Chapter 188 Transaction

Inside the stronghold, all work is proceeding in an orderly manner.

Zhao Kui was also very busy. In addition to his daily work, he still spared no effort to introduce "Lord Xingqiong" to newcomers.

"See that? That one! Our second-in-command! She is no ordinary person, she is the 'Lord of the Starry Sky' walking on earth, and she is inspired by God! Otherwise, how could she drive away the illnesses in your bodies with just a wave of her hand?" Zhao Kui's saliva flew, and his voice was filled with unquestionable fanaticism.

I walked past him expressionlessly, shutting myself out from the noise and admiration behind the office door.

The room finally became quiet.

Through the foggy glass window, I could see the children being taken in on the open space in the distance.

Their faces were still pale and their coughs had not completely stopped, but the deadness in their eyes had dissipated, replaced by a kind of ignorant vitality.

It seems that my "illusory comfort" worked after all and helped them get through the most dangerous hurdle. The rest can only be left to time and their own bodies.

Occasionally, some tiny whispers would penetrate the barriers of space. They were not the whispers of evil gods, but the prayers of believers, floating into my perception along the threads of faith.

Most of them were trivial thoughts - wanting to eat another piece of meat, hoping that the search team would find something good tomorrow, cursing that this damn doomsday would end soon... and so on.

I naturally do not have the power to end the apocalypse. As for those selfish desires, "Lord of the Starry Sky" is not idle enough to satisfy the appetite of every believer one by one.

What they really desire is stability, shelter, and a corner where they can breathe in despair.

The Black Dragon Gang can provide this for the time being.

But the Black Dragon Gang’s foundation has never been stable.

In the past, Bai Zang relied on ruthless means and tyrannical strength to subdue a group of desperate criminals, but this is like sitting on the mouth of a volcano, with greed, violence and a vicious nature that could backfire at any time suppressed underneath.

Such an organization that is purely maintained by interests and fear will not last long.

These days, I have been subtly mixing in other things under the name of "Lord Starry Sky".

Deterrence is not the effect I want. What I want to promote is the vague admonitions about "order", "mutual assistance" and "hope".

The effect was minimal, but it was like a drop of water wearing away a stone, allowing a glimmer of different light to penetrate this organization filled with hostility.

The atmosphere in the gang does seem to be a little less tense than before when it was purely a game of the weak and vulnerable.

During this period, Bai Zang evolved again.

…

Ever since the last big commotion in Wudang City and Binhai Town, the Investigation Bureau's attention was briefly diverted.

But the Investigation Bureau did not give up and continued to monitor this place. They always felt that the secret-level personnel from last time was still thinking about this matter.

Maybe I should be more honest these days.

But when I think about when Gali might wake up, I can't be at peace.

I need more. More devout faith, more gathered strength. The Black Dragon Gang's expansion is too slow. In the ruins of the apocalypse, the survivors are like scattered sand, difficult to gather quickly.

After much thought, the only connections that can be mobilized at the moment are the Black Dragon Gang and the Secret Garden Society.

After dismissing my attendants, I took out the mirror that connected me to Lin Hanning. I gathered a little starlight on my fingertips and slowly poured it into it.

The mirror rippled like water, and after a moment, Lin Hanning's figure emerged. She seemed to be in front of a screen filled with data streams. Seeing me, she wasn't surprised, but only raised an eyebrow slightly. "Ji Ling? Looks like you've encountered a problem that needs the association's help?"

Without exchanging pleasantries, I cut straight to the point: "I need to quickly expand the faith of 'Lord of the Starry Sky' and influence more people. I know Secret Garden has the ability to do this."

The formulaic smile on Lin Hanning's face faded slightly, replaced by a cautious inquiry: "Oh? Expanding faith? This doesn't seem to be simply for self-preservation. Tell me, how large a scope do you want? What kind of influence do you want?"

"As big as possible." My voice was calm, yet filled with unquestionable determination. "Not just in these ruins. I hope to see the name of 'Lord Starry Sky' known, discussed, and, ideally, believed in, even in those large shelters where basic order can still be maintained, and even in those marginal areas where the Bureau's influence is weak."

Lin Hanning was silent for a few seconds, as if evaluating the weight of my request and the intention behind it.

Then, she slowly spoke, "The Secret Garden Society does possess certain... information channels and networks of influence. We can quietly spread specific stories and 'miracles' among certain groups of people, guiding refugees yearning for spiritual sustenance towards your base. We can even sow seeds of neutrality or curiosity about 'Lord Starry Sky' among the management of certain shelters."

She changed the subject, her eyes sharpening. "But this requires the use of valuable resources and risks alerting other forces, especially the Bureau of Investigation. Ji Ling, what can you offer? The expansion of faith is power to you, but to the Secret Garden Society, it's simply an investment that needs to be evaluated for returns."

I am not surprised by this.

I've already considered the cost. The Secret Garden has no shortage of common supplies, nor low-level thugs.

"There are three rewards."

I said clearly, "First, faith is also influence. The greater the influence of 'Starry Sky Lord', the deeper the Secret Garden's control over the world situation will be."

"Secondly, within the area of ​​​​the Starry Sky Lord's faith, the Secret Garden will have priority in talent selection and intelligence sharing. You can have priority in contacting and recruiting anyone you like."

"third."

I paused, then continued, "Since there are quite a few people like me in the association, I guess you need to study God's authority. Perhaps quite a few people in the association also hold some other kind of authority, right?"

Lin Hanning paused slightly and looked at me with interest.

I continued, offering my most important bargaining chip: "I can share what I know about how to further grasp God's authority. I think you might quite need it."

On the other side of the mirror, Lin Hanning's breathing seemed to pause slightly. She might have expected the first two conditions, but the third one clearly touched upon the Secret Garden Society's true interest. Studying the power of the gods was one of their most important subjects.

She remained silent for a longer period, seemingly weighing the pros and cons quickly, perhaps communicating with higher-ups.

Finally, she raised her head, her eyes gleaming. "It's a very tempting offer, especially the third one. The Association has agreed to the deal in principle. I will immediately arrange for 'Guide 07' to contact you with the specific operational details and the faith power transmission technology. We will begin by infiltrating and spreading the message in three medium-sized shelters and refugee gathering points in the surrounding area. We expect initial results to be evident within two weeks."

"Remember, Ji Ling," she finally reminded him, her tone carrying a hint of meaning. "The Association helps you sow the seeds of faith, but whether they can truly take root and sprout, and bear the fruit you desire, ultimately depends on you. Also, faith is a double-edged sword. It can gather strength, but it can also backfire. You're on your own."