Chapter 797: Section 585: Yan Yi Makes an Appearance
Hun Tong looked towards Tu Ji, his eyes filled with hope. He hoped that Tu Ji would stand for justice, not necessarily to speak for him, but a fair attitude would suffice.
After all, this was a joint investigation, and Tan Mo’s verdict wasn’t the only answer.
However, the expressionless look on Tu Ji’s face made Hun Tong feel uneasy.
Tu Ji looked at Hun Tong, his tone very calm, “As a member of the Blood Light Sanction Court, I am only responsible for the matter of the Undead Mage.”
“Lord Hun Tong, whether you have colluded with the Fishmen and committed the crime of treason is irrelevant to me.”
“Mr. Tu Ji!” Hun Tong called out in a low voice, his heart sinking.
Seeing Tu Ji stand idly by, Tan Mo couldn’t help but look towards Yan Yi, feeling a certain admiration for this Bronze Level individual.
Yan Yi had convinced Tan Mo, alongside the Bishop of Wealth, that if they didn’t deal with Tu Ji, it would be very difficult to successfully frame Hun Tong.
Yan Yi indicated that although Tu Ji was impartial and had not taken bribes from either him or Tan Mo, he still had a weakness.
His weakness was his identity and mission.
He was a member of the Blood Light Sanction Court, with his greatest desire to pursue the Undead Mage.
And now, the second Undead Mage had disappeared from the chaos of Twin Eyes Island, whereabouts unknown.
Tu Ji hadn’t found the second Undead Mage on Twin Eyes Island; his task was unfinished. He had to continue the chase.
And to continue the chase, he would need reliable and accurate intelligence.
Coincidentally, Yan Yi had in his possession a piece of closely related intelligence.
“Just by presenting this intelligence as a bargaining chip, Tu Ji will surely be tempted,” Yan Yi told Tan Mo, “and at that time, Lord Tan Mo, I ask that you also show some intention to indirectly offer assistance through your spies in pursuing the hunt.”
Tan Mo agreed with Yan Yi’s deduction about Tu Ji, but he was more concerned about the intelligence itself.
“The second Undead Mage holds the Purple Vine secret orders, and is definitely a remnant of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, and might possibly hold clues to the Purple Vine’s secret treasure.”
“What about handing over his intelligence to the Seventh Prince?”
Yan Yi immediately told him, “This intelligence has absolutely nothing to do with the second Undead Mage.”
“My lord, you too have seen the battle footage from Twin Eyes Island. The Purple Vine elder and Hong Zhu fought side by side against Ya Ma, Yue Ban, with the elder revealing Undead Techniques.”
“Towards the end of the chaos, Hong Zhu left Twin Eyes Island and was momentarily untraceable.”
“My intelligence concerns the current whereabouts of Hong Zhu!”
“As a Treasure Hunter, she is currently on Magnetic Island.”
“I estimate, Mr. Tu Ji, after receiving this intelligence, will board a ship of yours, Lord Tan Mo, for a while, before parting ways with you.”
“Such arrangements would also facilitate your next investigative tasks, would they not?”
Tan Mo, delighted, patted Yan Yi on the shoulder and praised sincerely, “Your arrangements are very sensible and clever. If you weren’t only Bronze Level, I would have wanted to bring you into my fold.”
Subsequently, events unfolded just as Yan Yi had predicted.
Yan Yi and Tan Mo cooperated, collectively convincing Tu Ji.
On one hand, Yan Yi offered him a difficult-to-refuse bargaining chip. On the other, it was a legitimate competition among Empire Nobles, within the rules of the game.
If not for Yan Yi’s succession, then Tu Ji would have had to report upwards.
Yan Yi didn’t ask Tu Ji to work with them but simply requested that he stand aside and witness the transfer of power.
This undoubtedly greatly reduced Tu Ji’s resistance.
Hun Tong realized that Tu Ji could not become his arm of support and felt a chill in his heart, suddenly understanding, “That’s right, Tan Mo suddenly framed me, breaking ties with me, he must have done a lot of preparatory work.”
“Tu Ji has been influenced by their public relations. Damn it!”
“You damn Empire parasite, greedy devil, do you know what crime it is to frame an actual Lord?” Hun Tong growled, threatening Tan Mo.
“You’re going to pay for this, I don’t believe the Empire will only listen to your side of the story!” Hun Tong shouted.
Tan Mo sneered back, “You collude with bandits and inflate your own importance; such a Lord is a hidden threat to the Empire.”
“What crimes have I committed?”
“I am clearing troubles for the Empire, ensuring the safety of future sea transport lines, I deserve merit, not guilt!”
The two began to argue, their faces quickly turning red and their necks bulging.
Yan Yi, who had been observing for a while, saw that the time was ripe and hurriedly intervened between the two.
He trembled and squeaked as if mustering the courage to make the move, “Gentlemen, please, no more arguing!”
“Arguing won’t solve the conflict.”
Yan Yi looked at Tan Mo, “Lord Tan Mo, might I speak with Lord Hun Tong alone?”
The room fell silent for a moment.
Yan Yi continued to plead, “Lord Tan Mo, let me try and see if you can get what you want.”
Hun Tong scoffed from behind but did not object.
After a moment of contemplation Tan Mo said, “Very well, you two can go speak in the next room. But you only have 5 minutes.”
Yan Yi and Hun Tong arrived at the adjoining private room.
The room contained only the two of them.
Yan Yi earnestly persuaded Hun Tong, “My lord, at this juncture, you should completely see Tan Mo’s true colors.”
“Just bear with it for a moment and everything will calm down; step back, and a broader vista will open up.”
Hun Tong paced along the walls of the cramped room, continuously mumbling in a low growl, “This is intolerable, absolutely intolerable! On my own turf, to suffer such humiliation at his hands.”
“His appetite is too great, his audacity too much.”
“Because I can’t afford to meet his standard of gold coins, he just blatantly frames me?”
“I’ve got a temper too; if pushed to the brink, I’d kill this damned creature myself!”
Hun Tong’s eyes were blazing with murderous intent.
Yan Yi, however, snickered internally, finding it all trivial.
In his opinion: Hun Tong really has grown old, his vision has become clouded by age; he has yet to grasp the reality of his situation, mistaking Tan Mo as the puppet master behind everything.
The truth was that Hun Tong had been dragged into a higher level, a much grander scale of political struggle.
Furthermore, Yan Yi didn’t believe for a second that Hun Tong would resort to violence in desperation. If he were going to, why hadn’t he done so already?
Yan Yi understood Hun Tong’s current state and mood very well—he was utterly infuriated and offended, harboring extreme hatred toward Tan Mo, among other things.
After waiting two minutes and seeing Hun Tong still not calm down, Yan Yi had no choice but to intentionally say, “Lord Hun Tong, you mustn’t lay hands on the Empire’s investigator. Should you go through with it, no matter the truth, it definitely won’t end well for you. Would you want to rebel like Fei Hong?”
Fei Hong was a Holy Domain Level power, who publicly rebelled against the Holy Bright Empire due to dissatisfaction with tax increases. As a result, he was captured and beheaded within a day.
The might of the Holy Bright Empire was profound; any Holy Domain rebel would be effortlessly suppressed and executed.
Hearing the word “rebellion,” Hun Tong immediately shook his head, decisively denying it, “How could I possibly rebel?”
“Where is your mind wandering to? You know the truth best; I’ve been framed!”
“What treason, collusion with the enemy—I’ve done nothing of the sort.”
“At most, it was you and your subordinates who have been in contact with the Pickled Jar Pirate Group. What does that have to do with me?”
Realizing the inappropriateness of his last statement, Hun Tong paused. Right now Yan Yi was his only ally, and he didn’t want to push away his sole supporter with reckless words.
But for him to apologize was something Hun Tong found hard to voice.
After all, he was a towering Golden Level, while Yan Yi was merely a Bronze Level.
Hun Tong ultimately did not apologize, instead he sighed deeply, his expression forlorn, his tone filled with desolation, “I truly did not anticipate that Tan Mo would be so ruthless.”
“Nor did I expect that on my own territory, I would be tormented to this degree by outsiders!”
Yan Yi sighed in rhythm with him, “Lord Hun Tong, based on my understanding of you, you’re definitely not the kind to be stingy with money.”
“Back then, in order to organize the clearance sale, you directly pulled from your own pocket, and even subsidized various merchants.”
“After the great chaos of the Fishman invasion of the island ended, you have not made any significant financial investments. Up to now, the Golden Shiny and the Light Cannon Tower remain unthoroughly repaired.”
“You declare outwardly that you have salvaged countless spoils of war from the sea bottom, but in truth, there were no such gains, correct?”
Hun Tong fell silent, then offered a wry smile, “Since you’ve guessed it, I might as well be frank.”
“That’s right, I didn’t capture any such spoils.”
“At times when I expected a bountiful harvest, in the end, I only received a few copper coins.”
“Can you imagine? Just a few copper coins!”
As Hun Tong reached this point, his tone intensified, filled with an air of venting negative emotions.
He indeed had been repressing it for too long.
Such matters couldn’t be spoken of; one had to just grin and bear it, displaying one’s “powerful financial prowess” in order to stabilize the situation.
Knowing that he had the means to compensate, merchants would continue to negotiate. If they knew he was powerless, they would’ve resorted to other methods to seek compensation by all means.
Yan Yi stepped forward, grasping Hun Tong’s hand. “Lord, you have indeed suffered much throughout this period.”
“Only now, at this moment, have I understood your predicament, the pressure and difficulties you bear.”
“It truly hasn’t been easy for you!”
Hun Tong instinctively wanted to withdraw his hand, but Yan Yi held on tight.
He coughed and said, “I know that deep down, you might blame me…”
Yan Yi cut him off, “My lord, I am deeply ashamed. You are right; I used to think that you should’ve realized your responsibility and incurred some costs, just to send the Empire’s investigation team away.”
“You’re so wealthy, why covet the organizational funds in my hand? You know, if such matters were to be exposed, I would have to bear the responsibility, too.”
“Now it seems, you were compelled, without a choice.”
“I also only just found out that Tan Mo would treat you in such a way! Hence, I hastened here immediately.”
“Not to conceal it from you, but on my way here, I held some resentment, complaining about your reluctance to let go, leading Tan Mo to take such drastic action. If things turned sour, it would eventually involve me.”
“If it were to come to that, I’d be too wronged. After all, I’ve completely drained my coffers to bring gifts to Lord Tan Mo.”
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