Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Life at Stake

“What do you mean, sir?” Vivi asked, puzzled.

“How do you carve a path where there is none?” Emilia squinted. “You take a path that leads to certain death. Even the gods would have to relent, allowing a dying struggle that only invites ridicule.”

“Do you really believe Summer Yan still has a chance to survive?” Vivi was confused. “The whole world thinks he’s doomed, that there’s no way out. Someone like Wenzhe isn’t foolish; as a leader, his strategies are flawless, without a single loophole.”

“Let’s give it a try. After all, death is inevitable.” Emilia chuckled lightly. “Summer Yan, everyone in this world thinks you’re dead meat. Only I hold onto a sliver of hope. Whether you grasp it or not is up to you.”

No one believed in Summer Yan anymore, except for her, who still clung to a faint hope.

The negotiation began.

“Mr. Summer Yan, you have violated our rules and then exploited another. The Free Zone will guarantee your safety within this city,” Wenzhe said, narrowing his eyes. “I don’t care if the whole world hears our conversation. You must always remember your identity: you are a fugitive wanted by the Free Zone.”

“So what you’re saying is, I can stay in the Free Zone indefinitely? Then I might as well spend my whole life here, with my safety guaranteed forever by you?” Summer Yan sneered. “If that’s the case, I can accept your proposal.”

“That’s impossible,” Wenzhe shook his head. “Summer Yan, the clock starts now. I’m giving you ten hours to leave the Free Zone. If you stay beyond that, we will act within the city.”

“Even if that breaks the rules?” Summer Yan gestured toward the Clean Chain around his neck.

“Even if it breaks the rules!” Wenzhe nodded. “The Free Zone has its dignity. As a wanted fugitive, you brazenly entering the Free Zone has crossed a red line. We cannot allow a wanted criminal to leave unscathed—that would disgrace the Free Zone’s honor.”

Summer Yan frowned, feeling the weight of Wenzhe’s words pressing down on him.

Escaping unscathed without paying a price was nearly impossible.

“Mr. Summer Yan, I’m negotiating with you to prove the Free Zone’s integrity. I’m offering you a chance to live—within ten hours, no one in the Free Zone will lay a hand on you,” Wenzhe continued.

That statement was almost laughable—ten hours inside the Free Zone.

In other words, once he stepped beyond the Free Zone into the wilderness, Summer Yan’s safety would be compromised, even if he left within an hour.

Once he stepped out, the Free Zone’s assassins would be on him immediately.

And if he remained inside after ten hours, the Free Zone would kill him without hesitation. They would never tolerate his survival.

Wenzhe added, “Regarding this Clean Chain, I, Wenzhe, promise that no matter who stands behind Mr. Summer Yan, I will return this item and provide compensation. If the other party refuses the Clean Chain, we will refund the one hundred and fifty diamond coins.”

There was no loophole left to exploit. Summer Yan couldn’t deny the offer, and even if he tried, Wenzhe wouldn’t accept.

At that moment, Wenzhe looked at Summer Yan as if he were already dead.

Despair was absolute; there was no way out.

Only forward remained—but before him lay a boundless cliff, below which was a thousand-foot-tall forest of shattered stones.

Many eyes watched Summer Yan, curious about what he would do.

Reject?

Death.

Accept?

Death.

“I can accept ten hours,” Summer Yan said without hesitation. “But after I leave the Free Zone, will you throw everything you have at killing me?”

“To deal with a weakling like you, we don’t need to go all out. Don’t overestimate yourself,” Wenzhe said disdainfully, as if looking at an ant. “Any one of our Five-Star or higher operatives can kill you as easily as slaughtering a chicken. But if you want me, Wenzhe, to kill you personally, I might consider it. After all, that would be a small favor.”

“A Five-Star operative could easily finish me off?” Summer Yan sneered. “Then let’s make a deal: you may send someone to kill me, but only one person, and only a Five-Star operative.”

Wenzhe’s expression turned scornful.

“Mr. Wenzhe, you can easily send someone with 59% brain domain development, one of the strongest among Five-Star operatives, to kill me,” Summer Yan baited.

“No,” Wenzhe immediately corrected himself, regardless of his earlier boast. “I’m well aware of your background. You once easily killed a demon race with about 50% brain domain development. We won’t take such risks. Even a one percent chance that a Five-Star operative might not be your match is unacceptable. We need at least a Six-Star operative.”

“Fine.” Summer Yan narrowed his eyes and surprisingly agreed. “In that case, just have my enemies hunt me down. No need for an operative. Let a Level Six mutated beast handle it.”

“Agreed,” Wenzhe nodded.

“Also, I want your guarantee that no force within the entire Free Zone will attack me in the wilderness. Not a single person—from any faction attending this auction or otherwise,” Summer Yan added.

The six great powers outside the Free Zone, like Western Zhe and Tao Lu, were beyond their jurisdiction, and the Free Zone had no right to interfere with their actions in the wild. Doing so would violate treaties and be seen as a provocation.

Therefore, Summer Yan’s condition could only apply to factions within the Free Zone.

Wenzhe hesitated briefly but then nodded. “Fine. I will have our personnel stationed outside the city to monitor and prevent any incidents.”

“What if you fail?” Summer Yan stared at him.

Wenzhe frowned. “What do you mean?”

“If we’re negotiating, there must be guarantees. Empty promises are meaningless,” Summer Yan shook his head. “Mr. Wenzhe, if you can’t uphold this, then you might as well die.”

Summer Yan spoke earnestly. “In the eyes of the world, if you break your promise, you deserve death. Even if you don’t admit it or refuse to die, I can’t kill you, but those absolute development operatives will find a way to ensure your death.”

His words stunned everyone. A pawn as insignificant as an ant had just laid down such a demand.

Many looked at Summer Yan, their eyes filled with fear.

No wonder this black-haired youth agreed so readily earlier—his backup was here all along. He was daring to play a deadly game with the Free Zone’s leader and those on the brink of absolute development.

Madness beyond madness!