49. Traditional Skills, Ancestral Techniques

The escape plan Lin Ke provided us was very efficient: it involved taking advantage of the fact that other members of the Meili United Kingdom had heard that Lin Ke had “struck it rich” in the Rodema Empire and wanted to “get a share of the pie.” As long as the negotiations ended peacefully, Lin Ke could make a request, allowing us to blend in with these people and leave in plain sight without anyone noticing.

However, words alone aren’t enough; Lin Ke’s negotiations would definitely require members representing the side of “giving up benefits” to appear, which is why she actively sought our cooperation. Otherwise, if she talked big and the people from the Meili United Kingdom didn’t believe her, there would be no way out.

Clearly, Lin Ke is the supreme leader of the Meili United Kingdom; why would there be such competitors? I shook my head, unable to figure it out, and I didn’t have time to think more. As the agreed time approached, in order to “avoid suspicion,” I also went as a representative, “all alone,” following Lin Ke to negotiate.

At this moment, Lin Ke was still boasting to me along the way that “no one understands retreat better than I do.” We indeed met the “reception staff” from the Meili United Kingdom as planned, but it was from this moment on that not only I but even Lin Ke felt something was strange.

First of all, it was the other party’s statements.

“The Supreme Commander, representatives from several of our families have now prepared a place for you to talk. Please follow us to the mayor’s conference room in the town of the Rodma Empire.”

Lin Ke immediately frowned at this.

“Really chose a strange place, different from what we agreed on…”

“Are you going to refuse?” I asked.

“No, at most I’ll just take advantage of the situation a bit. This level of loss is within my budget. Let them have this place; I’m not interested anyway.”

After responding to me in a low voice, Lin Ke turned to glance at the ‘professional team’ in black clothes and hats behind us, as if to say, “We have the numbers,” and then took the lead in following their steps.

“Hey! Gentlemen, who exactly is here to meet me this time?”

“It is Ambassador Jack from your rival family.”

The guide, somewhat impatient, mentioned a name that sounded very much like a minor character, then continued leading us toward the mayor’s center located in the heart of the Rodma Empire town without looking back. Just before we were about to enter this luxurious building, we were stopped by members of the Rodma Empire.

“Please wait a moment, everyone. Before using the reserved conference room, we ask that you temporarily hand over your weapons to us for safekeeping, to prevent any conflicts. We will return them after you leave~”

Handing over weapons before entering an important occasion isn’t anything unusual. Although she frowned, Lin Ke still led the way, pulling a firearm from her waist and placing it on the table. The followers behind her also placed their guns on the table, which made me glance at them a few more times before following the representative of the opposing family inside.

As long as the “negotiation is successful,” and we end peacefully, we could rely on Lin Ke’s plan to slip out of Rodma, right? From the meeting with the opposing family to reaching the location, there hadn’t been any dangerous scenarios along the way; everything seemed calm and normal, without any risks.

But…

【Ogilvy was shot dead!】

This death script that popped up in perfect timing told me that the upcoming situation might not be as simple as Lin Ke thought.

Next, Lin Ke took the lead into the meeting room. Although the atmosphere radiating from the “three giants” sitting across from us around the round table made her immediately retract her smile, she seemed quite accustomed to this tense atmosphere and didn’t panic . The black-clad followers she brought stood in rows behind us, bolstering our presence, while I sat beside Lin Ke as a representative of the “Great Yawn Empire.”

Soon, my bad premonition was confirmed.

“Ahem!”

Lin Ke took off her sunglasses. “Since they are all from the Meri United Kingdom, I’ll just say it plainly: MR. Jack, you don’t need to worry. I’ve already reached an agreement with the Great Yawn Empire regarding our deal, and the contract has been signed. I don’t mind your family getting involved; after all, Rodma is quite large, and I can’t manage it all. However, in exchange, I have a few small requests~ “

Though Lin Ke’s words were laced with traps, waiting for them to take the bait and propose “helping us evacuate,”…

The golden-haired chubby guy sitting across from me, with a bloated face and a cup of coffee in hand, merely sneered and didn’t respond to Lin Ke right away.

Meanwhile, the script appeared, and my worst premonition was confirmed!

【Minor character Jack came prepared!】

I hadn’t even had the chance to warn her when the other side had already taken action! Did he somehow know our intentions? After leisurely sipping a few mouthfuls of coffee, he leaned back against the chair with a creaking sound, accompanied by his cold laugh as he spoke.

“Supreme Commander, before we discuss ‘the division,’ why don’t we talk about something else?”

His small, beady eyes squinted down to a slit as he deliberately scanned the black-clad followers behind Lin Ke, then feigned surprise as he asked.

“Speaking of which, Supreme Commander, when you came to the Rodma Empire, you brought the expectations of our families with you. But now, those people behind you seem to be from your own family. Where are the people my family sent to you ?”

【Minor character Jack does not intend to negotiate normally with Lin Ke!】

The external aid Lin Ke sought was just a “trap,” but what puzzled me even more was that Lin Ke herself seemed unaware! It wasn’t that the script didn’t indicate Lin Ke was “betraying me,” but rather that she had also been “betrayed” by her own people!

But why now…

I don’t have time to think too much, because Lin Ke’s attitude over there has also become cautious with Jack’s words. Fortunately, as one of the BOSSes, Lin Ke isn’t the type to panic immediately; instead, she quickly shifts her demeanor, along with her black-clad followers, adopting a “pressing” stance.

“Hey? Them? They were outed by me for their inefficiency~ As for where they went, I have no idea~”

Lin Ke has always been good at not fearing the boiling water!

As long as there’s no evidence, no one can casually speculate about what Lin Ke has done. But this time, danger lurks everywhere, because in the next moment, before I could even see the script to know what Lin Ke had done to the people mentioned by the extra, this extra Jack speaks up first!

He directly targets Lin Ke’s weakness!

“I don’t think so, Commander. Why do I feel like you buried them because of family hatred? You owe us families an explanation, Commander Lin Ke~”

“!”

The little smugness in Jack’s eyes as he stares at Lin Ke suggests that the death of her subordinates is not a matter of sorrow for him, but rather a leverage he can exploit.

At the same time, the script appears!

[Lin Ke’s actions are exposed!]

As the situation grows more dangerous, the script becomes clearer, allowing me to glimpse the basic outline of events!

[Extra Jack obtained intelligence from the Rodema Empire! He came prepared!]

Our plan to leave with “external aid” has been exposed! The people Lin Ke brought from the United Kingdom of Meri are not allies at all, but enemies!

This “negotiation” is nothing but a trap aimed at Lin Ke!