Chapter 3067

Now that Gu Qing and the others could join the discussion, the whole room instantly livened up.

But it wasn't noisy—rather, everyone went back and forth, taking every situation, every pro and con into account, and brought everything out for discussion until it was all covered.

The entire discussion lasted a long time.

But in the end, the conclusion was very simple.

1. Zhao Quan was only speculating that Zhao Chi possessed special abilities, but hadn't confirmed it. Zhao Chi still couldn't admit it, and still had to find excuses to deny it.

2. Absolutely must not join the nobles. Even though the elite lords the nobles had sent out from outside had returned and their strength had recovered quite a bit, the World-Breaking Army and their allied forces might not necessarily lose.

3. Zhao Tan cannot be taken in. The women unanimously opposed it.

4. Yao Feng can indeed be trusted. Staying with the White Tiger Regiment is the best choice.

Gu Qing was very direct today.

She brought the topic of taking in Yao Feng straight out into the open.

Li Ruanyu and Shangguan Ting didn't state a clear position, but both could be considered to have tacitly agreed.

After all, their relationship with Yao Feng was a little delicate.

She was both the elder sister in their hearts and their instructor.

And she had been leading them for years.

In a certain sense, Yao Feng could be called their little mother.

Having Zhao Chi take in Yao Feng…

Was a little awkward for them.

After all, knowing Zhao Chi's style, he would definitely take her up to the top floor of the house for some fun together… and such things wouldn't be few.

But the two of them also knew that if Zhao Chi really had the ability to take in Yao Feng, it would indeed be good for Zhao Chi, and even good for them as well.

A woman of Yao Feng's caliber certainly wouldn't change for the sake of just one man.

But taking her in was definitely better than not.

After all, it would bring their feelings a step closer.

And the two of them had firsthand experience of Zhao Chi's ability—that taste… they really couldn't quite leave it behind.

As long as Yao Feng was a normal woman, she would be able to feel this point.

Zhao Chi could confirm—she was perfectly normal.

So beyond feelings, there was also this aspect that could draw her in.

Li Ruanyu and Shangguan Ting had no reason to object either, and both tacitly agreed.

As long as Zhao Chi had the ability.

But when they looked at Zhao Chi's face at that moment, they both felt Yao Feng might not escape her fate either.

They had to prepare themselves to be open and honest with Yao Feng, to share a bed together.

The matter was settled.

Zhao Chi felt a little more settled inside.

No need to take the initiative to contact Zhao Quan—stall for now, handle it coldly, and wait for him to come to Zhao Chi.

Then politely refuse.

Zhao Chi also brought up the matter of Song Ji from the Ruby Merchant Guild.

It wasn't a big deal.

But since everyone was here, it was a good chance to sync up information.

But Li Ruanyu frowned: "Zhao Chi, you'd best be careful with this Song Ji. It's not that what you did this time carries any risk, but the Abandoners Alliance as an organization is very strange—you'd best not get too deeply involved with them."

"Very strange?"

Zhao Chi asked, puzzled: "Why? Song Ji is with the Ruby Merchant Guild."

Li Ruanyu nodded: "I know he's with the Ruby Merchant Guild, but his position is department head—at that level he's definitely connected to the Abandoners Alliance. The Abandoners Alliance really hasn't done anything hostile, but they're definitely not as simple as they appear."

Shangguan Ting also said: "Right, if you're just buying things from Yin Wanyan there's no problem at all—she's only a supervisor, and her main identity is still with the Ruby Merchant Guild side. But keep your distance from the Abandoners Alliance as much as possible."

Their reactions struck Zhao Chi as very strange.

The Abandoners Alliance was a neutral merchant alliance.

Normally they were just doing business.

They might be unscrupulous merchants.

But there had never been any news of them invading any city.

They really did seem to be neutral.

Zhao Chi asked, puzzled: "Why? Is there something strange about the people of the Abandoners Alliance?"

"How should I put it…" Li Ruanyu looked toward Shangguan Ting.

Shangguan Ting also looked toward Li Ruanyu.

Shangguan Ting said:

"The Abandoners Alliance is indeed a loose alliance, but their network of connections is far too vast.

"Our Snowfield City is actually very remote. The Abandoners' main area of activity is the central and southern regions—commerce is developed there, it's where merchants gather.

"But even though our side is very remote, there are still plenty of Abandoners Alliance members—the Ruby Merchant Guild, the Good Merchant Guild, the Nice Merchant Guild, the Black Thorn Tea House, Wind Isle Island Hall, and so on, and so on.

"They are all members of the Abandoners Alliance, and these merchant guilds are all the largest-scale merchant guilds locally.

"In the central and southern cities, the members of the Abandoners Alliance are likewise all very large-scale merchant guilds.

"So…

"One could say the Abandoners Alliance's sphere of influence is actually extremely vast.

"This entire continent of ours can be regarded as their sphere of influence.

"Don't you think it's strange?"

Zhao Chi couldn't help frowning.

Now that she put it that way…

It did seem a little strange.

But merchants who want to do trade would naturally run all over the world.

And for their own safety, forming a loose cross-regional organization is actually quite reasonable, isn't it?

Shangguan Ting shook her head: "No, no, no, very unreasonable. Zhao Chi, think about it — what is the most profitable thing in the world?"

"Profitable?"

Zhao Chi thought of himself — not long ago he had made several million by selling grain.

But in reality, by now he had already made tens of millions behind the scenes through fashion.

But Zhao Chi was a special case.

One needed to think from the normal situation.

Zhao Chi said: "Equipment? Medicine? Grain?"

Shangguan Ting nodded: "All correct, but these three are one and the same thing — war, plunder."

The most profitable thing is war and plunder?

Zhao Chi thought carefully about this statement.

It really did seem correct.

Shangguan Ting said:

"The World Abandoners Alliance has existed for many years, but it has never collapsed, not even until now.

"They are the largest merchant guild, their influence spread across every city, the money they've earned is beyond counting, an enormous amount.

"Most of the wealth naturally belongs to the various merchant houses, but every merchant house submits a portion of what it earns to the World Abandoners Alliance.

"You could call it a tax, or you could call it protection money — in any case, the money at the World Abandoners Alliance headquarters should be staggering.

"But they… barely exist.

"You can't feel their presence.

"The places where you're most likely to encounter them are the black markets of each city.

"Don't you think that's strange?"

It really didn't seem right.

Zhuang Ya said: "Yes, by that logic, the World Abandoners Alliance should be an extremely powerful force. And merchants chase profit — how could they have never started a war? That's not right, is it? Could they all be peaceful merchants?"

Shangguan Ting laughed: "How could that be? Merchants are the biggest warmongers. Peaceful merchants might exist, but it's absolutely impossible that they're all like that — it doesn't fit merchant logic."

Zhuang Ya nodded: "Yes… it really doesn't fit logic."