Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 1928: Ye Zhongming's condition and Star-Eye Clan's gift
Previously on Apocalypse Gachapon...
"Don't get the wrong idea. It's not like I believe Miss Aslan is unworthy, and I harbor no ill will toward the Star-Eye Clan either. The truth is, back on my home world, I already have someone I love."
Ye Zhongming paid no mind to whether the myriad races of the cosmos grasped his words, simply offering a casual shrug toward the pair displaying contrasting reactions.
Cheng Liujin eased up a touch. Provided Ye Zhongming wasn't upset, everything remained under control.
His rise to Gold Order Leader status, even confined to the Star-Eye Clan alone, proved Cheng Liujin's sharp insight and thorough approach to dilemmas.
Unlike Aslan, who leaped into action the moment she assumed she'd weighed all angles.
In Cheng Liujin's eyes, Aslan's recent proposal smacked of impulsive choice.
Cheng Liujin understood well that the Star-Eye Clan's endurance outweighed all else in Aslan's mind. Thus, her choice struck her as a profound offering. Keeping Ye Zhongming around meant she'd essentially yield half the clan's power to him.
Yet Cheng Liujin recognized that perspectives shouldn't stem from personal biases. What one values deeply may not resonate the same with others.
Having claimed the top spot in the fiercest Novice battlefield with an unprecedented score, could Ye Zhongming possibly be naive? Blind to the circumstances? To Aslan, the Star-Eye Clan embodied the heavens, the lands, and all existence, yet to him? It served merely as a launchpad. Should he honor your favor, that spoke to his character. If not, a token repayment followed by shifting focus elsewhere would be entirely expected.
Moreover, recall that they'd only moments ago demanded nearly half his points, and then Aslan burst forth, declaring her intent to wed him while pledging half the Star-Eye Clan's eventual sovereignty. The kind-hearted might see it as hasty amends. The wary could suspect a staged ploy, an empty promise!This young one possessed resolve, duty, drive, and readiness to give up much—qualities priming her for leading the Star-Eye Clan someday. However... her youth betrayed her.
Trades of benefit truly governed the world. Still, one had to gauge the landscape accurately.
"Young miss, kindly step outside for now."
Under normal circumstances, Cheng Liujin, this status-conscious Gold Order Leader, would never address Aslan so curtly. Yet in this pivotal instant, he couldn't risk her uttering more, lest the girl blurt something reckless and truly provoke Ye Zhongming's ire.
"Zhongming and I have further matters to cover."
As he uttered this, he assumed an elder's demeanor, proceeding to the tent flap to hold it open for Aslan, while lightly tapping her shoulder with a subtle press.
Aslan had planned to voice more, but Cheng Liujin's gesture silenced her.
She recognized him as the steadfast ally of her parents, utterly reliable. If he barred her from speaking, valid grounds surely existed.
Once Aslan departed, Cheng Liujin reclaimed his seat, offered a sheepish grin, and remarked, "The girl lacks full maturity yet. Her zeal to aid the Star-Eye Clan rushes her too much."
Ye Zhongming gave a nod of understanding. This small episode stirred no resentment in him toward Aslan or her clan.
In her, he glimpsed echoes of Xia Bai, though without that wild intensity.
"On those points you raised, I'm willing to relinquish them. That said, beyond your outlined terms, I've got additional proposals."
Cheng Liujin's gaze sparked with interest. He welcomed Ye Zhongming's demands; what worried him was the man departing without any. This promised a solid foundation.
"Go ahead, share them."
Ye Zhongming wasted no time, laying out his terms as they aligned with his plans.
"For that pardon authority, I'd like the clan's aid in applying it—swapping it for amnesty toward a member of another species, or granting it outright to a group of my choosing."
Cheng Liujin had anticipated as much, showing no astonishment and promptly consenting. This posed little challenge.
"As for the entry passes, I claim them all. Plus, I seek one representative slot and every benefit it yields. I'll acquire this slot via points or Moonspan Gold."
Such a demand proved challenging.
A single representative slot could be spared, leaving the Star-Eye Clan with four. They held one spare entry pass too. Reclaiming the one pledged to outsiders, however, complicated matters.
This explained Ye Zhongming's emphasis on recompense. Pure extraction from the Star-Eye Clan without return wouldn't fly.
Cheng Liujin held off on replying, pondering silently before stating, "We can manage it. Swap one of our representative slots for the allocated entry pass—they ought to accept."
The Gold Order Leader stopped there, omitting any cost, clearly prepared to absorb the shortfall personally.
This nudged Ye Zhongming's favor toward him higher still.
"The points deducted from me—I insist they convert to Moonspan Gold at the standard external rate."
This stipulation struck Cheng Liujin as demanding. Not from reluctance to approve, but the clan lacked sufficient Moonspan Gold on hand. Even if available, handing it over in full to Ye Zhongming immediately would disrupt routine clan functions.
"I won't demand instant payout from the clan. Deliver it in installments once the representative slot starts producing gains."
Cheng Liujin nodded at once, affirming no issue. In that moment, he solidified his certainty that Ye Zhongming intended to remain with the Star-Eye Clan.
"Additionally, regarding the clan's trading discount perk, I desire twenty percent of the gap between full price and the reduced rate."
Hm? Cheng Liujin's eyes tightened. This term diverged curiously. The clan had deemed the discount low-yield; why pursue the margin so earnestly unless Ye Zhongming foresaw boosting the Star-Eye Clan's commerce?
Should he succeed, even diverting one-fifth of those savings to Ye Zhongming would profit the clan overall. Thus, Cheng Liujin mulled it briefly before consenting.
"Lastly, the planetary battlefield's launch timing falls under clan discretion, correct? I request control over setting that schedule."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Liujin hesitated briefly, then rose swiftly, offering his hand to Ye Zhongming—an Earth custom he knew.
"So, we're agreed?"
"Agreed!"
Their grip sealed it: Ye Zhongming now fully aligned with the Star-Eye Clan.
Just as they believed the negotiations concluded, none foresaw Cheng Liujin's abrupt smile as he retrieved an item from his storage and passed it to Ye Zhongming.
"Consider this the Star-Eye Clan's present to you. Or more aptly, a duty and weight to carry."
Noting Cheng Liujin's grave tone, Ye Zhongming peered into the ornate case with intrigue. Nestled within lay a stunning mask, radiating timeless grandeur and solemnity.
"Starting now, we join forces..."
"Welcome aboard, Bronze Order Leader, Lord Ye Zhongming."