Published: March 12, 2025
Chapter 115: The Merchant
After the meal, Laura arrived in the living room, which was not the large hall used for entertaining guests outside, but a small sitting area within the inner house. The people who came here were all trusted subordinates of Laura.
However, there were not too many people in the living room at this time; there were only three individuals: Laura, Ni'er, and Kun Zheng. Laura and Kun Zheng sat on the sofa, each holding a cup of Kaya, while Ni'er stood behind Laura.
After taking a sip of Kaya, Laura turned to Kun Zheng and said, "Grandpa Kun Zheng, I plan to visit Zhao Hai at Rubble Mountain tomorrow. What do you think?"
Kun Zheng also took a sip of Kaya. Upon hearing Laura's words, he nodded and replied, "Alright. Recently, Zhao Hai's name has been frequently mentioned in Casa City, and he has saved your life, so it would be a good idea to pay him a visit. A few days ago, he also asked us to help him transport a batch of live Blue-eyed Rabbits, but I don't know what he intends to do with them. It seems like Rubble Mountain is becoming a restricted area; ordinary people won't dare to approach it. I heard that the Versailles Family recently faced a setback with him, indicating that he is quite powerful. I'll accompany you tomorrow to see if there's a way to win him over; if we can, it would be beneficial for us."
Before Laura took charge, Klein's faction relied entirely on Kun Zheng's support. Therefore, Laura would consult Kun Zheng on any matters, which is why Klein showed him such respect.
Hearing Kun Zheng's response, Laura sighed with relief. Kun Zheng glanced at her and smiled, "What's wrong? Do you have doubts about Zhao Hai?"
Laura nodded and said, "Yes, I had some initial suspicions. Zhao Hai's appearance is too coincidental, and he's a dark mage, so I'm worried he might be connected with the undead mercenary group. But now, it doesn't seem that way."
Kun Zheng chuckled, "It's not that it seems unlikely; it’s that it’s fundamentally not the case. I've investigated the undead mercenary group and found that they seem to have a very deep background. They likely belong to some secret organization, while Zhao Hai does not. This time, Zhao Hai was attacked by the Versailles Family, which may be related to that organization. I also suspect Jialan, and the three high-ranking warriors who attacked Zhao Hai are probably linked to that organization. This organization is enormous and mysterious; I still haven't uncovered much about it. However, one thing is certain: this organization has nothing to do with Zhao Hai."
Laura's expression changed, "There's such an organization? The undead mercenary group is composed of dark mages, while Jialan is a white mage. How could they belong to the same organization? That seems unlikely!"
Kun Zheng looked at Laura and smiled lightly, "Silly girl, there's nothing impossible about that. Do you think this world is as simple as you imagine? Do you believe that white mages combat dark mages because dark mages have committed evil deeds? In reality, most dark mages do not engage in wrongdoing, and those white mages aren't necessarily cleaner than dark mages. It's just that their magic looks more appealing, which leads to continuous misunderstandings by people."
Laura nodded and continued, "But if this mysterious organization has such immense power, they must have long since claimed dominion. Why haven't we heard their name across the continent?"
Kun Zheng smiled, "Those truly powerful individuals in this world do not necessarily need to claim dominion. Every dynasty has its downfall, but those truly hidden, powerful forces are hard to eliminate. Some of these forces have existed longer than those ancient prominent families, and their influence permeates all aspects of the continent. They are certainly a force not to be underestimated."
This was the first time Laura had heard Kun Zheng speak of such matters, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "Really? Who controls these forces?"
Kun Zheng sighed, "No one knows. Many major forces on the continent are shrouded in mystery, and no one knows who their true rulers are."