Chapter 135 - 111: Lin Lan’s Ambition

Blood Vulture: "Enough! Stop using the Holy Artifact to send useless messages!"

Seeing the message in the team channel, Lin Lan’s lips curled into a slight smile.

Judging from No. 444’s constipated expression just now, you could guess that for the Empire personnel using the chat channel, ’information’ itself is an accumulating ’burden.’

Is it because the server storage space is insufficient?

Who knows what those Empire tech people did with the company servers they dug up...

Lin Lan was lost in thought, but he didn’t feel much at the moment as all the bloated information flowed into the rift opened by the Philosopher’s Stone, like a droplet merging into the sea.

Meanwhile, the Dream Space clearly became much smoother, without the jarring feeling from the start.

While Lin Lan was pondering, new information popped up in the chat channel.

Blood Vulture: "No matter what despicable methods you’ve used, leave the Empire’s Holy Artifact immediately, or Ark Country will face nothing but war and destruction!"

It’s obvious they were getting anxious.

Lin Lan naturally wouldn’t be intimidated by such threats; those with nothing to lose need not fear those with everything to lose. Constant retreat only leads to more severe consequences.

He also sensed a hint of bluffing from the other party’s message...

"Holy Artifact? What Holy Artifact from the Empire is there here?"

Seagull chose to counter: "Moreover, I suggest you choose your words carefully, Blood Vulture. You wouldn’t want the Alliance’s highest Governor to know the core secrets of the Empire Hunter, would you?"

Blood Vulture fell silent.

If the other party were a hot-tempered old man, he’d probably be taking blood pressure medication by now, right?

Lin Lan smiled slightly; the leverage the opponent handed over was just right. Since the other side came with strong malice from the start, Lin Lan would not miss the chance to bare his fangs.

If they want to eliminate the newly born Ark, they must first weigh if they can afford the cost.

Frost Falcon: "Twisting and pulling back and forth is meaningless, Lord Roland, I understand your thoughts, just state your demands directly."

"Compared to brutes who only know how to invade others, I do prefer talking with smart people."

Lin Lan took the opportunity to mock Blood Vulture, his attitude becoming a bit more serious: "Are you high-ranking officials of the Empire?"

He had noticed that these top officials of the Empire weren’t in the same clique.

"I’m just a trivial governor, not worth mentioning."

Frost Falcon gave a rather steady impression: "However, I must remind you, leader of Ark, the spark of war is already in your palm."

Frost Falcon: "This is no alarmist talk; it’s because you and the Alliance’s chamber of commerce are in close contact and know too many secrets that shouldn’t be known."

Seagull: "So, are you saying you want me to keep these secrets for you?"

"It’s the only way for stable coexistence."

Frost Falcon immediately responded: "Besides, I sincerely hope that Ark and the Empire can cooperate for mutual benefits. Your way of dealing with the Celestial Calamity is admirable."

Blood Vulture: "Hmm, it’s no big deal. The Empire’s mega-structures can easily achieve that!"

Lin Lan ignored Blood Vulture’s meaningless show of bravado and thought seriously for a while.

After a moment, he responded: "Of course, we can cooperate for win-win results, but the premise is that the Empire must also show corresponding sincerity."

The two sides need not fight to mutual destruction.

Although the Empire has been indifferent to the tragedies happening in the Lion Heart Kingdom over the past century and even fanned the flames with alcohol and experimented with drugs on the nobles, Lin Lan does not stand on the moral high ground to criticize or confront.

Just as he previously told Ryan, Ark is not a nation that pursues justice, nor does it have the qualification to impose justice on others.

Although the Ark Kingdom successfully solved the Celestial Calamity’s prototype, eliminating the entire Lion Heart class, the real issues before Lin Lan were still pressing.

The Foreigner was not dazzled by so-called new technology or the Empire’s recognition; his most important goal at present was only one —

And that is to ensure everyone on Ark Island can have a full meal.

Frost Falcon visibly sighed in relief: "Great, I can make the decision to give you detailed records of the past century regarding the Abyss Calamity."

Seagull: "That’s not enough; your sincerity is far from enough."

Blood Vulture cursed: "What exactly do you want, you greedy bastard!"

Frost Falcon became serious again: "Lord Roland, the Empire will not allow you to use leverage to provoke our dignity and patience."

But Seagull’s response was still unhurried: "You misunderstand."

Lin Lan continued typing, decisively putting forth his idea to the Empire’s high officials: "I hope the Empire’s chamber of commerce can also set up in the newly born Ark Country."

Frost Falcon’s message was noticeably delayed: "You plan to do business with both the Alliance and the Empire?"

Seagull: "Not just doing business; both the Imperial and the Alliance people must abide by the most basic rules, Ark Island doesn’t welcome troublemakers."

Blood Vulture: "You’re a madman! Do you expect the Empire to live harmoniously with those cunning Alliance snot-nosed bugs?!"

Seagull: "I’m not concerned with your historical grievances, nor will I interfere with your frictions outside of Ark Island, but in my territory, you must abide by the order I set."

Seagull: "This demand is simple, right?"

The team channel went silent once again.

Lin Lan had no intention of changing others’ ideology. Facing the lurking end, as long as people, whether from the Alliance or the Empire, could walk the same path on the tiny Ark Island, that would suffice.

Frost Falcon pondered for a very, very long time.

Frost Falcon: "I agree to your terms, but before that, I will send an envoy to investigate the situation."

Seagull: "Happy cooperation~"

Seagull: "Oh, and one last question, what was the ’Prophet’s prophecy’ concerning Ark you mentioned earlier?"

Frost Falcon: "No comment."

Blood Vulture: "Hmm, it seems you’ve won this game, Lord Roland. We’ll meet again."

The team channel fell completely silent.

Lin Lan loosened his grip on the keyboard and stretched. Suddenly, he noticed a pop-up appeared in a corner of the screen.

’Player Raven has sent you a group request; do you accept?’

Lin Lan raised his eyebrows and clicked to accept, but discovered that due to signal issues, the other party had already disconnected...

It was apparent before that Raven’s connection was indeed quite unstable...

Casually guiding the Scavenger into the Shattered Star, Lin Lan turned back to find No. 444 sitting silently, pale-faced in the corner.

The Empire paid no mind to this soldier’s life or death, seeming to presume he’d already been ’dealt with’ by the Ark Lord.

"Don’t be so tense."

Lin Lan chose a suitable piece of furniture, patted No. 444’s shoulder: "Look, I got you a decent bed, just rest there for a while."

Then, the gray-haired youth took a step forward, leaving the narrow mechanical dreamscape.

Ota had already vanished.

"Lin Lan! Lin Lan!"

Lucia immediately bounced over, her big eyes full of desire: "I want to control the Night Owl too!"

"You’ll have a chance." Lin Lan ruffled her golden hair.

"Sir, is it really okay to let that guy continue staying in the dream?"

Ed stepped forward, somewhat worriedly glancing at the Imperial strongman in the dream space’s corner.

"No worries, I’ve reset the password permissions, he can’t control the ’Scavenger.’"

Lin Lan didn’t elaborate much, the gray-haired youth swayed slightly, unable to hide the fatigue and drowsiness on his face: "How’s the situation in the Royal City?"

"The people have already committed the warriors’ images to memory, and the Sun Mine’s power now covers the entire island!"

At this moment, Ed’s face showed a rare hint of a smile: "From now on, no nobles will ever take away their livelihoods again."

"Moreover, we’ve learned of the latest situation in the Southern Territory through the Sun Mine."

He reported: "A group of Fes People from White Oak Main Island have successfully arrived at Seagull City, Lord Lin Lan."