Chapter 813: Chapter 74: The Gathering Storm (Part 2)

He really couldn’t figure out how the drinkers at the other tables were having such a good time...

"Nagano Souta and Spring Breeze still have a decent reputation in Yumen. The only thing they need to worry about is how hard the job is." Candle Dragon said, "But as long as the pay is high enough, even a mission with almost certain death—ten deaths no life—there’ll still be people willing to take it."

"Going to Egypt is also ten deaths no life. How many people do you think will go for it?"

"Payment. It all comes down to payment." Candle Dragon said. "The moment the treasure map information goes public, Dubhe Tower will post a sky‑high bounty on any and all intel related to the map, the treasure location, and the treasure itself... Note, we’re paying for information, not the treasure. So even if some people have no intention of fighting for the treasure, they’ll still jump into this mission just to earn that bounty."

Sun Hang frowned as he watched the bar waiter serve the "special bar snack" at the next table—a whole basin piled high with grilled earthworms. In a low voice he said, "Any reaction from the Council? If those politicians find out there’s a treasure like this in the Hexi Corridor, and Dubhe Tower hasn’t taken any concrete action, they’re not going to sit still, are they?"

"The Federation Council knows nothing about it." Candle Dragon smiled. "Dubhe Tower has completely locked down the information channels..."

"Dubhe Tower plans to sideline the Council?"

"Lately, the Main Brain has completely changed its usual stance and has been vetoing quite a few of the Federation Council’s proposals in Mr. Pei’s name, and in a very tough way." Candle Dragon lowered his voice even further. "Inside the Council, people are already starting to get suspicious..."

"If the Council finds out Pei Zongjun is dead, what will they do?"

"Hard to say, but chaos is guaranteed." Candle Dragon sighed. "So it’s best to maintain the status quo. If that really doesn’t work, then we can only..."

"Only what?" Sun Hang paused for a second, then made a "decapitation" gesture. "Abolish the Council and let Dubhe Tower take over? Turn a research institution into a ruling institution?"

"In reality, the Federation’s day‑to‑day operations are already almost entirely controlled by the Main Brain. As for what the Federation Council exists for..." Candle Dragon paused, then went on, "It’s been far too many years since the last Strange Object War."

What he meant by that couldn’t have been clearer.

Xue Yue stared at the grilled earthworms on the neighboring table and couldn’t help swallowing. She paid no attention at all to the conversation between Sun Hang and Candle Dragon, having focused all her attention on the food.

"Boss, one order of the special bar snack." Sun Hang had noticed Xue Yue’s gaze and said to her, "But let’s be clear: once it’s on the table, you’re finishing it by yourself. I don’t want to eat that stuff. Candle Dragon, you don’t like earthworms either, right?"

"I can give it a try." Candle Dragon’s tone returned to normal. "I’ve long heard that Yumen’s grilled earthworms are famous. Trying them at least means the trip wasn’t wasted."

Sun Hang watched Candle Dragon pick up a grilled earthworm between his fingers, put it into his mouth, and start chewing.

"What does it taste like?" Sun Hang asked immediately.

"Better than I imagined." Candle Dragon nodded. "It’s pretty much like jerky, but with a faint earthy fragrance."

"You serious?"

"Have you ever had escargots in French cuisine?"

"No. I don’t like eating bugs." Sun Hang said.

"That’s a real shame." Candle Dragon said. "They’re actually quite similar in texture. The biggest difference is probably the seasoning. Compared to escargots baked with cream and butter, Yumen’s grilled earthworms are loaded with chili and barbecue spices. They taste very down‑to‑earth, full of street‑food smokiness. Feels just like skewers at a roadside stall in the middle of the night."

"You still go to roadside stalls for skewers in the middle of the night?" Sun Hang froze for a moment. "I thought you either ate in those starred restaurants or in those lesser‑known private places that cost an arm and a leg..."

"Then you’ve seriously misunderstood me." Candle Dragon shook his head. "As an amateur foodie, I’m actually very keen on hunting down great hole‑in‑the‑wall joints in back alleys. And when work gets busy, I don’t say no to compressed biscuits or cheap instant noodles either. Besides, didn’t I eat beef noodles with you before? Why didn’t that strike you as weird at the time?"

"I thought it was because all the high‑end restaurants and hotels were fully booked, so you had no choice but to slum it with us over beef noodles."

"Not at all. Dragon City’s beef noodles are pretty famous. Every time I come here, I have to get a bowl." Candle Dragon suddenly lifted his wrist and glanced at his Hunter bracelet. "It’s exactly eleven. In another hour, Nagano Souta will publish the treasure map info."

He had barely finished speaking when several mercenaries at the neighboring table turned their heads to look over, making Sun Hang raise an eyebrow. He’d clearly put up a one‑way soundproof barrier around them, yet it felt like these people had heard what Candle Dragon just said.

"Hey, man." One of the mercenaries at the next table greeted Candle Dragon. "So, you waiting for that exhilarating moment too?"

"What exhilarating moment?" Sun Hang dispelled the one‑way soundproof barrier and asked with feigned confusion.

"Spring Breeze’s boss claimed publicly that he’s cracked the complete treasure map and will announce the full details to all of Yumen at midnight. What, you guys didn’t know?" The mercenary said excitedly. "There’s only one hour left."

"We know... but our strength is pretty average. Joining something like that, we’d probably end up paying with our lives." Sun Hang said.

"Heh, not joining is probably smart. Once the treasure comes out, it’ll definitely be a bloodbath." The mercenary grabbed a fistful of grilled earthworms and shoved them into his mouth, talking as he chewed. "Some people don’t have what it takes to trek the no‑man’s‑land for the treasure. But they’ve got more than enough guts to lie in wait along the route and rob others!"

"Who are you talking about?" Sun Hang asked.

"Come on, man, drop the act. You, us, and half of Yumen—we’re all thinking the same thing, aren’t we? What’s there to hide?" The mercenary was clearly drunk, completely ignoring the looks his companions were giving him. "There’s an old saying: the sparrow hunts the cicada, and the mantis waits behind!"

"It’s the mantis stalks the cicada, the sparrow lurks behind." Sun Hang corrected him.

"Yeah yeah yeah... man... mantis stalks..." He was about to go on when his companion chopped him in the back of the neck, and he went limp and collapsed to the floor.

"Sorry, he’s had too much." The other mercenaries nodded apologetically to Sun Hang and the others, then settled the bill and dragged the limp drunk out.

"At least he wasn’t wrong about one thing." Candle Dragon said to Sun Hang. "This is going to be a bloodbath."

"How many people will die? It can’t be more than on Nameless Island and in Celestial City, right?"

"It’s not the same situation... On Nameless Island, at least the Hunters in the trial were nominally teammates. As for Celestial City, everyone was united against the Strange Objects. But in the no‑man’s‑land, every ’ally’ you see might want your head." Candle Dragon said. "Honestly, I’d rather face dangerous Strange Objects than deal with this pack of troublesome bastards."

"Even the best Hunter can still end up in a ditch." Sun Hang picked up a grilled earthworm, hesitated for a long moment, then put it back on the plate. "I don’t want someone promising getting singled out and then randomly taken out by a black shot in the back."

"With our abilities, controlling the whole situation won’t be easy." Candle Dragon shook his head. "But then again, you could also call this... a kind of screening, couldn’t you?"