Published: March 12, 2025
CHAPTER 367: Smith's Appreciation
An honest person, a person who dares to take responsibility!
This was Smith's assessment of Zhao Hai. After Zhao Hai proposed a partnership with the Shelley family, Smith added another remark to his evaluation: "A very good person in the grand scheme of things."
He was adept at utilizing all conditions favorable to him; this was not just something a businessman would do. In fact, for any noble family aiming to develop, this condition was essential. However, few could truly achieve it, and those who could became significant figures in their own right.
Smith admired Zhao Hai even more. He believed that having such a person in the dark mage alliance would undoubtedly be a blessing for the alliance.
Another point that made Zhao Hai stand out in Smith's eyes was his ruthless nature. Smith was aware of what Zhao Hai had done along his journey. Within the Roson Empire, the Karlqi family held great power; if they wanted to investigate someone, that person would hardly keep any secrets. Smith had already had people investigate Zhao Hai's actions along the way.
However, he was utterly astonished after the investigation, for Zhao Hai had already killed several thousand people under Duke Ryan!
Several thousand people—what kind of concept was that? Most large villages or small towns in the Roson Empire didn't even have that many inhabitants, yet Zhao Hai had wiped out several thousand men at once. While a typical person would be soft-hearted after killing, Zhao Hai showed no signs of hesitation whatsoever.
Upon further investigation, Smith discovered that since entering the Roson Empire, the number of people who had died at Zhao Hai's hands had already exceeded ten thousand!
One man slaughtering ten thousand? What kind of concept was that? Only a heartless and ruthless person could accomplish such a feat, yet Zhao Hai had done it, which further increased Smith's admiration for him.
As a person in power, being merciless was essential; if one's heart wasn't ruthless, it was easy to let go of enemies and difficult to control subordinates. This was highly disadvantageous for someone in a position of authority.
Smith also learned about Zhao Hai's actions against the bandits in Lifeline Canyon, which made him appreciate Zhao Hai even more. He understood that Zhao Hai was not a mindless killer; he was skilled at handling matters. A person couldn't solely rely on killing or ruthlessness—that wouldn't work. Such people could not become leaders.
Given Zhao Hai's outstanding performance, Smith should have had some concerns, for Zhao Hai was now part of the dark mage alliance. His impressive display could create difficulties for the Karlqi family's control over the alliance.
Yet, the current situation was that the dark mage alliance was too loosely organized. Even the Karlqi family's control over it was limited, so Smith did not believe Zhao Hai could fully dominate the dark mage alliance, nor did he think Zhao Hai would cause any trouble for the Karlqi family.
On the contrary, everyone knew about Zhao Hai's enmity with the church of light. The church was eager to eliminate Zhao Hai. Under such circumstances, Zhao Hai could only think wholeheartedly for the dark mage alliance, as it was not only for the alliance but also for himself. Therefore, having someone like Zhao Hai, who was excellent in every aspect, join the dark mage alliance naturally made Smith happy.
For any alliance to develop, it needed talented individuals, especially those high-level management talents essential for the growth of each organization.
Why did the church of light develop so quickly? Besides leveraging the power of religion, they also attracted a vast number of talented individuals from various countries to their camp. They built relationships with high-level figures in those countries, who were all outstanding individuals. This ensured that the church's management never lacked manpower and did not have to worry about talent. Because of these people's inclusion, the church of light could develop in such a short period.