Goodwill Is Hard to Come By

"Hello, Mr. Ji." The old man in the wheelchair was the first to extend a hand. "I am Elder Longge of the church in Tacheng. Thank you for your help last time with Deng's matter." Deng? Ji Jue paused for a second before remembering that it was the surname of the elder in Yacheng. Once someone became an elder, however, they were usually addressed by their clerical title, and few people knew their actual names anymore. What Longge was referring to was Ji Jue having pushed the Seven Cities to intercept the church's hijacked ship and rescue their medical team. Ji Jue took his hand, breaking the clasp almost immediately. "It was nothing. Think nothing of it." "No. In this world, evil done by others may go unpunished, but when we receive kindness, we must repay it." Elder Longge's voice was hoarse. "That is the purpose of the Church, and the principle we uphold. Deng wrote a letter specifically asking me to pass along his regards and gratitude. "Shortly, a procurement letter will be sent for your confirmation. From now on, all equipment required by the church in Tacheng will be purchased from Haian. "Furthermore, if there is anything else you need, please do not hesitate to speak plainly." ... Ji Jue fell silent for a moment, bewildered. "So direct?" Rather than offering thanks, the elder's tone sounded more like settling a debt of gratitude. He showed no intention whatsoever of drawing closer—polite yet distant. "When you hold this position, before you realize it, you end up like this," Elder Longge replied calmly. His face, covered in wrinkles and sunspots, had long grown accustomed to an expressionless, harsh demeanor. Occasionally, the corner of his eye twitched with a nervous spasm, but most of the time, he displayed a sternness and coldness that came from within. He could hardly be called approachable. He was completely different from the church members in Ji Jue's memory! "My words are harsh, and my expression is unpleasant. But as an ornament, I serve well enough to spoil people's appetites. If I've caused offense, I ask for your understanding." Ji Jue was momentarily at a loss for words. There was no blaming the church for being abrasive; it was entirely deliberate. They had no need to fawn on everyone, and they certainly couldn't be slippery socialites. Speaking harshly and maintaining an unpleasant look were precisely the attitude and style the church needed most in a godforsaken place like the Mid-Continent. This was an intentionally cultivated attitude and persona. It was the best way to keep irrelevant people at arm's length, and to keep the sordid dealings and backroom horse-trading of the Empire and Federation far away from them. To survive long in a cesspool like this without letting your nature be altered, you had to turn yourself into a stone: foul-smelling and hard as iron. Goodwill was precious, but doing good was hard. The sweet rain was far too sparse. Compared to the chaos of the Mid-Continent, no amount of resources poured in was more than a drop in the bucket. He had to ensure that this meager strength was not manipulated by others, and that it was directed to where it mattered most. He couldn't blame Elder Longge. Ji Jue really had to look at himself. At this critical juncture, as the representative of Haichao Armaments—an arms dealer poised to spread his wings, destined perhaps for infamy—the fact that the elder was willing to come over, shake his hand, and show some goodwill was already pushing the limits of what he could do. The Medal of Supreme Goodness, the debt owed to Elder Deng, and Ji Jue's past deeds: If even one of those had been missing, Elder Longge wouldn't have given him the time of day. What was more, the elder had taken the initiative to open a breakthrough into the market for Haian Industries. With even the slightest misstep, the Church of Chongguang's neutral stance and halo of righteousness would be questioned, even tainted. Once the jelly was in your stomach, if someone questioned whether it was one bowl or two, Elder Longge might have no choice but to slit his own belly open to prove the church's innocence. This debt of gratitude was immense. "Thank you," Ji Jue sighed, expressing heartfelt gratitude. "The elder really didn't need to make an appearance. There was truly no need to waste such a precious opportunity on someone scurrying for petty profit like me." "Doing good may be difficult, but that does not mean one should do nothing." Longge's expression remained detached. "Even now, I am willing to wager that your coming to the Mid-Continent, Mr. Ji, might not be a bad thing for many people." "I don't even know what I'm going to do myself." "Indeed. But as for what not to do, haven't you always held to your limits, Mr. Ji? That is enough. As long as you can manage that, the church's repayment will not have been in vain." For a fleeting moment under the dim lights, the corner of that withered, gaunt face twitched upward again, as though straining for a smile, even if only for a fraction of a second. Gone in a flash. Yet it was the most sincere gratitude and hope Ji Jue had received from anyone since setting foot on the soil of the Mid-Continent. Compared to that, all other warm smiles paled into insignificance. "In that case, excuse me, Mr. Ji." Elder Longge wheeled his chair backward a short distance and turned around. "Time is precious. I must head back to organize the firefighting." "Do you need help?" Ji Jue pressed. "No need. If Mr. Ji puts out a fire, I fear the flames would only burn higher, wouldn't they?" Longge shook his head, but just before leaving, he paused. After a brief silence, he slowly turned his head to look back at Ji Jue. "If Mr. Ji finds some free time in the future, why not visit the church under a different identity?" He said softly, "Though our conditions are humble, with only plain fare and no fine food or wine, the wild fruit the children gather from the wilderness is quite sweet. It tastes of a clear conscience." "I certainly will." Ji Jue nodded solemnly in promise, making no move to follow. Standing in place, he watched the elder slowly wheel himself away and vanish into the crowd, paying no further heed to this luxurious world of neon lights and wine. Ji Jue stood silent. After a long time, he let out a soft sigh. In a dogshit world like this, being a good person was truly hard. Being a truly good person was harder still. *** After the banquet ended and the venue gradually emptied, the luxurious lounge remained lively. "The situation looks pretty bad." Shaban reclined on a couch, puffing on a hookah. Glancing at the orders constantly refreshing on the Wild Gathering—eight or nine out of ten pointing toward the exact same target—he shook his head in apparent lamentation. Yet he couldn't help beaming from ear to ear. A bumper harvest, folks! Once Ji Jue arrived, Tacheng became lively; once Haichao arrived, the business rolled in! Looking at the fiery market and the numerous bounties, Shaban felt tempted to wrap his arms around Ji Jue and plant two big kisses on his cheeks. Where had this God of Wealth dropped from? "Aiya, looks like that young fellow's been targeted." Shaban grinned, looking with a half-smile toward the middle-aged man reclining on another sofa, puffing on a cigar. "The Imperial side has already made a move. I doubt they'll let him off. Is Huanyu Heavy Industries just going to sit by and watch?" On the sofa, the cigar-smoking middle-aged man casually puffed a wisp of smoke and sipped his liquor. He didn't look old, yet his temples were already graying. "Huanyu Heavy Industries doesn't even have enough food to feed its own internal mouths. Where would we find room to feed an extra one?" Dugu Ming said indifferently, "There is no plate for Haichao at the Mid-Continent's table. If he wants a seat, he'll have to snatch it himself. If he fails to take it and gets beaten to death, he'll have only himself to blame." "And even if he snatches one, it'll still end up on your plate, right?" Shaban couldn't help shaking his head. Huanyu Heavy Industries, Grand Creation. The T5 of old was scarcely known to anyone now. Among those that survived to this day, thriving the most comfortably yet also transformed beyond recognition, was Huanyu Heavy Industries, which had split between the Federation and the Empire. With the turnover of personnel, successive rounds of financing, mergers, and reorganizations, the two entities had evolved into a terrifying alliance spanning nearly ninety percent of the mortal world's industrial capacity. In theory, Haichao Armaments was also a member of Huanyu Heavy Industries. Yet the internal strife and infighting within Huanyu Heavy Industries never ceased—there was no brotherly affection to speak of. Holding back from ruthless strikes right now was already giving Ji Jue breathing room out of deference to Lyu Yingyue. Whether Ji Jue was willing to admit it or not, the arrival of Haichao Armaments was bound to seize a share of the Mid-Continent's market. And to the Empire, this was unquestionably a probe and expansion by Huanyu Heavy Industries, something they certainly would not ignore. If Ji Jue made a move—no, if he even dared to show an inclination to do so—he was guaranteed to suffer a crushing blow. Just like when Haian Industries had tried to get back to the table in the past. "What if he doesn't make a move?" Shaban asked faintly. At that, Dugu Ming's smile turned mocking, and he countered, "If he wasn't going to make a move, what did he come here for?" From the moment Ji Jue set foot in the Mid-Continent, the signal sent out had reverberated throughout Tacheng. Unless he truly did nothing and scurried back in disgrace, Tacheng would never tolerate his presence. "Hmm? Let me see... The people around him aren't simple either." Shaban flipped through the latest intelligence in his hands—a new dossier, with a photograph showing a middle-aged subordinate accompanying Ji Jue. "Seems he brought along someone from the Xun family. Does Nancheng want a piece of the action too?" "Someone looked into that one long ago. Picked the wrong side in a clan succession battle, kicked off the family registry, and forbidden from using the family name. If he dies, good riddance; if he lives, it's in the hands of fate." "Haian Industries, Haichao Armaments, plus a Tide Sound Workshop. Backed by a Master, with connections leading straight to Tianlu, a Golden Ribbon of the Ring of Taiyi, an associate of the Security Bureau, and ties even to the Mid-Continent Operations Department and the Red Nation..." Shaban clicked his tongue in awe. "Heh, this kid's pedigree is truly fucking spectacular. Now I understand why Chen Xingzhou dared to squeeze an extra six percent out of me using his shipyard. With talent like this around, when would you ever worry about lacking business? "No wonder everybody 'likes' him." He paused, squinting at the photo of Ji Jue in his hand. Full of admiration, as though appreciating an unparalleled divine weapon. —Truly a fine blade. That was true for everyone. A rootless outsider, an overreaching newcomer desperate to join the game, an arrogant craftsman endowed with talent yet blind to reality—who wouldn't like someone like that? At this moment, in the wilderness south of the Mid-Continent, amid an empty, chaotic world, it had long since become a paradise for predators. In this seemingly tumultuous quagmire, there was no room for outsiders. The Federation, the Empire, the military-industrial complex, the Wild Gathering, local compradors, drifting mercenaries—every single one was sharpening their blades in anticipation of the coming storm. For Ji Jue, only one path remained. If he didn't choose, there were plenty of people who would choose for him. Even if Ji Jue wished to treat others with goodwill, someone would gladly 'lend a hand.' Just as the old hounds of Huanyu Heavy Industries hoped Ji Jue would serve as an expendable pawn, charging ahead to break the lines. Eat or be eaten. Defeat one, then fight another, and then the next after that. Until Ji Jue truly carved out a path of blood and earned the right to sit at the table and share in the spoils. Or until the blade dulled, snapped, grew exhausted, took a false step, strayed off course, and fell into being an enemy to the whole world, no longer tolerated by the Mid-Continent, his corpse ultimately left to rot in the wilderness. He was already looking forward to it. Shaban narrowed his eyes. The days ahead were going to be magnificent!