Chapter 2356: Warnings need not be said

At first, the Star-Eye Clan cut off the supply of weapons and equipment to the Bronze Order Squad.

In other races, this would be outrageous—but in the Star-Eye Clan, it had its own particularity.

When Ye Zhongming took over the Bronze Order Squad, he naturally looked down on the Star-Eye Clan's equipment, so in his spare time, he manufactured a batch and distributed it—even the Silver and Gold Order Squads benefited.

Especially on the planet hunting ground, after various materials were replenished, Ye Zhongming greatly upgraded his subordinates' equipment so they could better survive in battle.

Ye Zhongming hadn't been in the Bronze Order Squad long, but handling equipment himself in exchange for greater control and freedom of action had become an established practice.

If the two sides hadn't drifted apart, Ye Zhongming would naturally continue providing high-quality equipment to the Bronze Order Squad. But now there was a problem, and the Bronze Order Squad was caught in the middle.

The Star-Eye Clan continued as before, not issuing equipment for damaged or consumed items. When someone came to collect, the implication was to ask Ye Zhongming for it.

The purpose was obvious—they wanted Ye Zhongming to keep supplying the Bronze Order Squad.

By saving on the Bronze Order Squad's equipment costs, the Star-Eye Clan would save a substantial sum.

The Star-Eye Clan had gained a lot from the planet hunting ground, plus the spoils from one of the Eight Heads—they had plenty of money.

Instead of following Ye Zhongming's advice to upgrade infrastructure, they bought cultivation resources to boost combat power. If they could avoid spending on the Bronze Order Squad, they could buy even more. Why not?

If this was a continuation of their previous approach—leaving you speechless—then the Star-Eye Clan's recalling craftsmen during Ye Zhongming's manufacturing period under various pretexts was more like petty disruption.

The Star-Eye Clan had sent dozens of craftsmen—some who had followed Ye Zhongming before, some privately sent by White Robe, Cheng Liujin, or even Jikesu, and some later additions.

Most naturally wanted to learn from Ye Zhongming, but some were outright "eyes" sent by the clan.

Ye Zhongming saw this clearly. Those with ulterior motives were used as laborers, handling heavy and dangerous metal materials—cutting, for example. Those sent by White Robe and Cheng Liujin were treated better, allowed to touch important crafting sections.

The rest helped on the periphery.

Since the Star-Eye Clan planted eyes, they'd report back. But this was Cloud Peak Manor—round-the-clock communication control and ubiquitous surveillance prevented that. Eventually, the Star-Eye Clan used clan privileges to recall them under excuses like family matters.

Later, realizing Ye Zhongming was strict with these people, perhaps angered at getting no information, they began recalling not just the eyes but also the genuine learners.

What happened after they returned was obvious—they'd both provide useful information and delay the work Ye Zhongming assigned them.

Ye Zhongming showed no reaction.

These craftsmen had seen some things, but could they take that knowledge back to the Star-Eye Clan? Not to look down on the Star-Eye Clan, but they truly couldn't. The only one he respected was Jikesu—but even with Red Condensation-grade manufacturing methods, Jikesu's success rate and efficiency posed no threat. Even with money, the Star-Eye Clan couldn't afford Jikesu endlessly refining Red Condensation-grade.

As for Ye Zhongming's manufacturing ability—the Star-Eye Clan didn't dare spread it. Their own people had learned related techniques, and revealing it would immediately provoke the Su Clan and She Ke Star people against them—something they couldn't bear.

Also, since the Star-Eye Clan led the city coalition, they didn't dare directly order Ye Zhongming—but they directly ordered the hundreds of Assault Camp warriors to return and join.

Their methods were both firm and soft: formal written notices to each individual, and working on their families to persuade them emotionally and rationally, shaking the warriors' resolve.

A good calculation, cleverly executed. But the Assault Camp had come here prepared for everything—including cutting ties with the Star-Eye Clan.

Now, they were far from being stripped of their clan status, so no one wavered. No one returned.

They ignored the Star-Eye Clan's orders and responded to family persuasion with... Moonspan Gold.

You tell me to come back, I tell you: it pays well here—several times more than before, and close to home. I can't come back, but you can visit me.

After one or two such exchanges, the Star-Eye Clan couldn't persuade the families anymore.

Their kin were living well there, earning high pay—why would they tell them to take a pay cut and return to patrol and drudgery?

Recently, the Star-Eye Clan began harassing and even taxing people and transport teams entering Cloud Peak Manor through Dark Strip City.

Ye Zhongming was busy then. He just paused, made a "call" to Jie Su, and a few days later, the Su Clan's engineering team arrived, building two roads directly from Cloud Peak Manor in different directions.

This time it wasn't free, but Ye Zhongming had money now. He paid in full, doubled the workers, and had construction begin simultaneously at both ends. With advanced tech equipment, within twenty cosmic days, two wide new roads were completed—highest standard throughout.

This directly connected Cloud Peak Manor to the survivor fortress's main transportation routes. Dark Strip City was no longer the only entry point.

Honestly, if the Star-Eye Clan didn't want to completely break ties, their restrictions and petty moves against Cloud Peak Manor were ineffective.

No losses on his side didn't mean Ye Zhongming would let them continue. Before, he had work—supplying the entire cosmic races, exhausted for over a hundred days—no energy for these "trivial matters."

Now it was different. His strategic goals were basically achieved. Ye Zhongming was free, and he would give them a proper warning.

Fully armed, Ye Zhongming led the fully armed Red Female Guard out of Cloud Peak Manor and, that evening, suddenly entered Dark Strip City.

Within half an hour, the news spread throughout the city.

Everyone speculated—what were they going to do?