Chapter 552: A Faint Clue (2/2)

Ye Chong even more surprised by Gui Gui's personally led women's division. The ladies no longer cared for their appearance. They looked exactly like the men. Only the Shu sisters still retained their fair skin. Shu Mo'er threw a cold look at Ye Chong, while Shu Man'er looked haunted and very, very scared. Ye Chong's gaze did not linger on them both. Only their results mattered. He did not mind their hostility towards him.

After briefing the instructors on the latest training routine, Ye Chong returned to Su City. He flew a commonly seen aircraft, the Butterly-3. It was a popular model which required parapsychic control on its tracking ball to fly it. Ye Chong did not have parapsychic abilities, but flying the aircraft presented no difficulties.

In fact, Ye Chong had thrown out almost all the mechanical parts in the Butterfly-3, leaving only its hull. Ye Chong exchanged the tracker ball for a control lever, similar to the one in the Collision mech. The engine was also modified to fly much faster than the average Butterly-3. The aircraft was used only for transport. Ye Chong's manor was quite a distance away from Su City.

”You're looking for Xuan Ning?” Sun Sieha was baffled. He stared at Ye Chong, trying to figure him out.

Ye Chong nodded. ”Yes.” He did now know where Xuan Ning lived, and had to resort to this other option.

Sun Sieha turned to his side and gave the order, ”Have Xuan Ning come to my study.” A guard immediately rushed out to execute his duties.

Sun Sieha turned back to Ye Chong and studied him for a long moment. He offered slowly, ”You really messed things up for me this time, you know? It was just a demonstration contest. Did you know you nearly killed Xuan Ning?”

Ye Chong looked calm. ”I've told you before, I only know how to fight.”

”Fine.” Sun Sieha gestured with a wave. ”'I'll not pursue the matter further. Xuan Ning has benefited from the accident. A Level 9 shooter, hehe. Eastern Cloud finally has a Level 9 shooter.”

Xuan Ning entered Sun Sieha's study then. He saw Ye Chong and could not hide his surprise.

”Your Majesty.” Xuan Ning made a proper greeting to Sun Sieha.

Sun Sieha smiled. ”How many times have I told you, no need for the formalities. Well, this time it's Master Ye who has come to see you.”

”Oh.” Xuan Ning looked even more surprised. ”What would Master Ye like to discuss with me?”

”I'd like to invite you on a trip to Darkniss.”

”Darkniss?” Xuan Ning and Sun Sieha exchanged a look of puzzlement. He Xuan Ning asked, ”Why would Master Ye want to visit that place? Are you lacking any raw materials? As far as I know, the Royal Family has all kinds of rare materials in stock. You don't have to risk the trip to Darkniss.”

”That's right,” Sun Sieha said with a laugh, ”We can talk about how much you'd want to buy.”

Ye Chong shook his head and made his thoughts clear. ”No. Are you willing to go? If yes, what are your conditions?”

Xuan Ning took a long look at Ye Chong. He considered the invitation for a while and then replied slowly, ”Accompanying Master Ye on a trip to Darkniss is fine with me. There is no need for compensation, consider it a token of appreciation for assisting me in achieving Level 9. Having said that, I have my formal duties. The trip would require His Majesty's approval.” Ye Chong turned his gaze to Sun Sieha.

”Well then!” Sun Sieha affected an expression of unwillingness.

”What do you want?” Ye Chong did not beat around the bush.

Sun Sieha blushed briefly, but quickly returned to business. He considered the question for a moment, and then said, ”I'm fine with having Xuan Ning accompanying you. However, in exchange, I want all the information required for us to build your cannon arrays.” Ye Chong's cannon array was a powerful weapon, but each one cost the nation 20 million ao, an expenditure that Sun Sieha could not afford. He had long wanted to get his hands on the weapon's schematics, since the weaponsmiths he hired could not replicate the weapon. Now that the opportunity presented itself, he jumped for it without hesitation.

”Alright.” Ye Chong's reply was swift. The technology behind the cannon array was not exactly advanced. He had a lot more technical knowledge to offer than that. Offering the cannon array technology in exchange for the assistance of a Level 9 shooter was a good trade.

”Hah!” Sun Sieha was overjoyed. He was prepared to bargain with Ye Chong, but he man had agreed without arguing. Sun Sieha was happy with the outcome, but he could not help but wonder why Ye Chong wanted to visit Darkniss so suddenly.

”I'll come to you when I'm ready,” Ye Chong said to Xuan Ning. He then turned to Sun Sieha. ”Send your men to my place for the schematics.” With that, he left Sun Sieha's study.

”What do you of his foray into Darkniss?” Sun Sieha asked Xuan Ning.

Xuan Ning could not understand it as well. ”I don't know. Master Ye is an mysterious and unpredictable man.”

Sun Sieha nodded without a word. In any case, now that he had the schematics for the cannon array, the military would be able to arm themselves with this weapon on a massive scale. Western Frost and Northern Lands would both tremble under the might of the powerful cannon arrays.

”I look forward to that day!” Sun Sieha thought to himself. His eyes lit up fervently.

...

When Ye Chong reached his manor, Master Karu arrived right after him.

Master Karu was breathing heavily. ”I say, did you forget that you're in the judging panel? Quick, come with me, to the contest, we're all waiting for you. Also, hand me the schematics for the cannon array. I've been trying to figure out ho1 to build the weapon but I can't make head nor tails of it.”

Ye Chong remembered that he was supposed to serve as a judge.