"We still aren't sure if it's him or not, let's wait until the investigation is clear so we don't wrongfully accuse someone." Pei Yan stood up, picked up the pack of cigarettes on the table, and fiddled with it. This was the pack that had suddenly appeared in his pocket, containing a USB drive with a recording of his sister's current situation. In the video, Pei Jin detailed her situation after being captured and once again extended the Divine Desire Organization's invitation for him to join, outlining a series of conditions if he did.
Watching as his sister recited the list of conditions mechanically on the screen, Pei Yan couldn't deny feeling a bit tempted. Beyond the lucrative offers of wealth and power, the Divine Desire Organization was also willing to invest heavily in improving his skills, providing everything the state could offer, including military-grade equipment that was in some ways more accessible than domestically.
As the names of the illegal weapons were listed one by one, Pei Yan deeply felt the powerful backing behind the Divine Desire Organization, as these were not devices one could obtain with money alone. Turning to look at the others in the meeting room, he noticed their faces had also turned grim.
"You're right, even if he has problems, we can't move against him now." Gu Shenghui, who had been formally invited to the meeting, leaned back in his chair and asked Pei Yan, "Are you ready?"
Pei Yan tore a corner off the cigarette pack and pulled out a slip of paper with a string of phone numbers written on it, playing with it in his hand as he spoke in a deep voice, "As of now, my sister's situation is still safe, but time is of the essence. Can I give them my response now?"
"Wait another couple of days, string them along a bit. If you respond too quickly, it may not look genuine. Let them feel your hesitation—that will seem more authentic," Mei Simiao suggested, turning his wheelchair around.
Pei Yan thought for a moment, nodding in agreement, and continued to ask, "What about the hall?"
"We're already prepared on our end. Aside from the team you've chosen with Ye Ruozai and others, high-level experts from the Investigation Bureau are on standby. This operation will be jointly commanded by Minister Cen and Major General Shao. Is there anything else you need before we officially start the operation? We'll try our best to accommodate you," Elder Lin said, looking at Pei Yan with his hands clasped on the table.
Pei Yan took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over: "Could you prepare what's listed here over the next couple of days, if possible?"
Gu Shenghui accepted the paper, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, "Do you really need to acquire so much equipment? Over a hundred large vehicles, including armored vehicles? And so much ammunition of various kinds?"
"Yes, they don't need to be the latest models. Retired ones are fine as long as they run—is that possible?"
Elder Lin glanced at the paper and approved it without hesitation, "It's possible!"
Gu Shenghui, however, looked worriedly at the long list of data at the bottom, his eyelid twitching slightly as he gently asked, "Isn't this a bit too much ammunition? It's enough for a medium-scale encounter. I understand your anger, Pei Yan, but do you really plan to raze the Divine Desire Base to the ground? It's a nature reserve after all. If all this ammunition is used there, nothing will grow there again."
"Most of this ammunition won't be used in this operation. They'll be stored in me as an enhancement to my abilities after my third awakening. I wanted to propose this earlier, but since it's not a training focus, it was postponed," Pei Yan said with a smile. After his third awakening, his storage abilities had improved significantly, and the ammunition would enhance his new abilities in combat.
"Alright, but as your superior, I still want to remind you to be mindful of the limits in the upcoming mission," Gu Shenghui said, rubbing his temples, determined to follow through as the villain. He didn't shy away from giving direct advice.
"I understand!"
Two days later, Pei Yan stood alone on the rooftop and dialed the phone number. After a short busy signal, the call was quickly answered, and Pei Yan remained silent, listening to the breathing on the other end.
After a prolonged silence between the two, the person on the other end couldn't help but ask, "Is this Mr. Pei?"
"Where's my sister?" Pei Yan growled in a voice trying to mask his anger as he questioned.
The obnoxious voice of a man chuckled on the other end, "Mr. Pei, there's no one from the Investigation Bureau with you, right? Are you really able to have this call?"
"Cut the crap. You should know my abilities better than anyone. If I don't want anyone to track me, they won't! Now, where's my sister?" Pei Yan's hysterical roar was transmitted through the microphone.
"She's safe but very upset. Mr. Pei, the bond with your sister seems less profound than we'd expected. After receiving the news, you could calmly wait two days to call. Have you been in the Investigation Bureau so long that you've become cold-hearted?" the man jested slowly.
"Damn it!" Pei Yan's curse stopped dead at his lips as he took a deep breath to calm his anger and said softly, "There are a lot of variables here! I have my concerns!"
"I understand, so is Mr. Pei willing to accept our conditions?"
"I can help you transfer that thing, but the condition is you release my sister, and afterward, my sister and I leave the Divine Desire," Pei Yan responded with a script he'd deliberated with Mei Simiao.
"Tut-tut-tut, Mr. Pei, your idea is rather naive, isn't it? This is not within the conditions we've provided."
"So what else do you want? For my sister and me to join your Divine Desire? Don't be ridiculous, your organization has already been uprooted by the Investigation Bureau in this country! Do you take me for a fool to join now?" Though Pei Yan's words were strained with intensity, his expression remained calm. He sent the conversation to Mei Simiao's encrypted phone while continuing his performance, "Don't think I don't know your current situation, don't push your luck!"
"Mr. Pei still doesn't quite understand our organization. The entity you see as an organization is merely a pawn we've discarded on purpose. Why wouldn't we trade a useless pawn for valuable benefits? Mr. Pei, I'm sure you've heard this before, but I must remind you once again our Divine Desire Organization is far more powerful than you believe. Also, the land beneath your feet is soon to become a wasteland. Wise men avoid standing under crumbling walls."
"What do you mean? What do you mean my land is going to become a wasteland?" Pei Yan's heart stirred at this news, and he hurriedly asked.
"Ah, I've said what I had to out of goodwill. It seems Mr. Pei doesn't really care about your sister's safety. Since that's the case, we aren't in a hurry. I'm busy right now; I'll contact you later." With that, the call ended from the other side.
"Hello! Hello! Hello! Damn you!"