Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 188: Chapter 188. Striking a Deal

Amon didn’t show any sign of being intimidated. He said, ”I think you should know the Allure Beacon is useless if you don’t have the beast nectar. Since you are looking for the beacon, may I assume you have the recipe for this beast nectar brew?

Luan Xuan frowned again. He asked, ”I assume you also figured out this beast nectar all by yourself, smartass?”

”That is not important,” Amon said. ”I know what the beacon is used for. Since you are the rebels, I assume you want to use this artifact on the capital, don’t you?”

Luan Xuan didn’t say anything this time. He just played with the wine bottle in his hand.

Amon continued, ”I want to join your rebel group. Let me help you take down the kingdom.”

Luan Xuan blinked his eyes once. He didn’t expect this. He then burst into loud laughter. ”Hahaha...! Is this your attempt to save your life? Do you think I am a toddler, boy? You can say anything to try to save yourself. Hah! Join us? That’s a good one. How about I bring your friend who is still alive? You kill that person in front of me to show me that you mean what you said?”

”I already did,” Amon said.

”What?”

”I’ve already killed one of the students who were captured with me. Ask Pan Niang about it. She asked me to do it before bringing me to you. There is no one else except for Li Shi outside. Do you want me to kill her for you?”

Luan Xuan was a bit lost after hearing Amon. He thought about calling Pan Niang and confirming this with her, but why would Amon lie about it? Lying about something so easily found out would be the height of stupidity, and this boy didn’t look stupid. So, Amon should be telling the truth, which impressed him. He knew this boy was only fifteen years old. To be so ruthless at his age, if this boy was truly sincere about joining them, it would mean the rebels had gained a potentially valuable asset.

Yet, he couldn’t be sure of Amon’s intention.

”What is your purpose? Why do you want to help us? Do you have a beef with the kingdom or something?” Luan Xuan asked.

”I dislike the way they do things. My true clan was vanquished unjustly by another clan, but the kingdom didn’t do anything to help me enact justice.”

”True clan?” Luan Xuan had gotten information about all the captives from Pan Niang. He knew Amon was a member of the Lin clan from White Cloud City.

”My real name is Hei Mo. I was originally from the Hei clan. I joined the Lin clan because the Hei clan had been massacred.”

”Hm...,” Luan Xuan couldn’t tell if Amon was lying or not. He would need to send someone to gather the information in White Cloud City if he wanted to know.

”All right. Tell me where you stashed the Allure Beacon, and I will consider letting you join us,” Luan Xuan said.

”I don’t have the beacon. There is no such thing in the ruin,” Amon replied, which drew Luan Xuan’s frown again.

”But there is something else inside the ruin about the beacon,” Amon continued. ”It is the schematic to build the beacon.”

”Then give it!” Luan Xuan demanded.

From Luan Xuan’s response, Amon assumed he didn’t know that the Allure Beacon was made of special material and with a technique that had been lost to time. This made things easier for Amon. He didn’t have to make up too many explanations.

”I’ve burnt it already. I didn’t want the kingdom to get it when I found it, but I memorized everything in my mind. Give me a place to work and supply me with smithing materials. I should be able to make one for you if you give me enough time.”

”You...? What does a boy like you know about smithing?” Luan Xuan said mockingly.

”Plenty enough,” Amon said, not at all offended.

”Damn it! Why do I have to bother? I will just torture you and make you spill out everything you know about the schematic.”

”Go ahead. But you will never know for sure if what I tell you is the truth or if I intentionally twisted and kept some info hidden. Your smiths will never be able to build one. Even if they do, there will be flaws.”

Luan Xuan was displeased. How dare this boy negotiate with him. He wanted to just slap this boy into a paste. If it was his younger self, perhaps he would have. But since becoming one of the leaders of the rebels, he had learned that being a leader required one to not succumb to emotions most of the time.

He tapped his fingers on a side table next to the sofa. He was contemplating while giving Amon a hard stare. Amon didn’t avert his gaze from that stare.

”If I give you a place and the materials to work, how long will it take you to build this beacon?” Luan Xuan asked.

”I don’t know,” Amon answered.

”That’s not good enough!” Luan Xuan bellowed. ”Do you think I’m going to just give you what you want and wait for you for centuries to deliver?”

Amon acted as if he was giving the matter a thought. He said, ”One year then. I should be able to make one in one year.”

”Half a year!” Luan Xuan countered. ”If you fail to give us an Allure Beacon within this time frame, then to hell with it. I’m going to go the torturing road. Do you get me?”

”Fine, but I will require three things.”

”Are you trying to negotiate with me, boy?”

”I thought we have been doing it since I entered the next room with Pan Niang?”

Luan Xuan narrowed his eyes in a threatening gesture, but Amon wasn’t intimidated.

”What three things?” Luan Xuan finally said.

”Firstly, I need Tutor Shi to accompany me during my work. Her knowledge of history will be valuable if I require input.”

Luan Xuan rubbed his chin as he pondered. He then asked, ”What’s the second?”

”I need to see a copy of the recipe for the beast nectar. Understanding the liquid used with the beacon will help me improve my understanding of the beacon.”

A lengthy pause again before Luan Xuan said, ”And the third?”

”I want my belongings back. The clothes I wore when you first captured us, my space ring, and my necklace,” Amon replied.