Chapter 238: Unequal Distribution of Spoils
April 29, Wednesday.
The sun rose from the eastern horizon, its rays slowly advancing like a curtain of light, gradually climbing to cover the entire Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island.
At the lush hillside, in front of a sizable private villa, a car stopped, and a pair of Caucasian men and women walked into the villa.
On the balcony of the villa, a young man in a suit with golden-rimmed glasses was looking toward another direction, with an elderly man in a Tang suit standing behind him.
Zhuang Jianfei and his party had been staying here for several days.
After a few seconds, Zhuang Jianfei turned around and said with a smile to Chu Dali: “Sir, the personnel from the secret police team have already left. They took a few photos at the scene but really couldn’t do anything.”
Including the Dark Arrow, almost no one would believe that those who had surrounded and killed the Hermit Alliance’s elder Feng Jiulong were casually observing from another villa just a few hundred meters away from the crime scene.
“Old Master Chu, Mr. Luca and Miss Emma have arrived…”
Wei Jun walked onto the balcony, exchanged a glance with Zhuang Jianfei, then respectfully bowed to Chu Dali.
“Hmph, intentionally choosing such a place to meet and being two whole days late… Very well, please invite Master Qin Wu and Master Liang Er to join us.”
Chu Dali cast a cold glance toward Feng Jiulong’s villa, sneered, and turned to leave the balcony.
In the spacious living room, several elderly men sat on a circular sofa. Judging by their white hair and visible age spots, they were all at least in their seventies, with the youngest in appearance being Qin Laowu, who had defected from the Wang family.
“…Hmm, no problem, all materials are well preserved.”
The rotund lawyer Luca closed the portable refrigerated case before him and gave a slight nod to Emma, who stood a short distance behind.
“This was an exquisite operation. Congratulations to everyone for cooperating to handle Feng Jiulong.”
Emma adjusted her decorative glasses, smiling broadly as she surveyed the gathering of senior blood clan members from China, her tone filled with praise: “Feng Jiulong is close to becoming a viscount. If all goes well, these materials could produce two higher-grade viscount breakthrough potions.”
As she spoke, Emma shifted her gaze to Zhuang Jianfei, her smile particularly enigmatic: “Mr. Zhuang, as praised by Mr. Elvin, you are truly a wise one, capable of helping everyone accomplish their tasks more efficiently, thus deserving the greatest share of the spoils!”
“The Engel family will customize a C3 type breakthrough potion for Mr. Zhuang, with a success rate of at least fifty percent and no limit on the number of uses in a year. As long as you reach the rank of baron, you can use it.”
“Lord Elvin also asked me to convey to Mr. Zhuang that he eagerly anticipates a noble Apennine viscount to be born soon…”
The elderly men in the living room brightened, especially Qin Laowu, who fixed his gaze on the side profile of Zhuang Jianfei, deep in thought.
“Now that everyone has benefited, what about my baron breakthrough potion?”
Suddenly, an elderly man in the corner with a dark expression stood up, glaring at the Engel family’s representative.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Liang, but according to our initial agreement, you must kill the Liang family’s head before you can leave with all the D3 type breakthrough potion materials. Each baron breakthrough potion, after all, is exchanged for another baron’s life…”
“Of course, if Mr. Chu is willing to surrender the two portions from Elder Gao and Elder Shen, it would indeed fulfill your wish. However, Elder Shen was only a prospective baron during his lifetime, so he can at most produce a D1 type breakthrough potion, with lower success and safety rates…”
Emma turned her head to Chu Dali, revealing a mysterious smile.
Chu Dali glanced at Qin Laowu beside him and quickly kept his voice low, “Mr. Liang, we agreed at the start that Elder Gao’s baron breakthrough potion belongs to Old Qin. Even I can only use Elder Shen’s lower-quality one.”
“We’ll find an opportunity, put in more effort, and take down your cousin, won’t you have it then?”
The words of Chu Dali prompted nods from most people present.
“If at that time, you had directly intervened to help me, we wouldn’t have missed the opportunity! Now, where on earth is that old man hiding? I don’t even know!”
I’m risking my reputation and carrying such a notorious name, not just for myself, but also to help you…
As Liang Er spoke, his agitation grew, and he even displayed a hint of animosity toward Chu Dali: “You just sit back in comfort and watch me get bloodied. I’ve been working hard for half a year, and in the end, I didn’t get anything!”
“Chu Dali, who doesn’t know that you’ve joined the Ancestral Program? The benefits you can gain behind the scenes are countless. I’m not greedy; I just want a baron breakthrough potion!”
“Everyone, if there’s nothing else, Mr. Luca and I will take our leave, so as not to disturb your rest. Looking forward to our next meeting.”
As the atmosphere in the room between the elderly Chinese blood clan members grew tense, Emma smiled lightly, gave a slight bow, and left the villa with the portly Luca. The living room fell silent again, with only Liang Er’s heavy breathing audible.
“Tsk, tsk, all of you over three hundred years old acting like this in front of outsiders, not afraid of losing face?”
In the corridor on one side of the living room, Qian Guilong strolled out, smoking a cigarette as if watching a play unfold. Behind him, Cao Mao and Zhu Bixian hung their heads, saying nothing. Once regarded as a powerful figure of the Black Dragon Society, now they resembled mere lackeys, obedient in demeanor.
Qian Guilong glanced at the dark-faced Liang Er and the silent Qin Laowu, a look of disdain on his face.
This time, with the successful assassination of Feng Jiulong, the entire operation was planned by Zhuang Jianfei, and most of the people present had taken action. However, it was Qian Guilong who truly subdued the cornered Feng Jiulong.
Although he was at an advantage in both numbers and levels of power, Liang Er and Qin Laowu, who were favored by most, had instead shown cowardice during the battle and made no significant contributions.
As the leader of the largest black blood clan power in the country, Qian Guilong’s ruthless decisiveness in combat, even disregarding innocent bystanders, certainly left Qin Laowu and others feeling inferior.
“Qian Guilong, Chu Dali, Qin Laowu, what’s next? Haven’t we decided yet? We can’t just be stuck here, can we?”
Faced with Qian Guilong’s taunts, Liang Er could only endure, sitting back down, his expression growing more anxious.
“Jianfei, what do you think our next move should be?”
Chu Dali exchanged a glance with Qian Guilong, then turned his head towards Zhuang Jianfei.
“Gentlemen, I’m currently disseminating some false information through intermediaries and laying plans at the tri-border area of China, Vietnam, and Laos, compelling the Dark Arrow’s main forces to split up. By then…”
Zhuang Jianfei unfolded a map on the coffee table and started to explain a long-prepared plan.
“You’re crazy, you really plan to draw in the main forces of the Dark Arrow Blood Dragon team? With their weaponry and equipment… No, I can’t take that risk!”
Hearing only half of it, Liang Er slammed his hand on the table, springing up.
“Old Liang, what are you getting all worked up about? Chu Dali stroked his beard, half-closing his eyes and snorting coldly: “Last time we used Feng Jiulong’s hand to lure the Dark Arrow into a fight, they lost a baron near Ruan Shunhong. It was intentional weakness to make them think they could wipe you out with more effort.”
But in reality, with our concentrated high-end combat power, not to mention the trifles in the Blood Dragon team, even if Old Wang Qi brought his people over, they would be doomed. The Wang family appears large and prosperous, but after the Dark Arrow killed a few viscounts and barons, they were heartbroken, what courage do they have to confront us head-on!
Besides, don’t you still have some Frankenstein potions on hand? Don’t ask me how I know, but when it’s time to use them, you must use them…
Ruan Shunhong, the head of the black blood clan in Vietnam and Laos, is a rare upper-level British baron in Southeast Asia, and his blood beast is an extremely rare cold-blooded creature, formidable in combat.
Ruan Shunhong and his subordinate barons, encouraged by the Engel family, infiltrated China and gained considerable benefits, making him a staunch ally of Liang Er.
“Hmph, although it was his people that died, didn’t they still rely on my connections? In the end, I’m being used as bait while you all conserve your strength! Each time a Frankenstein potion is used, one less remains, and you’re forcing me to trade away my private assets.”
For over half a year, we’ve been chased and harassed by the Wang family and Dark Arrow, and we’ve finally waited for this opportunity.
Naturally, Liang Er scoffed at the actions led by Chu Dali. The key was that so far, what he wanted remained just in the wishing well, causing significant psychological conflict.
Seeing another emotional quarrel about to erupt, Zhuang Jianfei let out a wry smile and quietly stepped aside.
Feeling that someone was probing, Zhuang Jianfei turned his head and found himself meeting Qian Guilong’s gaze.
Noting the stern expressions of Cao Gang and Zhu Bixian behind him, whose moods were clearly low, Zhuang Jianfei’s heart skipped a beat; he could only politely nod and then avoid Qian Guilong’s scrutiny.
Qian Guilong retracted his gaze, took a puff of his cigarette, placed his hands behind his back, and left the living room as Chu Dali coaxed and persuaded Liang Er.
In the direction ahead on the winding mountain road, the coastline appeared faintly; a large international airport, expanded through land reclamation, slowly came into view.
On the route to the airport, Luca, who was driving, suddenly looked back: “Miss Emma, how is Zhuang Jianfei performing?”
Emma gazed at the flowing traffic outside the car window, a slight smile on her lips: “He is working hard to gain Chu Dali’s favor and trust. When Lord Elvin was selecting candidates in Southeast Asia, I didn’t expect to encounter someone like him…”
“A smart individual, the best candidate to replace Chu Dali in the future… However, Miss Emma, why question whether Zhuang Jianfei is with Dark Arrow? He was the one who exposed Cheng Yue’s identity in the first place.”
Luca looked at the rearview mirror, confusion on his face.
“China has a famous historical text called… ‘Three Kingdoms’? It describes a treacherous scheme known as self-injury. Using oneself or a companion as sacrificial bait to gain an opponent’s trust, leading them to severe misjudgments that ultimately result in heavy losses.”
“Mr. Luca, mere suspicion is enough. Do not underestimate the determination of Chinese soldiers to go all out for their goals—just like they did in World War II. This is a lesson Lord Elvin has always imparted to us.”
Emma’s expression became more serious, seemingly reminding her partner.
It is indeed a very clever tactic… Is he not at all worried that he is already suspected? Chu Dali utilizes his desire to uncover the truth and has been squeezing out his remaining value.
What a shame; an upper-class blood clan member from the Apennines is quite rare…
Luca laughed, shaking his head, a peculiar smile blooming on his chubby face.
“Mr. Luca, after escorting the materials to Eden, you need to return as soon as possible. This mission will be the most critical step in fulfilling Lord Elvin’s plans, and we still have much preparation to do.”
Emma said coldly, and Luca quickly wiped the smile off his face.
Though both were lower-level barons, Emma was a trusted confidant of Elvin; while Luca could at most be considered a peripheral backbone, he naturally had to lower himself slightly in front of Emma.
… Yes, Lord Elvin, this time I will persuade Fujiwara Fengshan to join the encirclement of the Dark Arrow Blood Dragon troops. His hold over them is significant…
… Hmm, currently the Wang family has not made any moves. According to Kong Ming’s feedback, the secret restoration of relations between the Dark Arrow and the Wang family is not going smoothly, and for the short term, it will not interfere with our upcoming actions.
… Good, I apologize for the interruption, good night.”
Dozens of minutes later at the parking lot, watching a private jet disappear into the clouds, Emma hung up the phone, adjusted her dress, and walked gracefully toward her vehicle.
Outside the sixth time zone, in the Biltaville Desert, sandwiched between the countries of Ai and Su, it was still the deep night of three in the morning.
Under the night sky, a sandstorm swept across the land, like a bank of black mist enveloping the earth, with visibility scarcely a few meters.
In the depths of the desert, the Eden base; central control room.
Elvin hung up the satellite phone and turned his head to face a giant display screen almost as big as a wall.
A grotesque bio-structure resembling a giant brain filled nearly the entire screen, soaking in an oversized glass container over twenty meters in diameter, filled with a crimson liquid.
The lower half of the giant brain was a mass of twisted, swollen flesh, extending countless nerve-like tendrils of varying lengths and thicknesses.
At that moment, several thick tendrils were violently slapping against the glass shell, sending the entire giant brain creature trembling in the blood-red liquid.
“Stability has dropped to sixty-two percent… Second group, get ready for the third injection of stabilizer!”
In his ears, the latest orders emerged from the base’s research center control room.
Elvin reclined in a luxurious armchair, his brow slightly furrowed as he rubbed his chin, staring intently at the primordial being on the screen, where dark and sharp light flickered in its deep lake-blue eyes.
The screen displayed a slender metallic probe piercing into the swollen mass of flesh resembling a brain stem beneath the giant brain.
Stability is recovering and approaching safety levels; please continue monitoring closely!
The intercom in the control room reported the latest status updates, and Elvin finally let out a sigh of relief, getting up.
“Mr. Elvin, there have been developments in the advanced soldier project in the fourth laboratory! Oh, I nearly forgot, I apologize for interrupting you again!”
A Black researcher in a lab coat hurried over, visibly excited, holding up a folder.
In the past twenty-four hours, the test subject had shown no signs of blood invasion reaction. Muscle strength, motor neuron responses, and blood oxygen levels had all significantly improved, with blood invasion factors and immune responses remaining within safe critical limits!
The researcher handed the folder to Elvin, his face aglow with excitement: “Twenty-four hours, breaking previous experimental records! We have taken a crucial step towards crafting superhumans beyond the blood clan!”
Elvin flipped through the densely packed experimental records and nodded in satisfaction, gently setting the folder aside, revealing a warm smile: “Dr. Mackey, I remember you used to work in the basic research department of Harvard Medical School…”
“Yes, Mr. Elvin, I worked there for thirteen years in the basic research department of Massachusetts General Hospital! This good news should be reported to Mrs. Catherine immediately!”
“Though it can only be sustained for twenty-four hours now, I assure you, according to the current technological scheme and with continued investment, there can be even greater breakthroughs within a year!”
The Black researcher was trembling with excitement, his broad smile showcasing a row of shining white teeth.
Thus, I plan to subdivide the current project progress into two technical routes, A and B: Route A maintains the test subject’s effects under half-blood invasion medication for several hours, allowing it to be metabolized back to normal.
“Route B aims to prolong the effect time until it stabilizes completely, leading to the next stage of genetic research!”
Excited by the substantial results, the Black researcher even took the initiative to propose an optimization plan.
“Congratulations, Dr. Mackey, you and your team have made exceptional contributions to the advanced soldier project. You can enjoy two splendid weeks of vacation and a substantial bonus!”
Elvin brushed a strand of golden hair from his forehead, smiling gracefully yet amiably.
Rejuvenated by this encouragement, the Black researcher hurried away, but Elvin’s smile slowly faded, becoming cold and distant.
“Frank.”
“Lord Elvin!”
A close bodyguard rushed over, standing beside Elvin.
“Verify how many people know about this research progress, primarily the collaborative research team sent by the James family. This information and progress reports need to be processed; I don’t want to allow premature blind optimism.”
“Everyone involved must ensure an absolutely confidential status… Do you understand what I mean, Frank?”
Elvin slapped the folder into Frank’s chest.
“Understood, Lord Elvin!”
Frank nodded slightly and walked out of the control room with a peculiar smile.
The stability of the primordial being has been declining; we need to accelerate the queen’s return. Perhaps in the next round, we can acquire a truly stable, brand-new Sophia lineage. No, by then, it won’t even be a Sophia lineage but a lineage of the divine!
At that time, the historical mission of the primordial being will come to an end… The Engel family will become an eternal family of gods, while blood clans that cannot keep up with progress will be eliminated.
Elvin mumbled words only he could hear, turning his gaze toward the distant surveillance screen, where the dark variation of the giant-brain-like Sophia royalty quivered within the blood-colored container, its bloodshot, massive eyes just turning to meet Elvin’s gaze.
…
…
In China, City C, District G, at a high-end office building, on the top floor.
“Xiaoguo, let’s go eat at that hot pot place for lunch. I have a coupon for free dishes!”
As noon approached, Xiaoguo smiled as she approached Jiang Yao’s desk, holding up a menu.
“Oh, wait for me a second; I need to take some medicine…”
Jiang Yao fished out two small bottles from her small bag, pouring out one pill of Xiao Jindan and one of Wushudan, and gulping them down along with half a bottle of yogurt beside her.
A wave of strange nausea surged from within, and Jiang Yao immediately began to gag, the intense spasms in her throat turning her face pale.
Xiaoguo froze, slowly turning to glance at the nearby Xiaolian, her face full of surprise.
Xiaolian leaned over and handed a cup of water to Jiang Yao, silently gesturing to Xiaoguo.
Having been at Abetes for some time, both Xiaoguo and Xiaolian were aware of their enigmatic companion’s delicate relationship with the general manager, Zhong Jing.
Currently, both Xiaoguo and Xiaolian were only low-ranking knights, and their sensitivity to Jiang Yao’s internal and external hormonal changes was not very high. Even now, they couldn’t discern any valuable content from the faint pheromonal scent Jiang Yao was emitting.
“Should we get you some takeout?”
Xiaolian hesitated and gently patted Jiang Yao’s back.
“It’s fine; the yogurt seems a bit off… Let’s go; I haven’t tried that hot pot yet.”
After drinking a few sips of water, Jiang Yao finally felt better, though her gaze was evasive, slightly tilting her head to glance at Zhong Jing’s office.
Once the three women left, a minute later, the door to the general manager’s office opened, and Zhong Jing, with a peculiar expression, gazed toward the direction where Jiang Yao and the others had disappeared, standing motionless for a long while.
“Could she really be pregnant? Isn’t it said that blood clans have a very low chance of conception with ordinary people? How could it be less than a month and…”
With a hint of guilt, Zhong Jing walked toward his desk, still muttering to himself.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated twice in his pocket; Zhong Jing took it out and saw it was a call from Wan Yue. After pondering, he switched to a third-party SIM card and dialed back.
“Zhong Jing, can you find some time today to come to my house with He Jian Qing? I need her to get some things from Jianyue Pharmaceuticals… Oh? He Jianqing has returned to Japan?”
“… Then forget it, we can talk when she comes back; it’s not urgent.”
In the phone call, Wan Yue’s voice was somewhat lazy, but her mood seemed quite good, as if there was some pleasant news.
“Master, is Xiaoyao really pregnant… Who is the real queen between her and Jiang Yan? Can you give me a clear answer?”
Zhong Jing stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down at the bustling traffic below, his expression cold.
On the other end of the call, there was suddenly a minute of silence, which dissipated Wan Yue’s earlier good spirits.
Currently, the safest state for Jiang Yao is as such. Whether she is the real queen or not, as long as she is pregnant, the Engel family wouldn’t dare take extreme actions against her before the child is born.
“If she is not, it would be perfect; it can cover our next plan… Let’s put it this way, research in Old Wang’s family has made progress, and we need He Jianqing to help us obtain a special nanogel wrapping technology from Jianyue Pharmaceuticals.”
As for whether Jiang Yao is pregnant, it would be best if you do not inquire about this for your own good… I don’t know if it was your initiation or hers, but since a choice has been made, feelings must be set aside for now…
“I’m sorry, Xiao Jing, we only have one chance! Also, I don’t think you are someone who would let emotions cloud your judgment.”
After a harsh and cold reminder, Wan Yue hung up the phone.
Zhong Jing, expressionless, returned to his chair, burying his head in his hands, tousling his hair into a nest, feeling even more lost.
