Resurrection Empire-Chapter 1000 - 385: Infinite Time, Infinite Possibilities (Part 2)

Frederick Locke turned his head and nodded to a middle-aged woman nearby, whose hair seemed to be dyed purple.

The woman's name was Lai Li, a mixed-race Assistant for Environmental Resources at the Ministry of Commerce.

Lai Li pulled out a document and projected it onto the conference room wall. "According to our estimates, if you significantly exploit and use petroleum and coal resources within the atmosphere and continually increase the scale, it will dramatically change Source Star's air quality and impact the stability of its ecosystem within five years."

"What?" Ren Zhong was taken aback on the spot, "Isn't there a sky system to ensure air quality in populated citizen areas, including counties? What's the concern? Are you really bothered about the quality of life for Outlanders?" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

He found it absurd.

Under the exploitation by these citizens, Outlanders struggle to even survive. Suddenly, a high-ranking citizen showing concern for air quality felt particularly ridiculous to Ren Zhong.

Lai Li paid no mind to Ren Zhong's astonishment and simply pressed a button. The image on the projection screen shifted. It displayed a statistical table of citizen tourism destinations. Lai Li said, "I'm not referring to Outlanders. Statistics show that over 70% of citizens travel to towns and natural scenic spots for vacationing every year. Poor air quality will affect these citizens' health."

Ren Zhong: "..."

On a planet where the average lifespan is just over forty years, someone is earnestly discussing physical health with him. Crazy.

With the topic reaching this point, Ren Zhong already understood the true intention without needing further explanation. These were fabricated excuses created to restrict his comprehensive development and to control his energy lifeline.

Ren Zhong looked again at Frederick Locke, "Mr. Frederick, is there room for negotiation on this issue? Can you play a decisive role here?"

Frederick seemed somewhat annoyed, "Of course there is."

Ren Zhong suddenly squinted, "So, if we negotiate pleasantly, I can still develop an internal combustion engine, and additionally obtain more energy modules from your company?"

Frederick looked at Ren Zhong in astonishment, "Are you threatening me? Why would I agree?"

Ren Zhong shrugged, "I'm saying hypothetically... if hypothetically... is there a possibility of such an outcome? Can you achieve it with your powers, Mr. Frederick?"

Frederick: "Yes, but Ren Zhong, you seem to need a reality check."

Ren Zhong stepped back, slightly increasing the distance, "Currently, I'm completing a recovery plan with Deep Communication Group and Source Star Military Industry. They have the duty to eliminate my worries. I'm merely a small local businessman posing no threat to your company. I believe it's you who need to calm down, you're too domineering."

Frederick Locke immediately became tense.

His intuition told him something was about to happen, but rationality told him this was Lower Origin Capital City, he was a Level Eight citizen, and no matter how reckless Ren Zhong was, he couldn't possibly harm him.

He was unclear on where this sense of threat was coming from.

The next instant, Ren Zhong suddenly crushed an electromagnetic shock bomb.

A piercing whistle echoed in the room, and then Ren Zhong, holding a dagger, lunged forward.

In just five seconds, the suddenly-attacking Ren Zhong had killed the other seven people in the meeting room, leaving only Frederick Locke.

Staring at the blood splattered across the walls, Frederick shakily pointed at Ren Zhong, "What are you doing? Are you insane? Even though there is no 'Net' now, others will surely know you killed us, you will receive a death sentence! Even if you are involved with the recovery plan, you will definitely receive a death sentence! My brother will not spare you!"

Ren Zhong slowly walked closer, "Maybe, but I don't care. I just want to have a little chat with you."

Frederick: "Chat about what?"

Ren Zhong: "Chat about life. Chat about ideals. Chat about your little secrets."

About half an hour later, Ren Zhong ended Frederick Locke's life with a single knife strike. Then, he quietly closed the conference room door and rapidly returned to the villa, took the box containing the Red Blade Armor, and headed straight for the Lower Origin Capital City's airship dock.

Fifteen minutes later, the alarms at Alson Hotel blared loudly, but Ren Zhong had already navigated his personal airship far away.

During this time, he received a communication from Ying Hao.

Ying Hao angrily questioned what he was thinking and why he would destroy his own prospects. Despite his anger, Ying Hao told Ren Zhong he would do his best to mediate, and even personally go to the Association Military Department, asking that they capture him alive and not shoot him on sight.