Chapter 23: Negotiation
Pale, smooth arms reached toward Su Xiao. Sick Dog instinctively retreated, intending to back into the elevator.
"Do you think these women can buy Sick Dog's worthless life?"
Su Xiao looked at the screen. At that moment, the women with lustful eyes began to retreat—it was their instinct.
The Ten Elder on the screen frowned. Seduction through women wasn't working. Perhaps the women he offered weren't attractive enough? Given the opponent's strength, he must have seen countless women and likely looked down on these.
The Ten Elder cleared his throat. The women in the room withdrew, leaving only one woman in a black dress. She had been standing far away, unlike the others.
This woman had a graceful figure, and one exposed arm was covered in a large tattoo—a black rose.
"This is Black Mary. If we can reach an agreement, she will be your assistant."
Black Mary stepped forward, bowed slightly, and dragged a chair from the adjacent room.
Su Xiao sat down. In front of him was the screen, which flickered with static before the image stabilized.
The screen now showed a round table surrounded by ten men of varying ages and attire. This was the full assembly of the Ten Elders, representing the gang forces of six continents.
The crew-cut man who had spoken earlier spoke again. He seemed to be a representative figure among the Ten Elders.
"I am Bick. May I ask how to address you?"
Bick habitually touched the scar on his lip, his eyes calculating something.
"White Night."
"Mr. White Night, let's not beat around the bush. There are two matters this time: first, the death of Leech, and second, the eyeball of the Cyclops Giant. Let's discuss them one by one. Let's start with the first."
"Yes, let's start with Leech's death."
Another Ten Elder spoke, gritting his teeth as if he wanted to devour Su Xiao alive.
"Elsop, calm down."
Bick looked at Elsop, whose eye twitched. After hesitating for a moment, he said nothing.
Seeing this, Su Xiao roughly understood the situation. Ten Shadow Beasts and Ten Elders—this was no coincidence.
Each Ten Elder had one Shadow Beast under their command, a mutual check within the gang. Elsop's Shadow Beast had died, putting him in a passive position.
"Regarding Leech's death, we can let bygones be bygones, but..."
The crew-cut Ten Elder, Bick, smiled as he spoke.
"The vacancy in the Shadow Beasts needs to be filled. Mr. White Night, you understand what I mean."
Bick's meaning was clear: let Su Xiao fill Leech's vacancy and join the Shadow Beasts. Elsop, standing nearby, smiled. Although he had lost Leech, gaining a stronger subordinate was like a gift from heaven—even if this subordinate's loyalty still needed testing.
Su Xiao lit a cigarette, glanced at Bick, then at Sick Dog.
"What if I refuse?"
As soon as he spoke, all Ten Elders turned to look at him.
"Refuse? We still have eight Shadow Beasts."
"Oh? Let them come out."
Su Xiao stood up. Dragon-Slashing Flash left its sheath and pressed against Sick Dog's neck. The blade slowly cut, first through the skin, then into the muscle.
"Wait!"
Bick roared. Su Xiao paid no attention. Sick Dog, whose throat was being cut, dared not move. The fear of death enveloped him. Even if Su Xiao released him now, there was no need to worry about Sick Dog seeking revenge.
"Eight Shadow Beasts are strong? Let them come out and fight me. Either they kill me, or I kill them all and come for you. Hiding and not daring to show yourselves—with such courage, you want me to become your subordinate?"
The blade cut through the muscles of Sick Dog's neck. The Ten Elders' faces turned grim.
"Since Mr. White Night has come, there is room for negotiation. I apologize for the offense earlier."
Bick changed his tone, suddenly becoming amiable.
"Of course, there is room for negotiation."
Su Xiao stopped his action, moving Dragon-Slashing Flash away from Sick Dog's neck. Blood dripped from the blade's tip. Black Mary beside him trembled slightly.
"I won't waste words. First, I will not become your subordinate. At most, we can cooperate, and you must pay me for any tasks I do for you."
The Ten Elders exchanged glances, seemingly consulting each other. Their original plan was to recruit Su Xiao into the gang and then slowly control him.
Now, the situation was that this man was unpredictable, turning hostile at a moment's notice, even more extreme than the gang's own methods.
More importantly, Su Xiao had adopted a stance of clashing head-on with the Ten Elders' forces, which gave them a massive headache.
They suddenly realized that this wasn't a gift of a thug—it was a plague god!
"May I ask what Mr. White Night wants? Money? Power? Women?"
"The women you offer are beneath me. As for other things, I'm not interested."
"Then..."
Murderous intent flickered in the Ten Elders' eyes. Someone who coveted nothing was the real problem.
"I want rare treasures."
As he spoke, Su Xiao took out several items: a World Government commemorative coin, a Soul Crystal (Medium), a white-quality piece of equipment, and a No. 1 Potion.
"I want items similar to these—not in appearance, but in nature."
The Ten Elders looked at the items in Su Xiao's hand. After a long silence, they shook their heads.
"Sorry, Mr. White Night, the things you want..."
Before Bick could finish, another Ten Elder spoke.
"Isn't that an Eternal Crystal?"
That Ten Elder pointed at the Soul Crystal (Medium).
"Very similar."
"Not just similar—it is one."
"Yes, this Eternal Crystal is quite large. It could fetch a sky-high price at auction, but few collect it. Some use it to make accessories."
Hearing the Ten Elders' discussion, Su Xiao's eyes seemed to gleam.
"Decided. The fee for helping you will be 'Eternal Crystals.'"
Su Xiao guessed that Eternal Crystals in the Hunter World were Soul Crystals.
"This..."
The Ten Elders looked at each other, momentarily silent.
"The price... is too high."
"Impossible!"
"Ridiculous."
The Ten Elders refused outright. It wasn't that they couldn't produce Soul Crystals (Medium), but they were accustomed to making others risk their lives for cheap, even the Shadow Beasts.
"Are you refusing me?"
Su Xiao smiled. He kicked Sick Dog aside, grabbed Black Mary's skirt, and used it to wipe the blood off Dragon-Slashing Flash. Black Mary pressed her hands between her legs to avoid exposure.
"Since you refuse... then forget it."
Su Xiao stood up and walked out. The Ten Elders inexplicably felt their hair stand on end. They all knew they had two choices: send people to surround Su Xiao or continue negotiating.
The best outcome of surrounding Su Xiao would be killing him after heavy casualties, or he might break through the encirclement. If he did, the Ten Elders' future would be grim.
As for continuing negotiations, the Ten Elders hesitated over who should foot the bill.
"How about we hire him together?"
Bick's proposal passed unanimously.
"Mr. White Night, let's discuss the fee for your services. We will be partners."
Bick, having climbed to this position in the gang, was naturally shrewd. The other Ten Elders were the same. They all knew that hiring Su Xiao would cost a significant price, but with the auction approaching and Su Xiao's ability to dominate the Shadow Beasts, this might be an opportunity.
"My demands are not high. Ten Eternal Crystals of this specification per day."
"Cough, cough..."
"Ten?!"