This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 308 - 168: Turning Against The Tide Atom’s Covert Harm

Chapter 308: Chapter 168: Turning Against The Tide Atom’s Covert Harm

As a melodious tune played, a moment later, Duke Bai Ye’s displeased voice came through, "What’s the matter, why not use the broadcast channel?"

"You were ambushed?"

Atom’s words made Duke Bai Ye’s expression turn grave. He looked up at the busy staff around him, returned to his own room, and then said in a deep voice, "How did you know?"

Atom let out a "hehe" laugh, "That guy just came to me, wanting to join forces with me to ambush you."

"Hmm?" Duke Bai Ye’s expression jolted, immediately coming to his senses, a host of conjectures floating through his mind, yet in the end, he simply asked calmly, "What did you say?"

"Of course, I agreed to him," Atom said nonchalantly.

Duke Bai Ye did not respond, and Atom let out an unpleasant laugh, "I won’t beat around the bush with you, to tell you the truth, agreeing to him was just to deceive him."

"This fellow’s background is unclear, and he’s hiding something. I’d have to be crazy to cooperate with him."

In an empty room, Duke Bai Ye’s face was a constantly changing mask of emotion, and he eventually asked, "Then why are you looking for me? What do you mean by this?"

"Of course, I’m here to ask if you’re interested in joining forces to kill him," Atom scoffed, "Do you know what he offered me? He said after we defeat you together, I could take you and exchange you with the Sela Civilization for a ransom."

"I thought, does this guy have a grudge against you? He ambushes you first, then prepares to work with me."

Duke Bai Ye’s expression was cold. Ever since the ambush, he had also been pondering this question, but no specific suspect had ever come to mind.

In ordinary civilizations, B-grade life forms are already quite rare. If he had such an enemy, he would undoubtedly remember very clearly.

"Then why don’t you work with him?" Duke Bai Ye didn’t readily believe and continued to inquire.

"Cooperating with him is risky. What if he ends up not holding back and kills you, wouldn’t I be at a huge loss? Furthermore, the price he’s offering isn’t high," Atom shook his head, dissatisfied,

"Taking the risk to cooperate, he wouldn’t even agree to share half of that batch of goods with me."

Duke Bai Ye snorted coldly; Atom was indeed a shameless rat.

"So, what about it? Cooperate with me, and I help you kill this enemy, and all of that batch of goods is mine, plus you give me five billion Star Coins," Atom demanded a king’s ransom.

"Impossible," Duke Bai Ye refused flatly, "Who knows if you’re telling the truth or not. What if you’re using this reasoning to lure me into a trap and then join forces with the other party? What then?"

Atom laughed heartily but then suddenly stopped, "Bai Ye, do you think everyone is as shameless as you to attack me in the shadows?"

Atom directly threw a file over, and after opening it, Duke Bai Ye’s eyes flickered.

It seemed the person hiding in the shadows used this video to stir up Atom’s hatred, but these raiders felt no brotherhood towards their subordinates.

As long as there was profit to be made, even blood brothers could be sold.

"If I really wanted to cooperate with him, there would be no need to go to such lengths. He’s already ambushed you, and you definitely wouldn’t let him off. All I need to do is lure you somewhere by making a brief appearance, and then assist from the sidelines. That would’ve been enough," Atom further elaborated.

Hearing this, Duke Bai Ye was already leaning towards believing Atom’s words, "The batch of goods can be yours, but five billion is impossible. At most, I can give you two billion, and he cannot be killed."

"Interesting, you also want to spare his life," Atom was surprised but further proposed, "If you want me to spare his life during the battle, then you have to give me three billion."

Duke Bai Ye hesitated but eventually said in a heavy voice, "Fine, deal."

The reason for keeping the other party alive was partly out of curiosity about his identity and partly because the scene of the day’s ambush was still vivid in his mind.

He was truly curious if the other person was indeed a space power user; if that were the case, then he would hit the jackpot.

Any life form can be converted into a gene seed, thereby obtaining its core abilities, humans... were not out of the question either.

"Now, can you tell me about his actual strength?" Atom pressed for details on the attack Duke Bai Ye suffered.

Duke Bai Ye pondered for a moment and said, "His combat strength head-on is very low. I even suspect that his development progress does not exceed 30%, but his speed is extraordinarily fast. The greatest threat is the B-grade weapon in his hand."

"A B-grade weapon," Atom’s eyes lit up with greed, for he still lacked a B-grade weapon.

The materials were hard to find, and Mechanical Masters capable of forging such a weapon were even harder to come by.

"The weapon is mine, and you can pay one billion less," Atom proposed on the spot.

"All three billion are off," this time it was Duke Bai Ye who pushed his advantage, speaking very calmly as if he had expected the bargaining, "There aren’t many who can forge such a weapon, fewer still are willing to forge for a raider."

Atom’s expression darkened, but then he recalled what the boss had impressed upon him — that the Land of Stars might face a period of turmoil, and it would be very difficult to improve development progress in the short term. He could only aim to enhance his arsenal of weapons.

"Fine!" Atom agreed assertively, "He fears a united onslaught from the fleet and asked to lure you into a certain Thunderstorm Zone."

Without having seen the real enemy, they had already completed their division of spoils. Atom did not see the other party as a threat. If his opponent had been strong enough, he wouldn’t have fled in the first place, nor would he have considered joining forces with him to take on Duke Bai Ye.

Together with Bai Ye, they would be strong enough to defeat the other party.

"Thunderstorm Zone," Duke Bai Ye considered, "The problem isn’t big, but we must find a way to limit his speed."

"Simple, once we enter the well-chosen Thunderstorm Zone, let the fleet assemble nearby and then surround the entire area," Atom had already thought it through, "If he dares to come out, we’ll directly bombard the area."