Chapter 138: Deep Waters, Blazing Sunlight City

Mi Yang frowned, about to speak, but Bao Lis let out a light cough.

"Nothing much, really—just that a friend of mine ran into some trouble…"

As he spoke, the wild boar brother's expression grew increasingly fierce, his fists grinding with a squeaky sound.

Finally, a "bang!" clanged in the air, sounding like thunder.

"Damn it, these mercenary thugs have turned the world upside down!"

Ge Lei De's arrival undeniably opened a new situation; with this second brother backing him, the advantage Mi Yang had just gained was instantly blown away.

As the saying goes, when a scholar meets a soldier, reason can't be explained.

If one says Bao Lis could still, out of respect for elders and concern for the bigger picture, choose to bow his head and be obsequious before Mi Yang,

then Ge Lei De, being a wild boar man, would never be giggling once his temper flares.

Meanwhile, Mi Yang was both frightened and angry, his long face's hair practically standing up as he gritted his teeth and let out a low growl.

Now AdaiEr felt embarrassed to speak further, took his wages and left the Clinic.

He ordered a meal and sat at a window seat.

Bao Lis, being oppressed by Uncle Mi Yang, also had his life hanging in Uncle An De Lu's hands.

This made Mi Yang even more agitated; he inhaled sharply.

Although the beastfolk bigwigs only fed him false hopes, An De Lu surely knew that he had visited the Adventurers' Association today.

"I just don't want to hear those spineless, squeaky words; it's literally betraying our beastfolk's dignity!"

Ji Ming sighed, then strolled back to Commercial Street.

After the old chairman's death, the internal relations among the three great families were clearly not united, and obvious cracks had already appeared.

Standing at the doorway watching her vanish into the bustling crowd of Commercial Street, Ji Ming locked the door from the inside.

But while reviewing Ge Lei De, Ji Ming discovered another problem.

Saying he's connected to the Business Union, he would smirk again upon hearing that Bao Lis was stabbed by mercenaries.

If Uncle wants to approach it from a problem‑solving angle and downplay the matter, a envoy should be sent tonight for negotiations.

"Moreover, I already have a lead; the assassination attempt that night was very likely linked to the Mercenary Alliance."

No wonder this place can become an Otherworldly bro tale; Batman doesn't exist here, but the madmen's asylum outside the city could definitely be packed.

According to the first law of paradoxical fortune, every intuition of mine reveals the established fact, so…

Saying he's entangled with the Mercenary Alliance, he also clashed with Mi Yang, who also belongs to the close‑mercenary faction, and even proactively greeted the mercenaries' ancestors up to the eighteenth generation.

Mi Yang, who leans on seniority, is sharp‑tongued and petty; though an uncle, he's not proper, and while consorting with outsiders, he covets his nephew's chairman position.

"If you don't return to the Clinic soon, someone will really die!"

You like to seize the initiative? I prefer to twist arguments!

Interrupting Mi Yang's spell, the tiny office turned into Ge Lei De's personal stage, filled with all sorts of vulgar profanity that made mouths drop.

Could it be another aspirant to the chairman seat, or does he have a bigger scheme?

"Exactly, Dr. Ji, we will see this through; rest assured, I guarantee it with my reputation!"

But…

First, his timing of involvement is overly critical—right when Bao Lis is utterly defeated and about to lose face.

The pig‑headed man's huge mouth sprayed saliva, crazily clacking "ba ba ba ba".

These are Suo La and Ke Li Si Ting of the Business Union.

Finally, it's the problem I just discovered.

Regardless, I've already employed the overt solution, and the face‑saving was spot on.

These are the character traits I've compiled from various intel, matching my own observations perfectly.

After working overtime at high intensity until night fell, I barely wrapped up the day's work.

Bao Lis gave him a glance.

Bao Lis seemed to want to say something to Ge Lei De, but he didn't want Ji Ming drawn in; after once again promising to help, he let a guard escort him out of the Adventurers' Association.

This otherworldly Zhang Fei‑like man is actually a rough‑but‑refined old schemer pretending to be a brute!?

Then which side is his stance on?

If Uncle thinks he's just meandering, Ji Ming, you're a songstress, right? Tonight we should also dispatch a killer to happily claim lives.

This is Andrew of the Mountain Mercenary Alliance, and though I haven't met him yet, the rumor‑filled, violently‑obsessed madman Fei En.

Damn, why are the top brass of the three major powers so abstract!?

Having reached this point, Mi Yang could only toss out that line and leave with a pale, ashen face.

When only Bao Lis was present, he immediately wanted to take me to figure out how to smooth this over, without any delay.

AdaiEr anxiously stepped aside, letting him walk into the Clinic.

A few extremely frail bodies already lay on the ground, faces as pale as gold paper.

For big figures, a so‑called promise is just drawing a cake; what happens next is entirely up to them.

No later than dawn, the matter will reach its final outcome.

"Still investigating and confirming—almost done."

"Ge Lei De, what nonsense are you spouting? You want…"

Of course, this outcome certainly isn't the one Ji Ming sees.

Reconsidering my ties with the Business Union, and my connections to both factions, I'm somewhat sharp‑tongued yet timid inside, but at least outwardly I seem well‑backed.

By now it was nearing noon; Ji Ming, deep in thought, arrived at a nearby restaurant.

Why, when Bao Lis claimed he was stabbed by the Mercenary Association, did his face show surprise yet his gaze shift away from Bao Lis?

And could it be my own illusion? His mouth corner seemed to still…

"Hurry back; just leave the cleaning to me."

In the end, Ge Lei De spoke first.

"Uh……"

—How could even I have been duped by this damned Sun Plot?

And it also gave Bao Lis time to regain his ability to think clearly and weigh the pros and cons, a win‑win.

Angrily taking a bite of the pork chop on his plate, Ji Ming began his third review.

In public opinion, the wild boar Ge Lei De is a complete brute—he can drink, eat, and sleep, but he has no brain, and he always follows his playmate, big brother Bao Lis.

The fierce boar's face kept enlarging in Ji Ming's mind; this time he deliberately recalled every incident involving Ge Lei De, sparing no detail.

"Big brother, are you telling the truth?"

At that moment, the main hall was packed with patients, each grimacing in pain.

"Stop talking, I've made up my mind; I'm the President of the Adventurers' Association!"

At this point, Bao Lis's expression grew solemn.

After Mi Yang pushed the door open, even though the matter couldn't be resolved, he could at least walk away with a hefty sum.

Regardless, Ji Ming suddenly found the food before him lost its appeal.

Bao Lis, his decision‑making is overly indecisive, immature, and too gullible; he really isn't fit to be president.

Logically, the issue should be settled now, yet Ji Ming still felt uneasy.

Walking across the outside square, the place remained bustling and noisy.

"Don't regret it!"

Forget it, better to look after myself first.

What kind of dire straits are the common folk of Sunlight City living in!

These are Bao Lis, Mi Yang, and Ge Lei De of the Adventurers' Association.

"Why does it feel like things aren't turning around, but only getting worse?"

Mi Yang glared, ready to object, but after half a minute of thought, Bao Lis, who had just come around, immediately added.

…

Secondly, his words, raging like a storm and filthy beyond reason, seemed barbaric, but when confronting Mi Yang—the old fellow who loves to entangle others with massive data and logic—refusing to engage is the best counter.

The moment his words ended, the room that had been shouting fell silent for several seconds, utterly soundless.

Just moments ago he was seething, yet Mi Yang's expression steadied again as he spoke slowly, each word deliberate.

"Bao Lis, this matter is of great importance, not a joke; you'd better investigate it thoroughly…"

"AdaiEr, I'm back."

Seeing this, Ji Ming quickly removed his coat, set aside An De Lu's issue for the moment, and busily tended to the patients.

While waiting for the dishes, Ji Ming carefully recalled once more the expressions, actions, and words the three of them displayed throughout the whole process.

The rest depends on whether An De Lu is truly sober.

But when Ge Lei De arrived, not only did he fail to resolve anything, he left empty‑handed, was expelled from the Adventurers' Association, and received only a promise.

Just as he reached the intersection, he saw AdaiEr standing at the Clinic's doorway, and he hurried over with a quick jog.

"Whether it's Dr. Ji Ming's safety or the adventurers' right to adventure freely, we need one—or even multiple—proactive strikes to reclaim our initiative and standing."

Tidying the mess in the treatment room, before AdaiEr could ask, Ji Ming unleashed a newly learned opening move.

…

However, just as his mouth opened, Bao Lis's barrage of words slammed it shut.

Acting now would not only ruin Mi Yang's plans but also boost Bao Lis's favor dramatically.

Finally, the boar‑headed fellow turned, his sharp fingertips nearly tapping Ji Ming's nose.

"Dr. Ji Ming, right? I'll handle this! You go back and wait for good news; the matter will be resolved soon!"

"Uncle, I just figured it out: because my father died, our Adventurers' Association has been far too passive lately."

"No way, you're not even eager to clock out?"

Hold on.

Even Ji Ming had to sigh; today really expanded his vocabulary.

In just three minutes, he nearly reduced the Mercenary Association to a pile of crap, as if a full‑scale war were declared tomorrow.

Bao Lis stared into his eyes.

Ji Ming himself found it unbelievable.

He replayed the recent events in his mind once more and finally pinpointed the problem.

【Ge Rui Sen, monitor everything; inform me of any movement.】

【Understood】

After resetting the traps in the Clinic, he slipped into the dungeon.