Chapter Eighty-Nine: Negotiations

A little over ten minutes later, the two of them sat facing each other in a teahouse.

Clear tea glimmered in their cups, while a fine rain wove itself beyond the windows.

Yang Luo looked down at the tea in his cup, then turned his gaze to the rain outside.

He wondered how many rifles were hidden in the hazy mist beyond the building, trained on him, and how many gun barrels on the distant mountain peaks were likewise aimed this way.

Then he withdrew his gaze and looked at the man seated across from him. After a brief silence, he said:

“I’ve lived here for several years, and I’ve also been back for a few months recently. I didn’t expect there to be such a quiet, elegant place.”

“This place is relatively close to the retirement compound, built in a rather concealed spot, and the scenery is good—it’s very suitable for discussing matters.”

Jiang Chaoan raised a hand toward Yang Luo and said with a smile:

“After all, the burden on Mr. Yang’s shoulders is so heavy—this conversation may well go down in history. I thought it would be better to convey the instructions to you somewhere more secluded and discreet.”

At the word instructions, Jiang Chaoan’s expression grew noticeably more solemn. As though using tea in place of wine, he lifted his cup and gave Yang Luo a slight salute.

Then he pushed a document that looked almost like a contract toward Yang Luo and spread his hands.

“Mr. Yang, you might as well take a look at this.”

Silently, Yang Luo accepted the thick sheaf of pages and began reading from the beginning, scanning steadily onward.

The first part listed the incidents Yang Luo had committed in the past, not only the murder case related to Shengyi, but also some of the things he had done in secret after returning to his hometown city by using his own power. In addition, the latest page even recorded the truck explosion in the provincial capital from two days ago—and also the news that a section chief from a provincial office had been taken away by the police.

Seeing this, Yang Luo felt no ripples in his heart. But when he discovered that Lin Heng’s dying body had mysteriously vanished from the hospital, his eye twitched slightly.

He continued reading.

The next section dealt with changes in Yang Luo’s personal accounts.

Not only the figures in domestic bank accounts, but even hidden channels in the dark net, and the wallet balances of blockchain addresses, had all been investigated.

The so-called decentralized blockchain currency, before the immense machinery of the state, had likewise become utterly transparent.

Flipping further on, he found some carefully worded concessions.

First, all possible crimes related to the past would be forgiven.

Second, his personal freedom would not be strictly restricted afterward, though in the future, whatever he did, he would need to be accompanied by relevant personnel.

Furthermore, Yang Luo’s present businesses, his parents, and his relatives and friends could all receive certain preferential treatment, and he himself would also be granted a degree of financial support. Though on the national level it might seem only a slight tilt, for an individual, it would absolutely amount to benefits worth at least hundreds of billions.

After that came materials concerning other extraordinary beings. In truth, though it said other, there was only one: the Blood Angel of Tokyo.

In this section, most of the internal intelligence obtained from Japan had been marked down, including information on the more than ten thousand Japanese civilians and soldiers she had killed after the massacre in Minatomachi, as well as her cooperation with the prime minister and so on.

This part seemed to remind Yang Luo, almost casually, that extraordinary beings in this world were not only him; beyond him, there could also be many possible partners for cooperation.

Then came some extraordinary intelligence inferred from the available data, chiefly concerning Yang Luo himself.

First, his formidable physical constitution had already been exposed.

In addition, regarding the extraordinary trait he possessed, similar to that of the Blood Angel, the Academy of Sciences had drawn some conjectures through the associative charts of the Book of Records.

The greatest likelihood was fire-based abilities, at about 86 percent; second was acceleration-type abilities, at 35 percent...

As for Yang Luo’s “Fierce Flame” trait, although the Academy of Sciences and the Book of Records had not directly seen him use his ability, they had already analyzed, locked onto, and obtained an extremely close result through those peripheral traces and clues.

At last, the one and only requirement for Yang Luo was put forward.

The nation hoped he would take a special train to the imperial capital within three days and participate in the Academy of Sciences’ “Extraordinary Existence Research Program.” He was even given a resounding title: Deputy Head of the Extraordinary Plan.

The name of the chief overseer was thunderous and famous; the instant one saw it, one would understand just how much importance the state attached to this project.

Beyond that, there were no further restrictions, or rather, no further demands.

Nor was there any mention of threats.

One of the world’s most powerful state machines, even when facing extraordinary beings, still retained enough confidence.

Yang Luo silently looked over everything.

So this was the energy a state machine could unleash when it was driven at full force.

A faint sense of shock rose in his heart.

He had to admit that his past self had indeed been far too arrogant. Perhaps it was also because killing Wang Ruo, Huang Cheng, Wang Changming, and Lin Heng had been too easy, causing him to somewhat underestimate the power of the state.

Things having come to this, it was probably impossible to obtain a truly independent position.

In Yang Luo’s present perception—

outside the teahouse, at least several hundred kinds of weapons were aimed at him; and he had no doubt that above this city, fighter jet formations were likely flying overhead, looking down toward this place. In addition, the satellites in orbit must absolutely have their surveillance trained on this area.

...Then was there still any room to maneuver?

—There was.

A glint flashed in Yang Luo’s eyes.

After a long while, Yang Luo lifted his head again and smiled faintly at Jiang Chaoan.

“I agree to this document.”

Jiang Chaoan nodded and extended his hand toward Yang Luo.

“Thank you for your support of the nation. Also... may I have the honor of witnessing that power?”

His tone was extremely polite, but if Yang Luo expressed refusal, it probably would not be long before he was investigated from top to bottom and placed under permanent surveillance.

At this point, having already reached this stage, failing to display his power would instead become the source of his danger.

But Yang Luo naturally would not be afraid.

Meeting Jiang Chaoan’s courteous yet slightly doubtful gaze, he casually伸 out his hand and pressed it against the table.

In the next instant, the entire table, along with the teapot and cups upon it, was reduced to ashes in a single breath by the green flame that suddenly emerged from his palm.

Jiang Chaoan’s expression did not change, but his breathing grew slightly quicker.

And within Yang Luo’s perception, in that same second, he heard at least a hundred similarly tightened breaths.

Within Yang Luo’s heart, the pride that belonged to an extraordinary being stirred once more.

Staring at Jiang Chaoan, he said softly with a smile that carried a faint air of looking down from above:

“I imagine the nation would not only be interested in the ability itself, but also in the source of my power, wouldn’t it?”

The moment these words were spoken, Jiang Chaoan’s pupils contracted sharply.

“Please continue.”

He asked Yang Luo in an incomparably cautious and careful manner.

Yang Luo said indifferently:

“There are some things I should wait to speak of until I arrive in the imperial capital in a few days and formally begin the research program... but I can reveal one fact now—I do not know how that Blood Angel in Tokyo ascended to the extraordinary level. However, my power was bestowed by an incomparably great existence.”

Watching Jiang Chaoan’s pupils widen all at once, and his body suddenly tense, Yang Luo smiled with satisfaction. Then, with a voice trembling in the utmost reverence, he said:

“That existence... is not upon the earth, but comes from a realm of boundless chaos far, far away—

“...Its name is: the Hall Lord of the Divine Evolution Palace!”

The End