The Price of Losing at Dou Dizhu (4,500 Words)

"?"

Yang Jia and the other strangers looked at Xiao Xiao in shock, a question mark appearing on their heads.

However, although their expressions were similar, the reasons for their shock were clearly different. In the eyes of Red Eyes Ling Ping, the Serpent Sisters, and others, Xiao Xiao was just wearing a calm smile, seemingly not taking the matter to heart at all. This gave rise to countless speculations in their minds: Could it be that this young president really has some amazing plan and is prepared to confront them?

Or perhaps, within the legacy left by the Old Chairman, one truly saw some powerful and forbidden entity?

Countless questions arose in his mind. He wished he could grab Xiao Xiao by the neck and force him to tell him the method he had come up with and the source of his confidence. However, looking at Xiao Xiao's handsome yet cold face, he couldn't muster the courage and just stared blankly at him.

Yang Jia also gave Xiao Xiao a deep look, then slowly nodded without saying a word.

Despite their trepidation, the gathering had to end for the time being. Under Yang Jia's arrangement, everyone returned to their respective territories to prepare for any other tricks the Hell Organization might have up its sleeve, and to wait for the new chairman to come up with a new plan. Soon, only Xiao Xiao, Yang Jia, and the waiter who was reflecting Mister Ye's spiritual power remained in the office on the third floor of the bar.

Even Ruan Ruan and Little Four had to leave the office temporarily and wait around.

Only then did Xiao Xiao breathe a sigh of relief, look at Yang Jia, and ask, "Did something happen?"

Yang Jia slowly nodded, her eyes filled with a hint of gratitude as she looked at Xiao Xiao. She had a feeling that Xiao Xiao had already guessed something and had just said those words to extricate himself from the predicament and buy himself some time.

"Actually, I had already contacted the Dante Organization a few days ago."

She looked at Xiao Xiao and said, "On the day you become the new president and see the Old Chairman's legacy."

"Or rather, it was Dante Organization that contacted me."

"Returning to Black Gate City was my own decision. After hearing the news of the Old Chairman's death, I took leave and returned to Black Gate City as soon as I could spare the time. So, I did not return on a mission. Of course, I also know how important the thing the Old Chairman found— the Arcane Compass —is, so it's not that I didn't have the idea of bringing the compass back to Dante Organization."

"However, as we all know, some unexpected things happened during the planning process."

"..."

Xiao Xiao kept his mouth shut and didn't say anything, but he glanced at Mister Ye.

The accident was caused by this old bastard.

However, Mister Ye, who was participating in the gathering by using the body of a waiter, had no expression on his face at this moment.

"Before the true Lord Pact appeared, Dante Organization never questioned anything I did in Black Gate City."

Yang Jia continued, "That's reasonable, since it's my private matter. But right after you became the new president and entered the small building left by the Old Chairman, the Dante Organization found me and asked me about the compass. I told them the truth, but their answer to me... was indeed beyond my expectations and did not conform to Dante's consistent philosophy."

Xiao Xiao raised an eyebrow, unsurprised, and asked, "What do you mean?"

Yang Jia paused for a moment before whispering, "They demand that I return with the Arcane Compass, or someone who has the primary authority over the Arcane Compass. Otherwise, they will refuse to let me rejoin the team and will also refuse to provide assistance to Black Gate City under the threat of the Hell Organization."

"Oh?"

Xiao Xiao was somewhat surprised upon hearing this and laughed, "So direct?"

"This is not an official result."

Yang Jia said, "It was just a reply we got in private. Besides, I don't know whether it was the order given by that hot-tempered captain or the mentor's idea... I tried to contact the mentor, but unfortunately I failed. Communication between cities is not so convenient. Moreover, the mentor does often go deep into the Mist Sea to do some research."

"Being unable to get in touch with them probably already says something..."

Xiao Xiao listened, thinking to himself silently.

However, he did not say these words directly, and Yang Jia probably understood them in her heart.

He simply smiled and said, "In that case, we should now formally request assistance..."

"... Let's use the reason I just gave you!"

"You can tell them that I'm a coward and would never risk my life to protect something like the Old Chairman... Don't hold back, make me sound as spineless as possible, don't hold back..."

"..."

Yang Jia gave him a deep look, and then, as if thinking of something, said irritably:

"I will."

"But, have you ever thought about..."

"..."

She seemed slightly tempted, as if she wanted to ask Xiao Xiao a question, but because of her previous promise, she didn't dare to ask.

"Can't."

But just then, the waiter who had been standing silently to the side, seemingly asleep, suddenly spoke in a low voice, his tone almost mechanical. "The Arcane Compass can only remain in Black Gate City, and only Black Gate City can carry out the Old Chairman's Noah's Ark plan. Therefore, I do not recommend handing the Hidden Compass over to the Dante Organization... This is also the Old Chairman's own idea."

As he spoke, his dull eyes looked at Yang Jia, seemingly concealing some kind of emotion:

"Are you willing to destroy all the hard work and effort the Old Chairman has put in for Dante Organization's orders?"

"..."

"..."

At that moment, both Yang Jia and Xiao Xiao's pupils contracted slightly.

Xiao Xiao suddenly realized with certainty. "Mister Ye really does know something..."

Yang Jia and I only learned about the Noah's Ark plan and its general outline after entering the small building and meeting Uncle Chen. However, Mister Ye directly stated that the Arcane Compass was the most important part of the Noah's Ark plan. This could only mean that he was very clear about what the Old Chairman left behind, and perhaps he was even involved in the plan.

No wonder he never asked me about the Arcane Compass after I left the small building.

Yang Jia, upon hearing Mister Ye's words, showed a slight loss of control in her expression, and pursed her lips slightly.

After a moment, he said, "I respect the Old Chairman."

"I also understand that I have now become a complete outsider in Black Gate City."

"..."

She didn't use harsh words, but her disappointment and dissatisfaction were fully expressed.

The waiter, who was preoccupied with Mister Ye's thoughts, also fell silent for a moment before slowly looking up at Yang Jia:

"Feel sorry."

"You were the person the Old Chairman admired most when he was alive. It's just a pity that you weren't here at that time."

"..."

Hearing his apology, or rather, his words of comfort, Yang Jia was unmoved, and her expression did not improve.

Xiao Xiao then turned to Yang Jia and said with a smile, "I'll still only listen to you."

"?"

Yang Jia was slightly surprised, and her expression softened considerably.

"In any case, I will tell the new president and Miss Yang Jia everything about the Old Chairman. Of course, whether or not to tell Miss Yang Jia will be after obtaining the new president's permission. However, you and I both understand that the most urgent task for Black Gate City is to deal with the threat of the Hell Organization. Only by ensuring that those madmen will no longer affect us can the Noah Project have a chance to be implemented."

Mister Ye did not show any dissatisfaction with Xiao Xiao's act of pledging loyalty to Yang Jia in front of him. His mechanical voice was full of sincerity as he gently said, "So now, I only hope that we can work together to solve the problem at hand."

Upon hearing his suggestion, Yang Jia, whose mood had improved, let out a soft sigh and said, "I will keep my promise."

"I will also do my part."

"I will inform both of Dante Organization of their response later."

"..."

After saying all that, she stood up; there was no point in continuing the conversation.

Xiao Xiao got up to see him off, and then suddenly turned to look at Mister Ye: "Which one of the people next to me is the compass?"

The waiter looked slightly confused and said, "I'm sorry, I don't know how to use a compass, nor do I know what you're talking about."

Xiao Xiao smiled and then asked, "So, am I a sacrifice?"

"No."

Mister Ye answered firmly, saying, "In our plan, you represent hope."

"That's quite a big hat..."

With Xiao Xiao here, it was no longer appropriate to ask any more questions. Helplessly, she watched him leave and returned to her empty office. Looking up, she saw the dead man, turned into a work of art, standing quietly in the middle of the office. One hand was in his pocket, and the other hand was gently raised towards her, palm up. The two roses in his eyes were exceptionally beautiful.

"They left pretty quickly, but who's going to deal with the bodies...?"

Xiao Xiao gently rubbed his temples, thinking helplessly, before his gaze gradually calmed down.

Hell Organization...

What was this guy thinking, who entered the city without anyone knowing, killed people, and even posed for photos?

As he pondered this question, his pupils slightly lost focus.

At the same time, three Eye of the Seer appeared around him, and the three eyes began to slowly overlap.

In Xiao Xiao's vision, this "artwork" suddenly appeared as layers of illusory images, like rapidly overlapping and switching scenes. He didn't know if it was an illusion, but he saw the artwork suddenly leave the office quickly and return to the bustling intersection where police officers had put up cordon lines. Then the police officers and onlookers also quickly retreated and disappeared.

He saw the artwork at midnight, and as time continued to rewind, he saw the figure that had stood him at the crossroads.

Xiao Xiao felt immense pressure, but he instantly locked onto the figure and continued tracking.

Then he saw this figure moving through Black Gate City like a traveler, watching everything with great excitement. He even took photos, ate snacks, and greeted pedestrians in a friendly manner. Strangely, wherever he went, the pedestrians seemed to forget him, and his shadow disappeared much faster and cleaner than that of ordinary people.

Xiao Xiao had to use almost all his strength to keep up with his shadow, following him across the entire city, until...

"Whoosh!"

Xiao Xiao suddenly opened his eyes and looked down at his feet.

The floorboards became transparent, and he saw a person sitting near the edge of the bar on the first floor.

A person with many notes stuck to their face.

The eyes beneath those notes were dark and gleaming, and they were looking up at him.

My heart seemed to stop for a second, and an immense pressure came crashing down on me, almost crushing the entire bar.

But Xiao Xiao remained silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled, got up and went downstairs.

"Good evening, Mr. Xiao."

When the waiters in the corridor saw Xiao Xiao coming, they all stopped immediately and greeted him politely.

Xiao Xiao simply nodded slightly and then added:

"Call Pink Maiden Gang. I have some stuff in my room. Ask them to send a professional to take care of it."

"..."

"Okay, Mr. Xiao."

The waiter hurriedly replied, "What is it? Let me know in advance."

Xiao Xiao smiled and said, "A corpse."

Ignoring the waiter's wide-eyed reaction, Xiao Xiao thought to himself, "This is a business under the mafia, after all. As a key member of the Pink Maiden Gang, what's so surprising about finding a corpse in the room? The waiter's fearful reaction just shows his lack of professionalism. I wonder if I should find someone to train them."

As he was thinking this, he arrived on the first floor, just as the Record Player Miss was putting on her best performance.

The violent freaks, paranoiacs, and twisted individuals in this bar—in short, psychopaths—are venting their frustrations to a crazy and bizarre melody. The man with the note stuck to his face is also holding the girl next to him, constantly shrugging his shoulders.

"Hello..."

Xiao Xiao walked directly to his side, sat down, and greeted him politely.

The man with the note stuck to his face awkwardly released his grip on the girl, saying, "This place is taken..."

"We are different."

Xiao Xiao smiled and said to him, "You have to pay me when you spend money here, but I don't have to pay you when I spend money here."

"..."

The man with the note stuck to his face seemed somewhat helpless. He let out a deep sigh and said, "I really didn't expect you to find me so quickly. In fact, you shouldn't have found me at all. I used a very powerful special item that can conceal all my spirit and aura. Even this city shouldn't be able to detect my presence. I didn't expect you to find me so quickly..."

"It really wasn't easy."

Xiao Xiao thought to himself that he had locked onto the body by rewinding time through the corpse and then tracked him all the way here.

In fact, this is the dumbest method.

I almost exceeded my limit; my nose was bleeding like a hemorrhage.

If it weren't for this method, he really didn't know what else could find him.

Of course, these are things you should keep to yourself; you can't tell others.

So, with a faint smile on her face, she looked up and sized up the person, then suddenly said, "Why is your face covered in notes?"

The man helplessly spread his hands. "I lost at Dou Dizhu..."

Xiao Xiao laughed and said, "Well, you lost pretty badly..."

"When you're playing Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game), there are always winners and losers, right?"

The man's words immediately carried a hint of defense as he said, "I've won before..."

"That's not necessarily true."

Xiao Xiao laughed and said, "If I were playing Dou Dizhu with someone, I would find it hard to imagine how I could lose."

"So arrogant?"

The person with the note stuck to their face looked at Xiao Xiao with surprise and said, "Let's play a couple of rounds when we have the chance."

Xiao Xiao smiled and nodded, "Okay."

He was genuinely surprised when he first saw this person, but in less than half a second, he realized that this man must have come for him. Moreover, Yang Jia and Mister Ye. Ye had just left this place without anyone noticing him, which meant that this person's strength might be unimaginably powerful...

... Or perhaps, they simply possess a strange ability to hide.

But in any case, once she saw him, she knew it was too late to run away.

In such a short time, it cannot be ruled out that the opponent has the ability to rush up to the third floor and confront us head-on.

So he relaxed and came over to talk to him openly.

However, before this, I didn't expect that the first impression of this exchange would not be so bad, and we even arranged a card game.