Chapter 424: Chapter 289: Strong Protection (Part 2)

Master Wen leaned on his cane, looking at Su Mo and said indifferently, "Director Su, is this face-saving enough for you?"

Everyone assumed that Su Mo would agree to this plan.

Because it really took his situation into consideration.

Especially since it was suggested by Master Wen personally.

Not to mention even a Captain of the Seven Stars, like the King of Mercenaries Zhou Hanyan, often humbly adopts Master Wen’s suggestions.

However, Su Mo’s next answer completely shocked everyone.

"I refuse."

He answered briskly, without a hint of hesitation.

Master Wen’s face darkened, grabbing his cane unconsciously, his tone became sinister, "Young man, watch your words."

Su Mo looked directly at Master Wen without any avoidance, "You seem to have misunderstood something, face? Is my face important? That’s not what I care about at all."

"The plan suggested by Master Wen might extend Nuobai’s life by three to five days. But what then?"

"Given her character, once she recovers and knows the situation, she’d definitely leave silently to avoid involving me, later living hunted, worn out from running, ultimately dying alone."

"That’s not what I want to see. I don’t want my own face-saving, nor her momentary respite, I want her to live well."

"As long as she can live, my face can be thrown to the ground, broken and trodden on by you all."

Saying this, Su Mo looked around at everyone, speaking decisively, "I’ve already explained, so I’ll be straightforward, I’ve already planned Nuobai’s future."

"After she wakes up, she’ll sign a contract with me to join Edge, from now on she’ll be an Edge Mercenary."

Su Mo’s words froze the atmosphere completely, no one expected him to rebuff Master Wen’s offer.

Lucifer couldn’t sit still, stood up pointing at Su Mo’s nose and said, "Do you understand the rules? No one may put a bounty on active mercenaries, similarly, those with bounties can’t enter the mercenary realm."

Su Mo: "I’ll break the rule today."

Lucifer’s eyes widened, scoffing, "You’re bold, for just a woman, you’re going to stand against the entire Mercenary Realm?"

Su Mo ignored Lucifer, looking at Master Wen’s grim face, and said with dignity, "Master Wen, I appreciate your esteem. But as you said before, if you don’t understand gratitude and reciprocity, then I shouldn’t be a mercenary, nor even a human."

Master Wen knew more words were pointless, he decisively stood up, left without looking back, leaving only one sentence, "Young man, just don’t regret it."

Su Mo nodded to Master Wen, watching him leave the banquet hall.

After Master Wen left, only those mercenaries with their own agendas remained.

Chiyoda Shinnai twirled a lock of her hair around her finger, playfully teased in a coquettish tone, "Grand Captain Su storming off for the beauty, even daring to refute Master Wen’s face, truly manly, I’m a bit jealous of Nuobai~"

Dongdong suddenly cursed, "Shut up, seductive fox, you’re already old and still acting coy."

The worst thing for a woman is being ridiculed about age, Chiyoda Shinnai was instantly infuriated, "What did you say?!"

Dongdong: "I said, Auntie, you look every bit 30, rather than clucking there, better find an honest man willing to settle down with you."

Chiyoda Shinnai face red: "I’m only 27 after New Year, how am I 30? Are you blind?!"

Dongdong: "Have you gotten married?"

Chiyoda Shinnai: "What if I haven’t?!"

Dongdong: "Ha, truly have elderly folks at 27 still unsigned?"

"Kunoya Road..." Chiyoda Shinnai clenched her fist, anger slipping into her mother tongue, "Calling me old, are you very young?!"

Dongdong: "I’m 15."

Chiyoda Shinnai: "..."

Dongdong: "Keep talking, why silence now?"

Seeing Chiyoda Shinnai about to explode, Park Sang-woo chimed in, "Hey hey hey, Miss Chiyoda is quite popular, how is she unmarried? If she’s willing, I’ll go to the registry with her tomorrow."

Dongdong sneered, "Korea uncle, Japanese aunt looks to play better than you, no matter how you flatter, all you get is the pity role."

Finished, she gestured "short guy" at Park Sang-woo with thumb and index finger.

"Damn you!" Park Sang-woo was so triggered by the gesture, he banged the table and stood up, "Who the heck is this brat anyway? Did someone invite her?!"

Dongdong snorted, unfazed, "Remember, I’m Dongdong, the Dong of the club whacking resoundingly. Not knowing me is fine, one day, the whole world will know my name."

Xuan Hui clasped his hands together, still maintaining that gentle monk demeanor, advised warmly, "Young lady, argue but no personal attacks, peace is valuable."

Dongdong: "Dead bald donkey, did I talk to you?"

Xuan Hui was taken aback, his face darkened, "Young lady, mind your words."

Dongdong unloaded directly at him, "You’re ridiculous! Fat head, big ears, a nose like a hog! Mercenary pretending to be a monk, you overate pig swill didn’t you!"

"You?!" Xuan Hui pinched his prayer beads angrily, "I’m not that fat, how am I a fat pig? Pigs weigh about 5 hundred pounds, I’m only 2 hundred!"

Dongdong: "Oh, sorry, I misspoke, not even a pig."

"I...!" Xuan Hui stopped mid-sentence, hastily covering his mouth.

So close, almost broke his vow against anger.

The hall erupted, over twenty mercenaries angrily scolding Dongdong.

Dongdong swore back at every single one, her voice sharp and loud, cursing everyone but Su Mo, the twenty mercenaries combined failed to outcurse her.

As the slanging match continued, Su Mo signaled for Dongdong to pause, then turned to the group, "I’ve made my position clear enough."

"If you’re willing to give me face, spare Nuobai, I will be extremely grateful, remember this favor and repay it tenfold hundredfold in future."

"But if driven by greed, insisting on pushing Nuobai on a dead-end, I’ll stand with her together."

"I’ve said my piece, farewell."

Su Mo finished, and left with Dongdong.

"Su." Lucifer’s voice suddenly came from behind.

After Master Wen left, Lucifer’s arrogance was unabashed, leg crossed in the seat, sneering at Su Mo, "Don’t think being last year’s best newcomer makes you special."

"If you dare walk out that door, Edge won’t be having any mercenary jobs."

Dongdong stopped, turned back coldly, "Not let us eat?"

She rushed forward and flipped the table, "Then no one’s eating!"

Pots, plates, bowls clattered everywhere, soup spilling across the floor, some mercenaries too slow were drenched, their eyes filled with anger.

Dongdong spat on the ground, pointed at the most arrogant Lucifer, and left with Su Mo.

Lucifer’s face was grim, tugging his disheveled collar, glaring at Dongdong’s back muttering, "I’ll kill that shortie another day."

...

Su Mo and Dongdong walked side by side in the hallway.

Dongdong quietly asked, "Boss, why did you refuse Master Wen just now? I think his offer is quite beneficial for us."

"We could use the time Master Wen gives to let Sister Bai recuperate, and then regardless of rules, secretly send her to a safe place."

Su Mo shook his head, "Master Wen genuinely wants to help us, don’t exploit his kindness, or we’ll unnecessarily gain another enemy."

"Refusing him directly seems disrespectful, but actually it renders us even, future business is still possible."

"Also even accepting Master Wen’s offer, solves only the immediate issue, not the root problem. There’s something off about Nuobai’s case."

Dongdong: "What’s off?"

Su Mo: "This might sound harsh, but honestly, I think Nuobai’s life isn’t worth 500 million."

"Someone putting a 500 million bounty on her is already bizarre. They even have all Nuobai’s information... Such capability, if they simply wanted to kill Nuobai, issuing a bounty is unnecessary."

"Thus it’s not right, it’s not a vendetta, there’s deeper reasons behind it. I have to uncover it, or Nuobai will never find peace."

Saying this, Su Mo looked at the sky outside, overcast and gloomy, "Moreover, I want to use this crisis to see clearly who are my true allies, and who are merely playing along."