Chapter 660: Black Mamba Conference (1)
Ten skeletal horns were placed right outside the ancestral shrine, each of which bore a slightly different shape and characteristic from the other. They were all approximately two meters long, and set on several skeletal bisons that were chained together and standing completely still. The only telltale sign that these bison were creatures of the netherworld were the blazing netherflames in their eyes.
“Fret not. This is the Lord Mythic Spirit’s imperial guard. Lord Mythic Spirit has complete control over the lives of each and every Yin spirit you see here. There’s no possibility of a rebellion at all.” Babulu stood beside Qin Ye with a smile on his face.
It was currently 10 minutes before the stipulated time. He swept another glance around the somber military formation, and then turned his attention to the closed doors to the shrine in the distance. The stone doors were etched with a vivid relief of Black Mamba Mythic Spirit. The air was filled with such sobriety that he wouldn’t be in the slightest bit surprised if the stone doors were to open up right now, revealing the three elders and the ancestral shaman sitting with impeccable etiquette as they awaited Qin Ye’s arrival.
I know you’re here.
And since you’ve chosen to approach me once more rather than retreat to where you’ve come from, then you’re clearly here with the intention of persuading me, a Mythic Spirit of the Alkebulan Underworlds.
Therefore, please, I invite you to come forward.
That is where you and I shall have our formal bilateral meeting, as representatives of our underworlds.
Having come so far, Qin Ye knew that the only way out of all this was the way forward. Fear was useless in such circumstances, and lack of preparation was nothing more than an excuse.
This was a historical moment for the new Hell. Just as much as the conquest of Ashmound City paved the way for Hell’s amazing growth, this was likewise a moment that would determine Hell's landing in the international arena.
The horn marked the commencement of the dialogue between underworld and underworld.
These were the negotiations between an old kind and a new nobility of Hell.
It was that of a serpent.
It was the activation of a military formation!
Whoosh! Just then, a roll of bright red carpet promptly unraveled itself from the entrance of the shrine until it stopped right in front of Qin Ye. Babulu straightened up his body, and then revealed a sincere smile on his face as he made a gesture of invitation to Qin Ye.
He was the King Yanluo of Hell, and it was his duty to act in his people’s best interest, especially when Hell was at its weakest and poorest state.
Even then, Qin Ye didn’t turn back one bit. Instead, he steeled his nerves and plodded on step by step, striding forward bravely until he finally entered the mouth of the shrine. And as soon as he stepped in, the door shut behind him with a bang.
And it was only then that he saw the arrangement within the grand hall.
Furthermore, there were no longer any traces of the throne, nor any traces of other ornaments and decorations that he saw the last time he was here. Instead, the only source of brightness in the room were the ten candles blazing atop ten tall candlesticks, each of which was etched with designs of intertwining serpents. The ten candles acted like brilliant lighthouses illuminating their surroundings in the middle of the dark ocean.
Lustrous black scales that appeared like black gemstones gleamed brilliantly like twinkling stars in the darkness, as though it were hinting the presence of a mythical creature from just beyond the round table.
This was the dignity of a god of death.
Was he dressed funny?
It was clearly something of his culture. Undergirded with Yama-class Yin energy, his entire get-up exuded sheer majesty.
These were the discussions that would determine whether the Black Mamba Underworld would become Hell’s mouthpiece to the Coalition of Alkebulan Underworlds. Naturally, there was no place for ridicule.
Qin Ye cupped his fists respectfully and bowed deeply. And then, he took his seat.
And it wasn’t until he finally took his seat that he even felt a soft tingling sensation on his fingertips. As it turned out, he didn’t even realize that his fingers were trembling slightly.
After all, he represented a powerful underworld as well.
Calm down… Qin Ye, you can do it! Still your mind! None are born with diplomatic skills. Even the founding fathers of Cathay in the mortal realm were at some point toddlers in the realms of international diplomacy. What’s more important is to conceal the truth about Hell from these underworlds as best I can!
And that was naturally the sheath of their sabers.
It’s begun…
The Black Mamba Underworld was clearly inquiring about his identity again!
At the very least, a representative of the Eight Great Clans would never be so vested in the affairs of Hell as to send subordinates back to Hell in order to retrieve documents and evidence for the purposes of proving these claims of theirs. The only party interested in proving the veracity of these claims is someone from within Hell’s government itself!
And, as expected, none of the emissaries of the Black Mamba Underworld appeared in the slightest bit surprised when he finally disclosed his identity. Black Mamba deliberated for a moment, and then spoke with some measure of presumption, “So, we understand that certain unforeseen circumstances have arisen, and Hell has approached us with an intention of asking us to stand on its side. Why? Just because the Russian Underworld has evinced an intention to get involved with Forbidden Arts? Or is it because you are concerned about the Argosian Underworld that is acting behind the scenes? Prefect Qin, I suggest you refrain from employing such tasteless provocation techniques and get to the point.”
“Kindly allow me to state three things in response.” Qin Ye’s mind spun at top speed as he crafted his responses, “Firstly, it’s not quite accurate to say that unforeseen circumstances have arisen. Or are you suggesting that an issue has arisen that the Second King Yanluo cannot handle?”
“Then, are you suggesting that Hell has lost control of its subjects?”
“Lord Mythic Spirit.” Qin Ye’s smile was now laced with palpable coldness, “Let us not act upon such baseless speculation, shall we? Do you think it’s that simple to throw an underworld with over 3,000 years of history into turmoil? That is a laughable suggestion.”
“As you’d mentioned earlier, why don’t we both come to the table with clean hands and speak openly with good faith? I believe that I speak for Hell when I say this - we do not wish to waste time beating about the bush with such meaningless discussions!”
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