Chapter 339 - Chapter 339: Who Do You Think You Are?
Chapter 339: Who Do You Think You Are?
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The warden has a Chinese name, Wan Changtian. He is a middle-aged man in his fifties with a Chinese-French mixed heritage. He is a short and sturdy little old man, around 1.7 meters tall, with a big belly, giving off a very kind and amiable appearance.
He warmly welcomed Pei Qiuying, “We haven’t seen each other for several years, Qiuqiu has grown into a beautiful young lady. Your father would be very happy if he were still alive.”
His Chinese was exceptionally good, and his tone was gentle. Pei Qiuying brought him some supplements and drunken crabs, “When my father was alive, he often mentioned that Uncle loved drunken crabs. This time, I brought drunken crabs that Uncle loves all the way from A City. Later, you should try them to see if they’re authentic.”
“Qiuqiu is considerate; Uncle does like this.”
Pei Qiuying chuckled, and Wan Changtian led her into his office, lowering his voice, “Many people have been trying to arrange meetings with that prisoner recently. 1 agreed to let someone see him before he was sent on the plane, but he’s not allowed to have contact with anyone else. If this gets out, it would put Uncle in a difficult position.”
Pei Qiuying reassured him, saying, “Uncle, don’t worry. 1 understand the importance of discretion in this matter, and 1 won’t reveal anything.”
Wan Changtian nodded and guided her downstairs. Pei Qiuying wrinkled her nose in distaste; the prison had an unpleasant smell. On the negative third floor, there was a separate detention room, and Pei Qiuying finally saw Jiang Junlin.
Jiang Junlin was wearing a white shirt and long pants. The lower floor was cold, and his hands and feet were red from the cold, but apart from some old injuries, he didn’t have any physical wounds. He seemed to be well-treated in the prison.
However, his face looked somewhat haggard.
“You can talk, Qiuying, for half an hour.”
“Okay!”
Jiang Junlin leaned back and looked at Pei Qiuying with indifference. Despite being a prisoner, he showed no signs of despair or distress. He appeared as if he were still a nobleman. Pei Qiuying, watching his calm demeanor, sneered, “Jiang Junlin, I never dreamed that the person controlling all the forces in the underworld’s dark web would be you. During the years when my father was the Lord of the Underworld, whenever you came to Paris, you would visit my father and bring gifts for Uncle Jiang. You were never a warm-hearted person, Father’s closest friend, how could you have carried out such a ruthless act? You not only killed him but also deceitfully groomed me to be your puppet. You truly are the most ruthless person in the world.”
Jiang Junlin lowered his gaze, his expression still indifferent and ruthless, “Pei Qiuying, I killed him because he betrayed us. The Lord of the Underworld was just a puppet, cooperating with us. He wanted to break free from my control and, for the sake of his ambitions, stole classified information and sold it to National Security and Black Hawk. The underworld never tolerates traitors. I chose you because 1 saw your intelligence and determination. Those who don’t fit are exiled, and there was always an escape route for them. They chose the path of death themselves. During this period, both the Dark Web and Black Hawk have wanted to see me but haven’t succeeded. You’re the first person I’ve met. Your connections are not bad.”
“Are you not afraid I’ll kill you?”
“Even if I’m in chains, you don’t have the ability to kill me.” Jiang Junlin placed both hands on the table, revealing his handcuffs, and provocatively spoke calmly, “You can give it a try!”
Pei Qiuying’s face turned pale. She wasn’t afraid of Jiang Junlin. After becoming the Lord of the Underworld, she didn’t even consider him a significant threat, thinking of him as nothing more than the CEO of Hualan Bank. There was nothing to fear.
However, she feared the Dark Lord of the Underworld. Years of dread and fear had conditioned her body to react in his presence. Looking into Jiang Junlin’s eyes, she couldn’t help but think of all the things he had done behind her back over the years.
Her fate was held in his hands.
“Why won’t you give me a way out?” Pei Qiuying’s eyes were slightly red.
“Why should I give you a way out?” Jiang Junlin asked coldly. “You wanted to join forces with Lu Zhiyuan to take control of the Dark Web. Tell me, when you failed and blamed me for not giving you a way out, Pei Qiuying, the choice between life and death was yours to make.”
Pei Qiuying laughed bitterly. “In the end, you’re just using your power for personal gain. You’re afraid I’ll hold the reins of power and deal with Gu Ci. It’s your selfishness.”
Jiang Junlin couldn’t be bothered to argue with her about these matters. “My time is precious. If you don’t state your purpose, 1 won’t entertain you.”
Pei Qiuying was shocked and incredulous.
You’re a prisoner, yet you’re arrogant like a nobleman, even issuing an ultimatum. Who do you think you are?
But as she looked at Jiang Junlin’s impatient expression, she felt a chill in her heart. Jiang Junlin had always been like this. He liked clever people, disliked fools, and had no patience for things that couldn’t be explained in three sentences.
He preferred matters that could be summarized in ten sentences to those that required a hundred.
“National Security asked me to deliver a message to you. As long as you’re willing to transfer the power of the Dark Web, they’ll guarantee your survival. Once you’re on the plane, you’ll lose control, you’ll be in dire straits,” Pei Qiuying explained her purpose.
“National Security?” Jiang Junlin sneered, “You and National Security have no bargaining chips to negotiate with me.”
“Don’t you care about your own family at all?”
Jiang Junlin’s face slightly changed, and he calmly said, “Pei Qiuying, threatening me with my family is the most foolish decision. I’ve been in charge of the underworld for so many years, and it’s not a secret. They want the underworld now, but my family is safe. Why do you think that is? Don’t think you’re clever. I also trust the foresight of Chen Liangdong and Ziyu. They won’t let you be the mediator. You’re not worthy!”
Pei Qiuying trembled all over. A bucket of cold water had been poured over her, and she felt fear and panic. Jiang Junlin had seen through her with just one glance. “How did you… How did you figure it out? 1 joined National Security before your arrest. You shouldn’t have doubted me like this.”
“I believe in Ziyu’s judgment. Even if you defect to National Security, they will promise you a safe haven, but you won’t be utilized by them. They will exchange for the information you provide, but you will never be in their trust.” Jiang Junlin looked at her coldly. “Pei Qiuying, you underestimate the importance of loyalty to a warrior.”
“Jiang Junlin, you blame me for being fickle, for falling in love with Lu Zhiyuan and betraying you. But when you initially groomed me, you never intended for me to stay in the underworld for long, did you? Isn’t that right? You killed my entire family, caused me to wander in exile, subjected me to cold stares, and then you came out as the savior, rescuing me from danger, making me grateful to you, loyal to you. You manipulated people’s hearts, and the truth will come to light one day. 1 am destined to be your discarded pawn.”
“You’re wrong.” Jiang Junlin said indifferently, “When I initially groomed you, it was because I saw your abilities. You fell in love with Lu Zhiyuan, but I had no idea he was the Third Master of Black Hawk. From the moment you first betrayed the underworld, you became a discarded pawn in my eyes. If you had a strong will and remained loyal to the one you loved, you would have confessed, and I would have set you free. But you didn’t. When you were young, you were a clever, quick-witted, and mature girl. I never expected that in these years, you would age but not grow wiser, resorting to flattery, trying to extract the secrets of the Dark Web from me through seduction. Love truly affects a person’s intelligence.”
Pei Qiuying remained silent, unable to respond..