Chapter 414: This Is Your Last Chance
"Let go of me! This is your last chance!" Chester wasn't afraid in the slightest, because she didn't believe Xiao Ye would dare to kill her!
Sometimes, people just don't know their place.
Xiao Ye seemed to think of something. He suddenly smiled and actually let her go.
Chester thought he was conceding. However, now that her true colors had been exposed, she didn't continue to try and take it by force.
Since he had chosen a ceasefire, she would have to bear with it for the time being, no matter how dissatisfied she felt.
'The Association's mission is more important, after all.'
"Xiao Ye, I'll forgive your disrespect this one time, but only because you're of some use to the Association."
"But remember this: there will not be a next time!"
Xiao Ye sat on the sofa, crossed one leg over the other, and looked at her. "Since you're here on behalf of the Angel Association, listen closely."
"I have three demands."
"First, you will help Dragon Country promote its culture across the entire world. Dragon Country is one of the world's few surviving ancient civilizations."
"Promoting Dragon Country's culture won't just aid the 'cultural invasion' you're planning. More importantly, if Dragon Country's influence spreads across the globe…"
"...then, to a certain degree, it will also elevate the Angel Association's status."
"Impossible!" Chester refused without a second thought. "We already agreed to let Dragon Country's culture flourish in Country A. That was a huge concession to you. Don't push your luck!"
"Besides, so what if you have five thousand years of history? We still have you pinned down. Even your national treasures have become our trophies."
This was a humiliation for Dragon Country, and a tragic one at that.
Xiao Ye's expression darkened instantly. He whipped his hand up.
The black muzzle of a gun was pointed straight at Chester's head.
"Those who insult Dragon Country shall be hunted down, no matter how far they run!"
"Since your disrespect was only verbal, I'll spare your life this once. But while you may escape death, you won't escape punishment!"
The moment he finished speaking, he lowered his hand slightly and pulled the trigger without a hint of hesitation.
BANG!
A single gunshot rang out.
Chester collapsed to the floor with a thud.
A bloody hole had appeared on her calf.
Chester clutched her leg, the pain so excruciating she wished for death.
But Xiao Ye just curled his lip into a smirk. "That was just a lesson. Can we have a proper conversation now?"
"You..." Chester lifted her head and glared. "Xiao Ye, you're looking to die! AHHH, you actually dared to hurt me! I'm going to kill you!"
Spurred by the intense pain and overwhelming rage, she began to spout whatever came to mind.
"Just you wait! You're finished! And it's not just you—your precious Dragon Country is finished too!"
"Dragon Country will belong to the Angel Association sooner or later! When that happens, we'll plunder all its resources and turn its people into our slaves!"
Xiao Ye was still smiling, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
"You're just not listening..." He lifted his foot and brought it down on the wound on Chester's calf.
The light pressure was more than Chester could bear. "AH! Get off! Damn you, I'll kill you! I'm going to kill you!"
Xiao Ye gradually increased the pressure. "Dragon Country isn't something a person like you can insult. I'll let you go when you learn how to speak properly."
It only took a moment of this for the pain to become unbearable. Chester's curses gave way to frantic apologies.
"I was wrong! I'm sorry! I know how to talk now, please let me go!"
Only then did Xiao Ye lift his foot. He glanced in disgust at the blood on his sole, wiped it on Chester's clothes, and then drew his leg back.
"Alright, now we can continue. Do you agree to the first condition?"
"I... won't agree!" Though the pain was unbearable, Chester still had her wits about her.
'I can't agree. Promoting Dragon Country worldwide would be a massive undertaking, to say nothing of the other issues.'
'We don't want Dragon Country to develop too well right now. It would create obstacles for the Angel Association's plans to steer its future.'
"So you don't agree? It seems your sincerity is lacking."
"Since you won't agree to a worldwide promotion, let's just start with Country A, Country Y, and Country E."
"N—" Before Chester could finish her refusal, Xiao Ye was already lifting his foot.
The memory of the excruciating pain made her blurt out, "Fine, I agree!"
'Just three countries. Compared to the entire world, that's a much smaller scope!'
Xiao Ye nodded, satisfied. "Good. Second condition: I'm going to train my own people. You will not interfere, and you certainly won't harm them—like Hank, for example."
"Relax. I just want a few capable people. It won't affect the Angel Association in any way."
"Of course, if someone I take a liking to is already inside the Angel Association, you'll have to hand them over to me. I won't ask for many. How about three spots?"
'This Xiao Ye is completely insane!'
'Trying to poach people from within the Angel Association... Who does he think he is?'
But just as she was about to refuse, she saw Xiao Ye's smile. In that instant, the memory of the pain came flooding back.
'Xiao Ye dared to shoot her, dared to lay hands on her. Without a doubt, the man was, to some degree, a complete lunatic!'
Genuinely fearing she would die right here, Chester gritted her teeth and said, "Fine, I agree!"
'It's only three spots. Big deal. I'll just give them to him.'
'Besides, people inside the Angel Association are bound to be loyal. Even if someone had second thoughts, they wouldn't dare actually do anything when their life is on the line.'
'If Xiao Ye really does pick people from inside, maybe they could act as moles to monitor his every move.'
With that thought, Chester's anger suddenly vanished.
Xiao Ye continued, "Third, I need a certain degree of freedom and authority. If anyone within the Angel Association disrespects me, I'm authorized to act first and report later."
"That's impossible!" Chester refused instantly.
'What if a madman like Xiao Ye kills one of our important members?'
"Don't even think about it! Only the top brass has the right to decide whether an Angel Association member lives or dies. You have no such authority!"
Xiao Ye sneered. "It seems you still haven't learned your lesson."
He suddenly drew his pistol again, this time aiming for Chester's arm.
She had just managed to get into a chair, and the sight of Xiao Ye's movement scared her out of her wits.
"Let's make your punishment a little lighter this time."
Another bullet flew.
This one struck Chester's arm.
She collapsed to the floor again, her face deathly pale from the pain. She couldn't even manage a sound.
Xiao Ye rose to his feet and looked down at her. "Now, tell me. Do you agree?"
"I... I agree!" Chester's eyes were bloodshot, looking as if they might burst, but she was terrified. Terrified that Xiao Ye would kill her.
'Agreeing today wasn't a choice; it was a necessity.'
"Very good." Xiao Ye nodded. "We've settled on the three conditions. In that case, we're done here."
"You may leave."