Chapter 425: Alliance

After all, whether they cooperate or not has little to do with them.

They were invited only because these people have enough strength; it is precisely because of that strength that they can sit here.

Just as hidden currents swirled in the meeting hall and everyone's thoughts diverged, the door of the hall was silently pushed open.

A tall figure stepped in.

In almost an instant, all eyes snapped to focus there.

The newcomer was Cheng Shuili.

Today she wore a simple black combat suit with a trench coat over it, her steps steady, her face expressionless, her gaze calmly scanning each face present.

The moment she appeared, the already tense atmosphere in the hall seemed to solidify further.

Several faction leaders who had previously looked arrogant or were merely watching for fun unconsciously restrained themselves as her gaze passed.

"Everyone, thank you for waiting."

Cheng Shuili walked to the main seat but did not sit immediately, one hand resting on the smooth tabletop, her body leaning slightly forward, her eyes scanning the room again.

"Time is short, so let's skip the pleasantries," she said, her voice clear and unhurried. "Everyone has seen the system announcement. In twenty‑four hours, the first cross‑region connection test will occur. The week after next, the entire server will officially merge."

"What that means, you all here should know better than I do."

She paused, saw someone about to speak and stop, and raised her hand in a "stay calm" gesture.

"After the merger, the regional barriers disappear; we will be exposed to the eyes of all server players and will face competition—and even malice—from every regional power."

"Within the Long Guo region, should we remain a scattered bunch, each fighting alone, even sabotaging each other, only to be broken and absorbed by alliances from other regions? Or can we form a single voice, a united force, to claim more influence and survival space on this new stage?"

The question Cheng Shuili posed was sharp and direct, like a knife that sliced open everyone's hidden or vague concerns.

"Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji, we all understand what you mean."

A man seated in the middle, slightly plump and affable, spoke; he is the leader of Little Green Dragon, with the ID Bai Hu.

Cheng Shuili knew this person, having learned of him from Xinxue.

Before the merger, Xinxue received the harshest criticism in the regional channel.

After the merger, the most vilified in the channel became this Bai Hu.

Although his ID sounds fierce, he never engages in force; his business dealings are even sharper than Xinxue's and Lao Mao's.

Bai Hu now wore a smile, but his words were laced with hidden barbs: "Everyone understands the logic of banding together for warmth. The question is, how to band? Who leads? How are profits divided? Just talking about unity empty‑handed is probably useless, right?"

He kept smiling as he spoke, yet his meaning was blunt.

Many nodded silently; this was also their primary concern.

No one wants to be the front runner, but they also don't want to be used as a cannon or be sidelined.

Cheng Shuili looked at him; her face showed not displeasure but a faint smile.

"Bai Hu, the leader, asks well. That's why I invited you today—not to hear me lecture, but to discuss concrete plans."

She straightened up, lightly tapping the tabletop with her fingertip.

In an instant, a semi‑transparent panel unfolded at the center of the long table, clearly listing several outlines. This was compiled by the newly appointed Secretary‑General Bing Meishi United and her assembled secretarial team, who spent three hours preparing it.

Cheng Shuili had seen it long ago, and now presenting it was effortless:

"First, the response to the first cross‑region connection test."

"Ten minutes is brief, yet enough to transmit much information and to spark many conflicts," I

"My suggestion: during the test, all forces in the Long Guo region must present a unified external stance. Specifically, regarding plague medicine, pricing authority belongs to Black Feather; this is indisputable and will not change under any external pressure."

"Any attempt to pressure, threaten, or bribe through the cross‑region connection to obtain discounts or privileges will be deemed a provocation against Black Feather and will receive a joint response from the Long Guo region."

As soon as she finished, a tall, thin man seated in the corner, his complexion somewhat grim, snorted coldly:

"Joint response? What kind of joint response? Black Feather's pricing is high, inciting public anger; why should we shoulder the pressure together? Perhaps others are targeting Black Feather; we could stay neutral, or even…"

He didn't finish the sentence, but everyone present, being smart, naturally understood what followed.

Cheng Shuili's gaze suddenly turned to him, her tone still steady, but her eyes grew cold.

"Even what? If I recall correctly, you're the leader of Secluded Bamboo, Yougui, right?"

"You mean, perhaps you could cooperate with other regions to gain benefits, or at least avoid being targeted?"

Yougui's expression shifted slightly as she pierced his thoughts, yet he still held his ground:

"Is that not possible? After the merger, it's survival of the fittest, so we must first protect ourselves! Black Feather is currently in the spotlight, but a tall tree catches wind; who knows if after the merger we'll be the first target? We don't need to be tied to the same boat!"

These words were extremely pragmatic, reflecting the mindset of many mid‑tier powers whose attitudes waver.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became subtle and tense.

Warwolf Soul frowned slightly, about to speak, when Cheng Shuili had already spoken.

"Fine," she nodded, uttering two words.

Yougui was startled, and the others looked at Cheng Shuili with surprise.

"You may choose neutrality, even choose during the test to court certain forces of other regions, exchanging for your so‑called safety or benefits."

Cheng Shuili's tone was flat, as if stating a trivial matter unrelated to herself, "It's your freedom."

Yougui's face just showed a hint of satisfaction, but Cheng Shuili's next words turned his complexion deathly pale.

"However, from the moment you make that choice, Secluded Bamboo and you personally will be regarded as a potential threat to the entire Long Guo region."

"After the cross‑region connection test ends, Black Feather's safe zone, and all shared information among forces that have reached consensus with Black Feather, Great Wall Watch, Yanhuang, etc., will no longer be accessible to you and the players of Secluded Bamboo."

"Furthermore, your qualification to purchase plague medicine will be permanently revoked."

With each sentence Cheng Shuili spoke, Yougui's complexion grew whiter, until finally he was completely colorless.

He opened his mouth to protest, but found his throat dry and unable to produce sound.

Cheng Shuili's gaze left his face and returned to everyone.

"I'm not threatening anyone; I'm stating a fact, the consequence of a choice."

"The merger is imminent; we have neither time nor energy to keep tugging, bargaining, or playing any coalition games."

"External pressure is already imminent; internally we must clarify our stance as soon as possible."

"Those willing to stand together and face the challenge are our allies. Share intelligence, bear crises jointly. The detailed cooperation rules and the profit‑distribution framework can be discussed and finalized by representatives of each faction after this meeting, striving for fairness and reasonableness."

"If you choose to wait and see or seek another path, be at liberty. As long as you do not harm the overall interests of the Long Guo region or stab in the back, we will not actively make things difficult."

"But once you cross the line…"

Cheng Shuili did not continue, but the cold glint flashing in her calm eyes made everyone understand the unspoken meaning.

"This is my attitude, Black Feather's attitude," she concluded, her tone decisive, "whether war or peace, gathering or parting, you can decide right now."

The conference hall fell into a brief silence.

Cheng Shuili's words stripped away all pretense, laying the most realistic choice naked before each person.

No room for ambiguity, no leeway for playing both sides.

Either join this Black Feather‑centered, initially formed, Long Guo's largest group, sharing profits and bearing risks together.

Or be excluded, facing the post‑merger turmoil alone, possibly even enduring a siege and pressure from within the Long Guo faction.

The silence lasted only a few seconds.

War Wolf was the first to break the quiet; he leaned back slightly, crossed his hands on the table, and said in a steady, strong voice: "Great Wall Watch, we agree with Wu Ya's proposal."

"When united, both sides benefit; when divided, both suffer. This principle is clear to everyone here. Now is not the time to count who has more; first clench your fists, then strike with strength."

His stance carried great weight.

As the leader of the second‑strongest power in the Long Guo region, War Wolf's position can influence a large group of moderates.

Immediately after, Yanhuang's Qing Pingle also nodded slightly, her clear voice sounding: "Yanhuang concurs."

"Internal unity is the foundation of survival; external consistency is the premise of development. We support establishing a coordination mechanism and are willing to assume corresponding responsibilities within the framework, sharing intelligence and resources."

With the two major leaders stating their positions, the wind direction became clear.

Baihu's smile grew a bit forced; his eyes rolled and he looked at Cheng Shuili:

"Wuya Dalao is quick‑talking and decisive. We Little Azure Dragon are merchants; we value harmony for wealth, mutual benefit and win‑win."

"Joining you is naturally no problem, but this profit‑distribution framework…"

"Does Black Feather have an initial plan? So we can have a sense of where we stand."

Cheng Shuili seemed to have anticipated his question; her expression unchanged, she tapped the panel again.

The content on the panel changed accordingly, showing several clear items.

The concrete proposal immediately appeared before the many leaders.

She paused, then added: "The above are only framework principles. The specific details need a coordination committee formed by representatives of each force to draft and refine together. The committee members will be elected by everyone to ensure fairness."

The framework Cheng Shuili offered was very complete.

It clarified rights and obligations while leaving ample room for negotiation, without overemphasizing Black Feather's dominance, even delegating rule‑making power to the coordination committee.

This undoubtedly let many faction heads breathe a sigh of relief, feeling they had participation and protection.

Baihu's smile relaxed considerably, nodding: "That's perfect. With a framework and discussion, that's the way for long‑term cooperation. Little Azure Dragon is willing to join."

With a leader stepping forward, other previously hesitant faction heads also voiced their positions.

"Iron Blood Alliance concurs."

"Listening Rain Pavilion agrees to join."

"We also…"

In an instant, over two‑thirds of the forces clearly expressed willingness to join this Black Feather‑led Long Guo District Alliance aimed at coping with the server‑wide merger.

Only a handful remained hesitant, including the still‑sullen Yougui, and two other weaker leaders who seemed set on being wall‑flowers.

Cheng Shuili's gaze calmly swept over them, neither urging nor applying further pressure, simply saying lightly: "Those who wish to join may stay after the meeting; we will discuss committee members and next steps. Those choosing another path may leave now; the door is over there."

Her tone was very even, not even glancing at Yougui, yet the intangible pressure born of absolute strength and control made Yougui feel as if sitting on a bed of needles.

He moved his lips a few times, said nothing, then sprang up, his face turning iron‑blue, and strode out of the hall without looking back.

The other two exchanged glances, lowered their heads, and hurried out together.

No one tried to retain them, not even a second glance.

With the leaders' matters settled, it was time to discuss the solitary wolves.

Among the top twenty players in the Long Guo District, only four are lone wolves; the leader is naturally the third‑ranked Qing Qing's One Kiss.

Since she entered the conference room, she had been staring at the main seat.

After Cheng Shuili took the main seat, her gaze unabashedly fell on Cheng Shuili's face, now bearing an unhidden scrutiny and a hint of indescribable heat.

Cheng Shuili naturally also noticed that look.

She calmly returned her gaze, meeting Qing Qing's One Kiss eye to eye.

Qing Qing's One Kiss was exceptionally beautiful, the kind of dazzling, flamboyant beauty, yet her brows carried a sharp, icy edge; she slightly raised an eyebrow, spoke first, her voice crisp and lively with a hint of playfulness:

"An alliance sounds good. But Wuya Dalao, we're all used to coming and going alone. Fighting here and there might work, but listening to whose orders, following what rules… probably isn't suitable."

Her words also represented the general mindset of the other three lone wolves.

They are exceptionally powerful, free‑spirited, and value unrestrained freedom above all.

The promised benefits of an alliance are indeed tempting, but the accompanying obligations and restrictions instinctively make them resist.

Cheng Shuili's expression unchanged, she accurately called out their ID: "Qing Qing's One Kiss, and these three friends."

After saying this, she first gave a light laugh, then stared directly into Qing Qing's One Kiss's eyes and said: "I don't need you to join any faction, nor do I need you as lone wolves to join our alliance."