Published: February 12, 2025
When Ye Zhongming arrived, he happened to run into Pao Bai, who was storming out in anger.
This idol of the Star-Eye Clan was a battle maniac to outsiders, but was a bit casual with those he was familiar with. However, the truth was that Pao Bai was always extremely calm, even when others thought he was a madman. Just like what Ye Zhongming had said to the elder of the Su Clan back in the day, everyone claimed he was insane, yet he had been mad enough to endure until now without much happening to him, and he had hardly even sustained injuries. This was enough to prove that Pao Bai was far calmer and more composed than he appeared.
What could have angered such a person so much?
"Old Ye, you came just in time, let’s gather some people and stir up some trouble," Pao Bai said as he grabbed Ye Zhongming and headed outside.
Ye Zhongming was puzzled and was about to ask when he saw Commander Cheng Liujin coming out as well.
"Pao Bai, I know you’re very angry, but now is not the time for trouble; we need to calm down and come up with a countermeasure," Commander Cheng Liujin stood in front of the two, genuinely worried that Ye Zhongming, youthful and impetuous, would follow Pao Bai into trouble.
"What’s going on?"
Ye Zhongming glanced at the room of the two clan leaders and asked Commander Cheng Liujin and Pao Bai.
Pao Bai snorted coldly, lowering his head slightly, his gaze sharp, clearly unwilling to speak.
Commander Cheng Liujin sighed and said, "Today, our clan received a notification from the Dark Strip City Committee about three main issues."
"The first issue is that the transportation team of the Xue Huo People outside the city was attacked, yet no one has been identified as the culprit. Therefore, they announced that all races would be subject to searches and that all races within the city must cooperate with their investigation."
Upon hearing this, Ye Zhongming narrowed his eyes and said, "They suspect us?"
The incident regarding the attack on the Xue Huo People was unknown to others, but it was no secret among the high ranks of the Star-Eye Clan. Upon hearing this news, Ye Zhongming's first reaction was that the matter had been discovered.
Commander Cheng Liujin shook his head, "I don't think so. You all handled it quietly. Afterward, I went back to the scene to clean up, and there shouldn’t be any trace left. If they really had evidence, they wouldn’t notify us; they would have sent troops long ago."
Only then did Ye Zhongming realize that Commander Cheng Liujin had gone to the scene after he and the others had left.
"Pao Bai suddenly said, 'I think they are trying to extort and intimidate us.'
Commander Cheng Liujin continued, "The second issue is a continuation of the first. Because something happened, the eight heads decided to expand the city guard system in the Dark Strip City, establishing a second city guard army. Each race is required to send people and pay city guard taxes. There’s a certain ratio; the more people you send, the less tax you pay; if you don’t send anyone, you have to pay more."
Ye Zhongming understood most of it just by listening, estimating that this was a way for the larger races to exploit the smaller clans.
"These scoundrels, what city guard?! They are merely their private army, yet they demand us to fund them! Just look at how many races have perished in the Dark Strip City over the past century to see how many disgusting things these beasts have done!"
Pao Bai was brimming with murderous intent, clearly really angered.
"So, they have chosen to send people, and now they want us to pay, right?" Ye Zhongming felt equally furious.
The All Races of the Universe had reached this point, forcing small clans even after losing their true homes! Perhaps this was the process of reshuffling; some races would always be eliminated.
"No, we can also send people, but there’s a quota based on the ranking of races. Our clan ranks very low among all the races in the universe, so we can only send around a hundred people at most. The tax is slightly reduced, but it’s still not much less."