Chapter 1111 - 977: Fermentation
Qu Jianlei hesitated upon hearing this. To be honest, his impression of the Earth Scholar organization... was not particularly good.
Both parties had had disputes and cooperated before, and Xiang Xue’s Supreme dad wasn’t the only voice within the Earth Scholar organization.
Such a large association of archaeology enthusiasts was certainly a mix of dragons and snakes.
The key is that Xiang Xue herself doesn’t hold archaeology enthusiasts in high regard either.
However, since they’ve already been discovered, turning back now seems... easy to be underestimated.
"Increase the strength of the protective shield," Qu Jianlei issued the order and then picked up the communicator.
"I wondered who it was, turns out to be fellow archaeology enthusiasts... Just Steff actually dares to bully our organization’s people?"
Bentley snorted upon hearing this, "Boss, let’s just blow them up, such a bunch of blind folks."
"Hold on," Qu Jianlei said gravely, "Should we keep those two fellow merchant ships?"
The escaping silver-striped merchant ship just realized that the opposite side doesn’t seem to be a regular warship?
But then they quickly changed direction, "None of your business, I advise you to mind your own business!"
The two struggling Earth Scholar merchant ships perked up immediately upon hearing this.
A merchant ship quickly responded, "If friends can lend a hand, we would be incredibly grateful!"
increased the strength of the protective shield while speeding forward but did not fire.
This was certainly because the distance was still far, but Qu Jianlei wasn’t planning to fire for now either, he chuckled lightly, "Incredibly grateful?"
Gratefulness worth how much? Asking us to act without mentioning money? Give me a break!
The key is Qu Jianlei didn’t even know what the conflict between the two sides was about.
He has no problem being slightly biased, but within reasonable conditions, he still prefers to be fair.
The other Earth Scholar merchant ship seemed smarter; the other side has revealed their identity, indicating at least some goodwill.
Expecting the other side to fight would certainly not be empty talk.
Thus a voice was heard, "New friends, the Steff family wants to capture archaeology enthusiasts to explore the Maiden Star Realm!"
"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Qu Jianlei was furious, "Bully our archaeology enthusiasts, do you think there’s no one?"
"It’s not as they said," the Steff family’s merchant ship rushed back again.
In this short time, the damage control personnel of the injured starship had made some repairs.
This merchant ship actually started entangling again, attacking while not forgetting to threaten the 3344 ship.
"Mind your own business, we just invited them to proceed together, they stole information and attacked us while escaping!"
This statement sounded off, but since the other side dared to take on archaeology enthusiasts, they were clearly not unfamiliar with this organization.
Since it’s such a loose organization, if the interests aren’t in place, it’s not rare to see people dying without help.
"Are you talking to me?" Qu Jianlei snorted coldly, the starship’s hatch opened.
Two small attack ships flew out, speeding towards the seriously damaged silver-striped merchant ship.
"Hey, let’s talk this out," a different voice on the other side sounded very steady.
"Don’t know what identity I need to speak to you, is Supreme enough?"
"There’s actually a Supreme?" Qu Jianlei pondered for a moment, then snorted softly, "Steff family’s Supreme?"
"It’s like no family has a Supreme!" A cold snort also came from an Earth Scholar merchantship.
"New friends, no need for you to participate in the battle, just cover our exit... compensation is negotiable, we definitely won’t let you lose out!"
That’s more like it, Qu Jianlei said gravely, "Alright, commission received..."
"Now I order, both parties ceasefire completely, counting down from three, whoever dares to fire, I’ll beat them up!"
"Three, two, one... ceasefire!"
This order was quite arrogant, even if the parties had fought until they were fractured and torn, they were still four massive offensive platforms.
Yet he just said it like that, and with an unequivocal tone, making people doubtlessly believe he could deliver on his words.
An adventure group starship still seemed somewhat defiant but was stopped by its own personnel.
Under the warning of the newly arrived one large and two small starships, both sides actually ceased fire.
"Steff family’s starship can leave," Qu Jianlei spoke lightly.
"For the sake of Glory Academy, we won’t make things difficult for you."
An "eh?" from the opposite side, "Eh? Are you also a Glory Academy graduate?"
"Random encounter, so don’t ask for my background," Qu Jianlei casually replied, "hurry up and leave."
The two starships hesitated for a good twenty or thirty seconds, probably communicating internally.
Eventually, however, the two badly damaged starships cautiously left the battlefield, heading towards Paradise Star.
Only then did Qu Jianlei call the Earth Scholar starship again, "Where are you planning to go? How will the fees be?"
The other side did not answer directly but asked instead, "Which Supreme might you be? I am Amolin."
Amolin... Qu Jianlei hesitated to answer, "The Wood Attribute one? Didn’t expect you’d reveal your identity too."
Amolin Supreme was employed at the Divine Text Association for many years before leaving over thirty years ago, and he is passionate about researching ancient divine texts.
Qu Jianlei knows of this person because Xiang Xue suspects that he might be connected to archaeology enthusiasts, though she merely speculates.
"Under a thorough investigation, it’s unavoidable," Amolin replied calmly, "By the way, who are you, sir?"
"I haven’t been discovered by the investigation yet," Qu Jianlei responded confidently, "so it’s inconvenient to tell."
Amolin considered many possibilities, including that the other party might not be a member of the archaeology enthusiasts, nor necessarily a Supreme.
However, this answer amused him a bit, "Your answer is rather careless, isn’t it?"
Perhaps worried about provoking the other side, he immediately added, "The promised reward will be delivered, but..."
"Without revealing your identity, how should we escort you?"
"You can send an A-level over, or a Supreme... preferably someone acquainted with Mu Guang Supreme."
Mu Guang is Xiang Xue’s father and a person with mysterious whereabouts, a figure of ambivalence even within the Earth Scholar organization.
"Mu Guang?" the other side pondered, "Let Tessner take a trip then, you are familiar with Mu Guang Supreme."
Tessner did have some dealings with Mu Guang, but was mostly an unnoticeable character.
Once aboard the 3344 starship, he sensed at least two Supremes, so he immediately became exceedingly compliant.
Amolin sent him mainly to verify if there were indeed Supremes on the other party’s starship.
As for the origin of the Supremes, he didn’t expect Tessner to figure it out—he simply didn’t have the credentials.
In the end, even Amolin wasn’t sure if this somewhat stealthy starship was a part of the organization.
They had already suffered mutual destruction with the Steff Clan, and if they were ultimately taken down by a passing petty crook, it would be a terrible loss.
If they could confirm the presence of Supremes on the other side, then even two against one, they might not prevail and could only consider the other party as allies.
Tessner successfully completed the investigation and delivered ten million Silver Notes.
Knowing the other side had two Supremes, Amolin completely let go of any other thoughts.
So he gathered the personnel from two armed merchant ships and boarded the 3344 starship.
Qu Jianlei still prohibited them from entering the cabins, ordering them to stay in the cargo hold—including Amolin Supreme.
Previously cautious, Amolin felt a bit indignant at this treatment, "Even I’m in the cargo hold?"
Qu Jianlei responded, "In this extraordinary time, we’re willing to lend a hand, but why make it difficult for each other?"
The combined crew from the two merchant ships numbered nearly fifty, including wounded members, which needed no further explanation.
Concentrating all personnel on the 3344 was for easier jump.
The two wrecked merchant ships could only be grabbed with mechanical arms and jumped together.
Amolin designated the jump direction as the Thorn Star Realm, with the destination being Blessing Star.
The two broken merchant ships even stopped their engines to avoid any accidents during the jump.
The jump process went smoothly, and upon reaching the Thorn Star Realm, the two merchant ships could barely operate!
Amolin sent someone to check on the starship and found the star map coordinates accurate, which eased his mind completely.
He straightforwardly suggested, escort us a bit further, and when we’re fifty million kilometers away from Blessing Star, we’ll go ourselves.
The number fifty million wasn’t arbitrary; it’s the alert limit of Blessing Star.
—Don’t want to be exposed? You can leave before being exposed.
Ultimately, those two merchant ships were so battered that they weren’t confident they’d make it fifty million kilometers.
Theoretically, there shouldn’t be any issue, but what if... an accident happened?
Qu Jianlei didn’t mind spending a bit of Energy Block, "Sure, we can escort you, but speak of your grievances first."
"Also, does anyone know where Mu Guang Supreme currently is?"
He was following the rules strictly; saving people means just saving people without asking for other information.
Besides saving people, they’ve transported them about the right distance through jumps, and having Supremes escort is rare indeed.
This can’t be considered a friendship price; they’re not making money at all, truly remarkable to do so as colleagues.
At this point, asking for another escort sounds reasonable, doesn’t it?
Amolin and his companions certainly would agree—they handled it well and delaying might offend the helpers.
Yet, no one actually knew Mu Guang’s whereabouts; the Earth Scholar is inherently loose, and that guy is elusive.
Tessner mentioned that about six months ago, Mu Guang Supreme seemed to have appeared in the New Journey Star Realm.
Regarding their conflict with the Steff Clan, it was indeed because the other party wanted them to guide them to the Maiden Star Realm.
Initially, they seemed to have agreements, but Earth Scholar sought some benefits, which the other party refused to grant.
In short, they couldn’t reach a consensus on benefits division, leading to violent clashes.
Qu Jianlei wasn’t surprised by such matters; knowledge is priceless, but in the face of power, it can be worthless.
He cared about, "Are there many forces heading to the Maiden Star Realm now?"
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