Chapter 1284: Chapter 1284

1284: Chapter 1270 Jianghu 1284: Chapter 1270 Jianghu Fairy tales always exist within storybooks, reality often carries many a helpless sigh.

The arrival of Earthlings, at least the Easterners, provided the local victims with opportunities and time for development, along with new civilizations and technologies…

but it seems that once a part of them gained power and formed a society, they also replayed the barbaric history of Earth’s development.

Slavery, the Feudal Era, capitalist exploitation, theocracy, the New tech revolution—when all of these mixed together, who knows what state the world would be in.

Salt City simply displayed one possibility, a strange social form that mixed violence with new capital, new technology, and comprador elements.

“After all, this is their world…”

In a decade, the New generation indeed grew, but it seems that a part of them had grown somewhat twisted.

Just as Big Cat said, when the world is , when life is , what can one individual change…

“Perhaps I really could change something…”

Considering, hesitating, Lu Ping’an yet said nothing.

For now, at least, he could only ensure his own well-being.

“…Don’t think too far ahead, just revise the reputation of Rebirth Commerce for starters.

In such times, being ‘too kind’ might just be the beacon that lures the ravenous wolves.”

Just as that ordinary clerk said, those local “head honchos” dare not smash up the debt settlement shops run by pirates, they dare not touch the proprietary churches of branch Churches, they won’t provoke the agency shops of hostile Races (Octopus, etc.), but “normal Chambers of Commerce,” those honest merchants who do business by the book, are the most delectable lambs.

Especially since many of these “honest folks” are human forces—accustomed to reasoning, to seeking legal solution for disputes, and even in the case of trouble, to tracking down the true perpetrators, rather than slaughtering entire cities to vent anger like some bastards do.

In times of Chaos, being too reasonable and too kind seems to have become synonymous with “weak and easily bullied.”

Lu Ping’an’s forcefulness this time around was partly for vengeance, and partly because he realized there was a problem and attempted to change it.

He didn’t plan to demolish the “signboard” and “public support” that Rebirth Commerce had built over the years—a precious asset and the fruit of their many years of struggle…

“If a Demon-like former BOSS were to return, leading a group of extremely radical and aggressive followers, that would completely make sense.”

Lu Ping’an didn’t care about so-called reputation and prestige, especially the opinions of irrelevant people.

He had always been a calm and practical Environmental Adaptor.

If he couldn’t change this vicious Jungle Society, then for the time being, he would become the largest, fiercest Beast within it.

Lu Ping’an’s outburst was an expression in itself…

“I am strong, I am irascible, do not bully me.”

However, not everyone can indulge in such behavior…

“Someone smashed up a whole street?”

From Rebirth Commerce?

Wait, he’s supposed to be part of Lin Nu’s Church’s core faction.

I’ll ask the higher-ups…”

Many grey gangs, evil forces, and neutral Chambers of Commerce have their own backing to some extent…

and going up the hierarchy, it’s not hard to tell what lies at the very top of this world.

I’ll ask the Big Shot…”

The message traveled to the core headquarters of Lin Nu’s Church branch, South One Church.

When it involved “internal staff” of Lin Nu’s Church, an inquiry was necessary, especially in the current delicate period of “cooperation for mutual benefit” among various Big Shots.

Yes, the complicated backings behind Salt City were actually from the nearby branch of Lin Nu, South One Church; at least ten percent of that city’s revenue would be part of the Church’s income.

But don’t get it wrong, it’s not that the Church is the puppet master behind the scenes, but rather it’s the “normal social Order.”

even if they are white-hat industries, often have their own backers; their technology, personnel, and finances all have origins.

Look at it from another angle, their daily mode of operation is bound to cause trouble—if anything major happens, someone has to step in to back them up.

There were things Lu Ping’an misjudged—this city isn’t “without Order,” but it lacks an “apparent Order.”

These front-line Chambers of Commerce, companies, and gang powers are not simply the Church’s puppets, as they are primarily striving for their own interests, and infighting among them is frequent.

But indeed, for the backing of someone higher up and to not be swept away by other Big Shots, they do pay a portion of their revenue to the “partner,” South One Church.

This is one of the unspoken rules of this world.

One side provides wealth and power, while the other offers the technology to produce wealth and the necessary “protection” when needed.

The relationship between them is more akin to “trade cooperation” rather than a “hierarchical integration”…

Human branch organizations need the manpower and material resources from the locals, and if local organizations can obtain technology and strength from outsiders, they too can develop and grow rapidly.

And now, when someone is ruining the market, it’s naturally time for the protectors to step in.

If the offender is a greenhorn, someone will come forward to get rid of them, but if it’s The Crossing River Dragon, there would be someone to negotiate, and the Rebirth Chamber of Commerce…

“Again, the Rebirth Church?

Are they causing trouble again?!”

In the past ten years, the Rebirth Commerce Association hasn’t had a good reputation among the various branch churches of the Eastern Country.

The reason is quite straightforward, as a representative of large “traveling chambers of commerce,” their actions of touring various cities and establishing outposts have facilitated the circulation of goods, and at the same time, reduced the high profits brought by monopolies.

Furthermore, their reputation for “fair trade” and occasional “voluntary humanitarian rescue” amongst the locals has made certain forces and individuals look even worse by comparison.

Frictions have long existed between them, and now that a conflict has arisen, those in charge below are naturally restless.

Over these ten years, everyone has been stewing in this pot, and there has been no such thing as Eastern Country People not killing Eastern Country People…

If someone blocks the profit, kill if killing is needed, bury if burying is needed.

Back on Earth, it would be the same, only a bit more restrained.

“…Lu Ping’an, I’ve heard of this name, he…”

But this time, when Lu Ping’an’s “Blind Eye” was recognized, the incident touched the leadership level of “one of the powers.”

Back in the day, he was specifically chosen by the World Consciousness for that mission, an honor only bestowed on eighth-tier and above…”

The Pope of South One Church, also a recent returnee, was now recalling past events while browsing through the “chat column.”

“…Make a good apology, this is a distinguished Your Excellency.” As a decision-maker, he thought it wise to proceed with caution.

To offend a “future big shot” of Lin Nu’s Church for a small profit was certainly not worthwhile.

But the South One Pope hesitated for a moment before casually asking in a chat channel.

“How is Lu Ping’an doing?

He didn’t expect a response to such a question, after all, no matter what, Lu Ping’an was just a “fifth-tier,” and the big shots didn’t need to pay much attention to him.

However, to his surprise, he soon received several private messages from Quasi-Gods!

Did you have a dispute with him?

You didn’t bully a junior, did you?”

Are you looking for him for something?”

The inquiries from two senior Quasi-Gods forced the eighth-tier big shot to put aside his work and respond properly.

Before he could deal with it, another message arrived in a chat channel.

[Anonymous101: You looking for me?]

Well, this one is fierce, jumping ranks straight into the big shots’ circle.

But then, the South One Church was taken aback, he was posting in the higher-end “fragment seekers” circle.

The ranking was right on top of his head.

Forget about fifth-tier or any Dark Lord, this ranking was even higher than his own eighth-tier status!

One fragment could be luck, but someone with two fragments…

this time, even the South One Pope felt a bit panicked.

Therefore, he became even more “generous.”

“Tell Salt City, treat him well, with the utmost goodwill, and if all else fails, give him the street…

no, if he’s really interested, give him half the city.”