Chapter 566 - Highest Temporary Commander
Chapter 566: Highest Temporary Commander
Su Lun widened his eyes and stared at Xiong Wei in disbelief.
“I believe that during late nights, when you looked at the dying Saber Jin Wanhao, you thought of this, even if just for one second,” Xiong Wei said coldly. “All the things you did in the past show that you have the power to manage a mega corporation, let alone a gang.
“Everyone has their own ambitions, and everyone turns into real monsters when they’re about to achieve their ambitions but are unable to do so. Su Lun, you must be struggling really hard right now and can’t accept this, right?
“I know that you have managed to bring Golden Tooth to order, but managing a gang and leading a gang is completely different.
“I’ll say the same thing, your foundation in the lair is too weak. You don’t have real supporters and confidants. Even though you’re a superhuman, you use most of your spirit energy to nourish your brain cells because you took the path of a scholar, manager, and researcher. You don’t have absolute power to make others submit to you. Because of this, you can only be a think-tanker, a military adviser, and second-in-command. It’s hard for you to become the leader of a gang.”
Su Lun gritted his teeth and asked in a quivering voice, “S-So what?”
“Don’t be nervous. If I had any ill will, I wouldn’t be speaking to you so sincerely.” Xiong Wei smiled, and his voice became deeper. He drew close to Su Lun’s ear. “But with my support, all that I said wouldn’t be a problem.”
Su Lun’s eyes went wide, and his pupils rapidly shrank.
“You shouldn’t find it so strange nor wonder about my motives. I told you that Saber Jin Wanhao is an old friend of mine and we had fought together. Even though we’ve also fought against each other our entire lives, now that he’s really dead, shouldn’t I help him make proper arrangements?” Xiong Wei said. “People say that I’m a domineering person, and when I see something I want, I do whatever it takes to devour it whole. In truth, this is a false rumor that makes people misunderstand me. I’m a person who treasures his friendships. I’m a good friend and the most reasonable person you can find.
“Now, Jin Wanhao isn’t really dead yet, but the lair is facing a major crisis, so why should I get into a conflict with Golden Tooth? This would be the same as robbing it while it’s on fire and getting myself killed. If I really started trouble, Golden Tooth, Poison Scorpion, and the other major gangs in the lair would attack us.
“But I do not covet Golden Tooth. I want you to be able to get through the chaotic times of Jin Wanhao’s death. It would be a good thing for Black Bone and the entire lair.
“Of course, if Golden Tooth could get a gang leader that is rather cordial to Black Bone and is willing to listen to Black Bone’s suggestions and thoughts, that would be for the best.”
Su Lun’s mind raced.
“You can help me?” His voice instantly turned incredibly hoarse.
It was as if his ambition had started burning.
Xiong Wei smiled.
He never had a lot of flesh on his face and body, so he looked like an emaciated man. When he smiled, he looked like a sinister and terrifying skeleton.
“I might be Black Bone’s gang leader, but the lair is huge. The gangs meet frequently, and the senior members of Black Bone and Golden Tooth have worked together many times. They’re all deeply connected with each other,” he said airily. “I’ve known plenty of people in Golden Tooth for decades. Before we built the lair, we killed zombies and monsters together. I trust that with Jin Wanhao’s passing, these people will definitely remember their friendship with me.
“Su Lun, no one is doubting your abilities. What you need is just a bit of luck and a pillar of support. No matter what, Black Bone is the second largest gang in the lair. With Black Bone’s full support, my fighting strength, and your brains, what couldn’t you do?”
Su Lun narrowed his eyes. “What are the conditions? Gang Leader Xiong, what do you want?”
“I want to take revenge for Xiong Ying.” Xiong Wei’s voice instantly became much colder, as if his teeth had turned into sharp icicles. “We must gather together all the elite forces of the gangs and open up all the regions to share our resources as well as information so that we can unify the command chain. It’s the only way to kill Meng Chao, defeat the monsters, and get through this crisis!”
“Then, as the highest commander, after you kill Meng Chao, defeat the monsters, and get through this crisis, you will naturally replace Mr. Jin and become the new ruler of the lair, the second Underground Emperor. You will obtain even greater power than what Mr. Jin had in the past. Because both I and Golden Tooth will listen to you as well,” Su Lun gritted his teeth and said.
Xiong Wei smiled faintly and did not deny this.
“The gangs have been fighting for decades and are often heavily injured from that. We do lots of dirty, tiring work and hard labor. Yet most of the benefits are still taken away by the mega corporations outside.
“Why is it so? It’s because we aren’t united enough! The lair is divided. The gangs can only survive by riding on the coattails of the mega corporations. How can we not live at other people’s mercy and submit to them, if that’s the case?
“But we don’t have to live that way.
“As long as we unite our strengths and turn the lair into a solid, united front, we will be our very own mega corporation. After that, will we still need to be controlled and exploited by the nine great mega corporations?
“Unfortunately, our old Underground Emperor was short-sighted. He was satisfied with being a mega corporation’s lapdog, even though he had great power and no one could fight against him.
“And look at what has happened now. Jin Wanhao is dead. No other power can stop the lair from being united.
“This time, the monsters and wanted criminals invaded us en masse. This is the greatest crisis the lair has faced over the decades of bloody battles. But a crisis naturally comes with miraculous chances. As long as we work together, why can’t we get rid of the things that are obstacles for the unity of the lair while we kill the monsters so that the lair will be firmly in our control in the end?”
“Is it going to be firmly in ‘our’ hands, or just in your hands?” Su Lun gritted his teeth. “At that time, even if I really become Golden Tooth’s gang leader, I’m just going to be your puppet and Golden Tooth will have to submit to Black Bone!”
“Golden Tooth has already submitted to Black Bone!” Xiong Wei suddenly pulled his eyes open and his voice grew stern. “Don’t you understand, from the day Saber Jin Wanhao fell into a coma, it was impossible for Golden Tooth to remain as strong as before!
“The only question is whether you’ll fall to the position of the second strongest gang in the lair or the third, fourth, fifth, and then just keep plummeting until you shatter!
“If you work with me, Golden Tooth might still be able to claim the position of the second strongest gang. But if you reject my kindness, Golden Tooth will be done for. You’ll also be dead meat, Red Brows Su Lun!”
While Xiong Wei spoke, he straightened his sharp, dagger-like thumb and made the motion of slicing his throat.
His aggressive attitude was clear.
Su Lun’s eyelids twitched.
He was drenched in cold sweat, and his exquisite hairstyle slathered with a lot of hair wax began to fall down in clumps.
He was just a frail scholar who came from Dragon City University.
He did not have to struggle by having to grow up in the foul-smelling lair nor felt his life being on the line every day, much less could ignore the lives of others and himself; he was not an old-school gang member.
He was conflicted for a total of ten seconds.
“What should we do now?” he said in the end with great difficulty.
Phantom Bear Xiong Wei smiled in satisfaction.
“We’ll look for Poison Scorpion and in the name of Black Bone and Golden Tooth working together ask it to choose a highest temporary commander with us,” Xiong Wei said. “My son died, and Meng Chao is still busying himself around us in the dark. His master, the abnormal beast who created the Deification Capsule and planned the explosion in Leprosy Village is still lurking somewhere and plotting his next step as well.
“We’re in a critical situation, so it’s only natural that we must choose a highest commander and unify all the forces in the lair. As long as you support my suggestion as Golden Tooth’s representative, Poison Scorpion won’t be against it.
“And if Black Bone, Golden Tooth, and Poison Scorpion speak together, the other middle-sized and small gangs will obediently hand over their authority.”
“Got it.” Su Lun narrowed his eyes. “Then, Gang Leader Xiong, you will naturally mobilize all the resources in the lair in the name of the highest commander.”
“Wrong.” Xiong Wei smiled. “The person I will recommend as the highest commander will not be me, but you, Red Brows Su Lun.”
Su Lun was stunned once more.
“I told you that I am actually a very reasonable person who knows his limits,” Xiong Wei said. “If I recommend myself as the highest temporary commander, Golden Tooth and Poison Scorpion will definitely reject it. The other middle-sized and small gangs might not reject it upfront, but when we carry out our missions, they will definitely become obstacles. They won’t give their all for the missions. There’s no meaning in being that sort of highest temporary commander.
“But you’re different, over the past few years, you’ve done plenty of things for the lair and created the impression that you’re smart and are used to thinking of problems in terms of the overall situation in the lair. Besides, you’re a professional manager and don’t have a foundation in the lair. You’ll face the least amount of obstacles if you became a temporary highest commander. The wild people will have the easiest time accepting you.
“Don’t be worried that you won’t be a good highest temporary commander. I’ll personally support you.”
His last words made Su Lun frown a little. He could not help but say, “At the end of the day, even if I become the highest commander, I’ll still be just your puppet!”
“Not a puppet. You’re my think-tanker, military adviser, and second-in-command.” Xiong Wei smiled slightly. “I really do admire your brain. Red Brows Su Lun, you were born to be the best military adviser.
“Don’t go thinking that I’m lying to you. When Xiong Ying was still alive, he did everything he could to bring you over to Black Bone. He even promised that you’d have more authority and resources than in Golden Tooth. Did you think that he’d have the courage to make these promises without me suggesting them to him?”