8mi Chapter 555: A Completely Unfair Negotiation
Chapter 555: A Completely Unfair Negotiation
After a full round of information disparity flow, Lin Yu, Paris, and Sleepless Sky Huoming were forced into a strange, delicate balance of power amidst an eerie silence.Although Paris and Sleepless Sky Huoming were not entirely honest with each other, they each happened to be hiding one sufficiently weighty, unexposable secret. Thus, they now existed in a state of mutually holding leverage over the other.
"This is what you call the 'Era of Deterrence'," Lin Yu remarked with a sigh.
Although no leverage concerning Lin Yu himself had been thrown onto the table during this conversation—after all, even if Paris learned that Lin Yu intended to kill Alt Mercury, it wouldn't cause Lin Yu any worry, given he had already secured the Sleepless Night Family Head's approval—in this three-party discussion, Lin Yu's standing was inherently a notch higher than both of theirs. Paris and Sleepless Sky Huoming both had requests of him.
Lin Yu also had no need to sell out either of their secrets.
Therefore, he instead became a part of this balance like an "arbiter"—if the compromising secrets held by Paris and Sleepless Sky Huoming were like weights on either side of a scale, then Lin Yu at this moment was the scale's fulcrum.
"Anyway, now everyone has fewer secrets being hidden, things have become more open and aboveboard. This is excellent," said Lin Yu, who, having secured the highest standing in the room, naturally replaced the host Paris as the moderator of the conversation. "Respected Sleepless Sky Huoming, for now, please turn a blind eye to President Paris possessing superior-level alchemy. After all, it will soon be my superior-level alchemy anyway."
Then, Lin Yu leaned closer to Sleepless Sky Huoming and spoke in a voice only she could hear: "Paris probably still doesn't know you plan to act on your own, that you even have a small alliance, right? The Sleepless Night Family Head told me you are the sharp blade prepared for Sleepless Sky Huole... He likely still thinks you, like him, are supporting Sleepless Sky Huole, correct?"
Already owing Lin Yu a debt over the Zhu Rong matter, Sleepless Sky Huoming now tacitly acknowledged Lin Yu's words.
"Rest assured, I will keep the secret."
"Excellent."
Lin Yu nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze to President Paris on the other side.
"Paris... although Sleepless Sky Huoming concealed from you that she is going to assassinate Alt Mercury, you now only have one path: to board this pirate ship. After all, in a sense, I am also pushing forward with this commission."
"Although this matter does seem unfavorable to Lady Huole, believe me, it ultimately won't pose the slightest threat to her," Lin Yu said with a smile before continuing, "But you privately contacting Lady Huoming... in Lady Huole's eyes, that isn't a good signal at all."
It was true that Sleepless Sky Huoming was the one among her siblings who openly supported Sleepless Sky Huole, and she was also the internal supporter the Sleepless Night Family Head had prepared for Huole. Paris, meanwhile, was a confidant personally courted and nurtured by Sleepless Sky Huole herself.
Precisely because of this, Paris absolutely could not privately contact Sleepless Sky Huoming!
He could contact Furbollo; even contacting Sleepless Sky Huo Shu wouldn't be as severe an issue...
Only contacting Sleepless Sky Huoming was something that could look like "collusion"!
Moreover, Sleepless Sky Huoming genuinely did have her own little secret agenda.
Therefore, President Paris hurriedly expressed his understanding once more.
"Rest assured, Lord Furbollo. I certainly won't do something so foolish as lifting a rock only to drop it on my own foot. I'll pretend I heard nothing of today's matters. Whatever you and Lady Huoming do next, I will provide my full support."
He now understood that assassinating a Peerage Noble was a matter of grave importance, especially with Sleepless Sky Huoming and "Furbollo" both involved. It was already very difficult for him to extricate himself!
Rather than severing ties with these two now, it was better to fully support them and ensure this matter was executed flawlessly.
As for Sleepless Sky Huoming, who originally hadn't been that urgently set on Alt Mercury's death, she now also had no choice but to be dragged onto this pirate ship.
Although Lin Yu was the fulcrum of the scale, he was not entirely impartial—he was precisely exploiting the two's bizarre state of balance to achieve his own goals.
Seeing them agree, Lin Yu smiled. "Excellent. Now that no one has any objections... the commission's content is also finalized."
"The initial commission was for Paris to commission me to bring Lady Sleepless Sky Huoming into Huo Xing's Coming-of-Age Ceremony under the guise of my attendant, not her own identity."
After all, Sleepless Sky Huoming was, in theory, still in the Great Wasteland—this was also her best alibi.
"Now... I will still bring Lady Huoming inside. However, as we all know, Lady Huoming's purpose for entering isn't as simple as stealing a few of her younger sister's birthday gifts," Lin Yu said calmly. "Her target is Alt Mercury. Therefore, I hope President Paris you can also assist us in creating a bit of chaos."
"Although you've already offered superior-level alchemy as payment, that reward still isn't equivalent to the additional risk I now need to shoulder... But considering you were also kept in the dark by Sleepless Sky Huoming, and you'd have a hard time finding another reward that interests me in the short term, you might as well do something to 'lower the difficulty'. By the way, lend me some of your elite personnel as well. This will also make it easier for Lady Huoming to infiltrate."
President Paris nodded. "No problem. Although command of the Security Department is currently in Lady Huole's hands, it's still possible to assemble a squad for you from personnel on rotational leave."
At this point, President Paris added, "I'll also lend you Stiller. Due to certain matters, he's even listed as missing in the company's archival records."
Lin Yu chuckled lightly. "I know what matters. You don't need to speak so obliquely."
President Paris, unaware that Stiller had also established a certain superior-subordinate relationship with Lin Yu, thought Lin Yu was bringing up the train incident again to pressure him and could only offer an awkward smile.
Behind him, Stiller shook his head silently.
Both of his bosses were cunning, but it seemed now...
Lin Yu was the superior one.
Having settled matters with Paris, Lin Yu looked back at Sleepless Sky Huoming. "You also send me some people, create some chaos. You've already fished Zhu Rong out, right? Don't let that guy's talent go to waste."
Sleepless Sky Huoming curled her lip. "Fine, I'll create chaos... After all, saying I'm going to steal something isn't a complete lie."
"What do you mean?"
"The Divine Power Group will be gifting a box of laurel leaves made of Jadeite Laurel. It's said each leaf is of the highest quality."
Lin Yu nodded. "Alright. If we succeed, I get half."
"You just flap your lips and want half? Even the Sleepless City Tax Office doesn't collect like that!"
Sleepless Sky Huoming was utterly shocked.
Lin Yu sneered, crossing his arms. "You told Paris you'd go tattle to your mom. I bet you were absolutely bluffing him!"
"But if I said I'd go report you to your mom, saying you, the border-guarding imperial prince, harbor treasonous ambitions... would you dare bet I'm bluffing you?"