Chapter 32: Negotiation

I heard a heavy knock on my door and quickly opened it to check.

The Food Cart Boss, or rather the former Saint, stood at the door, his expression grave as he looked at me.

“They contacted you?”

“Don’t be so anxious. You showing up at my door like this, I’m scared.”

“There’s no time.”

The boss’s low voice made me drop the idea of lightening the mood.

I nodded solemnly.

“But they weren’t looking for me. They seemed to be searching for some item, and that thing happened to be in our hands. What are they looking for?”

After a moment of silence, the boss opened his tightly shut eyes.

Both eyes were bloodshot, as if blood would spurt out any second.

“They are creating Mad Beasts.”

“What did you say?!”

I grabbed the boss by the shoulder, pulled him into the room, and after confirming no one was eavesdropping, locked the door.

“That just now… is it true?”

The boss nodded silently, his eyes gradually becoming sorrowful.

“And the ones they’re creating aren’t ordinary Mad Beasts. They’re creating out-and-out Monsters.”

“How could this happen…”

I hadn’t expected that the Saint Assembly’s power was greater than I’d anticipated, but I never thought they could go this far.

“What are you going to do now?”

The boss’s deep eyes stared at me, hoping for an answer that would satisfy him.

“We plan to negotiate.”

“Negotiate?!”

The boss suddenly stood up in agitation, the bloodshot in his eyes becoming even more frightening.

“How could they possibly negotiate with you?! Even if they did, you absolutely must not accept their terms! If they succeed, what they create is beyond imagination!”

He spoke in one breath, then collapsed into a chair, his eyes losing focus.

“Don’t worry.”

I tried to calm him down.

In truth, I had no intention of just handing things over.

“We’ll take action during the negotiation and destroy their Jamming Tower, so we can call for outside support.”

“Good, good.”

The boss seemed to come back to his senses.

He stood up, gave a slight bow, and as he left, he said, “But please, don’t underestimate what they have.”

I pondered his words and saw him out.

***

A few days later, the unending Sandstorm finally subsided.

Bola City officially notified the Saint Assembly that negotiations would take place today at an Oasis outside the city.

“Everyone ready?”

I adjusted my attire and asked my team again.

“Of course.”

“Alright, I’ll repeat the plan. Leng Qiongling will take the item they want and negotiate with them. Meanwhile, we’ll wait outside the city, find an opportunity to ambush their camp and destroy the Jamming Tower.”

“So, Leng Qiongling.”

“Yes!”

“Don’t let them fool you no matter what. Just remember, stall them.”

“Okay.”

“Big brother! Big sisters!”

Just then, the two children suddenly ran into the War Room, looking at everyone.

“What are you two doing here?”

Leng Qiongling stepped forward, picked up the two kids, and placed them on the nearby chairs.

“Big sister, are you going to see that old man?”

“Old man… y-yeah.”

“Are they bad people?”

“Yes, and they want to steal little sister’s most precious thing. Big sister is going to teach them a lesson.”

“Wow! Big sister is so cool!”

The Little Girl waved her arms excitedly, imitating some move she’d learned from somewhere, and her flailing hand slapped the Little Boy’s face.

“Stop messing around. Did you forget why we came?”

“Oh!”

“Why?”

“Ah… y-yes.”

“Hmm, tell me?”

I stepped forward and leaned close to the Little Boy.

“It’s… um… Hmm! Let us come along too! Please! Big brother!”

“You want to come along?”

“Y-yes!”

I looked down, thinking.

Though they were involved, was it too dangerous to let them come?

I then looked into the Little Boy’s eyes.

I could see he was very nervous, but also very determined.

“I want to become strong!”

I suddenly recalled the oath the Little Boy had once made to me.

Is this also your idea of being strong, like you wished?

Alright, then.

“Fine. You’ll go with Big Sister Leng Qiongling.”

“Awesome!”

The Little Girl jumped up from the chair in joy.

The Little Boy’s eyes lit up, he stammered for a moment, then thanked me in a trembling voice.

“Then hurry and get ready. We’re about to leave.”

“Okay!”

After the two little ones ran out, Leng Qiongling said worriedly, “Is this really okay? Won’t it be too dangerous?”

“Hmm… you’re right. We don’t know what they might do. It’ll be hard to keep them safe if you have to handle them alone. Le Paxi.”

“Got it. I’ll keep watch from a distance, and I’ll step in if there’s danger.”

“Then it’s settled.”

“Miss Le Paxi, thank you.”

“Don’t be so formal, hehe. I just don’t want such cute kids to get hurt.”

Once the siblings were ready, the scheduled time was almost up.

If we didn’t hurry, the other side would start getting impatient.

“Ooh! Big sisters’ outfits are so cool!”

In the meantime, the team had also changed into their Combat Suits.

Seeing everyone fully geared, the siblings couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Is this what you look like after you transform?”

“Transform?”

“Like on TV, the big sister spins around before fighting the bad guys, and then her clothes change!”

“Ah… yeah, yeah.”

“Can I transform by spinning like that too?”

“Not yet, but when you grow up, little sister, you can.”

“Yay!”

Leng Qiongling held the Little Girl’s left hand and the Little Boy’s right hand as they headed to the designated Parking Lot.

Commander Walid was already waiting there.

A Bola City soldier drove an Armored Vehicle up to Leng Qiongling.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Mm.”

“Leng Qiongling.”

Leng Qiongling, who had been about to close the door, leaned out and tilted her head in confusion.

“Stay safe.”

That was all I wanted to say.

“Pfft…”

Alright, I know it’s funny.

Go, go.

“You too, Captain.”

After laughing, Leng Qiongling mimicked my tone and said, “Stay safe.”

Then she pulled back into the vehicle.

“Sigh…”

I turned around.

I didn’t need to guess—my team was laughing at me.

“Stop laughing. Let’s move!”