The Empire's Olive Branch

The wind in the forest seemed to pause for as long as three breaths.

Lu Yuan spoke, his voice as flat as a stone slab. "Technology. Training. What exactly do you mean?"

Deacon Han rubbed his hands, the bureaucratic shrewdness on his face fading to reveal something more complex beneath. "Let's talk about it somewhere else," he lowered his voice, "There's an old shack deep in the woods."

Lu Yuan didn't move.

"Don't worry." Deacon Han glanced at the bushes behind him. "It's just the two of us. Your men can follow, but don't get too close."

Lu Yuan tapped his index finger twice on the side of his leg and nodded.

The two ventured into a denser part of the woods. Deacon Han knew the way well, and after skirting a few crooked old trees, he found a half-collapsed wooden shed. He sat directly on a fallen beam, took out a flat iron kettle, and took a swig.

"Let's be frank," he said, wiping his mouth. "The empire is vast, but how many Soul Master are truly capable of fighting and obeying orders?"

Lu Yuan waited for him to continue.

"Sects," Deacon Han spat out the word as if spitting out something foul, "Monopolize talent, inheritance, and resources. The Soul Master in the army are either disciples from sects sent for training—who will they listen to in a critical moment? Or they are those who have been screened out—how useful are they?"

He picked at the splinter with his fingers.

"The higher-ups aren't fools; they've been trying to cultivate their own Soul Master force for years. Military selection, secret training, providing resources." He shook his head. "The effects are limited. The training methods are just the same old, secondhand stuff from the sects."

Deacon Han raised his head and stared at Lu Yuan.

"Until I saw that child, Su Yan."

Lu Yuan's eyelid twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Innate Soul Power level two, Iron Hammer Martial Soul, utterly ordinary." Deacon Han quickened, "But how long has he been under your command? His Soul Power control is frighteningly precise. This isn't talent, it's method."

He leaned forward.

"The Empire needs this 'method.' It doesn't need to cultivate Titled Douluo —too slow and too conspicuous. What it needs is a group of low-level Soul Master with solid foundations, refined Soul Power control, and suitability for special missions. Their talent doesn't need to be high, just below average is fine; the key is reliability and loyalty to the Empire."

Lu Yuan asked, "You want me to train these people?"

"It wasn't me," Deacon Han corrected. "It was the person behind me, the one in charge. He's in charge of establishing part of the Empire's secret forces. Your abilities, especially your potential to 'transform the ordinary into the extraordinary,' have caught his attention."

He held up three fingers.

"First, you provide training methods and some theoretical guidance—no need for core secrets, just the 'application layer' stuff. Second, the Empire will be responsible for selecting personnel, providing absolutely secure secret training grounds and basic supplies. Third," he curled a finger, "The Empire will use official channels to exert continuous pressure on the Cloud Mist Sect. Frequently summoning their people, freezing industry approvals, and conducting 'routine inspections' of their outposts. Keep them busy for the short term, preventing them from fully pursuing and eliminating you."

Lu Yuan listened quietly.

Deacon Han lowered his hand, his tone enticing. "In return, the Soul Master trained will belong to the Empire, but you can retain theoretical ownership. The training location is much safer than the mines. As for supplies, as long as it's not too outrageous, we can discuss it."

He paused.

"This is just an experiment. If it proves effective, there may be greater potential in the future. Perhaps... you could even be granted a semi-independent status as 'advisors'."

Semi-independent.

Lu Yuan pondered this word in his mind.

There were birds chirping outside the shed, their calls short and sharp.

"Deacon Han," Lu Yuan said slowly, "To what extent does this 'sir' you speak of represent the Empire?"

Deacon Han's eyes flickered.

"It doesn't represent the entire empire," he said frankly. "The upper echelons are riddled with factions. That official is a powerful figure within the reformist faction, with secret channels and directly subordinate troops. This cooperation is a 'limited experiment' within his authority. If it succeeds, the credit is his, and it's also your shield. If it fails..." He shrugged, "Each bears their own risk."

Very frank. So frank that it makes one more wary.

Lu Yuan paused for a moment, then asked, "What are the specific boundaries of the training content?"

"We can discuss that," Deacon Han said immediately. "Basic training in the precise control of Soul Power, optimization of team tactics, energy structure analysis of common Soul Skill, and simple countermeasures... all of these are fine. As for deeper theories, such as research on the essence of Martial Soul and the construction of Soul Power models, you can keep those to yourself."

Seeing that Lu Yuan didn't react, he moved closer.

"Young friend Lu, this is an opportunity. You know your current situation. The Cloud Mist Sect won't let this go easily, the Shadow Guards' motives are unclear, and the Desolate Wolf have their eyes on you. How long can you few hold out, hiding and running?"

He emphasized his point.

"Accepting cooperation will at least buy you some breathing room, resources, and a veil of ambiguous protection from official backing. That lord needs your 'method' to prove his approach is viable, so he will definitely protect you in the short term. It's mutually beneficial."

Mutually beneficial.

Lu Yuan tapped his knee lightly with his fingertips.

It sounds wonderful: a safe place, supplies, official checks and balances, even a "semi-independent status."

But what will be the cost?

His knowledge system will be partially mastered by the Empire. Even if it is only at the "application level," it is still the crystallization of his past life's efforts and the verification of this life. These methods will be used for political and military purposes, and the Soul Master trained will become tools of the Empire to carry out suppression, assassination, infiltration... They will not become inheritors of the "Spark" ideology, but only more efficient and obedient weapons.

More importantly, once they are tied to the empire's war machine, they will never have true independence again. They will become pawns in factional struggles, perhaps gaining some benefits when they are useful, but once they lose their value, they may be discarded at any time, or even silenced.

Deacon Han's mention of "semi-independence" is more like bait. How could the true rulers allow a Soul Master force that isn't fully under their control to exist for long?

Lu Yuan raised his head.

Deacon Han was looking at him, his eyes filled with expectation, calculation, and a hint of barely perceptible tension.

"I need time to think it over," Lu Yuan said calmly. "I also need to discuss it with my companions."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Deacon Han's face, but he quickly masked it. "Of course. However," he cautioned, "Time waits for no one. Three days, three days at most, give me a preliminary answer. If yes, refine the terms. If no..." He paused, "Just pretend we never met today."

The words were spoken politely, but the meaning was clear.

If the agreement is refused after three days, this ambiguous "no further action" clause may no longer exist.

Lu Yuan nodded. "Okay."

He stood up. The sunlight from outside fell on his face, and his overly calm eyes revealed no emotion.

Deacon Han also stood up, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke, "Young friend Lu, let me add something. This path is safer than you forging your own way. In this world, lone wolves don't go far."

Lu Yuan didn't respond to that.

He walked to the entrance of the shed, then suddenly stopped and turned halfway to the side.

"Deacon Han, I have one condition before I give you an answer."

"You say."

"Whether we cooperate or not, the Cloud Mist Sect must pay a clear price for injuring my father." Lu Yuan's tone was calm, yet chilling. "As for the Empire, can it provide 'appropriate' assistance? Or at least... 'turn a blind eye'?"

Deacon Han was stunned.

He stared at Lu Yuan, as if seeing the boy clearly for the first time. His face was expressionless, but deep in his eyes, there was something that sent a chill down his spine.

It wasn't anger, it wasn't hatred.

It's something calmer and more resolute.

Deacon Han's apple bobbed. He recalled the file: the son of a commoner from Maple Leaf Town, with the Trash Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass and half-level Innate Soul Power. In less than a year, he had gathered people like Shen Moxin, Mo Chen, and Lin Xiao around him, rescued people from under the noses of the Cloud Mist Sect and the Shadow Guards, fabricated ruins to disrupt the situation, and was now negotiating cooperation with the Empire.

monster.

The word popped into his mind.

"This matter..." Deacon Han carefully chose his words, "I need to consult with your superiors. But if it's 'limited retaliation,' such as targeting a few individuals who acted at the time, and without triggering a large-scale conflict... perhaps it's feasible."

He was being very conservative in his assessment.

Lu Yuan nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

See you at the usual place in three days.

After he finished speaking, he turned and walked into the woods.

Deacon Han stood there, motionless for a long time. He took out his iron kettle, took another swig, and the strong liquor burned his throat, but he couldn't suppress the complex emotions in his heart.

He recalled the superior's instructions, "If that kid agrees, use him well. If he doesn't... assess the threat level, and if necessary, eliminate the hidden dangers."

Clear.

Deacon Han a wry smile.

He suddenly became unsure who exactly was the "hidden danger" that should be eliminated.

Lu Yuan walked about a hundred meters when Lin Xiao emerged from behind a tree.

"Finished talking?" he asked, his amber pupils slightly contracting. "What did that old man mention?"

"Let's talk about it when we get back." Lu Yuan continued walking.

The two stopped talking and quickly made their way through the forest. When they returned to the vicinity of the mine entrance, Mo Chen emerged from behind the rocks, the indicator light on his Soul Tool flashing green.

"The area is clean, no one's watching us," he reported, glancing at Lu Yuan's expression. "The talk didn't go too smoothly?"

Lu Yuan didn't answer, but bent down and crawled into the crack.

Deep in the mine, the Soul Guidance Lamp were on. Shen Moxin was changing Lu Qinghe's bandages, while Su Yan and Li Wangye were preparing dry rations and water. Mr. Wen was hunched over the table revising a map.

Everyone stopped what they were doing when Lu Yuan returned.

Lu Yuan walked to the rock ledge and sat down against the wall. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke, his voice echoing clearly in the cave.

"Deacon Han, representing a powerful figure in the Empire, proposed cooperation."

He succinctly reiterated the proposal, conditions, and promises, without adding any personal judgment, simply stating the facts.

After he finished speaking, the cave fell silent.

Mo Chen was the first to break the silence. "Training people from the Empire? Does that mean we're becoming an official thug training camp?"

"He promised to preserve the core theories," Shen Moxin adjusted her glasses, her tone cautious. "Moreover, he'll provide a safe place and supplies, and also keep the Cloud Mist Sect in check. From a survival standpoint, it's very tempting."

"The price is that our 'methods' will be known to the Empire." Lin Xiao leaned against the stone wall, his tongue unconsciously licking his canine teeth. "The people we train will only obey the Empire's orders. They won't care about our ideals."

Su Yan and Li Wangye remained silent, their eyes fixed on Lu Yuan.

Mr. Wen put down his pen and sighed, "I know a little about the imperial bureaucratic system. Today they need you, they make all sorts of promises. Tomorrow they don't need you anymore, they abandon you or even suppress you. This kind of cooperation is like drinking poison to quench thirst."

Lu Yuan listened to everyone's words, his fingers tapping lightly on his knees.

He looked at Shen Moxin: "What do you think?"

Shen Moxin was silent for a moment. "In the short term, it can solve the most pressing survival problem. In the long term," she paused, "Once cooperation begins, it will be difficult to extricate ourselves. Our knowledge will be partially assimilated and modified to suit the Empire's needs. Ultimately, ' Spark ' may become a more convenient tool in the Empire's arsenal, rather than an independent Core Flame."

She spoke very bluntly.

Lu Yuan nodded.

His gaze swept over the crowd.

"Three days," he said. "We need to give Deacon Han an answer in three days. Everyone should think it over carefully during these three days. Feel free to share any thoughts you have."

He paused, then added, "Regardless of the final decision, two things remain unchanged. First, the Cloud Mist Sect must pay the price for Father's injury. Second, the path of ' Spark ' is our own path. Compromise is acceptable, but our bottom line cannot be abandoned."

Inside the cave, the light from the Soul Guidance Lamp shone steadily.

Beyond the halo of light, the dark mine tunnels stretched into the unknown depths.