopped to consider whether he could ever get his money back before lending to them.

Better to leave this sheep for his Southern Sea New Alliance alt account to shear.

Looking at Chu Guang’s wistful expression, Cheng Yan coughed lightly, wearing a peculiar expression. “You may have misunderstood... Perhaps Garawa simply didn’t think that far and accidentally avoided the pit you dug for him. I can assure you that not a single sentence he said at the time passed through his brain first.”

Amused by that description, Chu Guang laughed. “Don’t say that, and never underestimate your opponent. They may be taking a few detours now, but who knows what the future holds? Maybe they’ll accomplish something earth-shattering someday. At least in my view, every survivor on the wasteland has that kind of potential.”

Although Cheng Yan did not doubt the administrator’s words, the unfortunate reality was that after dealing with the Xilande Empire for so long, he had failed to develop even the slightest favorable impression of them.

He could only sigh softly in response. “Perhaps.”

...

At the same time Cheng Yan was reporting to Chu Guang, another duke of the Empire, Nihark, was getting completely drunk at the North Island Grand Hotel, the most luxurious hotel on North Island.

Like North Island Heavy Industry, the North Island Grand Hotel was another piece of Chalas’ legacy.

Although the civil war had yet to end at the time, Chalas had already begun fantasizing about shaping the postwar order. The hotel had been built specifically to receive guests from the major survivor factions.

A month earlier, the Logistics Committee had auctioned off the property. It was eventually purchased by a tourism company registered on Ring Island, allowing the hotel to reopen.

Drinking at the most luxurious hotel on North Island, with none other than Southern Sea New Alliance war hero Li Minghui personally accompanying him, Nihark naturally drank himself into an excellent mood.

Unfortunately, once the man started floating, his tongue began moving on its own. “For a mighty general like you, General Li, it would truly be a shame not to remain president for a few more years.”

That remark nearly made Li Minghui jump out of his skin. He hurriedly replied, “We can drink all we like, but let’s not say things like that.”

Seeing the nervous expression on Li Minghui’s face, Nihark laughed heartily. “I know, it’s all because of the New Alliance, isn’t it? Fine, fine, we won’t talk about it. Come, let me toast you!”

Looking at those shrewd little eyes, Li Minghui sighed to himself.

How does this guy do it?

He clearly understands absolutely nothing, yet somehow manages to put on an expression like he sees through everything, while also believing no one else can see through his little act.

Still, Li Minghui didn’t expose the duke. Instead, he sighed as if carrying grievances he could not voice and went along with the man. “Things are different here compared with your country. People around here are incredibly petty, and they don’t understand gratitude at all. When they need me, they address me as their general. When they see Chalas coming, they immediately hide behind my ass. Then the moment they don’t need me anymore, they start criticizing me and practically wish they could bury me in the ground together with Chalas.”

Nihark stared intently at Li Minghui and suddenly said, “It is truly regrettable that a wise and mighty general like you cannot freely display your talents on the battlefield and must instead suffer restraint at every turn! How about this? You come to the Empire and serve as a commander? I can guarantee that if you are willing to join the Empire, His Majesty will certainly treat you generously! However many people you command here, you could command five times as many with us!”

Looking at the five fingers Governor Nihark held up, Li Minghui nearly choked on his own saliva. He coughed hurriedly. “That really won’t be necessary. But if you’re interested, I can introduce you to a few young men from our navy. Having them serve as advisers shouldn’t be a problem.”

He had only been venting a little. Did this idiot seriously think he was being marginalized in the Southern Sea New Alliance? What a joke! He was a war hero, for crying out loud.

Barring anything unexpected, he could sit comfortably in the position of naval commander until retirement. He had absolutely no interest in resigning just to go become some kind of captain at the zoo.

That said, he didn’t mind selecting a couple of promising young men from the naval system and sending them over to gain experience. There probably wouldn’t be many wars left to fight in the South Sea anyway.

The Xilande Empire, on the other hand, would probably have no shortage of wars ahead of it.

And once their navy was trained, surely they couldn’t keep fighting in those broken-down fishing boats they had bought from Silvermoon Bay. When the time came, he could conveniently sell them a few destroyers as well.

Once he stripped out all the radar, sonar, fire-control systems, and other miscellaneous equipment, those things were basically just oversized toys anyway. He wasn’t worried about causing any trouble. And at the same time, it would help solve the employment problem for some of the Southern Sea New Alliance’s idle engineers.

The Council would probably be delighted at the change.

Sure enough, Nihark was overjoyed when he heard Li Minghui’s proposal. “Are you serious?”

“Of course I am. Uh, but the Council won’t be easy to fool. I’ll have to keep them happy before they’ll loosen up.”

Li Minghui had only tossed that out casually to see what kind of reaction he would get, but unexpectedly, the offhand remark struck Nihark right where it mattered. Unable to hide the delight on his face, Nihark slapped his thigh. “That’s easy enough! I can provide you with another loan of 10,000,000,000 Xilande currency!”

Today they could provide military advisers. Wouldn’t that mean tomorrow they could sell warships?

Nihark was so excited his eyes were almost turning red. The chance to wash away his previous humiliation seemed to be right before him!

Li Minghui naturally had no idea what he was thinking, but he was equally surprised by just how generous the Empire was. With a casual flourish, they had thrown out another ten billion.

After a moment of stunned silence, he straightened respectfully and raised his glass. “On behalf of the residents of the Southern Sea New Alliance, I thank you for your generosity!”

“Haha! General, there’s no need to be so polite. It’s just a small gesture!” Nihark laughed and waved his hand. “The Empire doesn’t lack this little bit of money. Think of it as us making a friend!”

Looking at the corners of his mouth curling upward in self-satisfaction, Li Minghui smiled faintly, clinked glasses with the duke, then very sincerely drained his own in one gulp.

Doesn’t lack this little bit of money, huh...

So I’m the beggar here?

Heh.

Still, to be fair, begging like that wasn’t exactly humiliating. Those assholes really did talk like shit, but when it came time to hand over money, they genuinely didn’t hesitate at all. They opened their mouths and out came a string of zeros.

For the sake of these hundreds of millions of Silver... No, for billions of Xilande currency, Li Minghui suddenly felt that the duke wasn’t quite so irritating anymore.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Li Minghui had his secretary drive Nihark to the harbor district.

The duke seemed almost allergic to the New Alliance and insisted on staying aboard the Empire’s ship. No matter what anyone said, he refused to spend the night in a hotel on shore.

As for Li Minghui himself, he didn’t even bother moving from his seat. He simply called a waiter over to clear the table, then began the next round.

It was partly to save trouble, and partly to save money.

The person he was about to meet was none other than the representative of Mammoth State’s new government, a young man named Velu.

He wasn’t very old, only in his early twenties, but there was an unusual steadiness in his face for someone his age, and from the way he sat upright, it was obvious he had received military training.

To be fair, the benefits Mammoth State’s government brought the Southern Sea New Alliance were nowhere near the 20,000,000,000 offered by the Xilande Empire. Yet compared with Nihark’s nouveau-riche mannerisms, Li Minghui actually preferred the handsome young man sitting before him.

Watching Velu take the initiative to pour him a drink, Li Minghui smiled faintly and asked with interest, “Aren’t you curious who I met just now?”

Velu respectfully clinked glasses with him, drained his cup, set it down on the table, and replied without much concern, “There’s no need to ask. It must have been Mr. Nihark.”

Li Minghui smiled. “You’re from the Moon Clan. Don’t you hate him?”

Velu’s expression did not change in the slightest. He merely continued as though discussing something perfectly ordinary. “There’s nothing to hate. Our conflict with them will be decided on the battlefield. That has nothing to do with the friendship between us.”

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