162: Chapter 160 Digging up dirt on each other

The White Dragon King's face changed the instant Director Wen Ya spoke.

Those eyes, previously clouded, suddenly became terrifyingly clear.

He had been fighting with Cecilia for three hundred years.

To end up being used as pathfinders by the Tali Tribe was already frustrating enough.

Now, to make matters worse, The Consortium personally stepped in, clearly intending to use business tactics to reap the rewards.

If they actually succeeded, wouldn't he become a complete clown?

The dark purple magic markings on the left side of his face twitched violently.

Cecilia's consciousness took over half of his face.

At this moment, two mortal enemies who had been scheming against each other for three hundred years were, for once, on the same side.

They couldn't let them connect.

"Lin Mo!"

The White Dragon King's throat was hoarse, but he still shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Don't listen to her sweet talk!"

On the ice field, everyone looked over.

Director Wen Ya just tilted her head slightly, her smile unchanged, polite as if waiting for an unruly subordinate to finish speaking.

The White Dragon King struggled against his chains, the iron links clanking loudly.

"The Consortium? Pah!"

"To put it bluntly, they are the largest loan shark group in the World Sea!"

"I dealt with them three hundred years ago!"

He became more agitated as he spoke.

"Do you know how they treat lower worlds?"

"First, they give you some sweeteners—void matter, law materials, intelligence—whatever you want, they give."

"Once you can't live without them, the conditions get harsher by the day!"

"'Preferential mining rights'? Don't be naive!"

"Once you're dependent on them, they'll squeeze your world dry, then turn around and blame it on 'unforeseeable geological disasters' to make a perfect getaway!"

Cecilia, on the left side of his face, also spoke coldly.

"He is right."

"Many small planes in the Demon Realm have signed mining agreements with them."

"Thirty years later, the Abyss Fire was completely extinguished."

"Now, even insects can't survive there."

One mouth, one body.

Left and right, they lectured Lin Mo.

"The outposts she mentioned are just nails, that's true."

"But she won't tell you that these nails take root!"

"Three hundred people turn into three thousand in a year, and thirty thousand in three years!"

"In the end, your entire economic lifeline will be in their hands!"

"You think this is cooperation? That's an indenture contract!"

Shen Yuntang and Qin Lan's expressions darkened.

They couldn't see how deep the waters of the World Sea were.

But having led the alliance for many years, they knew well how formidable the business tactics of major consortia could be.

If Lin Mo didn't realize this, he might very well fall for The Consortium's trap.

Alliance Leader Jiang You gripped his staff, his brow furrowing deeper, not rushing to interject.

Director Wen Ya maintained that proper smile throughout.

After the two finished their tirade, she spoke softly.

"Are you finished?"

Her tone was calm, as if waiting for a poor performance report.

"Mr. White Dragon King."

Director Wen Ya raised her hand and gestured.

The holographic projection switched immediately, displaying a dense bill that stretched for a full twenty meters.

"We do have a complete record of your dealings with The Consortium three hundred years ago."

"You used the Dragon Temple's credit as collateral to take out a loan of 13.7 billion World Sea currency from the Abyss Starry Sky Bank."

"The stated purpose was: World Reconstruction Fund."

She paused and looked up at the White Dragon King.

"And in reality?"

The White Dragon King's expression froze.

Director Wen Ya continued to scroll down.

"At the Thirteenth Auction House of the World Sea, you consecutively auctioned for seven beauties; the one with the highest unit price was 1.5 billion."

The ice field went silent for a moment.

"That was for cultivating Dragon blood descendants!" the White Dragon King roared, "It was to revive the Dragon race!"

Director Wen Ya didn't respond to that, flicking her finger down again.

"Ms. Cecilia."

The dark purple magic markings on the left face paused.

"You shouldn't be in such a rush to speak for the White Dragon King either."

"The mining agreement signed between the seventh level of the Demon Realm and The Consortium, which led to the extinguishing of the Abyss Fire, is true."

"But the signatory of the agreement—"

She enlarged the signature at the bottom of the document.

"—is you yourself."

Cecilia's face turned black instantly.

"Back then, you used the mining rights as collateral to borrow 870 million World Sea currency from The Consortium."

"The purpose was—"

Director Wen Ya tilted her head slightly.

"Palace renovation and personal image management."

"To put it bluntly, that's renovating your house and buying some clothes while you were at it."

The ice field fell completely silent.

The White Dragon King slowly turned his head to look at Cecilia on the left side of his face.

"You sold a small plane... just to buy clothes?"

"Shut up!"

Cecilia scolded back coldly.

"That was a strategic-level defensive renovation of the Demon Realm Imperial Palace!"

"The bill lists forty-seven sets of Abyss silk dresses, a hot spring palace, and a full-length mirror inlaid with star gemstones."

Director Wen Ya smiled flawlessly.

"Do you want me to pull up the original receipts as well?"

Cecilia didn't speak.

The White Dragon King also fell silent.

Lin Mo put down his teacup and swept his gaze across the stone pillar.

He couldn't help but chuckle.

"Why are you two in such a rush to badmouth them to me?"

The White Dragon King's face was livid.

"Regardless of whether I owe money or not, the fact that The Consortium swallows up lower worlds is true!"

Director Wen Ya nodded.

"The Consortium has indeed had operational accidents."

"But every accident has a complete record of compensation."

"If Mr. Lin would like to understand, we can grant you partial information access."

Lin Mo finished watching this farce, stood up, and walked to the projection.

"I basically agree to the terms."

As soon as these words were spoken, several people on the ice field changed their expressions.

Shen Yuntang opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

Qin Lan's brows knitted together.

The White Dragon King and Cecilia both widened their eyes, looking as if they thought he was crazy.

Director Wen Ya's smile finally had a trace of genuine curvature.

"Mr. Lin is indeed—"

"But there are a few places that need to be changed."

Lin Mo held up one finger.

"First, the mining veins."

"Preferential mining rights can be granted."

"But only mining veins permitted for operation can be mined; every single one must first pass my written approval."

"Without my signature, you cannot dig a single hoe-full."

Everything in this world belongs to Su Xiaoli; Lin Mo couldn't let them hollow out her assets.

Director Wen Ya's smile didn't change, but her blinking frequency increased slightly.

"Mr. Lin, we will accommodate your request."

The confident smile on Director Wen Ya's face didn't disappear at all.

As long as the trade channels are opened, The Consortium can use the resource gap to create a large trade deficit.

By then, the resources of this world will be under their control.

Getting mining permits would be nothing more than a matter of saying a word.

Lin Mo held up a second finger.

"Outposts, three hundred people, that's the limit."

"You choose the locations yourselves, and report them to me after choosing."

"Without permission, you may not expand your personnel, build private facilities, or conduct any exploration, collection, or surveying activities outside the outpost areas."

Director Wen Ya's smile finally showed a very slight change.