Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 2054.5- One after another

Even without hearing audible arguments, Ye Zhongming grasped the significant internal rifts within the Su Clan at this moment. He possessed items the Su Clan desired, yet the clan aimed to acquire them by divulging their core secrets. Such a delicate negotiation proved difficult to conclude swiftly.

These senior Su Clan figures understood that their present resolution would directly shape their future standing within the clan. Should their judgment prove correct in hindsight, all would proceed smoothly, and this decision would be etched as a testament to their foresight. Conversely, if events unfolded to prove them wrong, their own trajectories would face dire consequences.

For close to an hour, Ye Zhongming remained in the waiting area. During this interval, a steady stream of Su Clan members entered and exited the chamber. Ultimately, all the prominent figures and esteemed individuals of the Su Clan convened.

An additional hour elapsed before Jie Su emerged and summoned him within.

The Cloud Peak King resumed his seat, observing the Su Clan members on the opposing side with an array of expressions, ranging from bewildered to outright furious. It was evident that a heated debate had just transpired amongst them.

"Two hundred Weapons of War, five thousand pounds of Purple Luo Zinc, coupled with the prior sum of one hundred and twenty million, will grant you one hundred million. If you consent, and furthermore pledge that these secrets will never be disseminated, then we have an accord."

Yaohan Su's voice was noticeably strained, indicative of the immense effort and pressure he must have exerted during the intense deliberations, a feat expected of such a formidable expert.

Ye Zhongming contemplated for a moment before replying, "Very well, but concerning the formations that I am permitted to learn, I must reserve the right to select them myself."

Yaohan Su and the leaders of the other two factions exchanged glances and gave their assent.

"Fifth, I request your assistance in acquiring certain materials. You may either procure them directly or furnish me with pertinent information. Should you undertake the purchase, I shall compensate the Su Clan with an additional ten percent of the procurement price as a service fee, beyond the original cost. If you provide information that enables me to successfully obtain these materials, I will similarly offer ten percent of the materials' intrinsic value as remuneration."

This stipulation was considerably more lenient than their initial demands for vast sums of Moonspan Gold or access to formations. The offered compensation was also attractive, leading the Su Clan's senior members to agree with relative ease.

"Here is a list. I may add to it with any needed materials at any time." Ye Zhongming presented a document detailing various items. Jie Su accepted it and promptly distributed its contents to the terminals of every convening Su Clan elder.

Upon reviewing the list, Yaohan Su raised an eyebrow and regarded Ye Zhongming with discernible interest. "Such a quantity of high-level materials? To what end do you require them? Frankly, regarding some of these items, I have only heard whispers of their existence, while others remain entirely unknown to me."

Ye Zhongming offered a smile. "Did Jie Su not inform you? In addition to my prowess as a warrior, I am also a skilled artisan and a dedicated cultivator of the land."

"Then the items you are capable of producing must be of exceptional quality?"

The leader of another faction directed this query towards Ye Zhongming.

As Yaohan Su had previously noted, these materials were of a superior grade, exceedingly valuable, and seldom encountered. While not every item might qualify as a rare treasure, they were undeniably far from common. Consequently, any objects crafted from such components would surely be extraordinary.

"I certainly hope so. Therefore, going forward, I anticipate a collaborative venture in this domain."

Concluding his statement, Ye Zhongming applauded lightly. "Consider this my fifth condition: I wish to establish several shops within Su City to market certain goods. We shall operate one establishment per commercial district, strictly adhering to all applicable Su Clan regulations. Your clan will assist in identifying suitable locations; I shall personally manage all expenses related to rent, taxes, and other operational costs. However, I request an unrestricted right to sell whatever products I choose."

The Su Clan expressed reservations regarding this particular condition. The other factions, however, found it agreeable. After all, numerous establishments operated by different races, including affiliated species and other major clans, already existed within Su City. An additional shop representing the Star-Eye Clan would hardly be a significant imposition; locating a suitable spot would present a minor challenge at most.

Yaohan Su, conversant with Ye Zhongming's character, considered the proposal and eventually stated, "If your establishments offer goods that the Su Clan requires, we shall hold priority rights for their acquisition, at a ten percent discount from the prevailing market price."

"Agreed," Ye Zhongming responded without hesitation.

The primary impetus behind tasking the Su Clan with sourcing these materials was, naturally, for the benefit of the Library Palace. One-third of the initial list comprised substances essential for the detoxification of the Library's custodians; the remainder consisted of items Ye Zhongming genuinely needed or strategically included to obscure his true intentions. Nevertheless, each item was intrinsically valuable and would undoubtedly find utility.

This latter aspect served precisely as the 'avenue for the disposal of unconventional items' that Ye Zhongming had proactively prepared for himself.

Currently, his manufacturing capabilities extended to Common-grade, Ke Steel-grade, and Red Condensation-grade equipment. His future ambition was to produce Raini-grade equipment. After allocating supplies for the Star-Eye Clan and preparations for Cloud Peak, a surplus was inevitable, making external sales a necessity. Selling through the Star-Eye Clan's existing shops in Darkstrip City or his visible establishments would attract too much attention.

However, Su City presented a different scenario. By employing trusted direct lineage aides via Jie Su's connections, marketing some Red Condensation-grade equipment would be inconspicuous, offering a veil of normalcy and ensuring his safety.

"Sixth, I wish to engage Su Clan members for certain tasks at suitable prices. Rest assured, these endeavors will not be for malicious purposes, nor will Su Clan members be treated as disposable pawns. The objective of each engagement will be clearly stated, and the Su Clan will retain the autonomy to accept or decline."

While this condition might seem superfluous, given the inevitability of joint operations upon confirming cooperation, Ye Zhongming stipulated it to establish a clear framework for Jie Su's faction's collaboration. This would enable Jie Su to provide full support without succumbing to gossip and allow for the discreet transfer of assets to the clan leader's faction, thereby thwarting any attempts by the other two factions to gain leverage.

"If you uphold your promise and do not undervalue the lives of our Su Clan warriors, then naturally, there shall be no issue." This condition, previously hinted at by Jie Su and forming part of the contract between Yaohan Su and Ye Zhongming, was promptly accepted.

"Seventh, should the Star-Eye Clan face an existential threat, the Su Clan is obligated to provide unconditional assistance in its defense. Conversely, the Star-Eye Clan shall reciprocate such aid to the Su Clan when required."

Upon hearing this, a wave of cynicism swept through the Su Clan members. The leader of the Kelan Su faction openly scoffed, "We might readily agree if you omitted the clause regarding your Star-Eye Clan assisting ours."

Unfazed, Ye Zhongming met his gaze and responded, "There is a saying from my homeworld: 'Thirty years by the river, thirty years by the riverbank.' Each member of the Star-Eye Clan can potentially become a capable warrior. How can you be so certain that you will not require our assistance in the future?"

This retort left them without a ready answer, especially since the Kelan Su faction had recently suffered a significant, albeit not outright destructive, defeat against the Star-Eye Clan members, or at best, a marginal draw.

The leader of Kelan Su let out a cold snort, a hint of red flushing his aged face.

His silence implied consent, and consequently, no one voiced further opposition to this clause; it was deemed accepted.

"Eighth, well... since you have already committed to imparting several major formations to me, would you be willing, as part of the Novice First reward, to also teach me some minor and medium-tier formations? Not the ones you hold in high regard, but rather the kind you impart to representatives on lesser planets. What do you say? Regardless of the specific formation, I will compensate you with five Weapons of War and sufficient Purple Luo Zinc to craft five sets of 'Formation Molds' for minor formations. For medium formations, the price will be ten Weapons of War and enough material for ten 'Formation Molds.' As before, these teachings are exclusively for me, and I shall not disseminate them further."

At this juncture, every member of the Su Clan present found Ye Zhongming's once-handsome features to be utterly detestable.