RNP Page 116
Page 116
John Wick asked skeptically, "Are you sure you're not talking about the Kojiki or the Nihon Shoki?"
"I'm a bounty hunter; I know all the folklore and mythology from around the world. You can't fool me."
"I have no reason to lie to you about this."
Wang Jiang sighed helplessly: "This is not a top secret. Not many people in the Fierce Ghost Clan know this story, but many people in the Snake Clan do know this story and the true origin of the Japanese hybrid bloodline."
The Demon Clan is definitely no match for the Snake Clan.
The Snake Clan has always consciously marginalized, or even imprisoned, those hybrids with a high potential for depravity.
Normal members of the race are elites, young masters and ladies, who receive good education and care, while hybrids at risk of falling into depravity are just prisoners, whose abilities in all aspects are worrisome.
Before the appearance of the King, the Demon Clan was nearly wiped out by the Snake-Headed Eight Families. It was under the King's leadership that the Demon Clan gradually turned the tide and gained a foothold in the Kansai region.
"This is not what I expected, nor is it what you promised me."
John Wick frowned: "I thought the one sealed at the bottom of the sea was the real White King, and you promised to give me a part of the skeleton containing the spirit of the White King."
According to you, the White King is just a newly born Yamata no Orochi. The most useful part of his body is that sacred skeleton. The other bones are not entirely useless, but they are ultimately unable to help me evolve to a higher level.
I don't think you'll give me the relics.
"Even if I give you the sacred remains, you won't be able to use them. Only the White King's descendants can use the White King's sacred remains. Besides, do you really think that if the White King is sealed in the Divine Burial Ground, we can handle it?"
John Wickmer remained silent; he truly didn't believe he could handle the complete White King, let alone Gao Kui.
Mai Shude says he is Constantine, the King of Bronze and Fire, and has an older brother named Norton. He and Norton must merge to achieve the final evolution, while the White King is born "complete" and is stronger than the four kings.
"You only provided a deep-sea submersible; we don't even need you to dive underwater and risk your life to jointly open the burial site."
Wang spoke coldly, holding up two fingers: "I'll propose a plan. If you think it's suitable, then we can cooperate. If not, then we'll each rely on our own abilities."
The task of diving underwater and blowing up the burial site will be carried out by our Fierce Ghosts. You only need to protect the site on the surface, and whether you want to protect the site or not is up to you.
After the burial site is blown open, we will work together to slay the Yamata no Orochi. The sacred remains will be ours, and the Yamata no Orochi's corpse will be yours. Please state any other conditions you may have.”
"Why must the relics belong to you?"
“You are not a descendant of the White King, you cannot use the Holy Relic.”
"I am the Dragon King. How will I know it won't work if I don't try?"
"That means there's nothing to talk about?"
"Without me, how could you have killed the Yamata no Orochi and obtained the sacred remains?" John Wick ignited his golden eyes, turning his black pupils into crimson gold, with molten lava seemingly churning and surging within them.
"Not always."
The king sneered, igniting his golden eyes as well. Beneath the official's iron mask, a pair of aged eyes also turned crimson gold, dazzling and unbearable to look at. In terms of sheer power and eye color, they were in no way inferior to John Wick.
A humanoid dragon king is, in the end, just a humanoid dragon king, and one who hasn't awakened the heart of a dragon king. In reality, he might not be much stronger than a royal-level hybrid.
“Two against one, the advantage is in my hands.” Wang Jiang reminded John Wick not to forget that there was also Kazama Ruri.
If the two of them join forces, they might be able to defeat an Yamata no Orochi, or a humanoid dragon king without the heart of a dragon king.
"Who is the two, and who is the one?"
John Wick looked up at Kazama Ruri, remembering how she had ambitiously wanted to discuss cooperation with him, bypassing the King, back in the car.
Meeting John Wick's gaze, Kazama Ruri remained unfazed, standing behind the king while holding her black umbrella.
She would have been delighted to team up with John Wick to ambush and kill the King General if they had reached a private agreement, but unfortunately, they couldn't. Now, with tensions high and both sides prepared, she would definitely side with the King General who had a way to control her.
The king looked at John Wick, whose golden eyes beneath the nobleman's iron mask held a half-smile.
“Fine, the sacred remains are yours, and the corpse of Yamata no Orochi is mine.”
John Wick backed down, extinguishing his golden eyes: "However, don't expect me to do much in the hunt for Yamata no Orochi."
"You won't be part of the main force hunting down Yamata no Orochi."
After extinguishing his golden eyes and making his promise, Wang reassured John Wick: "You're not at a loss. In the end, all you gave up was a deep-sea submersible, wasn't it? Without that submersible, we can simply build one ourselves and wait a few more years to execute the plan."
Once the terms were agreed upon, the atmosphere between the two sides returned to its initial harmonious state, at least on the surface. In reality, neither could completely trust the other.
“When will the plan be implemented?” John Wick asked.
"The plan can begin whenever your deep-sea submersible is ready."
"You Ghosts need to resolve the initial problems first before my deep-sea submersible can arrive."
John Wick listed the troubles and obstacles one by one: "First of all, there is the Snake Clan. The Snake Clan did not blockade that sea area, but they built multiple mobile platforms on the sea and stationed a large number of people there."
I purchased my submersible from James Cameron, though the transaction hasn't been publicly disclosed yet. Many people around the world know that James Cameron wants to use this submersible to realize his deep-sea dream.
We can approach that area under the guise of James Cameron's testing team; the Snake Clan shouldn't object. However, if they discover we've lingered above the Shrine of the Gods for too long, they'll realize our intentions and disrupt our plans.
"When we actually execute the plan, the Snake Clan will not be a problem for us."
Without hesitation, Wang Jiang stated his strategy: "Before we actually execute the plan, I will lead all members of the Fierce Demon Clan to launch an attack on the properties, strongholds, and even the headquarters of the Snake Clan."
Perhaps even the members of the Snake Clan stationed on the offshore platforms will be recalled to the Japanese mainland to defend against our attack, giving you ample opportunity to enter that area and dive underwater to carry out your plan.
"all?"
"All of them!" the king declared resolutely and coldly.
John Wick suddenly laughed and said, "I suddenly remembered an old Chinese saying: 'One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand.' Your name is Wang Jiang, and you truly deserve it."
John Wick learned from Mai Shude what the King had said to the members of the Ghosts: he would lead the Ghosts to resurrect the White King and ask for his blessing to heal their bloodline defects.
At this moment, the king's actions are completely contrary to his promises to the members of the Fierce Ghosts.
"This is a necessary sacrifice."
Chapter 144 Erii
How indifferent.
The king repeatedly told the demons who believed he was their savior, "The demons will never succumb to fate; we still have a future. We will bring back the White King at any cost and achieve salvation."
Those demons who were abandoned by the Snake Clan and then "saved" by the King will never know that they are the price to pay.
But what does this have to do with John Wick?
He was just doing things for Mai and the others. After fulfilling his promise, he would board a plane to China, to Sichuan or Shaanxi, to find his unborn brother.
He doesn't really care about the White King, the Holy Remains, or anything like that, at least not right now.
John Wick nodded: "If you can hold off the Snake Clan, at least in terms of the initial plan, it will be foolproof."
"No, it's not foolproof."
Wang shook his head and said, "Theoretically speaking, there is another figure in Japan who is more troublesome and dangerous than the Snake-Headed Eight Families. With him around, we probably won't be able to carry out our mission so easily."
"Who?"
“Prince Gao Kui of Northern Qi,” the king announced, uttering a name familiar to John Wick.
Standing behind the king, Kazama Ruri's eyes glazed over for a moment, wondering if the king knew something and how much he knew. However, she did not make any rash moves for the time being.
John Wick frowned slightly, unsure how to respond to the topic.
Jiu Demai said that when negotiating with the king, one should maintain a strong but accommodating attitude, and that's what he did just now. But now the king suddenly brought up Gao Kui, leaving John Wick at a loss for words.
If the king says he wants to kill Gao Kui first, should he give in?
Mai Shude didn't say what her relationship with Gao Kui was, but even a blind person could see that she valued him highly. Mai Shude's team also valued him highly. Would she offend her boss if she sold Gao Kui out?
“Where are the princes of Northern Qi in danger? Aren’t they here in Japan for a study tour?” John Wick said vaguely.
“Mr. Wick, if you really think the prince of Northern Qi is here in Japan for a study tour, then you are seriously underestimating the strongest hybrid in the world over the past century.”
The water surface rippled even more, the fishing rod trembled, and Wang Jiang jerked the rod up, catching a Japanese koi weighing over three pounds.
A red, white, and black koi carp flew in an arc and landed in the king's hand, its colorful scales dazzling.
Wang coiled the fishing line twice in his palm, roughly pulled the hook, and said, "For the past few decades, Angers has been eyeing Japan covetously, that's beyond doubt."
In 1946, Angers came to the country for the first time and overwhelmingly defeated the head of the Hebi-Hachi family, forcing them to sign a humiliating treaty and become an vassal of the European Secret Party.
Even so, it still couldn't satisfy Angers. The so-called Japanese branch belonged first and foremost to the Snake Clan, and only secondarily to Kassel. What Angers wanted was to truly integrate the Japanese hybrids into the Kassel system.
After you attacked the Kassel headquarters, Angers couldn't wait to send the Northern Qi prince and the eldest son of the Gattuso family to Japan for a study tour. Do you think this was a coincidence or an unintentional act?
Angers definitely knows something and is plotting something. Even if he doesn't intend to do anything, we should be prepared for the worst.
Aside from Tachibana Masamune, the patriarch of the Snake Clan, and the possible Emperor, he is currently the only hybrid in Japan who can threaten you and Ruri.
As far as I'm concerned, the Northern Qi prince is a man of Kassel, and he is naturally on the opposite side of the Fierce Ghost Clan. Once we execute the plan, the Fierce Ghost Clan will surface, and once they know of the existence of the "ghosts," a rift will inevitably develop between Kassel and the Snake Clan.
Before settling scores with the Snake Clan, Cassel will definitely join forces with them to wipe us out first. Demons and Deadpools are the enemies of all hybrids.
Personally, you have a grudge against Kassel. Once it's revealed that you were also involved in the plan, Angers will probably let the Northern Qi prince interfere no matter what.
Since that's the case, it's better to treat Kassel and the Northern Qi prince as potential enemies from the beginning and make thorough preparations. Otherwise, if we're halfway through the plan and scrambling to deal with Kassel and the Northern Qi prince, it will be too late for regrets.
"A very forward-thinking decision, almost comparable to Japan's plan to attack Pearl Harbor during World War II."
John Wick sarcastically remarked: "To risk a surprise attack on the Northern Qi prince without even knowing whether Kassel would intervene would only create a powerful enemy for no reason..."
I don't think you can handle him, just like Japan couldn't handle the United States during World War II.
Kazama Ruri frowned slightly.
She took the lead in carrying out the Dragon Origin Project in order to evolve into a true dragon, break free from the control of the king, and meet the prince as a princess.
Now that Wang wants to deal with Gao Kui before the plan is implemented, she can no longer sit idly by.
"I didn't say I wanted to kill the prince of Northern Qi. I've seen a few short videos of your fight with him, but they still gave a glimpse into the prince's tenacious vitality."
Killing him would be difficult, but if we just want to stall him and ensure he doesn't disrupt our plans, that's incredibly simple. After all, he's mentally unstable.
Wang Jiang calmly explained, and then confidently said, "If handled properly, we might even be able to use the Northern Qi prince to hold back the top fighting force of the Snake Clan, achieving two goals at once."
Are you not going to kill the prince of Northern Qi?
Kazama Ruri and John Wick's brows relaxed. As long as Gao Kui wasn't killed, everything was negotiable.
"It seems you already have a complete plan targeting the prince of Northern Qi."
"Quite complete."
"Would it be convenient for you to introduce yourself?"