Chapter 1179 - 744: Star Spider: Sky Blue 42

The Giant Plate Star System is just a First Level Source Point with an Origin Force Concentration of 1.2, but its status is special: it's 43 light years from the Phoenix Eye Seat and directly administered by Phoenix Eye.

Those living at Third Level Origin Points are mostly Origin Force Plants in the Habitat Realm or even Overlord Realm, or Insect Clan Warriors; ordinary insects generally don't dare get close.

Thus,

the Giant Plate Star System became a subsidiary trade station of Phoenix Eye Seat. Major deals within the Star Domain, or cross–Star Domain deals, are all concentrated here, and commerce is flourishing.

…

…

The only Life Planet in the Giant Plate Star System leased by the Luoli Chamber of Commerce: Gualou Star

District 1002 Plaza.

Spiders coming and going.

Just as White Ivy's group landed, over a dozen Flame Spider Warriors sprinted over and surrounded them.

"You four, you coming from the Sheep Hoof Bettle Star System?"

"Here to buy Star Spiders?"

"Planning to buy brand-new ones? Or Two-Claw Spiders?"

"What level of Star Spider do you need? You can tell me."

"If you want to buy Star Spiders, you can come to me—Zero Level, First Level, Level Two, all kinds."

"Seeing you're all Half Star Realm, I recommend buying Two-Claw ones, better value for money."

...

"Stop!"

Column Spotted raised his claw, his spiritual power booming as he shouted: "We're not buying Star Spiders, we're here visiting relatives. We're Seven-Leaf Second Chairman's blood kin."

—Not buying spiders?

—Visiting relatives?

—Their brains okay?

—If you're not buying spiders you should've said so earlier.

—Wasting our time!

The Flame Spider Warriors who'd been hemming them in scattered.

"Chairman White Ivy, ignore them."

"Some of them are scalpers reselling Two-Claw Spiders—each one more cutthroat than the last."

"And some are sent by other Major Commerce Chambers to poach business. Between Level Eight and Level Seven chambers, they're always poaching…"

Column Spotted explained as he led the way across the plaza.

A standard branch office built half-embedded into the mountainside.

At the entrance hung a Primordial Energy Screen in riotous colors.

A Round Purple Flame Spider Warrior who looked very official came out to greet them.

"You four, here to buy Star Spiders?"

"Purple Ginger, don't recognize me anymore? I'm Column Spotted. I'm here to see Seven-Leaf and Aconite."

"Oh—"

"It's you! Column Spotted. Long time no see."

"Long time no see. Purple Ginger, this is my elder from our Home Planet, Chairman White Ivy. She set up her own White Ivy Chamber of Commerce. I've already resigned and gone back to the White Ivy Chamber of Commerce."

"Oh? Really? Having your own chamber is great. Greetings, Chairman White Ivy…"

They introduced each other, exchanged a few pleasantries, then passed through the screen together and entered the main hall.

The spacious hall was divided into two rows on left and right, split into one roomy room after another.

Every room had a circular holographic projection platform over three meters in diameter, specifically for displaying and introducing various Star Spiders and Starships.

Two rows of 20 rooms, each overseen by a Flame Spider Warrior.

Five of the rooms had their doors tightly shut, meaning customers were inside making inquiries.

The other fifteen rooms had their doors wide open, meaning they were in a waiting-for-guests state.

White Ivy swept the place once with her spiritual power, chuckled, and strode straight into Room 01.

"Aconite?"

White Ivy called out, demanding: "You sleeping on the job during work hours?"

"???"

Aconite woke from hibernation, his eight eyes dazed.

"Aconite, it's Column Spotted. This is White Ivy. Red Peach and Silvergrass are here too."

"My most most respected elder Aconite, long time no see."

"Oh—"

"White Ivy?"

"Red Peach, Little Mantis."

"Silvergrass, you're still around?"

Aconite snapped fully awake, scrutinized them, and asked in disbelief: "You came from the Venus Star System? What are you up to? All Half Star Realm now? From your aura perception, you're doing pretty well, huh?"

After a brief burst of joy, Aconite looked at them and suddenly got annoyed.

Back then, that Shanglu Fruit allocated to the Dulai Flame Spider Tribe—he'd been sure he'd get to eat it.

That old codger Pickerelweed insisted on fighting him for it.

And the result?

For no reason at all, that dumb spider White Ivy ended up getting the bargain.

Aconite sighed: "Back then, when I heard you'd refused to join the Luoli Chamber of Commerce and left the team, I was happy for several hundred years. Hah. Happy for nothing. White Ivy, you really let me down."

White Ivy: "???"

Red Peach: "..."

Silvergrass: "..."

Aconite, once again, asked in disbelief: "You running your own little business? Let me guess, White Ivy definitely set up a chamber of commerce called 'White Ivy', with herself as Chairman, right?"

White Ivy: "...Yeah."

White Ivy said mournfully: "Two ten-thousand-year cycles without seeing you. My most most most respected elder Aconite, you've grown old, and muddle-headed too. Seeing how down-and-out you look, I feel so heartsore…"

"Enough!"

Aconite raised a claw to stop her, and said: "I'm doing just fine, don't trouble yourself worrying. Go see your most most most respected elder Spurge—then you'll really have something to feel bad about."

"Yeah. Every old spider is more miserable than the last~"

White Ivy's tone flipped, and she said sharply: "That's enough. Don't drag this all over the place. Aconite, be serious—no insect is joking with you. Where's your boss? I'm here to talk some business with your Second Chairman."

Aconite was so annoyed he almost raised a claw to smack her, but thought better of it, slowly drew his claw back, smoothed the bristles on top of his head, and ordered:

"Purple Ginger, go to the back mountain and call Seven-Leaf over."

"Okay—"

Purple Ginger, who'd been listening to this conversation in astonishment, froze for a moment, replied, and turned to leave.

"Huh!"

White Ivy glanced back in signal, and Red Peach closed the door.

She'd already spotted a lot of issues:

—Aconite slacks off and naps on the job, and no insect says a word.

—Aconite can order other spiders around.

White Ivy asked: "Seven-Leaf is in the back mountain? Doesn't he have to work? On rotation leave?"

Aconite said blandly: "More or less. The two Chairmen—responsibility-wise, General Chairman Tiger Lily oversees the Star Spider and Starship trades at Level Two and Third Level; Second Chairman Seven-Leaf handles the Zero Level and First Level Star Spider and Starship trades. The exact division of duties isn't all that clear-cut.

The higher-ups require the two of them to stay together in the third-floor hall, handling all sorts of matters at any time. In practice, leaving just one of them is enough, so they take turns, each holding the fort for a year."

Column Spotted said angrily: "That's exactly what's unfair about the Luoli Chamber of Commerce! The leadership doesn't do a thing, and they get paid way more than the spiders actually working."