Chapter 1221 - 931: Negotiation

No matter who it is, when’money’ is presented before them on such a terrifying scale, there is inevitably a momentary shock, and an instinctive impulse. In the silence, Huai Shi’s expression remained calm, without any emotion. Not moved in the slightest. Yet secretly, he couldn’t help but turn thoughts in his mind. Unconsciously, he began to calculate: How to break through ground defenses and security, how many people and what kind of tools would it require to smoothly take away such a pile of ill-gotten gains, how to plan, how to gather manpower, how to find the defensive weak points, how to come and go under the nose of the American Army, and finally how to launder and divide the spoils... By the time he pulled back from the slippery slope of these thoughts, he had already missed the opportunity to express them. On the contrary, it was Mr. Luo Su who whistled, not hiding his admiration, genuinely impressed. "Is this the financial might of Las Vegas? It truly is spectacular... By the way, how much is this?" He turned his head and asked. "A total of 1,300 tons of gold, 210 tons of Source Crystals, 400 tons of Pure Gold. Besides, there is also a key to the Bank of America’s treasury here. All the Border Relics that flowed through the black market over the years are among these." In his wheelchair, Douglas extended his hand, receiving a box from his subordinate, offering it with both hands: "I know why you have come, Mr. Luo Su — We have no intent to argue about what happened years ago, but we are willing to pay the price for it." He said, "We will repay it double!" Thus, he bowed his head, lifting his hands high, respectfully offering the assets and prices taken years ago: "As long as you’re willing to nod, here and now, all of this shall belong to you. And Las Vegas will be your eternal friend. In any conflict, if you appear on the opposing side, we will retreat, never to stand against you!" Luo Su laughed. He looked down at the box, flicked his cigarette ash. But did not accept it. "How interesting, Douglas. Whether it’s you or this world, you always manage to surprise me." He murmured softly: "Seventy years... Seventy years ago, I didn’t even know your name, and now, here you are before me, bargaining. This world changes so quickly. Over the years, America transformed from the wilderness into the Current Circumstances Five Constants, Utopia rose and fell, Las Vegas emerged from a barren desert into the City of Desire; technology advances, eras progress, inflation rises, each day starkly different from the last, tomorrow yet different from today. Everything is progressing and growing, including you. But it seems like only we remain stuck in the past, immersed in the afterglow of bygone days, unable to face the painful future..." In the dead silence, no one responded. Only the old man’s laugh grew increasingly mocking. "Seventy years ago, you seized the materials reserved by Utopia, plundered our accumulated wealth, leveraging it to build vast empire and assets. Now, seventy years later, I come here, and you tell me— Don’t be angry, we didn’t do it on purpose, we’re planning to repay the principal? And to stop you from complaining, we can even give double!" "As if I’m a beggar who has come knocking!" He incredulously bowed his head and asked, "Have I truly fallen so low that you make me suffer such indignity?" In the prolonged silence, no one responded, only Douglas’s heavy breathing through his oxygen mask could be heard. After a long while, the elderly man in the wheelchair rasped in reply, "We are demonstrating sincerity, Mr. Luo Su, no one here dares to insult you." "No, in reality, you are indeed doing just that, aren’t you?" Luo Su shook his head with a sneer: "Your way of insulting just happens to seem polite— yet it is not the case, right? Douglas, you must understand, I’ve come not for your friendship, nor for your sincerity." He spoke each word deliberately: "I am here to reclaim what rightfully belongs to us." "You may name your price." Douglas lifted his eyes, the dim pupils seemed ablaze: "This is why I am here today, whatever compensation you seek, we can discuss." Luo Su smiled softly: "So you’ve prepared for’negotiation,’ have you?" "We will do our utmost to prevent conflict, maintain the peace, Mr. Luo Su." Douglas answered without hesitation, calmly: "The difference lies in whether you are willing to negotiate." "Of course, why wouldn’t I be? Now is the era of peace, would I go on a rampage over personal whims in the Current Circumstances?" Luo Su grinned, mocking: "Douglas, you want negotiation, then I can offer you negotiation, but the entity you’ll be negotiating with won’t be me." He paused slightly, looking behind. Not far off, leaning against the door and taking selfies with the mountain of gold behind him, Huai Shi froze, shivering involuntarily, barely believing. "What the heck?" He exclaimed in shock. "The Dongxia Man says the Disciple takes over when the Master has business, right?" Luo Su cheerfully puffed on his cigar smoke: "Why not stand in for me?" "Huh?!" Huai Shi felt his brain expanding rapidly. Like an entire balloon. His head felt enormous! Is this the kind of scene you meant?! How did it suddenly involve me again! "Don’t look so reluctant, Huai Shi, isn’t this what a secretary and assistant should do? Looking back now, not having done it once, is indeed somewhat negligent." Luo Su enthusiastically suggested, "Since the opportunity has presented itself, I’ll leave it to you." As if finally recalling his duty as a teacher, Luo Su displayed a mischievous flair, coaxing in his ear like a devil. "Might as well let me, as a teacher, prove useful too... Consider it a social practice course, how does that sound?" "This back-and-forth with words between both sides feels troublesome!" Huai Shi shook his head decisively, thinking that instead he’d prefer a talent show instead. "Forget it, I’m not good at this superficial stuff." "That’s work assigned to subordinates, if they lack the responsibility and ability to bear consequences, they can only extract a few cents of profit bit by bit, like bargaining for cabbage." Luo Su shook his head, seriously, "But what I want to teach you isn’t like that, nor is it that troublesome. It will be more direct, preserving dignity and respect for both parties, and at the same time, be more crisp and gratifying. As a leader, expressing one’s stance correctly is part of the duty, you should start learning, Huai Shi." As he spoke, he spread his hands and proposed: "Let’s start now, shall we?" In the silence, Huai Shi’s eyes twitched for a long time. With a helpless sigh, everything was already arranged, what else could he do? Huai Shi nodded slightly. In just a moment of confusion, he found himself in the center of a mountain of gold, surrounded by countless Gold, even the long table and chairs in front of him were cast from this soul-redeeming metal. In the magnificent and solemn treasury, both sides were seated on opposite sides of the long table. Huai Shi sat at the forefront, somewhat curiously adapting to this feeling of being the center of attention. Behind him, on a Golden recliner, Luo Su raised his hand, extinguished the cigar in his hand, and began to talk about the first point of today’s lesson. "First, before the negotiation starts, you need to explain your intention to the other party." He questioned the student before him, teaching him like one guides a child on problem-solving, "Huai Shi, what is our purpose?" "Asset recovery?" Huai Shi was somewhat unsure. "Too general, you need to set a scope and a goal, and you also need to set a baseline for yourself." Luo Su reminded him: "What can you strive for, what can you give up. Only by figuring these out, you won’t be led by the nose by the other party." "How do you set that?" Huai Shi was at a loss. Luo Su waved his hand nonchalantly, indifferent: "Just think about it yourself, you always have to give it a try." "Tenfold return?" "Hahahaha." Luo Su laughed heartily: "You’re really easy to settle, Huai Shi. The price is too low, if we do it like this, rumors will spread that we’re just country bumpkins." Huai Shi thought for a moment, then seriously asked: "What if our goal is to take everything away?" You can give it a try." Luo Su propped his chin up, filled with anticipation: "Maybe it might work." Across the long table, Douglas was expressionless, but behind him, the representatives of the casino alliance were already looking grim. How could they not understand by now? Luo Su simply did not care about the outcome of the negotiation at all. This old geezer treats this place like a kindergarten, toys with authority, puts it in the hands of children, and enjoys the sight of them wielding power. He was here merely to bring the students for a lesson! And they were merely the cheap models hanging on Luo Su’s blackboard, the flasks and measuring cups from a chemistry class, serving as’teaching tools’ to illustrate theorems! "Enough!" Someone angrily shouted: "Mr. Luo Su, do you have absolutely no sincerity at all!" No response. Only Douglas coldly glanced at the person beside him. William nodded, reached into his pocket, gripped the gun, drew it out, but the motion ceased abruptly. It was as if... someone suddenly pressed the pause button. Frozen in place. Unable to move. Only a pair of eyes full of confusion. "Oh dear, an unexpected event, Huai Shi—someone is causing a disturbance." Luo Su lamented: "In reality, there are often unexpected situations in negotiations, like when the other side has difficulty suppressing internal conflicts, leading to someone deliberately creating incidents to influence the negotiation process and results." He paused for a moment, like a teacher questioning a student, and asked Huai Shi: "What would you do in this situation?" "Me?" Huai Shi asked. "Yes, you. Now you are the decision maker, Huai Shi, don’t worry about my opinion. Whether success or failure, it’s just a practical assessment, still fresh and improvised." Luo Su patiently said: "You can decide to do whatever you want, it doesn’t matter." Huai Shi thought for a while, shrugged: "Honestly, I don’t like idiots playing dumb and messing things up." He said, "I would cut off his head." "Too brutal, Huai Shi, lacking in elegance and grace, one point off." Luo Su shook his head, a bit helpless with this student’s habit of crude behavior, "But since you say so, let’s go ahead and cut off his head—" He raised a finger and tapped on the Gold armrest. Issuing a simulated death sentence. In an instant, the dazed dissenter froze on the spot, his neck suddenly empty. But he didn’t die, not even a drop of blood was spilled. As if something terrifying took it away and hid it. He raised his hands in confusion, touching above his empty neck, seemingly shouting in terror, but no sound came out, and he couldn’t understand what had happened. He ran around aimlessly in terror. Eventually, dragged away by those who finally realized. Only then did William regain consciousness. But looking at the old man at the end of the long table, he no longer had the courage to draw his weapon. Douglas’s eyes were downcast, seemingly indifferent to it all. "Now, after announcing your intentions, you can move on to the Second Stage." Luo Su spread his hands, gleefully received: "Now, Huai Shi, you can show your Power and capital."