Chapter 99: Expanding Influence

Xuanwu City, inside the City Lord's residence.

"City Lord, this 'Deep Blue Matrix' is really not a good thing!"

Han Ya held a cup of freshly brewed hot tea, walked over to Lin Yue, her cold face full of undisguised hatred and resentment.

"Suchen Refuge and the Heavenly God Group may not be good either, but at least they put on a show on the surface. These scientific madmen practically have 'We want to study you' written on their faces! If I weren't worried about affecting your plans, City Lord, I would have long taken people down to smash those probes!"

She simply couldn't understand why Lin Yue would tolerate the Deep Blue Matrix.

In her view, given Xuanwu City's current strength, there was absolutely no need to have any reservations about these three refuges in Suchen.

Let alone destroying a few probes, even flattening their nests would be nothing more than a word from the City Lord.

Yet the City Lord not only didn't get angry, he even tacitly allowed their actions, leaving Han Ya feeling extremely puzzled and resentful.

"Han Ya, I'm not angry, why are you still angry?"

Lin Yue took the teacup, gently blew on the steam, his face still as calm and light as ever.

"Not worth it."

"But City Lord..."

Han Ya still wanted to say something, but Lin Yue raised his hand to cut her off.

"I know what you want to say."

Lin Yue set down the teacup, the corner of his mouth curling into a playful arc,

"You think I don't know what little tricks they're up to?"

His voice carried a hint of lazy drawl,

"I just want to see what kind of flower this bunch of self-proclaimed elite scientists can research."

"Of course, if they actually manage to research something, that would be a good thing, wouldn't it?"

Lin Yue isn't a saint, but he doesn't stop others from researching as long as it doesn't affect him.

If the Deep Blue Matrix's research affects Black Tortoise or Xuanwu City, he will unhesitatingly strike to eliminate it!

Seeing Lin Yue say that, Han Ya still felt some resentment in her heart, but she could only let it go.

She knew the City Lord's actions must have a deeper meaning.

All she needed to do was unconditionally carry out his orders.

"I understand, City Lord."

Han Ya nodded, no longer dwelling on the matter.

Lin Yue looked at her like that, nodded in satisfaction, then shifted the topic and asked:

"Any movement from Qian Wanjin's side?"

"Reporting to the City Lord, there has been movement."

Mentioning Qian Wanjin, a hint of contempt appeared on Han Ya's face again.

"That old fox's work efficiency is actually quite high. While we were heading to the Deep Blue Matrix, he had already sent people to contact all those big and small refuges in Suchen."

"Oh?"

A flicker of interest passed through Lin Yue's eyes,

"How did they react?"

"Their reactions varied."

Han Ya called up another intelligence report and projected it onto the holographic screen,

"According to the latest information, most refuges are taking a wait-and-see attitude. After all, to them, our Xuanwu City is still too unfamiliar and powerful, so they dare not approach lightly."

"However, a few bold ones have already sent out scouting teams, now heading our way, expected to arrive this afternoon."

"Good."

Lin Yue's face broke into a satisfied smile.

Indeed, the decision to keep Qian Wanjin back then was correct.

Even without him, those small and medium refuges in Suchen would eventually learn about Xuanwu City's situation, but this time span would be greatly prolonged.

He turned his head to look out the window; in the afterglow of the setting sun, the entire Xuanwu City was bathed in golden light, brimming with vitality.

"Han Ya."

"At your service."

"Pass down the order: from now on, all of Xuanwu City's external trade will be handled by you and Sun Hao with full authority. My only requirement is:"

He paused, a flash of severity in his eyes.

"No matter who the other party is or what they want to trade, they must strictly abide by Xuanwu City's rules!"

"Yes!"

Han Ya replied in a low voice, a fighting spirit bursting from her cold eyes.

Actually, when Black Tortoise went to Tai Lake to act against the Abyss Terror Crocodile, many refuges in Suchen had already sensed the existence of that colossal creature.

There's no way around it; Black Tortoise's size is truly enormous, making it hard to go unnoticed.

Back then, these refuges thought Suchen had sent another super mutant beast even more terrifying than the Abyss Terror Crocodile, each of them frightened out of their wits and even preparing to flee.

But after Qian Wanjin's publicity, these refuges temporarily abandoned their plans to flee and began to reassess this sudden intruder in Suchen.

A city on the turtle's back?

With food and drink, and absolutely safe?

Real or fake?

How does this sound so like a tale from the Arabian Nights?

…

That afternoon.

Outside Xuanwu City, the abandoned industrial park had an atmosphere that felt somewhat unusual.

Three small but well-equipped teams were carefully moving through the ruined walls and debris.

They were the "pathfinders" sent out by the few medium-sized shelters around Suchen that had the greatest courage.

"Boss, we… we really have to go over there?"

In one of the teams, a young man who looked to be about twenty, with a hint of youth still on his face, asked in a slightly trembling voice.

He gripped his rifle tightly, his palms slick with cold sweat.

Even though it was several kilometers away, that beast, as huge as a mountain, still gave him an almost suffocating sense of oppression.

"What's there to fear!"

The one called "Boss" was a burly man with a ferocious scar across his face; he turned, glared at the young man, and snarled in a low voice:

"We seek wealth in danger! Haven't you heard what the Heavenly God Group people said? There's endless food and inexhaustible clean water there!"

"Besides, our shelter's food will last at most half a month! If we don't make contact, do you want us all to starve to death in half a month?"

"But… what if they're not well-intentioned?"

"Not well-intentioned?"

The scar-faced man snorted coldly, pointing at that massive creature,

"Do you think, with their strength, they need to play tricks on us? If they really wanted to harm us, a single finger could crush us!"

Though his words were rough, they hit the mark.

The young man opened his mouth, but in the end couldn't utter a rebuttal.

Yeah, in the face of absolute power, any doubt seems so pale and powerless.

Just as these teams were still hesitating, watching each other,

"Boom—rumble—rumble—"

Accompanied by a dull, thunderous roar, the makeshift wall made of scrap copper, iron, and concrete slowly swung open a huge gate!

"Here they come!"

In the scarred man's eyes, a blazing light instantly burst forth!

Without the slightest hesitation, he fiercely waved his hand.

"Go! Let's go in!"

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