I Can Control Resources

...

Federation Parliament Building, in Councillor Liang’s office.

A video screen in front of him displayed everything happening in the main hall.

"Councillor Liang, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Are you really going to just give up like this?" three middle-aged men asked, standing opposite Liang Qi.

"I, Liang Qi, could never do such a thing! Gao Neng can’t leave the Federation Government Building, and I won’t deliberately let him walk out. It’s a matter of principle... The Human Alliance cannot afford to lose him in its current state!" Liang Qi stood up from his chair, his fists clenched tightly.

"It seems you’ve misunderstood our intentions, Councillor Liang. Sending Gao Neng to the Northern District Battlefield isn’t a death sentence. We can secretly send people to protect him. Besides, do you really think Li Tiannan would just stand by and watch him die? He won’t die. This is just one move in the game!" one of the middle-aged men said.

"Councillor Liang, we’ve been planning this for so long. The position of Speaker is almost within our grasp. Are you willing to just give it away?" another man chimed in.

"I am determined to win the Speaker’s seat. Gao Neng is just an eighteen-year-old kid. Even if he has some abilities, it’s still impossible for him to become Speaker!" Liang Qi’s tone was firm.

"Really? Impossible? Have you forgotten, Councillor Liang? He already controls the entire Elixir Market, and he has the full backing of the Celestial King Group. If nothing unexpected happens, his financial power could surpass ours in three months at most!"

"Most importantly, look at the attitude of the great families and sects toward him now. Who among them dares to offend him? Aren’t they all scrambling to cooperate with the Celestial King Group? Driven by profit, do you really think they won’t switch sides, Councillor Liang?"

"Wake up, Councillor Liang! This is our only chance! Sending him to the Northern District Battlefield is just to prove how impulsive and reckless he is. Once the results from the Northern Theater Command come in, we can pin all the blame on him. By then, even if the sects and families switch sides, we can use public opinion to disqualify him from the election!"

The three middle-aged men urged him in unison.

"..." Liang Qi fell silent.

Two months ago, he never would have imagined that he would one day be competing with an eighteen-year-old for the position of Speaker.

But one month ago, he had witnessed Gao Neng’s actions in the Underground City with his own eyes.

After that, Gao Neng had joined the Supreme Council and even publicly announced his intention to run for Speaker in the next election.

’How ridiculous!’

’An eighteen-year-old kid actually has the audacity to run for Speaker of the Federation Supreme Council.’

’How is that possible?!’

Liang Qi had never thought it possible, but the events of the past month—the Celestial King Group’s constant contact with the sects and great families—all told him it was true.

Gao Neng was really running for Speaker.

And the Celestial King Group was actively supporting and promoting his campaign.

Nearly a quarter of the councillors in the Supreme Council had already started cooperating with the Celestial King Group. This was an extremely worrying trend.

"Impulsive and naive!" Liang Qi glanced at the video feed. ’As the old saying goes, a single general’s success is built on the bones of ten thousand... Without patience, how can one become a king?’

Liang Qi felt a surge of resentment.

He believed that only someone like him could lead the Alliance out of its predicament. Gao Neng’s current behavior was completely unbecoming of a potential Speaker.

’A little impatience can spoil a great plan.’

’If the fate of the Alliance is truly handed over to Gao Neng, then the Alliance is really finished!’

"Councillor Liang, make up your mind! This is his own decision; we aren’t forcing him!" the three councillors urged again.

"It is indeed a naive move. But what if something unexpected happens..." Liang Qi’s gaze flickered, and he looked hesitant.

"There won’t be any accidents! As soon as Gao Neng steps out of the Federation Government Building, Li Tiannan and the others will definitely not turn a blind eye. With their protection, Gao Neng won’t die!"

"That’s right, Councillor Liang!"

"Only if you become Speaker can the Alliance be saved! Gao Neng is capable, we don’t deny his contributions to the Alliance, but right now, he’s too immature to bear such a great responsibility!"

The three men pressed him again.

"..." In the end, Liang Qi didn’t say another word. He just glanced at the video feed one last time before slowly walking out of the meeting room door.

...

「In the main hall of the Federation Government Building.」

A possibility suddenly occurred to Wu Qingjing.

But the likelihood was incredibly low. Logically, even for a genius like Gao Neng, creating a single Tier Eight gene weapon in a month would be enough to shock the world.

’How could he possibly have made several?’

’Moreover, and most importantly, Gao Neng had no experience creating Tier Eight gene weapons. How could he dare risk the resources to build several at once?’

’This is impossible!’ Wu Qingjing absolutely refused to believe it.

But just then, Gao Neng spoke up. "Teacher Wu, nothing is impossible. If I can refine elixirs simultaneously, I can naturally build Tier Eight gene weapons simultaneously too!"

"Simultaneously..."

"Councillor Gao, long time no see!" Just then, a voice rang out from a corner of the hall, and four figures appeared.

Wu Qingjing and Gao Neng naturally turned to look.

"Councillor Liang? It has indeed been a while." Gao Neng nodded, his expression neutral. After all, he didn’t have a very good impression of Liang Qi.

"Liang Qi, what are you doing here?" Wu Qingjing’s brow furrowed.

Liang Qi’s appearance at this moment was definitely no coincidence.

"I came to see how my future opponent in the election disregards the safety of the Alliance!" Liang Qi smiled, his gaze drifting towards Gao Neng.

"You did this on purpose?" Wu Qingjing’s eyes narrowed.

"On purpose? What’s on purpose? Isn’t it perfectly clear to you, Teacher Wu? No one is forcing Councillor Gao into his current actions. And haven’t you realized? Councillor Gao has made up his mind. He’s willing to risk his life to save Shen Fei. Such loyalty! Hahaha..." Liang Qi burst into laughter at the end.

"..." Wu Qingjing’s expression darkened.

He already knew why Liang Qi had come.

Gao Neng’s plan to run for Speaker in the next election had clearly made Liang Qi feel threatened. Therefore, Gao Neng’s actions today were the perfect weapon to use against him.

"Councillor Liang, the reporters are at the door!" one of the middle-aged men immediately said.

"Let them in," Liang Qi said with a wave of his hand.

"No!" Wu Qingjing immediately tried to stop him.

"And why not?" A smile played on Liang Qi’s lips. "Have you forgotten, Teacher Wu? Gao Neng is now a councillor of the Supreme Council. The public has a right to know about his actions! Most importantly, what he’s doing right now is to save people. He’s trying to save the twenty million residents of the North District! Why shouldn’t the reporters be allowed to know about such a heroic deed?"

"You... Liang Qi, do you have any idea what you’re doing? You’re gambling the future of the Alliance on your own reputation! If something happens to Gao Neng, can you bear the responsibility?" Wu Qingjing’s gaze turned cold.

"..." Liang Qi’s eyes also narrowed tightly.

He was still hesitant.

But the three middle-aged men behind him exchanged a look. Their eyes showed firm resolve.

"Is Speaker Wu afraid that Gao Neng’s reputation will surpass his own?"

"Really, there’s no need for this, Speaker Wu. You’ll be stepping down from the Speaker’s position soon anyway. Why stop a young man from contributing to the Alliance?"

"Indeed. In so adamantly trying to stop this, could it be that Speaker Wu has selfish motives?"

The three men chimed in one after another, their words seemingly directed at no one in particular.

Wu Qingjing’s knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists.

As the Speaker of the Supreme Council, he naturally saw through the malicious intent of the three men behind Liang Qi. They were clearly trying to provoke him on purpose.

If he made a move, they would surely seize the opportunity to attack him further.

But if he didn’t...

He would be forced to endure their slander.

"Did we hit a nerve, Speaker Wu? Or do you really think the Federation Government is your one-man... Huh?!"

The middle-aged man didn’t get to finish his sentence.

Because a black shadow had appeared out of thin air in front of him.

Someone had made a move!

But it wasn’t Wu Qingjing.

The middle-aged man’s eyes went wide. Seeing the black shadow strike with its palm, he immediately threw a punch in return.

"BANG!"

Fist met palm.

The middle-aged man was sent flying by the palm strike. His body traced an arc through the air before he landed flat on the ground like a toad.

’Tier Eight Late Stage?!’ was the man’s first thought.

He knew he had been attacked by a Tier Eight gene weapon, but he never imagined that in just one month, Gao Neng had managed to create a Tier Eight Late Stage gene weapon.

’Too terrifying!’

’This kid is a true super-genius!’

A surge of pain welled up in the man’s chest, and before he could think any further, he heard two more muffled thuds.

Two figures traced arcs through the air, just as he had, and landed flat on the ground beside him.

"He attacked all three of us at once? No... it’s... it’s three Tier Eight gene weapons?!" The man looked ahead, and his eyes widened in shock.

Because in the spot where they had just been standing, there were now three black shadows.

And most importantly, the one in front of Gao Neng hadn’t moved at all.

’What does that mean?!’

’It means that there are a total of four Tier Eight gene weapons in the hall right now!’

"Gao Neng, you dare to strike us? Have you forgotten your current status... Hahaha, an eighteen-year-old is an eighteen-year-old, after all. So quick to anger!" one of the middle-aged men spat out a mouthful of blood as he slowly staggered to his feet.

"Hey, you can’t come in here!"

"Who let you in!"

"..."

"We’re reporters invited by Councillor Liang! He invited us for an exclusive interview, you have no right to stop us!" the reporters shouted as they rushed into the hall.