Chapter 354: Bow Drawn and Arrow Nocked

"I'm not sure either." Tang Huai coughed and asked, "Is Captain Tan there? Do you know the situation with territories 158 and 159?"

Scout team member Su Ming replied, "Our captain is in a meeting. Both territories 158 and 159 have heirs that meet the regulations, so they won't be allocated to refugees. Specific arrangements for refugee resettlement will be notified later—please wait patiently."

"These refugees are all citizens of Hua Nation who have lost the protection of the safe-zone walls—they are our compatriots. No matter how difficult things get, the nation will do its utmost to protect every citizen's safety. This is the nation's duty, and every citizen's rightful power. In the face of natural disaster, we must unite even more closely to survive."

The scout team represented the official stance, and Su Ming's words confirmed that Tang Huai's information was true. The lords listened, their feelings extremely complicated. They couldn't even feed themselves—how could they have the ability to help their compatriots?

Territory Two's agent Tang Huai was the first to declare his stance: "Territory Two will actively respond to the policy's call, take in refugees, and open up wasteland for farming. I can't promise too much, but providing refugees with shelter from the wind and rain is something I can still do."

Tang Huai's words sounded positive on the surface, but his tone was anything but. It showed that taking in refugees was the Suyang Squad's decision—Tang Huai himself was unwilling.

The Suyang Squad must think this territory is too peaceful and want to stir up trouble again.

Damn!

Luo Pei spoke up, his voice flat and full of the smell of gunpowder: "Territory One will also respond to the call and take in refugees."

Azure Dragon and Suyang are at each other's throats—excellent.

Just when everyone thought the lord channel was about to turn into a battlefield between Territory One and Territory Two, Territory Nine's lord Li Si spoke up coldly: "Territory Nine will respond to the call and accept refugees."

Huh? Huh? Huh?!!!

Xia Qing's brow, which had just relaxed, tightened again. Territory Nine paired with refugees gave Xia Qing even more unease than Territory Two taking in refugees.

Territory Nine's rival, Territory Seven's lord Zhang San, lazily came online: "Are the scout team people still here?"

Su Ming immediately responded, "I'm Su Ming, member of Hazard Scout Squad Six. Apart from our captain, all six scout team members and thirty-three reinforcement guards are present. Territory Seven lord, please go ahead."

The usually easygoing Zhang San spoke with rare severity: "Given Territory Nine's criminal history of storing massive quantities of hazardous chemicals, I have reason to suspect their motives for taking in refugees are improper. I request the scout team to report this and recommend the Lord Management Department carefully consider Territory Nine's application to receive refugees, and increase supervision and inspection of Territory Nine."

Worthy of being my idol—amazing! Xia Qing wiped the water from her hands and returned to the living room.

"Received." Su Ming responded crisply, his voice carrying a fierce killing intent.

Li Si was furious, his voice laced with ice shards: "We're merely responding to the territory's call and taking in compatriots who are about to starve to death. Zhang San, you're nothing but a farming lord right now—I advise you not to overreach."

This was the first time Li Si had directly called Zhang San by name in the lord channel since entering the territory. The atmosphere instantly maxed out—one more spark and it would explode.

Zhang San seemed hungry again, his voice weak and listless, yet devastatingly cutting:

"I really am just a farming lord right now, with limited ability, so I can only manage what's right under my nose. Within my line of sight, whoever dares to use defenseless compatriots for unethical experiments won't need to waste any more food."

Who doesn't need to waste food? Dead people!

Threatening me not to overreach? I'll just take your life. How about that? Wide enough for you?

"My idol! This is my idol! Boss, did you hear that? This is my idol, Blue Star's premium idol!" Xia Qing was thrilled, slapping the table and shouting.

Ram Boss on the tatami twitched his ears and continued chewing with an expressionless face.

The lead wolf, hearing the clearly aggressive human voices from the lord channel, stood up ready for battle—but the killing intent on his body was scattered by Xia Qing's two whoops of joy.

The sick wolf that had stood up with the lead wolf to prepare for battle, seeing Xia Qing happy, also grinned along.

Broken-Waist Wolf's sister? In the sheep pen, no idea what she's doing.

Territory Three's living room was lively and bustling, while the lord channel remained taut as a drawn bow.

Li Si wasn't intimidated by Zhang San: "Scout team member Su Ming. You heard Territory Seven lord's remarks just now. I believe Zhang San harbors extreme malice toward Territory Nine. Territory Nine's application: prohibit Zhang San from entering Territory Nine for inspections together with the scout team."

Su Ming responded in a very official tone: "Received. The scout team will report Territory Nine lord's application to the Lord Management Department."

Li Si then turned his spear toward Zhang San: "A lord killing non-invaders within their territory is also illegal and will be severely punished by law."

Harsh laws for troubled times. After the natural disaster, the nation increased the punishment for illegal and criminal behavior. A lord killing maliciously would certainly be punished too.

Zhang San responded lazily: "When the time comes, I'll request the relevant departments give me a chance to reform. I'm getting bored staying here anyway—I'm thinking of switching places."

Zhang San is a top-tier talent in the medical field. After killing someone, he definitely wouldn't be sentenced to death or forced labor—it really would just be moving him somewhere else, keeping him well-fed and comfortable so he continues his research. Li Si was left speechless.

Li Si backed down, but the lords of this territory were getting anxious. Who was Zhang San? He was their source of special medicine, the one who could pull them back from death's door when they were seriously injured.

If Zhang San left, it would mean each of them lost several lives.

Zhao Ze cried pitifully: "Third Brother, you can't leave—we can't bear to part with you."

Xia Qing, whose fan-girl devotion had reached the core of Blue Star, immediately offered her idol the most sincere love: "Third Brother, the green-light sweet potatoes in my territory are ready to eat. I'll dig one up and bring it to you right now—fry some sweet potato balls for a late-night snack."

Kuang Qingwei actively tried to retain his good neighbor: "Third Brother, Princess Cat really likes sharpening her claws on a pine tree in my territory. I'll chop it down right now and send it to the Princess."

Qi Fu also found a reason to make Zhang San stay: "Third Brother, our area is selenium-rich land—the crops grown here are high quality. If you move somewhere else, you won't be able to eat the fresh green-light vegetables we grow ourselves."

Shi Du, whose father had been treated with Zhang San's medicine, was murderous: "Third Brother, you don't need a cattle knife to kill a chicken. My life isn't worth much—just tell me who you want dead, Brother, and I'll trade one life for another."

Luo Pei also showed his stance: "Third Brother, Territory One and the Qinglong Squad are on standby at any time."

The rarely speaking Territory Eight lord Seeing Xin Yu also came online: "Third Brother, Seeing Xin Yu on standby at any time."

Territory Two's agent Tang Huai, the first to speak up about taking in refugees, was also fired up and joined the howling: "Tang Huai is on standby at any time too!"

Although Zhang San looked as if a gust of wind could blow him over, if he wanted to kill someone, he had plenty of blades.

Territory Nine, which Shi Du had called a "chicken," was now truly quiet as a chicken.