17: Section 17

On the Lighthouse, being able to eat milk and bread already makes one an Upper Citizen.

This kind of steak is something even Upper Citizens can't eat.

Before Jing Yuan's surprise could fade, another maid began pouring red wine nearby.

Seeing Jing Yuan's surprised expression, Charles was very satisfied.

"Jing Yuan, we had some misunderstandings before. I hope to take this opportunity to explain things to you."

"Explain?" Jing Yuan looked at Charles with a surprised gaze. What kind of move was this?

"Come, bring him in." Charles waved his hand, and a young man was brought in, tightly bound.

Jing Yuan looked and saw it was actually Kalan.

Charles said, "This is the person who falsely accused you, which led to our subsequent misunderstanding. I have just interrogated him, and he said it was out of jealousy that he chose to deal with you this way. I have him tied up; how do you want to handle him?"

Jing Yuan looked at Kalan, then back at Charles, and said, "Lord Leader, I am not a law enforcement officer. How to handle him is up to you, Lord Leader!"

"It's fine, I'm giving you this opportunity. Even if you want him dead, I will help you dispose of him cleanly."

Hearing the word "dead," Kalan instantly panicked. "Lord Leader, I know I was wrong, please don't kill me!"

"You should be begging Jing Yuan!"

"Jing Yuan! Big brother Jing Yuan! I was wrong, I shouldn't have falsely accused you, please let me go!"

Jing Yuan's brow furrowed, wondering what kind of game Charles was playing.

Since Charles let him handle it, Jing Yuan didn't stand on ceremony and said directly, "Give him two days of solitary confinement! Don't kill him, and don't cripple him. The Lighthouse is currently in need of manpower; let's preserve such a labor force."

Charles glanced over and waved his hand. "Do as Jing Yuan says!"

Subsequently, Kalan was taken away.

Charles smiled again and said, "As for Ned, he has been dismissed and will not return. This punishment is already very heavy for him."

Jing Yuan looked at Charles, vaguely guessing some of his thoughts.

"Speaking of which, the matters between us were all misunderstandings."

"Lord Leader, if you have something to say, just say it directly!"

"Good! I like your directness!" Charles stared at Jing Yuan and said, "I admire you and hope you can become one of my people. Mark is just a Wilderness Hunter Commander. Whatever he can give you, I can give you, and what he can't give you, I can give you as well."

Jing Yuan smiled. As expected, Charles was planning to recruit him.

"Then I'd like to know, what can Lord Leader give me?"

Charles gestured for Jing Yuan to look at the table and said, "This is special supply food for the Lighthouse. Only a few people at the very top can enjoy it. If you work for me, I can let you enjoy special supply food too."

Jing Yuan gave a faint smile. Since it was to recruit him, he could eat the steak with peace of mind.

After all, in the many years since transmigrating, he hadn't eaten steak and was indeed craving it.

Jing Yuan unhurriedly used the dinner knife to cut a piece of steak and put it in his mouth to chew carefully.

Then he took a sip of red wine.

Jing Yuan's mannerisms were impeccable, even more refined than Charles's.

This couldn't help but disappoint Charles slightly, as he didn't see Jing Yuan's embarrassed state of devouring the food.

"Hmm, tastes good! Truly worthy of being special supply food." Jing Yuan looked at Charles and smiled. "But for Lord Leader to think he can bribe me with food, isn't that looking down on me a bit?"

Charles's brow furrowed, his expression about to change immediately.

Chapter 17: Going to the Hall of Dawn with Fan Lü

Seeing this, Fan Lü came to Charles's side to soothe his emotions.

Fan Lü looked at Jing Yuan and said, "Lord Leader is recruiting you with sincerity. If you need anything, you can mention it directly to Lord Leader!"

Charles had lived too smoothly; he couldn't stand it when others didn't follow his script.

Wasn't Jing Yuan's remark just asking for a price? Could he not hear that?

Honestly, Jing Yuan really looked down on Charles a bit; this recruitment method was too low.

Treating me like a Dust Citizen who hasn't seen the world?

With Fan Lü's reminder, Charles regained his smile. "Right, whatever your needs are, you can speak them out completely."

Jing Yuan shook his head inwardly. One who achieves great things does not show joy or anger. Charles's unpredictable expressions didn't make him look like someone who could succeed.

Thinking that Mark would lose to this kind of person in the future, he really felt it wasn't worth it for him.

"Lord Leader, besides this steak and red wine, haven't you prepared anything else?"

Charles smiled and said, "You're still living in the dormitory, right? I can arrange a high-level residence for you."

"What else?"

Charles's brow furrowed. "I said, you can make demands. Power, wealth, status—I can satisfy them all."

"Good!" Jing Yuan nodded. "Then I'll be direct. Besides the special supply food and residence Lord Leader mentioned, I also want power."

"Deal!"

"Could Lord Leader help me secure the position of Deputy Captain of the Wasteland Hunters? When the time is right, I will replace Mark as the Wilderness Hunter Commander. By then, Mark will have no position or power and won't pose a threat to Lord Leader."

Charles was stunned. Had Jing Yuan planned this all out?

Wasn't this exactly what he wanted?

Recruiting Jing Yuan was specifically to deal with Mark. Jing Yuan had even thought of the plan.

Charles said happily, "Deal!"

"I also want some contribution points!"

"No problem!"

"One last thing!"

Charles was imagining Mark losing power and was happy, so he was granting all of Jing Yuan's requests.

"Speak!"

"I want a woman!"

Charles was surprised and said, "You should know that old world emotions are forbidden on the Lighthouse. Do you want to publicly violate the three great laws?"

Jing Yuan smiled. "I only said I wanted a woman, not emotions."

Charles understood and said with a smile, "You want me to arrange for you to go to the Hall of Dawn."

Jing Yuan also smiled and made a 'you know what I mean' gesture.

"Not only that, but I request a specific target."

Charles smiled. People always have one weakness or another that can be exploited!

"No problem!"

"Good! It's a deal. You first support me in becoming the Wilderness Hunter Commander, and I'll help you take the City Lord's throne." Jing Yuan stood up, pointed at Fan Lü, and said, "Then tonight, arrange for me and her to go to the Hall of Dawn!"

"What did you say?" Charles was furious, standing up and slamming the table as he roared.

Jing Yuan feigned confusion. "Lord Leader, didn't we just agree? I want a designated woman to go to the Hall of Dawn with me. I'm designating Fan Lü to go with me now!"

"Say that again!" Charles lowered his voice, extremely angry.

Jing Yuan smiled and said, "I said, arrange for Fan Lü to go to the Hall of Dawn with me!"

Charles was very angry; he felt Jing Yuan was playing him.

Fan Lü, however, knelt on one knee and said, "Fan Lü is willing to share Lord Leader's burdens!"

Seeing no response from Charles, Jing Yuan asked with a smile, "Lord Leader, do you not agree?"

"Fan Lü is the Light Bearer of the Light and Shadow Society! She doesn't need to perform Breeding Missions!" Charles's tone was low; he was trying to find a way out for Jing Yuan.

"In the Light and Shadow Society, who does what is just a matter of one word from Lord Leader." Jing Yuan looked at Charles with interest.

"Humph! Aren't there many women in the Wasteland Hunters? You can pick any one you like." Charles turned around, his patience at its limit.

Jing Yuan also stood up and said with a faint smile, "Lord Leader, you also know that City Lord Morgan is getting old; he will eventually need a successor. City Lord Morgan holds Mark in high regard, which is obvious to everyone. In the future, who will lead the Lighthouse forward? Whoever does will be the savior of humanity! Future bards will constantly chant his name! Lord Leader, compared to these things, what does one woman matter?"

Charles turned his head sharply and stared at Jing Yuan.

In his eyes, there was excitement, longing, hesitation, and anger.

Jing Yuan knew he had hit the Mark.

Charles walked toward Jing Yuan, his tone suddenly much more relaxed. "Do you really think you're in a position to negotiate with me?"

"It's Lord Leader who wants to negotiate with me."

"I'll give you one chance, change your choice!"

Jing Yuan smiled and said, "On this Lighthouse, there aren't many people I like. Vandy, Fan Lü, Jing Nan—any one of them will do!"

"Fine!" Charles uncharacteristically agreed readily. "I can arrange for Jing Nan to go to the Hall of Dawn with you!"

Jing Yuan was stunned. Isn't Jing Nan his sister? Why did he agree so readily? Was there some detail I missed?"