“The relevant video has been submitted to the Family. Regarding Mr. Lu Mingfei's affiliation, the Family has a new opinion: how about rejoining the Lu clan?” Liu Heguang communicated with Lu Mingfei first. The communication with Angers had largely taken shape during the discussion of the Kui Men Plan. The Family's attitude towards Angers remained unchanged, but they developed a stronger interest in Lu Mingfei.
Arranging for Lu Mingfei to become a live-in son-in-law according to the archive information might have been a good choice, but looking at the current situation, that choice seemed a bit excessive.
Angers glanced at the silent Lu Mingfei, then at the calm-faced Liu Heguang, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. He shook his head slightly, “It seems the reformists within the Family have been completely silenced. I recall that the alliance between the Secret Party and the Family is still valid?”
“After decades, how much weight can the alliance still have?” Liu Heguang retorted.
“As much weight as those old guys' bones still have,” Angers said indifferently, his gaze sweeping past Liu Heguang to the camera behind him.
After a few seconds of silence, Liu Heguang fully understood Angers' high regard for Lu Mingfei. He nodded slightly and said, “I apologize for my previous words. This is the Family's attitude towards Lu Mingfei, not Heguang's personal attitude. But if Mr. Lu Mingfei is willing, the Family will always keep its doors open for Mr. Lu Mingfei. The Liu clan will always support the re-establishment of the Lu clan.”
Angers looked at the flickering camera behind Liu Heguang and smiled without a word.
Liu Heguang pushed a document in front of Angers and Lu Mingfei. “With the conclusion of the Kui Men Plan, according to the treaty, His Highness Norton's bone relic bottle and the Seven Deadly Sins will be handed over to Kassel College for safekeeping. Additionally, there are two slots for Alchemy creations reserved for the College.”
After he finished speaking, the glowing camera dimmed. Angers and Liu Heguang exchanged a smile.
“Then, according to the treaty, I will hand over the modified internal structure map of White Emperor City after this deep dive to the Liu clan, and the remaining half Next Generation Species' remains will also be sent to the Family for disposal,” Angers said.
“The relevant aftermath work will also be handled by us,” Liu Heguang nodded. “Next is the ownership of the 'Bronze City'.”
“The College and the Family will share it for one year. The Family and the College will share its Alchemy data for three years. Within ten years, the College can apply to the Family for underwater access. After ten years, the Family does not wish to see anyone from the College appear within the Three Gorges area. The Moniyahe will also be repatriated soon,” Liu Heguang said with a faint smile.
“The 'Decapitation and Immediate Execution' has been practiced by the Family for centuries, and we hope the Secret Party keeps that in mind.”
“I also hope the Family does not delay the exploration of the Bronze City,” Angers gestured for Liu Heguang to continue.
“Naturally.” Liu Heguang nodded. A negotiation always starts with an exorbitant asking price, but the negotiation between him and Angers seemed particularly bright.
But from the intelligence he had gathered, the old man in front of him had grown up at the negotiating table: Lionheart Society of Cambridge, Principal of Kassel College, spokesman for the Secret Party... for over a hundred years, countless confrontations with people and power.
To engage in such a cunning negotiation with an old man like this, relying solely on his thirty-plus years of life, was not only arrogant but also overestimating himself. Fortunately, he had the entire Liu clan behind him.
“The direction for investigating the frogmen attack has been found. We promise to give the College an explanation within 24 hours,” Liu Heguang said.
“Just the direction of investigation?” Angers chuckled, “I am not unfamiliar with the internal workings of the Family, although that is already the memory of your grandfather's generation. But isn't the current head of the Family even older?”
“Decades of filth have fermented and settled internally. Because of an old friend, I am unwilling to interfere in the Family's affairs again, but I also hope the Family can adopt a proper attitude. This negotiation, from the very beginning, you were playing with open cards.”
His tone was calm yet sharp, carrying a hint of warning. Some things could not be explained away with just an explanation.
“This is the Family's attitude, Mr. Angers,” Liu Heguang said, neither subservient nor arrogant. “Several months ago, the Liu clan's patriarch celebrated his three-hundredth birthday and invited the patriarchs of the Ji, Zhu, Zhao, and Zhuge clans to raise a cup to the moon in his personal capacity. The host and guests were all delighted.”
Under the lights, Angers' pupils contracted slightly. The old man's emotions wavered for that instant; it had been many years since he had shown such a reaction.
Angers did not speak, and Liu Heguang also fell silent after saying that sentence.
“I thought the Liu clan had lost its confidence in the last fifty years. So, it has come to this point.”
“The Old Ancestor has concerns, and Heguang is terrified,” Liu Heguang said. “Fifty years, like one day, only then did Heguang have a chance to rise.”
“Fifty years…” Lu Mingfei repeated the phrase.
How long is fifty years?
Opening your eyes to the world, carrying a small backpack into the classroom with your parents watching, leaving school to become self-reliant, walking into the marriage hall with your loved one, new life being born, teaching your children not to repeat your mistakes, starting to watch your parents gradually enter the nursing home…
One person coldly observing the rise and fall of a Family for fifty years, completely unconcerned by life and death, the waves of reform ebbing and flowing.
He cared nothing for the rising sun in the East… Everything was just for the appearance of someone who could support the Family.
What if Liu Heguang hadn't appeared? What if no one had appeared… Lu Mingfei dared not imagine.
“A hundred years of rise and fall all depend on one person. It's called a Family, but it's a sole ruler,” Angers' voice sounded in Lu Mingfei's ear. Lu Mingfei turned to see swirling smoke; the cigar had been lit sometime earlier.
“Everything, everything is for the appearance of one person. A group of old guys put the last of their lives on a young person… No wonder the Liu-Li contention has no result to this day. They are truly a bunch of madmen.”
Liu Heguang still had a smile on his face and did not refute Angers' words. He simply sat there, the light of the incandescent lamp shining on him. He squinted, facing two S-ranks alone.
“Let's get back to the treaty,” Angers exhaled a long breath and put the cigar aside. “After we get the bone relic bottle and the Seven Deadly Sins, can our people leave China alive? The old folks pursue immortality at all costs, but Dragon Kings are destined to be killed. I don't want to see any form of revival.”
“That's why we agreed to handle the aftermath of the Next Generation Species' remains.”
“In a hurry?”
“Burning urgency,” Liu Heguang said.
“It seems those fifty years weren't easy to endure either,” Angers nodded. “After observing coldly for so long, it's not surprising to occasionally have the idea of stretching one's limbs.”
“The Family doesn't want us to leave China?” Lu Mingfei asked.
“Not including you,” Angers said. “The legacy of your predecessors may never have manifested in you, but from now on, thanks to Liu Heguang, you will feel it. There are still reformists alive, and one day they will find you. And before that, no one can harm you within China.”
“Heguang will do his best,” Liu Heguang replied softly.
Angers stared at him for a long time. What an extraordinary young man.
Lu Mingfei was momentarily unclear who would protect him: the descendants of the reformists mentioned by the Principal, or Liu Heguang, or were the two inherently one?
“Wishing Mr. Angers and Mr. Lu Mingfei a safe return to the College.”
Liu Heguang stood up and pushed a photograph in front of them.
In the photo, a man carrying a brass jar and a girl carrying a bronze box taller than herself stood by the shore, silently gazing at the Moniyahe.