"Consider it carefully, and don’t even think about snitching, oh, this contract isn’t unbreakable, but given the strength of your two souls, the only cost of forcibly breaking it would be death. If you disagree, that’s fine too, we can just keep in touch..."


    Pavas smiled at Parker and Miles, then held up a finger to his lips and made a ’shush’ gesture.


    "Your Excellency jests. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing for us, just that we need some more time to think.


    "Additionally, even our mothership’s energy system has been greatly affected, and whether it can satisfy your energy needs remains uncertain."


    Miles was much steadier than Parker. One of them handled administrative tasks while the other was in combat; they complemented each other well. At this moment, Miles took the initiative to explain.


    "If I dared to come here and take the risk of making this request, I naturally have made an estimate. Even if it’s still a bit short, the difference has mostly been made up. With your landing craft bringing another two units later of the auxiliary energy I’ll bring, then, I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation..."


    After speaking, Pavas raised his hand and the Shielding Bead flew straight into his palm.


    Only after the Shielding Bead disappeared did Pavas, with a beaming smile, say to the two,


    "I’m here now also as a representative of external affairs for the new Development Zone to confirm with you two: the Superconductive Mine, we’re determined to have it. Peace or war?"


    "We too wish for peace, but we’ve reached a defensive alliance with the Na’vi. If you don’t target the Na’vi’s sacred grounds, then mining elsewhere is fine by us."


    Colonel Miles was originally a staunch advocate against the Na’vi.@@@@


    But now, without the pressure to transport Superconductive Ore and with changes in the external environment for survival, he instead recognized and accepted the alliance with the Na’vi.


    Of course, an alliance can be betrayed, but an entity that betrays alliances at will undoubtedly greatly diminishes in value.


    So for whatever reason, Colonel Miles must maintain the relationship of the alliance and express the viewpoint of the alliance.


    As of now, agreeing to Pavas’s earlier personal request doesn’t conflict with the current affairs of the public!


    "That’s not acceptable. We’ve already made contact with the Na’vi, and right now, several of the best deposits for the Superconductive Mine are located right under their tribe’s Tree of Life and one in what they consider their floating sacred mountains. Our needs actually aren’t that vast; they just need to yield one location to us."


    Pavas outlined the demands of the new Development Zone. These Superconductive Mines, aside from their unobtainium properties, were also a kind of Yuan Force mineral resource; thus, there was no need to worry about the issue of excess supply.


    If it influenced the price, it could either be sold to other cities or directly absorbed!


    "Think it over carefully. This is our bottom line. We don’t like war, but we’re not afraid of it either."


    "We will talk to the Na’vi carefully. If they’re unwilling, then we can only express our regrets to you..."


    Colonel Miles’s words made Pavas nod his head, and then he slowly levitated again, his body starting to show camouflage.


    However, just then, the temperature around them suddenly rose, and the air heated up.


    Two fiery dragons bearing their teeth and claws soared into the sky, lunging toward Pavas in mid-air!


    "Hmph!"


    Pavas snorted coldly, lifting his hands slightly, and the figure of a grotesque woman, as if drawn with black charcoal lines, materialized behind him.


    This ugly, distorted-faced woman let out a shrill scream, and the surroundings seemed to ripple with waves of sound.


    The two fire dragons that had lunged over appeared to be affected by some strange power and, accompanied by ripples and wavy distortions in the air, simply dissipated.


    Parker and Miles, who were at a distance, instantly bled from their mouths and noses under the influence of this sonic wave and fainted on the spot.


    "Cowards!"


    Seeing the two newly-agreed helpers accidentally injured by himself, Pavas was livid with rage.


    As he spoke, the black shadow woman behind him seemed to shriek again, and along with the words ’cowards,’ an invisible shockwave immediately shattered the trees ahead, plowing toward Tao Yu.


    But after shattering the trees, a wall of earth abruptly rose from the ground, staunchly blocking the way ahead.


    Earth Escape, Earth Flow Wall!


    The jutsu’s might, far surpassing that of ordinary ninjas, made the granite-like earthen wall crack under the sonic attack but still firmly blocked the assault.


    Unfortunately for Pavas, while the Earth Flow Wall obstructed the view, he had already left behind a Water Clone with the Water Body Flicker Technique to attract attention, and now this sudden attack wasn’t something that could be countered simply by quick reflexes.


    The ripples kept blocking the compressing water sphere, but with the emergence of black lines, Pavas was horrified to discover that his strength was rapidly decreasing and becoming sluggish.


    In the ensuing struggle, the entire sphere eventually sealed him within!


    The figure was still standing in place, but somehow, he had managed to get behind him and use this Ninjutsu!


    Tadpole-like symbols had already crawled all over his body along with the water prison, ceasing all his power usage, without even a chance to play his trump card.


    The water prison then instantly transformed into chains that bound him tightly.


    The originally invisible ugly female ghostly figure behind him was also suppressed within him by the Sealing Skill and dissipated directly.


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    The feeling of weakness that overwhelmed his entire body made him collapse on the ground, his arrogance fading from his face, replaced by a look of terror.


    He had been pampered since childhood, and even though he had undergone a lot of training and had honed his skills through hardship, entering the Abyss meant he was flooded with resources.


    His power was absolutely not weak!


    The sound wave attacks from before and the ghostly shadow behind him, though fleeting, were indications of his strength.


    But in the end, he was still only a nineteen-year-old youth, lacking some life-and-death experiences.


    Not only might he have been somewhat lacking in actual combat experience, but he would also lose his composure when truly faced with the fear of death.


    "Sir, please listen to me..."


    Slap~


    Tao Yu’s strong hand struck directly across his face, causing the handsome features to swell visibly, and he spat out a few teeth.


    "Calling me a rat."


    Tao Yu looked coldly at Pavas, who felt an urge to cry.


    Wasn’t his previous intention just to scare him off? Why was he now so relentless?


    Yet, he dared not actually call out.


    "I dare not..."


    Slap~


    The other side of his face swelled to match, and after Tao Yu was done showing his dominance, he began to coldly inquire for information.


    "What were you discussing here just now? Why can’t I find out the content no matter what methods I use?"


    Tao Yu already knew what a Shielding Bead was, but still asked coldly.


    Finally, Pavas could breathe a little easier when no titles were emphasized, then after a short hesitation, he said,


    "It’s a Shielding Bead from us, the Pioneers, completely isolated from the spatial dimensions. It has no defensive capabilities, but it’s very reliable for securing confidential conversations. If you want, I can give it to you..."


    Slap~


    Another hit, and Tao Yu directly searched him and took out the Shielding Bead.


    "It was already mine. Tell me, is there any trickery inside? I have the ability to sense lies; lie to me, and I’ll castrate you."


    Tao Yu flicked out a kunai under Pavas’ crotch, pinning it in the dirt and narrowly grazing the skin, the sharp blade even cutting a trace of blood, immediately causing Pavas to almost break down.


    "There’s nothing, truly nothing; it’s just a thing used for shielding conversations. There’s no need, really, for people at our level, many have one."


    Alright, no lie detected, but that didn’t rule out the possibility he had some top-tier tool to mislead her. Better to keep it for now. In fact, even if it was discovered later, it was a trophy from slaying a certain ninja...