Chapter 1222 - 932: Reason

It’s as if in the classroom of the Ivory Tower. Under the afternoon sunlight, the old man on the sofa smoked a cigar, imparting his life wisdom and the essence of humanity to his student, teaching etiquette. How to visit your enemy in a proper and solemn manner. No need for complicated afternoon tea rules, nor for cumbersome conversation skills, and certainly not for endless haggling and penny-pinching. But instead, how to rightfully reclaim what you have won— First, be open and candid, express your intentions without disguise, let the other party clearly understand why you are here. Then, you must show your strength and capital to earn proper recognition. Strength and capital? Huai Shi began to want to laugh. He had a host of countless titles, yet didn’t know which one was appropriate to declare at this moment. Prince of Paradise? A washed-up idol? Who cares? Member of the Astronomical Society? Perhaps a death warrant for heretics, but in the Current Circumstances, facing Las Vegas’s Six Union representatives, it would only tie one’s own hands. King of Tanbo? Compared to the dazzling City of Desire, Tanbo is just an inconspicuous small place. Besides, he was also a classical music teacher of the Ivory Tower, Mr. Luo Su’s secretary, the Abyss Kitchen Devil and Disastrous Musician, the Anointed One... even a Third Stage Sublimator not worth mentioning, but those titles should not appear here. He did not come because of them. What should he say then? He couldn’t help but shake his head in self-mockery, laughing softly. Until now, he only realized that perhaps this troublesome task was already predestined the moment Luo Su tricked him into the car from Tanbo. Therefore, the answer would not exist as a second. For them, the world’s most formidable strength and capital would always be only one. At that moment, he calmly raised his gaze, looked forward, across the dazzling luxurious gold table, stared at the elderly opponent at the end, and calmly told him. "My name is Huai Shi." Huai Shi said, "—I am here representing the Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy." Thus, amidst the dead silence, Luo Su joyfully gazed at those startled faces, couldn’t help but raise his hand and clap lightly, full of delight. A perfect opening statement indeed! You are truly the best student, Huai Shi. Just a simple hint, and you can grasp the essence of the problem. As long as the responsibility is left to you, you will never disappoint. You have already penetrated the true essence. At this moment, was it an old man bringing a child here? Is it the Ivory Tower? Or Tanbo? No, none of them. They came here for one purpose only, and they would represent the same mission and desire, running tirelessly. Only thus would they come here, standing before these mortals intoxicated by vanity. To proclaim the truth of the world! Just like that, seventy years later, the existence of the Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy reappeared in such a formal manner in the Current Circumstances, appearing before the negotiators. Announced calmly by a young person. As if that glorious era had never departed, but had always existed, always remained above the world, just as a brief nap. But now, those sleeping giants seemed to awaken with Huai Shi’s words. Standing in the darkness behind the long table, they looked forward together with Huai Shi. Indifferently waiting for the opponent’s response. But the response will not be useful. Judgment will never be delayed. "...Truly, the younger generation is formidable." In that torturing silence, only Douglas’s murky breathing under the mask of oxygen, so low, mixed with the noise surging from lungs. The old man’s hoarse sigh was not because the plan encountered setbacks but because of himself. Until this moment, he realized how completely wrong he had been. He originally thought his biggest enemy was Luo Su, trying every measure to make Luo Su retreat, he painstakingly arranged so many strategies and countermeasures. The two favors Luo Su once owed, the four promises he once made to people, and the support from the Ivy League, the five proposals put forward by Las Vegas. There would always be one that would shake him, there would always be one that would reduce the loss to a level Las Vegas could bear. But he didn’t realize that all preparations and measures had no place. Because Luo Su casually pushed a young person to the front. Even in front of himself, hand in hand, teaching him how to grip this power firmly! Now, the authority of a name sufficient to trigger upheaval in the Current Circumstances was in Huai Shi’s hands, and an adversary more troublesome than Luo Su became his enemy. When he declared his identity to himself, Douglas even doubted, is that really a youngster not even as old as his son? Or perhaps, something even more terrifying? Was it Luo Su’s smokescreen, or something else? He doesn’t know, and precisely because of this, he becomes increasingly uneasy and angry. From the beginning to the end, the person at the other end of the long table, Luo Su, never looked at him directly. His enemy never really considered him! Just like seventy years ago... Even if he held a gun, walked the street in the most luxurious shoes and the loudest clothes, driving a fancy car, nobody cared because he was just a nobody. "I’ve already made repayments, Mr. Luo Su. I’ve paid a huge price for this negotiation, I’ve shown so much sincerity to you, why humiliate me even more?" He raised his cloudy eyes and hoarsely questioned, "Do you think just by presenting the name of the Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy, I should raise both hands and offer up Las Vegas?" Luo Su smiled, merely resting his chin, without saying a word. As if unheard. But Huai Shi, seemingly undeterred by consequences, was eager to try: "Next, I guess I should tell them the consequences of refusal?" "Won’t you try offering conditions?" Luo Su thought for a moment and shrugged: "Forget it. Even though some parts were skipped, it’s okay. Negotiations are flexible, you should try." "Are you this assured?" Huai Shi asked. "Yes." Luo Su smiled, "I’m this assured about you." Huai Shi thought for a moment and asked, "Is it settled?" "It’s settled." Luo Su nodded, completely indifferent. He casually pushed everything onto the betting table, with mutual understanding. Yet everyone only felt absurdity. It’s hard to comprehend. This old guy’s mind must have problems—what normal person negotiates like this? With just one disagreement, one wrong word and you go all in? Regarding the consequences they talked about? Do they need to be explained with pale words? One is a leading Fifth Stage Sublimator in the Current Circumstances, Master of the Ivory Tower, dead set on guarding the last bit of legacy after the fall of the Heavenly Kingdom, and even starting to plan revival—an ultimate idealist lunatic; the other debuted with a bloody ledger, with achievements behind mountains of corpses and seas of blood, a Disaster Sword that kills Great Grandmasters for fun at festivals, the heart of the Astronomical Society, hailed as the strongest tool of all time Special Weapon Officers! One dares to think, the other dares to do. One dares to teach, the other dares to learn. Golden Wind and Jade Dew meeting, surpassing countless earthly beings, is there anything these lunatics can’t do together? An old man and a kid under twenty, came here empty-handed, then opened their lion mouths to the Masters here. To swallow everything, leaving not a single scrap. And never compromising on anything! This is not a negotiation; it’s naked warfare! If unable to accomplish their goals, they will employ every means, even... a full-scale war between both sides! "Do the people of Utopia not speak any reason at all!" At the other end of the long table, Douglas hoarsely gasped, his eyes wide in anger, his sharp voice so high-pitched: "We have already made our greatest effort and sacrifice for peace! But do you really think we’re weak and easily bullied!" "Las Vegas is not afraid of war, gentlemen." He hoarsely retorted: "We absolutely will not sit and wait to die—this city is our life’s work, we will not retreat even a step. You’re welcome to try, if you want a fish-dies-and-net-break situation, then be it! Even if we exhaust the last drop of blood, spend the last penny of savings, we will absolutely not bow down!" "Why be so pitiful, old man." Huai Shi laughed, too lazy to lift his eyelids: "Just like we asked for your opinion from the beginning, as if you weren’t self-talking from the start." "Today, the head you lower is not for repaying past mistakes, but just to preserve everything now." He said, "I’ve seen many people like you." "In Dongxia, we call such people’old debtors’—they rely on their relationships and networks, occupying what doesn’t belong to them, despising laws, belittling others’ efforts and dignity, thinking they’ve mastered the world’s rules. But they haven’t. If one day the Iron Hammer falls, they become unbearably humble and pathetic, full of sincerity and ties, then start craving peace. Just as if all this isn’t what they should bear—" Thus, observing his livid face, Huai Shi coldly told him: "You acknowledge mistakes just to avoid losses. Speaking of sincerity, but in fact, always thinking only about yourself. You brought us to America’s military base, offered us some prepared leftovers, wishing these uninvited guests to smartly leave quickly, considering this as showing sincerity. However, from the beginning till now, I haven’t heard a single’sorry’ from your mouth." "Nonetheless, at this point, you still say we don’t speak reason?" Huai Shi shook his head, laughed: "For so many years, the reason was there, yet no one spoke it. Now that we bring it here, suddenly it becomes precious?" "If you want reason, Mr. Douglas, I’ll give you reason." Huai Shi coldly told him: "Along with’war’."