Zhou Yi gathered his thoughts and turned back to the first core question.

"Are you willing to join the company and become one of us?"

The Dead Sea Lord gazed straight ahead: "You rescued me from the Evil Brain, which, in every sense, warrants this response. After I was locked away and went missing, a new Weaver Lord must have taken my place. Technically, I retired due to an irresistible force. However…"

"I have a question."

"Please speak."

"Is your target the Heavenly People?"

Zhou Yi nodded: "The Heavenly People use this world and its life forms as experimental subjects. I want to try to transform them too."

Currently, the Heavenly People have revealed two weaknesses.

The first is the confirmed existence of deadly weapons against them on the Moon and Jupiter. The Moon's weapons are operational.

The second is that the Heavenly People focus solely on the material side and do not interfere with the consciousness side at all, which reveals something.

One can pinpoint the coordinates of every consciousness easily using the Great Holy Spirit, yet the Heavenly People refrain from doing so, instead delegating the collection work to the surrogate. This suggests a physiological limitation preventing them from touching or using the consciousness side.

Developing the consciousness side or further extraterrestrial expansion and refinement of weapons against the Heavenly People are both viable options.

The Black Emperor chose the consciousness development route, attracting the surrogate's scrutiny and assassination.

The path for extraterrestrial development is unobstructed.

It does not directly conflict with the surrogate's interests and is sufficiently secretive.

Zhou Yi's words made the Dead Sea Lord's eyes glimmer.

"Among the beings we've encountered, there is no shortage of ambitious individuals. But even the Black Emperor only speaks of preserving the Spark for a future opportunity to rebel."

"Facing the power of the Heavenly People brings about despair."

"You are the first in history to dare to consider them as prey."

He quickly returned to his calm demeanor: "If you intend to transform the Heavenly People, you cannot avoid the surrogate group. How will you deal with their inevitable obstruction, suppression, or even destruction?"

Zhou Yi deduced.

The other was testing his strategic plan.

He then chose not to hide: "Win over those who can be won over, try to keep the neutral ones neutral, and if we encounter staunch opposition, eliminate them early on. There will always be someone to take the surrogate's position."

The Dead Sea Lord looked at Zhou Yi: "If the obstructer is the Star Axis with whom you closely cooperate, would you eliminate it?"

"I don't know how the old king became a surrogate."

Zhou Yi said: "But I can confirm that becoming a surrogate is likely not the goal but a means. The Star Axis's true goal is extraterrestrial space development…"

The other insisted: "If you have an irreconcilable conflict, how will you resolve it?"

This returned to the company's previous relationship with Mechanical City.

They had a honeymoon period of cooperation, followed by potential conflicts of interest leading to a hostile phase.

The difference was that Zhou Yi now had long-term experience in confrontation and a brand-new solution.

"Since it represents the interests of the Heavenly People, why not become a Heavenly Person myself?"

The originally unflappable Dead Sea Lord's face stiffened, then his pupils contracted sharply.

"This… You have a way to become a Heavenly Person?"

Zhou Yi smiled faintly: "So, would you like to join our company?"

The Dead Sea Lord's gaze changed from before.

No longer as an elder watching a younger person.

The fierce ambition that had been frozen by cruel reality seemed to reignite, his gaze becoming ardent.

"There has never been a precedent of a Weaver Lord joining another group…"

"But I've decided to take the risk and break this convention."

"The Dead Sea Lord is willing to join the company and serve you."

He stood up and bowed.

Zhou Yi let out a long breath.

Convincing this former Dream Demon ruler was truly not easy.

"Welcome aboard."

He extended his hand for a handshake: "As long as you perform well enough, I will try to push you to become a Heavenly Person. This is naturally very difficult but not impossible."

"Thank you, Chairman!!"

The Dead Sea Lord's eyes flashed with a glimmer: "I will exhaust all my efforts for the company to pursue the Heavenly Person transformation strategy."

After discussing with Da Vinci, Zhou Yi appointed the Dead Sea Lord as the Director of the Spiritual Consciousness Department.

In the public information, he was introduced as a handsome and talented doctor newly recruited by the company, specializing in treating consciousness domains and possessing special hypnotic treatment techniques.

Additionally, the Dead Sea Lord served as the company's consciousness advisor, responsible for research topics involving the Great Holy Spirit, consciousness side, Concept Life, consciousness entities, and dreams.

Apart from Sun Huai, who was of the same race, the Book-eating Demon quickly became acquainted with the Dead Sea Lord.

She had been searching for this group of behind-the-scenes rulers and finally got to meet the true ruler, bombarding him with questions every day.

The Dead Sea Lord exhibited great patience and answered as much as possible, highly praising the Book-eating Demon's "Book of All Living Beings."

The two frequently discussed the collection and use of consciousness fragments. This field had few researchers in the company, and their discussions often sparked inspiration.

This led to a small problem: Chen Yin frequently accompanied the Dead Sea Lord to his office, causing numerous hospital rumors.

Her husband, Xiao Chu, was troubled by this for quite a while.

...

Two days later.

Message came from Da Vinci that the sea monkey Sha Lang had fully recovered post-surgery. It wanted to leave the hospital and return to the Western Continent.

Zhou Yi asked Yuan Xiao to invite it to Jade City.

"Have you considered staying?"

Zhou Yi sincerely said: "You demonstrated great courage and responsibility by aiding the Big Buddha at a crucial moment, qualities our company highly values. If you prefer living in the Western Continent, you could join our Flower Town office; the April Club needs people there too."

Sitting on the sofa, the sea monkey looked apprehensive.

It hesitated a bit and said: "Thank you very much for appreciating me. I helped the Big Buddha because it saved my life. I still prefer the freedom of living in the Dead Sea…"

"You prefer living in the sea people society, right?"

Zhou Yi saw through it.

Sha Lang nodded.

It's the nature of sea people. They prefer life in the Dead Sea, enjoying their communal environment. Consequently, many sea lords' attempts to forcefully restructure sea people into city life failed predominantly.

Zhou Yi respected its wish: "Of course, that's fine."

This statement relaxed Sha Lang's body.

It scratched the hair on its head with its paw, showing an embarrassed smile: "Mr. Zhou, honestly, life here is very convenient. Meals are delivered to the ward, and I can order food. During the days I couldn't move, Maria Nurse No. 9 helped me up daily, cleaned my body, and walked me around."

"The hospital's doctors and nurses were very kind to me. I have never lived in a place like this; it felt like a very long dream…"

"After I return, it might take a long time to adjust back to life there."

Zhou Yi smiled and said: "Cities have their conveniences, but the Dead Sea has fewer rules, giving you more freedom, each has its pros and cons."

"You're right."

Zhou Yi asked: "Are there many sea people in the Dead Sea?"

"Many."

Sha Lang thought for a moment: "Whether East Continent or Western Continent, the Dead Sea has a large number of sea people. According to Mechanical City's statistics, the total number of sea people in the Dead Sea exceeds 14 million, which is quite a significant figure."

Zhou Yi was somewhat surprised.

There are actually tens of millions of sea people.

He couldn't help but be curious: "Have the sea people ever considered building some sea floor cities or countries?"

"They wouldn't do that."

Sha Lang scratched his ear fur: "Sea people are different from land inhabitants; we live in "gangs."

"We need to hunt around, compete for territory, eliminate surrounding hazardous groups, rob and collect protection fees, and also take on bounty jobs from various forces… We are used to this way of occupying different territories."

"Good areas can collect more protection fees. For instance, some city ships pay for disaster avoidance, causing frequent disputes among sea people groups."

"Most regions in the Dead Sea have sea people, but different groups have different styles, and we don't provoke top forces. Entities like the company are untouchable… I heard that Cat侠 has already taken out several groups."

They follow a localized violent gang model.

Zhou Yi thought.

Developing the Dead Sea by aligning with sea people groups is necessary.

These Dead Sea local authorities can provide a wealth of underwater information, with the Dead Sea being a complex and changing domain untouched by satellites.

To survey and plan for the Dead Sea, gaining these natives' assistance will be immensely beneficial.

Zhou Yi asked: "If the sea people gangs were to cooperate with the company, would they be interested?"

Sha Lang was stunned: "You mean, have the gangs submit to the company?"

"It's mutually beneficial cooperation."

Zhou Yi corrected: "The company needs information about various parts of the Dead Sea, such as the remnants of old human cities and natural disasters in each area, identifying zones with dangerous high-level Guangna Species, and which areas are safe…"

"Just pay."

Sha Lang said: "With the company's financial strength, offering Light Seeds will ensure all sea people gangs will serve you."

Zhou Yi pondered.

Paying Light Seeds is the simplest way.

But it's not enough.

There needs to be a more solid connection of interests to ensure the sea people genuinely work for the company.

"What do sea people lack the most?"

"Light Seeds."

Sha Lang thought for a moment: "And hospitals. Due to frequent conflicts, we have many wounded, though we recover quickly, we still have many disabilities and deaths from severe injuries."

"Hospitals willing to accept sea people are few; only a handful of black clinics accept us at high fees, and their techniques are usually poor, causing frequent medical accidents and disappearances."

"Aside from treating severe injuries, one more issue is difficulty in raising offspring."

It scratched its head: "Though we reproduce more easily than most Guangna Species, newborns are much weaker and die easily early on."

Zhou Yi had an idea: "Our company's Maria Hospital can provide treatment for the wounded, assist in sea people births, and offer special high-effect foods from the Gluttonous Duke for sea people infants."

Sha Lang was stunned: "That would be much desired… The company offers such good conditions?"

"Benefits and responsibilities are equal. The partnership model I envision is labor outsourcing, with designated sea people gangs collecting information and scouting talent and resources for the company."

Zhou Yi looked at the little monkey before him: "Sha Lang, if you're willing to run this matter, I'll pay you 500 Light Seeds per gang you settle. We'll start with ten gangs and see how it works."

Sha Lang immediately thumped his chest: "This is a great deal for the sea people too, leave it to me! Mr. Zhou, I will certainly make this happen."

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