Chapter 708: Ultimate Dual Operation
For a moment, murmurs broke out throughout the hall.
"Hey? The girl the Queen is holding onto is way too good-looking, right? My little heart is pounding like crazy!"
"You got guts, huh? That's obviously the Queen's woman, and you still dare to have ideas?"
"No way? The Queen... she... she likes women?"
"Isn't that obvious? Who in Nightless City doesn't know the Queen's hobby? Besides the Enchanting, this is the first one she's brought out in public!"
At this moment, Ling Feng and his group were also stunned, never expecting to hear such explosive news!
Wang Ba even stepped forward, eyes sparkling.
"My name's Wang Ba, I like fortune-telling, especially gossip. Brother, can you give me the full story on this one?"
Meanwhile, Zhong Yingxue and Xia Yao were staring blankly at Jiang Lan.
"Xuexue, I feel like I've seen this girl somewhere before? But I can't remember where?"
Zhong Yingxue tilted her head in confusion. "I've never seen her, but she gives me such a familiar feeling. So strange!"
Mira: (｡ŏ‸ŏ｡)
"Mira thinks that sister feels really easy to get close to!"
Xiao Jiuwo, perched on Mira's head, kept nodding too, staring at Jiang Lan nonstop.
Only Wu Liang and Xiong Er wore expressions of utter melting.
(⁼̴㉨⁼̴) Ah~
This woman is truly beautiful. If there's such a thing as love at first sight, this must be it, right?
Jiangnan, being held by the Queen, naturally noticed Zhong Yingxue and the others.
Seeing them all staring at him suspiciously, he quickly averted his gaze.
(°¯᷄﹏¯᷅°) What a sin!
I absolutely can't let Xuexue and the others find out I dressed up as a girl to whisper sweet nothings in the Queen's ear!
Otherwise, my dignified image as Nan Shen will completely collapse in an instant!
And Xia Yao, seeing Jiang Lan avert his gaze, grew suspicious, propping her chin in thought.
(꒪ͦก꒪ͦ｡)༡ Hmm~
Something's off.
Mi Ye's pretty face was cold and aloof. To outsiders, she had always been the dominating Queen of Nightless City.
Her eyes swept across the hall. Not seeing Jiangnan among the Chinese arrivals, she was somewhat surprised.
Her delicate brows furrowed deeply. Her tone was icy: "Hans? Didn't he arrive?"
Her little cutie had been bullied, and Mi Ye was holding a belly full of anger.
Just then, the hall doors opened.
Hans: (#)¯͒▾¯͒(#)
"S-sorry, Queen. Something came up on the way and delayed me."
At that moment, everyone in the banquet hall stared at the newcomer, dumbfounded. Who was this idiot?
Hans?
Hans's face was covered in bruises and welts. His clothes had several ripped holes. He was soaking wet, as if he'd been fished out of the water.
Paired with his balding hairstyle, he couldn't have looked more pathetic.
Hans was forcing a smile on the surface, but inside, he was already cursing up a storm.
Was that broken hat really supposed to ward off bad luck? Why did I feel like the whole world was targeting me?
Yunxia had beaten me up for no reason. Even dogs despised me?
Who knows what rotten things I experienced on the way here?
That broken hat... did it really ward off evil? Sure, the Original Sin's punishment didn't come after me after that.
But not a single good thing happened either!
The moment Jiangnan saw Hans, he was also stunned. How did he end up like this?
But seeing no grass on his head, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
(๑¯ิٹ¯ิ๑) You're done for~
Hans shivered violently. Everyone in the hall was looking at him with a strange gleam in their eyes.
The instant Mi Ye saw Hans, she almost went berserk with rage.
Her eyes blazed with anger: "Being late is bad enough, but you show up to my banquet dressed like this? Are you cosplaying a kappa?"
Hans shuddered, his face pale with fright. He quickly said, "No, Queen, let me explain!"
Mi Ye squinted: "Explain? I don't want to hear it. Did I give you permission to speak? Shut up!"
Hans panicked. What's going on? I just got here, and the Queen's already this angry?
I didn't do anything!
Mi Ye ground her teeth in fury: "Does Black Claw have no respect for me at all? Do you think I'm giving you face? She's my woman, and you dare to rip off her goods?"
"If you want to die, I, Mi Ye, will grant your wish. I want an explanation from you about this!"
Hans was dumbfounded, staring blankly at Jiangnan.
Rip off her goods? When did that happen? I don't even know this woman!
Mi Ye fumed: "Explanation? Speak!"
Hans: (#)•́‸•̀(#)
"Queen, you told me to shut up and not speak, didn't you?"
Mi Ye was taken aback, then fumed: "How dare you talk back to me? Pointing out my mistakes? So you're saying it's my fault, right?"
"Very good. Excellent."
With that, she raised her hand toward Hans. Two crystalline spider threads shot out, instantly binding Hans's hands and feet.
Facing a Dao Heaven-ranked Mi Ye, Hans had no room to resist.
"Mei! Kill him. Right now. The very sight of him makes me angry."
Hans trembled with fear: "D-don't, Queen! I haven't done anything! Why do you want to kill me? I'm too wronged! Even the Abyss isn't as wronged as I am!"
"For the sake of old ties, please spare me this once!"
Hans was utterly miserable in his heart. I only said two sentences after entering the room, and now my life's on the line?
What did I do wrong? No one's being reasonable here!
Mi Ye laughed in anger: "Spare you? How many times do you want me to spare you? You keep challenging my bottom line!"
"From today onward, Black Claw is out of my Nightless City!"
Hans collapsed to the floor, his face deathly pale, as if struck by lightning. Even now, he was completely bewildered.
I'm gone just like that?
And what exactly did I lose it over?
At this moment, countless guests felt a surge of satisfaction watching Hans. Everyone understood that he had crossed the Queen, and Black Claw was finished.
Yao Hong was also shocked. The banquet had just started, and this was already happening?
Black Claw was gone, and Dandelion had successfully risen to power? Was it really this smooth?
Jiang Lan gently shook Mi Ye's arm, a pleading expression on her face: "Bad sister, don't be angry, okay? The way you look angry scares me~"
"Having a banquet is supposed to be about everyone having fun, isn't it?"
"I'm not angry about the Black Claw thing anymore. Don't kill Hans. I think he looks pitiful enough. Can you please?"
(•̥́～•̀ू)
Mi Ye looked at Jiangnan with immense tenderness: "A pitiful person always has something hateful about them. I'm not angry anymore. I'll listen to you."
"After all, you're my little cutie, right?"
"Mei! Spare his life. Drag him out and beat him. Don't dirty the guests' eyes."
Mei stepped forward, grabbed Hans by the neck, and dragged him out.
"Yes, Queen!"
Then she lowered her head and sneered: "Be grateful that Lan Lan is a kind girl. You owe your life to her."
Hans looked on in utter despair. He knew there was no turning back, but at least he'd live.
He looked at Jiang Lan with immense gratitude. She was a good person!
Not long after, screams echoed from outside the hall, sending shivers down everyone's spines. But somehow, they felt immensely satisfied.
Meanwhile, Zhong Yingxue and the others exchanged glances. Xiao Nan hadn't even shown up, and his mere arranged moves had taken down Black Claw?
This was some godly maneuvering!
Jiangnan secretly chuckled. The reason he spared Hans was that Black Claw still had value. Black Claw's business wasn't just limited to Nightless City; the Star Luo Project would still need them elsewhere.
Otherwise, Jiangnan would never leave a threat unrooted.
Just then, Mi Ye spoke loudly: "What about Jiangnan? Hasn't he arrived yet?"
Everyone was startled when they heard Mi Ye calling for Jiangnan. What did the Queen want with him?
Jiangnan shivered, a bitter smile on his face.
Here we go! I never left! I'm right here in your arms!
Mi Ye said irritably: "I hate men. Especially those southerners who love to be late and break promises."
Jiangnan covered his face.
Who do you think I was late because of?
I was busy accompanying you!
But he couldn't keep this up. Black Claw was finally kicked out. The cooperation deal needed to be finalized quickly, or it might fall through.
So he pouted and said coquettishly: "Bad sister, whisper in my ear."
Mi Ye smiled softly and leaned her ear close to Jiangnan.
(๐❛ั3❛ั)(｡◔◡◔ิ｡)
"I think I ate something bad. I have a stomachache. I'm going to the restroom first."
Mi Ye nodded: "Mm, come back quickly. I'll wait for you."
Jiangnan shuffled away with quick little steps, rushing into the restroom.
Locking himself in a stall, he frantically changed clothes.
Damn it, I'm so busy! Is it this hard to make some pocket money?
Dual operation, huh?
After changing back into his own clothes, he returned to his normal appearance.
Teleporting outside the banquet hall, he pushed the door open and walked in.
Instantly, countless gazes fell on Jiangnan.
Xia Yao and the others sighed in relief when they saw him arrive, quickly hurrying over.
Zhong Yingxue patted her chest: "You scared me to death. I thought something happened to you. Where did you go?"
Jiangnan coughed lightly: "There was a fight on the way. I stopped to watch the excitement and lost track of time."
Xia Yao said excitedly: "You just missed it! the Crimson Queen had an incredibly cute girl beside her. I feel like she looks a lot like you."
"Well, not exactly similar, but that kind of vibe. Ah, I can't explain it. You'll see her when she comes back."
Jiangnan felt a pang of guilt: "Oh? R-really? Then I'll have to check her out."
Wow, Da Lang Mie's sixth sense is terrifying! How did you sense that?
Looks like there's no chance of seeing Jiang Lan.
It's either her or me. We can't coexist!
Yao Hong said excitedly: "Boss Nan Shen, you just missed it. Black Claw is finished. The Queen took care of Hans!"
"I don't know why, but she started laying into him as soon as he arrived. Now we can take over all of Black Claw's underground channels!"
Jiangnan smiled: "I know."
Yao Hong: ???
"You know? You're not even surprised?"
Jiangnan's expression froze. He coughed twice: "I had already guessed this would happen. After all, I have everything under control."
Yao Hong was stunned. You even predicted this? How is that possible?
No wonder he was confident enough not to show his face!
Ling Feng approached and said: "Brother, the Queen was looking for you earlier for some reason. You'd better go see her."
Jiangnan looked surprised: "Really? I'll go ask."
With that, he teleported and appeared beside Mi Ye, flashing a bright smile: "Queen? You were looking for me? Have you thought about the cooperation?"
Mi Ye frowned coldly: "Why were you late? It seems the cooperation between us isn't that important to you, is it?"
Jiangnan was almost having an identity crisis. Just a moment ago, it was "bad sister" and "little cutie." Now this cold face felt very jarring.
But he still smiled: "I went to pick up a shipment of magical beans and got delayed a bit. Please forgive me, Queen."
"After all, it's better to prepare things in advance."