Chapter 1311
Chapter 1311 - 1297: Ambition
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8 min read
"Let’s settle here, with a good enough product, customers will find their way, no matter how deep the alley." Lu Ping’an mulled over it repeatedly and eventually decided to set up the flower shop in an alley.
"Are you sure? Is it not because of the damned land prices?"
"Heh, do I look like someone without money? ...Well, alright, I actually am." Lu Ping’an sighed; he was quite wealthy... before he started investing heavily.
The negotiations with South One Church were nearly done; they offered a "cost price" in a very friendly manner... Lu Ping’an immediately regretted not having control over half the city behind the scenes.
He had no choice but to buy... Since the South One Pope was willing to sell, his intent to exit must have been firm. Selling to another big shot would bring new troubles.
After all, Lu Ping’an had already planted the Mother Tree. If a new, control-hungry big shot came, how things would turn out was an unknown.
"...Do you think, if I charge those ’profession-buyers’ an admission fee, I could make a killing?"
"Be a little human... Those ordinary folks have nothing; those ’mosquito legs’ won’t earn much. You’re better off charging the rich sponsorship fees, especially from middle-high tier professionals. One of them is worth a thousand ordinary folks. I can have the Salvation Army contact those ’moneyed’ ones for you; just a small service fee will do."
The first part of Xia Qin was still the external conscience that Lu Ping’an had always known.
But the latter part showed the marks left by time.
If it were the Xia Qin from back then, she would have treated everyone equally – or at least wouldn’t have suggested such discriminatory treatment... The Xia Qin who sought procedural justice and fairness seemed to have slid more into the results-oriented side.
Back then, she would consider the wider population and social order, but now, her perspective seemed "narrowed," focusing just on the interests of the lowest class and her own side.
"You seem a bit more flexible?" Lu Ping’an revealed her change with interest.
"Are you saying I used to be too naive? Or are you scolding my past self for being too innocent and causing you much trouble?" The woman seemed somewhat sensitive.
The young man shook his head, smiling as he said,
"No, I am complimenting the current you, which really reassures me." Looking at the "matured" woman, Lu Ping’an felt a sense of gratification.
In an instant, faced with the rare sunny smile of this youth, the woman blushed.
She subconsciously touched her sword scabbard, wanting to hit this man full of nonsense... but then she realized that doing so would only make her seem too young, too naive.
"Oh right, I’ve contacted Meow. They should be back soon... hehe, the ranking battles might have to be fought all over again. Your first and second place positions might not hold."
In a flash, Lu Ping’an became serious.
Alright, after flirting, it’s back to serious topics, discussing official matters – he really was a consistent bastard.
This time, though, Xia Qin didn’t let him get away with it.
She moved closer, looked at the "delicate" face of the youth, and began rubbing it hard. The feel was indeed nice, but it made her even more irked...
"Softer than a girl’s, a high school student, huh? Anti-aging to this degree is just unfair..."
The more she rubbed, the angrier she got, thinking about her own scars and weather-beaten skin. In the end, it turned into two fists drilling forcefully into his temples.
"Stop, stop, I apologize, I apologize! It’s splitting open, it’s splitting open; don’t use Rule-level strength on someone’s head..."
After a playful scuffle, it was as if they had returned to the past – the external conscience was once again tidying up the life of this heartless "young genius."
But both of them knew, time had passed, and they must look forward.
"...What exactly are your plans?" Clutching her feelings back, Xia Qin asked.
This seemed to be a change too... The Xia Qin of the past would have just looked at the surrounding circumstances, making her own demands, or blindly followed along wherever Lu Ping’an led her.
The current her was trying to understand Lu Ping’an’s goals and plans... Admiration and blind following are the greatest distances, while equality is the premise for standing together.
"Me? I’m just leaving a way out for myself... Er, I’m not joking, that’s really what I’m thinking."
Lu Ping’an frowned slightly, reflecting on something as he spoke.
"...you don’t think highly of the homeland?"
Xia Qin was startled by his words and then began to ponder.
"No, I am optimistic. It’s developing quite well right now, but that doesn’t mean I won’t prepare a fallback plan."
Lu Ping’an shrugged. He was actually quite happy that someone in the team had finally brought this up.
Although everyone trusted him and that was quite good, blindly following one path without considering alternatives wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
"You want to be deified?"
"No... but if necessary, I won’t refuse. In the end, what I’ve always sought after is summed up in two words..."
"Stability?"
"Surviving... and if possible, living comfortably with sufficient capabilities."
In a sense, Lu Ping’an was the most extreme negative thinker, one who considered the worst possibilities in every situation—the kind who would periodically check for cancer even if in perfect health.
But from another angle, he was also the most proactive in preparation... when everything is seen from the worst possible scenario, everything else appears quite good and positive.
When he had no expectations of others, everyone he met became a pleasant surprise.
"The Silent Mountain Range World, huh..."
"It’s not just about that, but who can predict the future of their world? If that day does come... even in the Exotic Realm, I hope that I, along with my people, can have a decent life."
In poverty, one focuses on taking care of oneself; in wealth, one aids the whole world. Lu Ping’an has never changed.
In the many worlds at present, he has made investments... should the ancient city fall, he could rebuild it on Green Planet or Mercury 42 and relocate most of the local inhabitants.
Lu Ping’an had not mentioned these things before because nobody had asked.
"You really are pragmatic, without a shred of a dream..."
"Yes, if I were only at the Decree-level, I would try to protect myself and my family. If I am destined for Rule-level or above, I would try to protect my homeland. If I can climb even higher... at that time, I will naturally have new goals."
Lu Ping’an spoke calmly and openly; he would help the locals but also expected that one day, they would treat him kindly in return... He was not a ’good person’ like Xia Qin, who ’could not bear to see others hurt’, he was always just a ’mortal’ struggling for survival in a painful world.
In his youth, he scorned the Escaping Faction.
As he matured, he understood the Escaping Faction... Those who can maintain their spirits amidst the gods and demons and near-infinite despair are already warriors.
As a big shot, he would curse out loud at the Escaping Faction while under the guise of investment, make preparations elsewhere, and when necessary...
"...I understand now."
Xia Qin nodded, though she had guessed some of it before, even now she had not imagined that this person would be so devoid of dreams.
"You really haven’t changed at all, can’t you have a bit of ambition and desire?"
"What? I think my current goals are quite ambitious..."
"I’m talking about personal ambition. Right now, if you wanted to found a nation and become Emperor here, it would be quite possible. Don’t most young people your age talk about justice and righteousness but desire power, beauty, and thousands in the imperial harem inside? Uh, why are you looking at me like that? Aren’t all men like that..."
Upon hearing this, it was Lu Ping’an’s turn to fall silent. He looked at Xia Qin, who was now blushing with embarrassment, and vaguely guessed what she had witnessed over the years.
"What’s wrong with that? Isn’t it normal? Those colonels in the Salvation Army, they all fight wars and act like local tycoons at the same time, having three wives and four concubines is considered conservative, and they love to flaunt their noble titles..."
Apparently, Xia Qin’s adaptability also stemmed from the experiences that time had brought her.
Weren’t those men all the same? With just a bit of ability and success, they become so inflated, wanting to devour and claim everything within sight, whether it’s within their reach or not.
And this, by the standards of this world, doesn’t seem to be wrong at all.
So, Lu Ping’an laughed.
"A harem of three thousand? Emperor? If I became the Emperor, would you want to be the Empress... You’re really taking it too far! You started the topic, and now you’re hitting people with a scabbard! Sigh! You even added abilities..."
— End of Chapter 1311 —