Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1264: I must take what I want.

Chapter 1264: What I desire, I shall claim.

Pagyi Gesang settled himself with a look of deep satisfaction into his custom-built, oversized chair.

Following a short breather, he requested that Zhang Yi and his group wait momentarily while he retired, accompanied by his personal handmaidens, to refresh himself.

He returned not long after, now dressed in clean, immaculate robes.

By this time, the servants had already scrubbed away the remnants of the banquet.

Pagyi Gesang cleared the room of all staff, retaining only his loyal bodyguard, Suolang Deji, at his side.

His expression shifted into one of grave seriousness.

"Esteemed visitors, on behalf of the entire Pagyi Family, I offer my profound gratitude for your arrival."

"The Prayer Festival is still a week away. During this interval, your assistance is vital to help me withstand the mounting pressure from the Yasha Langtai Family."

"Once the festival concludes, the four major clans will journey to the Great Snow Mountain. There, we shall unite our respective puzzle fragments to unlock the gateway to the Demon Kingdom."

"When that moment arrives, you must exhaust every resource to ensure the Yasha Langtai Family does not seize the treasure concealed beneath the earth!"

Zhang Yi fixed his gaze upon Pagyi Gesang and remarked, "We have debated this matter endlessly. Yet, from the start, you have failed to disclose what this so-called Demon Kingdom treasure actually is."

"Such knowledge surely resides within the original manuscript of the 'Epic of King Gesar,' does it not?"

"Since I am here now, if you hold any trust in me, relinquish that original. I, Zhang Yi, am a man of my word. When I commit to a cause, I deliver results."

Pagyi Gesang chuckled in response. "I have no doubt regarding Mr. Chaos's integrity. However, the stakes are so monumental that I dare not wager the survival of the Pagyi Family on a whim."

"For that reason, the original text shall only be surrendered once our agreement is fully honored."

He pressed his right palm against his chest and offered a slight, respectful bow. "Please be at ease, sir. Given your formidable power, I would never dream of deceiving you!"

Zhang Yi gave him a sidelong glance.

"You will still need to provide some form of incentive upfront."

Pagyi Gesang furrowed his brows. After a brief hesitation, he leaned toward Zhang Yi and murmured:

"The item interred beneath the earth is connected to the remnants you discovered under the Qinling Mountains."

Zhang Yi's expression sharpened instantly.

His expedition into the Qinling Mountains had led to the abrupt discovery of the ancient, powerful Serpent-folk civilization.

By logic, that specific intelligence should have been restricted to the highest echelons of the West Region.

How could Pagyi Gesang possibly be privy to such information?

"Family Head Pagyi, you possess knowledge of what is buried beneath the Qinling Mountains?"

Confronted by Zhang Yi's piercing stare, Pagyi Gesang offered a cryptic smile.

"I am aware not only of the secrets beneath the Qinling Mountains but also of several comparable sites scattered across the world. Our ancestors meticulously documented all of this."

A sense of unease and skepticism stirred within Zhang Yi.

The claims made by Pagyi Gesang struck a raw nerve.

His deepest current anxiety revolved around the entity beneath the abyss of Mist Valley. The final warning delivered by the Dragon King remained vivid in his memory.

If he could unravel the nature of that horror, Zhang Yi might finally devise a strategy to neutralize it.

Just then, the voice of Yang Xinxin chimed directly into Zhang Yi's consciousness.

"Brother, do not be misled. He is bluffing."

The fog of uncertainty in Zhang Yi's mind dissipated in an instant.

Yang Xinxin elaborated, "The Pagyi Family's version of the 'Epic of King Gesar' is barely two thousand years old. Those ancient, subterranean civilizations—and even the Demon Kingdom itself—predate that record by eons."

"It is impossible for him to encompass the totality of those secrets. At most, he possesses minor, fragmented details."

"He is simply weaponizing this mystery as a bargaining chip to manipulate you into serving his interests."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yi felt his composure return.

He reflected internally: My own apprehension had truly clouded my judgment. The mere mention of my greatest concern had left me momentarily vulnerable.

Zhang Yi looked back at Pagyi Gesang. "Regardless, since I am here, I will be departing with the 'Epic of King Gesar'—whether or not your task is fulfilled. Are we understood?"

Pagyi Gesang felt a shiver of dread. Zhang Yi's message was unmistakable: I am no mere mercenary. If you fail to satisfy me, this predator will turn upon you without hesitation!

Pagyi Gesang quickly stammered, "Please, feel assured. Once the objective is reached, regardless of the outcome, I will personally place the original 'Epic of King Gesar' into your hands! And by then..."

He leaned in, his voice dropping into an awkward, expectant whisper.

"At the very least, you will allow me to leave with you, correct? That should be a reasonable concession?"

Pagyi Gesang had already liquidated much of his wealth during his time in Shengjing, effectively securing an exit strategy.

Even if his political gambit collapsed, provided he could escape the Southwest Region with his life, he could still guarantee his safety elsewhere.

Zhang Yi offered a thin smile. "That is certainly possible."

For Zhang Yi, whose primary objective remained his own survival, providing safe passage to an individual was a trivial task that few in this world could contest.

However, when the time came, with Pagyi Gesang effectively under his thumb, he would surely extract an exorbitant price for his protection.

"Oh, one final detail. On my arrival, I made short work of a few individuals who attempted to obstruct my path."

Zhang Yi briefly detailed his encounter with the patrol squad.

Listening to this, Pagyi Gesang let out a scoff of dark amusement.

"Those were lackeys of the Yasha Langtai Family. Many of my own men have fallen to their hands. Mr. Chaos, you performed us a great service by terminating them!"

Loren of the patrol squad had possessed a superhuman index of 9500 and served as a key operative for the Yasha Langtai. Zhang Yi's efficient execution of the man filled Pagyi Gesang with a sense of grim vindication.

"I am merely informing you of the situation. Deal with the aftermath yourself."

Zhang Yi stated this with total indifference.

Pagyi Gesang nodded curtly. "Naturally."

With only a week left until the Prayer Festival, the Yasha Langtai Family was unlikely to ignite a full-scale war over such an incident.

After all, without the personal intervention of the Lord of the Charnel Ground, the Yasha Langtai could not hope to utterly suppress the Pagyi clan.

They would not risk a conflict that might lead to mutually assured destruction.

Pagyi Gesang requested that Zhang Yi’s team remain confined within the estate until the festival, urging them to maintain a low profile to prevent unnecessary scrutiny.

Zhang Yi nodded in agreement.

Once their meeting concluded, Zhang Yi escorted his companions back to their quarters.

He politely declined Pagyi Gesang’s insistence on providing beautiful concubines to serve him through the night.

By the time they reached their rooms, the night was well advanced.

Once satisfied that they were truly private, Liang Yue could no longer suppress her outrage. "They are truly depraved! To treat human beings as mere livestock for a feast... this entire place is rotted to the core!"

She slammed a fist against the table in disgust.

None of them could have anticipated that the 'delicacy' mentioned by Pagyi Gesang was, in fact, that horrific truth.

He had even served it at the banquet, parading it before them as if it were the height of hospitality.

The more they dwelled on the revelation, the more sickening the reality became; when rulers discard all morality, the commoners follow suit.

If a leader like Pagyi Gesang practiced such customs, what horrors lay hidden among the populace?

Recalling the predatory gazes the locals had leveled at them throughout the day, the group felt a profound chill run down their spines.

Zhang Yi cautioned Liang Yue, "This is beyond our ability to rectify. In a place like this, one can no longer distinguish between the victim and the butcher. Perhaps everyone here is complicit. Even those who ended up on the dinner table."