Chapter 113

Chapter 114: The White-robed Elder Played by Qian Qi

A weathered voice sounded behind her: “Young lady, if I want to fly back, do I buy a ticket here?” Qian Qi turned, the eyes under her sunglasses flashing a little as she smiled: “Yes. Elder, at your age you’re still heading into a Dungeon? That’s real strength for your years.”

The white-robed elder folded his hands and laughed, his gentle gaze resting on Qian Qi with a hint of scrutiny as he said: “Even when you’re old you still have to feed the family. More experience means doing more work, or the family falls apart.”

Qian Qi stood and offered him the stool, saying: “Then the young ones at home aren’t pulling their weight, or maybe you spoil them too much, so you still have to work in your later years.” The elder froze, then looked thoughtful.

She waved him toward the seat, yawned, and shoved Beast Studies back into the pocket at the small of her back, saying: “Sit. The helicopter won’t be back for a bit.”

He did not refuse. Sitting down, he chatted as he glanced at the book: “That’s an Awakener University Magibeast Department textbook. Are you a Magibeast student?” Arms crossed, Qian Qi answered lazily: “Sort of.” He blinked and asked, surprised: “So you’re an ordinary person? And you still dare enter a Dungeon?” Qian Qi shrugged and sighed: “Sigh, the adults at home are useless, so the young me has to earn a living.”

The elder fell silent. [Is she hinting at me?] He doubted it. She should not know who he was; he almost never appeared in public, and without special attention and research, no one would know his face.

The white-robed elder was Tang Yun De, President of the Dungeon Association. He had come to confirm the Dungeon’s situation and to look into IKD. Hidden in the dark, he had watched IKD’s marketing move from start to finish and had noticed Qian Qi. For some reason, maybe a lifetime of experience, his gut said this kid was not simple. When he saw she might be from Awakener University, he found it even stranger. The school did not support students entering Dungeons too early. Except for heirs of the big families, few students went in on their own. Her appearance was too sudden.

What stood out most was her outfit. A loud pink shirt and floral shorts would easily attract Magibeasts. No one dressed like that to enter a Dungeon. Even his A grade granddaughter would never go in so flashy. For Qian Qi to dress like this, she was either foolish or very capable.

He thought of a forum user named My Ex Took the Cash and Ran, then asked lightly: “Young lady, what’s your name?” Qian Qi answered honestly with a sunny tone: “I’m Chen Tong. And let me tell you, our IKD helicopters are excellent. If your flight is bad later, go to the university and complain about me.” She thumped her chest, looking bold and generous.

Tang Yun De nodded and noted the name. Chen Tong… He would ask Zheng Hai for this student’s file when he got back.

Just then, Sheng Qing Hong came circling in with the helicopter. He hopped down and looked for Qian Qi, and when he saw Tang Yun De at her side, his eyes flew wide as he blurted: “Are you the Dungeon Association President, Elder Tang?” He hurried forward with respect. Earlier, Qian Qi had slapped a photo of Tang Yun De in front of him and made him memorize it, so it was hard not to recognize the man.

“Wow,” Sheng Qing Hong’s recognition made Qian Qi lift her voice in a stagey gasp as she looked at Tang Yun De with a face full of shock and cried: “You’re the famous Dungeon President, Elder Tang?” [Come on, that is way too fake,] thought Tang Yun De. If he had wondered before whether she knew him, now he was sure she did. So why was she putting on this show?

He soon had his answer. A backup pilot took the controls of the flashy red chopper. Inside the cabin, Sheng Qing Hong talked a mile a minute about how good a Dungeon Association and IKD partnership would be. Tang Yun De sat tapping his thigh with a finger. When he learned that First Cloud Mountain Dungeon was a giant canyon, he knew at once that without aircraft, that Dungeon, which had buried countless brave Awakeners, would become a dead Dungeon. Sheng Qing Hong’s plan was strong. IKD could profit, and the Association could use the cooperation to ease tension with Awakeners. After all, there were plenty of conflicts already. Just the rules the Association made to restrain Awakeners had caused some to resent it.

Tang Yun De nodded and said calmly: “The plan is good. To come up with this in a few days means your IKD benefactor has some skill.” Benefactor? What benefactor? Sheng Qing Hong was puzzled. He had no idea Qian Qi had been bragging outside that she was IKD’s benefactor. Still, the word made him think of her. He shot Qian Qi a glance, then kept his cool and said: “Yes, that benefactor is amazing.” She had predicted so much, even that Tang Yun De might show up inside the Dungeon. At first, Sheng Qing Hong did not buy it. Why would the Association President visit an E grade Dungeon? But the fact was, he came.

As Sheng Qing Hong’s gaze grew bright with admiration, Qian Qi raised a hand to her lips and smiled silently. [Don’t worship me. My path cannot be copied.] She had simply guessed that the Association would send someone to find the boss monster and post the record on the Dungeon Forum, which would let her connect with Association insiders and then go to Tang Yun De to talk cooperation. Who knew Tang Yun De himself would walk right in? This was called getting it without effort.

Seeing Tang Yun De still studying Sheng Qing Hong’s proposal, Qian Qi turned and whispered a few words to the pilot. A few minutes later, Tang Yun De said mildly: “I will think about the cooperation.” The Association was an official body, so tying up with a business group needed care, and IKD was not his only choice. Still, the plan was solid, and he could borrow it. He pointed at the papers on the little table and asked: “May I take this?” Qian Qi narrowed her eyes and smiled pleasantly: “Of course. Something this big needs time to think. Oh, look, we’re out of the Dungeon.”

Tang Yun De looked out the window by reflex, but Qian Qi blocked his view. She yanked the door open and jumped down. Sometime earlier she had switched on the Little Bee Amplifier, and her clear voice rang out over the crowd: “President Tang, please step off the helicopter.”

Sharp-eared reporters heard at once and surged like a tide. They shouted questions: “President Tang, you got off an IKD helicopter, are you going to cooperate with IKD?” and “Will the Association hire IKD aircraft to help Awakeners?” and “President Tang, please answer us.”

Qian Qi raised a hand to hold them back, looking considerate as she said: “President Tang is in talks with our IKD. We’ll give you all an answer later. Please be patient.” Then she lifted her voice with a sincere face: “Of course, no matter how it turns out, IKD will accept the result. We will not say one bad word about the Dungeon Association. We also hope Awakeners won’t put too much pressure on the Association. We all serve humans, and everyone has their own burdens.”

Sitting in the helicopter, Tang Yun De stared. [What do you mean no matter the result? What do you mean not say a bad word? Are you trying to use the media and public opinion to force me to accept this deal? If the Association refuses, then we are the ones who don’t care about Awakeners?] Only now did he realize he had not boarded a helicopter. He had boarded a pirate ship.

Beside the chopper, Qian Qi lowered her head. The brim of her big straw hat hid the sly curve of her mouth. [Perfect. Asking the pilot to land where the reporters were thick paid off. Now, President Tang can’t wriggle out of this cooperation.]