The evening sun, like blood, dyed the sky red; a streak of golden light fell down, landing on the old lady's wrinkled face, giving an impression of horror, as if she was a demon crawling out of hell. Her deep-set eyes slightly narrowed, the light of scrutiny flickering within, locked onto Luo Zheng, while the ard personnel around were all vigilantly watching Luo Zheng, poised as if facing a formidable foe.
Luo Zheng calmly looked into the old lady's eyes and said quietly, "It depends on you. If you think it's wealth, then it's wealth. If you think not, then it isn't. It doesn't matter what I say."
"Hahaha, interesting. I've seen many people like you, playing mind gas with . You're still too inexperienced. Get out." The old lady scoffed coldly, slamming an M9 army knife onto the table, issuing an order to drive them away.
The ard personnel surrounding them heard the old lady's words, they converged imdiately, their gun barrels locked onto Luo Zheng, fearing he might make any drastic moves. Beside him, Zhang Zheng was startled by the old lady's words and subsequently sighed, saying, "The negotiation has failed, let's go."
"Is that so? I don't think so. There are quite a few people in this city doing your kind of work, aren't there?" Luo Zheng glanced dismissively at the ard personnel around him and once again locked eyes with the old lady, saying coldly, "If I spread the word that I'm procuring goods worth one billion dollars, what do you think will happen?"
"Ridiculous." The old lady scoffed coldly.
"There's order within the business; it can't be done like that," Zhang Zheng hurriedly whispered in Mandarin.
"Is that so?" Luo Zheng ignored Zhang Zheng, continuing to look at the old lady, "What if it's five billion?"
The old lady coldly stared at Luo Zheng, turned away, her face showing impatience. The ard personnel around were about to resort to force, but Luo Zheng caught a glimpse of greed and excitent in her eyes as she turned. Feeling confident, he dismissively continued, "If the tribes in the east hear about this, I wonder what they'll think?"
"Are you threatening ?" The old lady suddenly turned around, grabbing the M9 army dagger on the table, erupting in rage. She effortlessly overturned the table in front of her, stepped forward swiftly, the sharp blade of the M9 resting against Luo Zheng's throat.
"Quick move, but it's useless against . Killing brings you no benefit." Luo Zheng scoffed coldly, quietly keeping his guard up. Betting on the old lady's greedy psychology was one thing, but risking one's life was another. Luo Zheng never did anything he wasn't sure about.
"You've got guts, kid. I sll a soldier's scent on you. Interesting." The old lady suddenly withdrew the army knife, holding it in a reverse grip, retreating two steps soundlessly but cautiously assessing Luo Zheng. She gestured to the ard personnel around to lower their weapons, continuing, "You're not here to procure jewels; matters unrelated to jewels have nothing to do with . You may leave."
Luo Zheng sneered, having seen through her tactic of retreating to advance, saying, "If that's the case, then I'll take my leave. I hope when your subordinates learn you've given up on such a huge profit, they'll continue to serve you loyally." After quickly glancing at the lead guard and noticing his furrowed brows and slight discontent as he looked at the old lady, he felt assured, sneered silently, and walked downstairs.
Zhang Zheng didn't expect Luo Zheng to be so tough in negotiations, his face changed dramatically. Worriedly, he glanced at the old lady and then the surrounding ard personnel, but seeing they showed no signs of acting, he felt sowhat relieved and quickly caught up with Luo Zheng heading for the stairs, only to be blocked by a gun from an ard personnel at the stairway entrance.
Luo Zheng stopped, looked calmly at the ard personnel holding the gun, turned around with a cheeky expression towards the old lady, and said dismissively, "What, want to keep us for dinner? Honestly, I have no interest in your cuisine."
"Hahaha, this is interesting. Co, pour the wine!" Suddenly, the old lady burst into a hearty laugh, her wrinkled face twitching, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, eerily under the sunlight.
Beside him, Zhang Zheng delightedly whispered to Luo Zheng in Mandarin, "It's settled, pouring wine ans agreeing to give a pass." His face full of excitent, he looked at Luo Zheng with admiration.
Luo Zheng calmly walked up. The surrounding ard personnel lowered their aid weapons but remained vigilantly on guard. At this mont, a lady, with her head covered and dressed in a black robe, ca over holding a wooden tray, on which lay sothing that looked like parchnt. She placed the tray on the table and swiftly retreated.
Beside him, Zhang Zheng quickly reminded, "Pouring wine is just a saying; inside the tray is the pass, exchange it for a eting gift."
Luo Zheng slowly took a check for ten thousand dollars from his inner pocket, placed it on the table, seeing the old lady made no move, picked up the parchnt, and, as she remained still, folded it and put it away. He looked at Zhang Zheng, who quickly understood the protocol and whispered in Mandarin, "Let's go."
The two turned to leave, none of the ard personnel stopped them. The two descended the stairs smoothly, the ard personnel followed, escorting them to the parking area, where ard personnel watched over the car. The nearby residents dared not approach. Watching Luo Zheng and the others erge, with their own people behind them, the guards imdiately understood what was happening, quickly dispersed, allowing Luo Zheng and Zhang Zheng to get into the car.
Zhang Zheng hurriedly started the car, turned around, and drove away in haste, repeatedly glancing back nervously until they left the slum. He then exhaled fully, gratefully saying to Luo Zheng, "That was close, never heard of anyone daring to talk to Mumu like that. Almost couldn't get out."
"Is that so?" Luo Zheng said calmly, "Everyone has weaknesses, just depends on whether you can spot them. For soone like Mumu, the middleman, survival assurance is money. Without it, you can't maintain forces; without forces, you can't secure your own safety. A deal can be refused, but you should never refuse a big deal that cos to you, even if this deal may not be real, her subordinates might beco disheartened."
Luo Zheng was sure of this, so he wasn't worried about refusal. If the middleman were a strong, powerful individual, Luo Zheng wouldn't dare use this thod. But Mumu was already an old lady, considerably aged, unable to withstand turmoil. Such people share a common trait: making one last big score before retiring, Luo Zheng was sure she had this intention too.
The reality proved him right; Luo Zheng felt relieved, but didn't want to discuss the intricacies involved. Zhang Zheng, an experienced hand, had dealt with such people, could guess parts of it but hadn't imagined Luo Zheng could see this angle and dare to exploit it, leaving him impressed and more convinced of Luo Zheng's intricacy, looking forward to a successful retirent, he said, "Things will be easier now. When should we proceed? I'd like to make so preparations."
"Next, you need not go. Secretly go to the embassy to seek protection and discreetly leave here. Rember, leave quietly, don't expose yourself, or we'll face trouble and serious consequences," Luo Zheng cautioned.
"Understood." Upon hearing this, Zhang Zheng was more convinced his guess was correct, that sothing major was about to happen, and promptly agreed.
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