Chapter 890 Worry
"Tomorrow is the opening day of the Nice Film Festival, and as a celebrity, of course I have to be here! Don't you know that? This is an annual grand event in Nice, isn't that why you came here?"
Cheryl said to Jiang Bai with a smile.
This surprised Jiang Bai for a moment. To be honest, that wasn't what he was after.
"A film festival? Why at this time?"
Jiang Bai asked with some curiosity.
According to his memory, the Nice Film Festival should be in August or September, but it shouldn't be open yet; it's only mid-July.
Why are you here so soon?
"It's earlier this year. Didn't you say you were also in the film industry? How come you didn't even know that?" After hearing this, Cheryl gave Jiang Bai an annoyed look, feeling that he was a terrible film company boss! He didn't even know something like this.
"Um, I'm here for tourism, not to attend this film festival, so I didn't know about it. But speaking of which, why are you here for an event like this? Don't you usually act in commercial films?"
Commercial blockbusters are not popular here; this is a paradise for art films and foreign films. Jiang Bai was very curious as to why a goddess like Cheryl would come here.
As he spoke, Jiang Bai glanced at the girl behind Cheryl and found her staring at him with bright, curious eyes. Jiang Bai smiled back at her.
To be honest, the woman who could hang out with Cheryl was naturally a beauty as well. She was voluptuous and tall with delicate features, and was naturally dazzling. It would be difficult for most men to resist the charm of such a woman.
Seeing Jiang Bai looking at him, the other party smiled back but did not say anything.
"I was invited this year. I have a low-budget art film here to compete for an award," Cheryl said irritably. After saying this, she saw Jiang Bai's eyes and was somewhat dissatisfied. She glared at Jiang Bai as if complaining about this lecherous guy.
However, he didn't hide anything and pulled the woman behind him forward, saying, "This is my good friend Elizabeth, from Oceania, our Hollywood goddess!"
"When you saw her, were your eyes glued to her?"
Jiang Bai chuckled and remained silent, while the woman opposite him smiled and accepted it all, as if she was already used to such teasing and didn't mind. This also showed that she was quite confident in her appearance and figure.
Although she was a little angry, Cheryl still introduced the girl next to her: "This is my friend Jiang from China. Well, he's in the same industry as us, but he's the boss of a film company, not an actor like us who suffer and work hard."
The other person was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and subconsciously glanced at Jiang Bai. He had thought that Jiang Bai was a young man that Cheryl had met somewhere. He didn't seem particularly wealthy, but he had a good temperament. Now it seemed that he had misjudged him. He didn't expect that Jiang Bai would be the boss of a film company.
Yes, I've heard that Chinese businessmen are all tycoons; they're incredibly wealthy.
She quickly shook hands with Jiang Bai, and the two exchanged a few pleasantries before Cheryl interrupted their conversation: "Jiang, are you really here for tourism?"
Of course not!
But Jiang Bai couldn't very well tell Cheryl, "I'm not here for a film festival, I'm here to cause trouble for those two guys who tried to kill us last time, the ones from their organization."
Grandpa wiped them out last night. He slaughtered more than half of their organization, hundreds of people died at my hands, and destroyed two streets, right?
This is something that can never be said out loud.
Speaking of these two streets, Jiang Bai was also a little curious. Despite making such a commotion, it seemed like nothing had happened the night before last. Tonight, the place where Jiang Bai fought and the building he destroyed were surrounded by something, with people saying it was for some kind of renovation or something like that.
I don't know who did it, but I think it's probably related to that old man Marcus.
"Yes, I've always wanted to come here, but I've never had the chance. I finally had the time this time, so I came to visit." Unable to answer Cheryl's question, Jiang Bai could only make up this reason.
Sherry wisely refrained from asking further questions, and the three of them then walked together. As they walked, Sherry openly displayed her intimacy towards Jiang Bai in front of her friends.
Even Sherry, who was wearing black-rimmed glasses and a hat, didn't hesitate to wrap her arm around Jiang Bai's, which greatly surprised Elizabeth standing next to her.
Although Cheryl is a popular actress, she doesn't have any scandalous news, and there's no word of her having a boyfriend. Her social circle is also very simple, making her one of the female celebrities with the fewest rumors.
Now, this promising actress, Cheryl, who is about to become a new Best Actress, is unabashedly wrapping her arm around Jiang Bai's, showing their intimacy. This greatly surprises Elizabeth, who can't help but start to speculate about their relationship.
At the same time, I was also vaguely worried about Sherry.
She hadn't known Cheryl for long, but she knew quite a bit about her. There were rumors that Cheryl was the mistress of a powerful figure in the Godfather's family.
She is protected and pampered by the Gambino family throughout Los Angeles, which is related to her recent success in securing numerous film offers and rising status.
Sheryl, who managed to remain untainted in this cesspool, possessed an extraordinary background that deterred many ambitious individuals.
Now she's so intimate with a Chinese man, what if someone finds out...?
Elizabeth felt a chill run down her spine just thinking about it.
"Damn it, I hope I don't get dragged into this. Has Cheryl been blinded by love? Has she fallen for this Chinese man? Doesn't she know that there aren't many magnanimous people in the Gambino family?"
"If people find out about this, people will die!"
Elizabeth, who was following behind the two and seemingly chatting and laughing, was actually extremely nervous at this moment, fearing that their intimate behavior would be discovered and thus incur the displeasure of the important figure behind Cheryl.
If this were the case, the consequences would be unbearable for anyone.
The Gambino family, the godfathers, are truly... incredibly powerful!
"Jiang, I'd like to have a drink. Could you please run over and buy me a glass of water?" Elizabeth couldn't resist any longer. She moved closer to Jiang Bai, took his hand, and said sweetly.
After a moment's hesitation, Jiang Bai smiled with a rare display of gentlemanly manners: "Okay, please wait a moment!"
After saying that, he turned and left.
Chapter 891 Gone Mad
He knew perfectly well that Elizabeth must have something to say to get rid of him, so he wisely left.
He had barely left when Elizabeth sidled up to Cheryl and said nervously, "Cheryl, are you crazy? How could you be so intimate with him? Aren't you afraid someone will see?"
"Uh, what's the problem? So what if they see me? I'm not afraid of any of that!" Sheryl was taken aback for a moment after hearing this, then chuckled. She really wasn't afraid of this at all.
This is Europe, and many people know her, but it's not as crazy as in Country A. She's not afraid of being noticed. So what if they're a little closer? Shouldn't she and Jiang be a little closer?
What's the big deal if someone sees this?
Upon hearing this, Elizabeth felt like she was going crazy; she knew the other person hadn't understood her meaning.
"I mean, aren't you afraid that... that people finding out about your intimacy with him might put him in danger?"
Elizabeth hesitated for a moment before saying this.
The affair between Cheryl and the Gambino family is not a secret; it has been circulating in Hollywood for a long time and is an open secret. However, it cannot be discussed openly.
In particular, since the two were good friends, Elizabeth could only offer subtle advice to Cheryl.
"What are you afraid of! Is he in any danger?"
Cheryl was still somewhat puzzled, not understanding what her friend was talking about. Could there be any danger if Jiang were with her? Surely not, he's such a capable person!
"Sheryl, as a friend, I have to tell you that since you have chosen this path and are walking alongside some people, you should recognize what kind of people they are and what they care about!"
"I don't know what your relationship is with Jiang, but I can tell you're very close to him. I understand you; the spark of love is always hard to control, and Jiang seems quite charming. However... you need to understand that if this spark isn't handled properly, it could be dangerous for both of you!"
Elizabeth took a deep breath and said seriously.
Unfortunately, her words left Cheryl somewhat bewildered, and she nodded as if she understood but not quite.
This relieved Elizabeth. It seemed that although Cheryl was a little confused, she roughly understood what Elizabeth meant. If that was the case, then Elizabeth could rest assured.
However, Cheryl's words quickly made Elizabeth speechless: "I understand. I really can't let too many people know about Jiang and me. He doesn't like to be in the limelight, so I should be careful."
"That's not what I meant!!" Elizabeth was completely exasperated. Where had her usually clever Cheryl gone? She couldn't understand what she was saying?!
"What is that?" Cheryl asked, completely bewildered. If it wasn't this, then what was it?
"It's Gambino!" With gritted teeth, Elizabeth didn't care about anything else. For the sake of her not-so-bright friend, she decided to go all out and reveal this public secret that she didn't want to talk about.
Although this will make everyone feel awkward, it's better than watching her make a big mistake.
"Gambino? What does this have to do with them?" Cheryl was still confused. What did the Gambino family have to do with her? They seemed to be taking good care of her, but... wasn't that all because of Jiang?
Did Elizabeth, the gossip, hear some new information? Is there some conflict between them and Jiang?
But that shouldn't be the case; there haven't been any signs of it lately, and Elizabeth couldn't possibly know Jiang...
Sheryl was completely bewildered.
Elizabeth nearly vomited blood upon hearing this.
Sister, you're someone important's mistress! A mistress?! Are you kidding me?
You're so intimate with a man, aren't you afraid that if word gets out and important people find out? The Gambino family members are ruthless killers, sister!
Don't you have any sense of awareness at all?
"Well, anyway, you have to be careful!" Having said all that, and still the other person was completely unaware, Elizabeth could only sigh and give up on the idea of bringing it up in public.
He decided to wait until Jiang from China left, then talk to Sherry about this matter in detail that evening, making sure she wasn't led astray.
Being around such a big shot means you can't always do what you want; sometimes you can't act entirely according to your own nature, otherwise... you'll regret it!
No, maybe you'd regret it if you were with another man and had an affair, and he'd make you suffer terribly. But if you were with a man from the Gambino family and something like that happened, you'd only have one way out: death.
"This..." Cheryl wanted to say something because she was really confused, but before she could speak, Jiang Bai had already returned. She wisely didn't ask any further questions, and just looked completely bewildered.
Regardless of what Elizabeth thought, she was an actress, an excellent actress, so she didn't show anything wrong on the surface and continued to chat and laugh with Jiang Bai and the others.
We had lunch together and acted quite close, like old friends who hadn't seen each other for years.
They spent the rest of the afternoon playing together. As evening approached, Elizabeth said goodbye to Jiang Bai and pulled Cheryl away.
Unfortunately, to her dismay, Cheryl refused.
He even told her that if she had anything to do, she could leave first, as she wanted to have dinner with Jiang Bai.
Elizabeth was naturally extremely worried about this. What a joke! A man and a woman alone together, and they were showing such obvious interest in each other—it would be strange if they didn't go to bed together that night if she really left!
If something really happens, it will be too late!
So Elizabeth quickly said that she was actually fine, ignoring Cheryl's gesturing for her to leave, and awkwardly became a huge third wheel, sitting down next to Jiang Bai and Cheryl.
Reluctantly, and not wanting to drive away her good friend, Cheryl could only offer Jiang Bai an apologetic smile. Afterward, she and Jiang Bai took Elizabeth to a well-known upscale local restaurant and made a reservation for a meal.
After ordering some reasonably priced dishes, Jiang Bai and the two celebrities sat in a corner of the restaurant.
They had barely sat down and hadn't even had a chance to chat when a middle-aged man in a suit walked over from a short distance away, beaming with delight, and exclaimed, "Sheryl, Elizabeth! You two are here! What a coincidence!"
Jiang Bai didn't know whether it was a coincidence or not, but it was really impolite for him to rush over so abruptly while he was eating.
Chapter 892 Vincent
Although this person's behavior made Jiang Bai feel uncomfortable, he didn't say anything. When the other person came, he didn't look at Jiang Bai, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Jiang Bai was too lazy to pay attention to this guy and quietly ate his food.
Meanwhile, Cheryl and Elizabeth had already stood up.
"Mr. Vincent, I never expected it to be you! You've come to Nice, the Water City!" Elizabeth exclaimed with some surprise.
As for Cheryl beside her, she didn't say anything, just stood there smiling, neither trying too hard to please nor showing any disgust.
The other party was not surprised by Cheryl's reaction and did not show any dissatisfaction. In fact, they nodded slightly to Cheryl in a flattering manner and greeted her before answering Elizabeth's question: "My company invested in an art film to participate in the film festival, so I came to take a look. I didn't expect to run into you here."
"Then... shall we sit together?" Elizabeth thought for a moment and made this invitation.
This seemed to be within the other party's expectations, but he still put on a surprised expression, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then sat down.
I suppose that's what he meant by coming over to say hello.
As for Cheryl, she frowned slightly but didn't say much. She asked the waiter to add a chair, and Mr. Vincent sat down.
Undeniably, this guy is a talkative fellow. He quickly adapted to his role here, engaging in endless, eloquent discussions and occasionally telling jokes unique to Country A, which made Elizabeth laugh heartily, and Cheryl couldn't help but smile.
However, in Jiang Bai's opinion, this guy just kept babbling on and on, talking a lot of nonsense.
She ate her food without paying any attention to him.
But Jiang Bai ignored him. However, this guy didn't ignore Jiang Bai. After talking to the two women for a while, he finally remembered Jiang Bai: "What does this gentleman do?"
"Damn it, you've been sitting here for twenty minutes, and you're only now remembering Grandpa?" Jiang Bai thought to himself. Before he could answer, Cheryl interjected, "This is my friend Jiang, from China. He works in the same line of work as us."
"Oh? Mr. Jiang is an actor?" The other person was taken aback by this, then looked at Jiang Bai, and after a closer look, felt that Jiang Bai was not quite like an actor, so he became a little curious.
"I own a small film company," Jiang Bai replied vaguely.
"A film company? Haha, I didn't expect you to be doing the same thing as me. What's your film company called? I'm the chairman of Vincent Films!"
"Although we are not one of the six major film companies, we are not far behind them. Soon we will become the seventh largest. We already have the support of conglomerates, and starting next year we will expand our business globally. Maybe then we will have the opportunity to cooperate!"
Vincent laughed and enthusiastically pulled out his business card for Jiang Bai.
In today's world, everyone knows that China is a typical example of people being foolish and having too much money. In recent years, its economy has taken off, and it has the feeling of a great roc spreading its wings. People are so generous when they go out to invest and spend.
For a moment, he felt like he had met a tycoon. After all, a young Chinese man who could sit with two top Hollywood actresses must be either a tycoon or the son of a tycoon.
Otherwise, how could we be qualified to sit together?
"It's a small company, not worth mentioning." Jiang Bai chuckled as he accepted the other party's business card, but instead of putting it in his pocket, he casually tossed it onto the table, appearing somewhat nonchalant.
However, they refused to identify their own company.
Empire Films has now developed into a behemoth in the domestic film industry and is now expanding overseas. The Yamato Group, which it acquired, already owned several film companies and some cinema chains. Now that they are combined, they can be said to dominate East Asia.
Jiang Bai didn't want to say it out loud, lest he scare people.
Since Cheryl didn't even know what she did specifically, Jiang Bai had no intention of telling her, much less someone completely unrelated to him.
"Not worth mentioning?" Vincent was taken aback for a moment, then a hint of contempt appeared on his face. He thought that this young man must be from a company that wasn't afraid of him and was too embarrassed to introduce himself.
In his imagination, Jiang Bai became a wealthy young man with a little money who opened a shell company and used it to meet beautiful female celebrities.
He'd seen far too many people like that.
Thinking of this, a hint of contempt naturally appeared in his eyes.
Does this kind of person deserve to dine with Elizabeth and Cheryl? He's practically courting death!
Sheryl herself was very envious, but she was the mistress of a big shot in the Gambino godfather family. She could walk sideways in the whole of Los Angeles, and countless big shots in Hollywood kept their distance from her. Naturally, she didn't dare to provoke her.
And the stunningly beautiful Elizabeth…
They hadn't even made a move yet, and this kid who appeared out of nowhere was already hanging out with them? Judging from what Elizabeth said earlier, they'd been playing together all day?
That's a clever idea!
Thinking of this, Vincent felt indignant and wanted to teach this arrogant young man a lesson.
However, he is a civilized person and would never do something like hitting someone; that would be extremely ungentlemanly.
So Vincent decided to teach the young man in front of him a lesson and show him that these top female stars were not someone like him could get his hands on.
Upon hearing this, he said smugly, "So it's a small company. I wonder what kind of small company it is? What achievements has it made? Well, of course, I don't mean anything by it, I'm just asking. You know, there are many swindlers these days who set up an empty shell company and then come out to swindle people."
"Several of my friends have been deceived by such people. Of course, Jiang, you are definitely not that kind of person, but I am still very curious about what achievements your company has made?"
These words aroused the curiosity of Elizabeth and Cheryl. Although they felt that Vincent's words were a bit strange, they did not stop him. They just looked at Jiang Bai with curiosity.
"A small company is a small company, nothing special!" Jiang Bai replied with a frown, somewhat displeased. Was he even that familiar with this guy? Why was he asking?
Little did he know that his reaction would be seen as a show of being all bark and no bite by Vincent.
"It must be because it's too embarrassing to talk about that he's not willing to say more!" Vincent thought to himself, his eyes shining with excitement. He felt that his time to shine had come.
Exposing the swindler in front of two beautiful women and showcasing your wit and intelligence will surely increase their favor towards you.
Chapter 893 Self-Assurance
"Who knows, the two beauties might even look at me differently because of this and throw themselves at me!"
Vincent became more and more excited as he thought about it, and became even more determined to expose the fraudster in front of him.
Of course, when it comes to being offered a hug, he would never refuse. How could a charming gentleman refuse the advances of two beautiful women?
However, he wouldn't dare touch a woman from the Gambino godfather family like Cheryl, but there was also Elizabeth by his side.
Having one like this is something I should be content with.
"What small company? As a businessman, don't you want to expand your business? Our Vincent Films not only develops in Country A, but also has many partners in China, all of whom are giants in your country. Since we are sitting together, we are friends. As long as you tell me the name of your company, I can ask them to take care of you."
Vincent's smile deepened upon hearing this, and he then offered the following explanation.
He was already 80-90% certain that Jiang Bai was a fraud, but he didn't know what methods he had used to get to know these two big stars.
However, a liar is always a liar and cannot withstand scrutiny. He thinks that just because he is far away in China, others cannot investigate him?
Dream on!
"Thank you, but no need!" Jiang Bai frowned upon hearing this, his face showing some displeasure.
Jiang Bai had already sensed Vincent's intentions the moment he sat down, but he was too lazy to pay attention to him.
Elizabeth is actually quite pretty, and Jiang Bai would naturally be happy if something happened between them. However, he doesn't force things and just lets fate take its course. He didn't deliberately show anything.
As long as he doesn't have any designs on Sheryl, Jiang Bai won't interfere.
We're all men, we understand men's thoughts. You can't just stand in the middle of the road and block everyone else's way, can you?
This will incur divine retribution.
But you have to do things in moderation. Why are you provoking me for no reason? What did I do to you?
Didn't you realize I didn't want to talk to you? Why is this going on and on?
Jiang Bai spoke politely, but his tone was already somewhat impatient, and his displeasure was clearly visible on his face.
But this did not deter Vincent. On the contrary, he was as excited as if he had discovered a new continent. At this moment, he was like a ferocious fighting rooster, raising his head and looking at Jiang Bai in front of him, and said with a mocking smile: "Could it be that you are letting me win? You don't even dare to say your name. You can't be as simple as a small company. Are you really a swindler?"
These words were already a bit too blunt. He wasn't a rash person. After observing Jiang Bai for a long time, from his clothes and the ambiguity in his words, he was about 70-80% certain that Jiang Bai was a liar.
That's why I spoke at this moment.
These words caused both women present to change their expressions, but their thoughts were different. Cheryl was angry, while Elizabeth was more surprised and uncertain.
After all, compared to Cheryl, who knew Jiang Bai well, Elizabeth had only met Jiang Bai for the first time. Although she thought Jiang Bai was a good person after a day of conversation, she didn't know much about him. So, she was a little surprised and uncertain when Vincent said that.
"Mr. Vincent, what are you saying! How could Jiang be a liar? Please watch your words! He is my friend, a very good friend. We have known each other for a long time. Your words are an insult to my friend. I expect you to apologize to him!"
Upon hearing this, Cheryl suddenly stood up and began to speak to Vincent.
The other party is a powerful figure in Hollywood, the owner of the seventh largest film company, but that doesn't mean Cheryl wouldn't dare to speak in front of him. Cheryl is a prominent figure in Los Angeles now, and she's not necessarily afraid of him.
Cheryl's sudden outburst startled Vincent, who then narrowed his eyes, scanning back and forth between Jiang Bai and Cheryl. After a moment, he sneered, "If I'm not mistaken, the relationship between the two of you isn't so simple. I'm such an idiot for not noticing this earlier."
"But Miss Cheryl, you've got some nerve, daring to be so intimate with another man. If I'm not mistaken, you two have already slept together, haven't you? If this... gets back to that big shot in the Gambino family, do you know what the consequences will be?"
Hearing this, Cheryl was stunned for a moment, her face full of confusion and bewilderment. Before she could recover, Elizabeth's expression changed several times. She stepped forward first and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Vincent, don't make wild guesses. Cheryl and Jiang are just ordinary friends."
"Hehe, I don't know whether it's ordinary or not. I think this is not something I should worry about. That important person will definitely be more interested." Vincent chuckled. Seeing that Cheryl was a little stunned, he had already made up his mind.
A big star and a conman got together and even slept together?
Damn it, that bitch Cheryl! I thought she was so innocent, but now she seems to be a bitch too!
However, this has happened before; in fact, it has occurred more than once in the long history of Los Angeles.
That's not a big deal, but it's one thing for a conman to be involved with a female celebrity, but the key point is that this female celebrity belongs to a big shot, then... that's where things get interesting.
"What do you want?" Jiang Bai asked noncommittally, his expression unchanged.
On the contrary, Cheryl's behavior seemed carefree, showing no concern whatsoever, which made her friend Elizabeth worry for her.
Doesn't this Cheryl know how serious the accusation Vincent is making is?
Her behavior just now probably confirmed the other party's idea. Knowing this man as Elizabeth does, he will definitely use this to blackmail her.
Her ability to remain so calm left Elizabeth speechless.
Is she just oblivious? Or is she stupid?
"What do you want? Haha, it seems my guess was right. My request is very simple. Since Miss Cheryl is willing to spend the night with you, I think you wouldn't mind having a date with me. Of course, it would be best if we could have more of these dates. By the way, I have a few films to start filming in the future."
"Given our friendly relationship, Miss Cheryl shouldn't be charging any payment, right?"
Vincent chuckled and said shamelessly that he wanted someone to sleep with him, and also wanted to blackmail them.
This caused Elizabeth's expression to change several times in an instant. Her opinion of Vincent plummeted several notches. She no longer saw him as a polite gentleman, but instead thought of him as a shameless rogue.
Chapter 894 Little Sun, you've arrived
But just then, a voice suddenly rang out, interrupting their conversation. A slightly hesitant and awkward voice asked, "Mr. Vincent?"
Vincent was taken aback by these words. He then subconsciously turned around and saw a Chinese man standing next to him, along with a person from country A. The Chinese man was also surprised at this moment. He smiled at Vincent and greeted him, saying, "Hi, Vincent, I didn't expect to see you here. What's up? Interested in having a meal here?"
After saying this, he glanced at the two women sitting next to Vincent with different expressions and immediately smiled, "So Misses Cheryl and Elizabeth are here too?"
Upon seeing the two people in front of them, Vincent and Elizabeth both stood up.
The Chinese didn't recognize him, but they were quite familiar with the rugged man in front of them, a man from one of the six major Hollywood studios, Mr. Lorenz.
A prominent figure in Los Angeles, a powerful figure in Hollywood.
Vincent before him was like a baby who had just learned to walk; the two were incomparable.
As for the Asian face next to him, they didn't recognize him, but they figured that someone who could stand with Lorenz and greet Vincent must be a big shot.
Vincent's words had already strained relations, making the two men furious, but at this point no one pursued the matter further.
They were both top-notch actresses, adept at concealing their true feelings. At this moment, they demonstrated their professionalism by quickly standing up and smiling at the two of them.
Regardless of any past conflicts they had with Vincent, and no matter how shameless and despicable he was, they could deal with those later; dealing with the two in front of them was the key.
Vincent naturally shared the same thoughts as them.
"Mr. Lorenz, who is this?" Elizabeth asked with a smile, referring to the identity of the person beside him.
It wasn't that she was trying to curry favor with them; it was simply that her status wasn't high enough for the other party to introduce their friends.
They only appear glamorous on the surface; in reality, they are not very influential and are insignificant in the eyes of these big shots. If she doesn't speak up, they won't introduce her to anyone.
Upon hearing this, Lorenz was taken aback for a moment, then smiled at the two women in front of him and said, "Look at me, I had completely forgotten about this. This is Mr. Sun Zhixiang, the owner of Hong Kong Hung Hom Film Company!"
"Hong Kong Hung Hom Film Company is a long-established company there, and they also cooperate with us. Mr. Sun is also a good friend of mine. His name is extremely well-known in the East Asian film and television industry. Of course, you may not be familiar with him, but you will definitely be familiar with his father's name."
"Our world shipping magnate, Mr. Sun!"
To be honest, Mr. Sun's reputation in Los Angeles isn't that great. Although he's been on the rich list for a long time, he's not one of the top few in the world. Hung Hom Film Company is a behemoth in Hong Kong, but it's not enough to warrant their attention.
But that was before. Ever since one of the six major companies was on the verge of bankruptcy, and Mr. Shipping Magnatee invested in it and became its boss, which is also the boss of the company where Laurence works, his name has become a household name in Los Angeles.
At first, some people wanted to stir up trouble. Seeing that the other party came from Asia, several major forces wanted to squeeze him out. Unfortunately, they failed in the end and were taught a lesson. Mr. Sun's name became famous throughout Country A.
To be honest, he is a truly important figure, especially with the recent surge in global shipping business, Mr. Sun has already entered the ranks of the world's top ten richest people, although it is only temporary.
But that was enough to make them look up to him.
Elizabeth, being a sociable person, immediately smiled upon hearing this and offered a few compliments. Cheryl, on the other hand, remained indifferent, though she did exchange a few words with Elizabeth to prevent the situation from becoming too awkward.
After saying this, the other party focused their main attention on Vincent. Sun Zhixiang said with a smile, "Mr. Vincent, I have almost finished talking with your company's major shareholders about our acquisition of your company. There shouldn't be any major problems. After the new company is established, you will still be a major shareholder, and we will become partners. We should cooperate more with each other then."
"Of course, Mr. Sun, rest assured. My previous investment failed. If it weren't for your help, I would be bankrupt now. It was your kindness in helping me, getting me a loan, and acquiring my company at a high price that allowed me to continue making a living in Los Angeles. I am a grateful person and will definitely help Mr. Sun."
Mr. Sun seemed very satisfied with this. He chatted with Vincent for a few minutes with a smile and then prepared to leave. Naturally, they had to see him off. But as soon as he turned around, Mr. Sun saw Jiang Bai eating silently.
He froze instantly, his expression changing several times. He held his breath, took a deep breath, and then asked in a trembling voice, "Mr. Jiang?"
He had only met the person in front of him once, so he wasn't entirely sure, but the person's background was so impressive that he remembered him vividly.
Although he didn't recognize the person immediately, he realized who it was when the other person raised their head before leaving.
"Little Sun, you're here. How come you're so familiar with this Vincent?" Jiang Bai chuckled, put down his knife and fork, licked his lips with a napkin, and said noncommittally.
He had overheard the conversation between the group of people and knew the identity of the person in front of him. They had indeed met once before, though only once.
After all, Jiang Bai had met his father a few times.
After Yin Tianchou's matter was over, the old man who was close to Yin Tianchou even made a special trip to Tiandu to visit him, calling him brother and even having his eldest son call him uncle. So, Sun Zhixiang, who was the second oldest, was naturally his nephew.
However, calling him "elder nephew" or something like that felt a bit strange, and Jiang Bai didn't want to sound old for no reason, so after thinking about it, he called him "little grandson."
Little Sun?
One sentence caused everyone's expressions to turn strange. They were all elites and had some understanding of the everyday expressions of various countries, especially after Sun Zhixiang invested in their company.
Vincent and Lorenz studied the Mandarin for a while to understand what the title meant, and their expressions were full of strangeness.
"Uncle Jiang, what brings you here? I'm so sorry I didn't see you earlier. I accept the punishment. If I did anything wrong, I apologize. Please, for my father's sake, don't hold it against us juniors."
Sun Zhixiang's expression was incredibly interesting in an instant. He said with a sense of panic that he wanted to call him Mr. Jiang, but the words changed immediately and he called him Uncle, trying his best to please him.
Chapter 895 Do you have a son?
Are you kidding me? Who is this person in front of me?!
This is Master Jiang!
Although he is older and it's a little awkward to call him "uncle," it depends on who you're talking to!
Let alone calling this person uncle, I wonder how many people would be willing to line up to call him grandfather.
But they need to be qualified first!
So Sun Zhixiang wasn't embarrassed at all; in fact, he was even a little excited. If he really recognized such an uncle, wouldn't he be able to walk sideways all over Asia?
Will those bastards from the Qiao family still dare to glare at me in the future?
Just hearing about their relationship with Master Jiang would terrify them!
"Hehe, don't call me uncle or anything like that, we'll each pay our own way," Jiang Bai chuckled.
Jiang Bai was just being polite, so Sun Zhixiang didn't dare take it seriously. He quickly said that Jiang Bai was a friend of his father and was like his uncle, and so on. He kept insisting on one point: he definitely had to call him uncle, otherwise he would be a disloyal, unjust, and unfilial bastard.
The scene left everyone present speechless.
Damn it, where did that Mr. Sun who was so dignified and commanding just now go? How did he become like this?
He fawned over someone, shamelessly becoming their nephew, and was even excited after the other party acquiesced!
Damn it, aren't you the son of a shipping magnate who's one of the world's top ten richest people? Aren't you the boss of the long-established film company Hung Hom?
You're a high and mighty person, can't you have some dignity?
But no one dared to say it aloud.
If, by this point, Lorenz and the others still couldn't see that Jiang Bai was a very important person they could never look up to, then they would be incredibly stupid.
Cheryl looked at Jiang Bai with a happy and adoring expression, while Elizabeth looked at Jiang Bai with astonishment and a strange look in her eyes.
As for Vincent...
Mr. Vincent's assassin was stunned, his face ashen.
"Little Sun, you're a pretty good person, but it's a pity you're not very good at making friends."
Jiang Bai sat there without getting up, and said something noncommittal.
Sun Zhixiang, who was standing there, was stunned at first, but when he saw Vincent's distraught appearance, he immediately understood Jiang Bai's meaning and knew what had happened.
I reckon this bastard in front of me did something to offend Jiang Bai!
Think about what I just said. What did I say about cooperating sincerely with this guy?
Sun Zhixiang was covered in a cold sweat.
Wow! Luckily I ran into him today, otherwise, if this guy pursued the matter after the acquisition was completed, it would be a huge problem.
It is true that the Sun family holds an extraordinary position in Hong Kong and is also very wealthy and powerful. But no matter how extraordinary their position or how wealthy and powerful they are, can they compare to Yin Tianchou?
Even if Master Qiu were to be wiped out by this guy in front of him, wouldn't he be easily defeated?
How could he dare offend someone like that?
If they really offended him, even without this person lifting a finger, his own father would probably have to uphold justice and execute him like Ma Su, giving this person an explanation. Otherwise, the entire Sun family would be in danger.
"You bastard! You've offended my Uncle Jiang? You damned bastard!" Sun Zhixiang lost all his composure, walked over with a ferocious expression, and slapped Vincent hard across the face, leaving the man dazed and confused.
"Uncle, don't worry, this guy is actually bankrupt. His investment failed, so he's practically bankrupt. If I hadn't taken a liking to his company and wanted to acquire it, and given him some money to keep him afloat, he would have been beaten to death by his creditors by now!"
"But this guy is so ungrateful that he dared to offend you. Don't worry, I'll immediately allocate all the funds and let him fend for himself!"
Sun Zhixiang was pledging his loyalty to Jiang Bai, while Vincent was completely dumbfounded, his face ashen, and he stood there dumbfounded.
Sun Zhixiang was his only savior. Before meeting Sun Zhixiang, he had begged countless people, but to no avail. Only Sun Zhixiang had the ability and financial resources to help him.
If Sun Zhixiang withdraws his investment, then I...
Vincent didn't even want to think about the consequences. His gambling debts were backed by the Mafia; it was one thing if they didn't pay back the other debts, but not theirs…
It seems my family is going to be destroyed.
"Mr. Vincent, do you have a son?" At this moment, Jiang Bai calmed down, glanced at Vincent in front of him, and asked this question in a noncommittal way, leaving everyone completely baffled.
This left everyone present bewildered, wondering why Jiang Bai would ask such a question at this moment.
Sun Zhixiang reacted quickly and immediately understood Jiang Bai's meaning. He was about to say that he would handle the matter and make sure Uncle Jiang was satisfied.
Although they are legitimate business people, they are not immune to unconventional methods. Money can make the devil turn the millstone, and hiring a few people to do some dirty work is not the Sun family's style.
However, as long as I can please Master Jiang, then it doesn't matter.
Although he knew that if Jiang Bai really meant it, there would be plenty of people willing to step forward and do it, but could doing it be the same as doing it himself?
They are obviously different.
Unfortunately, before he could even speak, Vincent, who was deathly pale, had already spoken: "What...you want to do?"
Even if he's stupid, he knows that Jiang Bai is someone he absolutely cannot mess with. Didn't you see how Sun Zhixiang was practically groveling before him?
Compared to Sun Zhixiang, he was a nobody, let alone compared to Jiang Bai.
"It's good to have a son. I'm afraid you don't have one. If something happens to you, your family will have no one to carry on the family line! Of course, I guess you won't have anything for your son to inherit in the future either." Jiang Bai said casually while eating, without even turning his head, and just stuffing large chunks of beef into his mouth.
"What...what do you want to do!" Vincent exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this.
His long-term bodyguards also sensed something was wrong and quickly came over.
At the same time, a dozen burly men in black rushed out and surrounded the group. Ignoring the fact that they were in a restaurant, they immediately drew their guns and pointed them at Vincent's bodyguards.
One of the middle-aged men, with thinning hair and a gloomy expression, approached Jiang Bai and bowed respectfully, saying, "Mr. Jiang, did he upset you?"
Jiang Bai put down his knife and fork and chuckled, "It's just a minor conflict. You can handle it as you see fit. But I'm curious, you've been following me all day. Aren't you tired?"
These words made the other person blush, and then he bowed to Jiang Bai again: "Please forgive me, you are Lord Marcus's friend and our most important guest. Lord Marcus has strictly ordered us to ensure that you have a pleasant visit here, and we have no choice but to..."
Chapter 896 The Four-Hundred-Year-Old Monster
"Alright, let's not talk about this. I don't like being disturbed while I'm eating. I'll have to deal with that." Jiang Bai waved his hand dismissively, looking down at him.
Jiang Bai knew that these people were following him. They had been secretly following him since he arrived at the hotel. He even noticed that anyone on the street who was unfriendly to him seemed to have been taught a lesson.
For example, a man on the street looked at himself with envy as he was with two beautiful women with slender figures. Not long after, he was severely beaten up. As for who did it, it goes without saying.
Jiang Bai didn't point it out. When the other party stepped forward, Jiang Bai wasn't unhappy at all, he just said this casually.
"I understand, Mr. Jiang. Don't worry, there are countless people buried underground in Nice Water City. I don't think one more would be a problem." The other party understood and chuckled.
Then, with a cold expression, he said to his men, "You know what to do, right?"
The next second, the group had already knocked four or five people to the ground, and then two of them held them down, saying they were about to take them away.
"No! No! You can't do this, I..."
Unfortunately, he was knocked unconscious before he could finish speaking, and there was no place for him to speak at all.
Vincent's fate was sealed; he was dragged away and would probably never be seen in public again.
This scene filled Cheryl with admiration, while Elizabeth was still shaken. As for Sun Zhixiang, he broke out in a cold sweat, thinking, "This guy is still the same as ever, his temper hasn't changed at all. Luckily I reacted in time, otherwise this would have been troublesome."
Jiang Bai then chatted with them for a few more minutes before sending Sun Zhixiang and the horrified Lorenz away.
After having dinner with Elizabeth and Cheryl, Elizabeth tactfully took her leave, while Cheryl naturally stayed overnight.
After a night of commotion, Cheryl said goodbye the next day. When Jiang Bai tidied up at the hotel and went downstairs, he found the man who had followed him the day before still waiting there. Judging from his red eyes, he guessed that he hadn't slept all night.
Seeing Jiang Bai come down, he immediately stood up, moved closer to Jiang Bai, and said, "Mr. Jiang, the matter has been taken care of, he..."
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Bai waved his hand to stop him. Jiang Bai said with a smile, "Go and tell Marcus that I have decided to accept the congressman's invitation. I don't have anything to do recently, and he will arrange the specific schedule!"
Jiang Bai had already made up his mind about this matter. He originally planned to tell Marcus when he came to him again, but now that his men were waiting here, Marcus wouldn't have to make another trip.
These words startled the other person, who then hurriedly and cautiously agreed.
Jiang Bai then lingered in Nice for a few more days, engaging in intimate activities with Cheryl. During this time, he met Elizabeth twice more. For some reason, Elizabeth always dressed extravagantly, and her words even carried a hint of wantonness and allure, which displeased Cheryl. As if she had noticed the problem, she stopped bringing her best friend to meet Jiang Bai after the two meetings.
Jiang Bai found this amusing but didn't point it out.
The film festival opened shortly afterward, but Jiang Bai did not linger. Instead, he boarded a cruise ship arranged by Marcus and left Nice.
I thought that the castle of the undead councilor Marcus was nearby, but I only found out after boarding the cruise ship that the councilor's castle was actually in faraway Britain.
I don't know why, even though he's in Britain, he has such a long reach, assigning his subordinates to Nice.
This must involve the internal struggles and compromises of their "parliament," and Jiang Bai was unwilling to inquire further.
I happily spent two days on the cruise ship with the young models arranged by Marcus, and before I knew it, we had arrived in Britain.
Upon disembarking, there was no grand motorcade to greet me, only a rather legendary vintage car parked at the airport entrance, with a very gentlemanly-looking old butler and driver standing at the door.
Perhaps having already obtained all of Jiang Bai's information, the old butler immediately spotted Jiang Bai after he got off the plane, approached him to identify himself, and then led Jiang Bai away from the port.
After traveling for more than an hour, Jiang Bai saw an ancient castle near a mountain peak. Judging from its appearance, it was probably built in the late Middle Ages and had been around for many years, with mottled traces of time on the outer walls of the castle.
"This castle is quite old. Has your councilor been living here all this time?"
"Yes, this castle belongs to the councilor's family and was originally his brother's. However, when the councilor's brother was on his deathbed, he separated the castle from the family and gave it to the councilor. Now, more than four hundred years have passed, and the councilor still lives here."
The old butler was clearly a trusted confidant who had served the family for a long time, and he knew that Jiang Bai's identity was extraordinary. To be able to meet with a councilor, he must be an extraordinary person.
The other party must already know about the congressman's affairs, so there's nothing to hide.
After saying that, he proudly added, "Don't be fooled by the castle's ordinary exterior; its interior is extremely luxurious. It was once very famous in Britain, and the British royal family once lived here."
"The councilor is a meticulous person, as are our ancestors, so although the exterior looks a bit dilapidated, the interior is quite nice."
"Other important figures in the council have taken a liking to this place and wanted to make a deal with the councilors in exchange for ten castles, but our councilors all rejected the offer."
Jiang Bai didn't care about any of that, because he was already absorbed in what the old steward had said earlier.
Holy crap, this guy is over four hundred years old?
Knowing that these people would live so long, these necromancers, neither human nor ghost, had practically turned their bodies into mummies, hovering between death and reality, and were no longer considered true humans, thus possessing long lifespans.
But I never expected it to be this long, even though Marcus had told me beforehand that this senator's history could be traced back to the Middle Ages...
To be honest, I didn't really believe it at the time, but now Jiang Bai does.
Because the old butler was clearly not lying.
Facing an ancient monster who had lived for four hundred years, Jiang Bai felt the pressure suddenly increase.
I have no idea why this undead councilor, Markus, is looking for me.
Although Jiang Bai didn't know the details, he had a feeling that it wasn't a good thing.
Regardless of whether it's good or bad, now that we're here, we have to grit our teeth and keep going. What else can we do? Turn around and leave now?
Jiang Bai would never do such a thing.
Chapter 897 Wasting Time
"Mr. Congressman"
Just then, a remark from the old butler startled Jiang Bai; the butler's tone was clearly quite surprised.
I don't know why I was so surprised.
Anyway, following the sound, Jiang Bai saw an old man dressed in a black robe, his body completely concealed, standing at the castle gate. Behind him, besides four imposing knights hidden in heavy armor, there were also twelve black-robed mages.
Jiang Bai didn't know how strong the opponent was. He wasn't very familiar with this system, and since the opponent hadn't shown any power, it was difficult for Jiang Bai to estimate their strength.
However, it is foreseeable that all of these people are experts.
"I never expected that Your Excellency would personally greet you. This is truly astonishing. Apart from the other twelve members of parliament and Your Excellency the Speaker, very few people are qualified to be personally greeted by Your Excellency!"
"Do you know when the last time a member of parliament personally came out of the castle to greet someone was?"
The old butler said this to Jiang Bai with great surprise.
"How long?" Jiang Bai didn't know if the other party was telling the truth or not, but he still went along with it.
"Fifty years ago!" the old butler uttered a surprising number.
The old butler's words were originally intended to let Jiang Bai know that this councilor valued him exceptionally highly. However, he did not know that these words would not make Jiang Bai feel valued, but would instead make him more wary.
Judging from this, the necromancer Marcus values him exceptionally highly; he hasn't come out to greet guests in fifty years, but now he's come out to greet him.
Such attention can be incredibly stressful.
To condescend to someone of high status must mean that one needs something from them, and for such a person to need something from you is certainly not a simple matter.
In Marcus's words, the person in front of him was an absolutely important figure, and if someone like that needed his help, it was definitely not a small matter.
Upon reaching the entrance, Jiang Bai saw the face of the undead councilor. His pale, bloodless face exuded an aura of death. His gaunt cheeks were devoid of any flesh color, his eye sockets were sunken, and a ghostly blue light emanated from the depths of his pupils, making him look exactly like a ghost from a movie.
Especially when he gave him that smile that he thought was kind but was actually creepy, Jiang Bai almost thought he was watching a zombie movie.
"Mr. Jiang, welcome." The other party greeted Jiang Bai in a hoarse voice, expressing his welcome.
"It is my honor to be a guest here, Your Excellency Congressman Markuz!" Jiang Bai nodded in response.
Undoubtedly, the two had ulterior motives in meeting each other; one could even say they each harbored their own secrets.
Regardless, basic politeness should still be observed when meeting someone.
What followed was naturally a pointless exchange of pleasantries and polite words. Markuz even gave Jiang Bai a rare tour of his castle.
To be honest, it wasn't as noble and perfect as the head butler had described. Jiang Bai didn't like the feeling of old, cold stones everywhere. Of the castles that had survived to this day, apart from Neuschwanstein Castle, which was somewhat acceptable, the others were almost entirely unappealing to Jiang Bai.
However, Jiang Bai still maintained the politeness expected of a guest, smiling as he looked at everything before him and politely expressing his appreciation for the castle.
The other party then invited Jiang Bai to dine there.
Since Jiang Bai and his group arrived at the port in the afternoon, and after driving and visiting the castle, it was already evening. Therefore, having dinner here was the obvious choice.
To be honest, Jiang Bai wasn't really interested in eating with this guy who looked like a zombie inside this gloomy and terrifying castle.
Who knows what these things eat!
Fortunately, although this guy looks like an undead and has extremely scarce food, at least one thing is certain: he is still a human being and eats normal food.
Jiang Bai breathed a sigh of relief as he looked at the sumptuous dinner.
Things are finally back to normal.
By candlelight, Jiang Bai sat at the lower end of the table, having dinner with Marcus.
Perhaps they felt the two of them had nothing to talk about, or perhaps they felt Jiang Bai, being a hot-blooded young man, was not quite comfortable here, so they made arrangements in advance.
Whatever the reason, Jiang Bai ended up with two scantily clad women in boudoirs by his side while he was eating.
I don't know where this old guy found these two golden cats. They don't look very old, and they are quite beautiful.
With these two people around, the atmosphere became much warmer. The two golden cats were also quite well-behaved, and while they were welcoming Jiang Bai's folk art, they also enlivened the atmosphere, making the two people who were originally a little awkward no longer so distant from each other.
"These two were given to me by someone before. You know I'm getting old and need someone to take care of me, so someone gave me these two people. If you like them, you can have them. You can take them with you when you leave."
After raising his glass with Jiang Bai, Markus said this with a smile.
take away?
Jiang Bai had no such idea. Undoubtedly, these two golden cats were top-notch, but not exceptionally beautiful. They seemed extremely skilled at serving people, but he didn't want them to stay by his side.
Besides, who knows where these two people come from? Jiang Bai doesn't want two ticking time bombs by his side.
They were different from the people sent by Koga. Regardless of their purpose in coming, Jiang Bai used them as thugs, not as his close bedmates. So, they were different.
What else can these two people do besides stay by your side?
But if he stayed by his side, who knew what unexpected things he might do? Jiang Bai didn't want his every move to be controlled by this old ghost.
"No need." Jiang Bai ignored the expectant looks from the two people beside him and declined the offer with a light laugh.
Markus chuckled at this and didn't press the issue.
For a moment, the two people who had been discussing local customs and had gotten along quite well fell silent.
No one knew what they were thinking; in any case, no one spoke.
After about ten minutes, the awkward atmosphere continued. Finally, Jiang Bai, being young, could no longer bear it and spoke up: "May I ask, Your Excellency, what brings you here today? It's not just to invite me to see your castle, is it?"
The old man in front of me, who is hundreds of years old and half-human and half-ghost, has no regard for time. If things continue like this, he could sit there and waste a year or two without getting impatient.
Jiang Bai didn't have time to waste with him.
Chapter 898 Echoes of the Dead
Upon hearing this, Markuz smiled knowingly, glanced at Jiang Bai in front of him, put down his bright red wine glass, and said with a chuckle, "I do have something I need your help with."
Tell me about it.
With a raised eyebrow, Jiang Bai knew the main event was about to begin, but he was somewhat displeased, as he didn't seem to have much of a relationship with this Markuz.
This is our first meeting. We don't know each other before. You asked me for help, so I should help you?
Jiang Bai didn't feel obligated to help the other party. Although he hadn't fought anyone during his time here, he had already roughly figured out the other party's strength.
As Marcus had said before, he was a necromancer, a master who was on par with holy warriors and celestial beings. In other words, he was about the same level of strength as Jiang Bai.
Although the other party was a veteran expert and Jiang Bai was a newcomer, they were still on the same level. Jiang Bai was not afraid of the other party and naturally treated him as an equal, without feeling any restraint.
Psychologically, they won't be suppressed by the other party, and naturally, they won't easily agree to anything from them.
According to Jiang Bai's rules, no matter what Jiang Bai wants from him or what favors he needs, he must show his sincerity.
The two had no prior relationship, and it wasn't as simple as him saying a few words to make me willing to risk my life for him.
His attitude caused the people behind Marcus to change their expressions. The two necromancers who had been standing there like wooden stakes raised their heads at this moment, glanced at Jiang Bai, and then quickly lowered their heads again.
It was as if she was expressing her dissatisfaction to Jiang Bai and protesting his less-than-respectful behavior.
However, Markus did not seem to care too much. Just as Jiang Bai had been observing him since his arrival, he was also observing Jiang Bai in front of him.
Knowing that the other person is someone of equal standing to oneself.
Since they are on par with me, they naturally have the right to be on equal footing with me, so such an attitude is nothing special.
"There is indeed something I need to ask Mr. Jiang for help with," Markuz chuckled, then paused.
As soon as he paused, the people around him quickly dispersed. After everyone had left, Markus, who was sitting opposite Jiang Bai, said with a smile, "I would like to ask Mr. Jiang to help me find something! If you can find it, I will reward you handsomely."
"To be honest, with the power of your parliament and your strength, Mr. Senator, I really can't understand what you need my help with. Finding anything on this planet shouldn't be a problem for you and the parliament, right?"
Why would you need my help?
"I'm very curious about that!"
Before coming, Jiang Bai had already considered why Markus had invited him. There could be countless reasons; perhaps he needed help with something, or perhaps he simply wanted to see him.
Jiang Bai had considered dozens of possibilities, but he never expected that the other party wanted him to help find something.
This matter didn't seem complicated, but Jiang Bai couldn't understand why Markuz, who had access to the parliament's vast resources and possessed extraordinary strength, would approach him.
With their abilities, even if this item is hidden very well, it shouldn't be difficult for them to find it.
The world is only so big; finding them shouldn't be a problem for them, given their capabilities.
"You're right. With our council's capabilities, finding anything on this planet is not difficult. As long as it exists in this world, we can find it."
"However... this item is somewhat special."
These words piqued Jiang Bai's interest. Something was unusual? How so?
Jiang Bai was very curious, but he did not interrupt the other party and chose to continue listening.
"You must be very curious about what this special thing is. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't tell him, but since it's Mr. Jiang, I won't be vague and will just tell you directly. This thing is the sacred weapon of us necromancers, a staff called 'Echo of the Undead.' It is a sacred artifact that has existed since ancient times and is a vital relic for all of us necromancers!"
"This item was in the hands of the previous undead councilor, Kurmar, but unfortunately, that good-for-nothing bastard took it to the East and eventually lost it there."
Jiang Bai frowned upon hearing this. The previous undead councilor?
Did they even bring it to the East?
What are we going there for?
Unconsciously, Jiang Bai thought of a bloody battle a hundred years ago, and his expression changed. He said in a deep voice, "Was it brought over from that bloody battle a hundred years ago?"
"That's right, it was at that time that this foolish fellow actually carried the sacred relic, Echoes of the Dead, eastward, and as a result... you should know."
"We suffered heavy losses on both sides in that battle, and that foolish Kurmar also died there. Actually, his death there is nothing wrong with that; the key issue is that this necromancer was also left in your country! This is something we cannot tolerate!"
Speaking of this, Markus's face showed anger and disdain, indicating that he was not very satisfied with his ex.
Come to think of it, it's the same principle as being an official; no official would have any goodwill towards their predecessor.
"So you want me to find this thing in our country? To be honest, that's not an easy task. Our country is too big and has a huge population. Besides, this happened a hundred years ago, and I've never seen this thing before."
"Finding it won't be easy for me; it's like looking for a needle in a haystack."
"Since you know it's in our country, why don't you go find it yourselves? Why do you need my help? Is it just because I'm a citizen of our country?"
Jiang Bai asked noncommittally.
Parliament wielded immense power. Leaving aside the present, China experienced decades of chaos after the signing of the century-old alliance. During that time, these foreign dignitaries held an extraordinary position in China.
It wouldn't have been difficult for them to find something there, so why didn't they look for it then, instead of waiting until now, a hundred years later?
Why should I, an outsider, help search?
Although Jiang Bai didn't know exactly what the thing looked like or what its function was, he knew from its name that it was a treasure; otherwise, it wouldn't deserve the title of "sacred relic of inheritance."
Such an important treasure, and the other party asked me to help find it. Aren't they afraid that Jiang Bai will find it and then secretly give it away?
For a moment, Jiang Bai was filled with mixed emotions, constantly trying to decipher the meaning behind Markuz's words, and began to guess the other party's true thoughts and the essence of this matter.
Chapter 899 Taking Things for granted
"Of course we found it, but..."
"Just what?"
"It's just that we can't get it back."
The words of the undead councilor Marcus left Jiang Bai, the person involved, clearly stunned.
Parliament is a behemoth with thirteen members.
Jiang Bai didn't know how powerful the thirteen councilors were; he had only met one of them, Marcus.
However, judging from the strength of this undead councilor, it is not difficult to deduce the strength of the others, who are probably at least comparable to the undead councilor Marcus in front of them.
That means the other side has at least thirteen Heavenly Realm experts.
What the thirteen celestial positions represent... well, Jiang Bai doesn't need to explain that much.
To be honest, that's a power strong enough to sweep away everything.
The person in front of him actually told him that they had found the echo of the spirit of the sacred object, but they had no way to retrieve it.
This...how is this possible!
"I'm very curious, what kind of dangerous place is it that you can't even get in?"
Jiang Bai subconsciously lit a cigarette, took two deep drags, and looked somewhat puzzled.
However, he quickly came up with several possibilities, but he didn't say them aloud.
"A dragon's den or a tiger's lair? Heh, if it were that simple, we wouldn't have anything to worry about." Markuz gave a wry smile and said dryly.
Without beating around the bush with Jiang Bai, he said directly, "To tell you the truth, the echo of the dead we are looking for is within the territory of China."
"However, since you know about the century-old alliance, you should also know that we Heavenly Realm experts are restricted from entering China. Once we enter China, we will be besieged."
"Although the parliament is powerful, it is not united and is not without enemies. We cannot concentrate all our forces to enter China. Moreover, not to mention whether those despicable bastards will sabotage me, even if they don't, our strength is not enough to fight against the many forces in China!"
"So although we've found out the exact location, we don't have the ability to retrieve it. Firstly, we can't enter, and secondly, to tell you the truth, even if I were willing to risk going there, I still wouldn't be able to get our sacred relic back..."
"That's a place even more dangerous than a dragon's den or a tiger's lair. I'm curious, why do you think I should agree to this? You're not even confident, yet you want me to go? Isn't that sending me to my death? I consider myself slightly weaker than Your Excellency, the councilor. You can't even muster the strength to go? Our relationship doesn't seem that good, does it?" Jiang Bai sneered, actually quite dissatisfied.
Does this guy in front of me think I'm stupid?
He wouldn't even risk his life to get it, yet he's asking me to get it?
That place must be extremely dangerous. Why would Jiang Bai want to go there?
He doesn't seem to have much of a relationship with this old guy in front of him, does he?
Do you really think that a meal and two golden cats from who-knows-where are enough to make me risk my life?
Damn it, even street thugs aren't this cheap.
Do you think you're stupid?
"If it were anywhere else, I don't think you would have an easier time getting in than I do. To be honest, we necromancers have quite a few tricks up our sleeves besides dealing with the undead. After all, we are quite skilled at magic."
"It's just that you're much more confident going there than I am... after all, you do have some connections with them."
Markus chuckled.
He was a shrewd and experienced man. Jiang Bai's thoughts could not escape his eyes. No matter how well Jiang Bai hid them, Markus, who had seen countless people, could guess what the other party was thinking with just a glance. This was the benefit of a long life.
However, instead of offering Jiang Bai any benefits or conditions, he said the following to Jiang Bai.
"What do you mean?" Jiang Bai was taken aback and asked with some curiosity.
What does that mean?
What do you mean it's not okay for him to go, but it's okay for me to go?
Although he didn't say it directly, isn't that what he meant?
Jiang Bai expressed considerable curiosity about this.
"The Ten Thousand Saints Sect!"
Marcus named a name, then added, "According to our intelligence, my foolish predecessor died at the hands of the Myriad Saints Sect. That unlucky idiot actually dared to challenge the Myriad Saints Sect, and just happened to run into that terrifying Myriad Saints Emperor!"
"As you know, my foolish predecessor, though powerful enough, was no match for a terrifying being like the Emperor of Ten Thousand Saints. He was killed in just a few exchanges, and our sacred relic, the Echo of the Dead, fell into the hands of the Emperor of Ten Thousand Saints."
"As far as I know, it is currently stored in the treasury of the Ten Thousand Saints Sect in Changbai Mountain!"
"If it were anyone else, it would be extremely difficult for them to produce this item. I think you know what kind of existence the Myriad Saints Sect is without me needing to elaborate. However, if it were you..."
"What? You think I can take your things from the Wansheng Sect's treasury? You overestimate me, don't you?" Jiang Bai said with a bitter smile.
This Marcus is overestimating himself. The treasure vault of the Ten Thousand Saints Sect is not a place that anyone can just walk into.
Not to mention the heavy security there, even without any security, he couldn't possibly take that item from the Wansheng Sect's treasury. Given Jiang Bai's assumptions about the terrifying existence of the Wansheng Emperor, he would probably be discovered as soon as he entered their territory.
"Mr. Jiang, we are all friends, why hide it from me? I know... you have an extraordinary relationship with the Wansheng Sect."
"Last time, you broke the century-old alliance in Yamato, which caused quite a stir in your country. Some people even said they wanted to deal with you. Of course, those people didn't know your strength."
"However, that is a considerable force, and the Emperor of Ten Thousand Saints actually stepped forward personally to say that he would protect you."
"As far as I know, that Emperor Wansheng has rarely spoken out since a hundred years ago. This time, he actually declared that he would fight for you, which is enough to show the close relationship between you."
"Getting a staff from there that is insignificant or even useless to them shouldn't be difficult for you," Markuz chuckled.
It seemed that they had a lot of confidence in Jiang Bai, and that Jiang Bai's previous excuses were not because he was unable to help, but because he was unwilling to do so.
"You really overestimate me," Jiang Bai said with a wry smile.
It was a mess, and even now Jiang Bai himself doesn't understand why the Emperor of Ten Thousand Saints would stand up for him. It's a mystery, and Jiang Bai doesn't quite understand it.
Logically speaking, I not only have no relationship with them whatsoever, but we could even be considered enemies.
Getting something from them isn't that easy.
Markus is being somewhat presumptuous.