Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies-Chapter 552: A Trade of Interests

Chapter 552: A Trade of Interests

Zhang Yi spoke calmly to Baili Changqing, “But without you all, I wouldn’t have been able to defeat her on my own.”

The key factor had been Bian Junwu’s sacrifice.

And the existence of the investigation team itself had been a major check on the Followers of the Snow God.

If not for the fact that they were still stationed in Tianhai City, Yuan Kongye would have likely started a full-scale purge of other factions long ago.

Of course, Zhang Yi had his own reasons for telling Baili Changqing this.

In his mind, he still saw himself as unbeatable.

“Yuan Kongye died because the residual energy from Captain Bian’s ability backfired on her. I was just there to take advantage of the situation.”

“All in all, Captain Bian Junwu should be recognized as the real hero.”

“So, I want my credit to be attributed to him.”

Baili Changqing was utterly shocked.

He could hardly believe what he was hearing.

The disaster that had struck Tianhai City was classified as an A-rank crisis, one of the highest-level threats imaginable!

Zhang Yi was the greatest contributor to its resolution. If he went to Jiangnan District Headquarters, the higher-ups would undoubtedly shower him with rewards.

In Blizzard City, he could have anything he wanted—resources, women, housing, genetic serums, and prestige.

And yet, Zhang Yi was just giving it all up? So casually?!

Baili Changqing wasn’t a fool. His initial shock quickly turned into deep thought, piecing together Zhang Yi’s true intentions.

Moments later, he suddenly understood.

“You don’t want to go to Jiangnan District Headquarters, do you?”

Zhang Yi’s smirk widened.

Crossing his arms, he sat on the pool table and smiled.

“It’s always easier dealing with smart people. That’s right—I have no interest in that so-called Blizzard City.”

Baili Changqing was surprised but, after considering Zhang Yi’s lifestyle in Tianhai City, he found it understandable.

That shelter had better living conditions than most places in Blizzard City.

More importantly, it was his territory.

Better to be the king of a small domain than a servant in a larger one.

Here in Tianhai City, Zhang Yi reigned supreme. But if he went to Jiangnan District, no matter how high his status, he would still be someone else’s subordinate.

“I see now. You came to us today because you want us to conceal the truth about this event so you won’t be summoned to Jiangnan District, right?”

But Zhang Yi didn’t confirm it outright.

A real negotiation required maintaining control.

If he gave away his full intentions too easily, Baili Changqing and the others would start making demands of their own.

So Zhang Yi simply crossed his arms and gave a faint smirk.

“Not exactly. I don’t oppose the idea of going to Blizzard City. To be honest, Bian Junwu once suggested that I should go there and make a name for myself, and at the time, I was a bit tempted.”

“But after watching you all struggle so much, I started to hesitate.”

“So, if I can avoid going, I prefer not to.”

“But—”

Zhang Yi’s gaze turned sharp as he locked eyes with Baili Changqing. A wave of pressure surged through Baili Changqing’s chest.

Zhang Yi spoke slowly and deliberately.

“If I do go to Blizzard City, I must become a captain.”

Captains were an elite rank among Superhumans.

With Bian Junwu dead, Baili Changqing barely had the qualifications to take his place.

But if Zhang Yi entered the competition, Baili Changqing’s chances would be slim to none.

His strength was simply nowhere near Zhang Yi’s level.

Zhang Yi stepped forward and clapped Baili Changqing firmly on the shoulder.

Then he said meaningfully, “I’m really struggling with this decision. I could go, but I’d rather not.”

“But I’m bad at making choices. So, I’ll leave this decision to you.”

“No, actually—” Zhang Yi’s smirk deepened. “You should ask yourself: Do you want to be captain, or do you want to remain vice-captain?”

His meaning was crystal clear.

He had already seen through Baili Changqing’s ambition.

After all, what man would be content living under another’s rule forever?

Baili Changqing’s heart pounded.

Zhang Yi was handing him an irresistible opportunity.

A captain’s status was vastly superior to a vice-captain’s.

In Blizzard City, there were only six captains in total, and they enjoyed A-rank resource distribution—

Second only to the Commander and the top leadership.

Baili Changqing furrowed his brows, looking at Zhang Yi.

His smile gradually faded, replaced by a serious expression.

“But if we hide the truth from headquarters, and they find out later, we’ll face severe punishment.”

“Commander Zhu is from a strict military background. Blizzard City follows a militarized system with strict discipline and consequences.”

Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise.

“Hide the truth? Why would you need to hide anything? When did I ever tell you to conceal information from the higher-ups?”

Baili Changqing blinked in confusion. “Huh?”

Zhang Yi’s smirk turned sly.

“Did you see me kill Yuan Kongye with your own eyes?”

Baili Changqing was taken aback. “Well… no.”

Zhang Yi pressed further.

“Do you know the exact level of my current strength?”

Baili Changqing hesitated, then shook his head after a brief pause.

“No, I don’t.”

Without a direct battle, he had no way of gauging Zhang Yi’s full power.

“But logically speaking—”

Zhang Yi bit his thumb and casually cut him off.

“We’re not here to discuss logic. We’re here to talk about evidence.”

“You don’t have proof of what happened, so choosing not to report something you’re uncertain about isn’t the same as hiding information.”

His reasoning was a bit… unconventional.

But when you really thought about it—there was nothing technically wrong with his logic.

Baili Changqing felt his head spinning from Zhang Yi’s roundabout argument.

“But even so, we still have to report how the Tianhai City mission was completed.”

Zhang Yi waved a hand dismissively.

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“I’ve already figured that part out for you.”

“Just credit everything to the fallen Captain Bian.”

Zhang Yi recalled the moment Bian Junwu died before his eyes.

In truth, when Zhang Yi had urged Bian Junwu to use Ice Soul, the man had likely already seen through Zhang Yi’s intentions.

But at that moment, he had no other choice.

Thinking about it now, Zhang Yi did feel a slight sense of guilt toward Bian Junwu.

Not much. Just a little.

He was someone who always put himself first, but he never deliberately wronged those who had done him no harm—

Unless his own life was at risk.

Zhang Yi had always lived by a simple principle:

He would never sacrifice himself for others.

Nor would he allow the world to use him for its own sake.

So now, he had made a decision.

The credit for defeating Yuan Kongye would be given to Bian Junwu.

At the very least, this would ensure that the wife and children Bian Junwu left behind would have a better life.

Author's Note