Chapter Forty: Grasping an Era

Gu Sha narrowed his eyes slightly, picked up the teapot on the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and asked, “President Han, why don’t you be straightforward? How exactly would this cooperation work?”

Han Ze replied, “I’ll be honest as well. Before meeting you, Mr. Gu, my plan was to recruit you into the Transcender Association. As long as you didn’t do anything to harm humanity—even if it meant relinquishing my position as president—I would have gladly accepted it.

However, after meeting you, I abandoned that idea. I believe I have some skill in judging character, and I can tell that you’re someone who dislikes being constrained. Your mindset… to put it plainly, you’re the type who puts yourself first. You wouldn’t enjoy joining an official organization, nor would you fit into one. Tell me, am I right?”

Gu Sha actually appreciated Han Ze’s blunt and candid manner, so he didn’t feign modesty and simply nodded, “Indeed, I lack a sense of the bigger picture and am not suited for official institutions.”

Han Ze smiled slightly and said, “So, I made a spur-of-the-moment decision. I want to cooperate with you, Mr. Gu, under the name of the Transcender Association. The model I have in mind is still a rough sketch, but it’s similar to the agent teams of celebrity studios in the pre-apocalypse era.

The Transcender Association would provide you with an exclusive service team, available twenty-four hours a day. Their mission would be to assist you in your daily life and travel, offering convenience within the scope of the Association’s authority.

Additionally, according to your personal wishes and current circumstances, they would recommend missions to you. For example, if the Association issued a bounty to eliminate a powerful zombie, after thorough research, they’d suggest it to you if they deemed it suitable. Whether or not you accept it is entirely up to you; no one can force you.

To put it bluntly, in this apocalypse, you’ll surely have needs—resources, supplies, and so forth—which can all be obtained from the authorities. All missions issued by the Association are paid. We each get what we want; we cooperate for mutual benefit. As for the team, we’ll arrange one for you at first, but if you find them unsatisfactory, you can change them at any time. We can find new ones for you or you may arrange your own.”

Gu Sha frowned and said, “From what you’re saying, all the advantages are on my side. What’s in it for the Transcender Association, or the authorities? Cooperation can’t be one-sided.”

Han Ze smiled and replied, “From the authorities’ perspective, the significance is immense—it’s just that our viewpoints differ.

Mr. Gu, you must realize that with time, powerful Transcenders will only become more numerous. The authorities will need to coordinate them. This cooperation model may seem like the authorities are expending effort to serve Transcenders.

In reality, it also allows Transcenders to give back to the authorities. First, as more powerful Transcenders emerge, there will be more individuals like yourself who won’t want to join official organizations. The authorities absolutely cannot suppress this group; they are a spark, a force for humanity. All the authorities can do is appease them, reducing uncontrollable factors.

Second, such cooperation fully utilizes humanity’s various strengths. The authorities’ power is limited, especially in the apocalypse, where resources are increasingly scarce. Issuing paid missions helps relieve the pressure of insufficient manpower.

For example, if we issue a mission that doesn’t appeal to you or isn’t suitable, it might attract someone else, right? The mission gets done. In today’s world, there’s no shortage of tasks requiring Transcenders. Out of ten missions, you may not be interested in any, but out of a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, surely there will be one that interests you?

As long as a Transcender completes a bounty mission, the authorities’ initial investment will never be a loss; the person who accepts the mission gets what they want, and everyone benefits.

Moreover, this model allows the authorities to coordinate, keeping in touch with powerful individuals across the regions and responding optimally to emergencies. Especially with Transcenders like you, having a service team enables direct negotiation with the authorities.

For instance, if we issue a mission well matched to your skills but the reward isn’t satisfactory, your team can communicate directly with us, making problem-solving highly efficient!”

Gu Sha looked at Han Ze, a wave of emotion stirring within him.

Han Ze’s proposed model was the very mercenary guild system of the future. It remained in place until the time Gu Sha was reborn, and it worked exceptionally well. The authorities fully harnessed civilian Transcender power while establishing a degree of order, providing ordinary Transcenders a path to advancement. Gu Sha himself was a beneficiary.

In his previous life, he became a Level Five warrior by becoming a mercenary, undertaking missions to earn resources and growing step by step.

Gu Sha couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.

No wonder Han Ze became a figure of faith in his previous life—

His vision was truly ahead of its time.

As for the team service model Han Ze mentioned, it existed in his past life as well, but only for the elite. Many lone War Kings and War Emperors had dedicated service teams.

For Gu Sha in his previous life,

He naturally wasn’t qualified—after all, without being a War King, how could he negotiate with the authorities as an individual?

But now, in the early days of the apocalypse,

He didn’t need to be a War King; he already had the qualifications. If he didn’t, then no one in the world did!

Han Ze looked at Gu Sha and asked, “Mr. Gu, what do you think?”

Gu Sha smiled faintly, gazed at Han Ze, and said, “President Han, your model is excellent. Once the details are refined, I believe it could be implemented worldwide. But are you sure you can persuade those in the authorities? The barriers were all erected by the noble families.”

“I can!” Han Ze replied. “As things stand, as long as you agree to cooperate, the people in the major families will consent. Your strength is worth risking the barriers. To put it plainly, whether this plan succeeds hinges on you, Mr. Gu. Your power will force the family alliances to compromise!”

Gu Sha naturally understood Han Ze’s meaning.

This plan would be a loss for the authorities in the early stages; many would oppose it. But if Gu Sha agreed to cooperate now, it would add leverage and credibility to the plan.

For a moment,

Gu Sha felt a strange emotion—

The fate of an era’s decisions rested in his hands.

He gazed at Han Ze and said, “As long as President Han keeps his word—no one orders me about, no one imposes requirements, and you do your best to provide convenience—then it’s all gain for me and no loss. Naturally, I’m willing to cooperate!”

(End of this chapter)