Chapter 346: Setting the Price

"Anthony Braden has also been kidnapped by them, and he's in this building right now."

With just one sentence from Li Mochen, the legendary lich was rendered speechless. Lind Emers's eyes blazed with soulfire, his face full of shock.

"Anthony Braden? The richest man in America? So someone has asked you for help?"

Lind didn't hear Li Mochen's reply, but he could already make a judgment.

"If that's the case, they must offer a heavy reward, or we'll lose more than we gain. I wouldn't even advise you, Boss, to get involved."

Since their contract changed, Lind knew that his personal safety and interests would be tied to his master for the next few centuries, so he consciously adjusted his position.

"I think so too. But as the saying goes, 'Men die for wealth, birds die for food.' They've indeed brought out quite a few good things this time."

Li Mochen also knew that the terror of the Aberrants lay not in their three demigods and numerous legends, but in their tens of thousands of magic-energy professionals, as well as their unscrupulousness and madness.

This faction was no less reckless than the Dragon Witch Cult, caring nothing for human life or social impact, yet possessing even more and stronger manpower than the Dragon Witch Cult.

If necessary, they could simultaneously launch over a thousand bombing attacks across the entire United States.

They had done this forty years ago, successfully forcing the U.S. federal government to relax controls on Aberrants and expand the isolation zones.

Offending such a faction might not put Li Mochen's life in danger, but the business of Rising Sun Electronics Retail Company would become impossible.

Li Mochen admitted to himself that he didn't yet have the strength to completely exterminate a race numbering nearly three million.

Upon hearing this, the legendary lich showed curiosity: "Boss, can you tell me? What price did they offer?"

He knew his master's character; whatever could move him must be truly stunning.

"Just the business part includes a ninety-billion-gold-shield interest-free loan, unlimited arms supply, an alliance on the continent of Antolia, and a security guarantee for Rising Sun Retail. On the West Coast, led by California, they'll ensure the absolute safety of our retail stores. Additionally, Ms. Drew managed to secure their promise to pressure the Flag Group Corporation into facilitating my Rising Sun Publishing's full acquisition of Firefly Media."

Li Mochen saw no need to hide this, so he held nothing back. This legendary lich knew many of his most core secrets, but Li Mochen was also fully confident that he could destroy the lich's soul before it could speak.

The soul contract he had signed with this being was not just superficial.

"Besides that, they'll provide me with six top-tier 'Demon-Suppressing' armor sets, two 'War-Demon' armor sets, some high-grade Sacred Oak potions, and a sacred artifact of my choosing, no level limit. In short, once I decide, they'll go all out within their ability to help me obtain it. Then, if the Aberrants retaliate against us, Anthony's forces will stand with us through thick and thin—essentially a unilateral mutual defense treaty against the Aberrants."

Lind Emers shook his head: "We can ask for more, Boss."

Given the life of the richest man and the survival of Light Magic Industries, even demanding a condition of a hundred billion gold shields wouldn't be excessive. After all, Anthony Braden's wealth was estimated at 1.9 trillion.

Of course, most of that was in stocks; Anthony Braden couldn't actually produce that much cash unless it involved gifting shares. But that would mean Anthony giving up control of some key companies, which the other side obviously couldn't accept.

"Of course it's not enough, but before setting the price, we need to determine if we can actually help—"

Li Mochen continued observing. He found the 14th, 18th, and 19th floors of this building, along with the three basement levels and the first and second floors, most suspicious.

Next, he took out a divination plate and began to perform a Purple Star astrology reading. In a moment, Li Mochen had a clear picture.

The richest man should be on the southeast side of the 14th floor.

However, this consumed nearly thirty strands of the merit energy on the tower—and this was with Li Mochen already having some intelligence; if he had been completely in the dark, he couldn't imagine how much would have been lost.

But Li Mochen's eyes now showed intense interest. Regarding the 'Divine Pylon of Fortune and Fate,' there was an unchanging theorem: a large consumption during divination usually meant the target would bring him great gains.

"Lind, you said you saw the battle they fought earlier? Can you describe it?"

Lind Emers didn't speak; he directly used magic to project a three-dimensional image before Li Mochen.

"I recorded it. This Void Night Lord is a very powerful entity. She's a fifth-level legendary magic-energy warrior, but she controls void powers, easily distorting space or even breaking the void barrier to banish people to the Astral Plane or farther. Her combat ability can match some weaker demigods. However, her overall strength was actually inferior to Douglas Duncan at the time. The latter, backed by an eight-story magic tower, had combat power surpassing most demigods. Her fighting style is also completely countered by Miss Haisor under your control."

Li Mochen watched carefully until the image finished playing, then continued: "I want to know, can your magic tower now be used in combat? And to what extent?"

"You'll be disappointed."

Lind Emers shook his head: "Under the anti-magic field, this 'unregistered' tower of mine can exert little power. Actually, I'm quite surprised myself. Under normal circumstances, this Necropolis of ours should have been discovered long ago and forcibly expelled by the magic tower array. That it's allowed to remain on the outskirts of Atlanta suggests someone inside the Magic Tower Committee is helping."

"Then can you temporarily open a small demiplane-like space on the outskirts of Atlanta? I need a sniper position unaffected by the anti-magic field."

Li Mochen settled for the next best option. He wasn't disappointed by the legendary lich's answer; it was what he had expected.

"Also, I'll need you to provide a large amount of magic energy in a short time."

"That can be done when the time comes, but—"

The legendary lich looked at Li Mochen curiously, wondering what plan he intended to use to rescue the man. Was he not planning to use Haisor's body? Such an approach must have its risks; otherwise, it wouldn't need to be so complicated.