Chapter 651: Treasure Ship
What would the Second King Yanluo have done>
Unfortunately, it was important to keep things as private as possible. A situation was brewing that would potentially affect the entire East Continent. How he handled the upcoming negotiation might well even determine whether Hell would soon have a Forbidden Arts wielding neighbour in future. Sure, nobody might be able to stand in his way if he armed himself with Fate, but… could Qin Ye really be certain that there weren’t darkfeathers from the Aegyptian Underworld hidden within the Black Mamba Underworld?
“Hang on…” Just then, he suddenly set down his teacup.
“Given how things are right now, there’s no choice but to wait…”
With that, things remained just as uneventful for the rest of the day.
“Distinguished Emissary of Hell, it’s truly an honour to meet you.” An old man with a hunch and dressed in a suit stood at the door with a smile, “My name is Mbunba Nzinga, and I am the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs tasked to look after your needs. If you have any specific instructions, please feel free to call me.”
To be more precise, he was a nascent Abyssal Prefect, just like Qin Ye.
“Lord Mythic Spirit is about to begin his semicentennial molting process, and I’m afraid that both Deputy Chieftain Babulu and the Ancestral Shaman cannot be here with Prefect Qin because they are with him right now. Apart from that, we regret to inform you that the Black Mamba Underworld is effectively placed under a lockdown for as long as the molting process will take, so please accept our sincerest apologies for being unable to show you around. But rest assured, we’ll do everything we can to satisfy your needs. Additionally, you can be assured that no Yin spirit around this part will disclose your whereabouts.”
“About a month.” Mbunba Nzinga bowed deeply, “If Prefect Qin would like to travel to a different Alkebulan Underworld in the meantime, we can prepare the official paperwork for such an internal transfer within ten minutes.”
“As you please.” Mbunba bowed respectfully once more.
Click… The door shut behind him. As soon as it did, Qin Ye glanced back with a grim expression on his face.
Cold shoulder?
However, their intention was clear - you may or may not be able to meet with our Mythic Spirit. This was made patently clear by the fact that Deputy Chieftain Babulu didn’t even show up this time.
They were bent on wearing out Qin Ye’s patience until a crack surfaces in his story. They were bent on uncovering Qin Ye’s true intentions.
Sure, Qin Ye could be forthcoming and state off the cuff that it concerned the Forbidden Arts. But… given Hell’s proximity to the Russian Underworld, wouldn’t it be something better left for Hell to resolve?
One’s stature in the international arena was a double edged sword. Generally speaking, it came with a whole host of privileges, such as the kind that Qin Ye enjoyed during his trip to Daehan, including the leverage he had over Marquis Rumyantsev despite being nothing more than an Infernal Judge back then. This was the pedestal of leverage that they had as one of the P4 underworlds.
“Sigh…” He walked to the bathroom and washed up his face to freshen himself. Then, he stared at his own reflection in the mirror and remained completely silent for some time.
Soon, the second day passed, and then the third… the fourth… and then the fifth.
The food was decent, the drinks were great, and the environment was pleasant and elegant. But, even then, Qin Ye couldn’t help but feel increasingly anxious.
Just like that, a week passed, and there were still no signs of a meeting in sight. They had clearly stated their reasons for their absence, and it was a fully defensible justification.
The cigar tasted great. It even bore a trace of sweetness of cherries, and it didn’t feel in the slightest bit greasy at all. What’s more, it wasn’t too strong or pungent, and it even filled his lungs with a lingering mellow and complex fragrance.
Chuckling, he snuffed out the cigar and exhaled the smoke softly as he fell deep into thought. After some time, he sighed - I can’t stay here any longer…
I have to remember that Hell has never required an audience with any other underworld. None of the P4 underworlds require something like that. Given our status in the netherworld, there’s only room for your requests of us, and not the other way around. Therefore, I cannot afford to stay in one place for too long in the hopes of reaching out to another underworld. Dallying too long can invite suspicions just as much as rushing anxiously into a meeting or a particular agenda.
He sighed repeatedly as he continued to play with the lighter in his hands. These were the thoughts running through his mind right now, but… he was still reticent.
The seemingly leisurely process of negotiation was in fact a race against time. And to this end, he’d already wasted 10 days in the very first underworld he’d been to.
What’s the perfect agenda to bring up in order to pique their interest?
Why would you be talking to me if you’ve got nothing to place on the table?
It was simple, dark coffee. There were a few packets of creamer and sugar cubes placed beside the coffee pot, but Qin Ye didn’t add any of that.
Then, just as he was about to place the cup back beside the coffee pot, he suddenly noticed something.
Is this really a porcelain cup of Cathayan origins?
It was a square-shaped seal with four words - Second Year of Chongzhen.
It was as though a bolt of lightning had just crashed out of the blue and straight through his mind, scattering the clouds of darkness and dispelling all thoughts in his mind. His eyes glistened brightly.
At once, the smoky cherry taste filled his mouth, followed by the bitter aftertaste of chocolate that surged straight into his heart. It immediately brought clarity to his mind.
“Yes… They would never pass up on any potential profits promised to them by the Russian Underworld just to meet with me. After all, it’s better not knowing something than to learn about something and not do anything about it! They’re clearly concerned about Hell, and dragging things out is the only solution that gives them the best of both worlds. For one, they would be able to assess more from how I act. Furthermore… given the close proximity between the Russian Underworld’s announcement and Hell’s arrival, they’re probably wondering whether there’s any connection in the two events!”
“How could I have failed to consider something as simple as this? I’d only learnt of the Black Mamba Underworld because of the Zhu Clan’s records!”
And why was the Black Mamba Underworld the first one on the list?
The Malagasy Underworld was not only a natural port and a natural archipelago, it was also Alkebulan’s gateway into the Hindustani Ocean! It’s location was prime! There was no reason not to maintain a good relationship with the Black Mamba Underworld!
Someone came almost right away, “Sir, what do you need?’
“Certainly. I shall notify Mr Mbunba right away.”
“It’s fine. What’s more unfortunate is the fact that I’d come bearing a potentially mutually beneficial relationship. But since the Lord Mythic Spirit is unavailable, then there’s no reason to force the issue.” Qin Ye feigned a sigh of regret.
Qin Ye lit himself a cigar, “Perhaps.”
Dead silence.
There was only one kind of Cathayan ship that could properly be described as a treasure ship, and that was none other than the large wooden ships in the fleet of admiral Zheng He!
Mbunba would definitely know what Qin Ye was talking about. In fact, he was probably privy to the knowledge that the Zhu Clan was smuggling shipments to them a hundred years ago. After all… how could he not, when he called himself a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs?
1. This refers to the Chongzhen Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, also known as Zhu Youjian. He was also part of the Zhu Clan.
2.
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