157: Invest in Earth or the Shadow Kingdom?!

Thinking of this,

Su Chen slowly raised his gaze, his eyes sharp, and looked at Lan Xin:

"I need awakening stones, the more the better. Additionally, I need items that can reinforce powerful seals. Can you provide these?"

"Naturally, we can!"

Lan Xin nodded without hesitation, overjoyed in her heart,

"Although awakening stones are precious, given the supreme potential you have displayed, I can surely persuade the higher-ups of the merchant guild to approve a considerable amount of resources to invest in you and the blue star human race. As for items to reinforce seals... our merchant guild has 'Sealing Runes' from the abyssal plane in its collection, which are extremely effective and should meet your needs."

"There's no such thing as a free lunch."

Su Chen's voice returned to its previous calm, even carrying a hint of coldness, "If I accept your investment, what do I need to pay? What do I need to do?"

"Haha, Your Excellency need not worry too much."

Lan Xin laughed, trying to lighten the mood,

"Our investment in you is naturally also for the benefit of our merchant guild. What we need is to use your sufficiently powerful strength to represent our merchant guild and participate in the beast emperor inheritance trial initiated by the Myriad Beast Sea, and strive to seize that supreme Sacred Emperor inheritance!"

She paused, her tone full of incitement:

"If you can successfully obtain the beast emperor inheritance, it will bring immense benefits to yourself! Not only will your strength undergo a qualitative transformation, but you will also gain the esteemed title of 'Beast Emperor,' with the right to rule the vast and boundless Myriad Beast Sea! This is a true win-win for both of us!"

However,

Facing this seemingly heaven-sent opportunity, Su Chen's massive face showed no hint of surprise.

His deep compound eyes stared at Lan Xin, as if trying to pierce through her enthusiastic facade to see something deeper.

He knew deeply that gain andpay are always directly proportional.

These merchants, who traveled countless sea regions and operated by the principle of trade, would never make a losing deal.

The fact that they were acting so "generous" at this moment could only mean one thing—

The danger level of the so-called "beast emperor inheritance" trial must be beyond imagination, with a ninety percent chance of death.

However,

Despite knowing the risks,

Su Chen still nodded in agreement without hesitation.

"Good."

His deep voice rumbled like thunder, rolling through the air,

"I accept your investment."

Risks?

Su Chen certainly knew about them.

But no matter how dangerous the "beast emperor inheritance" trial was, could it be more desperate than Cthulhu breaking the seal?

One must know,

Su Chen possessed the unique-level Abyssal Sea God talent and was a cheat-level player with the infinite devouring system!

As long as he could obtain resources, achieve awakening, and resolve the imminent Cthulhu crisis,

He was confident that with this astonishing evolution speed,

He would crush all obstacles in his path!

"Excellent!"

Lan Xin's eyes burst with joy. She practically snatched the communicator, embedded with precise crystals, that Deputy Aux had presented with both hands.

She quickly operated it,

Buzz—!

A huge, translucent light screen suddenly unfolded in the air,

Once the light stabilized, it displayed the technologically advanced, circular council chamber of the Star Sea Merchant Guild headquarters.

Several figures, shrouded in light and emanating profound, obscure aura, sat on high-backed chairs.

"President Nicola, esteemed Directors!"

Lan Xin took a deep breath, suppressing her excitement, her voice clear and powerful,

"I, Lan Xin, Senior Executive of the Exploration and Development Department, hereby formally submit an A-grade potential assessment report and investment application for the nascent plane 'Blue Star' and its special individual 'Kraken'!"

President Nicola, seated at the head, frowned slightly, his aged voice carrying a hint of displeasure:

"Executive Lan Xin, why was the investment application submitted directly to the Directorate without first undergoing risk department assessment?! This goes against regulations!"

Lan Xin's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. Regulations? If she followed regulations, that report would never have reached here!

It would surely be intercepted by Lucia.

She immediately spoke, her pace quickening:

"President, Directors, the situation is urgent, and Lord Kraken's displayed value far exceeds what conventional procedures can measure! He was born only a month ago, yet already possesses eight powerful talents, slaying powerful enemies beyond his rank as easily as cutting melons and vegetables, and his evolution speed completely overturns all known records! The Shadow Kingdom Expeditionary Force that invaded Blue Star has now been completely annihilated, all buried by him and the Shenxia Warriors! Most importantly—"

Her voice suddenly rose, filled with uncontrollable excitement:

"He possesses the forbidden ability to devour enemies, plundering their vitality, attributes, and even the origin of their talents! With the full power of the merchant guild to cultivate him, he will surely sweep through the Myriad Beast Sea trial and seize the 'Beast Emperor' title! Investing in him will be the merchant guild's wisest strategic layout for the next thousand years!"

"What?!"

"The Shadow Expeditionary Force... was wiped out by a month-old hatchling?!"

"Devouring attributes... plundering talents?! Unheard of!"

A suppressed chorus of exclamations and gasps echoed in the council chamber, and the figures shrouded in light seemed to lean forward slightly, revealing their astonishment and doubt.

However,

Just as the atmosphere was reaching its climax,

A cold, emotionless female voice, like an ice pick, pierced through the enthusiastic atmosphere Lan Xin had created.

"The reason she skipped the risk department and reported directly to a higher level..."

"Is because she's lying!"

The screen view switched, and a female holographic projection was magnified.

She had meticulously combed golden hair, tightly pulled back. She wore a perfectly tailored, silver-white uniform,

Her face was beautiful but like an ice sculpture, devoid of any superfluous expression.

It was Lucia, Deputy Director of the Risk Assessment and Compliance Department.

"Executive Lan Xin!"

Lucia's gaze swept past Lan Xin, directly at the Directors, a cold sneer playing on her lips,

"Her report is filled with baseless subjective conjectures and absurd exaggerations. A low-level plane, a newborn giant beast, annihilating the Shadow Kingdom Expeditionary Force? Such an imagination, how ridiculous!"

Her slender finger lightly tapped in the void, bringing up a record.

"This is an emergency plea for help that Executive Lan Xin sent to the council not long ago, requesting the council's power to intervene and save theOn the verge of destruction Blue Star and Kraken."

The sneer on her lips deepened, as if she were looking at prey caught in a trap,

"If this Kraken truly were as invincible as she boasts, why would she bother, panicking and asking for aid?"

"Therefore..."

Lucia's gaze finally turned to Lan Xin, her ice-blue pupils full of triumphant control,

"I strongly suspect that Executive Lan Xin, in order to defraud the merchant guild of resources, did not hesitate to falsify data and exaggerate facts!"

"You! This is slander!"

Lan Xin trembled with anger, her silver teeth clenched tightly, her fingernails almost digging into her palms,

"Lucia! You simply don't understand what your narrow-mindedness and short-sightedness will make the merchant guild miss! Lord Kraken is the only existence with the hope of winning the 'beast emperor inheritance'!"