Shadows of the Deep Space-Chapter 1517 - 508: Rich Lady

"Uh, when you say ’half-life,’ do you mean resources or the situation?"

Su Ming furrowed his brow and asked curiously.

"Haha, if it’s about resources, would the Federation still have such a large deficit?"

Long Chen stopped using his knife and fork, and replied with a smile.

"Alright."

Su Ming’s mouth twitched slightly as he replied, and then he quietly continued eating.

...

In the afternoon.

Long Chen took Su Ming on the hovercar and said to Long Ying.

"You wait at home."

"Okay, Grandpa!"

Long Ying replied respectfully.

Long Chen then said to Long Xi, who was driving.

"Let’s go!"

"Yes!"

Long Xi immediately started the vehicle and drove off into the distance.

Su Ming sat in the car, staring out at the passing scenery, lost in thought.

Long Chen glanced at Su Ming, seeing him so composed, he secretly praised him; being so young yet so steady, no wonder Long Bai entrusted him with important tasks.

...

Not long after, the black hovercar traveled through the virtual track, arriving at the second level of Saint Joex, which is also the top of the disc-shaped gyroscope body.

The seven major families of Saint Joex lived here, symbolizing honor and authority, while other family members lived on the lower platform.

Then the black hovercar drove towards a dreamlike garden-style castle.

As the hovercar approached the gate, a burly man in fourth-generation heavy-duty exoskeleton armor, with a fierce gaze, reached out to stop the vehicle.

At this point, Long Xi opened the car door and stepped out, speaking politely.

"Hello, my master has come specifically to visit Lord Mokduo."

"Lord Mokduo isn’t someone who can be visited just because someone wants to."

The burly man stared coldly at Long Xi and said.

"This is my master’s invitation card!"

Long Xi handed over a gold-embossed invitation card.

The burly man took the card, glanced at the name, then said in a solemn voice.

"Please wait a moment!"

"Alright!"

Long Xi replied politely.

Inside the car, Su Ming watched the scene and said with interest.

"I didn’t expect they still keep the old tradition of invitation cards."

"The higher-ups pay more attention to such things, so they maintain these habits."

Long Chen said with a smile.

"Hmm!"

Su Ming nodded.

After ten minutes, the closed gate opened, and a butler with white hair, dressed in a black tailcoat with a bow tie, hurriedly came out and approached the hovercar.

At this time, the window rolled down, and Long Chen turned to look at the butler and spoke calmly.

"Kafendo." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"I apologize, Lord Long Chen, for keeping you waiting. Are you here to see Lord Mokduo?"

"Hmm."

"It’s unfortunate, but Lord Mokduo isn’t home right now."

Butler Kafendo said apologetically.

"Not home? Where did he go?"

Long Chen frowned and asked.

"I don’t know, Lord Mokduo’s whereabouts are top secret."

Kafendo replied with sincere apology.

"When will he be back?"

Long Chen’s expression changed and then he asked.

"I really don’t know. Perhaps you could return another day, or I could inform him as soon as he returns."

Kafendo shook his head in reply.

"Alright! Let’s leave."

Long Chen remained silent for a few seconds before speaking.

"Lord Long Chen, take care."

Kafendo respectfully bowed.

Long Xi then turned the vehicle around and left. Kafendo exhaled a sigh of relief as he watched the departing black hovercar.

Inside the black hovercar.

Su Ming turned to Long Chen and asked.

"Lord Long Chen, is it true that Lord Mokduo isn’t home?"

"Mokduo is more cautious than anyone else; there are too many people in this world who want his head. He rarely leaves his home, and I hadn’t heard of him visiting anywhere."

Long Chen said seriously.

"You mean he deliberately avoided meeting us?"

"Most likely, but we can’t rule out the possibility that he truly isn’t home."

"What should we do then?"

Su Ming asked with a furrowed brow.

"Let’s return for now and then reevaluate the situation."

Long Chen replied seriously.

"Alright."

Su Ming nodded.

...

Meanwhile, in the dreamlike garden.

Mokduo sat in an elegant pavilion, calmly brewing tea and taking a gentle sip.

At this time, Kafendo walked over and spoke respectfully.

"Master, they’ve left."

"You did well."

Mokduo replied calmly.

Kafendo hesitated for a moment, then asked.

"Master, why didn’t you see Lord Long Chen but instead told him you weren’t home? This excuse won’t fool Lord Long Chen?"

"I know, but I don’t want to see him right now."

"Why not?"

"Tianqi and Dark Star’s envoys just pressured us to freeze and hand over all of the Federation’s assets right before Long Chen came visiting. It’s most likely related to the Federation, and it’s unlikely to be good news. If I’m not mistaken, they might be aiming to take the rare metal resources pledged to Saint Joex."

Mokduo’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.

"Master, why would the Federation want to take back the resources pledged here? Isn’t that like causing their own downfall? Don’t they fear the collapse of the Federation’s foreign trade?"

Kafendo asked in confusion.

"You’re right, but given the Federation’s current situation, they might actually take such actions. That’s why I can’t meet them, nor allow them to take them."

"But wouldn’t that offend them too?"

"Sigh, it’s unavoidable. Dark Star and Tianqi are typical traitors; the Federation hasn’t collapsed yet, and they’re already baring their fangs, trying to force us to hand over the Federation’s assets. If the Federation did collapse, their next move would be to consume us, wouldn’t it? If the Federation takes all the resources pledged here, they could leave as if nothing matters. Then we would not only offend Tianqi and Dark Star but also face two hungry wolves alone."