257: Swallow them all

Yan Xing and the Shadow's soulless husks, after a brief moment of calm, began to be consumed by a deeper level of fear.

They had to confirm it.

They had to verify the authenticity of this number with their own eyes, using their own methods!

Trembling, Yan Xing retrieved a palm-sized, complex instrument made of unknown metal from his Storage Space.

The instrument was a multifaceted crystal, its surface engraved with dense Blue Runes, and upon its appearance, it emitted faint spatial fluctuations.

This was a “Counter Device” specifically used by the Abyss Domain for large-scale inventory checks, possessing extremely high accuracy with an error rate lower than one in a hundred million.

He held the Counter Device and stiffly approached the coffee table, not even daring to get too close to Lin Yu.

“Mr.... Mr. Lin, we... need to take inventory.”

His voice was dry, every word seemingly forced out of his throat.

Lin Yu didn't even lift an eyelid, merely waving his hand casually, indicating that Yan Xing should proceed.

This complete disregard suffocated Yan Xing more than any oppressive aura could.

Gritting his teeth, he aimed the Counter Device at the storage ring resting quietly in his hand.

Buzz!

The Blue Runes on the Counter Device instantly lit up, projecting a soft light screen that enveloped the small ring.

The next second.

On the light screen, a string of despair-inducing numbers wildly jumped and refreshed!

Every number that popped up caused Yan Xing and the Shadow's bodies to twitch violently.

Old Shi stood nearby, staring intensely at the light screen.

He couldn't understand the runes, but he could understand the expressions on the faces of the two Abyss Domain experts, shifting from despair to complete collapse.

It was over.

Their last shred of hope was crushed by this cold machine.

Finally.

The numbers on the light screen stopped jumping.

A final count, composed of golden, Standard Abyss Domain Characters, floated in mid-air.

[Fifty-two thousand nine hundred ninety-eight billion...]

Yan Xing could no longer see the trailing digits.

Because this number was practically identical to the fifty-three thousand billion mentioned by Lin Yu!

The Counter Device's error margin was completely negligible when facing a number of this magnitude!

It was real!

Everything was real!

“Thump!”

Yan Xing could no longer hold himself up; his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the floor.

The valuable Counter Device slipped from his grasp, fell onto the carpet, and its light instantly dimmed.

After an unknown amount of time.

Yan Xing and the Shadow raised their heads almost simultaneously.

They exchanged glances, reading the only possible choice from the other's numb Spiritual Power fluctuation.

This matter had completely exceeded the scope of what they could handle.

They must... report it!

“Mr. Lin!”

Yan Xing struggled, using his hands to prop himself up on the ground, and bowed deeply once more toward Lin Yu.

“We need to... immediately contact Headquarters!”

Lin Yu yawned and waved his hand again.

“Go ahead.”

“Don't keep me waiting too long.”

Having received permission, Yan Xing and the Shadow felt as if they had received a great pardon.

The Shadow, trembling, retrieved a Pitch-Black Sphere from the Shadows and crushed it forcefully.

An invisible energy instantly spread out, forming a Black Force Field that was absolutely soundproof and detection-proof, enveloping the two of them.

Under the uneasy gaze of Old Shi and the others, there was a deathly silence inside the black sphere.

But inside the force field, everything was already in chaos!

“Headquarters! Emergency! Urgent, urgent! Huge order! Ultimate huge order!”

Yan Xing used his Spiritual Power to send out a roaring message.

A majestic and steady consciousness instantly crossed the endless space and descended into their minds.

“Yan Xing, why the panic?”

“Manager!”

Yan Xing felt as if he had found his backbone and transmitted everything that had just happened, along with the Counter Device's inventory result, all at once.

A long silence.

After more than ten seconds, the majestic consciousness sounded again, but this time, it carried a trace of unconcealed solemnity.

“...The quantity, confirmed correct?”

“Confirmed correct!” the Shadow quickly replied. “The Counter Device's result cannot be wrong!”

Another period of silence.

Clearly, even the Manager of the Headquarters of that massive Abyss Domain company needed time to process this number.

“Manager, what... what should we do?” Yan Xing's voice was filled with confusion.

The majestic consciousness remained silent for a long time.

So long that Yan Xing and the Shadow almost thought the communication had been cut off.

“Manager?”

Yan Xing couldn't help but call out again, his Spiritual Power fluctuation carrying a hint of pleading.

Finally, the consciousness sounded again, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness.

“Swallow it all.”

The two words slammed down onto the souls of Yan Xing and the Shadow like two massive mountains.

“Manager! That's impossible!”

The Shadow's mass of darkness violently contracted, letting out a sharp spiritual wail!

“Two hundred sixty-five quintillion! This isn't just money! Even if our company sold all its assets, it would be highly unlikely to gather this much money, or equivalent goods, all at once!”

Yan Xing also grew anxious. Disregarding the hierarchy, he shouted directly.

“Manager, the other party is not someone to be trifled with! Since he dared to present this quantity, he must have trump cards we cannot imagine! We cannot...”

“Enough.”

The majestic consciousness interrupted them.

“I saw your suggestion. Sell on his behalf first, then pay in installments?”

A faint hint of mockery permeated the consciousness.

“That is the mindset of the weak.”

“Since when did our Abyss Domain company need to conduct business by begging?”

Yan Xing and the Shadow instantly fell silent.

They felt the Manager's undisguised anger and contempt.

“Manager, but the funds...”

“The issue of funds is not yours to worry about.”

The Manager's consciousness became cold and firm.

“You have only one task.”

“Bring this batch of goods back completely intact.”

“Tell him we'll take it all. Payment will be settled in one lump sum two months from now.”

Two months!

Yan Xing and the Shadow's brains crashed again.

Forget two months; even given two hundred years, or two thousand years, the company couldn't produce this sum!

This was no longer negotiating a deal!

This was outright robbery!

The Manager was certain that the other party was far away on Blue Star, beyond reach!

He intended to steal this shipment!

An utterly insane thought exploded in both their minds.

They recalled this Manager's consistent style of operation—the nature of a Ruthless Hero who stops at nothing to achieve his goals.

Yes.

That was exactly what he intended.

He had no intention of paying at all!

“Manager, this... this is inappropriate! That Mr. Lin's strength...”

“What kind of strength could a native of Blue Star possibly possess?”

The Manager's consciousness was filled with condescending arrogance.

“Even if he had some fortuitous encounters, could he really Cross Planes to cause trouble for our company in the Abyss Domain?”

“Don't forget who stands behind us.”

“Do as I say.”

“This is an order.”