Zhang Zhi's usually wooden face now showed an expression of disbelief: "You... you want to remove all the proxies?"

Zhou Yi smiled: "It's not about killing them all."

He thought to himself, the old king over at Star Axis cooperates very well with the company. He doesn't usually cause trouble.

This is the model of an ideal proxy.

"It's just that as the company develops further, some of these proxies are bound to become roadblocks, creating all sorts of problems and hindrances for the company, even causing significant losses."

"So my thought is, if proxies follow the order and be reasonable, naturally, there would be no conflict, and we can all cooperate and discuss things."

"But if not."

Zhou Yi's smile faded: "Then the capable shall take their place."

Across from him, Song Xian looked horrified.

However, Zhang Zhi's eyes glowed with excitement: "Such grandeur!"

"No wonder the Wasteland Development Company has reached its current position; it seems we indeed have a foundation for cooperation."

"How does Mr. Zhou propose we cooperate?"

"Do you intend to use our Freedom Army as a blade traditionally, or stage a play for the public like the Heavenly Kingdom?"

Zhou Yi shook his head: "Wasteland Development Company doesn't do that."

"Since we are cooperating, we will announce our relationship to the public."

"Doesn't your Freedom Army have Stone Shedding? Just supply it to us long-term, name your price."

It was evident that Zhang Zhi had anticipated this, and he responded directly: "Our price is 10 Light Seeds per piece."

Zhou Yi did a quick calculation.

It takes 8 pieces of Stone Shedding to form a reactor, which means the special energy structure costs 80 Light Seeds each.

The electricity it provides is roughly equivalent to 260 2nd Generation Floating Hearts running at full power, supplying continuous energy and heat for 80 years.

The price of one 2nd Generation Floating Heart is 14 Light Seeds; calculated by efficiency, 260 pieces equal 520 Light Seeds... so a Stone Shedding Reactor's current value is about this figure.

10 Light Seeds is very cheap!

"Alright."

Seeing Zhou Yi readily agree to the price,

Zhang Zhi continued: "Currently, we can ensure an annual supply of 1000 pieces to the company."

Zhou Yi immediately realized that Zhang Zhi and his team must have a way to manufacture or search for Stone Shedding.

"Too few."

Zhou Yi looked at him: "This year, our company will purchase 3000 pieces first."

Zhang Zhi didn't mince words: "Alright. 10% deposit upfront, the goods delivered in three batches, 1000 pieces per batch. After each delivery, payment is settled, with the last settlement deducting the deposit."

"Deal."

The two sides were straightforward and quickly finalized the cooperation.

Zhou Yi had Yuan Xiao serve everyone tea, celebrating the successful partnership.

Zhang Zhi lifted his porcelain teacup, took a small sip of the hot tea: "I wonder if Mr. Zhou is interested in doing business with Heavenly Pearls?"

Heavenly Pearls?

They are an Outer Sea specialty, artificial consciousness products bought by Skywalkers from Firewood Mound.

Zhou Yi synchronized his consciousness and said to the people in the study: "Liang Zi, come out for a moment."

The study door opened.

Liang Zi walked out, still dressed in a nun's habit, with a serene expression.

Zhou Yi said: "This is Liang Zi, Minister of the Company's Outer Sea Affairs Department. She is familiar with Heavenly Pearls."

"Please advise," Liang Zi said politely.

Zhang Zhi responded courteously.

He continued: "I once roamed the Outer Sea, looking for a way for mutants. Compared to the restricted Inner Sea, the Outer Sea is much more unrestricted, with many opportunities."

"Over there, I participated in the exploration and collection of Firewood Mound with an excavation team, digging and polishing Light Ice, and even engaged in battles with atmospheric creatures. I was involved in the construction and maintenance of Cloud Mountain... I basically did all the work over there to understand the situation on the ground."

"Gradually, I discovered some tricks and found a way to classify and select Heavenly Pearls."

Zhou Yi didn't understand this last part at all.

Liang Zi explained through synchronized consciousness: "Chairman, Heavenly Pearls are processed products from Firewood Mound. In the Outer Sea, when a relatively complete Firewood Mound is found, its occupier will cut it up, using special glass bead-like containers to store the extracted consciousness, which are the Heavenly Pearls."

"This ensures that the entire Firewood Mound can be used for consciousness currency transactions. Heavenly Pearls cannot be directly observed; they can only be read after breaking the shell, and will naturally dissipate upon reading, making them single-use. You might buy something useful, or something completely worthless; it's like a lottery."

"Zhang Zhi can classify Heavenly Pearls recording large amounts of consciousness information, enhancing their value by several times. This can reduce a lot of ineffective and surplus expenditures."

Zhou Yi understood.

It's like buying Firewood Mound in bulk, breaking it down into individual blind boxes that people have to buy along with the useless consciousness information.

The Heavenly Pearl mechanism ensures it's read-once-and-burn, preventing resale.

Zhang Zhi mastering the technology to sort Heavenly Pearls is akin to fine-tuning resources to meet buyers' specific needs accurately.

In a sense, it breaks open the forced bundling of sales.

Zhou Yi wondered, "Who came up with the Heavenly Pearls?"

"The technology came from Mirror City."

Liang Zi said: "It's actually a type of Intercepting Mirror called 'Sky Traveling Ball Mirror,' which blocks Skywalkers' investigations. Modified for storing Firewood Mound consciousness."

Zhou Yi suddenly remembered.

The 403 agreement stated Mechanical City is responsible for surveying and capturing Firewood Mound, and it's normal that they provide the technology for Heavenly Pearls.

Needless to say,

The consumable Heavenly Pearl containers alone bring significant annual revenue to Mirror City.

Mirror City provides the pickaxes, ropes, and shoes to gold seekers, ensuring a profit.

"All the Cloud Mountains are filled with Heavenly Pearls upon purchase, and although the contents cannot be observed specifically, there are corresponding devices to verify the authenticity of the Firewood Mound information inside. So there's no need to worry about fraud or forgery."

Liang Zi continued: "Zhang Zhi's mastery likely relates to his ability. Current technology doesn't include a device capable of this classification, which doesn't align with maximizing sellers' benefits."

"The Freedom Army's significant Stone Shedding reserves might also be linked to this ability."

...

Zhou Yi let Liang Zi and Zhang Zhi discuss the Heavenly Pearl business.

He didn't understand this area, so he refrained from speaking.

Zhou Yi and Song Xian moved to another corner: "I heard you and Mr. Zhang are sworn brothers?"

The long-haired young man nodded: "He's my eldest brother. I was buried alive by a group of Sea People on a deserted island, and he saved my life."

"Offended the Sea People Gang?"

"No, I offended others, and the Sea People were just hired to deal with me."

Song Xian spoke as if recounting someone else's story, casually: "It was actually during the Star Axis' evaluation. We candidates had to compete, and one guy chose to target me. It's a simple and effective method; eliminating a competitor gives a better chance."

"Didn't Star Axis intervene?"

"No."

Song Xian took a sip of tea: "This was part of the test too, to survive competition and meet evaluation criteria. I was lucky to meet my elder brother."

"No wonder you're not a mutant."

Zhou Yi nodded.

Song Xian is a typical enhancer, with the glowing part on his right ear, indicating that's his enhanced organ.

"Mr. Zhou, actually there are three of us brothers."

Song Xian introduced willingly: "Eldest brother is Zhang Zhi, second brother is He Qiang, and I'm the youngest. Sadly, Wu Gang died many years ago, and eldest brother misses him a lot... If he were still alive, Wu Gang would be the eldest."

"He Qiang?"

Zhou Yi immediately thought: "The one who acquired Fanyun City?"

"Yes, that's second brother."

Song Xian smiled: "Second brother is also an enhancer. He was a professional marksman, but in a battle, his hands were severed and couldn't be repaired, so he got prostheses. This ended his career, and he became an earth official."

"He excels in business and timing, a marksman must seize fleeting opportunities. So, he bought Fanyun City when prices were low."

Zhou Yi understood: "So Fanyun City is actually owned by the Freedom Army, with He Qiang as the nominal holder."

"You could say that."

"We weren't planning to hide this from you; you could find out if you investigated."

It was clear from the start that Song Xian was prepared to disclose all this information.

"You joined the Freedom Army to help Zhang Zhi?"

"Not exactly."

Song Xian seriously said: "Eldest brother can adapt and will never abandon his people. Even in the toughest times, he didn't give up on the old, weak, sick, and disabled mutants who came to him. Many were rejects from various experiments. The Freedom Army exists because of eldest brother; everyone follows him willingly."

"That's why the Freedom Army is different from other rebel groups. Despite numerous defeats, mutants from all over continue to join."

"Second brother and I believe eldest brother can achieve great things."

"I don't think anyone else could contend with proxies, but eldest brother makes us believe... maybe the ant can actually topple the elephant."

Song Xian scratched his head: "With enough ants entering the elephant, finding its weakest spots such as mouth, nose, and ears, this seemingly unequal fight could turn..."

"With your support, our chances are even better."

Zhou Yi's eyes flickered.

No wonder Zhang Zhi asked earlier if the elderly, disabled, and talentless mutants were important.

Victory may not tilt towards him because of this, but hearts and minds would.

This cohesion was something Zhou Yi hadn't seen in other cities.

"If only Wu Gang were alive."

Song Xian sighed: "His 'Borrowing Power' could consolidate the ants' strength, rivaling the Light Core Body. That's why the Heavenly People targeted him... he couldn't survive."

"That guy is still watching the Freedom Army, our biggest threat and enemy."

Zhou Yi asked: "Who's the proxy watching you?"

"Ranked fourth among the proxies, targeting mutants. Talented ones mysteriously disappear, get killed. He's probably monitoring us now..."

Song Xian looked outside the window, a hint of bitterness in his voice: "Sadly, we can't find his exact identity."

Through Cat God, Zhou Yi contacted Canghai Jun.

Moments later,

Zhou Yi looked at his companion: "Found him. Proxy number four, real name Wang Fengwu, lives in Fangcao Town, loves gardening, and dislikes gambling and drunks."

Song Xian was stunned: "That... that quickly?"

"That's the company's efficiency."

Zhou Yi said flatly.

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