AZI Volume 3 Chapter 27

A few days later, at the nightclub that belongs to the Ashen River Hall—

"Fine. We'll do things your way."

Hanging up on the phone, Shao Tianming tosses the device aside—prior to leaning back on the sofa.

Despite this being the third floor of the nightclub, the seating arrangements on this floor aren't any different from the base floor. However, the rule of the third floor is, it is reserved exclusively for the denizens of the inner domain. In other words, it is their exclusive meeting area.

The second floor's arrangements are the same as well, but it is reserved for meetings with people of power, who are a part of the outer domain.

"Well?"

Sitting behind Shao Tianming is another denizen of the inner domain, one who is in charge of a different city than him.

Answering the question, Shao Tianming says—

"They said, the first excavation can be done through a cooperative front. Essentially, it will be a free-for-all. After that, they demand us to bid for excavation rights—if we want in on the spoils of a specific ruin."

Hearing this, the white-haired man with blue eyes, Wáng Yǒngníng, frowns.

Attire wise, Wang Yongning is dressed in a white changpao—that fits tightly onto his body, with a pair of black trousers and black Tai Chi shoes.

His attire is rather reminiscent of an Immortal; such a get-up is typically seen as a negative in this world's society, but Wang Yongning has never really cared to be directed at with odd eyes.

Maintaining his frown, Wang Yongning says—

"NWDs, is it? Our treasury might as well be nonexistent—if we need to compete with the super-wealthy for those rights."

"Naturally, I got stuff to say about this setup as well, but they said—whichever group has the rights to the ruins, could employ us for aid if they wished."

"Obviously an excuse to keep us in check."

Sucking in the smoke of a cigarette, and exhaling it, Shao Tianming replies—

"The person who started this, is in the city you're in charge of."

"…"

Towards Shao Tianming's indirect way of saying that this is his fault, Wang Yongning doesn't deny it, and merely accepts it as is, while the former goes on to add—

"Honestly, setting up ground rules before anyone else could… Feels like the person behind it—is quite capable."

In response to Shao Tianming's remark, Wang Yongning places a hand to his chin, and says—

"If I have the opportunity to do so, I'll try, and erase them."

"Not much of a point now—when the foundation has already been built. Just chalk it up to bad luck."

Heaving a sigh, Wang Yongning replies—

"The foundation may have been built, but that doesn't change the fact that the people of the outer domain are inexperienced. The number one thing they lack are storage devices. Without that, they cannot hope to bring heavy loads of equipment into the ruins."

In the inner domain, depending on how difficult it is to excavate the ruins, the ruins will receive a designation of grades one through five.

Grades one and two are typically a maze of some kind. These can be taken on with a small group of 20 individuals.

Grades three and above, are a completely different story. As these ruins are built through the Immortal arts of spatial manipulation, it's impossible to say how many people were needed to excavate them.

The entrance into these ruins is small, typically—allowing only a small group to enter at a time.

However, the area behind these ruins can range anywhere from a forest to a vast field of ice. Without being able to take a vehicle of some kind into these large-scale ruins—it makes it impossible to excavate them, due to the amount of grounds there are to cover.

That is why, storage devices—that are capable of fitting in numerous equipment, are of great importance when it comes to ruins excavation.

Heaving a sigh, Shao Tianming remarks—

"The lack of storage devices is only temporary, though. They'll gain them gradually overtime."

"Even to this day, our side has never been able to recreate them; it's fortunate that they're actually plentiful. …Ideally, the ruin we're cooperating in will be grade three at minimum. If they're unable to excavate it on their own, we have the rights to most of the spoils. I say, we take all the storage devices there are with this right."

Towards Wang Yongning's idea, Shao Tianming blows out a mouthful of smoke, and replies—

"I expect a grade four at a minimum."

"Why?"

"People love simplicity; we want to get rid of the issues that are closest to us first, don't we?"

Blinking his eyes, Wang Yongning replies—

"I see. So, they'll most probably start off with the ruins closest to the Grounded Cities. The ruins near our largest settlements, if I recall are…"

"All of them are either a grade four, or five. Well, if it's really a grade four or above, my concern wouldn't be the spoils. Instead, I'd be more concerned with our current lack of manpower to properly excavate them."

Having to agree with this, Wang Yongning raises a sigh. The entrance that would allow denizens of the inner domain to come into the outer domain is currently unstable.

By the time their final member had managed to cross over, the size of the entrance had become as small as a basketball.

Further attempts to widen this entrance could be dangerous, as it could mean losing it altogether; the best that they can do for the entrance right now—is to simply keep it open, and perhaps, find a more reliable means to widen it in the future.

Dismissing these thoughts regarding the entrance from his head, Shao Tianming asks—

"In any case, who are we sending in this time—other than you and I?"

"I think I'll leave everyone on my side behind."

"Meanwhile, I'm planning to take both Zi Xiang and Chen Lan in with me."

Raising a frown, Wang Yongning asks—

"Isn't that too dangerous? If all three of you got killed somehow, it means there won't be anyone left to take care of GC012."

"Don't jinx it. In any case, how many storage devices did we bring with us again?"