229: blackmail

Outside the castle, Zanbuluo's body swayed slightly.

His turbid, earth-yellow energy flowed slowly around him like a living creature, finally merging silently into the Void Realm before him.

As the last wisp of energy thread vanished, a massive, invisible barrier, like a giant inverted bowl, completely enveloped the towering castle housing the library below, sealing it off entirely from the outside world.

Zanbuluo raised a limb and wiped imaginary cold sweat from his forehead.

He narrowed his small eyes, carefully sensing the stability and stealth effect of the barrier. A trace of imperceptible satisfaction and... shrewdness flashed in his murky pupils.

The job was actually finished, but as for other aspects, wasn't that up to him to decide? Thinking of this, a near-lecherous smile appeared on his short, stout face.

"It's about time."

Zanbuluo muttered, then waved at the few Confidants waiting in the shadows behind him. "Go, pass a message to those people in the Council."

His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable oily tone. "Just say... constructing this isolation barrier consumed far more than expected, and my... uh, resource reserves are running low. Tell them to... scrape some more together. We must ensure Fannojia's peace is not disturbed in the slightest, heh heh."

The Confidants were already accustomed to their master's style of doing things. Hearing this, they immediately lowered their heads in agreement, not daring to question it in the slightest.

Watching their retreating figures, Zanbuluo raised his hand and tapped the barrier in the Void Realm lightly. Hum— A faint ripple of energy spread out. On the outer layer of the barrier, a hazy illusion instantly appeared: energy beams intersected and flickered, runes shimmered in and out of existence, and numerous figures seemed to be bustling around the castle, creating the false impression of a massive, ongoing construction project.

After doing all this, Zanbuluo finally set his mind at ease. Then, his eyes rolled around, and he began to calculate how much extra resources he could "consume" this time.

Soon, across the Suradi Continent, those High-ranking Officials who had only recently escaped from the shadow of death, were still shaken, and were busy treating their wounds or secretly communicating, received a message from Zanbuluo's Confidants almost at the same time.

"What? More resources?!" Saras was the first to jump up. The crack on his chest had just been barely mended with secret techniques, but now, due to the surge of anger, there were faint signs of it splitting open again.

He slammed a fist into the metal wall beside him, leaving a clear fist print and making the whole room hum. "That greedy bastard! What is he trying to do?! Does building a crappy barrier require so much stuff?!"

Lava-like rage churned on his skin, almost ready to erupt. "Damn it, he's definitely taking advantage of the situation! That greedy dirt rat!"

Elsewhere, that The Strong One with crystal spikes covering their body had a terrifyingly gloomy expression. The crystal spikes on their fingertips flickered with a dangerous cold light, clearly furious to the extreme at Zanbuluo's "Lion's big mouth."

"Truly... an insatiable guy."

Hivedi's voice came from the shadows, still flat, but carrying a trace of imperceptible sarcasm.

Kuta just sat there quietly upon hearing the news. No expression could be seen on its metal face, but a trace of icy disgust flashed deep within its compound eyes.

Cursing was one thing, anger was another.

But when they thought of the temperamental and unfathomably powerful Fannojia, even if they knew that guy was likely running a scam, they didn't dare to gamble.

After all, this was a case of "try and die." In the end, no matter how much dissatisfaction they had, they could only forcibly suppress it.

Right now, they didn't dare to do anything that might offend that existence, so the barrier was necessary, and there could absolutely be no mistakes regarding it.

Therefore, despite the pain of losing resources, compared to their lives and property, some resources... had to be painfully sacrificed.

"Pass down the order; send it over according to the amount he requested!"

"Tell that dead fat guy, this is the last time!"

"Hmph, wait until this matter is over, then we'll settle accounts with him!"

Orders filled with rage and unwillingness were issued from the territories of various The Strong Ones, and batches of precious resources once again helplessly flowed toward Zanbuluo.

Just in this atmosphere filled with humiliation, anger, and anxiety, inside the residence of Kallis—a High-ranking Official who was relatively remote, whose status in the Council was not central, and who had also suffered significant internal injuries this time.

"My lord, look at you, your complexion is still so poor." A nimble-figured attendant with sharp eyes was carefully changing the healing energy gel for Kallis, his tone full of well-placed concern. "Fannojia's affairs are certainly worrying, and Zanbuluo's demands are indeed... sigh, but if you keep bottling it up like this, it's not good for your recovery."

Kallis, a humanoid creature with dark gray scales covering its body, heard this and just wearily waved its limb, which was covered in small scars, letting out a heavy sigh: "Don't talk about these things, it's annoying."

He truly felt exhausted, both physically and mentally. It was not just the physical pain, but more of the powerlessness of living under someone else's roof, having his fate manipulated at will, and deep anxiety about the future.

"My lord," the attendant rolled his eyes, leaned closer, and lowered his voice. "This subordinate thinks, why don't you take this opportunity to go out and relax?"

"Relax?" Kallis frowned, somewhat dispirited. "In the current situation, where would I have the heart..."

"Ah, my lord, that is where you are wrong." The attendant quickly said, "It is precisely because the situation is unclear that you need to relax your mind and maintain your best state, isn't it?"

"Besides, this subordinate heard that the 'Quiet Valley' outside the city is currently in the season for the 'Phantom Light Butterfly' migration. The scenery... tsk tsk, is best for cleansing the soul and dispelling worries. You can just treat it as... briefly leaving this oppressive place to change your mood. And Lady Helimo, as far as I know, is also going there to relax today..."

The attendant's tone was sincere, and his eyes were full of enthusiasm for "sharing his master's burdens." Kallis looked at this subordinate, whom he relied on heavily and who had always been clever and sensible, and his heart stirred slightly.

The depression and fear of the past few days had indeed made him feel unable to catch his breath.

Go to the Quiet Valley to see the Phantom Light Butterflies? And then have a wonderful encounter with Lady Helimo? It seemed... not a bad idea.

At least, he could temporarily escape this suffocating castle, escape those endless bad news and the suspicious gazes of his colleagues.

"Very well..." Kallis pondered for a moment, and finally relented. "Then... let's go and take a look. I'll leave this place to you and Tuke."

"Rest assured, my lord!" A brilliant smile immediately bloomed on the attendant's face, but deep in his eyes, a barely perceptible gleam flashed and vanished.