I'm in Morioh, just joined a chat group for cute girls.

Soon, only six people remained in the council chamber—Wei Yanwu and Chen from Lungmen, and Theresa, Gu Ye, Doctor, and Amiya from Babel Tower and Rhodes Island.

The heavy wooden door closed behind me, shutting out all the noise from the outside world.

Wei Yanwu sat down in the main seat, placing his hands folded on the smooth conference table. He leaned forward slightly, his sharp eyes sweeping over Theresa, the Doctor, and Amiya before finally settling on Gu Ye.

"Alright, now that everyone else has left, we can get straight to the point."

Wei Yanwu's voice was deep, yet carried an undeniable sense of pressure. "Rhodes Island's demands are too high. The list of resources you've proposed is almost half a year's budget for the Lungmen Guard Bureau. I don't think this is cooperation; it's more like extortion."

Amiya's rabbit ears twitched uneasily. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but was stopped by a reassuring look from Theresa.

The doctor was still wearing his hood, making it impossible to see his expression. He just sat there quietly, holding Gu Ye's arm.

“Lord Wei, this is not extortion, but a reasonable offer based on risk assessment.”

Theresa's voice was gentle yet firm. She sat gracefully in her chair. "Based on intelligence gathered from our battles with the Reunion Movement, we predict that if we do not take the most decisive and forceful proactive measures, the Reunion Movement will completely conquer Lungmen within the next few weeks."

"Alarmist."

Wei Yanwu leaned back in his chair, a dismissive smile playing on his lips. "Your Highness, I respect you and everything you've done for the Sarkaz. But Lungmen has stood for a century, weathering far more storms than the Reunion Movement. To expect me to empty Lungmen's treasury based on mere speculation is impossible."

"So, what if this speculation isn't unfounded, but based on deeper intelligence?"

Theresa smiled, unmoved by Wei Yanwu's firmness.

Wei Yanwu, just like before, won't act until he sees a clear benefit.

However, this was within my expectations.

She turned her head and looked at Gu Ye, who had been silent beside her.

"Mr. Gu Ye."

Theresa's voice carried a hint of seriousness, "As one of our key intelligence analysis advisors, do you have any more professional insights into this situation?"

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on Gu Ye.

Chen's eyes were scrutinizing, Wei Yanwu's gaze was deep, while Amiya and the Doctor were full of trust.

They've arrived. Gu Ye understood. He knew this was the stage Theresa had set for him.

Gu Ye met everyone's gaze and spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but every word struck a chord clearly in everyone's hearts.

"The threat to the Reunion Movement does not come from its rabble, but from its leader, Talulah Athelias."

Upon hearing the name, Chen's body stiffened abruptly, and his breath caught in his throat for a moment. Wei Yanwu's eyes also subtly changed.

Usu no 0 also Ⅱ 耏趰 求領

"But based on my reasoning,"

Gu Ye paused for a moment, then dropped a startling conclusion: "The real Talulah may already be dead."

“The one now occupying her body is a consciousness called ‘Koschei,’ which you can call the ‘Undying Black Serpent.’ A monster that exists purely for revenge and destruction.”

As soon as Gu Ye finished speaking, the air in the council hall seemed to be sucked out instantly.

This is a lie, but it leaves someone no time to even think about it.

"What the hell are you talking about?!"

A furious roar exploded.

Chen suddenly sprang up from the chair, which slid back half a meter due to the enormous force, screeching as it scraped against the ground.

She strode up to Gu Ye and, before anyone could react, grabbed his collar and lifted him off the chair.

Her heroic face flushed red with anger, and her sharp red eyes burned with a raging flame that almost devoured Gu Ye.

"Say what you just said again! Try saying it again!"

Chen's voice trembled slightly with extreme anger, his warm breath brushing against Gu Ye's face, "How could Talulah die! Who are you?! Why did you curse her?!"

Amiya jumped to her feet in fright and cried out, "Inspector Chen! No!"

The doctor frowned, seemingly wanting to step forward and stop him.

But Gu Ye remained unusually calm. He let Chen grab his collar and stared at the angry face so close to his.

"See, you get anxious too."

Gu Ye's voice remained completely calm. "You know better than anyone that I'm talking about a possibility. After all, she's your sister, Mr. Wei's niece."

"If we go to save her now, perhaps there is still hope that the real Talulah can be awakened."

"Let go, Chen."

Wei Yanwu's calm voice rang out, devoid of any emotion, yet it made Chen, who was in a fit of rage, shudder.

She glared at Gu Ye resentfully, but finally let go of his hand. She remained standing there, her chest heaving violently.

Wei Yanwu remained seated calmly in his chair throughout, showing no sign of panic, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him.

"Interesting information."

He looked at Gu Ye with deep eyes, "But it's just intelligence after all. I will send someone to verify everything you said immediately."

Trying to stall for time? You old fox.

Gu Ye sneered inwardly, deciding to press his advantage.

"Verify? How do you plan to verify it? By sending people to infiltrate the core of the Reunion Movement?"

Gu Ye straightened his crumpled collar, his tone laced with sarcasm, "By the time your men bring back the intelligence, Lungmen will probably no longer be in a position to negotiate."

"Let me add a few more points. The Reunion Movement has sent their ace up this time—the pure-blooded Wendigo 'Patriot' and his Yeti army. Their combat prowess is self-evident."

"More importantly,"

Gu Ye's eyes sharpened. "Talulah, controlled by the 'Black Serpent,' is driving the entire core city of Chernobog toward Lungmen. At the same time, she is constantly sending messages to all the surrounding city-states, claiming that 'this region belongs to Ursus.'"

When Gu Ye uttered the word "Ursus," Wei Yanwu, who had remained unfazed even in the face of a collapsing mountain, finally changed his expression.

His sharp red eyes suddenly narrowed, and the fingers that had been tapping the table stopped.

He suddenly realized the seriousness of the problem.

If war breaks out, under Talulah's manipulation, this conflict will no longer be a local war between Lungmen and Reunion, but will be defined as Lungmen's invasion of "Ursus territory", thus triggering a full-scale war between the two behemoths.

But if we don't fight back and let that mobile city crash into us, Lungmen will also be reduced to ruins.

This is a dead end.

"...This intelligence is too incredible."

After a long silence, Wei Yanwu finally spoke, trying to keep his voice calm, "I cannot stake the fate of the entire Longmen based solely on your word."

"I understand."

Theresa then took over the conversation, her calm smile still on her face, "Since Lord Wei cannot make a decision immediately, we might as well try another approach."

"We can wait."

She said softly, "Let's wait quietly and see if Mr. Gu Ye's 'prophecy' will come true. However, when that time comes, the reward that Longmen will have to pay will not be the same as it is today."

Wei Yanwu's gaze shifted back and forth between Theresa and Gu Ye, his mind rapidly weighing the pros and cons.

He remained silent for a long time, so long that Chen Du began to lose his composure.

"can."

In the end, Wei Yanwu uttered two words. He chose to trust the intuition he had honed throughout his political career—the people before him were not lying.

But he also cannot show the slightest weakness.

The atmosphere in the council chamber did not ease as a result; on the contrary, it became even more tense because of this unresolved agreement.

Surprisingly, Theresa did not dwell on the issue. She seemed to be there to discuss business, and quickly changed the subject.

"Since this 'big deal' can't be done for the time being, how about we talk about a small deal instead?"

She smiled and said, "Regarding strengthening the outer defenses of Lungmen and clearing out the Reunion Movement stragglers who have infiltrated, Rhodes Island can provide professional technical support and personnel assistance. I think Mr. Wei will be satisfied with this quote."

She took a new document from beside her and pushed it in front of Wei Yanwu.

Wei Yanwu picked up the document and quickly glanced through it.

This price is indeed reasonable, and could even be considered a discount.

He understood that this was the other party extending goodwill and paving the way for future cooperation.

"it is good."

Wei Yanwu nodded. "On behalf of Longmen, I agree to this deal. I will have someone contact you later to discuss the specific details."

"Pleasant to work with."

Theresa stood up.

The Doctor and Amiya also stood up.

As the group reached the door, Theresa stopped and turned to look at Wei Yanwu, her eyes filled with a profound meaning.

"Lord Wei, I'm ready for you to come anytime so we can continue our discussion of that 'big deal' we just made."

After saying that, she pushed open the door and walked out with the Doctor, Amiya, and Gu Ye, leaving Wei Yanwu and Chen alone in the empty council hall, facing the bustling night view of Lungmen outside the window, lost in thought.

Only Wei Yanwu and Chen Huijie remained in the council chamber.

The stagnant air was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Why aren't you reacting?!

Unable to contain the turmoil within her any longer, Chen whirled around and unleashed the long-suppressed question at Wei Yanwu, who remained seated in the main seat, "He just said... he said Talulah..."

Her words caught in her throat; she simply couldn't bring herself to say the word "death."

Wei Yanwu raised his eyelids, his sharp eyes fixed on his emotionally agitated niece.

His face remained expressionless, as if the negotiations that had just taken place, which were enough to overturn the entire Lungmen regime, were merely an ordinary meeting.

"Who can prove she's dead?"

Wei Yanwu's voice was deep and calm, each word like a cold pebble striking Chen's heart, "Chen, use your brain. That boy named Gu Ye, and anyone from Rhodes Island, have they had any contact with Talulah?"

Wei Yanwu's words were like a lightning bolt, shattering Chen's chaotic thoughts.

She froze completely.

Yes... Rhodes Island has been operating in Kazdel and Victoria, and they have never engaged in any large-scale direct combat with the Reunion Movement.

What makes that boy... what makes him so sure that Talulah is dead?!

A terrible thought popped into her mind.

They're lying!

They are exploiting my concern for my sister to undermine Longmen and gain leverage in their negotiations!

Once she understood this, a nameless rage of feeling deceived and manipulated surged from the depths of Chen's heart, burning away all her reason.

"Longmen swear words! These bastards!"

She growled and turned to rush towards the door, shouting, "I'm going to settle accounts with them right now!"

"stop!"

Wei Yanwu's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Chen's steps abruptly stopped at the doorway. She clenched her fists, her body trembling slightly with anger, but she did not turn around.

"Don't cause trouble."

Wei Yanwu stood up from his chair and slowly walked behind her. "If you rush over now, it will only alert the enemy. It will be pointless."

"What should we do then? Just let them leave like that?!"

Chen's voice was filled with resentment.

"Now, what we need to do is monitor their every move."

Wei Yanwu lowered his voice, "Based on what you just said, it's hard not to suspect that they will use some kind of artificial intervention to make the Integration Movement do the things we least want to see, in order to confirm their 'prophecy'."

Chen took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She knew that Wei Yanwu's consideration was correct.

"I understand."

She turned around and nodded to Wei Yanwu, "I will personally lead a team to keep a close eye on them."