What am I supposed to do about this situation?

Zhou Yi's mind was a bit crashed.

Maybe, just kill Lord Sha Hai?

That seemed like a relatively simple solution.

Direct confrontation would make it clear that he intended to take over and formally swallow the ruling power of the Sand Port Region...

However, this idea was quickly extinguished as soon as it flashed through his mind.

Compared to separatist forces, it would be easier to cooperate with various cities in the form of a company. As long as they could establish a large enough interest alliance, the company could fully act as the shadow force behind cities without bearing direct pressure, which would be more conducive to promoting the development and transformation of the region.

Although the misunderstanding this time was quite big and not easy to smooth over... Lord Sha Hai could still be saved.

Jade City extended its iron arm, grabbing the dying injured man, and Zhou Yi also jumped onto the steel hand, returning to the top floor with Lord Sha Hai. On the rooftop, Zhou Yi changed into the sportswear hanging there before carrying Lord Sha Hai back to 3101.

The High-rise Giant began to return at full speed.

The severely injured Lord Sha Hai lay on the sofa, coughing up blood from his mouth, his eyes unfocused, appearing to be in a bad state.

The other two people in the room fell into silence.

Qian Su sat on the side, blankly watching Lord Sha Hai coughing up blood.

Zheng Tao was frowning, seemingly deep in thought.

Zhou Yi was at that moment quickly communicating with Red Kestrel.

"Its life signs have become very weak, and its energy is rapidly decaying."

"The life signals of the body are further diminishing."

Red Kestrel suggested, "Zhou, input some energy into it to maintain the operation of its consciousness."

Zhou Yi did so immediately.

Energy was input bit by bit.

Lord Sha Hai's unfocused eyes suddenly snapped back to life.

"You… you…"

Its claws firmly grasped Zhou Yi's arm.

But it seemed to have difficulty speaking.

So Zhou Yi tried to communicate with it by matching their consciousness, "It will be easier to talk this way, Lord Sha Hai."

"Is this... a direct conversation on the level of consciousness?"

The other party was somewhat surprised.

Zhou Yi seriously relayed a story he had just concocted, "Lord Sha Hai, listen to me, I am Zhou Yi, the chairman of Wasteland Development Company. Alongside Jade City, I was originally here to pay a friendly visit to Sand Port City to discuss cooperation with you."

"But when I arrived outside the city, suddenly some mysterious force took control of my body. I suffered from strong spiritual interference and control, and then I couldn't control my body... When I regained my senses, I found myself like this."

Whether Lord Sha Hai believed him, Zhou Yi could not be sure.

He tried his best to fabricate the story.

"..."

…

This situation confused Lord Sha Hai as well.

His physical body was severely damaged and near death. If it were not for the person in front of him continuously feeding energy into him, he would be entering that perilous life-review state... He felt his mind turning slower than it ever had.

What had happened before?

Lord Sha Hai struggled to recall.

Right.

There was an attack.

Mechanical thugs had been roaming around the outskirts of Sand Port City for a long time, posing great pressure on the residents who went out to labor.

They attacked transport teams delivering goods from Oasis Town, Green Onion Town, and Chicken Head Town, though they never confronted Guangna Species warriors head-on. As soon as Tianjin Knights and Sand Port Guards arrived, they would quickly flee into the Dead Sea.

These mechanical thugs had a clear target: to attack and intimidate humans. However, they were too fast and difficult to capture and kill.

Even the sea lord couldn't ensure that every piece of the sea area was constantly under his watch.

Lord Sha Hai had sent guards multiple times to encircle and intercept them, but not only did they let them escape, they also suffered attacks from Sea Horse Shooters lying in ambush on the sea floor — further proof that this was a planned and backed intimidation action.

On the other hand, the Red Monster also came out from the Dead Sea to loiter around the towns, putting tremendous pressure on the locals and significantly affecting their breeding, planting, and excavating work.

Even though the main person behind the scenes hadn't made any public stance, Lord Sha Hai knew who it was.

Duke Baili.

The Sand Port Region bordered the northwestern Steel Refining City, which was the territory of Duke Baili. They were separated only by the not-so-wide Dead Sea Strait, with a direct distance of only 270 kilometers—a journey that could be completed within a day.

Duke Baili's comprehensive strength was much stronger than his own.

Steel Refining City and Shell City, which were under his control, were manufacturing cities producing a large amount of steel, shells, and related processed goods for export. However, due to a lack of accumulation and planning in the agricultural sector, he relied heavily on external imports to fill the food gap, causing prices to remain high.

This also made it difficult for surrounding towns to operate, leading to a slow increase in the human population, which was very dependent on migration for growth. Unlike Sand Port City, which was agriculture-based, a stable situation there meant that the population could naturally grow.

Before, Duke Baili approached Lord Sha Hai twice.

The first time, he wanted to buy Oasis Town, which produced the most mushrooms, to solve his food issue.

Lord Sha Hai, of course, refused.

The second time, he condemned the transgression issue of the transportation ships from the Sand Port Region, claiming they were using goods like chicken meat, papyrus, and beans to invade and plunder the territories of surrounding sea lords. He demanded that Lord Sha Hai compensate the nearby three sea lords with 15,000 Light Seeds.

Lord Sha Hai refused once again.

Duke Baili used this as a pretext to blockade the northern area, forcing the transportation ships from the Sand Port Region to take a detour from the west or east to enter other cities in the north, further increasing costs.

He had long coveted the Sand Port Region.

That winter, Lord Sha Hai was extremely vigilant, stationing guards along the northwest line of the Dead Sea, facing constant small-scale harassment.

But as soon as winter ended, Duke Baili suddenly made his move.

First, maritime transportation ships were sunk and plundered, followed by continuous attacks on the towns by the Guangna Species. Then, Mechanical Thugs began to appear in groups, running wild throughout the territory—they were equipped with Light Imprint weapons and their strafing had already resulted in the deaths of 15 guards and nearly a hundred injuries.

Lord Sha Hai had secretly laid an ambush this time, aiming to wipe out this band of roving thugs in one fell swoop.

At a critical moment, he entered a battle stance, aiming to deliver a fatal blow.

Only then did he see Jade City coming head-on, struck by Zhou Yi with such a blow that it left him dizzy. Had his Vitality not been strong enough, he would have died on the spot.

Lord Sha Hai racked his brains but couldn't figure out why he had taken that punch.

He hadn't provoked the Wasteland Development Company, had he?

On the contrary, he had always been trying to woo this suddenly-emerged mysterious powerhouse.

Yet the fact was, he had nearly been killed by the other party.

It was utterly incomprehensible.

Reality was always so hard to fathom.

"...That's the situation," Zhou Yi narrated the reasons while tending to his own wounds.

Lord Sha Hai thought.

It made no sense for Zhou Yi to have almost killed him and then saved him.

There was only one possibility.

Duke Baili must have used some ability or device that could interfere with the minds of powerful individuals, causing Zhou Yi to lose control and go into a rampage for a short time.

Wait a second.

If the one controlled just now hadn't been Zhou Yi, who happened to be there, but himself... then he would have wrought tremendous destruction upon Sand Port City, which lay within arm's reach, and the stable situation years in the making would have been destroyed in an instant.

What a vicious tactic!

Thinking about it, Lord Sha Hai felt sweat drench his back and experienced a suffocating feeling.

"It was Duke Baili, Mr. Zhou, we must not be provoked by his schemes."

He pleaded earnestly, "Mr. Zhou, I understand your situation; Duke Baili is targeting not just me, but also you. The current situation is quite dangerous; we face a formidable external enemy..."

"If you understand, that's good," the other party seemed to sigh with relief, "And who is this Duke Baili?"

Lord Sha Hai gave him a description.

"...Duke Baili himself is very powerful, with two B-level strength deputies, and commands a formidable army composed of various forces including thorny birds, Red-eyed Vultures, Sea Horse Shooters, illusion fish, and sea warriors. He rules over two cities, five towns, and two ports. In terms of military strength and logistical financial power, he surpasses me."

"He lacks a populace, requiring humans to engage in mining and steel refining, as well as shell breeding and processing. A major purpose of Duke Baili's war is to plunder people to replenish his territory—he covets the 40,000 residents of the Sand Port Region."

"My situation may not last."

"Mr. Zhou, if I die, please lead Sand Port City and stop Duke Baili at all costs!"

Lord Sha Hai prepared for the worst.

If you want me dead, then nobody gets to live.

Duke Baili, your next opponent will be an Alien! I will make you bleed rivers!

Lord Sha Hai thought bitterly in his heart.

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