Legend of the chosen ones: Beyond Destiny

Chapter 1359 - 686: Deep Father-Son Affection

What on earth is going on!

Ji Jue felt completely overwhelmed.

He had barely made an appearance at New Spring, hadn't even had time to arrange any work, when as soon as he stepped into the cafeteria, a disheveled, scruffy bearded man lunged at him.

Clinging to his leg, crying and shouting.

Almost scared me into releasing Jing Zhen!

It was only when he recognized it was Minkler that he reluctantly held back.

Amidst numerous shocked stares, he closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

Cannot kill, cannot kill, this is the client, this is the client... and it's the kind that pays generously like a fat sheep!

After convincing him to let go with much effort, Ji finally sat down in the office, only to see this guy looking like he's about to lunge at him again, prompting Ji to quickly raise a hand to stop him.

"Don't be afraid, my dear child, your father is here!"

He squeezed out an effortful benevolent smile: "What happened?"

Minkler's eyes immediately welled up with tears, overwhelmed by grief: "My father is dead."

You damn...

Ji's fists clenched tightly.

Are you here to cause trouble?!

Luckily, Minkler's grief was genuine, and everything he said was true.

His father, Old Minkler, really was dead.

A stroke.

At his old age, he was so overjoyed upon hearing good news that he drank some alcohol, took some pills, and in his old age, tried to relive his youth and ended up dying in bed...

As for his manner of death, how to put it, it's really beyond words.

Publicly, it was announced as "nightly worries for the nation, exhausted heart power"... let's just consider that he died for the country and the people.

Anyway, the old geezer wasn't any good, and this death of his probably contributes more to the Seven Cities than he ever did alive.

But this death of his has sent his family into disarray, making Minkler's position instantly unstable.

So many are eyeing his spot, waiting for him to make a mistake so they can replace him with a more promising young commander.

If it were any other time, it wouldn't be unendurable, it wouldn't be unbearable, but unfortunately Old Minkler's previously heard 'good news' has now turned into a death sentence for the whole family.

Because the Alliance Hierarch of the Seven Cities Alliance had died.

The old Alliance Leader, who had once coordinated Pu City, Luo Island, Ma City, Xi Island, Dan City, Yamen, and Xiang State, finally passed away peacefully in his own private hospital after living for over 130 years.

So now, the Seven Cities are chaotic, internal strife has exploded, and the other Six Islands and Six Cities are greedily eyeing the position of the Hierarch.

Looks like a bloody competition is soon to begin.

It's widely known that, regardless of the game, once the rules collapse and enter a zero-sum stage, the first ones to die will definitely be the weakest, or the strongest.

Minkler's family happens to be both...

Among the Seven Cities, Xiang State is financially the richest, considered wealthy among the Four Seas, but at this critical moment the Family Head has died, internal conflicts are a tangled mess, as second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth houses compete for dominance, fighting endlessly to rise to power.

Predictably, once the situation spirals out of control, they will be divided and devoured.

At this crucial point, if Minkler missteps even slightly, forget descending from glory, he might well face extermination.

Especially since that disaster season only occurring every few decades is about to arrive, the entire Endless Sea is rife with tension...

And thinking how his bright future has crumbled completely because of his own father's indulgence after drinking, Minkler is overwhelmed with tears, feeling hopeless.

"It's ok, it's ok, blood relatives are gone, but foster ones remain.

Sometimes foster ones might even be better!"

Ji Jue gently pats his head, speaking slowly: "Fear not, my child, I'll teach you how to make Federation-style missiles, satellite-guided, able to strike from beyond visual range, how does that sound?"

"Ah?"

Minkler was momentarily stunned, and spoke with shock: "Wouldn't that get us hammered?"

Empire and Federation weapons have been scattered everywhere over these years, even on the most remote islands of the Endless Sea, it's not unusual to pick up a Rhino while walking.

So, the question arises... is the technological content of this stuff too high for everyone to produce it?

Perhaps technical reasons are part of it, but more than that... it's fear, right!

If you purchase honestly, you might only have one or two enemies, but if your batch and the sides' don't match, then there will be many people knocking at your door to have some words.

"Spineless wretch."

Ji shakes his head, sighing, how can you fear being banned if you cheat?

Play without fear, if you fear then don't play!

Hesitating around, what form does that create?

Seeing Minkler's timid nature, Ji says again: "Then I'll teach you Red Country's rallying technique, a legion of Knights, advancing without retreat, dying without return, how does that sound?"

"Not suitable, not suitable!"

Minkler shakes his head once more: "No matter how strong the legion of Knights, they're still on land; once in the water, unless flying is possible, ultimately it's the ship's cannons that rule."

The clashes in Thousand Islands have gone on for so long, there are many Chosen Ones, but once at sea, it's not enough to fight solo. Even if they can fly, how far and long can they fly?

Ultimately, it comes down to sturdy ships and fierce cannons!

Ji clicked his tongue, "Should I then connect you to the Dragon Remains Fleet?"

"No way no way!"

Minkler shakes his head vehemently, "That would be inviting a wolf into the house!"

Northern Realm people recently have gone mad with poverty and hunger, fighting fiercely with the Northern Alliance, right now, not only about whether they have the strength to support them, if they came to support, would you dare accept?

If Dragon Remains Fleet sails into Seven Cities, Minkler would immediately become a villain, condemned by all in the rivers and lakes, attacked by the heroes of the world, would surely die extremely miserably!

Ji Jue instantly grew angry: "You don't want this, you don't want that, are you messing with me, you rascal?"

Minkler wiped his tears, looked up expectantly, still waiting for him to pull out the ruler and knock him thrice, but seeing Ji Jue pull out Pan Ying, he was startled, quickly stopping him: "Wait, godfather, it's not appropriate, it's not appropriate... past incidents..."

"Don't you dare get cheeky with me!"

Ji Jue pinched the dog's mouth, questioning, "Old Ming, Old Ming, we've known each other for a while, out of respect for Brother Feng, I don't treat you as an outsider, so don't take me for a fool, tell me the truth!

What on earth are you trying to do?!"

"It's not what I want to do."

Minkler was choked up with emotion.

To be honest, he was truly at his wit's end, having exhausted every connection he could find, even going as far as New Spring to beg, and he wasn't even counting on Ji Jue.

"Father, you've got to show me a way to survive!"

Tears blurred his vision, words stuck in his throat, "At this point, is there any chance the Federation might show mercy and lend me a hand..."

Seeing Ji Jue's expression change, he quickly added, "Money is not an issue, whatever amount can be discussed!"

Ji Jue let out a cold laugh.

Oh, so you've been waiting here for me have you?

Counting on Ji Jue to pull some strings and ask the Federation to back Minkler to become the king of the Seven Cities...

Ji Jue just asked, "Do you think money can settle things with the Federation?"

Indeed, the Seven Cities have money, but what's the use of money?

A string of numbers, do you think that can truly move the Federation? How much can you squeeze out of the Seven Cities?

Even if the Federation is indeed tempted, here's the real problem—why should your name be on our Federation's money?

What makes you think you're even qualified to do business with the Federation?!

"I don't dare think about the Federation, but what about Hai Province..."

"Dream on!"

Ji Jue sneered, "You're worshipping the wrong place, Old Ming, our New Spring's agricultural machinery factory isn't influential enough, can't involve itself in the big matters of your Seven Cities, you'd better find someone more capable!"

Minkler wanted to say more, but Ji Jue's stance was firm, not even willing to listen to Minkler's bargaining chips, unwilling to get involved in the swamp of the Seven Cities.

When doing business, the last thing you want is to develop personal feelings with clients.

No need for cozying up.

Suddenly, Minkler burst into tears, "Why is my life so miserable!"

"If you call your life miserable, what about those ragpickers working outside the window?" Ji Jue sneered, "No matter what, at least you still have your life."

Even if the Seven Cities are out for your blood, as long as you don't stubbornly jump into the pit, you can be smart and hide your assets, live incognito, and live as a wealthy man without worries.

Even, if you kneel fast enough, and lick a bit, maybe something will trickle down from the new winner's leftovers, and you'll live comfortably.

"There's no life left."

Minkler sobbed, "Once the Storm Season arrives, when the storm blows over the sea, I'll probably be fed to the Disaster Beasts... even if by chance I survive, I'll be burdened and brought to court..."

"Wait a minute!"

Ji Jue paused for a moment, frowning, "What did you just say?"

"Uh..." Minkler was stunned, "Miserable life?"

"Not that!"

"The Storm Season?"

"Yes, the sentence after that!"

"Disaster Beasts."

Minkler looked blankly.

For decades, or sometimes just a dozen years, every once in a while, the Endless Sea enters a season of disaster, where the bizarre meteorological phenomenon named 'Storm' arises, sending all the Disaster Beasts into a frenzy, waking, hunting, mating, or going mad...

Dangerous species gather in swarms, slaughtering each other while potentially attacking populated areas. Wild beasts don't care about your reasons, if there's meat they'll feed, no matter how much logic you try to present.

The Federation and Empire aren't worried about such things, with the Heavenly Governor and Earth Emperor still around, but the Thousand Islands are out of luck, with nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, forced to grit their teeth and bear it... each time suffering heavy losses, with countless remote islands being wiped clean during the Storm Season, disappearing from knowledge for years.

At this critical point, the Seven Cities Defense's naval commander is essentially a death trap, even if Minkler wants to step down, he can't... moreover, whether the folks below would even follow orders is another matter entirely!

He continuously submitted reports seeking help, funds, and thin steel, but the Seven Cities Council just kept delaying, telling him to keep up the good work, telling him everyone supports him.

Aside from these empty words, there was not a trace of support.

It's clear they intend to make him a scapegoat!

Once the Storm Season passes, the reckoning begins, by then Minkler will be the disgrace of Seven Cities, leading the navy to ruin... never mind if the ships were over a hundred years old, it's up to him to balance the books!

Thinking of this, Minkler had an urge to hang himself at the gates of New Spring.

After all, if you're doomed to an unpleasant end, might as well die sooner...

"Is that all?"

An arm warmly embraced him, and Ji Jue grinned, "You should've said so earlier! When have we father and son ever been so distant?"

"Ah?"

Minkler was dumbfounded.

"Storms, right? Disaster Beasts, right?" Ji Jue patted his shoulder, grinning ear to ear, "You've come to the right person, Old Ming! I'm an expert!"

"Ah!"

Minkler was bewildered.

"I can't handle the Seven Cities, couldn't care for your family, but I can easily ensure your safety!"

Ji Jue poured some hot water to make tea, wiped his face, offered him the best tea, pounded his chest, and swore, "Rest assured, as long as I'm alive, I'll guarantee you a lifetime of no worries!"

"Ah?!"

Minkler began to question life itself.

This... is this real?

It must be... right?