Chapter 204 - 163: Wild Speculations, A Generous Disclosure

Chapter 204: Chapter 163: Wild Speculations, A Generous Disclosure

"Change a plant’s properties? Are there really Evolvers who can do that?" Ji Yizhi was utterly incredulous.

The Wood-Type Evolvers he had encountered so far could only accelerate plant growth and control plants for combat. This ability to change a plant’s properties was unheard of!

"It might not necessarily be an Evolver," Long Zhan said, shaking his head. "After all, our Wood-Type Evolvers don’t have that ability. Perhaps they just have a team of botanical experts."

Wang Jun nodded in emphatic agreement. "If the Peach Blossom Base really has a team like that, they’re truly formidable."

Ji Yizhi frowned. "But what if there really is an Evolver like that?"

Long Zhan was taken aback for a moment, then laughed heartily. "In that case, we have even more reason to stay on good terms with the Peach Blossom Base!"

Ji Yizhi nodded, lost in thought.

"Wait a minute!" Wang Jun suddenly interjected. "I think we’ve overlooked something. Is the Peach Blossom Base’s licorice something they grew themselves, or is it from their original stockpiles?"

This time, both Long Zhan and Ji Yizhi were stunned.

Their entire discussion had been based on the assumption that the Peach Blossom Base possessed the licorice plant. But what if they hadn’t actually acquired one?

It had been reported that the Peach Blossom Base went and caused some trouble at the Dawn Base, and a fight broke out. And while the Dawn Base couldn’t get the better of them, the Peach Blossom Base didn’t manage to defeat the Dawn Base either.

Since they didn’t win, they most likely didn’t manage to snatch the licorice from the Dawn Base.

"If they’re using stockpiled licorice, wouldn’t that be even more incredible?" Long Zhan seemed excited. "Their world-leading technology might not be limited to just botany!"

"Perhaps they used licorice soup as a base and added other substances to create this potion?" Ji Yizhi speculated.

"That seems more plausible," Wang Jun said with a nod.

"If that’s the case, shouldn’t we put our licorice stockpile under strict control? We can’t afford to waste it," Long Zhan suggested.

"Then should our lab continue its research on this potion?" Ji Yizhi asked, frowning.

If the licorice was put under strict control, their experiments would have to stop.

"To prevent running out of licorice, we should halt the experiments for now," Wang Jun replied resignedly after a moment of thought.

He knew that Zhao Jun would be furious if the lab had to stop now, but to ensure they had enough licorice to create Evolution Potions in the future, Zhao Jun would just have to bear with it.

"By the way, you’ve traded with the Dawn Base before, haven’t you?" Long Zhan said suddenly. "We could buy the licorice plant from them. They might not sell to the Peach Blossom Base, but they probably wouldn’t refuse us. After all, they still don’t know that licorice can be used to create Evolution Potions!"

"That’s right! Captain Ji, contact the Dawn Base and ask them," Wang Jun agreed.

Ji Yizhi nodded, taking out his phone to contact Jing Shu.

"Captain of Dawn, I hear you have a licorice plant. Would you be willing to sell it to us?" Ji Yizhi asked, getting straight to the point.

Jing Shu was taken aback when he saw the message. He never expected the Aircraft Carrier Base to also be interested in the licorice plant.

His first reaction was to think the Peach Blossom Base had asked the Aircraft Carrier Base to inquire about the licorice plant, but he quickly dismissed the thought.

After all, Lin Mu had taken many licorice rhizomes when he escaped from the Dawn Base’s lab. The Peach Blossom Base could certainly cultivate their own by now.

This meant it was highly likely the Aircraft Carrier Base was simply interested in the licorice plant for its own reasons.

’Could the licorice plant have some greater purpose?’ Jing Shu wondered. Having made up his mind, he replied to Ji Yizhi, "I’m sorry, but we aren’t selling the plant at this time. However, we can give you a piece of the rhizome."

Ji Yizhi was a little confused, but he replied, "Alright. And the price for this piece of rhizome?"

"Just give us a fair amount of grain, but you’ll have to cover the cost of diesel for the delivery."

After seeing Jing Shu’s reply, Ji Yizhi thought for a moment before answering, "One hundred pounds of wheat, plus your diesel consumption."

"Deal!" Jing Shu agreed.

After setting a time for the trade, they ended the conversation.

"The Dawn Base is only willing to part with a piece of the rhizome. We’ll make the trade tomorrow," Ji Yizhi told Wang Jun and Long Zhan.

Wang Jun nodded. "One piece of rhizome is more than enough. Let’s have our Wood-Type Evolver go with the transport team. They can stimulate its growth immediately, and we’ll have a never-ending supply of licorice in the future!"

"I’m a bit confused," Ji Yizhi said, voicing his doubt. "Isn’t the Dawn Base worried that we’ll buy this rhizome and immediately resell it to the Peach Blossom Base?"

"Could it be that they’re wary of our base’s power?" Long Zhan guessed.

Wang Jun shook his head firmly. "I doubt it. We’re too far from their location to be able to send a large fleet over there."

"But if the Peach Blossom Base already has a licorice plant, then they’d have nothing to worry about," Ji Yizhi said, his eyes narrowing.

Wang Jun was taken aback. "You mean the Dawn Base knows that the Peach Blossom Base already has a licorice plant?"

"How could they possibly know?" Long Zhan asked, confused.

"What if the Peach Blossom Base got its licorice plant from the Dawn Base in the first place?" Ji Yizhi countered.

"You mean to say that the Peach Blossom Base already acquired the licorice plant last time they went to stir up trouble at the Dawn Base?" Long Zhan asked, surprised.

"It’s highly likely," Ji Yizhi said with a slight nod.

Wang Jun rubbed his forehead. "In that case, our earlier speculation is also possible. What a headache."

"I’d say you’re all overthinking this," Long Zhan said pragmatically. "It doesn’t matter which scenario is true. The fact is, right now, only the Peach Blossom Base can create the Evolution Potion, and we’re on pretty good terms with them. That’s all that matters."