Yama Rising

Chapter 662: Black Mamba Conference (3)

Silence.

He glanced around the table and continued with a deep voice, “I’m quite certain that everyone was already mentally prepared for something like this the moment I decided to step back into this room. Let me reiterate that this is anything but a joke. Let me put it out there that the Russian Underworld is definitely looking to develop Forbidden Art capabilities. And to this end, they already possess the basic conceptual know-how, and some raw data on how to go about with these developments. Furthermore, I can assure you that there are traces of the Argosian Underworld egging them on from behind the shadows!”

Perhaps it was Qin Ye’s attitude in the earlier round of negotiations that had attracted the responses of - “Are you kidding me?” “This joke isn’t even funny.” “Is this Hell’s attitude towards international affairs these days?”

That said, everything was cast in a different light now.

Is there really an underworld out there that is prepared to go directly against the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Forbidden Arts?

The words “Forbidden Arts” were almost like something of taboo, ripping out the scab that had formed over their wounds after centuries on end. Moments later, Black Mamba finally responded in a deep voice, “Specifics.”

The gravitas he spoke with caused Babulu, Shaman Cain, and the three elders to all sit up straight and listen intently. Qin Ye sighed softly, and then explained with an equally authoritative voice, “Resentment Crystals.”

These words didn’t trigger much of a reaction in the other emissaries at the table. However, Black Mamba’s pupils immediately shrank.

Ever since they were first baptised with the full force of a Forbidden Art centuries ago, the Mythic Spirits of the Alkebulan Underworlds had done everything within their abilities to understand the composition of Forbidden Arts as best as they could. Naturally, Black Mamba knew a thing or two about Resentment Crystals.

Black Mamba’s eyes twitched softly, and then he sighed, “How did Hell first come to learn about this?”

“Everyone here is probably aware that there exists a buffer zone between Hell and the Russian Underworld, and the standing rules of engagement is that marching into this buffer zone with one’s army is tantamount to a declaration of war. Incidentally, the Resentment Crystals Mine is… located in Khuree, the capital of the Mongol Empire.”

Black Mamba tapped his fingers on the table softly. He had already managed to put two and two together to deduce the rest of the story.

And the Russian Underworld could never afford that.

Without an assurance in this regard, they naturally had no choice but to first seek Hell’s blessings. This was the only way they could then afford to make their move.

“It would be Marquis Rumyantsev, who was acting under the direct instructions of Catherine the Great. I was the one who met directly with them.”

“Because the causes and consequences are all fraught with layers of complexity. It’s an issue that goes well beyond bilateral relationships. I’ll come to this in a little while. For now, suffice it to say that I was the one who spoke face to face with Marquis Rumyantsev. However, given the gravity of the situation, I wasn’t able to act beyond my authority and supplant the role of the King Yanluo of Hell.”

The waves were stirring.

They would pick on every word, and the presumptions undergirding every statement. They would question everything in the hope that they could uncover the deeper truth hidden within. After all, it would be naive to expect any bilateral meetings to be conducted with their cards fully open on the table, devoid of any measure of concealment whatsoever.

He was showing strength to conceal the truth of the weaknesses within.

In fact, the situation was currently so tense that Qin Ye could even feel the coldness of six figurative blades on his neck, almost as though one wrong word, and his neck would be cut right off his neck. This was no longer an issue of boldness and courage. He was facing the scrutiny of six people on his own. The pressure on his shoulders was so immense that it was only natural to feel sheepish the moment he spoke of untruths. And all he could do right now was to pray hard that they would not be able to see beyond these loopholes of his.

Babulu looked up at his Mythic Spirit in consternation, but Black Mamba promptly shook his head and continued indifferently, “The Russian Underworld simply wanted to ‘meet’ with Hell. Given the importance of this matter, they had no choice but to drag things out for an inordinate amount of time, just for the opportunity to meet with the Emissaries of Hell once.”

Then, Black Mamba rested his jaws on his hand and surveyed the room placidly, “But things are quite different if they chose to act only after meeting with Hell.”

“These are probably the thoughts of the Russian Underworld at this point in time. And so long as the Russian Underworld isn’t exterminated, then a hundred years later, when the might of Forbidden Arts blossoms in the Russian Underworld, any losses that they might potentially incur at this point would completely be acceptable.”

Qin Ye shook his head. Once again, he couldn’t help but sigh in his heart.

Black Mamba continued, “The Russian Underworld spans a vast territory and even shares some of its borders with territories of the Aegyptian Underworld and the Argosian Underworld. If Hell were to spark off a war against the Russian Underworld, it would easily implicate two other P4 underworlds, and thereby easily devolve into a great netherworld war. Nobody is willing to see something like this happen. Therefore, the Russian Underworld is effectively using its geographical location as leverage in its present course of conduct. So long as they do not offend Hell’s bottom line, they know full well that Hell would not go to such extremes to take them down.”

The implications were obvious. If everything said thus far was spot on, then coupled with the fact that the Russian Underworld was desperately trying to curry favour with the rest of the netherworld, it was quite likely that they would be marching into Khuree in the near future!

Seconds later, Black Mamba turned back to Qin Ye, licked its lips, and then suddenly smiled.

Qin Ye lowered his eyes and smiled softly back, “I was under the impression that we were already talking business all this while.”

“And that’s the evidence.”

“For instance, why are you so certain that it is the Argosian Underworld that has rendered aid to the Russian Underworld? Or for further instance, how did the Russian Underworld manage to cross paths with you when Hell is currently inaccessible to foreign emissaries?”

The waves were finally showing on the surface of the river, sloshing about wildly as it ushered the arrival of a megawave.

It’s good that they’re asking for evidence… And that they’re taking the initiative to do so at that.

Besides, the fact that they’re asking for evidence means that they’re already starting to come on board with Hell’s suggestion. They’re starting to loosen up to the possibility that we might be right!

Fortunately, the Black Mamba Underworld still treats Forbidden Arts as a matter of grave importance to be nipped in the bud. Qin Ye’s only hope right now was that this reflected the interests of the rest of the Coalition of Alkebulan Underworlds as well.

“This one sets out in detail the circumstances under which we first came into contact with the Russian Underworld.”

“This one sets out the reasons why we think someone has been rendering aid to the Russian Underworld from the shadows, and our deductions on who might have given them aid in respect of the conceptual know-how as well as some of the basic modules.”

“Believe me, this is not a situation you want to see coming to pass, nor one you’ll ever be able to accept!”