it is difficult to answer Han Yazhu finally said There were things I have seen that likely you were unable to witness but there were also things I do not know By the end of it their power
What is there to know We do not have that kind of power Xia said bitterly She had always known that Donnyton was powerful Economically and socially all roads in the current political climate of Earth seemed to lead to Donnyton But to see someone conjure a storm out of thin air and use it as a weapon
Zone Seven was struggling to catch up to Donnyton in terms of production they held no hope of rivaling that amount of military power And Clarissa was only a single woman
Han leaned forward Do not falter We always knew that Donnyton had deep reserves of strength Is that not why we have refrained from stepping up hostilities with them No matter how small the pond the local ruler wields immense strength But we need to take the long view
How long would it take for our armies to stand against that storm Xia couldnÆt contain her frustration Her hands were trembling She couldnÆt forget how she had so recently recommended that they do just that engage in overt fighting with Donnyton before they could grow stronger If the fellow minds of Xiang Le had agreed with her
Xia shook her head We are a people that have always sacrificed small comforts for the long view of the world Yet is there a path where we could overtake Donnyton
To that Han Yazhu just looked tired
Xia knew it was a difficult question The System was a variable that continually threw new threats at them Zone Seven had stabilized by turning their Villages into fortresses but that also meant that there were portions of the countryside that were filled with Raid Boss spawn The concentration of people gave Zone Seven increased control over the population but it had bred resentment Even ever loyal Han wouldnÆt deny that
Yet those costs would have been worth it if it would lead Zone Seven to a glorious future And yet now
Their conversation was further derailed by a man sauntering up to their table and tapping his finger against the heavy wood He flashed a handsome smile at the two of them pushing back his hair to reveal sharp eyes Have room for a third
To XiaÆs surprise Han Yazhu nodded seriously This made her give this new arrival a more careful inspection There was no way that Han YazhuÆs panicked protection of her would allow him to simply allow a stranger to make himself comfortable at their table Therefore this must have been arranged
The arrival was tall and self assured grinning at Xia in an extremely disrespectful way But as she examined his cocky demeanor with more focus a name clicked in her head Ah Ace correct To think the leader of the Refuge would slip into Donnyton for the challenge as well It is a pleasure to meet you
Who would miss it It makes my blood burn to watch I almost wish I could join the Squads fighting up there Ace laughed ItÆs easy to forget heÆs human Randidly The way he fights the things he creates He just keeps on surprising me
Did you see how he did it Han interrupted Xia pressed her lips together she didnÆt like the frank statement of their weakness To ask Ace with such desperation in the tone was to reveal they had not been able to find out the answer themselves
Although both she and Han Yazhu had trained to become sufficiently strong they had to go through none of the hardships that those of DonnytonÆs Zone endured Zone Seven was one of the eight Zones that received word beforehand of what was to come So they were prepared
Or they thought they had been The System was much more dangerous than they had been warned
Yet right now Xia couldnÆt fault Han she was curious about what had occurred as well
It was obvious from the remnants that Clarissa had someone summoned a great deal of destructive wind It seemed like the ground had been ripped up in a cone the point aiming directly toward RandidlyÆs heart Yet as that dust settled those tall twisting roots remained unbroken by the earlier violence
Yet as the dust settled Randidly stood in that same spot just looking at the exhausted Clarissa She hadnÆt even been able to force him to move
Ace grimaced and rubbed his shoulders Well I canÆt deny that I saw it but I donÆt think me telling you how he did it will make much sense Some parts of his life just sound made up Randidly used those roots to reach up and snatched the wind Physically covered it with roots and pressed down Smashed it into nothing
You cannot grab the wind Han said with a curt shake of the head
Ace laughed awkwardly I donÆt know what to say to that But I can say that Randidly certainly did just grab the wind and smash it to nothing ThatÆs just the sort of man he is
Wind is air Xia said tartly It would flow right around any attempts to grab it It compresses easily into small spaces and it is part of grand weather patterns that dwarf the significance of humans The strength of an entire climate is not a simple thing Mr Ace
Call me Mr Ridge if you insist on being stuffy Ace said with a shrug If you were right about that we wouldnÆt be so impressed now would we It shouldnÆt be possible It definitely wasnÆt easy And the worst part was that he wasnÆt spent after the process Which is why we are speaking is it not Because you have witnessed the depth that Donnyton possesses Even setting aside the monster that is Randidly Ghosthound could you endure Clarissa
That silenced Xia Her logical brain continued to insist that explanation wasnÆt plausible Yet she was also struck by the truth in the second thing that Ace suggested that even the loser in that exchange was beyond Zone Seven
The System had pushed Earth beyond a logical understanding It was now almost more story that substance Which Randidly was pushing even more forcefully with his focus on images Zone Seven was prepared to buckle down and work together to advance the glory of their Zone to be the gem of Earth That was their image Progress through unity
Donnyton worshipped individual power Clarissa was practically a miracle worker with the Skills she was able to use
Yet Randidly Ghosthound was on a completely different path A path that ran roughshod over both And the power he displayed made it seem very foolish to not walk that same path
But itÆs brought us together hasnÆt it AceÆs smile was wide and shark like For the first time since they met Xia felt a dangerous tingle between her shoulder blades as she looked at him Her eyes narrowed For all that this man looked like simply a fool he was dangerous Powerful enough to have assisted the Undying Hero and endured DonnytonÆs ire
It isnÆt simply Donnyton that possesses a hidden monster
A beautiful and auspicious meeting Han agreed with a dry tone AceÆs smile stretched wider but he didnÆt comment on the edge of sarcasm to HanÆs voice Our brilliant Zone would be happy to arrange a trade agreement with the Refuge From what I understand much of the less official goods pass through the Refuge It is said that you can buy anything under the sun within its walls
It is true Ace agreed with a smile So What does Zone Seven want to buy
obviously challenging Donnyton directly is difficult Han said slowly Then he leaned forward Yet I have gone into the markets and seen many unique items Bits of pure elemental energy condensed As DonnytonÆs production is very idiosyncratic they are moving toward relying heavily on these bits of energy If we would be able to dominate that market
East EndÆs Elemental condensations Xia said quietly How are they made
Ace chuckled
Chapter 932
I will take the lead Paolo said as he adjusted his leather gloves The thick leather was almost purple a dulled remnant of the vivid dinosaur that Paolo had slain in order to acquire the leather After that the processing of the material had taken even more effort he had to pay Sam a small fortune due to how intensive it was to handle the stubborn skin
Kayle smirked examining his reflection in one of his long knives The knife was impeccably polished revealing every contour of his jaw Is that so One shouldnÆt make statements so casually when you clearly lack the capability to follow up on them what if a child hears and is disappointed