Chapter 101: Reaping Profits from Both Sides

After some discussion, just as Yang Ling, Harribell, and the rest were about to part ways, the guard Argus walked in with large strides. “Sir, the Pig Leader Steve visits!”

The Pig Leader?

Harribell almost spat out the jasmine tea in her mouth in surprise. Even though she knew that Steve was unpopular in Wissen Town, she hadn’t expected his reputation to be this bad. She quickly put on her veil after her surprise. She was not willing to expose her identity in front of others until Yang Ling solidified his control over the situation.

Could it be that Steve’s situation has become truly untenable, so he’s coming to extort me once again?

Yang Ling considered Steve’s intentions. It must have been hard for Steve to last this long, with the weather getting colder and the surprise attacks from the Rossi. According to information from the intelligence team Parrot, Steve had been forced to increase the intensity and radius of his tax collection, but it did little to alleviate the situation. His days still felt like years.

There is a solution to any problem!

After a moment’s deliberation, Yang Ling instructed Argus to bring Steve in. He had previously managed to shrug off Steve’s request by promising to pay in installments. After that, he had dealt with problems as they arose. He had ways of not letting Steve take advantage of him.

Soon, the haggard Steve followed Argus into the room. But surprisingly, as well as a few personal guards, there were also a few ordinary troops carrying crates.

“Brother Yang Ling, it’s been a long time. How are your businesses doing these days?” Steve forced out a smile when he entered the hall.

“Not good, not good at all!” Yang Ling put on an act and sighed. “I did business in the Livenza Alliance recently and suffered a huge loss. I might not even have enough rice to support my people. I was actually intending to seek your help!”

Not enough rice to support his people?

Seeing Yang Ling lying in such a calm and composed manner, the crowd broke into a sweat. Even Harribell was no exception. The haggard Steve remained dumbfounded for a long time.

After giving a faint smile, Yang Ling instructed the servants to serve tea. He was not in a hurry, not in a hurry at all. He spoke nonsense, from how cold the weather was to the health benefits of drinking tea. He intentionally interrupted Steve, who was trying to stop him, multiple times, making the man incredibly anxious.

“Brother Yang Ling, in order to thank you for your continuous support, I have brought a few small gifts with me today!” Seizing the opportunity when Yang Ling stopped talking to take a sip of tea, Steve ordered his troops to open the crates he had brought with him.

Looking in, Yang Ling saw that the crates were filled with black armor and weapons of various kinds. The crates were big, but they were only half-filled. It looked like Steve was at the end of his rope.

Only a person with evil intentions gives gifts for no reason!

Yang Ling gave a cold smile and instructed the old butler Murbaqi to accept the gifts, then returned to his tea. He feigned ignorance, not asking Steve about his intentions. This made the once-arrogant leader even more anxious.

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After waiting for some time, Steve became depressed when he saw Yang Ling only focused on drinking his tea. He clenched his teeth and had no choice but to steel his nerves and say, “Brother Yang Ling, the Rossi soldiers are violent and barbaric, and they have launched surprise attacks on the troops of the Banto Empire on multiple occasions. They even threaten ordinary citizens. For the glory of the empire, for the stability of Wissen Town, we have to think of ways to capture them all!”

For the glory of the empire?

Yang Ling let out a cold laugh, finally understanding the Pig Leader’s intentions. Like Renaya, Steve was hoping that Yang Ling would mobilize his troops to aid him in battle. Unfortunately, this empire was the one that had imposed their rule on the Wissen people. None of the citizens would fight for them, and Yang Ling was even less inclined to make himself cannon fodder for their benefit.

Looking at the wide-eyed Steve, Yang Ling came up with an idea after a moment’s deliberation.

“Yes, the Rossi soldiers definitely deserve death. I would defeat all of them if I had three thousand Steel Armor Guards!” Steve appeared to be elated after hearing this, and Yang Ling immediately went the other direction. “Unfortunately, on the orders of my family, I have to leave Wissen Town immediately. I couldn’t help even if I wanted to!”

Leave Wissen Town immediately?

Steve was nearly petrified. He had thought that Yang Ling would bargain with him and extort him. But in all his calculations, he had never thought that Yang Ling might be leaving Wissen Town immediately.

Could this be just an excuse?

After his shock, Steve forced himself to calm down quickly. “Brother Yang Ling, might I ask why your family has summoned you back so anxiously?”

“A failure, I’m afraid. I am too embarrassed to say this!” Yang Ling sighed and shook his head. “Others in my family greatly boosted their cultivation level or gained control of large tracts of land. Even the worst of them earned a fortune; only I failed to accomplish anything. I can only return to receive my punishment. What a failure!”

Since everyone thought of him as a noble that was born into a rich family, Yang Ling had decided to go with it, continuing the pretense. Others might choose to adopt a low profile and play dumb to take advantage of someone, but Yang Ling had decided to take the risk, pretending to be the aggressor to obtain an advantage. In the past, this method had shocked those with impure intentions, and it often had unexpected effects at critical moments.

In the Tailun Continent, any member from a family with a long history would have to train outside when they came of age, thus Steve would find Yang Ling’s claim believable. In fact, even Goode, Harribell, and the rest were vulnerable to this lie. They all believed that Yang Ling was a member of a large family who had journeyed out into the world to train. The only difference was that while Steve was a little suspicious about whether Yang Ling was really leaving, the others knew that Yang Ling was only speaking nonsense.

When Steve first arrived at Wissen Town, he would have been more than happy if Yang Ling had immediately left. After all, Steve would have been able to procure the majestic Wissen Castle without any effort. But if Yang Ling left now, it would definitely make the situation worse. The Rossi forces might attack even more viciously. Who knew if Steve would be able to last until his reinforcements arrived?

“Brother Yang Ling, I’ll give you a piece of land with a thousand-mile radius in the northwestern area, and I’ll name you my Guardian Knight. Then you’ll stay and help me deal with the detestable Rossi soldiers. How about that?” After a moment’s hesitation, Steve made the huge offer so that he could complete the mission of occupying Wissen Town, and even more importantly, so that he could save his own life.

Yang Ling had a great deal of influence. With his help, Steve would be able to last until his reinforcements arrived, then defeat the Rossi army in one fell swoop. Of course, he was giving Yang Ling the advantage for the time being. After he defeated the Rossi forces and established his control over Wissen Town, he had plenty of ways to get Yang Ling to hand back what he had been given.

A territory with a thousand-mile radius?

Even the leader of the barbarians Jarlock shook his head in disdain, thinking that Steve was dumber than a Sharo Boar. Yang Ling could become the Leader of Wissen himself after defeating the Banto soldiers by attacking alongside the Rossi. Even a fool would not accede to Steve’s conditions, obtaining only a small section of land after all that effort.

“No problem. It is my honor to serve Sir Leader and to fight for the empire!”

The crowd was shaking their heads in disdain, but surprisingly, Yang Ling accepted the offer after a moment’s deliberation. In that instant, Steve and his group were incredibly excited, while Casey, Jarlock, and the rest were dumbfounded, their mouths opened so wide that an egg could have been stuffed into them. Only Goode and Harribell were silent, having guessed Yang Ling’s intentions.