ACSP: Chapter 206: Since when do we need to care about others' opinions when we do things?
"Elder Zhao Xuansu..."
Zhao Bin hurriedly ran up to the old man, lowering his head out of respect as he rapidly whispered the exact situational breakdown regarding Jiang Chen, Ronan, and Li Dala.
The vibrant, restless energy of the young people surrounding the martial arts field instantly went dead silent the exact moment they learned the true scope of Jiang Chen's mission—that he had bypassed regional borders and materialized inside the Magic City specifically to recruit high-level combat forces to launch an unrestricted offensive directly against the East Island empire.
For a long, heavy moment, the entire youth bracket cast looks of profound, unadulterated admiration at Jiang Chen.
They truly hadn't expected that this young man, who looked to be roughly the exact same age as them, could harbor such terrifyingly grand, macro-strategic ambitions. To unilaterally declare war on a hostile foreign state, and to possess the unyielding spine to take the initiative to invade their home turf across the sea? This was just too domineering! It completely shattered the stagnant, defensive mindset they were used to.
Even the usually brooding, stoic Zhao Shui was visibly moved at this moment, his grip tightening beneath his dark robes as his mind raced.
However, right when the patriotic fervor was about to peak—
Elder Zhao Xuansu let out a sharp, profoundly disdainful snort.
He narrowed his gaunt eyes, staring through the crowd to lock a deeply meaningful, heavy gaze directly onto Jiang Chen. He took a slow, deliberate step forward, his voice dripping with pragmatic, ice-cold authority:
"It is an admirable thing for you young people to possess hot blood and passion, but sometimes, you have to force yourselves to look at the brutal tactical reality. The total population of East Island exceeds one hundred million souls, and hidden among their ranks are countless veteran, high-level Contractors who have survived the worst of the Dimensional Era."
"Even if our Eastern branch of the Zhao family were foolish enough to completely throw our weight behind your campaign, it is mathematically impossible for a single, unorganized strike team to conquer that territory."
"Do you honestly think you are living inside one of those mindless, power-fantasy web novels? An entire island nation packed with a population over a hundred million... you think you can just march across the ocean and conquer it whenever you feel like saying the words? Don't be delusional, boy."
"Furthermore, you need to clear your mind and look at the geopolitical axis between East Island and Eagle Country. The moment you initiate an official war against East Island, you will inevitably drag the peak Contractors of Eagle Country directly into the front lines."
"Eagle Country is not a minor player like East Island. That is a global superpower holding a monstrous Super Kage-level Contractor within their active arsenal. And the recorded level of their peak Super Kage asset has already officially reached Level 98. With a single, casual wave of that man's hand, an entire fortified city can be erased from the face of the earth in a heartbeat."
"If, because of your momentary, short-sighted impulse, your actions directly lead to Eagle Country and East Island forming a permanent alliance to systematically dismantle our Great Xia Kingdom... can your tiny shoulders actually bear that level of historical responsibility?"
These heavy, calculating words from Zhao Xuansu dropped like a massive basin of ice-cold water directly over the heads of the younger generation. The freezing reality instantly extinguished the blazing passion that had just ignited inside the hearts of the surrounding young Zhao family clansmen.
Everyone went completely silent, their eyes dropping to the stone floor.
Jiang Chen's initial concept had indeed been incredibly inspiring, making their blood burn with immediate fighting spirit. But the global variables Elder Zhao Xuansu brought up were also an undeniable, terrifying fact. Although East Island was small in terms of geographic landmass, it was still a heavily populated nation with an entrenched defense grid. It couldn't just be wiped out on a whim.
What was worse, they had the global shadow of Eagle Country backing them up from across the ocean.
Granted, the literal map of Blue Star had undergone massive, chaotic structural changes since the arrival of the Dimensional Era. Countless modern cities were currently isolated by dense forest forbidden zones teeming with high-tier exotic beasts, causing many regions to entirely lose stable communication.
However, as time steadily marched forward, human Contractors across the globe had begun to constantly explore, clear, and systematically reclaim those dangerous forbidden zones. The territories originally claimed by the exotic beasts were currently shrinking at a noticeable rate. More and more human municipal sectors were actively reconnecting their supply lines and forming defensive networks—just like the recent corridors established between Jinghai City and Kang City.
Although there were still frequent, dark instances of powerful cities aggressively annexing weaker ones to steal dungeon rights, everyone had to admit that the human world was gradually getting back on the right track. The framework of the new world map was gradually being perfected.
The younger generation believed that in the near future, the moment all surviving human cities finally mapped out their coordinates and stabilized their borders, the new global rules and international order would definitely be rebuilt from the ash.
By then, Eagle Country—which had been the very first global faction to successfully breed a near-max-level, Level 98 Super Kage Contractor—would undoubtedly stand as the undisputed hegemon of the new world era.
Offending their direct satellite states right now wasn't just strategically unwise. It was a tactical gamble that was exceptionally likely to bring total, unmitigated disaster down upon their own nation's head.
"Hehe~"
However, right when those young Zhao family clansmen were wavering internally, their conviction entirely buckling under the suffocating weight of Zhao Xuansu's pragmatic lecture—
Jiang Chen suddenly let out a soft, clear chuckle.
Elder Zhao Xuansu's brow furrowed tightly, his aura dropping an octave as his eyes flashed with cold irritation: "What exactly are you laughing at, kid? Did my analysis miss a single variable? Did I say something wrong?"
"No, you didn't say a single thing wrong. The structural situation and the geopolitical variables you considered are incredibly pertinent, Elder," Jiang Chen replied.
He smoothly put away the casual smile on his face, his posture straightening as he looked up, his dark eyes staring directly into the piercing gaze of Zhao Xuansu without a single hint of fear or hesitation:
"I just find myself fundamentally unable to understand a single thing. Our Great Xia Kingdom has proudly roamed and dominated this land for over 5,000 continuous years. We were once heralded as the supreme Celestial Empire by countless foreign states across the sea, comfortably receiving the formal worship and tribute of ten thousand nations.
Now, in this new era of raw power, have we truly fallen to such a pathetic, trembling state... where we need to actively look at other countries' expressions just to destroy a mere, tiny nation standing right on our border?"
"I really don't know if this is an era-defining tragedy, or just pathetic, willful self-degradation..."
Jiang Chen's voice echoed across the quiet field, dripping with unadulterated mockery. He didn't just reject the lecture; he was openly mocking Zhao Xuansu's profound timidity right on his own turf.
The surrounding Zhao family clansmen nearly stopped breathing, their eyes widening to the size of saucers. Elder Zhao Xuansu had just delivered a crushing, logically sound breakdown of why East Island and Eagle Country were absolute titans not to be trifled with. No one expected Jiang Chen to brush all of it aside with a single, insulting sentence.
Isn't this clearly showing the elder that he doesn't give a damn about his authority?
Everyone's eyes subconsciously darted to Zhao Xuansu. Sure enough, the old man's face had already darkened to a terrifying, stormy shade of purple.
"Ignorant, arrogant brat!" Zhao Xuansu snorted coldly, his voice vibrating with lethal chakra. "Do you honestly believe that just because you managed to awaken a Super Kage-level class template, you suddenly represent the sovereign will of Great Xia to declare war on foreign states? If you have a death wish and want to sail to East Island alone, I won't lift a finger to stop you. But the elites of our Zhao family will never march alongside you to die in a vain, short-sighted slaughter!"
After barking the refusal, he snapped his head toward the sweating youth beside him and commanded ice-coldly: "Zhao Bin. Show these 'heroes' out of my manor."
"Yes, Elder!" Zhao Bin nodded frantically with his head lowered. He hurried over to Jiang Chen's side, grabbing his sleeve and whispering a desperate, panicked reminder: "I told you so, didn't I? The elders of our branch are entirely focused on internal survival; they won't help you. I think you should leave right now before things get bloody."
As he spoke, he tried to physically pull Jiang Chen toward the exit gates.
But Jiang Chen casually brushed his hand away, his boots remaining entirely glued to the stone path. He continued to look directly into Zhao Xuansu's glaring eyes and said flatly: "Since this elder is unwilling to support a military campaign, let's pivot the conversation. Let's make a commercial deal instead."
Zhao Xuansu let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Our East Pavilion has absolutely zero overlapping strategic interests with a rogue element like you. What could you possibly possess that is worth a trade?"
Jiang Chen stated his terms bluntly, his voice cutting through the laughter: "I can guarantee that your East Pavilion wins this upcoming patriarch competition. As my fixed commission, our party will take shared, permanent ownership of your Zhao family's private [Night of the Clan Annihilation] secret realm."
It was a classic case of courtesy first, force later.
Jiang Chen had originally intended to sit down and properly negotiate a grand coalition based on national defense and mutual survival. If the old man had possessed even a shred of historical righteousness or strategic courage, they could have easily ironed out a clean partnership.
But unfortunately, the old fox's vision, balls, and political ambition were simply too narrow. He was too busy staring at his own feet to look at the horizon. Since diplomatic pleasantries had failed, Jiang Chen simply changed his method of communication to raw leverage.
Zhao Xuansu was visibly stunned, his mouth hanging slightly open as the words registered. Clearly, he hadn't anticipated that this outsider would not only know about their highly classified internal tournament, but would have the sheer audacity to demand a cut of their crown jewel dungeon.
"You... you told an outsider about our private clan tournament?!" Zhao Xuansu spun around, glaring fiercely at Zhao Bin, his aura flaring with an immense pressure that threatened to crush the young man.
Knowing he was entirely caught in the wrong, Zhao Bin could only lower his head, nodding bitterly as sweat poured down his neck.
"Don't waste your energy blaming him for this; I forced the layout out of him," Jiang Chen stepped forward, drawing the elder's lethal gaze back onto himself. "Elder Zhao Xuansu, right? If you think this transaction is worth discussing, let's find a secure room and map out the logistics. If you are entirely unwilling, then I will simply walk out those gates and pitch the exact same contract to the other three regional pavilions..."
The moment those specific words left Jiang Chen's mouth, Zhao Xuansu could no longer maintain his detached, aristocratic composure. His heart skipped a beat.
"Are you openly threatening my bloodline, boy?"
"If your cognitive parameters interpret a logical alternative as a threat... then so be it," Jiang Chen replied, completely unbothered.
Zhao Xuansu's expression darkened instantly into a mask of calculated fury.
The political calculus was terrifyingly clear. This kid was a verified, documented Super Kage-level Contractor. More importantly, he had previously proven he could completely shatter Zhao Shui's absolute Kotoamatsukami inside the Forest of Death—meaning his raw combat output and mental resistance were monstrous. If this freelancer ran off to join forces with any of the other three old fogies managing the rival districts, his presence on their roster would single-handedly spell the total, unmitigated destruction of the East Pavilion's political future.
Zhao Xuansu's mind raced at lightning speed, weighing the brutal pros and cons of the variable standing in his courtyard.
Then, with the fluid hypocrisy of a seasoned politician, his dark scowl instantly vanished, replaced by a warm, beaming smile as he looked at Jiang Chen.
"Ah, Little Brother Jiang Chen, please forgive an old man's sudden temper! Since you have traveled such an immense distance across the forbidden zones to reach our Magic Capital, why rush off so quickly? Why not stay, unpack your bags, and rest comfortably inside my East Pavilion for a few days? It would graciously allow me to fulfill my formal duties as a proper host."
But before the old man's honeyed words had even fully left his lips—
—SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
A dozen high-level, veteran enforcers of the Zhao Clan suddenly blurred into position out of thin air. Their movements were perfectly synchronized as they locked down every escape angle, completely surrounding Jiang Chen, Ronan, and Li Dala in a tight, hostile perimeter. Their hands rested heavily on the hilts of their weapons, their Three-Tomoe Sharingans spinning aggressively in the shadows.
Jiang Chen didn't even twitch. He slowly turned his head, his dark eyes locking back onto the smiling face of Zhao Xuansu as he asked with an icy, calm precision:
"What's the meaning of this layout, Elder? Are you genuinely stupid enough to try and forcibly keep the three of us here?"
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