Dinner Table (Part 2)

"Certainly!"

Dales complimented, "You are the champions of the Friendly Tournament, and even the members of the Star Luo Royal Academy Team admire you greatly. Your strength is evident to all!"

The implication is:

[I've already helped spread your reputation throughout Falling Star City. Tomorrow, as long as you demonstrate your strength, a large number of people will flock to you, and the common people will voluntarily contribute money, thus raising the funds needed to eradicate the Fallen Ones.]

Zhou Qing chuckled, sat back down, picked up the toothpick, and continued picking his teeth. He said, "Although I'm just a kid, I understand that commoners will respect the power of Soul Master, but they won't obediently hand over their money just because they respect them. Besides, everyone has a sense of luck. They think that the Fallen Ones are just staying in specific locations outside the city, and as long as they don't go there or take a detour, they'll be fine."

"But if we want them to obediently pay up, it's not enough for just a few of us to demonstrate our strength; someone needs to set an example."

Who are the role models for ordinary people?

Seeing Dales ' mouth widen further and further, Zhou Qing sighed inwardly: Classics are classics; different worlds, yet history has similarities!

Before he could answer, Zhou Qing replied with a smile, "Of course, it's the other nobles in the city, as well as the Soul Master families."

"So--"

"Lord Dales, you wouldn't have already contacted them, asking them to step forward and pay after we demonstrate our strength, thus influencing the common people to follow suit, and then returning their money afterwards, with only a small portion of the taxes and donations paid by the common people going towards the cost of eradicating the Fallen Ones, and the rest split between you and those people 50/50? 60/40? Or 70/30?"

At this moment, not only Dales was stunned, but Tang San, Xiao Wu, Romantina, You Hui were also taken aback.

"You're fucking heartless! It's one thing if you don't want to pay, but you're actually trying to swindle money from the people of the city! You're utterly despicable!"

Xiao Wu jumped up onto the chair with a "whoosh," put one foot on the table, glared fiercely at Dales, and said to Zhou Qing, "Zhou Qing, why don't we just beat this guy up? I can't take it anymore!"

"How dare you!"

Hidden in the shadows, three Soul Grandmaster emerged.

However, this was exactly what Xiao Wu wanted. She leaped out and kicked one of the Soul Grandmaster in the arm.

Click!

Xiao Wu's attack was fueled by rage. Even without releasing her Martial Soul, her powerful physique, enhanced by her Soul Power, was still enough to crush that Soul Grandmaster!

"What?!"

Before the remaining two Soul Grandmaster could react, Xiao Wu used the recoil from kicking the first Soul Grandmaster's arm to leap towards the second Soul Grandmaster.

Thump!

A kick to the abdomen sent the powerful Soul Grandmaster crashing through the wall and tumbling into the courtyard, where he lay on the ground howling in pain.

In a mere instant, two of the three Soul Grandmaster lost their ability to fight, and the remaining one felt a chill run down his spine and kept retreating.

[What kind of monster is this? Without even releasing its Martial Soul, relying solely on its Soul Power, it fought against opponents far stronger than itself. Although there was an element of surprise attack, it still defeated two Soul Grandmaster in one fell swoop... Could it be that its performance in the Friendly Tournament was held back? Or are my three subordinates just too weak?]

Dales was shocked. Seeing Zhou Qing, Tang San, Romantina, and You Hui slowly get up, he immediately scolded, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and take those two good-for-nothings away! What if you disturb the guests?"

Dales is now certain that if these guys team up, they might actually be able to contend with Soul Ancestor! They might even be able to fight a Soul King!

only--

These guys all seem to want me dead! Especially Tang San, the killing intent in his eyes is undisguised! Zhou Qing, on the other hand... he's unpredictable!

"Lord Dales, isn't that a bit unfair? You invite us to dinner, but then have Soul Grandmaster secretly watching over us?"

Although Xiao Wu was indeed a bit impulsive, the point remains the same: internally, it doesn't matter how much they tease, Taunt, or even insult each other or fight among themselves; but externally, they must unite and never blame their own people in front of outsiders, otherwise there will be a crisis of internal division.

More importantly, Xiao Wu's actions, by a twist of fate, had a certain deterrent effect, giving their team more say.

"Hmph!" Dales was also a little angry. "It's just to protect our safety. After all, I am still the city lord, and I can't afford to get hurt."

The implication was that Zhou Qing should not think about taking direct action, because if something happened to him, they would inevitably be held responsible.

"With our talents, we can choose to join the Spirit Hall."

Zhou Qing grinned broadly, laughing heartily, but Dales felt a chill run through his heart—

Although Zhou Qing and his companions' Martial Soul aren't particularly impressive, the talent they've displayed is on par with, or even surpasses, that of disciples from major sects, allowing them to fight opponents of higher levels!

If they choose to join the Spirit Hall, they will definitely be valued. At that time, the Spirit Hall's higher-ups will contact the Star Luo Empire's higher-ups with a single word, and their deaths will be meaningless.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Dales said "good" three times in a row, then suddenly burst into laughter, "I really underestimated you."

However, I had no choice but to do this because I was really short of money. So I had to resort to this desperate measure and ask the people of the city to pay for it!

They are short-sighted, but I have many more things to consider.

Just the task of eradicating the Fallen Ones requires money to organize Soul Master, raise supplies, purchase armor and weapons, and even subsidize the wounded and the families of the dead afterwards—all of which cost money!

How can I manage on my own?

Xiao Wu snorted coldly, "I think you just want to squeeze money out of the people in the city!"

"That is incorrect!"

Dales said indignantly, "You don't understand. Falling Star City isn't just a place where I call the shots. Forming Soul Master team, gathering food, and so on all require the help of the local nobles and Soul Master families to get things running! If I don't feed them first, they won't be willing to put in any effort later!"

Tang San frowned, realizing that this was indeed true. After all, Dales was an outsider, and even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake.

In his previous life, Tang San had witnessed how honest officials were ostracized by local gentry, making it difficult for them to amass wealth...

However, Zhou Qing chuckled and said, "What makes you think that just feeding them is enough?"

Dales: (⊙_⊙)?

What happened with this sudden turn of events?

"Don't know?"

Zhou Qing smiled. "We accepted the mission posted by Xiao Lang of Nuoding City on the Nuoding Guild. We were rewarded with 1,000 Gold Soul Coin for finding the relevant information and 10,000 Gold Soul Coin for capturing the fugitive. But we did contribute to your fundraising efforts tomorrow, so shouldn't we five get a share?"

Dales: "... How much do you want?"

"Not much."

Zhou Qing gestured the number "seven". "After you feed the other families in the city, the rest we need... Let me calculate. Me, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Romantina, You Hui, five people in total, a complete Soul Master team needs seven people. In addition, we also need substitutes."

As for a substitute, forget about it for now; 70% is fine with you.