Negotiations

In a sense, someone capable of creating alchemical equipment that could blow a high-speed warship's engines was more important. After all, advanced technology could be replicated!

As for the other purpose of his visit, he looked around the room but saw no third person on the other side.

After a moment's hesitation, Charles asked, "Would it be possible to meet Lord Bone King?"

Su Ming's ears perked up. Was there someone else in Zijin's faction?

"Bone King?" The scholar raised an eyebrow. "Who's that?"

"The wielder of the White Bone Mark," Charles said. "Was the intelligence wrong? I heard that the wielder of the White Bone Fortress had intervened in the Battle of Agate Sea."

"I do have a wielder. He's right here beside me," Zijin said.

Su Ming raised a hand in greeting. Zijin had already told him there was no need to stand on ceremony. If the benefits were great enough, they would be perfectly polite even if you looked down your nose at them. If there were no benefits, you could bow and scrape and they would still treat you as a barbarian.

Charles hurried to his feet and bowed to Su Ming. "Forgive my disrespect. May I ask how I should address you, my lord?"

Su Ming nodded. "Just call me Su Ming. So what the hell is Bone King?"

"Lord Su, the power you displayed during the sea battle was astonishing. People have taken to calling you Bone King. If you don't like the name-"

"So it's a title?" Su Ming asked.

"It doesn't qualify yet. It's just a nickname," Zijin replied. "If you like, we can go sink the Jade Sea and Tang Valley. Then you'd have a title."

"...No, I'll pass." Su Ming turned to Charles. "If possible, could my nickname be 'Mechanic'?"

Apparently, this man cared more about his identity as a mechanic, Charles noted to himself.

"The official side is easy. I can ask the Star Empire to amend the wanted notice," Charles replied. "They won't make an issue of such a small matter. But it's hard to influence what people have come to call you."

"Be content," Zijin said. "Bone King is a pretty respectable nickname."

"So what's yours?" Su Ming asked.

Zijin bit her lip. "Fine. You'll find out sooner or later anyway. Charles, tell him what you all call me behind my back."

Charles's expression kept changing. After struggling with it for a long time, he finally uttered a single word in a low voice. "Belladonna."

"Belladonna?" Su Ming looked up and saw the scholar's less-than-pleasant expression. Unable to contain himself, he burst out laughing. "Ha, Miss Belladonna, I really want to hear about your past exploits!"

The girl clenched her fists. She shouldn't have stopped so soon yesterday.

With the small talk over, Zijin and Su Ming carefully examined the materials Charles had brought.

[They really are in trouble,] Zijin messaged Su Ming. [The battle records show that a month ago, Yexiya, a Saint Rank expert from Water Chestnut Island, was attacked by the sea monster while passing through these waters by ship. Yexiya's nickname is Ice Beauty, and she's well suited to fighting at sea, but even she failed to kill the monster. It escaped.]

[Even a Saint Rank professional couldn't deal with it?] Su Ming replied. [No wonder they look ready to let us ask for the moon. They're afraid we won't agree.]

[Of course. The White Bone Fortress is currently the only warship that might be able to catch up to the monster, or even hurt it. They're afraid they won't offer enough to persuade us.]

High-speed maneuverability combined with Six-Pointed Star · Divine Edict made for a combination no other ship had.

[But there are a lot of problems. Radar can't detect underwater targets, and the target is immensely powerful. If it wraps itself around the Zhiyuan, even the hull might not withstand it.] Su Ming offered his technical analysis.

[So we can't earn this money?]

[We need to investigate and conduct further research and tests,] Su Ming replied. [How about we agree to part of their request first? We need resources to upgrade the hull.]

[Yes, that works.]

"We don't know enough about the target, but we can try investigating it first," Zijin said to Charles, setting down the documents.

"Thank you so much!" Without the slightest hesitation, Charles handed over another stack of papers. "These are the resources the various factions can provide together. Please take your pick. If you have any other needs, please don't hesitate to ask!"

Zijin opened the list. A dazzling assortment of supplies occupied most of it, including scarce goods such as magic crystals and many precious alchemical materials.

She handed the list to Su Ming. "Could you arrange some food supplies first?" she asked Charles.

"The Little Trench Coat was already loaded with three tons of various foods and fresh water when it set out. It should arrive here this afternoon," Charles replied. "Our chamber will be responsible for all your supplies during the operation."

"What about the warrants for our arrest?" Zijin moved on to the next topic. "A joint hunt for the sea monster will cause too much of a stir to hide from the Star Empire and the Temple of Light. Aren't the chambers of commerce involved afraid of being held accountable?"

"The Temple of Light and the Star Empire are also among the factions taking part," Charles replied, surprising them both. "With maritime trade interrupted, the Star Empire is the one suffering the most. As for the Temple of Light, they said they were willing to cooperate and have already set an example by suspending their pursuit of you."

"I can understand the Star Empire overlooking the fact that we smashed its UFO. The profits from transoceanic trade simply matter more," Zijin said, thoroughly puzzled. "But why is the Temple of Light getting involved? What does maritime trade have to do with it?"

"And speaking of which..." Zijin suddenly manifested the Divine Favor Scepter. At first Charles was confused, but once he recognized what it was, the composure he had maintained since boarding vanished.

The vice president of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce gaped, losing his composure, but for a long while he couldn't make a sound.

"Don't panic. This thing already appeared during the sea battle a few days ago," Zijin said. "The fact that you still haven't heard about it shows how strict their gag order is. But it won't be long. You can't keep a fire wrapped up in paper forever."

"No, this, the Temple of Light..." It took Charles quite a while to calm down somewhat, though he was still incoherent. "My heavens, I was wondering why they went to such lengths to surround one ship. You two really, really..."

He suddenly pulled out a very fine little notebook and respectfully offered it to them with both hands, along with a pen. "Might I have the honor of getting your autographs?"

"You're thinking there'll be one fewer signature each time one of us dies, and you can sell them later, aren't you?" Zijin said irritably.

"No, no, I genuinely admire you both from the bottom of my heart! When I was little, I used to daydream all the time about what it would be like if the Divine Favor Scepter recognized me one day and I then betrayed the temple. Wow, how cool would that be!" Charles unbuttoned his formal jacket and loosened his bow tie. "You two are my idols. From now on, I'm your diehard fan! As long as it doesn't violate my duties, ask me for anything!"

"The honor is ours." Zijin looked as though she was telling him to act all he liked, as long as he was happy.