Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

Chapter 554: Chapter 121 Different Ways! _1

”Commander Lin is looking for me? What’s the matter?”

Ever since I took over Tang Haofei’s position, I haven’t seen Lin Haifeng once. All the military and political affairs of the entire Yanjing Assembly Site have been handed over to Fang Bai and others. According to Fang Bai, Lin Haifeng’s future office might permanently reside in the Eternal Sky City. For Lin Haifeng to seek me out for the first time, something significant must have happened.

”I don’t know.”

Ray shook his head, indicating he didn’t know.

And the level of confidentiality is quite high... Wen Yu added silently.

「...」

Descending the stairs of the northern city wall, a military vehicle had been waiting for Wen Yu for some time.

After getting into the military vehicle, the driver quickly started it. Amidst the engine’s roar, the vehicle sped towards the military headquarters in the inner city zone.

Observing the driver’s breakneck speed, as if he were rushing to reincarnate, Wen Yu squinted, lost in thought.

「...」

The military headquarters in the inner city zone still looked the same.

Come to think of it, since arriving in Yanjing, I’ve mostly been wandering the outer city zone; I haven’t returned to the inner city zone even once. I think I still have an apartment here... I wonder if Old Lin gave my place to other Sequence members as a favor... Wen Yu mused jokingly as he looked at the familiar scenery of the inner city zone.

The military vehicle encountered no obstacles on its way to the military headquarters—in fact, the vehicle Wen Yu was in was Lin Haifeng’s personal car.

It drove right up to the military headquarters building. Then, led by another of Lin Haifeng’s trusted aides, Wen Yu made his way to Lin Haifeng’s office.

Pushing the door open, he found only Lin Haifeng and Fang Bai in the room.

「...」

It had been some days since they last met, and Lin Haifeng had more strands of white in his hair. This wasn’t a sign of a reduced lifespan; every time a professionist advanced a level, it was a fundamental transformation of their life essence, naturally extending their lifespan.

The white hairs on his head were merely a sign of overwork—Old Lin was truly busy.

Although I don’t quite understand who Old Lin is working so hard for, everyone has their own ideals and goals. And I can, to some extent, respect the effort one puts into achieving those ideals and goals.

Hearing the creak of the door, Lin Haifeng slowly lifted his head.

Seeing the glint in Lin Haifeng’s eyes, Wen Yu felt a chill.

Great authority breeds confidence, and authority, to some extent, can be considered a form of individual strength. Recalling the army’s combat capabilities I observed on the front lines recently, a sense of vigilance suddenly arose within me. This Lin Haifeng... it seems I’ve consistently underestimated him. Strictly speaking, Lin Haifeng is the man standing at the pinnacle of the Human Race.

「...」

”Sit.”

Lin Haifeng casually pointed to a nearby sofa, motioning for Wen Yu to sit. Lin Haifeng himself rapidly reviewed the files in his hand. In less time than it takes to brew a cup of tea, the dozens of pages had been flipped through.

He expertly signed his name, handed the document to Fang Bai, and then waved him away.

Once Fang Bai had left the office, Lin Haifeng finally relaxed, leaning back rather inelegantly in his comfortable chair and stretching deeply.

”What did you call me for?”

Wen Yu, unable to bear the prolonged silence and seeing Lin Haifeng showed no sign of speaking first, decisively asked.

”So impatient during your hard-earned vacation?”

Wen Yu pursed his lips. For me, killing Demon Fiends is the best spice of life—it might even be my entire life right now.

Seeing Wen Yu’s expression, Lin Haifeng slowly let his smile fade and got straight to the point.

”We’ve received a message from Tang Haofei’s side. We’ve officially formed an alliance with the Sea Clan. In about half a month, the Sea Tribe Legion will come ashore to help us eliminate the Demon Army outside the Yanjing Assembly Site.”

「...」

”That’s it?”

Lin Haifeng chuckled. ”I guess you’re thinking, ’An alliance is an alliance, what does that have to do with me?’ Right?”

Impressively, Lin Haifeng’s imitation perfectly captured Wen Yu’s nonchalant demeanor and flat tone.

”An alliance is an alliance. What does that have to do with me?” Wen Yu decisively stuck to his own conversational rhythm.

Seeing Wen Yu’s nonchalant attitude, Lin Haifeng paused for a moment, then said with a hint of resignation, ”It’s true, it has nothing to do with you. But it has to do with me. And you need to help me.”

”Help you?” Wen Yu scoffed. ”Make an offer.”

Business had come knocking; there was no reason to refuse.

「...」

”You want to obtain a light attribute skill scroll in the Sequence Member-Ranking Battle, right? What level do you need?”

”Species-specific Esoteric Level.”

That was pure extortion, but isn’t that how bargaining works?

”I don’t have Esoteric Level, but I have SSS-Class ones, even several. We can make up the difference with items and other skills.”

Lin Haifeng answered quickly, but it was precisely this swift response that made Wen Yu hesitate.

Everyone knew how precious Esoteric Level skills were. So far, fewer than twenty had appeared among the Human Race, and that included Tang Haofei, that monster who possessed five of them. According to current intelligence, if Tang Haofei was excluded, other humans held about ten Esoteric Level skills in total. Considering the Human Race’s current population of two to three billion, one could imagine how minuscule that proportion was.

It was within my expectations that Lin Haifeng couldn’t possibly produce an Esoteric Level skill. Given the current dire war situation, any Esoteric Level skill would inevitably be converted into combat power. With the military’s resources, even if the requirements were high or the Skill Effects of an Esoteric Level skill were bizarre, the military would find a way to learn and utilize it. However, judging by the phrase ”make up the difference,” in Lin Haifeng’s mind, this ”business” must be worth a Species-specific Esoteric Level skill—or at least, it was valued as such. And high value meant high risk and high difficulty...

「...」

”So, what is it exactly?” Wen Yu asked, frowning.

Seeing this, Lin Haifeng let out a soft sigh. Wen Yu has agreed to the price... And that means the deal is just one step away from success...

With this thought, Lin Haifeng took a sip of his tea and began to speak slowly, ”There’s an old saying in Cathay: ’He who is not of my race, his heart will be different.’”

「...」

When Lin Haifeng uttered the words, ”He who is not of my race, his heart will be different,” I suddenly felt a figurative toothache. Connecting this to what he’d said earlier about the Sea Tribes Alliance, I already knew what Lin Haifeng was getting at.

Lin Haifeng paid no mind to Wen Yu’s churning thoughts and continued, ”Tang Haofei is an excellent young man... but he is a Son of Earth and of the divine beast race. Strictly speaking, he cannot be considered purely Human.”

”Moreover, his way of thinking is different from mine—or rather, from ours!”

At this point, Lin Haifeng picked up his teacup. Pacing around the office, he continued in a slow, deliberate tone, ”Do you know what all my efforts have been for?”

Wen Yu arched an eyebrow.

”I do it for the Human Race! For the survival of all humankind—regardless of skin color or nationality, every living Human, and even those who have passed, are my targets to protect!”

”But Tang Haofei is not! He does it for Earth!”

”Our paths... diverge...”