Chapter 33
Three-way Threat
After three days of development, Ning Shi was able to cast order in Blood Crime Street.
To maintain order, 200 tribal warriors were more than enough. The rest of the warriors were driven to the wilderness by Ning Shi to hunt magical beasts and gain experience.
These few days, Ning Shi was like a bug in the game. He did not have to do anything but his experience points kept increasing. His current experience points had increased to 600,000. It was expected that he could level up again later today.
Killing Gru, scaring off the Wild Lion Knights, and ruling over Blood Crime Street, this series of actions brought Ning Shi greater fame and his reputation kept increasing.
His avatar’s reputation reached 1623/2234 (rather famous).
When his reputation reached 2200, the game’s main storyline mission appeared.
[Reputation reached 2200, triggering Main Storyline Mission 2: Recruit 2 followers and 2000 servants.]
Ning Shi was considering whether to recruit some random people to complete the main storyline mission quickly, or to stick to the high-quality route.
Amy walked in hurriedly.
“Boss! The president of the Brad Bloodline Chamber of Commerce as well as the rotating president of Duohuang Chamber of Commerce, Lord Hilker, is leading the members of Duohuang Chamber of Commerce to visit.”
Ning Shi smiled when he heard Amy’s report.
“They’re not friendly. Please ask them to meet me in the meeting hall.”
Amy looked anxious. She suggested sincerely, “Boss, do you want to go out and welcome them? After all, Duohuang Chamber of Commerce is the nominal manager of Duohuang City. We can’t offend them too much.”
Ning Shi sat on the tiger-skin chair in peace. He waved his hand. “It’s already good enough to invite them in. They are here to interrogate us. They won’t appreciate our courtesy no matter how respectful we are.”
Amy didn’t dare to argue with her boss, so she left obediently.
A moment later, a burly man in a yellow robe led a group of people into the meeting hall.
The man’s eyes were long and narrow, his nose was curved like an eagle’s and his face was full of flesh. He looked extremely vicious and didn’t have the temperament of a businessman at all.
Instead, he looked like a butcher who slaughtered pigs and cows.
“I am the president of Duohuang Chamber of Commerce, a noble of the golden lion bloodline, Hilker. We are meeting for the first time. It seems that Lord Ning Shi doesn’t really welcome me?”
Although he had already guessed his identity, Ning Shi still wanted to ridicule Hilker’s appearance.
Couldn’t they find a refined and easy-going person to be the president of the chamber of commerce?
However, thinking about how this was Duohuang, where trade was flourishing yet there was only chaos and no order, the president of the chamber of commerce did not seem to need to know how to do business. It was more important for the individual to be strong enough so that he could intimidate all kinds of unruly powerhouses in Duohuang.
With this in mind, it was very reasonable for Hilker to have the appearance of a boorish man.
“President Hilker, I don’t like to beat around the bush. There’s no need to be polite. What is your purpose in coming here? Let’s get straight to the point.”
Seeing that Ning Shi was so impolite, it was fine if he did not go out to welcome them, but when he and the others came in, he still sat at the head of the table without a word of courtesy.
The muscles on Hilker’s face trembled a few times.
“According to the rules of Duohuang, since the extreme battle group has become the ruler of the Blood Crime Street, they must join Duohuang Chamber of Commerce. Three days have passed, why hasn’t Lord Ning Shi come to the chamber of commerce to register?”
“Do you want to make an enemy of all the chambers of commerce in Duohuang?”
This Hilker was really good at putting the blame on others. Ning Shi continued to sit on the chair and said indifferently.
“Our extreme battle group is just a mercenary group, not a chamber of commerce. Why do we have to join Duohuang Chamber of Commerce? If the extreme battle group is accepted as a member of Duohuang Chamber of Commerce, then it’s not a chamber of commerce. We might as well change the name to Duohuang Council.”
In terms of sophistry, Ning Shi was not weak at all. He continued, “Moreover, when did Duohuang have such a rule that the street ruler must join the chamber of commerce?”
The street ruler joining the chamber of commerce was Duohuang’s unspoken rule. There was no explicit rule. After so many years, everyone had followed this unspoken rule.
The unspoken rule was just the tacit understanding of the vested interest groups. It could not be put on the table. Even if Ning Shi said so, Hilker could not find any fault with it.
Ever since Hilker became the rotating president of the chamber of commerce, he had been in contact with the leaders of the major chambers of commerce. He had always been respected in Duohuang, and wherever he went, he would always be the object of flattery, he had never met a hothead like Ning Shi.
He stared at Ning Shi coldly.
“Duohuang City didn’t specify this rule, but Duohuang Chamber of Commerce did. In the declaration of the establishment of Duohuang Chamber of Commerce, it was clearly stated that street rulers must join Duohuang Chamber of Commerce.”
Ning Shi laughed, stood up from his seat, and walked down the steps.
“Ridiculous, this is too ridiculous. According to the declaration, members of the chamber of commerce should manage their internal affairs. I’m not a member of the chamber of commerce, so why should I abide by the declaration of the establishment of Duohuang Chamber of Commerce?”
Hilker was momentarily speechless. Seeing this situation, an elven beauty beside him stepped forward and took over the conversation.
“Lord Ning Shi, we are not here to argue with you. We are here to inform you that taxation is not allowed in Duohuang. From now on, stop your taxation immediately or you will bear the consequences.”
The elf was very beautiful, but her tone was as cold as ice.
“This is?” Ning Shi asked.
“She is the president of the Forest Night Song Chamber of Commerce, Snow Mist. What she said represented the entire Duohuang Chamber of Commerce.”
Hilker reacted and answered Ning Shi’s question.
This elf was less than 1.5 meters tall and petite. On her left arm, there were seven-star patterns, which were very obvious characteristics of the Star Elves.
In the game world, there were three great elves in the Elven Empire. They were the Sun Elves, the Moon Elves, and the mysterious Star Elves. The Sun Elves and the Moon Elves had always taken turns to be the Elven King.
There were fewer members in the Star Elves tribe. They kept a low profile and rarely went out. Ning Shi did not expect that the spokesperson of Empire in Duohuang was actually a Star Elf.
This was the first time Ning Shi had seen this race. He could not help but take a second look.
There was another person on Hilker’s right.
This person was wearing a short shirt, revealing his well-developed muscles. His head was very big and his face was very wide. There were thick pads on both sides of his face. His eyes were small, and his mouth protruded outward.
His entire face was very similar to that of a gorilla. He looked like a primitive man who had not fully evolved yet.
To be able to stand side by side with Hilker and Snow Mist, his identity was obvious.
“This must be the president of the Griffin Chamber of Commerce?”
The gorilla-faced man nodded. “I’m Piermont, Lord Ning Shi. We’re all smart people, so we don’t need to beat around the bush with you.”
Duohuang was in a strategic location. If someone ruled Duohuang, they could go west through the Chilly Wind Canyon and go straight to the Wind Chasing City of Ole Empire. To the east was a flat wasteland, which could be used to attack Marquis of the Dolphin of the Brad Empire. To the south were the fairest and most fertile plains of the Elven Empire.
This place should be in a state of chaos. Any new order established by others would be wiped out by the three great empires.
“You are collecting taxes here and you want to establish order. You should know what that means.”
A person who was chaotic in nature. Ning Shi was angered by Piermont’s words and said.
“The three empires are really overbearing. Why isn’t the Mercenary Alliance that represents the will of the local people of Duohuang with you guys? Do they also agree that Duohuang should be filled with chaos and sin?”
Ning Shi pulled out his meteoric heavy sword and Hilker’s figure was reflected on the blade.
“It’s just coercion. After becoming a whore, do you still want to set up a memorial? Whether I can levy taxes depends on whether the blade in my hand is sharp enough. It’s not up to you guys to decide.”
As Ning Shi drew his sword, dozens of extreme barbarians swarmed into the meeting hall and surrounded Hilker and his group.
Hilker’s expression changed slightly, but he was not panicking.
“Lord Ning Shi, if you want Blood Crime Street to be reduced to ruins, we are willing to fight with you here. Since you don’t agree with Duohuang Chamber of Commerce’s intervention, according to Duohuang’s rules, a large-scale fight must be held outside the city.”
“Tomorrow at 10 a.m., both of us will set up battle formations at the foot of Guling Slope in the north of Duohuang and fight to the death.”
Ning Shi used the insight technique on Hilker.
[Insight Target: Hilker, spiritual power comparison: 16/17, able to probe some basic information.]
Character: Hilker
Physique: 34 (40)
Spiritual Power: 17 (30)
Appearance: 3 (ugly face)
Family Background: 8 (Brad Empire royal family)
Bloodline: Eight-eyed golden lion (Level 8 / Potential: 9 stars)
Profession: Bloodline warrior Level 38
Skills: Golden mech Level 7, shockwave Level 8 …
Talent: Violence (purple), king’s might (blue) …
Achievements: None
Ning Shi’s spiritual power was not enough to see all of Hilker’s information. However, from the feedback using his insight technique, Hilker’s profession level was as high as Level 38. His bloodline level was Level 8, and his skills were all above Level 7.
His fighting strength was many times stronger than Gru’s. Ning Shi would not be able to determine the winner in a short time.
Moreover, there were Snow Mist and Piermont beside him.
He could still use the insight technique for another round. Ning Shi wanted to understand his opponent, so he used it on Piermont.
He found that Piermont had the bloodline of the earth demonic ape, which was also a Level 8 bloodline. His profession was Level 37 and his talent and skills were also terrifyingly high.
If he wanted to take them down today, the odds of winning were not high.
“You guys go!”
Seeing Ning Shi put away his sword, Hilker also let out a sigh of relief. Ning Shi had given him a lot of pressure, and he did not want to risk his life here.
They left the meeting hall without saying a word.
After walking out of Blood Crime Street, Hilker said to Snow Mist and Piermont.
“For the battle tomorrow morning, I hope that everyone can put aside their previous struggles and work together to crush the extreme battle group that overestimated themselves.”
“Let me set an example first. The Brad Bloodline Chamber of Commerce will send 1000 Wild Lion Knights to participate in the battle.”
Piermont looked at Hilker in surprise. 1000 Wild Lion Knights were all the combat strength of the Brad Empire in Duohuang. If the losses were too great, it would affect the interests of the Brad Empire in Duohuang.
“It seems that Lord Hilker is very angry with the Lord of the extreme wilderness. The Griffin Chamber of Commerce is willing to send 2000 Wolf Knights.”
Piermont was much more cautious. He kept 1000 Wolf Knights and did not send out his trump card troops or the 100-man Griffin Legion.
It was normal for Piermont to do this. With 2000 Wolf Knights, Hilker was already satisfied. He turned to look at Snow Mist.
Snow Mist was still cold. Her voice was emotionless. “I have received orders from the country. In Duohuang, stability is the priority. We cannot act rashly. Neither the longbow group nor the magic team can move.”
Hilker’s expression was very ugly. He stared at Snow Mist’s face, trying to see if she was lying.
What a coincidence. The Elven Empire gave her such an order at this time?
“I can at most help you contact the allies of the Forest Night Song Chamber of Commerce. I estimate that we can gather a team of 3000 people.”
The so-called allies were all the chambers of commerce of the three empires. This was their subordinate force. The combat ability of these chambers of commerce’s troops was not bad. After all, in Duohuang, the weak could not survive.
Hilker could only nod helplessly. He concluded, “Brad’s allies can also gather a force of 3000 people. Piermont, find your allies to gather 2000 people. This way, we can form a force of 10,000 people.”
“The extreme battle group only has 500 people. No matter how strong the barbarians are, 10,000 against 500, we will win!”
The population of the entire Duohuang City was only 500,000. Without an army, a 10,000-man team was enough to wipe out everything.
Thinking of this, Hilker was instantly filled with pride.
“Tomorrow morning, we must take off Ning Shi’s head and hang it at the intersection of Blood Crime Street. I want to see who dares to establish a new order in Duohuang!”