The First Order

Chapter 997: A brilliant person

If Wang Yun, Luo Lan, and the others had not worked together to find the real culprit this time, the Zhou Consortium would probably have successfully covered up the truth.

However, Luo Zongren suddenly claimed Yang Anjing was not innocent either. Although she was also present in Luoyang City, she did not try to save Jiang Xu.

This left Ren Xiaosu feeling a little complicated. He could not understand why Yang Anjing did not personally get involved when she had already arranged for Vanilla and Tang Hualong to protect Jiang Xu.

But if being a bystander was a crime, should Ren Xiaosu go and kill everyone who witnessed Jiang Xu’s death but did not step forward to help? That would be impossible.

Ren Xiaosu walked up to Luo Zongren and asked, “Anything else?”

Luo Zongren chuckled. “No, just kill me already.”

However, Ren Xiaosu shook his head. Then he said to the Northwest’s intelligence agent, “Tie him on the rack and parade him around, then send him outside of Luoyang City to be executed. Of course, that’s if he’s still alive at that time.”

Luo Zongren started struggling in the interrogation chair. “How can you do this to me? I’ve already told you everything!”

“If you can make Jiang Xu come back to life after saying all that, I’ll consider letting you off. Unfortunately, it won’t happen,” Ren Xiaosu said.

After that, Ren Xiaosu left the basement and walked to the neighborhood’s garden to do some thinking.

Luo Zongren’s angry curses and cries could be heard coming from the basement. The man probably did not expect Ren Xiaosu to hate him so deeply. After he had already confessed everything, he still wanted to deprive him of his remaining pride.

Actually, Ren Xiaosu was mentally prepared to be a complete villain when he came to Luoyang City this time. He wanted to use the most extreme methods to deal with these villains.

The first time was when he dealt with the sniper on the rooftop. He promised he would spare the sniper’s life as long as he told him which organization he was working for.

The sniper was about to say something when he got killed by the heartworm.

But even if he had told the truth, Ren Xiaosu would not let any of these murderers off.

He was not actually intending to keep that promise.

Luo Lan walked up to him. “What are your plans?”

“A blood debt has to be paid with blood, of course,” Ren Xiaosu said.

“And then?”

“I’ll return to the Northwest. There’s a lot of people waiting for me there,” Ren Xiaosu said.

“Then I’ll accompany you to the Zhou Consortium. After we take our revenge there, it’ll be time for me to return to the Southwest as well.” Luo Lan said with a smile, “I heard the fruit in the Northwest ripen in September. When the time comes, I’ll go visit you in the Northwest.”

“You don’t have to go with me,” Ren Xiaosu said.

Nearby, Zhou Qi also said, “You can’t go to the Zhou Consortium. Qing Zhen called yesterday and wants you to go back immediately. You were already put in danger in Luoyang City, so you shouldn’t go to the Zhou Consortium.”

Luo Lan was stunned. “No, how can I let Ren Xiaosu go to the Zhou Consortium alone?”

Ren Xiaosu smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t be alone. My helper has already arrived.”

Since Ren Xiaosu did not say who his helper was, Luo Lan did not probe further.

Luo Lan started talking about something else. “You also know that my younger brother likes to plan ahead. Back when he was still the Qing Consortium’s Shadow, he decided to establish his own secret troops and secret research base. At that time, no one understood what he was thinking. Even his trusted subordinates did not understand the significance of him doing so. However, I supported him because I knew he was more farsighted than other people.”

“In the end, it turned out he was right. Since the Qing Consortium could not tolerate him, he had to take their place. The reason why I’m saying all this is to tell you that Qing Zhen has been guarding against the Wang Consortium since more than a year ago. Ever since he moved into the military base, he’s started keeping to himself more and more. He doesn’t talk much to others anymore. In the past, he would still explain why he did the things he did, but not anymore now. It was only when Luo Zongren mentioned the theft of the nanomachines that I realized he might have begun guarding against the AI since that time.”

Luo Lan said in seriousness, “So you must be careful of the Wang Consortium. There aren’t many things that can make Qing Zhen feel like he’s up against a formidable enemy.”

Ren Xiaosu nodded. “Got it, thanks for the reminder.”

Actually, even when the Experimentals were wreaking havoc in the Southwest, Qing Zhen had never taken them to be a serious problem. But now that he was taking Zero so cautiously, Qing Zhen must have sensed some kind of danger.

Luo Lan then prepared to leave. Although Jiang Xu was not killed by the Wang Consortium, Luo Lan knew it would still be very dangerous for him to remain in the Central Plains.

Before leaving, Ren Xiaosu suddenly asked, “Why do I get the feeling that you’ve allowed Qing Zhen to take all your glory? What about yourself?”

Luo Lan explained with a laugh, “For someone as lazy as me, I’ll just tag along for the victory. He’s the one who should shine brilliantly in this era. Alright, I’ll be off now!”

After that, Luo Lan led the Qing Consortium’s troops and retreated out of Luoyang City. It was said that the Qing Consortium had already sent an elite force across the southwestern mountains to the Central Plains to escort Luo Lan back.

It was clear that Qing Zhen was very worried for Luo Lan’s safety.

In this chaotic world, it was very rare for such brotherhood to exist.

After Luo Lan left, Ren Xiaosu walked around in the neighborhood’s garden and called Wang Shengzhi.

The phone only rang once before it was picked up. Wang Shengzhi said straightforwardly, “Are you going to ask why the Wang Consortium did not save Jiang Xu?”

“There’s no need for me to ask anything.” Ren Xiaosu said, “From your Wang Consortium’s standpoint, Jiang Xu’s indeed just a normal person with no benefits to you. Whether y’all save him or not, that’s your own business. Or rather, when y’all sent Vanilla and Tang Hualong here it counted as extending a hand. So I have no reason to blame y’all. But from today onwards, we’re no longer friends.”

Ren Xiaosu ended the call.

Just as Ren Xiaosu had said. It was the Wang Consortium’s business whether they chose to save Jiang Xu. So he had no reason to attack the Wang Consortium.

But he could no longer be friends with people who set themselves apart from this matter. This was his choice.

Back then, Ren Xiaosu was willing to accept the three tasks Wang Shengzhi had requested of him because there was still some friendship between them. Ren Xiaosu tried to understand the Wang Consortium and the artificial intelligence, and he was willing to show his goodwill.

But it was different now.

Jiang Xu’s death created a rift between Ren Xiaosu and the Wang Consortium that could not be repaired.

Ren Xiaosu called over the Northwest’s intelligence agents and said, “Y’all can fall out from here and return to the Northwest.”

The intelligence agent in charge of this field operation wondered, “Future Commander, aren’t you going to the Zhou Consortium? We can go with you to seek revenge.”

“No need.” Ren Xiaosu shook his head. “It’s not your responsibility to take revenge for Jiang Xu. You don’t have to put yourselves in danger. Go back home. Your families are still waiting for you all in the Northwest.”

Yang Xiaojin walked out of the villa and looked at him. “What about me?”

Ren Xiaosu smiled. “Come with me.”

Yang Xiaojin laughed. “Not bad, at least you didn’t think of sending me away this time.”