Chapter 98: The Fate of Fence-Sitters in TV Dramas

After Lu Mingze and Su Lin met in private, but before Su Lin's historical projection ascended to godhood.

Su Lin: "Help post a task announcement (message is broadcast; do not communicate within the chat group)."

Su Lin: "Location: Dragon Clan World."

Su Lin: "Task reward: One portion of the Long Wang's Authority. Required participants: 3."

Su Lin: "Task: Boss battle (struck out) Pure Love Defense Mission, opponent is the future timeline's Lu Mingfei (cannot use past strength), prevent him from arranging a harem path or world domination for the current Lu Mingfei. Poster: Lu Mingze."

Su Lin: "Three spots remain; first come, first served."

When Kleine saw the word "Authority" in this message, he signed up at top speed and secured the first team slot.

The task details could be checked later.

This shouldn't conflict with his Unique Trait.

It could greatly enhance one's strength.

But when he saw the task details…

He felt somewhat guilty toward Lu Mingfei, because guilt and remorse accumulate.

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan had his eyes on the Authority of the Bronze and Fire Long Wang; if he could obtain this Authority, he might alone eliminate the Dou Wang of Yunlan Sect and the Soul Palace Guardian who would later attack the Xiao Clan.

After all, their target is the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade; even if Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan hadn't revealed himself, they might still turn hostile toward the Xiao Clan.

If it were only an investigation, that would be fine—but if they resorted to murder and arson like before… then he'd have no choice but to ask his master to intervene.

But solving it himself would be better.

Thus, Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan quickly signed up; with Yao Lao covering his back, it would make a good training exercise.

Zhongli and Han Li, who had just passed another Lei Jie, were the third to notice the message.

Upon learning only one spot remained, Han Li immediately offered the task to Zhongli.

"Brother Zhongli need not feel indebted; I've gained much during this time traveling with you," Han Li said, slightly embarrassed: "Besides… you know my nature—this world and the future Lu Mingfei are too dangerous for me; I'd rather not take unnecessary risks."

"In that case, I shall not refuse your kindness," Zhongli nodded and confirmed his selection with Su Lin.

Private Chat Realm

Ye Fan: "Just counting money—any spots left?!"

Ye Fan: "Save me one!"

Su Lin: "Full. Next time for sure."

Ye Fan: "Damn!"

……

……

Looking at the three before him, Old Lu's face showed melancholy—he'd been too excited returning to the past world and had revealed his hand to Lu Mingze; this kid was naturally rebellious and never followed conventional paths.

Maximizing available resources, huh.

"If I pay more, will you come to my side?" Old Lu asked tentatively.

"The contract is sealed," Zhongli said. "I am the God of Contracts; I cannot break a contract I've signed."

"No choice, Venerable Dou Sheng of Grand Void," Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan rubbed his head, seeming troubled: "First come, first served—you've got to wait in line. How about I help him first, then come to you?"

Kleine merely smiled and said nothing.

Old Lu sighed and turned to Su Lin: "What about you?"

Su Lin replied strangely: "Boss, are you talking to me? Didn't you just say you'd pay me to do things for you?"

Zhongli, Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan, and Kleine stared at Su Lin with odd expressions; the air around them suddenly grew quiet.

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan ventured: "Aren't you the one who posted this task for Lu Mingze? Then how—"

Su Lin said matter-of-factly: "Lu Mingze's deal with me was only to post the task and a few incidental matters; anything beyond that falls outside the scope of our agreement."

Kleine wanted to instinctively say something, but under reason, he forced out: "No wonder you're the Su Zongzhu."

Old Lu shook his head, dismissing the table and soldiers before him: "Forget it—just a little more detour."

He opened a teleportation portal and stepped inside: "Come, Su Lin. It's time for the third task."

Su Lin waved to the others and smiled: "Let's connect tonight—let's grab some late-night snacks."

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan watched Su Lin vanish into the portal and voiced his thoughts to the group: "In TV dramas, these fence-sitters who jump between sides end up sacrificed to the heavens."

Zhongli: "."

Kleine nodded in agreement: "But he gets double task rewards."

Lu Mingze clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention: "This is still the enemy's stronghold—let's move somewhere else to talk."

"Honored guests from afar, what cuisine do you prefer?"

"Chinese food." x3

"Mayi, prepare a feast to welcome our distant guests," Lu Mingze said to her: "Also, mark this occasion—we're splitting from the Big Boss tonight."

"Oh, don't mess up the asset division," Lu Mingze added, smiling: "The Big Boss, our ex-husband, is filthy rich—have Su Enxi carefully calculate what we can claim from this divorce."

"Yes."

Jiude Mayi stepped forward from the side, her tone showing no hesitation or doubt.

Su Lin followed Lu Mingfei into a Japanese-style room, vast enough that its far end vanished from sight.

It resembled a general's war chamber: countless vermilion pillars stretched before him, the black wooden floor polished so often it gleamed like a mirror.

Beams of light pierced through the wooden window lattices; dust danced within them.

A massive cherry tree overshadowed the roof, its petals occasionally drifting down, adding splashes of color.

A visually striking scene.

Before Su Lin and Old Lu stood a massive object covered in red cloth.

"I really hope you tell me this is Gundam," Su Lin said, staring at the sharp protrusions beneath the cloth—too bad, his spiritual sense had already stripped him of any hope; it wasn't made of steel.

"I can make that thing. If you like it, once I unify the world, I can build you a whole warehouse of them." Old Lu said casually, "Which model do you like best? I can prioritize making one. Would you accept swapping the 00 series' perpetual motion machine for controlled nuclear fusion?"

For one brief moment, Su Lin wanted to drop everything and go all-out to help Old Lu rule the world.

"There's too much to handle right now. The industrial systems of the various countries haven't been integrated, and the technological level is way too backward." Old Lu complained to him about how backward Earth's technology was, describing the future direction of development, his tone like that of a person in charge participating in the construction of a backward region.

"Uh." Su Lin pointed ahead. "Shouldn't we, uh, take care of the main business first?"

"Oh, my apologies."

*Snap*

Old Lu snapped his fingers, the red cloth ignited, and an enormous skeleton appeared before Su Lin's eyes. The body's frame and its spread wings formed the shape of a cross.

"Let me introduce you — my good friend."

"Old Tang."

(End of chapter)