368 Trade.
Shi Lang came out of the cabin and he found the team holding a small bag each. He understood these bags contained the credentials and the badges they will need to work smoothly. Jill walked over and then gave him a bag addressed to him.
The young man took the bag and asked, “Did you understand the official working of the force?”
Jill nodded and said, “Yes, Sir.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Go and find the person responsible for logistics and take charge of a spaceship allocated for our team and make sure we have everything for a mission.”
Jill nodded and Shi Lang continued, “We have a mission to complete, and I also need to finish a few things at hand. I will come back in the evening, finish the arrangements and obtain all the permissions we need to take off. I have set you as the deputy captain so you will not have any authoritative trouble, and if you do, contact me.”
Jill nodded and gazing at Sonic she said, “Come along.”
Sonic nodded and the two left. Shi Lang looked at the rest of the people and said, “You guys help them with stuff and take a rest if you are exhausted. Also, Sparrow, ask everyone if they would like to send a few things back home. I am going out to send my daughter a few gifts.”
Sparrow nodded with a smile and replied, “I will send it on your communicator after asking everyone, boss.”
Shi Lang nodded and left the place, the team had members who were married and some even had kids, however, they all pushed things aside to serve the Federation. The Ace division hardly got any vacations. It was when Amelia was there that the team was allowed to work in groups and shifts.
This time they were traveling to the hub of the galactic council and the purpose was to seek more resources for cultivation. They also did not know what the enemy they will face on the way will be like. Thus they must be together and in such a situation when they staked their lives on the line, how can Shi Lang shrug away the responsibility of a leader?
Shi Lang came out of the building and found an anxious-looking Shashi standing in the lobby, he was pacing around the place like an ant on the stove. When he saw Shi Lang come back in one piece, he almost could not hold back his tears. He walked up to the young general and said, “Boss, you fucking scared me so bad. What the hell took you all so long?”
Shi Lang did not get to answer when Shashi asked again, “Where are the rest of them, are they okay?”
Shi Lang clicked his tongue and said, “We passed. Now take me to the entertainment district. I have some work to finish there.”
Shashi was surprised but before he could launch his questions again, Shi Lang slapped the bag in his hand at the face of the chubby man. The ambassador took a look at the stuff and with a smile, he said, “Congratulations boss, yes, yes, I will take you to the entertainment district. Come please.”
The two got into the vehicle and they arrived at the entertainment district shortly after. Shi Lang did not get off the vehicle instantly, he bit on his tongue and cast a blood clone. None of the technologies that the world has developed would be able to tell that the guy beside Shashi was not the real Shi Lang but a clone he had created.
After a few minutes, Shi Lang smiled and got out of the vehicle, and made his way to the building where he had met Cara Balley earlier. Shi Lang was not afraid of surveillance, the crowd around him allowed him to avoid the cameras perfectly and his spiritual sense told him exactly where the blindspots were.
When he arrived at the building he did not probe with his sense, but asked in a low voice, “Are you there, Senior?”
Cara’s voice sounded in his mind almost instantly, “Come in, Shi Lang.”
The young general did not mind and walked inside the cracked door. Quickly when he came inside, he found the middle-aged lady sitting in the void, like the first time. Cara Balley smiled and said, “To think that you would even dare to deal with Captain Stix and leave him on the verge of dementia. Shall I call you brave, or shall I call you stupid?”
Shi Lang sighed and said, “It will depend on how you want to look at things, Senior. I am a cultivator, I cannot stand someone trampling down the things I care about, whether they are the big fine or the heavens.”
Cara Balley was surprised and then raised her brows. She then smiled and said, “You did a good job at handling them, but I want to ask you, on what basis shall we help you? We do not wish to trigger a war with one of the big five, even though our strength is higher than theirs.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Resources and lives will be spent no matter how small the battle. I understand what you mean here, but this incident should not stop you from collaborating with me and my team in secret, will it?”
Cara Balley smiled and nodded, “You are indeed smart. Here.”
She threw a bottle of pills at Shi Lang and said, “Inside this bottle is a description of plants that you need to cultivate in order to make the Soul Nourishing Pill. This pill…”
Shi Lang cut her off and said, “This pill can heal the soul and at the same time it can straighten them.”
Cara Balley nodded and said, “You know your spirit science.”
Shi Lang looked at the bottle and found there were twenty pills inside the bottle with a plain paper chit. As soon as he opened the cap of the bottle a thick fragrance rushed up his nostrils and he felt his body brimming with energy. He mumbled, “Incredible.”
When the young general took out the piece of paper and began to look at the ingredients mentioned on it. He was surprised and then shocked. He gulped and asked, “Senior does your planet has all these herbs?”
The lady nodded and said, “We do, but you cannot have it from us.”
Shi Lang sighed and said, “I do not want to ask you for a lot, just one stalk of each will do. I will be able to cultivate them, from the roots.”
Cara Balley shook her head and asked, “Do you know that help and aid can only be extended to a certain level.”
Shi Lang nodded and asked, “What do you want in return, Senior.”
Cara Balley smiled brightly and said, “I suggest a trade for the stalls you need and not only one each, but dozens of them.”
Shi Lang asked, “What exactly is the catch here?”
Cara Balley chuckled and said, “Are you accusing me of foul play?”
Shi Lang replied, “Senior, it is not foul play, but no meal under the heavens is for free. You agreed to give me a dozen of stalks this is something that makes me imagine that there is a catch.”
Cara Balley nodded and said, “Indeed, there is.”
Shi Lang sighed and the lady continued, “Your team has one empty place, I want you to take my granddaughter out for the experience. Do not worry, she is not a complete rookie, but she still has a long way to grow.”
Shi Lang sighed and said, “I can do it but your granddaughter?”
Cara said, “She is a member of the Strike force, and I have arranged for her transfer. You only need to look after her, she is not someone with a princess temperament. Just a little too green.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “I understand. Please pass her my contact details. I will head back now.”
Cara nodded and let him go. Shi Lang held the jade bottle in his palm and he decided to give it to his team and save one for Amelia. The team of beginner Primordial Soul cultivators would be more intimidating than just him alone.
…
Harley asked, “What is he up to?”
Shina replied, “Boss, he went shopping for his team’s elders and his own family with the Terran Ambassador. He has been at it for a few hours now.”
Harley nodded and asked, “What do you think about this guy?”
Shina said, “From the things I have found out about him, he is not bloodthirsty, but he does not have a habit of walking away either. His kill count surpasses that of the captain of the first team, and even if the foe was low-level, he fought without holding back. So, he is a tiger.”
Harley smiled faintly and said, “Not a tiger, but an Ace. He is that one card that can change the game completely.”
Just then her communicator rang and she found that the call was from the council administrator itself.