Chapter 66: 66. Abandon Darkness for Light
"Hmm? Your enemy died on their turf, shouldn’t you be happy?"
Black Bear chuckled, seemingly pulling at his wound, revealing a look of unbearable pain.
"That enemy is my own brother, he’s much smarter than me. If it weren’t for him when we were kids, I would’ve been dead long ago.
My brother told me that to survive in this damn world, we small fry can only lick the boots of the big shots.
He helped me lick my way up from a small thug to a boss.
He also taught me to keep a cautious heart, because those big shots could chop our heads off if they’re unhappy.
He came up with a plan, found a woman to pit against us brothers, and through this woman, we became enemies. He told me that separated brothers can warn each other and live longer. You shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket.
A few days ago, he died.
Killed by our enemies.
I was very happy, happy enough to get drunk, but I know one thing.
He died at the hands of the Tasting Commerce Association. He’s smarter than me, so he ended up dealing with things he shouldn’t have.
That’s why the Tasting Commerce Association silenced him.
So he deserved to die.
Most likely, I’m next in line.
Even though we became enemies long ago, slinging mud at each other, wishing for the other’s death.
But I realized our small tricks are probably like child’s play in their eyes.
They likely don’t care if we brothers turn against each other; if we’re useful, they use us, if not, they kill us.
My brother didn’t tell me what exactly he got involved with, but I’m not willing to bet on whether those behind me believe it or not.
If they don’t believe, if they’d rather kill a thousand mistakenly...
I’ve been trying to find a way. I don’t want to follow in my brother’s footsteps. I don’t want to die at their hands.
I admit I’m afraid of the Purgatory Mandala in your hand, but you’ve also shown me a new chance at life.
By cooperating with you, maybe I can live a bit longer."
Listening to Black Bear’s words, Chen Che wasn’t foolish enough to believe it all.
What this guy says is likely half-truth and half-lies.
But there are still parts worth trusting.
Chen Che patted Black Bear’s shoulder and said, "How do you usually trade? Where’s the ledger? Where’s the underground factory at Horus Grand Casino? Tell me everything.
With these, at the upcoming trial, you might be able to appear as a witness."
"As long as you guarantee my safety, I’m willing to defect to the light... I believe that An Nishang, Lady An, wouldn’t deceive someone like me!"
The large nations established on the wasteland all create laws.
Generally, minor matters and crimes by ordinary citizens don’t go through a grand court trial.
Lacking enough energy, ordinary citizens’ status isn’t deemed worth legal judgment.
Only cases involving the Tasting Commerce Association, government powers, and other such matters, due to the complex forces behind them and their potential changes to overall trends, will undergo grand court trials.
The process between guilty and not guilty is a game between both sides.
Complete conviction represents one side has entirely lost the game.
Disposing of that person and handling the various relations behind them is then an easy task.
This avoids many unnecessary troubles.
Clearly, the visible manager of Horus Grand Casino is a character who needs grand court trial.
Every manager of the Tasting Commerce Association is a person of high status and power.
The whole Tasting Commerce Association in the Ninth Special Zone has only six managers, whose resources behind them are terrifying.
So Black Bear initially didn’t think much of Chen Che and his crowd.
Even under torture, he spit out a few insignificant pieces of information, not believing someone like Chen Che would dare trouble a Tasting Commerce Association manager.
But when he saw Chen Che take out the Purgatory Mandala, he instantly became extremely well-behaved.
Because he knew, behind Chen Che was that woman, and if that woman was targeting a manager from the Tasting Commerce Association, that carried serious weight.
Only the general manager of the Ninth Special Zone might dare face that woman head-on.
He instantly recalled some rumors, likely to be true.
All things considered, to save his own life and to avoid the deadly pain from the Purgatory Mandala, Black Bear decisively spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube.
Thinking about going after a Tasting Commerce Association manager, Chen Che felt quite excited.
This was going to be powerful.
Chen Che ordered someone to bring medicines to ease Black Bear’s pain and stop the bleeding, while providing paper and pen for Black Bear to write down what he needed.
After getting what he wanted, Chen Che turned and left the dungeon.
Xia Na, who witnessed the whole process, asked, "What about next? Are you really planning to provoke a manager at Horus Grand Casino from the Tasting Commerce Association?"
"What else can I do? The command from my leader is to uncover the entire line behind Pandora’s Kiss. This is just pulling out a top figure; to reason out it’s Horus Grand Casino causing trouble, by emotion, logic, and law, I have grounds to stir things up there."
"Besides, Tasting Commerce Association doesn’t know where they’ve stashed the leader’s ammunition, so if I go and cause some trouble at their casino, to vent the leader’s anger, isn’t that fair?"
Xia Na raised her eyebrows, not only failing to dissuade Chen Che but also showing excitement in her eyes, herself eager to take action.
This one’s also a troublemaker... Chen Che immediately saw through Xia Na’s excitement; given Xia Na’s loyalty to Annie Commerce, with Tasting Commerce Association causing such a loss to An Nishang, Xia Na has been looking to cut someone down.
"What are you going to prepare?"
"It’s too late now, let’s go back and have a good sleep; we’ll go to the casino tomorrow."
Chen Che also needed to make some preparations.
Return to the villa.
An Nishang stayed out tonight, letting Chen Che enjoy the big bed alone, which made him feel somewhat comfortable.
He took a relaxing bath and lay on the bed.
Chen Che couldn’t help but reflect in his heart.
Others cross to wasteland and might struggle for food, his luck is indeed better, though somewhat contemptibly due to being a pretty boy.
But in such a perilous world, to live in such a house, worry not about food and drink, lie on such a soft bed, have an absolutely gorgeous beauty for company at times, what a delightful life.
Purely speaking of living standards, it seems there’s not much difference from his globally renowned lifestyle, but the power struggle is truly nerve-wracking.
For tomorrow’s trip to Horus Grand Casino, Chen Che’s mind already anticipated the upcoming events, causing him to smile.
In this manner, he could prove his capability to An Nishang, further securing his position.
He closed his eyes and rested.
Upon reopening them, he’d entered the Food God Space.
Fresh ingredients were laid before him on the table.
An entire big basket of chestnuts!
And two unique ingredients!
Flame Poison Bee honey, Fiery Cactus fruits!
These ingredients are indispensable for cooking the ground-level dish ’Bursting Chestnuts’!
He’d previously obtained the recipe for Bursting Chestnuts, but only now could start learning.
The panel introduction for Bursting Chestnuts was quite surprising.
With this, it equates to making everything around him turn into grenades.
For tomorrow’s trip to Horus Grand Casino, based on his calculations, he didn’t foresee much danger, but better safe than sorry.
Of the recipes he currently mastered, to be honest, not many were life-saving.
He needed to fully master Bursting Chestnuts tonight in preparation for emergencies tomorrow.