This party of adventurers was said not to be native to the Yin Ye continent. Qian Ye felt a certain curiosity, and was somewhat surprised when he finally laid eyes on them. They were a group of five, led by an eighth-rank warrior, followed by four fighters each of seventh-rank. Such strength was rare to see indeed—it would even rival those specialized teams dispatched by powerful aristocratic clans to manage business affairs overseas.
At the head of them stood a robust, heavily bearded man. He introduced himself with a booming voice: “My name is Liu Hei, sworn brother of Hu Zi Lao Dao. This trip was especially arranged as he asked me to deliver something to you.”
With this, Liu Hei handed an apparently unadorned, hastily-welded sheet-iron box to Qian Ye.
Qian Ye took the package with a glance, and without using any tools, directly tore open a gash with his bare hands, then pulled the lid free in one motion.
Such a display of might caused Liu Hei’s eyes to twitch, instinctively shifting his manner a shade more respectful.
Inside the iron box nestled a neatly sealed ammunition canister, holding within four cartridges filled with primordial energies. These elegant projectiles, crystal-clear and smooth like superior jade, exuded a faint blood-like aura—the crystallized fangs, perhaps? From a vampire of Viscount rank, no doubt.
It was apparent now—some master artificer at the hounds-claw town had completed his previous order. The bullets had then traveled to Qian Ye via hands of Hu Zi Lao Dao. Each single such bullet posed immense threat to humans, second only to bullets forged from black-titanium alloy. If accurately struck, even an individual below the rank of war champion could be killed with one round.
After accepting payment of these deliveries, Qian Ye casually raised an inquiry: “By the way, Brother Liu, where exactly do you and your company usually operate? Besides the logistics, any other business?”
Grinning briefly, the man responded, “Just call me Big Black if anything. Our team mostly runs freight between the Yin Ye Continent and other continents. Combat engagements are occasionally taken on—though that’s not our primary trade.”
Hearing this response, Qian Ye finally grasped the nature behind their activities—what Big Black represented was precisely an independent, albeit a secretive and illicit supply route.
Mulling slightly over the details just disclosed, Qian Ye continued: “You’ve seen with your eyes how things are around here upon entry—therefore, I do have a need for multiple material supplies, and also possess goods prepared for trading outside the area. However tell me first—what exactly would you consider transporting in ordinary trades these days?”
Liu Hei could not hide an evident sparkle of gladness on his face, and the entire party inwardly felt both alarmed and astonished on stepping into Crimson Shadow mercenaries’ main base before they came face to face with such an oddly young leader, a commander without a war-champion-class force aura—his actual presence felt overwhelming even in silence, far outshadowing their abilities!
Veterans surviving countless life-or-death situations in past years possess a sharp instinct when danger lurks nearby. And so it stood with them that this young tactician, though young, must wield overwhelming strength above their own, indicating a vast horizon of future growth. No way would Black Flow City be the final scope of influence for this mercenary team.
Finding such a potential collaborator in a shadow-dominated continent translated directly into a profitable, steady route, simultaneously lowering dangerous risks and boosting potential yields.
Big Black wasted no time getting a parchment with writing utensils from Qian Ye. Then swiftly jotting two inventories on sheeting before returning with explanation, “Commander! One sheet is the supply list we buy, with absolutely no limit! The other is what we can sell into Yin Ye — usually rare and difficult commodities that are highly necessary here at least. If you’ve got particular trade interests though, we definitely need a negotiation.”
Examining the two handwritten bulletins provided him with, Qian Ye discerned that Big Black specialized in raw goods sourced specifically from Yin Ye—mostly ores and materials of dark-race origin, all considered extremely valuable trade resources. Their sold goods usually comprised military equipments; in particular, primordial energy bullets were among their most prominent traded commodities.
His thoughts briefly caught at the listed entry concerning the copper-rich ore known as Purple Bronze Copper.
In recent weeks since the last war of Yin Ye, Qian Ye attacked a small mine heavily controlled by deserters. Subsequently that mine became legally placed under his control, per a given arrangement by Wei Bai Nian. The yield of the mine was small, and the mineral quality quite mixed. But—yes—it did carry that listed Purple-Bronze Ore.
Following a quick line of questioning with Big Black, Qian Ye learned just then how the Purple bronze ore from Yin Ye, highly pure by nature, was in fact greatly coveted by influential merchant groups above the sky layers, and therefore extremely liquid on trade markets. Suddenly he saw Wei Ba Nian’s underlying foresight—he might have acted indifferent on surface arrangements for this small ore mine’s capture, but indeed—though the mine didn’t contain particularly rare minerals, the purple ore found within held superior ease in monetization, allowing rapid cash generation.
In turn that meant for The Dark Flame Mercenary Team, their initial growth stages, that having an immediately tradable asset was critically important. After all—it ensured the team the much-needed inflow of stable resources and consumables. Exotic materials, though precious, came accompanied by various regulatory obstacles, making their conversion back into usable resources a longer journey—risk riddled, and slow to unfold.
Thus, calling his aide Song Hu, the amount of their currently existing stockpile in Purple Bronze Ore was assessed—after which terms and prices for an on-the-spot negotiated agreement with Liu Black were promptly sealed together while additional spoils collected from dark racians were handed over as well for their sale.
This trade totaled three thousand golden ducats, however, with some days still being necessary for Liu Hei to compile the full settlement. Part of the transaction would be made via in-kind payment through agreed allotments of weaponry including an arsenal of primordial powered guns and matching ammunition.
In essence, Liu Hei’s sudden arrival counted an unexpected and joyous occurrence this past few days in dealings at that base, though the other assigned team—sent on investigation toward another figure—had returned under less fortunate circumstances.
During their assigned investigation mission, it was reported that the rebuilding process at Hei Ni village post-war war already advanced with alarming efficiency—subsidized fully through funding from the expedition forces, the mayor Hu Wei seemingly made use of his position to build it from scratch into an even sturdier form fortress, an architectural absurdity in structural layout far more severe than the past defensive systems. It was expected that final stages would complete in an estimated two months.
“Two months!” Qian Ye had responded in surprised disbelief—the reported reconstruction pace sounded indeed implausible and alarmingly swift.
“Well, that fat mayor drafted in a large quantity of surviving scavengers and sourced most raw materials directly locally—hence speeding things further ahead than anyone expected.”
That heavy-set mayor from the first memory Qian Ye recalled upon first setting foot in Hei Ni at some earlier stage returned vividly into thought—it was already clear this seemingly clumsy man possessed quite significant competence at local organization. Managing just one pitiful town had certainly restrained his full potential.
And yet, Qian Ye was to receive a grim outlook on another inquiry front—that relating investigation of one Lu Jian An’s possible trail or fate.
It was learned in this process that during the war, Hei Ni had been largely surrendered to dark armies. Subsequently scavenger remnants had little time at refuge since all who perished there were devoured by spider-serfants desperate of resources for food, which in turn chewed the bodies into irreparable ruins.
Moreover, during the past centuries, the Hei Ni Township was destroyed no fewer than three times during that period before being reconstructed with equal frequency as well—as a result population turnover proved so immense through this cyclical devastation, and local documentation was lost repeatedly, making inquiries into a name like Lu Jian An utterly impossible to track anymore down.
Hearing this report conclusion left behind Qian Ye with heavy breaths only—a single trace of hope remained. Perhaps Vampiric Clans may still recognize familial spiritual traces undetectable by normal humans, and the likelihood that the Blood Jazz had tracked back descendants of Lu family, obtained crystal splinters by massacre—only disposing of their remains wherever, forgotten.
But since the Blood Jazz lay dead already before Qian Ye’s blade—his theories and possibilities of this case remaining buried within mere conjecture only.
As relatively calm surface life rolled on within the Black Flow City district however, the hidden atmosphere surrounding the area thickened subtly by the day. Ordinary citizens in general remained unaware though.
Information arriving recently from Wei Bai Nian indicated a final settlement of discussions now being struck between Expedition Head Quarters and the Wei House—the latter having extracted terms that were not just acceptable but actually generous to note. Such conditions indicated how eager rival noble houses indeed had invested heavily and committed resources heavily in order to obtain YinYe region jurisdiction in coming future.
Additionally, Wei Bai Nian further revealed another related point—though no new garrison commander appointed formally yet—the arrival of a certain envoy, working behind scenes toward some selected senior officials from 7th Battalion had already started secret meetings recently.
It might mean various native faction groups stationed inside the city had received similar visits simultaneously. Hunter’s Guild leadership, large independent risk-taking adventuring parties and some local semi-clandestine trading cells recently grew restless amidst increased secret dealings in their circles as well.
Therefore—noble clans do indeed work methodically—the future battalion’s head hadn’t presented himself yet in full public sight, but the hidden preparation works began long back already as pawns shifted into positions to seize full strategic control.
Of course Wei Ba Nian allowed all these undercurrent activities with willful tolerance. He, himself would simply await an official exchange ceremony—then return himself toward the floating layer lands above once again—their previous mutual understandings allowing the two parties a degree of cooperation to flourish unannounced.
Thus far however, Dark Flame hasn’t received uninvited callers or unwarranted interferences yet—Nonetheless—as Blackflow’s preeminent localized militia power—the inner circle of officers surrounding Qian Ye all observed this thickening air of unease early and began discussing several times their course of responses—determining preemptive rules for conduct once these tensions surfaced.
Yet as unexpected little did occur—they found themselves indeed unwaiting for an excessive duration of time, before unwelcome guests arrived.
One bright daylight at noon, several armored越野 vehicle sped roaring across dust clouds directly toward Dark Flame Base Gate—each with added armored sheeting along their outer panels, top machine gun posts fixed firmly with heavy caliber rotary mounts clearly displaying the army emblem of the imperial army.
Even for elite units under main battalions, such mobile vehicles represented the pinnacle of defense and mobility fused—a rarity in battlefield deployments.
As these mechanical thunder steeds accelerated toward Qian Ye’s base entrance, warning horns sounded, and within minutes all sentry positions near the main gate were alert. Turrets swiveled into line of sight—their twin barrels locking firmly onto the fast-approaching vehicle train.
The guard stationed directly beside the front entry immediately took command through the amplifier horn—raising his demand through loud-sounding orders.
Hault! State your identity in this sector. Otherwise, we fire warning rounds into your direction immediately!”
Within the middle armored carrier sat a dark faced military commander whose frown grew deep upon observing how the camp exterior far exceeded expectations of its size—based on the out-of-date intel data he initially read before arrival.
Hearing the sentries’ sharp cry, the leader smirked coldly as he gestured, saying: “Continue moving! Kill any fools standing our way! Ram whoever dares block entry.”
Engines growled, wheels dug into terrain accelerating forward even faster as they charged directly toward the heavily guarded gateways.
Clenching rifles nervously, the inexperienced Dark Flame frontline patrols paled at approaching enemy forces clearly marked bearing insignias directly linking those within vehicles to the official ranks of the Imperial Army.
Firing on these emissaries of the Empire would be synonymous now—at this unverified stage—with outright war against the Empire herself—an action no lightly armed scout dared contemplate in their fragile early phase within such a mercenary corps.
Within the upper tower platform area, there stood beside them the darker-skinned officer clad in muscle like iron. He narrowed his eyes—immediately shoved aside hesitant younger comrades—wrenched around the heavy caliber flak gun from its fixed mount with his hands.
Without further hesitation, the machine’s heavy barrel erupted, its thunderous bark shaking earth underneath the advancing caravan.
BRRRRRRRRRAAT! The machine gun roared—a deep rumbling voice spitting large heavy caliber explosive slugs. They slammed powerfully in sequence onto the road surface immediately before the incoming vehicular force—sending massive sprays into air in massive meter-high stone-dust sprays—etching forward a precise path of annihilation inching rapidly forward toward the fast approaching convoy.
Though the trained veteran drivers immediately steered in sharp evasive maneuvers, five armored vehicles veered sharply in synchronized panic splitting in diverged lanes in hopes to dodge the storm of fiery bullets.
The initial four narrowly missed the crosshairs of that annihilating barrage, except one straggler at very back who responded too slowly—receiving several impacts. With armor plates violently ripped off in every direction—the vehicle partially burst asunder. From within, soldiers hurled out amidst carnage—one man missing almost his full forearms already as blood sprayed like red rain.
As vehicles dashed for road-sidings in desperate survival, others too began failing control.
Two lost balance severely already—tipping toward complete toppling.
Bang! The middle-most armored car suddenly blew its heavy iron door clear from off-hinges—then from inside the doorless vehicle emerged in mid-air leap an already enraged commanding officer moments before his overturned vehicle’s crash.
“Do you have any ideas!” he thundered angrily, “I am a Colonel from Imperial Expeditionary Army—do you all wish death by openly attacking and mugging my team like bandits!”
The high-placed officer standing upon the upper platform snorted—stepped aside, kicked upward supply box and catching another one seamlessly connected toward the flak gun—without another moment delay he realigned his aim upon the colonel.
Then—he opened fire again, directly into flesh. Without restraint. Pure fire poured from the gun muzzle.
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