Then let them offer their loyalty!

Page 658

"Given Qiu Tu's potential and talent, it's estimated that he'll advance to the 7th rank and head to the 'Boundless Heart Sea - Core Area' in less than six months to a year."

"Then the 7th shelter will still be ours, right?"

Upon hearing Wei Zhengze's words, Zhao Pan and Han Qidong exchanged a glance, both seeing a deep meaning in each other's eyes.

It wasn't that they didn't want to surrender and continue enjoying wealth and luxury.

But... the two of them really didn't dare to gamble.

Recently, Qiu Tu's conflicts and connections with the "Hidden Mist Society" have been increasing. Adding to this, his forced intrusion into the 7th Sanctuary at this time raises questions about whether he has obtained some intelligence or clues...

If he actually gets into Shelter No. 7 and stays there, it will be difficult to get rid of him later...

Besides, who would want to be a local tyrant after all? That's just asking for trouble!

But how can we stop Qiu Tu from taking over the 7th shelter?

Thinking this, their gazes deepened considerably.

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Chapter 591 A Brief History of the Eight Great Shelters (Last Day of Monthly Ticket Giveaway)

Perhaps sensing the unusual mood of the two elders, Zhao Pan and Han Qidong, Wei Zheng frowned slightly.

He looked at the two of them suspiciously, then asked with a hint of confusion, "You two seem to have different opinions?"

Hearing Wei Zhengze's words, Zhao Pan and Han Qidong exchanged glances again. After confirming each other's thoughts, Zhao Pan then looked at Wei Zhengze and said earnestly,

"Elder Wei... this is capitulationism, it's unacceptable."

"We build shelters not only to preserve the seeds of civilization for humanity, but also to protect the local people."

"If we surrender to high-level cataclysms or large armies, what is the point of establishing our shelter?"

"Today they can surrender to the invading enemy, tomorrow they can surrender to the invading anti-government forces, and the day after tomorrow they can surrender to the evil god."

"Moreover, if we surrender without even fighting, the morale of our garrison troops will easily collapse."

Upon hearing Zhao Pan's seemingly reasonable words, Wei Zhengze couldn't help but show a thoughtful expression.

To be honest, he really didn't expect Zhao Pan to escalate this topic to such a high level.

After all, in his heart, no matter what Qiu Tu and Princess Xi did, they were still high-ranking members of the shelter and belonged to his own people.

Surrendering to one's own people, surrendering to anti-government forces, and surrendering to evil gods are completely different concepts in his mind.

However, it must be said that Zhao Pan's decision to focus on the core issues rather than the specifics is indeed logical.

Therefore, Wei Zhengze hesitated for a moment.

Before he could figure it out, Han Qidong spoke up from the side.

He was a thin old man with a goatee.

Stroking his goatee, Han Qidong looked at Wei Zhengze, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness. He said, "Old Wei, Elder Zhao is right..."

"Although Qiu Tu used Lin Xi as a stepping stone to interfere in our shelter, everyone knows that he is the mastermind behind everything."

"Whether it's Lin Xi or the Kou family, they are just pawns on his chessboard, following his commands."

"Just like how he used the 'King Kang's death' incident to interfere in the Sixth Sanctuary, he's now putting Lin Xi in the spotlight simply to deal with the Human Alliance's questioning."

"But the leaders of the various shelters aren't fools. Who can't see through his little tricks?"

"It's just that no one wants to break ties with him yet, so they're pretending not to know."

Upon hearing Han Qidong's words, Wei Zheng nodded slightly.

If the various shelters couldn't have guessed Qiu Tu's purpose before, the situation is now almost completely clear.

Anyone with eyes can see what Qiu Tu's ultimate goal is: to become the "King of the Northwest".

This also happens to align with the "order-politics" catastrophe path that Qiu Tu has already exposed.

Because, if Qiu Tu wants to continue leveling up, the only way is to become the "King of the Northwest".

However, knowing about it is one thing. Being able to stop it is another.

Thinking this, Wei Zheng hesitated for a moment before leaning back.

He was a large, burly man with a face full of scars, which made him look rather fierce.

But to become one of the three giants of the 7th Sanctuary and to maintain a balance of power with the Han and Zhao families for so long, he is certainly not as simple as he appears.

So he decisively threw the difficult question back at him, and said sullenly, "What you said makes sense."

“I agree with what you said; we cannot accept Qiu Tu’s aggression.”

"But here's the problem. Now, who can tell me how we're going to stop Qiu Tu?"

At this point, he looked at Zhao Pan and asked, "Was it your Zhao family that held off the attack of the Tier 7 Cataclysmic Beings?"

After saying that, he looked at Han Qidong and asked, "Or should your Han family be the one to hold off the million-strong allied army from the 6th and 8th sanctuaries?"

Zhao Pan's ability to reach his current position and his keen awareness of the Lin family's "Butterfly Transformation Gu" back then, followed by his collection of relevant information and further research, clearly demonstrate his considerable skill.

The heated exchange between the three men had given him ample time to think.

So, he tapped the armrest of his chair with his finger and slowly said, "The outcome of a game of chess is never determined by the pieces, but by what happens outside the chessboard."

“We are indeed no match for Qiu Tu, but that doesn’t mean other shelters are no match for him either.”

“There are also level 6 experts in shelters like the 3rd and 4th.”

His gaze was deep, full of strategic planning. "Moreover, we don't need to do anything special. We can just follow Qiu Tu's approach."

"Isn't he using the pretext of Lin Xi and the Kou family asking for help to justify and legally invade the 6th Shelter and our shelter?"

“Then let’s ask for help too. Let the 3rd, 4th and 5th shelters have a chance to intervene in our shelter and even the Northwest region.”

Upon hearing Zhao Pan's words, not only Wei Zhengze but even Han Xiangdong was taken aback.

Han Xiangdong asked cautiously, "Is this really the right thing to do?"

"Let's not let the wolf in through the front door and the tiger in through the back."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Pan shook his head slightly.

His ability to come up with this idea clearly indicates that he had already given it considerable thought.

He said, “You must understand that the threat from afar is not scary; what is scary is the enemy nearby.”

"Distance is key to administrative efficiency. Even within the same country, the emperor is often far away, let alone...remote control."

“The third, fourth, and fifth shelters are located in the southwest region, which is far away from us.”

"Even if they do manage to defeat Qiu Tu and try to interfere in our shelter's affairs, their influence will be extremely limited due to the distance."

"Even if they do issue the order, if we outwardly comply but inwardly defy it, it will be difficult for them to deal with us."

"In contrast, Qiu Tu is different. He's too close to us. Once he takes control of the shelter, we'll truly have no chance of turning things around."

“He can easily control the shelter and place his own cronies within it to establish his influence.”

“Once he establishes his own political system, it will be very easy for him to sideline or remove us from the core power structure.”

Upon hearing Zhao Pan's words, Wei Zhengze and Han Xiangdong exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.

After a moment, Wei Zheng asked, "But... Qiu Tu and Zhao Ji killed a Tier 7 Cataclysm. Can the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sanctuaries really deal with him?"

Hearing Wei Zhengze's question, Zhao Pan smiled and said, "Does it matter whether the 3rd, 4th, and 5th shelters can deal with Qiu Tu?"

Without waiting for Wei Zhengze's question, he answered himself, "It's not important."

"Haven't you noticed? Despite Qiu Tu's aggressive and reckless actions, he is actually very restrained and always sticks to the red line."

"For example, he never allowed evil gods to attack humans, nor did he ever kill any of the high-ranking members of the shelter without authorization."

A hint of apprehension flashed in Zhao Pan's eyes. "From his rise to power until now, he has always been using his influence to suppress others."

"If there is a conflict with the higher-ups, kill the evil god."

"If there are any more conflicts with the higher-ups, then kill the evil god again."

"He is threatening his political opponents and forcing them to make concessions in a very forceful yet impeccable way."

"In fact, the effect was indeed very significant. Faced with Qiu Tu's strong and blatant demonstration, most of his political enemies had no choice but to back down."

"After all, Qiu Tu is not just a pretty face, but someone who really has the ability."

"but!"

At this point, Zhao Pan paused for a moment, then said with a smile, "His behavior actually exposed his weakness."

Why is he so cautious?

“The reason is simple.” Zhao Pan’s gaze swept over Han Xiangdong and Wei Zhengze, “Because of his cataclysmic pathway…”

Qiu Tu's method of causing disaster is no secret at all.

So when Zhao Pan reminded them, Wei Zhengze and Han Xiangdong both realized something.

As Han Xiangdong stroked his goatee in thought, he slowly replied, "Qiu Tu's 'catastrophic pathway' is 'order-politics.'"

"This catastrophe pathway is truly unique. It will bring him a great deal of help in the early stages, but it will also bring him a great deal of constraints in the later stages."

"So, you think that if a high-level Cataclysm sees through all of this and stops him at all costs, he actually won't dare to make a move?"

Zhao Pan's perspective was indeed something that Wei Zhengze and Han Qidong had never considered.

But upon closer examination, it does seem reasonable.

Qiu Tu's approach is "order-politics," which means he is destined not to be a lone wolf; he must unite a large number of people and then establish a system.

This is also why Qiu Tu, despite his radical actions within the human camp, has always adhered to his bottom line.

After all, if he crosses the line, the various shelters will reject and expel him. His cataclysmic path could then plummet, causing him to fall from grace.

Therefore, Qiu Tu, who has already launched an attack on Shelter 6 and Shelter 7, will certainly not dare to offend Shelter 3, 4, and 5.

Therefore, as long as we grasp this weakness, it might actually have a miraculous effect?

Thinking this through, a thoughtful look appeared in the eyes of both Wei Zhengze and Han Qidong...

However, what they didn't notice was that while the two of them were deep in thought, a dark, impenetrable darkness shone in Zhao Pan's eyes...

.......

Meanwhile, as the Han, Zhao, and Wei families discussed how to deal with Qiu Tu...

7th Shelter, Phoenix Perch State, State Capital, Speaker's Residence.

Qiu Tu was sitting in the main hall of his mansion, looking down at the jackal kneeling before him with a playful expression. "Jackal, do you really want to pledge allegiance to me?"

"And... are you willing to report all the information about the 'Mist Hidden Society' and the 3rd, 4th, and 5th major sanctuaries in the 'Southwest Region' to me, as a way of demonstrating your resolve?"

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, the jackal kneeling on the ground nodded repeatedly, a fawning smile on his face, and said, "Yes, sir. I have fought for the Mist Hidden Society in the Southwest Region for many years."

"Although their rank is average, they are very knowledgeable about both the 'Mist Hidden Society' and the three major sanctuaries."

"Now that I want to pledge my allegiance to you, I will certainly report everything I know to you without reservation."

"And I hope that this intelligence will be of some value to your assessment of the situation."

Hearing the jackal's words, Qiu Tu stroked his chin, then looked at the jackal's loyalty score of 72 above its head, his eyes flickering, making it impossible to discern his true thoughts...

The story begins a couple of days ago.

Two days ago, Zhao Ji left because of Qiu Tu's teasing. After being distracted for a while, Qiu Tu packed up the corpse of the nine-headed lion, then carried the jackal tied up like a dumpling and returned to the 6th Shelter.

As a result, on the way back to Shelter No. 6, the jackal kept trying to get close to Qiu Tu.

Qiu Tu initially ignored him, but he kept rambling on and on about this and that.

Later, when he saw that Qiu Tu was ignoring him, he probably got a little anxious and simply stated his thoughts directly: he wanted to join Qiu Tu, become Qiu Tu's subordinate, and help Qiu Tu deal with the "Mist Hidden Society".

Qiu Tu isn't stupid. Besides, even if he were stupid, he wouldn't believe everything an evil god says.

So when Qiu Tu saw that the jackal was too noisy, he simply took out a rag and stuffed it into its mouth.

Afterwards, Qiu Tu returned to Shelter 6 and began arranging the expedition to Shelter 7.