Chapter 455: Chapter 394: Harboring Different Motives
"What do you all think of Li Zheng’s performance today?" someone asked.
"What else is there to think? Just killed a few more mutants, nothing to fuss about," someone replied disdainfully.
"It’s not like that. I sent someone in to experience the Matrix’s event this time. Every mutant’s strength is formidable, at least starting from a Diamond Level strength," someone stated objectively.
"Not only that! Those with Diamond Level strength were numbered towards the end. Li Zheng and his team have now reached number nineteen, encountering mutants whose strength might already be at an Extraordinary Level, and perhaps at the peak of Extraordinary Level!" someone stated seriously.
"Peak of Extraordinary Level? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated? We all entered the Matrix together, why is his strength so overwhelming? I think the nineteenth mutant should be at the peak of Diamond Level, close to Extraordinary," someone questioned.
"Huh, why don’t you just send someone in to experience it yourself? Li Zheng and his team are now challenging the eighteenth mutant. You send someone to the seventeenth and see if they can come out in thirty seconds," someone sneered.
"Stop fighting! Isn’t the reason we’re all gathered here to gain some benefits from Li Zheng? The stronger he is, the more good stuff he has, and our eventual profits will naturally be higher," someone tried to mediate.
"Are you kidding me? Li Zheng’s strength has at least reached the Star Shining Level threshold and maybe even stronger! We have no qualification to gain benefits from him. If you’re up for it, go ahead, I’m backing out of this alliance," someone backed out on impulse.
"Is there anyone else who wants to leave? If you want to leave, do it now. It won’t be so easy if you back out when the plan is being implemented," someone threatened with a hint of warning.
"I’m backing out too! Without today’s crazy mutant slaughter, I would have put my full effort into this alliance, but now I see no hope; continuing the plan is like signing a death warrant," someone else backed out too.
Following this, people kept leaving the group chat, without even leaving any parting words.
Within a minute, the group had only five people left, each representing an organization.
"I guess those remaining have some strong foundation, so I’ll speak openly. The action starts tonight, I’ll deploy thirty Chip Warriors, all equipped with the best weapons and combat suits," spoke Jes D. Fortson, the head of White-headed Eagle.
"Not enough!" replied Joshua, a player: "Everyone knows your White-headed Eagle’s ace is the Superpower Team. Such a major operation, yet you don’t send out the Superpower Team members, only a few cheap Chip Warriors?"
Earlier, it was mentioned that White-headed Eagle members mostly came from the former Star-Spangled Banner Country military, and before entering the Matrix, they were reputed as the ultra-super ace who could single-handedly challenge an entire special forces team from any other country.
Yet such an elite force is measured in worth in the eyes of these people, discussed not as people but as commodities.
As if these soldiers, controlled by chips by Jes, were no different from livestock and could be traded or used as expendable resources.
"I’m still a bit short of conquering the technological aspect within the Matrix, haven’t yet developed a similar chip to control the Superpower Team members. Sending them to deal with Li Zheng might just result in more cases of desertion," Jes revealed candidly, as a scientist, his strategic depth wasn’t as profound as political players.
"Is that so? I’ve heard that the chip was actually developed by your student, but was secretly usurped by you and bore your name," suddenly spoke another player present at the auction, "When the chip was leaked initially, you were once hailed as the world’s top technology developer by various countries; now you can’t even crack the Matrix’s tech setup gameplay?"
"One can’t help but find this amusing. I must say, those useless followers under me managed to research the gameplay to some extent a few days ago," said Tanaka Junichiro.
"Mr. Tanaka is correct," added Rebecca, a female player: "From what I know, the Nine Heavens Organization in Dragon Country has no fewer than thirty tech players, two of whom have already thoroughly researched this gameplay in the early days of the game and developed quite a few good items."
"So what do you want?" Jes’s face turned grim; he always believed that his hold over thousands of Chip Warriors made his power and influence the strongest within the Matrix.
However, after interacting in recent days, he realized that his pride as White-headed Eagle was crushed.
Perhaps his current predicament could only be summed up in one phrase: The times have changed, old man!
"What do we want?" Tanaka Junichiro replied with a seemingly smiling text message: "Mr. Jes, you need to up your ante, or you won’t qualify to participate in this plan."
Nihong Country had been White-headed Eagle’s lapdog for many years, now finally seizing the chance to regain some dignity, Tanaka Junichiro didn’t hesitate to bite back.
Joshua too added: "Exactly, if White-headed Eagle can only offer Chip Warriors, then at least double the number, and they all must have undergone one or two mechanical limb modifications no less than Diamond quality!"
"What! Impossible!" Jes immediately refused: "Such a price is too high; if I dispatch such a troop, why would I need to ally with you?"
Sixty fearless, death-defying soldiers who underwent Diamond Level adaptations, fully armed with weapons and protective gear, none lower than Platinum Level.
It’s no exaggeration to say such a team could almost sweep a channel assembled by random players.
Forcing Jes to dispatch such a squad to deal with Li Zheng alone? That’s absolutely impossible!
No matter how strong Li Zheng is, facing such a lineup, he would be overwhelmed and defeated.
Why need other organizations’ cooperation for such a task?
Are they just planning to grab the spoils?
Jes may not be very cunning, but he’s not foolish.
"Let me speak fairly," finally Diana, the last female player, chimed in: "It seems difficult to ask Jes to muster such a fleet."
"Why not... reduce the number to forty, but ensure all gear quality isn’t lower than Diamond, how about that?"
"The remaining force will be supplemented by us four organizations, aiming to form absolute dominance over Li Zheng."
"What do you think?"
Diana’s argument seemed to relieve Jes, yet in reality, the cost he might bear would be higher than the previous proposal!
After all, the value of sixty sets of Platinum Level equipment can’t compare to forty sets of Diamond Level equipment.
This so-called alliance, rather than being a joint effort by a few houses against Li Zheng, was more like an open and covert struggle between several organizations.
Ultimately, Li Zheng is just a lone player with no backer; how strong can he really be?
Tanaka Junichiro and others didn’t really regard Li Zheng seriously, he was merely an added factor.
Most importantly, they aimed to use this opportunity to distract Jes and dismantle the White-headed Eagle Organization!