Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 340 Sending People to Rescue

"what is the problem?"

"Do you have any particular rivals or enemies inside the Giant Axe Arena?" Rowan asked directly.

Emperor Yan was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Within any large organization, there will be power struggles and conflicts of interest. The Giant Axe Arena is no exception."

"Could you elaborate?" Rowan pressed.

“There are two main people,” Emperor Yan considered for a moment, then decided to be frank with Rowan, “one is Sak, the elder I was communicating with just now. The other is Lei Ming, also an elder.”

Why would they have a conflict with you?

"The main difference lies in our philosophies," Emperor Yan explained. "Sak advocates a more aggressive expansion policy, believing that the Giant Axe Arena should take the initiative to conquer more star systems. I, on the other hand, prefer a steady approach, consolidating the existing foundation."

"And what about thunder?"

“Leiming’s situation is more complicated,” the Flame Emperor’s expression became somewhat unnatural. “We have some personal grudges between us, involving something that happened many years ago.”

"What is it?" Rowan keenly sensed the key information.

Emperor Yan hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to speak: "Many years ago, Lei Ming and I both pursued the same woman, and she ultimately chose me. However, she later sacrificed herself in a mission, and Lei Ming has always believed that my wrong decision led to her death."

“I see,” Rowan nodded, acknowledging that such personal grudges could indeed escalate into deadly hatred. “So, which of them do you think orchestrated this incident?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t want to believe it,” Emperor Yan said painfully, “but the current situation is indeed very suspicious.”

“We need more information to make a judgment,” Rowan said, “but right now the most important thing is to ensure our safety.”

Over the next few days, their spaceship traveled smoothly through space. To avoid arousing suspicion, they chose a relatively slow but safe commercial route.

During the voyage, Luo Wen and Emperor Yan discussed the evolving situation and possible countermeasures on several occasions. Through these in-depth exchanges, a deeper relationship of trust was established between the two.

"Rowan, I must admit, your wisdom has impressed me greatly," Emperor Yan said in a conversation. "If it weren't for your reminder and analysis, I might be dead by now."

“You’re too kind,” Rowan replied modestly. “I just did what I should do.”

“No, this is more than just something I should do,” Emperor Yan said earnestly. “Your wisdom saved my life and may have also preserved a vital asset of the Giant Axe Arena. I will remember this kindness forever.”

"So how do you plan to repay this kindness?" Rowan asked, half-jokingly.

"What do you want?" Emperor Yan asked earnestly. "Anything I can do, I will grant your wish."

Rowan thought for a moment, then said, "I hope Earth can have a better future in the universe, and I hope that Earthlings can gain more opportunities and resources."

“This request is reasonable,” Emperor Yan nodded. “I promise that if we can safely overcome this crisis, I will fully support the development of Earth.”

“Thank you,” Rowan said sincerely.

A few days later, they finally reached the border of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire. Looking at the huge planet in the distance known as the "Black Dragon Capital," Rowan was filled with complex emotions.

"We've finally arrived," Emperor Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

“Yes, but our journey isn’t over yet,” Rowan cautioned. “We must be even more careful from now on.”

“I understand,” Emperor Yan nodded. “We will act strictly according to the plan and will not reveal our true identities to anyone.”

The commercial district of the capital star of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire was bustling with activity. Merchants and tourists of various races strolled along the wide streets, and flying vehicles moved about in an orderly fashion. The entire city was filled with an atmosphere of prosperity. In this vast commercial center, two new faces were earnestly playing the role of merchants.

Luo Wen, dressed in a smart business suit, held an electronic list and was carefully inspecting the goods he had just purchased. Meanwhile, Emperor Yan had changed out of his usual imposing battle robes and into casual merchant attire, looking like a successful middle-aged businessman.

"This batch of black dragon crystals is of good quality," Emperor Yan said, picking up a deep black crystal to examine it closely. "It should fetch a good price in other star systems."

“Yes, and the price was very reasonable,” Rowan played along. “The Black Dragon Mountain Empire is indeed rich in mineral resources, and this purchase was a great success.”

For the past few days, they've been shopping for local specialties in major malls and wholesale markets on the capital planet of Black Dragon. To make their disguise more convincing, they actually bought a large quantity of goods—Black Dragon crystals, imperial spices, exquisite handicrafts, and even some local delicacies.

"Is there anything else we need to buy?" Emperor Yan asked, having fully embraced the role of a merchant.

“I think that’s about enough,” Rowan said, checking the inventory. “The cargo hold is almost full; any more and it’ll be overloaded. And we should prepare to head to our next destination.”

"Next destination?" A merchant who was selecting goods nearby overheard their conversation and curiously interjected, "Where are you two going, gentlemen?"

He was a kind-looking middle-aged man, slightly overweight, with a smile always on his face. Judging from his clothing and manner of speaking, he seemed to be an experienced businessman.

“We plan to check out the territory under the Giant Axe Arena,” Emperor Yan replied. “I’ve heard there are quite a few business opportunities there.”

"The Giant Axe Arena?" The middle-aged merchant's expression became somewhat complicated. "That's no ordinary place."

"How so?" Rowan asked, feigning curiosity.

"Is this your first time doing business there, gentlemen?" The middle-aged businessman looked at them. "My name is Li Qiang. I've been doing business in this area for over ten years and I'm quite familiar with the various factions."

"That's wonderful. Please give us your guidance, Mr. Li," Emperor Yan said politely. "It's indeed our first time going there, and we're not very familiar with the situation."

"How about this, let's find a place to sit down and talk slowly," Li Qiang suggested. "I also need to rest for a bit."

The three of them went to a teahouse in the mall, ordered a pot of local specialty tea, and began to chat while drinking tea.

"The Giant Axe Arena is a very powerful force, everyone knows that," Li Qiang began, "but for us small merchants, doing business there has its pros and cons."

"What's the good side?" Rowan asked.

"The good thing is that the order is stable and the security is very good," Li Qiang replied. "Within the star field managed by the Giant Axe Arena, there are basically no space pirates or other lawbreakers, so merchants can do business with peace of mind."

"And what about the downsides?" Emperor Yan continued to ask.

“The downside is that taxes are higher and there are a lot of rules,” Li Qiang complained. “Their officials are sometimes quite strict, unlike the more flexible officials in our Black Dragon Mountain Empire.” “Strict officials? How exactly are they strict?” Luo Wen pressed.

“They’re very rigid in their approach, strictly adhering to the terms and conditions, and don’t allow any violations,” Li Qiang explained. “Once, because of a small error on the goods manifest, they held my shipment for half a month before releasing it.”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yan felt a pang of unease. He knew that the management of the Giant Axe Arena was indeed quite strict, but he hadn't expected it to be perceived this way by ordinary merchants.

"What about the higher-ups at the Giant Axe Arena?" Emperor Yan asked tentatively. "What is the general public's opinion of them?"

“That’s complicated,” Li Qiang thought for a moment, “Different people have different opinions.”

"Could you elaborate?" Rowan asked cooperatively.

“For example, some of their elders,” Li Qiang lowered his voice, “Elder Sack doesn’t have a good reputation among the merchants. Everyone thinks he’s too radical, often stirring up trouble and affecting trade.”

Emperor Yan's heart stirred; this assessment was basically consistent with his understanding of Sak.

"What about the other elders?" Emperor Yan continued to ask.

“Elder Lei Ming is quite popular,” Li Qiang continued. “He’s rather mild-mannered and often speaks up for the interests of businessmen. However, I’ve heard he has some disagreements with another elder.”

"Which elder?"

“It seems his name is Yan Di,” Li Qiang replied, then looked around to make sure no one was watching before whispering, “It’s said that this Elder Yan Di is rather stubborn and unwilling to change existing policies, so he often disagrees with Elder Lei Ming.”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yan maintained a calm expression, but his heart was in turmoil. In the eyes of ordinary people, he was actually a stubborn and inflexible figure.

"What is the general public's opinion of this Elder Yan?" Luo Wen asked astutely.

"To be honest, the evaluation is rather average," Li Qiang said frankly. "Most people think he has the ability, but he's too conservative and lacks decisiveness. There are also rumors that he's indecisive when handling important matters, missing many opportunities."

These words pierced Emperor Yan's heart like knives. He never imagined that his image among the people would be like this—conservative, stubborn, and indecisive.

“However, some people defend him,” Li Qiang added, “saying that although he is conservative, he is prudent and won’t make risky decisions easily. And indeed, major unrest rarely occurs in the areas he manages.”

"It seems that the public's opinion of the higher-ups at the Giant Axe Arena is quite complex," Luo Wen concluded.

“Yes, after all, everyone has a different perspective and a different viewpoint,” Li Qiang nodded in agreement. “But overall, the Giant Axe Arena is still a trustworthy force, at least much better than some chaotic star systems.”

Just then, a few more people sat down next to the tea table; they sounded like businessmen as well. Their conversation was quite loud, and it quickly attracted the attention of the three men.

"Have you heard? Something's happened at the Giant Axe Arena lately," one of the young merchants said in a low voice.

"What's the matter?" the other person asked curiously.

"I heard that Blue Crystal Star was attacked, but I don't know the specifics," the young merchant replied. "I only heard that Elder Yan Emperor personally went to handle it."

Emperor Yan and Luo Wen exchanged a glance, surprised that the news had spread so quickly.

"Elder Yandi has gone? Then there shouldn't be any problems, right?" someone asked.

"That's hard to say," a seemingly experienced merchant shook his head. "What I've heard is that the enemy this time is very powerful, and it seems Elder Yan is also in trouble."

"What's the trouble?"

"The specifics are unclear, but I've heard he hasn't returned to headquarters yet," the seasoned businessman said mysteriously. "And there are rumors that this incident might involve internal strife within the Giant Axe Arena."

"Internal strife?" Several people became interested.

“It’s a power struggle among the higher-ups,” the seasoned businessman explained. “Elder Sak and Elder Lei Ming have never gotten along, and Elder Yan Di has some conflicts with both of them. Under these circumstances, it’s not surprising that internal strife has occurred.”

"If it really is internal strife, will it affect our business?" someone asked worriedly.

“There will definitely be an impact,” the seasoned businessman said confidently. “If the Giant Axe Arena falls into chaos, the stability of the entire sector will be affected. Various speculators will then take advantage of the situation, and we small business owners will be the ones who suffer.”

Hearing these discussions, Emperor Yan felt a mix of emotions. He hadn't expected that his situation had become such a hot topic among the people, and that he was even suspected of being a victim of internal strife.

“However, I don’t think Elder Yan Emperor should be in any danger,” an old merchant sitting in the corner suddenly said. “Although he’s usually quite low-key, he’s still very powerful.”

"Do you know much about Elder Yan?" someone asked.

"I suppose so. I've been in business for many years and have dealt with quite a few people from the Giant Axe Arena," the old merchant replied. "Although Elder Yandi isn't as flamboyant as Elder Sak, nor as shrewd as Elder Leiming, he's a man of action."

"How to say?"

"I once encountered an attack by space pirates, and suffered heavy losses. I sought help from the Giant Axe Arena," the old merchant recalled. "The other elders all made excuses to refuse, but Elder Yandi sent people to rescue us without hesitation."

"Really?"

“Of course it’s true, I still have the thank-you letter from back then,” the old merchant said confidently. “Although Elder Yandi may not be as politically as others, he did a very good job in protecting ordinary people.”

These words warmed Emperor Yan's heart. Although he had a poor image in the eyes of many, at least some people remembered his good deeds.

"So I think that if it really is an internal power struggle, Elder Yan might actually be the victim," the old merchant continued. "Upright people like him often suffer in the game of power."

"So how do you think this incident will develop?" someone asked.

“That’s hard to say,” the old businessman shook his head. “The outcome of a power struggle is difficult to predict; I just hope it doesn’t affect ordinary people like us.”

After listening to this conversation, all three fell into deep thought. Li Qiang spoke first: "It seems the situation inside the Giant Axe Arena is indeed quite complex."

“Yes, power struggles exist in any organization,” Rowan agreed. “We business people are best off remaining neutral and not getting involved.”

“That’s right,” Emperor Yan nodded in agreement, but in his mind he was thinking about the various comments he had just heard.

(End of this chapter)