Chapter 373 — Opening the Door to Release Shijin

Even when he called the next tier of the Keyuan Consortium's management, the other party said it had been a long time since they had seen the Consortium's upper echelons, led by the Shirakawa Legend.

One possibility was that the Keyuan Consortium's leadership truly had colluded with the Totem forces and, sensing trouble before it broke, had all fled. The second was that these people had already been quietly killed by Mirage Abyss City, leaving no witnesses. Either way, it was extremely unfavorable for the present situation.

At this moment, President Terashima could not understand how "a simple exploration of a mystic realm" had gradually escalated into the fuse for war between two nations.

Both sides fell into a standoff.

At present, Fengjue Jixiang, Fengjue Jieyi, and the others were utterly silent. Compared with the matter Mirage Abyss City had raised, they were more concerned now with the youth flying in the sky.

What on earth was going on with this Jiaqi?

Not only had he easily cracked the Phoenix Mystic Realm, he could even make so many Totem Dragon Kings stand behind him. From the looks of it, he seemed to know every one of them, and they all knew him too. How was that possible?

Even a Titled Legend of Donghuang could not possibly know every Dragon King of the Nine Luminaries City. Was this Jiaqi the illegitimate son of Qixia City's Dragon God?

"Why so slow?" At this moment, seeing that the Dragon Kings had stopped attacking him and turned their spears toward some helmsman of the Keyuan Consortium, the Crimson God urged President Terashima on.

President Terashima: "...Legend Tianjiang, Lord Crimson God, this—this—the Shirakawa Legend and the others cannot be reached!"

His face was ashen.

At these words, though the Dragon Kings of Mirage Abyss City had expected it, they still flew into a rage. The Seven Islands were too useless. Not only could they not keep watch over a traitor in their own house, they had even let the culprit vanish without a trace.

In truth, Mirage Abyss City did not believe that the Seven Islands' core leadership would openly betray the Alliance; most likely, a single rotten apple had appeared within. But it did not matter. Either way, the fact that forces from the Seven Islands had invaded Mirage Abyss City was indisputable, and they would naturally seize on it to demand ample compensation.

"What is the meaning of this!" The Sea Dragon King glared. "Does it mean you cannot produce the people?"

Cold sweat streamed down the Warring States Legend's face, and he cursed President Terashima inwardly. Could it kill you to answer a little later?

The Warring States Legend was just about to explain when, beside him, the Overlord Sea Legend spoke:

"For my part, I believe the Seven Islands would not betray the Nine Luminaries Alliance."

"However, Warring States Legend, please investigate in earnest whether your nation's Keyuan Consortium has colluded with the Totem Kingdom."

The Warring States Legend exhaled. "I will. If a traitor has appeared within, we will punish them severely and give Donghuang and Mirage Abyss City an accounting."

"An accounting!!!" This time it was the Sea Dragon King, Lord of Mirage Abyss City, who had come to claim damages. "Easier said than done. The losses from a single Totem invasion—can the Seven Islands bear them?!"

"Judging by the losses Shenyuan City has suffered."

"This matter won't be settled without ten legendary-tier resources, or one mythic-tier resource!"

The Warring States Legend, the Crimson God, and the many legends of the Seven Isles: ???

Hell, do you people have to open your mouths that wide!

The Warring States Legend said with a dark face, "Once the matter is investigated thoroughly, we will naturally give Shenyuan City a proper accounting."

To placate the dragon kings of Shenyuan City, he did not refuse outright, but neither did he agree.

In any case, even if something did turn up, it had nothing to do with him, the Overlord Sea Legend!

The Keyuan Consortium was one of the Seven Isles' ten great consortia, immensely wealthy. If a traitor to the nation really had emerged from within, the Keyuan Consortium would certainly be confiscated—and when that time came, they could simply pay out of the Keyuan Consortium!

What the Warring States Legend worried about now was that the Keyuan Consortium's core assets might have been moved away along with them. If the Consortium's upper echelons had vanished en masse, there was still a chance that Qixia City or Donghuang had a hand in it; but if the Consortium's core assets had also disappeared into thin air, then it was absolutely a problem from within.

For the Seven Isles, that was the worst possible scenario.

"We hope your nation will give a proper accounting. Also, regarding your isle's guardian deity attacking our Donghuang beast tamers—shouldn't that likewise be accounted for?" At this point, the Overlord Sea Legend, having played the bad cop over in Shenyuan City, suddenly raised his voice and addressed the Warring States Legend and the Crimson God.

"Lu Bai, are you all right?"

At the same time, the Overlord Sea Legend looked toward Cen Yu and immediately inquired about Shi Ying's condition. Judging by Shi Tan's swaggering manner, though, it did not seem as if anything had happened.

"I'm fine." Shi Li said, "It's just that that big shot tried to snatch my resources. If not for the mystic realm's power blocking it, I might already be dead."

The Crimson God: ???

You absolute—have you no sense of reason? That cat was definitely hiding beside you the whole time. Even if the fire hadn't blocked anything, you'd have been perfectly fine. Besides, its flaming great hand was meant to seize resources—what the hell are you dying about!

"Warring States Legend, the wagering agreement is written in black and white. If, during this period, a mystic realm on the Seven Isles that has not yet been cracked is cracked by beast tamers of our nation, the ownership of the resources is perfectly clear. So what does your isle's guardian deity mean by snatching resources??"

The Warring States Legend's face had not once turned pale from its gloom all day. He turned silently to the Crimson God, and the Crimson God, its rat tail swaying, turned its head away and would not meet his gaze.

"The Crimson God has slumbered for a long time and knew nothing of the wager. A mystic realm suddenly yielded one mythic-tier resource and two legendary-tier resources—such a powerful energy fluctuation, and from the Crimson God's own guardian territory besides. It was only natural for it to be roused and to protect the resources," said the Warring States Legend.

The Overlord Sea Legend was not satisfied with this explanation. "This matter won't be settled without ten legendary resources, or one mythic-tier resource."

The Warring States Legend: ???

By now the beast tamers of the Seven Isles had seen it clearly: these people were bandits!

At that moment, the Dragon Palace host led by the Sea Dragon King, hearing these exchanges, were greatly astonished as well, for all they knew was that Shi Jin had been bullied—they had no idea why.

Now, hearing that Shi Jin had been bullied because he had dug up one mythic and two legendary resources on the Seven Isles, their eyes went wide at once. They too felt like bullying Shi Jin a little, and wanted to collect a protection fee.

The Ice Dragon King especially exclaimed in shock, "Kid, is that true? One mythic, two legendary???"

"..." Shi Qi stared at the totem dragon kings who had suddenly fixed their eyes on him, the corner of his mouth twitching. Holy shit, these bandits—they couldn't be setting their sights on him now, could they? Surely you wouldn't rob even a child's money.

Go extort the Seven Isles!

What are you staring at me for!