Chapter 1203 - 1069: Sky-High Price

Chapter 1203: Chapter 1069: Sky-High Price

The tribunal room is a place for investigating clan members, where only those who have made serious mistakes are sent.

This is a small courtyard, but it’s heavily guarded and also has many skilled individuals.

The ancestor named Komodo, a Wood Attribute Supreme, possesses astonishing combat power, and was undoubtedly the top expert in the clan during his youth.

However, he is now 290 years old, and although he maintains his health meticulously, he probably won’t live for another twenty years.

So he usually retreats for quiet cultivation in a cave and doesn’t concern himself with clan affairs.

It was only because the family encountered a powerful adversary and suffered heavy losses that they had to invite him out.

Besides Komodo, there are also two other Supremes in the tribunal room.

The Gold Attribute Supreme among them is an elder of the clan, stationed to hold down the fort within the territory.

The other Earth Attribute Supreme is an externally hired tributor of the clan, not qualified to enter the Elder Council.

However, his entry into the tribunal room is not only due to the urgent situation but also his close relationship with Komodo.

All the individuals from the three armored vehicles were brought into the courtyard and recounted the events one by one.

The one in charge, A-level, was the last to be questioned, and he held the most information.

After listening, Komodo shook his head, "Six Supremes taken down... this matter isn’t greatly related to you."

Sending all three warships over cannot be blamed on the younger generation—this was already considering the adversary seriously.

Unfortunately, the adversary’s power far exceeded imagination.

A-level also does not believe he made any mistakes, he sighed, unwillingly expressing, "But the compensation..."

"It’s indeed excessive," Komodo raised his white eyebrows.

Even at his age and with his insight, he found it hard to accept such a price, "What suggestions do you have?"

A-level hesitated before speaking, "What if... we secretly spread the power of the Five Elements Array?"

The Stephen Clan certainly cannot regain the upper hand, but just because they can’t afford a conflict doesn’t mean other Imperial forces can’t.

If they could destroy the adversary by borrowing this knife, then this enormous compensation wouldn’t need to be paid.

However, hearing this, Komodo looked at him with a peculiar expression.

"You’re considered a core for cultivation by the family, and yet you can only come up with such a bad idea?"

A-level was stunned but still respectfully responded, "Please, ancestor, enlighten me."

Komodo looked at him with irritation, "Do you think only the members of the Stephen Clan know the power of the Five Elements Battle Array?"

"Others also know, for example, the City Guard," A-level looked at his ancestor bewilderedly, "Isn’t that good?"

During the great battle, not just one faction was observing, of course, they noticed the Battle Array’s uniqueness.

Not to mention, just one strike capable of destroying a Company Level Ship is enough to cause shock.

His thought was, knowing people are in such numbers, the people within Gustine’s Territory couldn’t be sure who released the information.

"Tch, just this level of perspective," Komodo shook his head, a look of frustration and disappointment.

"Since so many people know, why make efforts to spread the information personally? Worried the adversary can’t find evidence?"

A-level was at a loss for words, paused for a while before speaking again in defense, "But our means of spreading information..."

"There is no but!" Komodo unhesitatingly interrupted him.

"Do you think you can do it covertly enough? But do you know what Secret Techniques the adversary might have in this regard?"

"This devastating defeat was because you underestimated the adversary, now just hours later, about to make the same mistake again?"

The Gold Attribute Supreme elder beside them also spoke up.

"Alright, the ancestor means that as for spreading the information, we needn’t make any effort, just watch and wait."

"Watch and wait..." A-level’s mouth twitched, "But this takes time, the adversary demands compensation urgently!"

While speaking, he glanced at the Earth Attribute Supreme beside him—this one wasn’t considered a clan member.

That tributor understood, coughed lightly, and stood up, "I’ll go inspect the territory’s defenses."

Once he left, A-level spoke softly, "So then, what about those rebel organizations?"

The Stephen Clan had communication channels with rebel organizations, but such matters were truly inappropriate for outsiders to know.

Imperial treatment towards rebel organizations is always ’better kill than let go,’ clan extermination is very common.

If nobles were involved, the punishment would be even more severe.

Komodo’s face darkened upon hearing, coldly looking at him, "And then?"

"Don’t you know ’the greater the benefit, the greater the suspicion’? Or do you feel regret if the family isn’t ruined by your hands?"

"If you dare suggest such a bad idea again, I’ll personally clean house... understand?"

"Understood," A-level felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing, stood up respectfully and said, "Thank you, ancestor, for your teaching."

"Go," Komodo waved his hand disinterestedly, "In a few days, first approach the adversary to discuss specific compensation matters."

Once everyone left, he sighed again, "One by one, none are worry-free... is the Stephen Clan really going to decline?"

The Gold Attribute Supreme heard this and could only smile wryly, "But ancestor, that is a hundred billion."

"Reluctant?" Komodo glanced at him, "When you seized the array, did you think that the other side would be reluctant too?"

"Do as much as you’re capable of; if you make the wrong choice, you must admit defeat!"

"I’ve lived nearly 300 years, and life’s nothing but ’letting go’ and ’gaining.’ You have to let go to gain."

The Gold Attribute Supreme was silent for a moment before speaking.

"So... it’s about trying to hold on longer and minimizing what we pay out in compensation?"

"Indeed," Komodo sighed softly, "First, pay gradually and watch the change... We cannot afford to lose high-end combat power."

He wasn’t too distressed about those three warships; he could simply buy more with money.

But he was more pained by the loss of those crew members; they were the clan’s elite and hard to cultivate.

Even the Gold Attribute Supreme Elder was reluctant about his clan members, but also reluctant to pay so much.

He hesitated before speaking, "Even if there are changes in the future, the financial compensation paid upfront... may be hard to recover."

"Why do you all have such limited vision?" Komodo looked at him with irritation.

"Giving less is equivalent to gaining... what exactly do you want to say?"

The Elder hesitated and slowly spoke, "You and the Supreme above... should have some connections, right?"

In fact, apart from Komodo, others in the Stephen Clan had also contacted some Supreme above.

However, their prestige certainly wasn’t as great as the Ancestor’s; they might not be able to convince the Supreme above to act.

"Are you thinking along these lines?" Komodo glanced at him and then shook his head slowly.

"The same mistake again; why do you assume that they don’t know people at the Supreme level... Are you addicted to underestimating others?"

The Supreme Elder lowered his eyelids, "The Ancestor’s lesson is right; I didn’t think enough."

"Sigh," Komodo sighed lightly, disinterestedly shaking his head, "The Supreme above... are not so easily engaged."

"You all are too hasty; don’t rush to oppose, I’ve already said, learn to watch for change!"

"Watching the tigers fight from the mountain isn’t a good tactic? Why rush out foolishly to become someone else’s henchman!"

"If someone takes the first step, we then react according to the situation... those losses may not be irrecoverable!"

Compared to the gloom of the Stephen Clan, Gustine’s territory was full of jubilation.

The main family had left the planet 300 years ago, leaving these hired laborers feeling like "lost dogs" wasn’t far off.

Normally, when they stayed within the territory, they weren’t bullied much.

But this is Qingyuan Star; life without a patron is tough, always subject to people’s gossip.

Their lives were better than most ordinary people, yet anyone knowing their background often had ties to nobility.

Some were excessively bold, even with the Sealing Land Technique in place, people would come to pick quarrels.

Because of this technique, no one dared act within the territory, but sarcastic remarks were common.

Fawning upon red and stepping on white is unavoidable in any society; when you’re down, others are tempted to covet your place.

Faced with such situations, the laborers were not suited to push back aggressively—who can stay only within the territory forever?

So today’s battle truly boosted their morale.

The laborers believed that in the foreseeable future, they wouldn’t face suppression from outsiders.

They were very happy, contrasting with the gloom of the captives.

These people had all their weapons and Storage Talismans confiscated, detained in a medium-sized courtyard.

The courtyard doors were sealed shut, monitored meticulously, with hired laborers taking shifts to guard outside.

Such methods wouldn’t stop those determined to escape, but the Nutrient Injection warned that any escape would result in execution.

Besides, he charged these people "security fees" and costs for lodging and meals, calculated daily.

Furthermore, the fees were astonishingly high, with an A-level security fee being a thousand a day, and Supreme costing ten thousand.

The Nutrient Injection emphasized this was "voluntary." If anyone felt they shouldn’t pay security fees, they wouldn’t need to pay for lodging either.

Additional supplies were extravagantly priced, cigarettes a thousand per stick, even for the worst quality.

Too expensive? You can’t buy more either, with a maximum of two sticks per person per day!

Seeing the price list presented, the captives were nearly livid!

The Water Attribute Supreme spoke up again, "Your charging methods are more ruthless than those of Star Thieves!"

The Nutrient Injection responded indifferently, "Anyone dissatisfied can refuse to pay... Too many people, managing them takes effort!"

"Are you even speaking human language?" The Water Attribute Supreme rolled their eyes.

This truly showed no care for the nobility’s dignity!

Yet, it couldn’t be helped; under low eaves, who dared not bow?

At the same time, many forces on Qingyuan Star were analyzing the battle aftermath.

Nobility gathered here, and knowledge of the Five Elements Array wasn’t scarce.

But no one could expect that a Five Elements Battle Array, formed by Awakened, would possess such immense power!