Chapter 103: Chapter 93: Ash War Officer (Part 2)

In impression, all the officers of the Ashen Battle Group are gold-grade navigators. They are the tough ones who survived the Forbidden Route!

But why would someone like Frank be mixing with shortsighted merchants now?

When did the Ashen Battle Group fall to such a state?

Charles’s thoughts spun rapidly.

At first, he was indeed a bit indecisive, unwilling to offend this Alliance officer and thus had to endure pressure from the merchants.

After all, as Frank said, the newly formed Ark lacks the power to resist the Blood Plague Curse and needs the support of the Alliance.

But now it’s different.

The Ark War Chariot soaring in the sky is the backbone for Charles to stand tall at this moment!

So he didn’t hesitate to swing the hammer in his hand, smashing the attitude of the Ark out! He would never concede to the chambers of commerce!

"Mr. Frank, everything I do is for the ideals of the Alliance, and I have never forgotten the unity concept proposed by the Governor."

Charles faced the war officer of the Ashen Battle Group, with an earnest expression, speaking neither humbly nor arrogantly: "But these merchants are not worth the Ark’s unity, you should know they are the truly greedy ones."

"Unity? Ideals?"

Frank was stunned for a while, and at that moment, the deep sharpness in his eyes gradually dissipated.

He bowed his head and suddenly laughed softly, a smile somewhat self-deprecating: "Ha, in this day and age, there are still people discussing this stuff..."

"Mr. Frank, stop wasting words with this greedy bastard!"

At this moment, another merchant interrupted Frank’s muttering forcibly.

He greedily eyed the toy sculpture on the table, eagerly saying, "Quickly order Charles to sell that collection to you at a low price!"

Frank fell silent as if deep in thought.

Charles raised an eyebrow slightly.

He finally sensed something was off.

These merchants dared to command a dignified war officer? Who gave them the courage?

Although the economic strength of the Fortress Main Island is indeed not as good as White Oak Main Island or Star Ladder Main Island, this war officer should not be reduced to the point of being led by the nose by merchants?

The atmosphere in the hall inexplicably fell into a strange silence.

Charles sat calmly at the head, while the merchants’ eyes flickered, harboring ulterior motives, quietly waiting for the Alliance officer to fight for their interests.

Frank closed his eyes and sighed deeply inwardly.

This is a bit troublesome...

In fact, his initial intention was indeed to lend the Ark a hand.

If Charles agreed to the prices first set by the merchants, the Ashen Battle Group would certainly show a mutually beneficial attitude and find ways to help the Ark through the Blood Plague crisis.

As the war officer, Frank still had some avenues to quickly enhance the Ark Country’s strength.

For example, sending over a batch of wounded veterans from the front line to help train Lord Roland’s army, or arranging fleets to transport some Alchemy Charging Guns from the Fortress military to supplement the Ark’s long-range attack methods.

He could even stand in front of the Blood Plague himself and stand with the Ark Legion to teach the young people how to correctly face the Abyss and Celestial Calamity...

That’s all the badly injured Ashen Battle Group could spare...

But Frank never expected, Charles’s confidence was real...

The Ark Kingdom established less than two months ago actually could produce such a powerful weapon as the ’War Chariot’!

His efforts turned into a joke like that.

Perhaps due to his poor communication skills, this matter seemed to have already gone wrong...

At first, Frank thought the Ark’s national strength was too weak, and Charles was also a leech concerned only with his own interests.

He really wanted to remind the other party that these artistic collections really mean nothing, instead of caring about those unrealistic benefits, it’s better to convert them into substantive combat power as soon as possible.

Additional combat power can save more people, even if it sacrifices some short-term gains, it is acceptable. Only by finding ways to enhance strength first can people have a chance to withstand the threat of the Abyss and Celestial Calamity.

The officials from the Fortress Faction always consider things from a practical standpoint.

Frank tried hard to replay his words just now.

’I suggest you not play some tricks that make everyone unhappy...’

’Anyone with eyes can see, Ark lacks combat power. You ultimately have to rely on the Alliance to pull through the crisis...’

What I said should have been fine, right?

This was already the most sincere words I could think of, and I even tried hard to squeeze out a smile...

Frank hanging out with these merchants naturally had reasons.

Because the Ashen Battle Group insists on pioneering the Deep Sea Gray Realm, it really needs material support...

Almost all local transport ships on the Fortress Main Island were sent to the front lines by the Governor, and the burden on the auxiliary battle group was simply too heavy.

Most auxiliary battle groups could only pin their hopes on the other two main islands, after all, the Alliance’s vast majority of chambers were almost all established on the White Oak Main Island and Star Ladder Main Island.

The merchants from the two places promised, as long as the Fortress battle group’s warriors were willing to be their spokespeople, they would be happy to help the Ashen Battle Group transport resources.

The Alliance has always been so united and helpful, all for great ideals.

Frank signed that contract.

This war officer from the Ashen Battle Group has long been accustomed to being used as a shield by merchants.

As long as he could fight for even a sliver of material aid for the warriors suffering on the front lines of the route, no amount of humiliation was worth bearing for Frank.

At this moment, he heard Charles’s suggestion.

"Mr. Frank, why don’t we have a separate talk?" Charles stood up, smilingly making an inviting gesture.

He already had his thoughts sorted out.

This Alliance war officer was likely not in league with those cunning merchants but a ’knife’ borrowed by the merchants.

I was almost fooled...

Upon hearing that, Frank hesitated, then nodded slightly,

"No way!" Jas hurriedly said: "Mr. Frank, according to the contract..."

"Shut your mouth! In the territory of the Ark, it’s not your place to point fingers and jabber!"

At this moment, Charles utterly erupted, sweeping his gaze through everyone’s eyes, his look colder than ever: "Anyone who disagrees will forever be blacklisted from cooperation by the Ark!"

·

In the quiet room, Charles personally poured Frank a cup of coffee.

"I think there are some misunderstandings between us, Mr. Frank. In my view, you shouldn’t guarantee anything using your name for those merchants."

Charles laughed: "Let go of the burden of the chamber contracts, the Ark prefers face-to-face communication with the Ashen Battle Group."

"This has nothing to do with you, even if you have a war chariot, you guys can’t protect yourselves."

Frank took a sip of the coffee, immediately squeezing out an immensely sharp grin.

Charles helplessly rubbed his brow.

He heard long ago that the officers on the Fortress Main Island were all stones from a latrine pit, smelly and hard, unwilling to change...

The rumors were indeed true.

"Let’s be straightforward here, Mr. Frank."

Charles looked into the other’s eyes: "I can see the Ashen Battle Group seems to be in trouble, you have no choice but to rely on the chambers’ assistance."

"But the Alliance’s internal problems have already surfaced, Mr. Frank."

Charles pointed directly at the essence of the issue: "Nowadays, what ideals and unity does the Alliance have? It’s all just cold transactions!"

The Southern Alliance’s rapid development by absorbing various races wasn’t without cost.

The three main islands are not of one mind, each of the three Governors has their own concerns, only the Empire’s threat can temporarily bind the three main islands together.

Once in the cease-fire period, Alliance people only see each other as competitors or individuals that can be manipulated.

Frank fell silent, unable to refute.

After leaving the Ashen Battle Group, the people he encountered always spoke with ulterior motives, Frank seemed to have not felt sincerity for a long, long time.

The merchants from Star Ladder and White Oak making a fortune under the guise of unity and ideals, the warriors from the Fortress risking their lives to blaze a trail, and what they get is repeated perfunctory and neglect...

"What Ark needs is a close exchange with the Fortress battle group. Surely you have seen, Ark has the potential worthy of investment by battle groups."

Charles earnestly said, "Mr. Frank, break free from those Alliance chambers that seize opportunities to profit from both sides."

Frank pondered for a while, soon, the thin man showed a sinister smile: "What should I do?"