Lei Lin took a deep breath. "Our Zi'ao Family has followed a moderate approach in recent years, sharing the benefits with others. We've made a few enemies, but they're nothing more than minor nuisances."
"At least within the kingdom, no one should dare lay a hand on me right now."
"Especially now that I've earned the title of the greatest genius in history. No one would choose this moment to come after me!"
"And anyone who dares attack me must have at least one eighth-level expert among them. No—in the face of my having seen through you, you're still so calm. You must be a ninth-level expert."
"Only people from the Dark Alliance would send experts like you to target me at a time like this!"
As he spoke, he glanced at the black cloth in his hand. "Besides, your goal probably wasn't to assassinate me. Otherwise, you would have attacked as soon as we met."
"If you don't intend to kill me, then you must have some use for keeping me alive."
"So let's make a deal. Let my butler and companion go. Whatever you're planning, I'll do my best to cooperate."
"That would be better for everyone, wouldn't it?"
Lei Lin spoke unhurriedly. The leader of the black-clad men praised him after listening. "Such composure. You certainly live up to your title as the greatest genius in history."
"But letting them go is out of the question. Our original plan was to abduct you and kill everyone here."
"But I've changed my mind. You've earned my respect."
"If you can keep your cool and cooperate with us, then as a concession, I can take your butler and companion with us."
Only now did Princess Lantan seem to realize how dire the situation was. She cried out in fear, "What? You're from the Dark Alliance!"
"Heavens, Mr. Lei Lin, people from the Dark Alliance are all thugs and villains. You mustn't trust them!"
Lei Lin, already in a foul mood, sighed inwardly. As a princess, haven't you ever learned that it's wise to know when to yield?
Can't you read the room?
We're at their mercy, and you're practically begging them to kill you!
Although Lei Lin was certain that the Dark Alliance members opposite him included a ninth-level expert, he honestly wasn't afraid.
He was confident he could escape even from a ninth-level expert, though the price might be steep.
But if he ran, the old butler and Lantan would be in trouble. They would most likely die.
The old butler had cared for Lei Lin's family since he was a child, so Lei Lin had grown quite attached to him. And Princess Lantan had already reached level six at her age. She was unquestionably one of the royal family's most prominent direct descendants.
If she died on their very first day together, it would surely create a rift between the Zi'ao Family and the royal family.
Even if Clyde kept quiet on the surface because of Lei Lin's talent, and might even graciously say he understood, Lei Lin couldn't be sure Clyde wouldn't secretly sabotage the Zi'ao Family's growth.
The Zi'ao Family was poised for rapid growth over the next few years. Lei Lin didn't want some damned mess like this to get in the way.
That was why he had immediately tried to negotiate, hoping the other side would let the old butler and Princess Lantan go.
Without the dead weight, he would be free to act without restraint!
Lei Lin suppressed his irritation and tried to reassure Lantan. "Lantan, even though we've only known each other for a day, I have to say I like you. But I don't want you caught up in danger, so please listen to me, all right?"
"I'll be fine!"
With that, he took out a scroll. "You may have made thorough preparations to capture me. After taking me, you'd probably spread all sorts of false leads so my disappearance wouldn't be discovered too soon and interfere with your next plans."
"But I doubt you expected me to bring a companion!"
"I should make this clear: Lantan is a princess of the Fenlai Kingdom. If she goes missing, the uproar will be considerable, and it will definitely affect your plans."
He tossed the scroll in his hand. "This is an Oath Scroll. We can swear an oath that they won't say anything after they leave."
"My family will soon realize something is wrong and use their methods to break the oath's effect, but at the very least, it should keep them from finding out I've been captured for two or three days."
"With that much time, you should be able to deal with me."
As he spoke, electric arcs flashed around Lei Lin. He activated the dazzling effects of the Thunder God Set and continued, "Let them go, and I'll do my best to cooperate."
"Otherwise, even if I can't cause you too much trouble by refusing to cooperate, I'm sure I can still give you a little headache!"
The leader of the black-clad men watched Lei Lin in silence for a moment, then burst out laughing. "How interesting. What an interesting young man. I find myself liking you more and more."
Just as Lei Lin had said, their mission was to capture Lei Lin, the greatest genius on the Magnolia Continent. If it proved too difficult, they were to kill him instead.
But from the moment they accepted the job, they had never expected to capture him. The difficulty was too great; missions like this almost always ended in a kill.
And yet this time, everything had gone relatively smoothly.
Especially once the man realized that Lei Lin wasn't one of those fools brainwashed by the Radiant Church into believing that justice always prevailed. Even in such dire straits, he could still reason calmly and bargain for his own interests.
The man suddenly realized that perhaps they really could bring Lei Lin back to the Dark Alliance as a captive. If they succeeded, the rewards would be far greater than if they killed him.
As for how to ensure the loyalty of a captured genius, well—they had plenty of ways in the Dark Church to make their subordinates loyal!
His eyes flickered. The leader of the black-clad men nodded. "Fine. I won't harm them."
"But I don't trust contracts like that, and I don't need two or three days. One night will be enough."
"I'll break both their arms and legs, and poison their vocal cords so they can't speak."
"By dawn, people nearby will find them and take them for treatment. The Radiant Church's priests do have a few useful tricks."
"They'll probably have some lingering effects, but wounds like these won't be hard to heal."
"What do you think?"
At his words, the two black-clad men behind him exchanged a glance.
This was the heartland of the Holy Alliance. To make sure their mission succeeded, they had already killed everyone in the town.
If Lantan and the old butler had their arms and legs broken, no one would find them and take them for treatment. If too much time passed, even after they were healed, they could be left with severe complications.
If they were unlucky, they might simply die there. If Lei Lin found out later, who knew whether he would lose his mind?
But they didn't care. As far as they were concerned, all that mattered was completing the mission.
Before you continue