Chapter 829: Chapter 617: Jiu Jin, You’re a Close Contact!
In the conference room, Jiu Jin drank his tea, feeling quite pleased with himself.
He had no real intention of recruiting the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.
This did not align with his interests.
Although he promised Master Hua Ni to recruit the survivors, from beginning to end, he merely intended to go through the motions.
Because this matter was troublesome.
First, it required him to rack his brains to negotiate with the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps. Secondly, the agreed terms could very likely be criticized by the Alchemy Guild’s higher-ups.
Therefore, instead of expending effort and taking risks, it was better to directly pressure the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps into refusing recruitment.
Once Zi Di refused, he could righteously organize manpower, conduct large-scale production of Magic Potions, and then flood the market.
During this time, he would have plenty of time and numerous opportunities to maneuver and reap benefits.
"Seems like my luck has come."
"One is the Royal Family’s action, causing Yuan Ci to be uneasy, forcing us to cooperate, creating a chance to acquire the Purple Vine Secret Stash."
"The second was a cushy task landing right in my lap. Those Alchemy Mages more powerful than me are compelled by the Royal Family to preside over this Warm Snow Cup."
"Hehe, who would have thought that sometimes being a bit weaker has its advantages."
Thinking up to this point, Jiu Jin contentedly took another sip of tea.
But in the next instant, two muffled thuds echoed.
Two Silver Level Alchemy Puppets suddenly barged in, directly flanking Jiu Jin from front and back.
Yao Ma (Zi Di) immediately appeared, holding an Alchemy Crossbow aimed at Jiu Jin.
Jiu Jin was momentarily stunned, then laughed furiously: "Mage Yao Ma, what do you intend to do to me?"
"Don’t act rashly, you don’t want to kill someone just over a minor dispute?"
"Even if you kill me, you won’t escape. This is the Ice Sculpture Royal Capital!"
Jiu Jin attempted to stabilize the impulsive Mage Yao Ma with his words, while inwardly shouting: "What on earth is happening?"
He couldn’t comprehend, couldn’t imagine, how after Yao Ma Mage went to ask for instructions, the order to eliminate him was issued!
"Even if your patron wants to kill me out of spite, you’re just a pawn, stay calm, young man!" Jiu Jin continued to persuade.
Zi Di chuckled lightly: "Elder Jiu Jin, you have been in close contact with an Undead Mage. Killing you would only be ridding society of evil. Not only would I not be arrested, I might even receive a commendation from the Royal Family."
"Nonsense!"
"I don’t understand what gibberish you’re spouting!!"
"Mage Yao Ma, if you want to bargain, there’s no need to use this method."
"Contact with an Undead Mage is no trivial matter. Even if you want to frame me, don’t use such a reason."
"Perhaps you’re unaware, but anything related to Undead Mages is thoroughly investigated by the Royal Family."
"Once you investigate, framing me would surely be exposed. You’d be better off thinking of another excuse."
Jiu Jin’s heart thumped wildly, striving to remain calm, relentlessly persuading.
Zi Di laughed mockingly, taking out an alchemy device.
She pretended to demonstrate the device to Jiu Jin: "Look, this is the best evidence."
"Elder Jiu Jin, don’t think you can deny this."
Jiu Jin stared fixedly at the mysterious device in Zi Di’s hand, still stubbornly retorting: "Mage Yao Ma, your tactics are too clumsy."
"You wouldn’t believe that casually producing an impressive-looking alchemy tool is irrefutable evidence, would you?"
"As an elder of the Alchemy Guild, I’ve never heard of such an alchemy tool."
Zi Di sneered: "You’re hearing about it now, and seeing it with your own eyes."
"Allow me to introduce it."
"This is one of our main alchemy products, called the Necromantic Breath Detector."
"According to this device’s detection, you carry a significant amount of an Undead Mage’s aura!"
"This level of aura indicates that you’ve at least had a close, lengthy conversation with an Undead Mage. And it’s been less than a day."
Jiu Jin felt as if struck by lightning.
He shouted: "Slander, this is pure slander."
"I’m leaving here, if you want to stop me, then act."
"I’m an elder of the Alchemy Guild, if I die here, not only will your entire mercenary group be implicated, but even your master’s plans will be utterly thwarted."
Zi Di was not the least bit anxious, gesturing with her hand: "Elder Jiu Jin, please feel free to leave."
"But afterwards, I will certainly submit this evidence directly to the Ice Sculpture authorities."
Jiu Jin shouted and cursed Zi Di, accusing her of slander, but no matter how much he cursed, he didn’t actually leave the meeting room.
"What on earth is this thing? How can there be such a tool as a Necromantic Breath Detector?"
Jiu Jin felt a chill in his heart, quickly pondering how to handle this massive crisis.
He didn’t doubt that Zi Di was bluffing him.
Not only because Zi Di’s accusations were completely in line with the truth. But also because Zi Di herself accusing others of being an Undead Mage, or closely associated with one, was rather peculiar behavior.
Anyone reasonable wouldn’t use such a reason to bargain.
```
This is not any kind of price negotiation tactic at all.
Zi Di stared at Jiu Jin, smiling faintly: "To be honest, I never thought my luck would be this good."
"The alchemy tool I have in hand is a sample, originally intended for the Warm Snow Cup competition."
"But then, it started vibrating in my arms."
"At first, I wasn’t too sure, but after reaching the room next door on my own, I tested it twice more. The results were the same each time."
"Elder Jiu Jin, I never expected that someone of your stature in the Alchemy Guild would secretly be friends with an Undead Mage."
Jiu Jin denied it outright, shaking his head vehemently: "I’m not, I didn’t, stop talking nonsense!"
"You bring out some useless thing, and expect to deceive me?"
"Hehehe." Zi Di chuckled, "It seems you’re still unwilling to face reality?"
"Let me explain to you some of the design principles behind this alchemy tool."
This alchemy tool does indeed exist.
The inventor of it was War Merchant.
Back then, the survivors on Twin Eyes Island encountered an Undead Mage. Zi Di once spent some time in War Merchant’s database, thoroughly studying this Undead Aura Content Detector.
Therefore, she was aware of many of its design principles.
After she spoke of some parts now, Elder Jiu Jin’s face changed again, turning ashen white.
When it comes to alchemy skill, although Elder Jiu Jin’s is not high, it depends on who he’s compared to. Compared to other elders, he lacks competitiveness and is at the bottom. But when compared to Zi Di, he far surpasses her.
He has been studying alchemy runes for many years, and his insight is sufficient.
Therefore, just by listening to the beginning of Zi Di’s speech, he again confirmed that the other really had such an alchemy tool!
"What have I done to deserve such bad luck, to encounter such a thing?!" Jiu Jin was trembling with anger, his head covered in cold sweat.
Not long ago, he was still feeling lucky, but now he only felt like the unluckiest person in the world.
"Ghost Vine Mage, and Yuan Ci, if anything happens to me this time, I will expose you all!"
Jiu Jin was completely unaware that the person accusing him of being in close contact with the Undead Mage was right in front of him.
Zi Di completely had the upper hand, taking her time to say, "Don’t be nervous, senior."
"Come, let us sit down and talk properly."
Zi Di sat down first, smiling all the while.
Seeing such a smile, Jiu Jin gasped, really wanting to kill this Silver Level mage on the spot.
"Don’t be impulsive, in the heat of the moment, it’s easy to make big mistakes." Zi Di even winked playfully at Jiu Jin, "If anything happens to me, elder, your secret would surely spread throughout the Royal Capital."
Jiu Jin was extremely stifled, but after he sat down, he became somewhat calmer.
He stared dead straight at Zi Di, gritting his teeth: "Yao Ma Mage, if you think you can blackmail me with this, then you are sorely mistaken."
"Do you really think I’m someone who is greedy for life and afraid of death?!"
"If you’re too excessive, we might as well break it off. Even if I die, I’ll drag you down with me."
Jiu Jin’s face was fierce, his eyes bloodshot, filled with veins, like a gambler pushed to desperation.
But Zi Di was not the least bit afraid.
She even secretly scoffed at him.
If it were her first time meeting Jiu Jin Mage, she might have been scared by such a posture.
But Zi Di had met Jiu Jin before, contacted, talked, and knew well of Jiu Jin’s temperament.
He treasures his reputation too much, clinging to his wealth and power exceptionally.
The essence of Elder Jiu Jin’s character was fully understood by Zi Di.
Next, Zi Di did not press further but used words to comfort Elder Jiu Jin, persuading him to drink tea.
As Jiu Jin drank his tea, his face looked grim, with a fierce gaze that also revealed a sense of numbness in a desperate situation.
While the smile on Zi Di’s face grew increasingly pronounced.
Just by looking at the contrast in expressions, one could judge who had the absolute upper hand in this negotiation.
The subsequent negotiation was very easy for Zi Di.
It took less than half an hour for the negotiation to conclude.
The conference room door opened, and Elder Jiu Jin walked out pale-faced, lost and disheartened.
He moved step by step, his body stiff as if he were a zombie, leaving the hotel in utter misery.
By the window, Zi Di and Fat Tongue stood, quietly watching Jiu Jin Mage depart into the distance.
Fat Tongue was extremely pleased: "Excellent, we’ve got this hold over Jiu Jin, made him sign a confession, and even have a Magic Image as evidence. In the future, there’s no fear of Jiu Jin Mage not complying!"
Fat Tongue gazed at Zi Di with an appreciative, gratified look.
He greatly approved of Zi Di’s methods, having not rushed to exploit Jiu Jin but spoke kindly to comfort him, setting the stage to slowly bleed him dry for long-term gains.
"But what exactly is going on here?" Fat Tongue was irresistibly curious.
"Actually, Elder Jiu Jin is a member of our Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, and he even holds a Level 0 secret order."
"What?"