Yama Rising

Qin Ye looked on with a smile at the sycophantic smiles and chattering death gods around him, and he was suddenly feeling very amused.

However, no matter how tempting the offers were, they wouldn't be enough to appeal to him. He had always been able to clearly differentiate between his allies and the fence-sitters, and he was only going to split the cake with his allies.

As for everyone else, they could just sit and watch.

After taking a sip of sake, he set down his cup before suddenly turning to a death god beside him. "Death God Yolanda, if I recall correctly, your Star Cluster Federation is also situated in the center of the Pacific Ocean, right?"

Silence.

The political nous of all of the death gods here had been honed over the course of centuries, and right after hearing this, everyone immediately knew what Qin Ye was doing. Several dozen sets of eyes immediately turned toward Yolanda, and the scrutiny was so intense that Yolanda felt as if his soul were about to be set alight.

Yolanda faltered slightly upon hearing this, then almost sprang out of his seat from excitement.

"Yes, that's right!" he replied in as calm a voice as he could muster up. "We are an island chain alliance that is situated right in the center of the Pacific Ocean, and every single one of our islands produces abundant marine produce! We have everything including Atlantic bluefin tuna, all types of shellfish, everything!"

Under normal circumstances, there was no way that they would dare to speak up here.

They were surrounded by the Red Moon Federation, and a bit further away was Southern Asia, where the 12 envoys were situated. These places all produced abundant seafood, and that wasn't even to mention the fact that the seafood markets of the only inland cities were dominated by the Red Moon Federation and the Maluku Islands.

"At the center of the Pacific Ocean" sounded like a good location, but in reality, it was extremely far away from anywhere, and there was no need for anyone to go to them with so many other superior options around. The further the distance, the higher the transportation costs, so why would anyone buy from them?

However, the Cathayan Underworld was different!

Aside from the small section of the southeastern part of the nation with a coastline, the Cathayan Underworld was a massive seafood import nations, and it could easily take all of the Star Cluster Federation's yearly seafood yield several hundred times over.

In the past, most of the Cathayan Underworld's seafood was offered up by the 12 envoys or imported from the Nipponese Underworld, but it was clear that the Nipponese Underworld's actions had severely displeased the Cathayan Underworld. Thus, this lucrative deal had fallen onto the lap of the Star Cluster Federation.

For the Cathayan Underworld, this was most likely an insignificant deal. No, it couldn't even be referred to as just insignificant. However, to the Star Cluster Federation, this was a massive opportunity!

Qin Ye nodded in response. "That's great to hear. I hope your nation's fish farms are already ready for inspection."

"We're constantly ready!"

If Izanami were to hear that her seafood export deal with the Cathayan Underworld had been snubbed while the ruler of the Cathayan Underworld was enjoying the Nipponese Underworld's seafood, she would most likely flip over a table from rage!

The entire hall was completely silent, and all of the death gods knew that the Cathayan Underworld was giving its lackeys benefits. Furthermore, it was doing so in an extremely blatant and open fashion. It was as if Qin Ye were making an example of this for everyone to see, telling everyone to think twice before ever crossing the Cathayan Underworld again.

Whatever you were doing 100 years ago, continue doing that now. Southern Asia is my territory, and don't you ever forget it!

Antee took a few deep breaths to muster up his courage, then raised his cup and said, "Yanluo Qin, the Cathayan Underworld still hasn't established ties with the Star Cluster Federation, right? According to international regulations, nations that haven't interacted for a century are automatically considered to have had their ties severed, which means that the Cathayan Underworld shouldn't have official ties with any other underworld at the moment."

"Is that right?" Qin Ye raised an eyebrow, but remained unfazed.

Are you suggesting I have to beg you in order to re-establish ties? Know your place!

Antee's smile became even more sycophantic as he continued, "Now that you're re-establishing ties with the Star Cluster Federation, our Red Moon Federation is not far away, so if it's convenient for the envoys of your nation, would you be able to pay a visit to our Red Moon Federation as well during your trip? It would save the hassle of having to make a second trip in the future, and it would also provide a safety net in case the amount of seafood produced by the Star Cluster Alliance isn't sufficient to satisfy the demand of the Cathayan Underworld."

"Indeed, Yanluo Qin. A world without the Cathayan Underworld simply feels incomplete, and re-establishing ties with other underworlds is an essential part of the Cathayan Underworld's return to the world stage. Come to think of it, our Vatican City Underworld is not far away from the Cathayan Underworld."

"Yanluo Qin, the four-nation underworld of the Caribbean eagerly awaits the opportunity to re-establish ties with the Cathayan Underworld! Throughout the past 1,000 years, our intimate ties have never been severed before."

"Yanluo Qin, the Greenland Underworld is ready to welcome the envoys of your nation at any time!"

One death god after another raised their cups and were staring directly at Qin Ye with hopeful expressions.

The Cathayan Underworld was an enormous market that had been untapped for over a century, and it was a massive business opportunity for everyone!

Instead of raising his own cup, Qin Ye asked in an indifferent voice, "How many underworlds have incomplete agreements with the Cathayan Underworld from 100 years ago?"

All of the death gods exchanged wary glances, and no one said anything.

They didn't know what Qin Ye was asking this for.

Was he saying that all ties would be severed once the incomplete agreements were fulfilled? No! In that case, we would rather you leave the agreements incomplete! We could just establish new agreements!

After a long while, the death god of the Greenland Underworld finally asked in a cautious manner, "What are your intentions, Yanluo Qin?"

"It's very simple," Qin Ye replied with a serious expression. "I've stated in the past that I will ensure all incomplete agreements the Cathayan Underworld has with other nations are completed."

All of the death gods heaved a collective sigh of relief upon hearing this.

In order to complete an agreement, ties would have to be re-established. Otherwise, the agreement would be illegal.

"However!" Before they had a chance to relax, Qin Ye continued in an unhurried manner, "Renewed inspection will be required to assess whether new agreements will be signed when the incomplete ones are completed."

Everyone immediately tensed up again upon hearing this, and they wanted to say something, but none of them could muster up even a single word.

They were reaping the bitter fruit that they had sown.

This renewed inspection could take as long as the Cathayan Underworld wanted, and if it didn't want to establish new agreements with a nation, then it could nitpick even the most minute of details, making it impossible for their conditions to be satisfied.

Hela was sipping on her sake with a cold smile in silence. The surrounding death gods all wanted to say something, and their eyes were full of anticipation, but they were unable to say anything, and that was a very pleasing sight for her.

They had taken the wrong side, so they had to be punished.

On the political stage, there were no weapons and soldiers, but there were still more than enough ways to sanction a nation.

It was clear that this new ruler of the Cathayan Underworld wasn't a tolerant individual. Instead, he was intent on exacting revenge on all those who had wronged him in the past, and what was most hilarious to her was that the other underworlds knew that they were here to get slapped in the face, yet they still had no choice but to offer up their faces to be slapped.

How ironic... She took another sip of wine. She didn't like this sake much, but she was in such a good mood that at this moment in time, it was tasting even better than the best wine in the world.

"Madam Hela." Qin Ye's voice rang out before she had even set down her cup.

Is it my turn to receive my share of the spoils? An elegant smile immediately appeared on her face as she asked, "What instructions do you have, Yanluo Qin?"

"I wouldn't go as far as to call them instructions," Qin Ye replied with a smile. "It's just that once you go back, you should prepare a team of scholars from your nation to engage in an exchange with our nation's scholars. That way, we'll be able to ensure the smooth construction of the Zhu Rong plan's base stations. What do you think?"

This is it...

Before the death gods present even had a chance to feel dejected, the spark of hope had been reignited in their hearts.

No agreement could even begin to compare with the Zhu Rong plan! Every death god from every single underworld wanted desperately to become a part of the Zhu Rong plan. All of them were eagerly waiting to hear how they could benefit from this monumental plan.

"Of course." Hela couldn't even hold back her own smile, but then again, she was making no effort to do so. "Once I get back, we'll immediately organize a team of scholars to engage in in-depth exchange with the Cathayan Underworld."

Qin Ye nodded in response. "Come to think of it, there's still no safe waterway between the Cathayan Underworld and the five nations of Northern Europa."

All of the death gods immediately lowered their heads while remaining silent.

They didn't dare to say anything.

It was often the case that things said by politicians couldn't be taken at face value.

The Cathayan Underworld and the five nations of Northern Europa were separated by the Russian Underworld, but Qin Ye had just said that there was no safe waterway between them, which meant that he wasn't considering establishing ties with the Russian Underworld for now.

Anko's entire body was trembling upon hearing this.

This was a true olive branch!

Aside from the Russian Underworld, the only other option was her Celtic Underworld!

"Yanluo Qin." She could feel her own voice trembling, and she was doing everything in her power to maintain an elegant and polite facade as she smiled and said, "Would the Celtic Underworld be able to serve you in this area? The entire North Pole is a part of the Celtic civilization, and my orders can be transmitted straight into the minds of every single Eskimo. Once they pass away, they will all be devout followers of mine. We don't have a massive population, but we can ensure a safe waterway without any issues!"

Qin Ye turned to her with a smile and replied, "I think there's a lot of room for collaboration between us in the future."

He wasn't going to completely reject everyone else.

Different underworlds had to be treated differently, and for some underworlds, he was going to leave them hanging for at least a decade or so to teach them a lesson before establishing ties with them. In contrast, he wasn't opposed to dishing out some benefits to the underworlds that would be of benefit to him. In doing so, he would be showing all of the underworlds the benefits they could potentially receive as long as they remained loyal to the Cathay Underworld.

The Celtic Underworld had a sparse population, and Death Goddess Anko posed no threat at all to the Cathayan Underworld. At the same time, he was implying that he had no plans to establish ties with the Russian Underworld for now. At a time like this, it was important not to let his emotions get the better of him. He had to remain objective and treat each underworld with discretion.

The Celtic Underworld was the first underworld outside of the Cathayan Underworld's alliance to receive benefits, and with this example set, all of the other underworlds were raring to go again.

"Yanluo Qin." Kuwal raised his cup once again as he asked, "Would the Red Moon Federation also be able to have the honor of establishing a new waterway with the Cathayan Underworld? Our territory is different from the Star Cluster Federation in that we fulfill all of the conditions required for the construction of new base stations."

Many of the death gods present immediately turned to look directly at Kuwal.

For the sake of being able to join the Zhu Rong plan, he was completely casting aside all sense of dignity!

Qin Ye hadn't offered him anything, yet he was plucking down an olive branch for himself once again!

Qin Ye turned to him with a meaningful smile. "I don't recall ever stating that I was planning to set up Zhu Rong plan base stations in the middle of the Pacific Ocean."

Kuwal replied in a respectful voice, "You may not have such plans now, but there will definitely come a time for that. Once the new energy resource is completely developed, our federation will be sure to approach the Cathayan Underworld to purchase the patent. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new energy resource, and it would be much better to establish all of this earlier than later, wouldn't you agree?"

"Indeed, the new energy resource was first discovered by the Cathayan Underworld, and even if the other three pillars try to catch up now, it's already too late. All of us will be purchasing the patent from the Cathayan Underworld sooner or later, so why don't we sort everything out in advance?"

"We'll be sure to provide satisfactory terms to the Cathayan Underworld."

"If possible, our nation would be honored to join the Zhu Rong plan right away!"

They were making it sound as if the agreements had already been signed and all that was left was to construct the base stations now!

There was no way they could say this outright, but essentially, what they were saying was: "As long as you let us join the Zhu Rong plan, you can decide on how much of the profits you want to take!"

They weren't afraid of the Cathayan Underworld stating unfavorable terms, the thing they were most afraid of was that the Cathayan Underworld would refuse to negotiate with them at all!