Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

While he was on the way to Battle G.o.d Palace, Meng Chao knew that Lei Zongchao definitely wanted to ask this question.

Over the course of the past month or so, he and Lu Siya had answered questions related to the Vortex and Jin Wanhao's death multiple times from related departments.

Lei Zongchao definitely had the highest authority to read his and Lu Siya's investigation report.

But no matter what, Jin Wanhao was the friend that Lei Zongchao entrusted his back to decades ago, and Jin Wanhao's sister was Lei Zongchao's lover when he was young.

Based on the fact that Lei Zongchao was never married and never caused any scandals, Meng Chao could tell just how deep his love was for Jin Qianxi in the past.

If it were not for the fact that Jin Qianxi fell into Red Dragon River during the fight to destroy Blood Alliance, and all news about her was gone from then on and her survival was unknown, there was a high possibility that Lei Zongchao could have ended up as Jin Wanhao's sister-in-law.

He was definitely not satisfied with reading just the investigation report and would insist on listening to Meng Chao talk about Jin Wanhao's dying will.

Aside from the unbelievable matter of Jin Wanhao regaining his youth, Meng Chao did not intend to hide anything else.

One, he did not think he could hide anything from the martial arts legend.

Besides, he believed in some of A'Ji's views. To a certain extent, from the moment he regained his youth, Underground Emperor Jin Wanhao was really dead.

Even if A'Ji still had a heart as ambitious as the Underground Emperor's, he was still not the past Jin Wanhao but a brand new person.

A'Ji could not possibly take the path Jin Wanhao took, because that was one that was bound to fail.

Hence, Meng Chao kept calm and spoke tirelessly, telling Lei Zongchao everything aside from A'Ji.

He gave special attention to the image that appeared from among the bubbles of the carca.s.s and seemed to be Jin Qianxi.

That image was related to the true self of the monster civilization's mastermind.

In fact, it might be the creature that died together with Lei Zongchao in his previous life.

This was a major matter, so Meng Chao did not hide any details.

Lei Zongchao found himself in a daze as he listened.

When he heard the “dying Jin Wanhao” talking about how they were imprisoned by Blood Alliance and were forced to risk their lives in the ancient ruins while being tortured in the labs, his facial muscles twitched, as if he was immersed in a pain worse than death.

When he heard the tale about how he, Jin Wanhao, and Jin Qianxi worked together to slaughter their way out of Blood Alliance, a heroic look that shone brilliantly appeared on his face.

When he heard how Jin Qianxi fell into Red Dragon River, great grief rose in Lei Zongchao's eyes, and he looked like he had just been reduced to ashes.

When he heard how his good friend cursed him for being a soft-hearted fool because their ideals were not the same and they parted ways because of it, he sighed. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, as if he wanted to defend himself, but who was supposed to hear him?

Lei Zongchao quietly listened to Meng Chao speak. When it ended, he shut his eyes, and he seemed to be immersed in those scattered memories that were buried in his mind for a long time. When he finally opened his eyes again, he smiled in anguish and said, “Jin Wanhao chose the best method to die, at least. I'm not going to be as lucky as he is and can't die heroically together with monsters. I'm afraid crumbling slowly in this gene concentrate is going to be my end.”

Meng Chao could not continue with that topic.

He could only clear his throat and change the topic. “Mr. Lei, before the gang leader died, he told me to tell you that his sister died decades ago. It doesn't matter what the image that popped out of the carca.s.s' bubbles is, that isn't his sister and your lover. That's not the Jin Qianxi in the past!”

“I know. Don't worry. I know.”

Lei Zongchao appeared to be in a daze again. Happiness and sorrow appeared on his face, and he sighed long and hard before he said, “I'm not so muddle-headed that I can't tell what is real and what is not. I won't be confused by such a low-cla.s.s illusion.

“Jin Qianxi is already dead. But the carca.s.s that was washed into Red Dragon River might have been retrieved by some abnormal beast with amazing skills. Perhaps this abnormal beast read the information on her cerebral cortex and can turn into her form to deceive people, just like the Vortex you saw.

“Don't worry, I won't fall for it.

“Even so, I have to thank you, my young friend.

“One, thank you for fighting together with my old friend and sending him off. Two, thank you for reminding me of the trap that the monster civilization might set. If I didn't notice it beforehand, I might end up not knowing what to do when an abnormal beast with Jin Qianxi's face really appears in front of me one day.

“Let me think. How should I thank you…? I heard that you've been investing in some projects lately and bought some barren lands in Monster Mountain Range so that you can cultivate some strange etherealized plants?”

Meng Chao asked casually, as if he was just throwing a random question.

When Meng Chao came to visit Battle G.o.d Palace today, one of the reasons was to thank Lei Zongchao for all the help he provided for Broken Star Club.

The other reason was to get more investments.

For this purpose, he specifically asked Xie Xiaofeng to help him write a few proposals and practiced several times at home to make sure that his words could move Lei Zongchao.

But to his surprise, the moment he cleared his throat and wanted to start rambling his mouth off, Lei Zongchao had already waved his hand in dismissal.

“I'm old now, and I can't catch up to all you youngsters' mindsets. I don't have the energy to tell whether your projects are good or bad and whether they have any investment value. But there's one thing that stirs up my curiosity.”

Lei Zongchao looked at Meng Chao with great interest and said, “Over the past month, you looked for plenty of investors and business partners. By the looks of it, you don't want to be the sole owner of these projects, but you seem to be very against the nine mega corporations from giving you investments. You also don't seem to like working with them. Why is that?”

Meng Chao was slightly stunned.

“I don't… think I do?” He thought about it and said, “Lu Siya and I are the best partners, this is something all Dragon Citizens know. Sky Pillar Corporation also supported Superstar fully when it bought Prosperous and Spirit Creation Creatures, and it also supported the recent projects it did. Why did you say that I'm averse to working together with the nine mega corporations?”

“No. You're friends with Lu Siya. You once risked your lives together under Raging Waves, so you should have a deep friends.h.i.+p with each other. That's why she's willing to help you as a personal friend.” Lei Zongchao's eyes shone as he said, “The investments in Superstar mostly came from Lu Siya herself. At most, it's from her father's Sky Pillar Minerals. You seldom have investments from the other companies under Sky Pillar Corporation.

“It's even more prominent when it comes to the other eight mega corporations.

“It's not that you completely reject working with the mega corporations. With how Dragon City is right now, it's impossible for you to find an industry that has not been touched by the mega corporations. It doesn't matter whether it's the harvesting of monster materials or the reconstruction of the lair. You have to let the mega corporations have a slice of the pie so that you can maintain your relations.h.i.+ps with them on the surface.

“But I feel like you're not taking the initiative to look for the mega corporations to help you.

“There are plenty of times where you would rather work hard to go through the connections you have in Broken Star Club and Blue Home to look for business chances with medium-sized and small firms of different calibers of strength instead of going to the mega corporations to promote your projects.

“You should know very well that you're the youngest Heaven Realm superhuman in Dragon City and the youngest blood medal bearer in Dragon City. The moment you show some kind will and loyalty to the mega corporations, even if you're selling t.u.r.d to them, the mega corporations are willing to invest in you with everything they have.

“You don't like mega corporations, do you?”

Lei Zongchao's gaze became sharp.

And Meng Chao felt that in an instant, this old man with sagging skin saw through his body and soul.

He could not tell him that in his previous life, Dragon City was driven into the apocalypse because of the mega corporations' control.

He could only say this. “Mr. Lei, you know that I am friends with the old gang leader, and he doesn't like the mega corporations. He feels like he was kept in the lair for decades by the nine mega corporations and couldn't get any freedom. He might be the mighty Underground Emperor on the surface, but in truth, he's just a pitiful person who can't control his own fate.

“Honestly, before he died, he's still hung up on the fact that you didn't work together with him in the past to deal with the mega corporations' former selves, you know, the nine gangs? Otherwise, Golden Tooth would be ruling over Dragon City now, and both of you can do whatever you want to get rid of the cons of the mega corporations.”

Lei Zongchao's expression did not change. He smiled wryly and said, “Do you think what he said made sense?”

Meng Chao pondered over this for a while and shook his head before he answered honestly, “I don't know. This world is too complicated. Perhaps a small, insignificant change today can cause a huge storm tomorrow, and multiple b.u.t.terfly effects can cause a major change the size of an avalanche. I can't tell based purely on whether it's good or evil.

“Perhaps I did something out of pure goodwill today and thought that it's a good thing, but it might cause a disaster tomorrow. Perhaps I spent all my effort to kill a heinous criminal, but due to his death, an even more terrifying demon is born tomorrow. Perhaps I solved a conflict today after much effort, but ten even more difficult problems will pop up tomorrow because of it.

“That's why even though Mr. Jin handed Golden Tooth to me, I really don't know whether it will be better or for worse if both of you worked together and Golden Tooth replaced the nine mega corporations in the past to rule over Dragon City.

“I just know that there are plenty of problems in the current Dragon City even though it's marching forward boldly.

“The Deity Realm superhumans and billionaires controlling the nine mega corporations have their strength, authority, and wealth increasing rapidly.

“But the people living at the bottom level of society haven't received many changes to their lives.

“There are more rich children, and more industries are being monopolized. The children of normal people are facing a life where the promotional channel is getting narrower, and the cost for cultivation is getting higher.

“The strong are getting stronger, and they control all sorts of outstanding technology and amazing equipment. Their absolute strength makes even the military like a decoration, hence, the only thing keeping them in place are their morals.

“Even a large number of the public fundamental facilities like water, electricity, spirit energy pipes, internet platforms, and even the precious land are controlled by the mega corporations. Let's talk about what happened over the past month. The armed forces in Dragon City are utilizing their advantage to chase down monsters and also occupy territories. They built hundreds of colonies outside Dragon City, and plenty of them belong to the mega corporations. In fact, they even occupied the lands around their colonies.

“I haven't smoothed out my thoughts about this yet, I just feel like this isn't right.”