Chapter 289: Rippling Orchid (2/2)

”Base? What base? We don't have a base.” A direct answer from Ye Chong, there was no hesitation from his side.

”No base?” Stunned Guo was, his mouth widely opened. Did you just tell me that you travelled with 5000 men around the galaxy without a base? Even the space pirates have a place to rest their voyages, how?

”Hah... I see...,” replied Guo wryly, ”While Papatte is a mere squad with no base as well, I wonder where sir would like to take a rest on?”

”The Gray Valley. That's our planned destination,” stated Ye Chong flatly.

”Gray Valley?” Guo's face was colorless, ”You can't go there. It's too dangerous!”

”I see? Very dangerous?” asked Ye Chong interestingly.

”Yes, very dangerous!” Asserted Guo, ”I once have a mate who travelled there. He was a way better fighter than me but the moment he got there, he seemed to have vanished. The next time I was heard of him was about his death three months later. And he's the third dead person among my mates.” Guo was grim.

”This dangerous?” Ye Chong was shocked. Frankly speaking, Ye Chong had seen quite a few pilots in Foundation city and all of them were quite strong in his opinion, even when put under comparison with those pilots from the 5 major galaxies he came. If the mortality remained that high even with their skills, the Gray Valley would be indeed dangerous.

”Yes sir. No one would understand the deadliness of the Gray Valley unless they had set foot upon it. Did sir once have a dispute with any of the Aristocrats?” asked Guo strangely, since technically only those who showed indifference or had bad blood once with the Aristocrats would head to the Gray Valley.

”Well... only the three major ones I supposed,” stated Ye Chong indifferently.

Only? The three aristocrats? Of all families this man actually picked a fight with the three greatest ones in the entire galaxy? And it did not sound like it was merely a case with one or two families judging by his wording. But well, Guo never knew the very culprit who had caused a war between the 8 Jie experts and the 3 aristocrats was standing right in front of him. This was because he got misled by the number of Jie experts involved. There were 8 of them in the case, and 8, for Jie experts, was more than enough to cause an evacuation in the local galaxy.

So did this guy hold 5000 Jie experts in the dark?

Guo felt he had snapped at some point.

”Maybe we could head for alternatives... like a more backward planet?” suggested Guo.

”Oh?”

Ye Chong was sending a stare that Guo was feeling the chill again, ”Technically...” He quickly elaborated himself, ”The forces of the Aristocrats might be very influential but not influential enough to affect the entire galaxy. There should be a few underdeveloped planets which aren't really aware of the Aristocrats. We could go there for now. As long as we be careful, the residents, the Aristocrats shouldn't be alarmed.” As he explained he could feel his nervousness fading away.

Ye Chong started pondering.

”With our strength, yes, it might not be a problem if we wanted to explore the Gray Valley, but...” He glanced at Ye Chong, ”We lacked one essential - funds. Yes, I admit I do not know much about the inside of Gray Valley but I know our operation won't work anywhere in the galaxy as long as we have nothing in our wallet.”

”You made some points,” nodded Ye Chong approvingly, since his men were armed with the most fundamental model of mechs. The Sangs might be formidable against the beasts but not against humanity. Humans were eventually the smarter opponent than the beasts. Ye Chong could not guarantee a victory if they were to face a group of real pilots out there.

It would in fact be a bad timing to go Gray Valley at the moment.

Seeing how Ye Chong was showing approval, Guo was not feeling the slightest pride. He was bewildered instead, as realizing the motive of this mysterious group being not joining any forces but to make an escape. Sighs, his bad day did not seem to be ending just yet. He did not have a choice however, if he showed anything else than cooperation, he knew what could happen to him.

Maybe this would still be a better path than handling all those tedious works leading a bunch of unmotivated squad members himself.

”Sir! Sir! We have found it! We found the flower!” Sang Pu's voice was expressing joy.

...

”Hmmmmm?”

Fan Qing rested on her fluffy seat, as her dreamy eyes set upon the green tea engulfed within the columns of evaporations. The scent travelled through the air and tickled her senses. She was waiting for someone and that someone had about 30 minutes left till the time of their meeting. She came earlier anyway, it was her habit being proactive in an exchange after all.

She thought back the investigation on Papatte Squad. She researched the squad to discover the fact that it turned out to be a tiny squad consisted about 80 men, while also performing rather mediocrely in their records. She even checked out the list of requests they had completed before, which most of them turned out the most basic, simplest child's play in her eyes. A half-star rating also justified the fact that they were just some rowdy ruffs from nowhere.

Being discouraged by the facts, she started to forget about her request. Probably only the hobos would go for the mission when they were starving on their last few meals.

”Hm?”

And then she got a notification from the squad itself.

”REQUEST COMPLETED.”

She was being skeptical the whole time. It was an underwhelming squad handling an overwhelming mission, chances are they should not be surviving at all. But she in fact got a notification from them. Although she believed these little rascals would not have the courage to mess with the Fan family she belonged, she prepared a cluster of guards around the corner anyway.

She took a look at the time. 5 minutes till meeting and nobody was there. Fan Qing frowned, being one who abided by time, she disgraced the late comers.

One more minute.

Nobody was there.

I am leaving the moment this last minute ticked. I'm not going to wait.

30 seconds left.

Her expression was stern as she took a careful sip on her tea. Her men at the corners were showing anxiety upon seeing that expression of hers. It was a definite anger and everyone knew what would happen when you enraged the influential figure of an influential family.