Chapter 354: A Brewing Storm Among the Lords

“I’m not sure either.” Tang Huai cleared his throat and asked, “Is Captain Tan here? Do you know what’s happening with Territory 158 and 159?”

Su Ming from the Inspection Team replied, “Our captain is currently in a meeting. Both Territory 158 and 159 have eligible heirs in accordance with regulations. They won’t be allocated to the refugees. Arrangements for refugee settlement will be announced later, please be patient.”

“These refugees have lost the protection of the Safe Zone walls, they’re citizens of Huaguo—our own people. No matter how hard things get, the nation will do its utmost to ensure every citizen’s safety. That’s the nation’s duty and every citizen’s right. In times of disaster, only greater unity will allow us to survive.”

With the Inspection Team representing the authorities, Su Ming’s statement confirmed Tang Huai’s news. The lords felt conflicted after hearing it. They could barely feed themselves, let alone help others.

Tang Huai, the acting agent for Territory Two, was the first to speak up. “Territory Two will actively support the policy, welcome refugees, open new farmland, and start planting. I can’t promise much, but shelter for the refugees—that we can provide.”

Tang Huai’s words sounded encouraging, but his tone suggested otherwise. It was clear that taking in refugees was a decision by the Sufeng Squad—he was less than thrilled about it.

Looks like Sufeng Squad is tired of peace and wants to stir things up again.

Damn.

Luo Pei spoke, her tone cool and full of tension. “Territory One will also answer the call and accept refugees.”

Azure Dragon and Sufeng are butting heads again. Excellent.

Just as everyone braced for the Lords’ channel to turn into a battleground between Territory One and Two, the lord of Territory Nine, Li Si, spoke in a calm, distant voice. “Territory Nine will answer the call and take in refugees.”

Wait, what? What?!

Xia Qing’s brow, which had just relaxed, furrowed again. Refugees in Territory Nine unsettled him even more than those in Territory Two.

Territory Nine’s rival, the lord of Territory Seven, Zhang San, finally logged in, sounding lazy. “Anyone from the Inspection Team here?”

Su Ming promptly answered, “I’m Su Ming from the Sixth Inspection Team. Besides our captain, all six members and thirty-three supporting guards are present. Lord Seven, what’s your question?”

Normally laid-back, Zhang San’s tone was rare and stern. “Given Territory Nine’s past criminal record of storing massive amounts of hazardous chemicals, I have reason to question their motives for accepting refugees. I request the Inspection Team to report this and suggest the Territory Management Department seriously reconsider letting Territory Nine take in refugees and increase the monitoring and inspections on their territory.”

That’s my idol, no question about it! Xia Qing wiped his hands clean and hurried back to the living room.

“Received.” Su Ming responded loudly, his voice sharp with killing intent.

Li Si was furious, his voice icy. “We’re simply answering the call to help starving compatriots. Zhang San, you’re just a farming lord now. My advice? Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

It was the first time since joining the territories that Li Si called Zhang San by name in the Lords’ channel. The atmosphere tensed—one spark would set everything ablaze.

Zhang San sounded hungry again—weak, but his words still hit like a hammer:

“It’s true, I’m just a farmer now, so I can only handle what’s within my sight. If someone in my range dares to use helpless refugees for unethical experiments, they won’t need to worry about wasting any more food.”

And who doesn’t need food? A corpse.

Warn me not to meddle? I’ll take your life instead. Is that wide enough for you?

“That’s my idol! Old Goat, did you hear that? This is the idol I’ve been talking about—the finest on Blue Star!” Xia Qing couldn’t hold back, slapping the table and shouting.

Old Goat twitched his ears on the tatami, expressionless as he went on chewing.

Alpha, agitated by the aggressive voices in the Lords’ channel, stood up ready to fight. But Xia Qing’s excited howling scattered his killing intent.

Er Gou, gearing up beside Alpha, ended up grinning too just because Xia Qing was happy.

As for Crippled Wolf’s sister? Who knows what she’s up to in the sheep shed.

It was lively in Section Three’s living room, but in the Lords’ channel, tension hung thick.

Li Si wasn’t cowed by Zhang San. “Su Ming from the Inspection Team. You heard what Lord Seven said. I believe Zhang San is extremely hostile toward Territory Nine. I hereby request: Zhang San and the Inspection Team are banned from entering Territory Nine together for inspections.”

Su Ming replied with robotic officialdom, “Understood. The Inspection Team will report Territory Nine’s request to the Territory Management Department.”

Li Si turned his sights back on Zhang San. “Killing outsiders who haven’t invaded territory is a crime and will be punished severely by law.”

When chaos rules, harsh laws follow. Since the disasters, the state has cracked down even harder on crime. Any lords who kill out of malice will face the consequences.

Zhang San lazily answered, “If that happens, I’ll request a chance to redeem myself with the relevant authorities. Honestly, I’m getting sick of this place—ready for a change of scenery.”

Zhang San is top talent in the pharmaceutical world. Even if he kills, he won’t get the death sentence or forced labor. They’ll just move him somewhere else, feed him well, and coax him into more research. Li Si was left speechless.

Li Si withdrew, but the other lords panicked. Who is Zhang San? Their source of miracle medicines, the guy who could save their lives when death was knocking.

If Zhang San left, every one of them would be left with several fewer lives to spend.

Zhao Ze whined, “Third Brother, you can’t go! We’d miss you too much.”

With fandom loyalty deeper than Blue Star’s core, Xia Qing instantly offered his idol pure devotion. “Third Brother, my Green Light Sweet Potatoes are ready. I’ll dig one up for you right now—make some fried sweet potato balls for a midnight snack.”

Kuang Qingwei quickly jumped in, eager to keep his good neighbor. “Third Brother, Princess Cat loves sharpening her claws on a pine tree in my territory. I’ll chop it down and send it over for her!”

Qi Fu found a new reason for Zhang San to stay. “Third Brother, our soil here is full of selenium, so our crops are top-notch. If you move, you won’t get fresh Green Lantern Vegetables anymore.”

Shi Du, whose father relies on Zhang San’s drugs, was brimming with killing intent. “Third Brother, there’s no need to use a sledgehammer to kill a chicken. My life isn’t worth much—if you want someone dead, just say so and I’ll trade one life for another.”

Luo Pei didn’t hesitate either. “Third Brother, Territory One and the Azure Dragon Squad are always standing by.”

Even Xin Yu, the usually quiet lord of Territory Eight, showed up. “Third Brother, Xin Yu is ready any time.”

Tang Huai, acting agent for Territory Two and first to promise to take in refugees, shouted with blood surging, “Me too! I’m always ready!”

Zhang San might look frail, but if he wants to kill someone, knives are never in short supply.

Right now, Territory Nine—which Shi Du jokingly called ‘the chicken’—was truly as quiet as a mouse.