Hasa'er was rendered speechless, as if he had swallowed a fly.
He had already received word from the other two cardinals of the Bright Hall that the Dark Association had indeed dispatched a formidable team, including more than one Earth-tier deacon. If that team were to be wiped out, it would significantly weaken the Dark Association. With the reinforcements from the Rattlesnake likely to be outnumbered, there was a real risk of their annihilation. Thus, Dawn's explanation made perfect sense.
However, Hasa'er already knew all this information. Paying for it again would be idiotic!
"Dawn, I'm aware of all this. I don't think our transaction is necessary!"
"Please return all my treasures to me!"
The more Hasa'er thought about it, the more indignant he became, and he finally couldn't help but voice his feelings. Though it was embarrassing, letting Dawn benefit would be a colossal joke!
"How can you even say such a thing!"
"Firstly, did I force you to buy my information? No!"
"Secondly, as a cardinal of the esteemed Bright Hall, aren't you ashamed of going back on your word? If this gets out, you'll be dragging the Bright Hall's reputation through the mud!"
"Lastly, you claim to know all this information. How can you prove it? I could just as easily say you fabricated it to get these treasures!"
Ye Cangtian rolled his eyes at the man and said with annoyance. He truly hadn't expected the other party to go back on their word and make such a demand. People needed face, trees needed bark; how could the other party discard their face so readily! Of course, faced with such a situation, Ye Cangtian was not about to be outdone. Once something was in his possession, there was no way he was giving it back!
"You..."
A series of gasps followed, and Hasa'er's face turned purple with anger. He had the distinct feeling of being tricked and scammed by Dawn. Yet, he had no retort. He was the one who had sought to buy information, the one who had willingly come forward. Now that he was cheated, he could only suffer in silence. Otherwise, not only would his reputation be ruined, but the image of the Bright Hall would also be destroyed.
"Good! Good! Good!"
"This cooperation today has been very pleasant. I hope we can continue in the future!"
Hasa'er said coldly, then stormed out of the tent in anger. He figured that the tables would eventually turn; Dawn had gotten the better of him this time, but he would get his revenge later. After all, they were in the same waters, and they would meet again sooner or later!
"Have a safe journey!"
Ye Cangtian politely saw Hasa'er out of the tent. Watching the man's furious retreating back, a playful smile crept onto his face. This was a good deal; just by talking, he had acquired two treasures. He wondered how the other man would retaliate.
Meanwhile, Hasa'er returned to his warship on a speed boat. Seeing Hasa'er return in a rage, Commander Pus immediately ordered the ship to turn and prepare for an attack. It was obvious that Hasa'er had failed to negotiate with the other party, and the outcome would be a fight. After making all the necessary arrangements, he approached Hasa'er and said, "Sir, since the Dark Association is uncooperative, please give the order! As soon as you give the word, I guarantee to turn Island A into scorched earth!"
*Slap!*
As soon as his words fell, Pus was met not with Hasa'er's smile, but with a resounding slap that sent him flying.
"This..."
Pus looked at Hasa'er in confusion, his eyes filled with bewilderment.
"Return to camp!"
Hasa'er offered no further explanation, merely spitting out the two words through gritted teeth before turning away. Although he had been openly swindled by Ye Cangtian, he could not act rashly because of it. The reason was simple: the other party shared the same objective as him. If a war broke out between them, the Rattlesnake mercenary group would undoubtedly be the beneficiary. If the Rattlesnake mercenary group managed to break through by exploiting the conflict between them and disrupted the Bright Hall's operations in Japan, he would be a sinner in the eyes of the Bright Hall! Therefore, he could only endure the insult and maintain a state of peaceful coexistence. As long as the Rattlesnake mercenary group did not make any rash moves, they would also refrain from acting.
...
On Serpent Island, the headquarters of the Rattlesnake mercenary group.
Kozera's face darkened to an extreme as he read the message from the Japanese ninja division. The ninja division was at its wit's end; one Jonin had already fallen to the Dark Association, and they were urgently requesting reinforcements. It was important to remember that the Japanese ninja division had only three Jonin. Sasaki had died in China, and now another had perished. The remaining Jonin would likely struggle to maintain the overall situation. If this last Jonin were to fall, the ninja division's strength would plummet from the second tier directly to the first. They would even be inferior to ordinary mid-tier forces. In such a scenario, the alliance between the Rattlesnake mercenary group and the ninja division would lose its meaning. Furthermore, the Rattlesnake mercenary group's status would nosedive, returning them to their original standing. Therefore, for the sake of long-term interests, he had to provide support as quickly as possible to ensure the ninja division could overcome this crisis.
"Report!"
Just then, a mercenary walked in.
"Reporting to the Commander, we've just received the latest intelligence: the Caesar mercenary group, affiliated with the Dark Association, has arrived in the vicinity. They have approximately one legion, led by Miller!"
"Currently, their objective is unknown!"
Upon hearing his subordinate's report, Kozera's eyes began to dart around. This might be an opportunity! The Dark Association and the Bright Hall had considerable animosity between them. He could potentially exploit their conflict to find an opportunity to break through. With this thought, Kozera said, "Transmit the order: we will attempt a breakthrough again tomorrow. Remember to unleash your full potential, and make the operation as grand and showy as possible!"
"Yes!"
Upon hearing this, the mercenary agreed without question and turned to leave the tent.
...
The sun rose again.
Early in the morning, Ye Cangtian saw Miller arrive at the temporary command post. Upon seeing Ye Cangtian approach, Miller hurried forward and said, "Sir, we just received news that the Rattlesnake mercenary group is attempting a breakthrough. The fighting is reportedly fierce and should continue for some time..." Miller's implication was clear: the Rattlesnake and the Bright Hall were engaged in combat. Should they join in the fray and seize an opportunity?
"Continue monitoring."
Ye Cangtian merely said this casually and then gestured for his subordinates to bring the prepared breakfast.
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Miller seemed puzzled and quickly stepped closer, asking, "Sir, if we were to intervene now, we could gain a significant advantage. Why are we staying put?"
Ye Cangtian glanced at him and asked, "Tell me, how many troops does the Tumu mercenary group have?"
"We just received intelligence that they have at least two legions in these waters," Miller replied.
"If my guess is correct, only one of their legions is currently engaged in combat!"
"Then what will the remaining legion be doing?"
Ye Cangtian shot him a dismissive look and retorted unhappily. The relationship between the two sides was tense. Hasa'er, knowing that the Caesar mercenary group was present, would never go all out; he would surely keep a reserve force.
"Uh..."
With that statement, Miller's eyes widened. The facts were precisely as Dawn had predicted; the Tumu mercenary group had indeed only dispatched one legion. And facing such a fierce breakthrough attempt today, they had only sent one legion. The reason was self-evident. Firstly, Hasa'er believed that this force was sufficient to block the Rattlesnake mercenary group's breakthrough. Secondly, Hasa'er was also guarding against a surprise attack from the Caesar mercenary group. Realizing this, Miller bowed slightly to Ye Cangtian and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Lord Dawn."
"It's nothing."
Hearing this, Ye Cangtian waved his hand and cautioned, "Remember, watching the tigers fight from the mountain is a victory in itself!" Upon hearing this, Miller's mind suddenly cleared, and he understood the meaning behind the words. For instance, in this breakout battle, even if they didn't intervene, Hasa'er would still do his utmost to stop the Rattlesnake's breakthrough. Once both sides engaged in combat, they would inevitably suffer casualties, which would also be a form of attrition for them. The Caesar mercenary group, however, would not incur any such losses and would successfully complete its mission, effectively being in an invincible position from the start. Thinking this, Miller bowed again to Ye Cangtian and said, "I've learned a lot, Sir..."