Great! I'm surrounded by villains!
Chapter 212 - 132: Hidden Corner

Chapter 212: Chapter 132: Hidden Corner

The words from Star River were both unexpected and reasonable; in a place like Siyang City, if his approach was not compelling enough, this station master might have long since become one of the many missing persons.

After all, on a planet rife with sinister forces, anyone could go missing.

Seeing Duan Mingyuan not responding, Star River continued, "The previous Royal Hunting Court was aware of the special circumstances in Siyang City and would not easily provoke those from the Chamber of Commerce. If you cannot make a decision, let me make it for you. Give up on Xing and Zheng Liu, as if you’ve never met them. After assisting the police with the announcement, return to Yunlong City and get a good night’s sleep, and all of this will be behind you."

There had been people who said similar things to Duan Mingyuan.

It was the security team captain of the Universe Company branch in Yunlong City who, during the transport of "goods," advised him not to dwell on these matters and to get a good night’s sleep once he got home. Earning a significant sum of money was what truly mattered, and in ten or so years, leaving this planet with a large amount of money, everything that happened on Blue Star would have nothing to do with him.

Many people did just that.

"Station Master, your remarks just now were very dangerous. I can pretend I didn’t hear them,"

Duan Mingyuan said.

If it had been a hot-blooded youth who had heard those words just now, the Siyang City station could have suffered a heavy blow.

But the current Duan Mingyuan was no longer the impassioned youth of the past. Having gone through systematic schooling and work, experiencing the process of systematization step by step, he realized that both the security team captain and Star River were merely cogs in the larger system. If they were gone, thousands of others would take over their positions.

Just like when the Hover Car crashed into the company building, making explosive headlines and sparking widespread social discussion.

After the discussions, however, everything went back to how it had been. Even if the Royal Hunting Court fell, the "trade chains" of the Life Science Department did not vanish.

It was not until Bai Kou’s death and the new director’s appointment that change came to the stagnant Yunlong City.

"You just decided the fate of a young hunter from the association and an outstanding young police officer in just a few sentences."

"But that is the reality of Siyang City."

Star River replied, "It’s not me who wants them dead. The decisions I can make are simply to let them die or to have even more people die alongside them."

"Then count me in as well; after all, to them, I am also one of the informants and could reveal the underground exchange at any moment. If I were to do so, the impact would be much greater than that of a new member of the association and a young police officer."

Star River didn’t answer; he didn’t know what to say.

Since the newly appointed leader of the Royal Hunting Court had made his stance clear, Star River no longer had any room to mediate.

This was a clear stance against the Chamber of Commerce.

A simple decision could lead to the annihilation of the association in Siyang City, burying many hunters along with him.

If it were the previous leader of the Royal Hunting Court, he would never make such a rash decision. They had always managed to maintain good relations with all factions, balancing every side, allowing the association to survive in this complex society.

"May I ask the reason?"

After a long pause, Star River finally spoke, "All for two friends you just met today?"

"No, it’s to follow my own heart."

Duan Mingyuan thought back to the day he reactivated the Royal Hunting Court, to the clerk he met at the guild registration, remembering that even though the hunter community had been missing for quite some time, some still recalled their past contributions.

To many, hunters were akin to knights-errant.

But in reality, the previous Royal Hunting Court wasn’t as commendable as people imagined. Their cooperation with the company led to internal strife, their headquarters were burned to the ground, and they even gave rise to the terrorist organization Wangxu.

"I’m not interested in navigating between various powers, but I respect the efforts you have made as station master over these years."

This bar was the best proof of that.

Long after the fall of the Royal Hunting Court, he heard that Star River had continued to maintain the Siyang City network, providing support to hunters who had nowhere else to turn.

So Duan Mingyuan thought of a solution that would benefit both sides, "Tell me the location of the underground exchange. This way, you’re essentially handing me, the direct informant, over to them. If I follow in Xing’s footsteps, for you and the Siyang City association, there could be no more significant gesture of allegiance."

"But you should know that the Chamber of Commerce is unlike any force you’ve encountered so far."

Star River’s expression darkened.

He had heard bits and pieces about Duan Mingyuan from Da Jiang, including his training of newcomers and teaching at the Cloud Sea Academy.

Perhaps this new leader of the Royal Hunting Court was an expert in the domain of malevolent spirits, but what he faced now far exceeded that scope, even exceeding matters of this planet.

"Siyang City is just a tiny part of their power. They hire mercenaries renowned throughout the universe."

Star River had only heard of the mercenaries’ fearsome reputation.

"These people have experienced interstellar wars and fought on ’Cocooned’ planets. They are warriors who have emerged from true Purgatory. Compared to them, our local encounters with malevolent spirits are but a drop in the ocean."

Star River thought Duan Mingyuan would back down, but instead, he seemed indifferent, saying, "Isn’t that even better? If I’m killed by them, having this token of submission might lead them to consider elevating you as the next leader of the Royal Hunting Court."

"That’s not a funny joke."

Star River’s tone grew more severe.

He wasn’t joking, so he hoped to find some shared sentiment in Duan Mingyuan’s eyes.

For example, a sense of apprehension and respect towards the Chamber of Commerce and those cosmic mercenaries.

After all, the Hunter Association was just a civilian organization on Blue Star, not long established, especially compared to the much older history of Siyang City’s Chamber of Commerce. They had appeared almost the moment the company’s flagship descended into the skies above Blue Star.

But compared to Universe Company, their methods were much more secretive.

They seemed to prefer staying hidden in the shadows, controlling the city in ways unknown to the public.

"This is no joke, I believe they will be very welcoming of my arrival, because in this matter, I feel that my thoughts align with theirs,"

Duan Mingyuan said, "We both dislike leaving loose ends and prefer to resolve issues once and for all."