Chapter 90

The figure slowly turned around, and it turned out to be an old man. His three long, slender mustaches made him look extremely refined, and his narrow eyebrows framed eyes that were bright like lightning, as if they could see through a person at a glance. The aged look on his face had a charm that spoke of a life well-lived.

The old man looked at the fat man with a curious frown.

"Are you Zhou Lu?"

The old man's demeanor was both stern and kind, like a grandfather next door.

Seeing the old man, Zhou Lu's legs almost gave out, and he nearly fell to the ground. His hands trembled so much he couldn't even clench them, and his whole body shook uncontrollably. This time, he was truly shocked, and the alcohol in his system was completely dispelled by fear.

"Second, Second Elder..."

The fat man's words were stammering.

The old man before him was none other than Mo Xuanji, the Second Elder of the Heavenly Demon Clan, who held the reins of power, Xiao Luan's grandfather, and the imperial magnate who controlled the military and industrial lifelines of seven forces, including the Heavenly Demon Clan.

Mo Xuanji was usually low-key and mysterious, rarely appearing in the clan. However, Zhou Lu still remembered him from the Heavenly Demon Festival he presided over a few years ago. Zhou Lu never imagined that this magnate, whose every step could cause an earthquake in the wilderness, would suddenly appear in a cave in the Western Border and summon him, an insignificant fat man, to meet him.

Zhou Lu's mind was in chaos. "Second Elder is so busy with military affairs, why would he have the leisure to come to the Western Border? Could it be to see Xiao Luan? But why did he call me here?"

Zhou Lu couldn't figure it out. He and Xiao Luan had indeed sworn to be siblings, but such a personal matter in the wilderness had nothing to do with the Second Elder. The Elder wouldn't give him any special treatment just because of their sworn brotherhood.

Mo Xuanji's accumulated authority was so profound that it carried an intimidating presence. Standing before this powerful and awe-inspiring magnate, Zhou Lu was so terrified that he didn't dare to breathe heavily. When the Second Elder asked him a question, Zhou Lu nervously replied:

"Yes, I, I am Zhou Lu..."

"Can, can I go now?"

The fat man's words were a mix of guilt and nonsense.

Mo Xuanji smiled faintly, as if he already understood the little rascal's character. He didn't scold him but shook his head gently. "Zhou Lu, I heard that you were very dissatisfied with the battle merit assessment given by the Elder Hall. You even caused a commotion in Su Peiluo's main camp. Is that true?"

The Second Elder's tone wasn't severe, and there was no hint of blame in his words. It was as if a grandfather was casually chatting with his grandchild, making one feel close and trusting, unlike the intimidating and domineering aura of the First Elder, Ou Yetu.

The Second Elder's kindness gradually calmed Zhou Lu's heart, and he wasn't as terrified as before. Thinking about the unfair treatment he had received, Zhou Lu's sense of injustice welled up again. His breathing grew heavier, and he slowly raised his head to look up.

He really wanted to ask loudly why he was treated this way, but he didn't dare.

Before Zhou Lu could answer, Mo Xuanji continued slowly, "Zhou Lu, the reward and punishment you received was actually my idea. I proposed it in the Elder Hall, and it was approved with my consent. In fact, I deliberately pushed for it to gain the unanimous approval of all the elders..."

Zhou Lu was stunned. "You? Why?"

Zhou Lu clenched his fists, the veins on his forehead bulging, like an injured and angry little beast.

He didn't understand why the Second Elder would do this. He didn't know what he had done to offend this magnate, who had schemed to design such a plan against him, an insignificant fat man.

He also didn't understand why the Second Elder was telling him all this.

A hint of melancholy appeared on the Second Elder's face as he slowly raised his head, his voice distant and desolate.

"Zhou Lu, there are some things you don't understand, and you can't comprehend. I can only tell you that this is the result of my compromise with the First Elder."

"This year, Tie Mitao has registered for the Heavenly Demon List. This year, the First Elder has designed a plan for his grandson to gain full power and rise to prominence. Tie Mitao must rise, and I can't stop it..."

"Does that mean I have to be sacrificed?"

Zhou Lu felt a deep sorrow in his heart and laughed coldly. "I was so full of enthusiasm when I entered the wilderness, but it's all bullshit!"

The fat man finally vented his anger in front of this magnate.

Mo Xuanji looked at Zhou Lu with a faint expression, shook his head, and said, "Child, you are still young and can't understand the cruelty and complexity of power struggles. Some things can't be controlled by ideals and wishes..."

Zhou Lu listened, breathing heavily.

Mo Xuanji smiled self-mockingly and continued, "The First Elder's interest is to ensure that Tie Mitao rises smoothly this year. My interest is to establish a special combat force, the Falcon, within the clan. This force should be limited to a thousand men, responsible for completing extremely special missions and tasks. They will be composed of the most elite combatants, equipped with the finest gear provided by me, and most importantly, they will be completely loyal to my group."

"I have been striving for this force for a long time. The First Elder won't allow me to have such a powerful armed force in addition to my monopoly on military and industrial affairs, so he strongly opposed it. I have already given up many of my interests to gain his gradual approval. This time, I sacrificed your interests to help Tie Mitao rise, which is the final step in my private compromise with the First Elder. After this, I can start building the Falcon, and the First Elder will no longer obstruct me."

Zhou Lu looked up in shock. He didn't understand why the Second Elder was telling him such confidential information, which was far beyond what a common combatant should know.

Seeing the stunned fat man, Mo Xuanji continued, "So, at the military conference of the Elder Hall, I actively suppressed your merits through various means, and then subtly made Tie Mitao the second-in-command of the expeditionary force, allowing him to easily claim a great victory at Blackbeard Mountain. I used these to exchange for my own interests. Zhou Lu, do you understand?"

Zhou Lu felt a deep despair. The secrets the Second Elder revealed made him feel utterly hopeless.

He finally understood the cause and effect of everything. He realized that no matter how much he vented or how much he suffered, the outcome couldn't be changed because it involved a complex web of interests. He was just a minor pawn, and no matter how much heroism or ambition he had, it was all just bullshit.

"Hero? I'm just a stupid fat man."

"Want to achieve great things and surprise Meng Tian? Don't daydream."

Zhou Lu's heart ached, his eyes red. He looked at the Second Elder and laughed foolishly, nodding slowly. "I understand, Second Elder, I understand. Can I go now? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone what you said today."

Zhou Lu slowly turned around. At that moment, his heart was nearly broken.

All his efforts and struggles were powerless against reality. He wasn't a handsome and powerful hero, nor was he someone who could decide others' fates with a single word. He was destined to be a despicable little rascal in the ordinary and mediocre life, using all kinds of despicable and improper means to hide his loneliness and solitude, and then, in the lonely night, quietly licking his wounds.

"Zhou Lu..."

Mo Xuanji called out softly from behind.

Zhou Lu, with tears still on his face, stopped and heard the Second Elder's melancholy voice from behind.

"Zhou Lu, wouldn't you be willing to become the first centurion of my special Falcon, leading a hundred-man squad? Sigh, I thought I had found the right person."

"What?"

Zhou Lu was struck like a bolt of lightning, suddenly realizing what Su Peiluo had said before. He had mentioned making him a centurion, but didn't specify which Falcon. Could it be...

Zhou Lu turned around abruptly, wiping his face with his fat hands, leaving streaks of dirt. He looked at the Second Elder with disbelief.

Mo Xuanji smiled and nodded slowly. "So, you are still interested?"

Zhou Lu's eyes darted around, his mind racing. He asked cautiously, "Special Falcon? Will I have people under me? What are the benefits?"

"Of course, you will have people."

Mentioning the force, Mo Xuanji's voice carried a hint of pride. "This thousand-man Falcon will be composed entirely of the most elite warriors. Zhou Lu, I want you to help me build the first hundred-man squad as a trial to see how far we can push our elite force. Future squads will be expanded based on your hundred-man squad."

Seeing the stunned Zhou Lu, Mo Xuanji felt a sense of vigor and enthusiasm.

"First, I will assign thirty high-rank hunters, from sixth to seventh level, to your squad, all under your command. The remaining seventy will be chosen by you personally, ensuring that each one is the best of the best, capable of standing on their own."

"Second, I will provide you with a hundred sets of Star Armor, one for each member of your squad, fully equipping them. If you need any additional equipment, just let me know, and I will do my best to provide it."

"Additionally, I will allocate a large military budget for you, with no upper limit. If you need funds for missions, you can report the budget to me directly."

"Are you interested in these?"

"Really? All of that is for me?"

Seeing the smiling and nodding Second Elder, Zhou Lu's head buzzed, and he felt dizzy.

"Are you playing with me? Is this a joke?"

His mood had swung from the depths of despair to the heights of joy, and his heart couldn't handle the drastic changes, feeling as if it was still floating in the clouds.

He suddenly realized that his usual rascal tactics were nothing compared to the elders' ability to manipulate people without showing any signs.

Zhou Lu pondered the promises made by the Second Elder, becoming more and more amazed. He counted on his fingers, almost losing track, and his nose was almost dripping with excitement.

Thirty high-rank hunters assigned to him—what did that mean? It was like having thirty centurions or even higher-ranking commanders at his disposal, thirty powerful and domineering guards under his command.

Tie Mitao only had a dozen guards with him when he entered the wilderness.

With so many high-rank hunters under his command, being a centurion would be far more impressive than being a regular thousand-man commander.

Moreover, the Second Elder would equip the hundred-man squad with a hundred sets of Star Armor.

Star Armor, including the crocodile-scale armor that could protect the entire body from blades and bullets, the Blood Shadow Blade that could cut through stone like butter, and the Moonbow used by shadow snipers, was only available to thousand-man commanders and above who had achieved outstanding battle merits.

The Second Elder said that each member of his hundred-man squad would have a set.

And the eye-catching military budget...

Zhou Lu's head was spinning.

A hundred-man squad like that could dominate the wilderness. The Second Elder was planning to build a thousand-man Falcon to this standard.

What an ambitious goal.

And Zhou Lu, chosen to be the first centurion of the hundred-man squad, would be the first leader of this Falcon.

"Is this the spring of the fat man finally arriving?"

Zhou Lu tried to contain his joy but admitted that he wasn't very good at hiding it. His excitement was evident in his body language. He wiped away the last of his tears with his fat hands, and his dirty face broke into a radiant smile.

Zhou Lu never expected that things would turn around so quickly. The bad things that had deeply troubled him suddenly became good things.

He felt embarrassed for crying earlier.

Even with his thick skin, Zhou Lu's face turned red with shame. He fidgeted with the corner of his clothes, blushing and said, "Of course, I'm interested. Only a fool wouldn't be."

In a few words, Zhou Lu's old habits resurfaced.

Mo Xuanji couldn't help but laugh, shook his head, and changed the subject. "Zhou Lu, I also want to thank you for saving Xiao Luan twice. Sigh, as her grandfather, I was negligent and didn't protect her well. Thank you very much. Xiao Luan told me that you two have sworn to be siblings. In the future, please help me take care of her a bit more..."

At that moment, the Second Elder's voice was full of kindness. Mentioning Xiao Luan, this high-ranking figure became a doting grandfather, no different from any other grandfather.

"No problem."

Zhou Lu nodded vigorously, thinking of Xiao Luan, his heart warmed. "Second Elder, rest assured. If Xiao Luan has any difficulties, I will do my best to take care of her. By the way, when I returned from Blackbeard Mountain, I brought her a gift. I'm sure she'll be happy. I just haven't found the right time to give it to her yet."

Mo Xuanji looked at the little fat man with a satisfied smile. As the respected young master of the Second Elder's group and the future leader, Xiao Luan had never lacked anything and had seen every kind of gift. However, Zhou Lu's sincerity was precious. Escaping from the dangerous Blackbeard Mountain and still remembering to bring a gift for Xiao Luan showed the bond between the fat man and Xiao Luan. The more people who were good to Xiao Luan, the happier Mo Xuanji was.

"By the way..."

Mo Xuanji looked at the fat man with an interested expression and asked with a smile, "Zhou Lu, you can understand the importance of this centurion position, right? There are so many battle-hardened veterans outside with countless merits, but why did I choose you?"

"This..."

Zhou Lu was truly stunned this time.