This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 424 - 226: An Unexpected Visitor? Azure Dragon is Absent, Starship Ruins

Chapter 424: Chapter 226: An Unexpected Visitor? Azure Dragon is Absent, Starship Ruins

Not long after, Li Ming put away the smart terminal. The Borneost Civilization finally gritted its teeth and agreed to his price; they didn’t have much choice.

Forty-five billion Star Coins, through the Black Hole Network acting as a third-party custodian to ensure the safety of both people and money.

The Black Hole Network provides such custody, but it must be at least a ten billion Star Coin business, and they take a 10% cut.

The other party originally wanted to include this 10% in the ransom.

As a result, they faced Li Ming’s staunch refusal; at the last step, Borneost had no choice but to cough up an additional 4.5 billion Star Coins.

As for the trading location, it was chosen to be at a gathering place on their travel route.

He found Ulrich and got straight to the point, "I’d like to stop at the Starship Ruins."

"Starship Ruins?" Ulrich frowned subconsciously; this was also a special gathering place near the Red River Star Stream, not as famous as the Land of Stars, and was near their current travel route.

This was an unexpected matter, and Ulrich was subconsciously resistant.

"I have a transaction to make," Li Ming added.

"Have you settled on the price?" Ulrich immediately caught on, his tone containing a barely discernible hint of envy. The ransom for an A-grade life form was no small amount.

He had been an A-grade life form for many years and had never captured another A-grade life form, although this had a lot to do with his own temperament.

In normal circumstances, it was also very difficult to capture A-grade life forms.

Tiago was courting death, and it was through various circumstances and coincidences that he had been captured.

Due to jealousy, Ulrich was even more resistant, but he shifted his tone, "You also need to inform Theo and the others."

Turning his head, Ulrich called over Theo and Sandro.

Across the table, Theo had no particular reaction, but Sandro’s eyes gleamed with a green light, "How much is the ransom?"

"One hundred billion," Li Ming blurted out.

"Really!?" Sandro asked reflexively, then realized after a cough, "You’re not being honest."

"I have no objections," said Theo.

Sandro’s expression changed, hemming and hawing, "Actually, we also helped a bit in capturing Tiago."

"Do you want a cut?" Li Ming directly pointed out what Sandro was thinking, tapped the table, "Are you sure?"

Confronted with Li Ming’s gaze, Sandro seemed to shrink back, looking for an ally, and turned to Ulrich, "Just a small share would be fine, right, Ulrich..."

Among those present, he was the one who had lost the most; his forces were almost falling apart if not already so.

Ulrich, expressionless, swept his gaze past Azure Dragon and said indifferently, "I don’t mind."

Damn it, Sandro suddenly realized that he had been made a pawn again; if Azure Dragon hadn’t been so firm, Ulrich would surely have followed suit.

"Actually, I don’t mind either," Sandro said with a shift in his eyes, "But this will be delayed for a few days, right? Over at the Torch Organization..."

"The one who’s really going to work for the Torch Organization is me, right?" Li Ming said nonchalantly.

"That’s right, that’s right," Sandro chuckled awkwardly, without the support of either Ulrich or Theo, he didn’t dare bare his fangs at Azure Dragon.

"We’re only three days away from the Starship Ruins," Ulrich saw the situation was settled, cursed Sandro under his breath, and immediately said, "I’ll go change the travel course."

...

"Wu la la wu la la... wu la wu la wu..."

Inside Ulrich’s steel castle, at the throne location, the originally exquisitely crafted precious metal throne had long been removed.

Now, what was placed on it was a small pink sofa where Brown was nestled, with his left leg draped over his right, and vibrant music playing from the virtual screen he was watching.

A Goblin female with a slender figure, wearing a miniskirt, was energetically dancing, and Brown’s mouth was agape, drool leaking from the corner of his mouth.

"May I ask..." A faint voice echoed by his ear.

"Hehe... hehe..." Brown’s eyes were eager, wishing to plunge his head into the virtual screen.

His vision went black, giving Brown a big shock. A dark-skinned, sturdy man was already standing beside him, a middle-aged individual with a buzz cut and sharp eyes.

"Holy shit!" Brown yelled, his eyes filled with fear, "Who are you? How did you get in? This is Lord Collector Ulrich’s castle!"

"Someone, come quickly!"

Guard Soldiers surged from both sides, looking at him warily.

The strong man seemed somewhat resigned as he raised his hands, carrying a slender black metal case on his back, "I’m here to find someone."

Seeing the man’s compliance, Brown’s fear dissipated, he stood on the sofa, looking up and down the strong man before him: "Looking for someone?"

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No." The strong man shook his head honestly, "I saw the door was open, so I came in."

"You just came in because the door was open? If someone cooks a meal at home, would you walk in and eat?" Brown spoke haughtily, impatiently waving his hand, "Forget it, get out of here now."

"You’re lucky. Lord Ulrich is busy and currently not at home."

"I’ve come to find the Mechanic, Azure Dragon," the strong man said with a frown.

"Looking for Lord Azure Dragon?" Brown was slightly startled, then sneered further, "Lord Azure Dragon is someone you can seek?"

"Get out, get out, hurry up and get out!"

The surrounding Guard Soldiers closed in, and the strong man shook his head somewhat helplessly, drawing his handgun. In an instant, with a loud bang! a pitch-black bullet streaked forward in a strange arc, instantly penetrating all the Guard Soldiers present.

Whish--

Limp bodies lay everywhere, but there was no blood spilling out.

"Your Lordship!" With a thump, the strong man raised his eyebrows, only to see Brown already kneeling on the ground, face full of misery, voice trembling, "Lord Azure Dragon has temporarily left with Lord Ulrich."