Once the words were spoken, the entire VIP room was left in dead silence.

In the silence, only the sound of heavy breathing remained.

It filled everyone's ears.

From Ling Zhou.

Like a beast sharpening its claws, unable to be restrained, the invisible chains clattered. The cold, malicious spiritual fluctuations uncontrollably spread forth. On his hands and face, one strange eye after another opened, staring intently at Ji Jue before him.

The killing intent of the Rebirth Rank burst forth, rushing like a tide.

Before this, what could not be restrained even earlier was the agitation from Ling Zhou's subordinates.

"Damn it, a filthy craftsman, don't know good from bad!"

"Believe me, I'll kill your whole family!"

"Damn—"

Curses filled the air, rising and falling.

Yet, from beginning to end, Ji Jue just leaned calmly against the chair, glancing leisurely at the clownish figures, his eyes showing disdain.

"What? Getting anxious already?"

His gaze turned to Ling Zhou, swept over the bloodshot eyes, finally landing on that sinister and cruel face: "Let me think... Gray Port area must be Illusion Village Workshop's, right? If you want to meddle, why go far afield? But guess, does your godfather Ling Liu dare to say this to Master Petition?"

Ji Jue laughed and curiously asked, "Do you think people from Illusion Village dare say this to me?"

In that instant, all sounds ceased.

Ling Zhou slowly raised his hand.

Silencing all the furious subordinates, making them dare not speak.

On his body, the eyes gradually closed, disappearing like an illusion. Yet on Ling Zhou's face, the chill in his eyes congealed into substance, as if freezing the entire VIP room.

"Considering Chen Bo's mediation, I specifically took time to entertain everyone. Since the guests are here today, whether we reach an agreement or not, there's no reason to resort to violence."

He paused, the hand that had fainted Yan Jian from fright suddenly screamed, struggling desperately under five fingers like iron clamps, blood seeping again from cracked scars: "The feast, I've hosted; the wine, I've poured. I've given all due respect. But if Mr. Ji has this attitude today, fear the matter won't end peacefully."

"The person is in your hand, the debt in your hand, the goods in your hand, naturally it's all up to you."

Ji Jue remained expressionless, unmoved, even bored enough to think of yawning: "No need to talk about irrelevant things, Ling Zhou, draw the line."

He said, "Don't waste everyone's time."

In the long silence, Ling Zhou stared at Ji Jue, suddenly smiled broadly.

BANG!

He slammed the table abruptly, sending a shock that seemed to reverberate through the whole VIP room.

"Good, straightforward!"

He finally released Yan Jian, his bloody hand slapping the table on debt documents collected from unknown sources, leaving a crimson handprint: "Rely on the mountains, eat the mountains; rely on the waters, eat the waters. Since today is the day of the Tianbo ship, then we follow Tianbo's rules—debt, people, goods are right here; just depends if Mr. Ji has the ability to win them back!"

His bloody finger raised, pointing to the blank plastic chair at the center: "Today, in front of the head seat, I, Ling, guarantee, if you win today, from now on, our issues will be written off!"

Ji Jue was silent for a moment, looking at the stack of documents under his hand, then slightly raised his eyebrows, seemingly realizing:

"You want to gamble with me?"

"Don't you want to negotiate? Then let's talk like this!"

Ling Zhou sneers, raises his foot, steps on Yan Jian's face: "No one's forcing you, Mr. Ji. If unwilling, you can leave whenever, walk away, talk another day, or settle high and low, it's fine by us.

But..."

Ling Zhou subtly applied pressure underfoot, amidst Yan Jian's screams, shrugged with regret:

"This person, you'll have to leave behind."

Under Ling Zhou's foot, Yan Jian made indistinct sounds, struggled desperately, trying hard to look at Ji Jue, but in the end hesitated, struggled, closing his eyes painfully.

Seemingly gave up, said no more.

In the long quiet, Chen Xingzhou lowered his gaze, sighed silently.

Now he could confirm, the opposition unquestionably aimed towards this unrest. Though unclear whether military industries were behind or Ling Liu, not knowing what agreement was reached, clearly prepared for escalating conflict, for matters to blow out of proportion.

Traps and fuses were ready long ago.

From the start, Ling Zhou wasn't planning for peace!

Chen Xingzhou raised his head, prepared to intervene in this destined fruitless negotiation, but before that, heard Ji Jue's voice, stopped abruptly.

"Good idea."

Ji Jue laughed, seemingly agreed keenly, "Unfortunately, I seem to have forgotten money."

Not only Chen Xingzhou and everyone present, even Ling Zhou was stunned momentarily, but immediately reacted swiftly, not giving Chen Xingzhou a chance to interfere.

"No problem, gamble on people."

Ling Zhou grinned, full of anticipation: "Or, I can also lend you? Amount doesn't matter, just name a figure."

"No need, let's bet with these hands."

Ji Jue slowly rolled up his sleeves, showing his fingers: "Not to mention anything else, just purely as materials, they could sell for at least two hundred and seventy million in the association... Would Mr. Ling like someone to inspect?"

"Straightforward!"

Ling Zhou slammed the table and stood up, looking around: "The position of the leader is before us, witnessed by Dragon and all the uncles and brothers. This matter is decided!"

Chen Xingzhou stayed silent and did not speak.

After glancing at Ji Jue's expression, the arm that propped up the chair's armrest suddenly loosened, and he sat back in his original position without a word.

"Hold on—"

Ji Jue suddenly withdrew his raised hand and looked at his feet: "The decision is made, but what about my person?"

Ling Zhou looked down and finally noticed the barely breathing person at his feet. He instantly sneered and waved his hand.

At once, someone dragged Yan Jian away.

Before reaching the door, they were intercepted by someone else.

Behind Chen Xingzhou, a figure in a white coat playing on a mobile phone stood up, walked to Yan Jian on the ground, casually reached out to fiddle around, nodded with understanding, and then pulled a syringe from his pocket and gave an injection.

"It's okay." Xie Lan, who had been brought along, turned to Ji Jue and told him: "Only external injuries, cerebral hemorrhage is also easy to fix, all minor issues."

"Thank you." Ji Jue nodded.

"Just doing a paid job, that's all."

He instructed the golden-haired man and another person to lift Yan Jian onto a stretcher, finally waved to Ji Jue: "You take care."

On the stretcher, Yan Jian struggled hard, trying to say something to Ji Jue, but the sedative quickly took effect, and he fainted, losing consciousness.

Meanwhile, Ling Zhou rolled up his sleeves and beckoned to someone in the corner, who immediately walked up beside Ji Jue: "Sorry, sir, we need to check."

Ling Zhou said: "Running a casino, suspicion is just a bit heavier. To ensure fairness and results, Mr. Ji wouldn't mind, would he?"

"I don't mind, but what about you?"

Ji Jue stood up, spread his arms for inspection, glancing at him: "But, what about you?"

"All right too." Ling Zhou nonchalantly said, "With so many uncles watching, I can't possibly cheat, right?"

Chen Xingzhou glanced behind him, and the silent Old Lin immediately stepped forward, raised his single arm, and pressed it against Ling Zhou. After confirming that there was no alchemy equipment, a wisp of black smoke wrapped around his wrist.

Sealing all spiritual fluctuations, isolating the soul and perception.

Even the slightest spiritual fluctuation would be melted away by the wisp of black smoke.

And Ji Jue's search result was also out.

Apart from the Transcendent Vision ring and the Ancient Mouth necklace, there were keychains, a cellphone, a coin, a cut subway ticket, and... a revolver.

The unremarkable gun dropped in front of everyone's eyes.

The subordinate looked back in bewilderment.

"No need."

Ling Zhou waved his hand, couldn't help but laugh, "Let's leave this with Mr. Ji, at least it might boost some courage."

"Thank you, indeed, without the gun, I'd actually be a bit scared."

Ji Jue smiled, picked up the gun, and placed it at the table's edge.

On the other hand, someone handcuffed him with a single cuff, green light flickering, also sealing spiritual, perception, and Matrix.

A croupier came forward, pushing a cart, displaying various tools, open for inspection.

After both parties confirmed everything was correct, they unsealed and activated the scene. After counting the chips, the bets from both sides were fully converted, piling up two mountains, one large, one small, the difference so apparent.

"What do you want to play?" Ling Zhou asked: "Baccarat, Texas Hold'em, Bridge? Playing high or low is also fine."

"As hosts wish, anything works."

Ji Jue nonchalantly shook his head, always at ease. That smiling look, made Ling Zhou's expression pause for a moment, hard to discern if this was someone at a dead end, utterly confident, or cloaking intentions with a deceptive facade and strategy.

But none of that mattered.

Since he agreed, no, since he boarded the ship, even before boarding, everything had long been decided.

It's nothing more than the last struggle.

Behind the flickering cameras, inside the control room, the foreman looked at the scene on the screen and picked up the walkie-talkie: "The target is hooked, please prepare, dear guests."

And on the topmost level of the Tianbo, inside the luxury suite, a stubbled man looked at the elder resting with eyes closed on the sofa: "I'll leave the rest to you, Master Cranjier."

The elder raised his gaze, without pupils, a pure white iris in which countless illusions seemed to flicker past. His gaze fell upon the bearded man's face, making him instinctively shiver all over, stepping back a step.

As if all was seen through from the inside out with just one glance.

"Rest assured."

Cranjier smiled oddly, looking at the table before him, on the table, that balance scale, the colors of two weights slowly changed, one flowing like silver, the other black as ink.

"Tell Gao Yue, this is for something else."

He reached out, fiddling with the scale's beam.

Breaking the balance, the weight, had quietly tilted towards the ink-black weight.

The elder grinned, allowing the hungry balance to suck his blood and spirit, silently smiling.

"Everything is already preordained, destined, all things are but Puppets—"

Tonight, at this moment, here and now, everything is already settled!

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