With Bai Qi withdrawing his oppressive aura, Nick Fury felt his body lighten instantly. However, the aftereffects were quite potent. If not for Hill supporting him from behind, Nick Fury might have fallen straight to the ground.
"Alright, Holy Lord, there's no need to waste time here. State your additional conditions."
Seeing Nick Fury's current state, continuing the negotiation as the principal figure was impossible. Old Man stepped forward, taking Nick Fury's place, and continued to talk with Bai Qi.
"Straightforward."
Bai Qi waved his hand, and the Eye of Horus in Hill's hand, along with the box it was stored in, flew into Bai Qi's grasp.
After confirming there were no further issues, Bai Qi handed the Eye of Horus to Yong Huo.
Yong Huo, having received the Eye of Horus, did not linger and turned to walk through the portal, leaving the scene.
Old Man had the ability to stop the entire process, but he did not.
Firstly, with their counterfeit plan exposed, they were in the wrong. Showing some sincerity was necessary. Secondly, Xiao Yu was still in the opponent's hands. If he intervened, it might anger Bai Qi, putting Xiao Yu in even greater danger.
Seeing their sincerity, Bai Qi also stated his additional conditions.
Bai Qi's condition was simple. Did they remember the incident where Di Kui had caused trouble and gone to Island Country to detonate Mount Fuji? Bai Qi had intervened righteously, and in exchange, he had only asked for an insignificant island at the edge of Island Country.
However, after Bai Qi had solved the problem for Island Country, the Prime Minister of Island Country had used various excuses to shirk responsibility. He had even dispatched the Self-Defense Forces to prevent Kutor's army from landing, which had caused Kou Zhi Island to be delayed in being incorporated into Kutor's territory.
Wasn't the US the good father of Island Country? Bai Qi's demand was for the US to pressure Island Country and urge them to complete the island handover as soon as possible.
Originally, when Bai Qi mentioned having additional conditions, Nick Fury had expected unreasonable demands that would harm the US. In that case, even if he agreed, the President would likely object.
However, upon hearing that Bai Qi wanted the US to urge Island Country to complete the island handover, Nick Fury's expression brightened considerably.
Given the personality of the current US President, as long as it did not harm the US's own interests, there was room for negotiation.
However, Old Man certainly couldn't make decisions on such matters. He looked back at Nick Fury.
After receiving Nick Fury's affirmative reply, Old Man looked at Bai Qi and said, "Alright, we agree. Release Xiao Yu."
Bai Qi chuckled and said, "Do you take me for a three-year-old? You humans are so cunning. If I really give you the person, what if you renege on your promise later?"
Old Man wanted to say something, but the words stuck in his throat. After all, as a traditional righteous mage, he placed great importance on oaths.
Bai Qi did not want to waste any more time on this matter. He took out a scroll and said, "This is a contract notarized by the world. As long as you sign it, I will release Xiao Yu."
Having lived in the US for so many years, Old Man was well aware of the nature of the local government. For matters involving countries, if the US government were to go back on its word, an old man like himself would be truly helpless.
Therefore, when the scroll flew towards him, he did not reach out to take it. After all, such a thankless task was best left to the most suitable person.
With that thought, Old Man instinctively looked towards Nick Fury behind him.
Nick Fury was not foolish. He knew that in the current situation, he was the best candidate. He took a few steps forward and caught the flying scroll.
The moment Nick Fury took out the scroll, a quill appeared in his other hand.
He glanced over the contents of the scroll, which was exactly what Bai Qi had proposed.
After confirming that the contract was in order, Nick Fury made a bold stroke and signed his name below the contract.
The instant Nick Fury finished writing his name, the contract instantly ignited and, after a short while, turned into ashes that dissipated into the heavens and earth. However, this also proved that the contract was officially effective.
Old Man pushed up his glasses and said, "The contract has been established. Return Xiao Yu to us."
"Of course, I, the Holy Lord, am a man of my word."
Placing the slightly deformed cage in his hand on the ground, he opened it. Xiao Yu cautiously poked her head out. Upon seeing Old Man and Uncle Chen Long not far away, and then turning to see Bai Qi behind them, her expression changed. She quickly ran out of the cage and leaped into Uncle Chen Long's arms.
"Uncle Long."
Uncle Chen Long patted Xiao Yu a few times to comfort her.
Xiao Yu, having recovered, emerged from Uncle Chen Long's embrace and looked back at the cage that had imprisoned her. Rem, dressed in a maid outfit, slowly emerged from it.
Xiao Yu looked at Rem, who was chatting and laughing with her. Over this period, the two had become very good friends, at least in Xiao Yu's eyes.
This made Xiao Yu, who already had few friends, somewhat reluctant to part. She wanted to say something, but after Rem emerged from the cage, she merely glanced at Xiao Yu and then went to Bai Qi's side.
"The transaction is complete. We hope you will fulfill the promises in the contract as soon as possible."
With that, Bai Qi, with his entourage, left.
The next morning, the transaction between Bai Qi and S.H.I.E.L.D. appeared on the front pages of various newspapers. The headlines were increasingly alarming and outrageous, with titles like "The Unspoken Secrets Between the US Government and Demons," "US Government Conspires to Hand Over Innocent Citizens to Demons in Exchange for Demonic Power," and so on.
Even though the US government held multiple press conferences to clarify the situation, and S.H.I.E.L.D. secretly contacted the owners of each newspaper, trying to minimize public outcry, the credibility of the US government was, as everyone knew, questionable. After all the efforts, instead of clarifying anything, it only made things worse. In the end, the US government gave up trying and left everything to time.
As for Bai Qi, he was completely unaware of these events in the US. This was not due to a lack of information, but rather because Bai Qi had too many urgent matters to attend to. He had no time to concern himself with US gossip news.
Upon completing the transaction, Bai Qi returned to his palace and immediately ordered his Shadow Ninjas to search for the whereabouts of Xiao Feng and Xi Mu.
The culprit behind such fierce hurricanes could only be Xiao Feng. And the black shadow that had snatched the replica earlier must have been Xi Mu.
Bai Qi had not expected these two to have joined forces and played a trick on him.
Thinking about it, demons were currently at a disadvantage, and with a powerful fellow demon like himself, their alliance was probably the best outcome for them. However, since they dared to provoke him, they had to be prepared for retribution, even if they had only taken a replica.
After all, that replica still possessed one-third of the power of the original.
Bai Qi not only intended to reclaim that one-third of the power but also to make these two demons cough up something else.