Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Route safety. The Alliance doesn’t manage that. The deterrence force of this route is not good enough. Normally, routes have a superpower guarding the route – Arbiter, Aslan, Manalasuo or one of the others. Without a superpower to fall back on, your golden goose route will soon become a meat bun,” Butcher joked.
Wang Zheng started. “Old Butch, I hadn’t considered that. Won’t the Hail Cloud Alliance do?”
Old Butch chortled. “That’s just the business of Ai Xiaolu, or the Aishi Financial Group. I’m afraid that such matters are far removed from the control of Aishi Financial Group, let alone the Hail Cloud Alliance. Besides, the deterrent must be direct, and something usable through many different planets.
“Old Butch, stop hedging. What’s your plan?”
“That’s why I said you’re in luck. Bringing back those two scoundrels helped us get our own back. Otherwise, the Genesis Coffee Club’s reputation would have been soured. That’s why your route can use the name of Genesis Coffee Club to protect it. Any country passing by would not make things unnecessarily difficult, and the security level will also increase greatly,” Butcher said proudly.
“Keke, Old Butch, is that really effective?” Genesis Coffee Club’s status was undoubtedly high, but could they really handle this?
“Damn you, boy, where are your eyes? Have you always looked down on Genesis Coffee Club’s activities? You think scientists don’t spend money? The biggest expenditure in this world is in research. It’s absolutely useless without money. Genesis Coffee Club’s status is the highest in the Milky Way Alliance. We are the future of humanity, the pinnacle of technological development. Within our boundaries, we have the highest special privileges. Of course, earning some research funds is also necessary. How do you think the research facility on Gemini Star was built?”
Wang Zheng had seen that place before. It had indeed cost a bomb. The expenditure must have been an astronomical figure. It looked like he really was a small fry still.
“Old Butch, you’re the best.”
“Get out, you punk! You think I’ll be sold just by your words? This time at Aslan, you must complete a mission. Otherwise, we won’t intervene on this matter,” Butcher said formally.
“Keke, Old Butch, you know I’m insignificant and can’t handle important matters.”
“Coward! I haven’t even said anything and you’re quailing! Are you a man!” Butcher was so worked up, his beard was flailing.
Wang Zheng could only thump his own chest. “I guarantee mission completion!”
“That’s more like it. You, you’re not that young anymore…” Butcher grumbled in a heartfelt manner. Wang Zheng’s head swelled. But then again, it seemed like the next half was not going to be anything good.
“Old Butch…”
“Let me finish. You are too snarled up with Aslan. That’s not good for your future. Whether you eventually join the army or do something else, you basically cannot avoid interacting with Aslan. You haven’t felt the pressure yet because your rank is not there yet. If you think you’re too good for Gail’s niece…”
“Old Butch, she’s the one who thinks she’s too good for me…”
“Don’t quibble words with me. You think I don’t know you? This time around, I’ve arranged one who will definitely satisfy you. From a good house in Aslan, and her qualities, looks, and background all leave no complaints…” Old Butch became more excited the more he spoke on. Wang Zheng was amused as well. Why did people at this age become so enthusiastic about such matters? But he knew that Old Butch had his welfare at heart. One only went to so much trouble for family.
“Old Butch, you know that I have bad blood with Aslan.”
“A member of Genesis Coffee Club, and a military man. How can you be superstitious! I hear you were close with the princess of Aslan. Let me tell you: this girl is no worse a catch than a princess. Princess is an empty title. Being a consort is a fate worse than death itself. Not for you at all!” Old Butch was laying out his whole campaign now, and pitching a decisive one to Wang Zheng.
Wang Zheng raised his hands in surrender. “I give, I give. But I’ll say it first: if she thinks she’s too good for me, that’s none of my fault.”
“As long as you go and meet her sincerely, that will do. You are all youngsters. And also, we’re all favoring you for SIG. Do your best.”
“Yes, yes, do my best, do my best.”
Wang Zheng fought a fighting retreat from Butcher’s place. This Old Butch was a real busybody. Fend him off first, then act.
He was a youngster after all. He immediately called Ye Zisu. Matters like these were best left to Ye Zisu. Perhaps they would have to go through Xiao Fei for it to be more official. Besides, with an enigmatic guarantor like Genesis Coffee Club, the various superpowers would have to show them some respect. Perhaps the dissent could be laid to rest.
Although Wang Zheng did not specialise in finance, he understood the logic. The entire KO Group was still new. After a booming development phase, this process was best carried out stably. Lay their foundations so that they could compete in the future.
This was not just his business. It was the lifeblood and business of Ye Zisu and Yan Xiaosu as well. He had to take it seriously.
After he finished dealing with the matter, Wang Zheng breathed a sigh of relief. All that was left was to maintain his training, and wait to head to Aslan for the big battle.
No place roused Wang Zheng’s fighting spirit more than Aslan. Wang Zheng was not interested in masquerading as the steady and seasoned hand. He just wanted to send a message to Kashawen on her territory – not to bully the young!
Student Ai Xiaolu and Student Luo Er were currently brooding about the security issue for the route. Yan Xiaosu could overlook it. But professionals like Ai Xiaolu, who had run similar projects before, would not make such a mistake. A project of this scale was one of the biggest projects undertaken, even for Ai Xiaolu. Such a project had already far surpassed the security limits of the Aishi Financial Group. The slightest mistake would sink the boat even for a bigger family. That was why security and insurance was the foremost priority, and profits came second.
Luo Er was out of ideas. Once the Milky Way Alliance had passed it, she could not interfere much more, or risk going overboard.
“Can’t Hail Cloud Alliance undertake it?”
“Yes, of course they can. The thing is, Hail Cloud Alliance will take 80% of the profits for something like this,” Ai Xiaolu said in frustration.
Luo Er was shocked. “Forget I mentioned it.” That way, the rest would be subsisting on thin air.
But that might have been expected. In the past, such projects were led by a superpower. Such semi-private types were rare, and their popularity could be imagined.
At this moment, Ai Xiaolu’s Skylink rang. It was Ye Zisu. Ai Xiaolu did not dodge the issue. In truth, KO Group had split into two sides. Ye Zisu was mainly in charge with Ai Xiaolu and the rest. Yan Xiaosu was mainly responsible for ground implementation, and striking deals with Jasper and the rest. One managing the inside, one managing the outside.
Ai Xiaolu could not stop nodding, then hung up.
“Was that Ye Zisu?”
“Yes.”
Luo Er smiled. “This girl is really infatuated.”
Ai Xiaolu smiled slightly. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. Everything has been settled.”
“Settled? Impossible.” Luo Er could not believe it. There had been no sign from any of the superpowers. How could it be?
“It’s resolved, and in a way that couldn’t be better,” Ai Xiaolu said bluntly to Luo Er.
Luo Er’s eyes flicked. “You mean… Genesis Coffee Club?”
In the Alliance, there were only a few groups with special privileges, and only one with connections to Wang Zheng. But this source of support was indeed formidable.
Such special privileges could not be abused. They had a limit – using one was losing one. Besides, Wang Zheng was not an official member. In truth, Luo Er had no idea how Genesis Coffee Club operated. How was such a decision reached?
