“I don't know how many scavengers have been corroded by pollution, but most of them probably died. Only I survived.”
Fu Xi Ming quickly finished her cigarette and immediately lit a second one.
“I understand. What do you want? Protection from Sharp Blade?”
Although Fu Xi Ming had witnessed Nan Yue's ability, to put it plainly, if Nan Yue wanted to act, no one here would be her match.
But there are always unforeseen circumstances. First, since what Nan Yue just showed wasn't an ability but pollution, it must cause significant harm to herself.
Secondly, people fear being targeted. Swarming tactics are always effective, and Nan Yue can't keep her eyes open while sleeping forever.
“That's one of the conditions, and you need to keep it a secret for me.”
“No problem.”
Fu Xi Ming readily agreed. If others knew that pollution had long existed among them, the hard-won order and faith of this world would collapse.
The lit cigarette diffused a faint wisp of smoke, and Fu Xi Ming's hand trembled slightly. She now understood why her passive skill had been triggered.
“This secret...”
“I have another request.”
Nan Yue looked directly into Fu Xi Ming's eyes. She could feel the other's shock; this news would be hard for anyone to accept quickly.
“I demand cooperation, literally, cooperation between you and me.”
Nan Yue wanted cooperation with Fu Xi Ming, cooperation with Fu Xi Ming as the leader of Sharp Blade.
Fu Xi Ming was extremely intelligent; she immediately understood why Nan Yue had come to her.
Nan Yue's move was incredibly precise. She knew that as the leader of Sharp Blade, she had to prioritize the stability of the city state above all else.
She also knew that she had always wanted to explore pollution and the world beyond the city state, to see Shen Nian's final resting place.
That's why she came to me.
She was the only one who, even if she doubted Nan Yue's identity and situation, would protect her at all costs.
Otherwise, she would never know why Shen Nian died.
Flames burned fiercely in Fu Xi Ming's heart: half from the anger of being manipulated, the other half from an uncontrollable admiration for Nan Yue.
Indeed, even with Nan Yue's manipulation, she genuinely felt that Nan Yue was to her taste.
Nan Yue had calculated against her, yet laid everything out in the open.
Half of what Nan Yue sought aligned with her own goals, and the other half was for her self-preservation, which was perfectly understandable.
Moreover, even if Nan Yue was sure she would compromise, not everyone would have the courage to initiate such a conversation.
After all, she was in the top 2 and held the top position in Sharp Blade.
Furthermore, while Nan Yue had pushed Fu Xi Ming, she truly offered substantial terms, just as she claimed.
Aside from seeking the truth about pollution, Nan Yue's demonstrated ability and demands explicitly bound herself firmly to Fu Xi Ming.
Fu Xi Ming had to admit that she desperately needed a talent like Nan Yue right now.
“That troublesome man...”
A glimmer of dark light flashed through Fu Xi Ming's eyes. She looked up at Nan Yue, then shifted her gaze to Jiang Siyan, who had remained silent since entering, like a human accessory.
She knew Jiang Siyan, or rather, she knew Bai Yao.
The name Bai Yao was well-known among high-level players.
Despite being a healing-type, which should be somewhat gentle, he was shunned by everyone due to his extreme self-destructive tendencies.
Seeing him in person now, although completely different from the rumors, Fu Xi Ming wasn't foolish enough to think he was a herbivore.
“Is your cooperation based on you alone, or your team?”
Nan Yue showed a somewhat cunning smile, “I can provide you with reasonable assistance, and you need to shelter my team.”
Nan Yue's calculations were clear: she was the one signing the contract, and she could go through fire and water for Fu Xi Ming.
But her teammates couldn't.
Not only that, Fu Xi Ming also had to protect her teammates.
Fu Xi Ming almost laughed in exasperation. Nan Yue was taking advantage of her unique situation to make exorbitant demands.
Nan Yue seemed to know Fu Xi Ming was nearing her breaking point, so she quickly softened her tone.
“My teammates' abilities are probably not something Department Head Fu lacks. Protecting them is just a consideration for the worst-case scenario.”
Fu Xi Ming tapped her fingers on the table, then suddenly asked without warning.
“Although what you say is very appealing, there's one question: since pollution has been with you since birth, why are you coming to me now?”
Fu Xi Ming was like a leopard eyeing its prey, baring her fangs.
“What happened to you, or... who did you encounter?”
...
At opposite ends of the long mahogany dining table sat the similar-looking siblings.
In the center, an expensive white candle cast a faint, flickering glow, creating a somber, eerie atmosphere.
“Yuan Yuan, do you know how dangerous that world is?”
Wen Gan Ting frowned slightly, seemingly very worried about his sister.
“Although their world is indeed alluring, I'm still concerned about your safety.”
“You are the only daughter of the Wen family; your existence is extremely important.”
Wen Xiang Yuan maintained her smile, unmoved.
Wen Gan Ting said blandly, “No one understands how dangerous that world is better than us. You and I both know that, apart from the Wen family, people in this world merely live like walking dead.”
This statement sounded incredibly arrogant, yet both Wen Gan Ting, who spoke it, and Wen Xiang Yuan, who listened, wore perfectly natural expressions.
This was simply a fact.
“Tomorrow, you need to have dinner with the federal president's nephew, do you remember?”
Wen Xiang Yuan's smile chilled slightly as she looked at Wen Gan Ting.
“Even if the Wen family stands at the pinnacle, don't we still have to do the work of slaves?”
Wen Gan Ting raised his hand, and an exquisite, expensive cup flew past Wen Xiang Yuan's ear, shattering against the dark red velvet curtains behind her.
Wen Xiang Yuan remained still, not even flinching.
“The president's son is a good-for-nothing. Our Wen family will only put his nephew in power. In this world, whoever we say becomes president, becomes president. How can that be considered slavery?”
Wen Gan Ting hissed like a venomous snake, “You are the future mistress of the world.”
The smile at the corner of Wen Xiang Yuan's mouth was fixed like a mask on her face. She waited quietly for Wen Gan Ting to finish before saying, “Dear brother, but if our world is polluted, what meaning would any of it have?”
Wen Gan Ting froze, then stood up abruptly and quickly walked to Wen Xiang Yuan's side. He roughly gripped her chin, as pale and delicate as porcelain, lifting Wen Xiang Yuan's face.
“What are you saying?”
“Pollution?”
Wen Xiang Yuan paid no attention to the pain in her chin; her beautiful almond eyes gleamed under the candlelight.
“Brother, do you think we are safe just by hiding here?”
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