Chapter 1796 - 924: Recompense

The next day, before dawn, the entire West Sea, all branches of the Wasteland Market, received a gift from the Seven Cities.

A small box the size of a beer mug, containing a heavy transparent brick-shaped item.

Perfectly square, with sharp edges and corners.

It also emitted a pungent smell of chemical materials.

It looked like a small crystal glue ornament on display... By mixing two different industrial glues together and then exposing them to ultraviolet light, it could quickly solidify, preserving some meaningful small mementos. It's not difficult, simple, and fun.

But the things sealed inside were quite rare.

Some had a finger, some two fingers, some an ear, some a piece of shinbone, and some intricately crafted flowery hearts or lung lobes...

In short, it was extremely captivating!

The small gift is no intention of disrespect; it was all handmade by our own Dragon Head. Feel free to accept it; rejecting it would be disrespecting Chairman Ling.

Besides, how memorable it is, don't you agree?

According to Chairman Ling, if you can collect these gifts, and eventually gather the whole set of character fragments, you can assemble a hidden character specifically created by the Seven Cities Wasteland Collection!

Who it is, let's keep it a mystery here, and please don't speculate wildly.

Of course, the model is free; you can assemble it how you like. Whatever you can create, please let your creativity and ideas flow!

Thus, under the loving and caring gifts, the strife in the West Sea suddenly came to a halt, as if the countless brutal killings were temporarily paused.

It's not like it can continue, right?

Ling Liu has become a pay-to-win character, don't you want to enter the card pool too!

Now that a fierce dragon-tiger battle had just ended, those who were hoping to bring in East City to counterbalance the Seven Cities for their indecisive interests suddenly found that East City was suddenly not effective... not even medication worked.

What else can be said?

Submit, brother, if you don't accept, wait till the Seven Cities arrive to trample on you!

Facing the tragic fate of the obstinate factions like Gray Port, Sea Abyss Corner, and Hidden Mist Reef, everyone immediately became aware of the times.

At this moment, faced with the coastal recharge activities offered by the Seven Cities, and the loans and purchase agreements that hardly show any respect, the only choice left was to bite the bullet and sign.

As for other irrelevant parties, those branches that had never participated in this conflict and already made their stance clear were not subjected to the anticipated siege or suppression.

It was as if the Seven Cities couldn't see them at all, ignoring them entirely.

Even though they had already stated their opposition to the Seven Cities, it didn't matter to them; it was just air. Do whatever you want, it's none of my business.

So bizarre, it borders on irrationality.

Completely giving up the chance to expand wildly!

Anyone with discerning eyes could see that with the rise of the Seven Cities Wasteland Collection, if they seized this opportunity, in a few decades, they might truly control the entire West Sea... but the Seven Cities remained unmoved.

Even the Seven Cities Wasteland Collection returned to its original position.

Brother, what are you thinking? We're here to do business?

Votes?

What's the point of those, stop bothering me.

Of course, if you're really eager to vote and can't find where to do it, I have a suggestion...

Thus, on the seventh day of the Wasteland Market election, before the deadline at twelve o'clock, Chen Xingzhou's ranking began to soar again.

After brushing past the rapid decline that Han Hui experienced overnight, Chen Xingzhou firmly secured Han Hui's position from yesterday at eleventh place, completely replacing it!

As for Han Hui, amidst his embarrassing tumble and fall, he ultimately didn't fall below the boundary, precariously maintaining his position at seventeen.

Even though the future is long, the current number of votes already demonstrated the huge difference in the future for everyone!

As time finally reached twelve o'clock, the one-week-long stormy struggle, which made the real world restless, the White Deer controversy finally came to a temporary halt.

After receiving more than a thousand replies labeled [Leader Known], the Wasteland Market finally ended its brutal repetition, announcing the list of winners.

There was no ceremony, no celebration, and no award or any other ornament was given.

The twenty representatives selected from all over the world only received a ticket to the future.

Other than that, nothing was given.

Yet at the same time, everything was given!

The opportunity has been placed in the hands of each deserving person, whether the future is a success or failure, how much they earn is up to them!

After twelve o'clock, the real world's tumult seemed to settle slightly, and many people rejoiced with tears, popping champagne.

Celebrating that they survived, celebrating that the turmoil is finally over, celebrating that they hugged a big leg...

Or perhaps, celebrating their own achievements!

Naturally, Cliff City welcomed a feast!

Witnessed by all the members of the Wasteland Market, acting on behalf of Chen Xingzhou, who followed the trend against the current, took a crucial step!

Once through the Dragon Gate, everything afterward is the vast open sky.

After seeing off all the guests, after he pushed open the office door, he finally saw the figure sitting on his chair with his legs crossed on the table.

There was no anger or displeasure, instead, Chen Xingzhou sat on the guest chair himself, allowing him to act as he pleased.

"It's rare to see you, would you like to try the tea I have here?"

"Forget it, there are too many drunks in the Northern Realm; they're hiccuping while they speak. Just let me take it easy... Miscalculated, those guys never test the acetaldehyde in the wine..."

Ji Jue slumped in the chair, his head aching: "I must say, this chair is quite comfortable; the chair of a Wasteland Market representative is really something!"

"If you like it, just take it."

Chen Xingzhou was indifferent: "The position of Wasteland Market representative can be yours too, I don't mind."

No kidding, he truly didn't mind. If Ji Jue was willing to sit in this hot seat, he'd even light incense to celebrate. After all, isn't he still managing the association and the wasteland?

Ji Jue takes the blame, Ji Jue solves the problems, the benefits are mine!

Thinking about it makes me drool.

"You, how come you only ever think of good things every day?" Ji Jue rolled his eyes, "Not even a thank you for me?"

"The votes from West Sea, I really should thank you, but I guess you wouldn't mind either way."

Chen Xingzhou sighed, "But really, are you not considering trying for it? With my full support, at most in five years, you'll definitely have a spot among the Desert Market representatives!"

"...And then what?"

Ji Jue rolled his eyes again, "Messing around with the cesspool once is enough, continuing endlessly, just thinking about it is annoying to death... If you're interested, go ahead yourself, just don't interfere with what I'm doing."

"Consider it sacrificing a bit of yourself for a good cause."

Chen Xingzhou was amused, sipping his tea, "If you're too busy to cause trouble, everyone would be popping champagne to celebrate."

This was the truth.

Even though the plan was finalized by him, and all the intelligence and support were provided by himself, with most of the manpower and processes he resolved... but as an accomplice, Chen Xingzhou still felt somewhat frightened.

Ji Jue's talent in committing misdeeds is truly a bit too exaggerated!

Even the Desert Market called it extreme.

No way around it, everyone usually at most just collects protection fees, lends some high-interest loans, at the boldest, smuggles some digital products, at the very most sells some arms, ultimately all for the sake of profit, power, and strength.

But Ji Jue wants nothing; he purely just wants to stir things up.

Originally, it was just a simple bank robbery: people come in, money's taken, people leave, and that's the end of it, right? But once a proposal reached Ji Jue's hands, it turned into a hundred thousand terrorist attack plans against East City...

Even if they're all feints, all to divert the Security Bureau's attention, doesn't the line between reality and illusion protect Ji Jue's intentions?

It means this guy could really cause unprecedented terrorist incidents in East City!

And he could do it several times!

It's practically more Nirvana than Nirvana itself!

The East City Security Bureau, up and down, experienced in one day, more high-level security incidents than it had in a year. A single misstep could cause irreparable terror consequences; the pressure maxed out several times, making people want to hang themselves... But the cause was just Ji Jue wanting to keep them busy, so they wouldn't add trouble to his grand bank robbery plan.

If they had known in advance, they might have begged him not to make it so troublesome and just opened the bank vault for him!

"Everything's ready, as we agreed before, we'll split it fifty-fifty, don't blame me for being impolite, money's needed everywhere, and I'm just fretting over it."

Chen Xingzhou proactively spoke, "Do you need me to help transport your share to Seven Cities?"

"The Coast doesn't lack this money currently, expansion has reached a near saturation point, and production capacity is almost over-the-top. You hold onto the stuff for now; consider it my investment so just give me dividends."

Ji Jue waved a hand and then straightforwardly extended his hand:

"Just give me what you promised earlier."

Chen Xingzhou was momentarily bewildered, finally realizing what Ji Jue wanted, and instantly found it hard to understand.

"Just for this?"

"Yeah, otherwise why?"

Ji Jue straightened up, wringing his hands, "Hurry, don't keep me in suspense, where's my treasure?"

"..."

Chen Xingzhou sighed, gesturing for him to wait a moment, stood up, and made a call. Soon, the Star Core Association's expedited delivery appeared in the office.

Just this call cost him over two million... just to deliver such a pile of documents.

He originally thought Ji Jue was joking!

But after Ji Jue asked three times, he finally took it seriously, through his own channels, contacted the person in charge over in Central City, spent quite some effort and a hefty price, ultimately expedited the procedure and got it done.

Several boxes, heavy, filled with unknown amounts of permits and registration materials.

But the most important were only the top two.

One titled "Commercial Satellite Launch License," the other "Civilian Space Satellite Launch Project Approval and Operation License"...

Ji Jue held them, admiring joyfully, unable to hold back a broad grin.

He was genuinely happy.

No, brother, are you serious?

You don't even glance at the four hundred tons of gold, but you look at this?

Chen Xingzhou sighed, rubbing his temples, "Allow me to ask one more thing..."

"Go ahead."

"...What do you need these for?"

"Hmm, to be honest..."

Ji Jue held the two permits, grinning at him, "My childhood dream was to be an astronaut!"

"..."

Chen Xingzhou felt a surge of old blood stuck in his throat, unable to speak further.

But looking at his joyful appearance, he ultimately could only helplessly sigh.

Forget it, let him be.

However, after finishing a mess of things, he always felt like he had forgotten something, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't remember.

Seemed like nothing important.

Until after Ji Jue finished enjoying his moment, casually asked a question, leaving him stunned, smacking his forehead, and suddenly realized.

Oh right, my brother!

.

On the other side, at Yingtai Mountain, Chen Yubo, holding a cat and bitterly waiting for news from his brother, was nearly turning into a stone.