# Chapter 2245: Pity the Protagonist Isn't Me
Yakeli stared fixedly at Jiangnan's profile. He had to admit—at this moment, the self he'd always held onto was starting to waver!
Jiangnan wasn't drawing him a fantasy. He wasn't stringing him along. This man genuinely, concretely intended to do this thing!
The Star Project, was it?
Now Yakeli had even begun to look forward to it—what kind of world that would be!
At this moment, Yakeli felt a sense of "I am not alone on this path"!
Jiangnan's eyes flickered. He had his own considerations as well. Admittedly, the Star Project was still just a prototype, and the later investments—the funds needed to save all kinds of slave races—might be an unfillable bottomless pit!
But one couldn't only look at the present. This was an extremely long-term undertaking, absolutely worth Jiangnan's investment of energy, time, and resources!
Jiangnan was also laying out his own game.
Wang Youzhi watched this scene and chuckled darkly. Things were getting more and more interesting!
All the slave races had been completely bought up by Xuan Se. The mining district bidding conference was a resounding success!
Representatives of various races and faction leaders filed out. Venus coldly shot a glare at Jiangnan before directly leading her subordinates away in a dimensional leap!
Boss Pang also left with Gulake, chatting and laughing. Before leaving, Gulake even thoughtfully repaired the venue!
Jiangnan sent a message to Pang Badi, telling him to handle his current affairs first, then take over the 666 mining district and bring people to wait for him there. He still had unfinished business here.
Pang Badi laughed heartily:
($͡°ꇴ͡°) "Brother Black! Today I'm indebted to my young brother's generosity. You absolutely must come to the 666 mining district and let your big brother properly play the host!"
Jiangnan smiled: "Rest assured, big brother! Even if you didn't call me, I'd still come, hahaha!"
The two groups parted ways. Jiangnan led the Bully Gang members and left together with Xuan Se.
Chong Ruhua and Chong Siyu were still reluctantly staring at Alpha's back, watching her leave!
Then they turned and waved at Xuan Se:
ᥬ(๑)מּൠמּ)᭄ "Lord Xuan Se? Our Insect Emperor Bishi still remembers your kindness. When will you come and relieve Her Majesty's worries?"
Xuan Se shuddered, his face turning pale:
(⌒ㅂ⌒;) "Ahaha... ahaha! Another day, for sure!"
Chong Siyu covered her mouth and giggled:
ᥬ(#)ຈლຈ)᭄ "Hehehe~ Then we two sisters will wait for your good news?"
With that, they left. Xuan Se's face darkened. Wait for what, damn it? Looking at the two sisters' appearances, any fire would be extinguished, okay!
Jiangnan watched this scene, his gaze shifting.
Xuan Se turned to look at Jiangnan, his expression vicious:
(ꐦ°᷄益°᷅) "You've spent the money, you've given the favors, you've shown off enough. When are you returning my Soul Separation?"
"Black! I'm warning you! Don't go too far!"
Jiangnan grinned:
(๑¯̫¯ิ) "Of course I'm not the kind of guy who pole vaults in the outhouse. The bed... pfft, let's talk on the ship, shall we?"
Xuan Se's face darkened, but he had no choice but to go along.
On the star track, inside Xuan Se's luxurious Huanzhou Starship conference room!
Jiangnan sat in the main seat, his legs directly propped up on the table, tilting his chair back and rocking it nonstop.
He was practically screaming the word "arrogant"!
Behind him stood all the capable members of the Bully Gang. Shengyi and Shengcai, with great discretion, stood on either side of Jiangnan, kneading his shoulders.
Jiangnan lightly snapped his fingers, and Ai Jiang automatically took control of the ship's entire system!
Xuan Se's forehead veins bulged:
(ꐦ°᷄皿°᷅ꐦ) "What else is there to talk about? I can guarantee that after you return my Soul Separation, I won't touch you again. From now on, we'll keep to ourselves, no debts owed!"
Jiangnan casually weighed a Small Fire Jar in his hand, smiling faintly, not taking the bait: "Those slave races you bought—send them to my poor mining district. Give my people control of the Slave Marks. I'll naturally send someone to handle the handover."
Xuan Se waved his hand: (︶～︶〃) "That's no problem! My Soul Separation..."
Jiangnan grinned: "You performed well today. I'm not the kind of person who lacks integrity. This jar—is yours!"
With that, he slapped the jar onto the table.
Xuan Se's eyes lit up, and he reached out to grab it. But Jiangnan immediately pulled it back.
(๑ᵒ̴̶↼ᵒ̴̶)۶Ω "Hey? Don't be so hasty, okay?"
Xuan Se glared: (ꐦ◣益◢) "What do you mean? Didn't you give it to me? Why take it back?"
Jiangnan looked completely at ease: "I gave it to you. But not now!"
[From Xuan Se: Resentment Value +1009!]
[From Xuan Se...]
☚(▼皿▼ꐦ) "Black! I'm warning you! Any creature's patience has its limits. Once you cross my bottom line—!"
Jiangnan: (´ﾟωﾟ) "Then just lower your bottom line a bit more."
Xuan Se: (ꐦథ益థ)σ "You—!"
Jiangnan's expression turned serious: (˵ಠĹ̯ಠ˵) "Indeed, you performed very well, and you got a jar in return. But that's just one."
"Don't forget, I still have two of your Soul Separations. You'll have to earn the other one yourself."
"Help me with another favor. Once it's done, I'll return both Soul Separations together."
Xuan Se looked furious: "Even a donkey needs hay to work! You can't do this! Return one Soul Separation to me first, then I'll do it for you!"
He'd grab back whatever he could!
Jiangnan squinted: "You don't have any bargaining chips to negotiate with me. One word: are you doing it or not?"
Under normal circumstances, he might have returned it. But the problem was that the Soul Separation in the jar knew his true identity!
If he returned it, his cover would be blown. He had to hold onto it for now.
The conference room fell silent. After a fierce internal struggle, Xuan Se finally made up his mind.
(ꐦ︶益︶ꐦ) "Fine! I'll do it! What's the job? Speak!"
Jiangnan's eyes lit up. See? The teammate had arrived!
(〃՞̫՞) "I saw you're quite familiar with Chong Bishi. Help me go deep into the insect nest and get close to her main body. I don't need you to do anything—just get close to her main body."
"The moment you succeed, I'll return both Soul Separations to you."
Chong Feiyu was thrilled. Finally, this moment had come!
(งᵒ̌ꇴᵒ̌)ง Waku waku~
The Immortal Spirit Chrysalis Shell!
But Xuan Se's face changed dramatically:
(•́益•̀٥) "Get close to Chong Bishi's main body? What exactly are you trying to do? Who are you?"
Jiangnan scoffed: "Stop asking stupid questions, okay? Do you think I'd answer you? Ask something broadcastable."
Xuan Se's eyes flickered: "Whatever your goal is, forget it. It's impossible."
"The Mother Insect Emperor is the most core existence of any insect swarm. How could she reveal herself so easily? I've been hanging around the Starry Sky Mine for all these years, and I've never even seen Chong Bishi's main body!"
"She always uses her guardian insect swarm and puppet insects to handle her affairs. I don't even know what she looks like. Those who've seen her main body can be counted on one hand!"
"Let alone going deep into the insect nest. Don't underestimate an insect emperor's caution. Whatever you're planning, I suggest you give up now. Your life is more important!"
Entering the insect nest meant entering the insect swarm's territory. No one was willing to hand their life over to someone else.
Jiangnan smiled lightly: (◕⌒◡⌒) "I know exactly what I'm doing. You don't need to remind me. Just say something with substance."
"And I'm sorry to tell you, this is your only way to get your Soul Separations back."
Xuan Se ground his teeth and fell into thought again, his expression conflicted.
Clearly, he was weighing his options.
No matter what Black's goal was in approaching Chong Bishi, it was definitely ill-intentioned. If something went wrong, he'd be implicated.
If Chong Bishi came to blame him, he wouldn't be able to escape either.
But Black had his mouth sealed shut. If he didn't do it, he'd lose his Soul Separations. Then...
Wait. Xuan Se's eyes suddenly lit up!
Jiangnan smiled: (ꐦ⌒◡⌒) "You're thinking of informing Chong Bishi in advance, having her cooperate with you in a play, luring me into the insect nest, and then killing me in one fell swoop, right?"
"That way, you help Chong Bishi solve her crisis, do her a favor, and also kill me to reclaim your Soul Separations. You can try it. See if you still get your Soul Separations back."
"Indeed. I admit I'm gambling. But my odds are better than yours. Since I chose you to do this, no matter what, I have a fallback plan. But you don't."
Xuan Se's expression froze solid. Black had directly spoken the thought at the bottom of his heart!
Could this guy read minds?!
Damn it!
(￢益￢٥) "I don't know what you're trying to do, but can you guarantee that I won't be implicated if something happens? I have my own concerns."
"The insect race is my Chaos race's ally. I don't want to break things off over this."
Jiangnan smiled: "You don't know anything. It's all my personal actions. I forced you into this."
"Even if something happens, what can she do to you? Break off the alliance? Turn friends into enemies? Hah~ Don't forget, the Sequence War is about to start."
"The insect race won't be stupid enough to kick out their own ally and fight alone, leaving an opening for the Angel race to swoop in, right?"
Xuan Se gritted his teeth. He felt that Black was a demon constantly luring him into an abyss of utter doom!
He knew it was dangerous, but he couldn't help wanting to reach out and accept it.
"Last time. Whether it succeeds or fails, you must return my Soul Separations. You must."
Jiangnan smiled: "A Starry Sky person doesn't lie to a Starry Sky person. Tell me, what good method do you have for going deep into the insect nest and getting close to Chong Bishi?"
"Since you agreed, it means you've already thought of a brilliant method, right?"
Xuan Se's face was full of difficulty: (︶﹏︶⑉) "Actually... Chong Bishi has always had an indescribable fondness for me. She's tried to seduce me many times, inviting me to share her bed and pillow."
"I've refused every time. Because her appearance... I just can't bring myself to do it. It's not that I'm a member of the Appearance Association, but insect race... kind of crosses my bottom line."
"I've never agreed. Maybe I could agree to spend a wonderful night together, to have an unforgettable evening. In that case, I might be able to go deep into the insect nest and see her main body."
"The problem is, it might require me to sacrifice a bit of myself before..."
Jiangnan's eyes sparkled:
(ง✪⥎✪)ง "Works! This absolutely works! It's practically a direct ticket to the insect nest!"
Chong Feiyu was ecstatic: (*ᵒ̴̶ꇴᵒ̴̶) "See? I told you? This method is absolutely okay! If you'd listened to me back then, it would have been done long ago!"
Bo Deng covered his face. Was this really any different from his Breeding Vanguard plan?!
It was just in a different form!
Unfortunately, the protagonist of this plan wasn't him!
This, this, this... what a terrible pity!