Chapter 2180: Laizon’s Discovery

This statement shocked the cronies around Laizon.

"What?"

"Why?"

The others really couldn’t tell the difference. Some were cynical, but no one dared to show doubts on their faces.

Laizon’s expression was solemn. A town with the energy of a City, what kind of concept was that?

"Do you really think so, Sir Laizon?"

"Are you questioning the master?" Sal, Laizon’s right hand man, asked rather sinisterly.

"N-No! That’s not what I meant, sir!"

He went over and entered a farm, only to receive a notification that he could not enter, otherwise, he would be punished.

His eyebrows furrowed. Applying area-specific rules had a cost per unit type and had a separate cost. Whether it was the single detached houses, midrise houses, or the manually made ones that did not fit in any category, each category charged differently for extra protection provided by the System.

To add so many conveniences while keeping everything affordable for everyone to this degree was truly something he had never encountered.

Regardless, Laizon knew that this was a sensitive topic and simply asking would not get them anywhere. On the contrary, they would definitely raise their guards the moment they inquired about it.

He turned to Sal and gave instructions. "Find out anyone in the upper tier that could be...reasoned with. The price is not a problem."

The others nodded, about to leave to do their missions. They heard that the people in the upper tier—and most commoners—in Alterra were notoriously difficult to take advantage of.

They had only heard of this, so their mentality was ’Others may not be able to do it, but it doesn’t mean I can’t’ and didn’t think they would fail as long as they had money.

Laizon stood still for a while, trying to pinpoint where to go. Some of his people went to try tapping the farmers, only to find out that they could not bribe the farmers. Each farmer was also assigned to specific areas, so their access was limited only to their farm and the roads leading to them. Were they supposed to contact all of the farmers? It would obviously alert everyone, instead.

"They’re always like this, always aiming to get rich with nothing? Tsktsktsk."

His cronies had no success, so they just comforted themselves by slandering the enemy.

"How many did you contact? How blatant were you?"

"We just asked if we could enter the farms to see the quality of the crops we were investing on," they said, which was good. The excuse of trying to see crops was infinitely better than studying anomalies in aether.

"We only dared contact the people under Minister Gru," the scout continued. "I offered them a hundred gold to bring someone to the farm. They just laughed at us."

Laizon ignored the rants, and his eyes were fixed in a direction.

At this point, Sal spoke up. "We’ve investigated the family members of several farmers," he said. "We can take them away as hostages to make them more cooperative.

Several people nodded. Laizon, on the other hand, did not speak much. It was either that the other party didn’t hear or they didn’t care.

"What about it boss?" Sal asked again, a flash of interest sparkling in his eyes. "Just say the word, and we will handle this."

"No need for that." Unexpectedly, a new voice emerged among the crowd.

Laizon and the others turned to look at the owner of the voice, and there was a flicker in his eyes.

Zaol Gold.

One of the assigned targets.

Lord Bleumrick mentioned this one dead or alive, even if the body was mangled. They had to get it.

Laizon looked at the other man with deep eyes. "Zaol Gold. You’ve really turned yourself into a local, hmn?"

Look at him, wearing those things called khaki shorts and button-up shirts with bright-colored, floral patterns. Was this something a proper man should wear?

That said, while he was very curious about Zaol, his eyes always drifted in the direction behind him.

Normally, he would have a long conversation with this man, who was considered his peer and rival in level. Even though quite a bit younger than he was, since his level was high, he was considered a peer.

Laizon always had some misgivings about this, though, believing that this guy only reached his level solely because he and his family had a much bigger access to Bleulle’s aether crystals. He was both jealous and looked down on the man.

Still, when he heard that they went to a town, he could only call the gman extremely foolish. He even felt vaguely offended as someone considered his ’peer’.

Now, it looked like everyone was living well.

He was more curious about how a mere town would have the energy of a City. Was this the reason why the Golds were so decisive as to transfer?

He had naturally gotten caught up with what happened to Bluelle since his seclusion. He more or less knew the sequence of events and—unsurprisingly—it rooted with the Lord being unreasonable.

It was just that living for as long as he had, he had seen a lot of things, so this hadn’t shaken him at all. He remained neutral and indifferent.

As for why someone like this continued to try, and extend his life, he did not know either.

However, despite this, the Golds should’ve been able to get out of it using their wits and connections. Laizon felt that they did not try hard enough to recover and simply ran away.

At the time, he looked down on them even more, now, this thought was beginning to change and it fueled his desire to explore this place more and more.

"I am just looking around, child," he said with a deadpan expression on his face. "I’ll come visit your abode at a later time."

Zaol looked at him, and then the group near him. "I can guide you," he said, before adding. "Old man."

Laikon shook his head. "No need."

"Yes need."

"..."

Laizon’s eyebrows rose again. He clearly remembered this man was not like this before.

When did you learn to speak like this?