Death Progress Bar

en hinted, “I’m not in charge of economic affairs—to give you more details, I’ll need to go back and let professionals make a specific plan.
The Tarantula matter is urgent, so why don’t we discuss this first?”

“Director Zhang, if you try to give me a dud check, I will be quite angry,” Lian Jun said with a faint smile.

Zhang Zhuoyuang’s heart trembled at this smile.
He immediately swore that it was absolutely impossible and offered to sign an agreement with him.

The expression on Lian Jun’s face became a little less cold.
“I’ll find someone to draw up the agreement, then I’ll trouble you to sign it.
Now, let’s talk about the Tarantula issue.
Please say how would you like to handle this, Director?”

All right, he relented!

After dealing with Lian Jun’s hot and cold attitude, Zhang Zhuoyuan was so exhausted he felt as if he was about to pass out.
He promptly started talking about the Tarantula matter, for fear that Lian Jun would bring up something else again.

Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations.
Read on the original translator’s site to get the fastest updates!

By the time Shi Jin came back with the fresh pot of tea, the atmosphere in the study had eased down.
Zhang Zhuoyuan and Lian Jun were calmly discussing what to do about Tarantula, Gua One and Gua Two stood back in the corners, and even Lian Jun’s progress bar had fallen back to the original value.
The previous dangerous undercurrent seemed to be just his illusion.

What’s going on?

Shi Jin peeked at Lian Jun and Zhang Zhuoyuan’s expressions while he put the teapot on the table, but didn’t notice anything special.
Confused, he went back to his sofa, glancing back at them once or twice.

About half an hour later, the discussion was wrapping up, and Zhang Zhuoyuan finally regained his usual easygoing attitude.
“Then let’s do it this way, and thank you,” he said to Lian Jun gratefully.

Lian Jun waved his hand to show that it was nothing.
He allowed tiredness to appear on his face, tactfully hinting that it was time for the guest to leave.

Not seeming to notice it, Zhang Zhuoyuan continued to talk, suddenly changing the topic: “Lian Jun, you’ve said that you wanted to weaken Tarantula so the four big organizations would be equal in strength and mutually restrain each other.
But what then? The subsequent period of peace would also give them time to recover.
As the damages are repaired, their strength will recover and grow.
At that time, wouldn’t the situation be even more unfavorable to Annihilation? From this point of view, destroying Tarantula now doesn’t seem like a bad move.”

Hearing this, Shi Jin frowned—they’d already reached an agreement, so why was Zhang Zhuoyuan suddenly bringing this up again? Was he trying to find fault with Lian Jun?

Lian Jun’s face became expressionless.
He looked at Zhang Zhuoyuan, his eyes dark and hard.

The two men stared at each other.
Zhang Zhuoyuan’s expression remained mild, but his attitude made it clear that he wouldn’t give up until he got the answer.

Sponsored Content

The atmosphere in the room sank again.
As Lian Jun remained silent, Zhang Zhuoyuan’s gaze gradually became sharp.

Gua One and Gua Two glanced at each other, both feeling it was a pity.
Although Zhang Zhuoyuan got confused by Jun-shao in the beginning, a fox was a fox, after all—once the pressure relaxed a little bit, he regained his calm and noticed that some things didn’t quite add up.

Yes, there was in fact a big inconsistency in Lian Jun’s analysis of the situation—namely, letting Tarantula survive meant letting Annihilation have one more enemy to fight against later.
From an outsider’s point of view, despite the arguments Lian Jun gave at the beginning, not destroying Tarantula was actually more dangerous for Annihilation than destroying it.

“If we get rid of Tarantula now, it will be a three-against-one fight in the future, and if we don’t, it will be four-against-one.
Lian Jun, I’m not doubting the correctness of your decision, I’m just worried.
You’ve also said that the alliance of the other big organizations is inevitable.
Do you think it’s better to face a four-sided alliance or a three-sided one?” Zhang Zhuoyan asked in an earnest tone of voice, looking as if he was sincerely worried about the future.

“Aren’t you confused about something, Director Zhang?” Lian Jun said finally.
The corners of his mouth hooked in a cold smile as if he saw right through the other man.
“There is no future to speak of—Annihilation was doomed from the moment I decided to join your camp.
And the situation is not as simple as straightforward addition and subtraction.
A weakened Annihilation facing Meridian Gate, Epoch, and Snake Fang who are intact and strengthened by swallowing the resources that used to belong to Tarantula, and Annihilation at full strength, facing Meridian Gate, Epoch, Snake Fang, and Tarantula who are still recovering from internal troubles—it doesn’t take a genius to see which of those two scenarios is more advantageous.
There are also other factors like time and whether things would develop into a war of attrition or a melee… Director Zhang, don’t test me again, my patience is limited.
If this is your attempt at forcing me to declare my position, I can only say that you’ve used the wrong method.”

Zhang Zhuoyuan’s expression stiffened, and he was rendered speechless again.

“Also, don’t say that you don’t know that the leaders of Meridian Gate, Epoch, and Snake Fang have come to G Province.
If Annihilation fights Tarantula now, then not only will we have to do everything possible to preserve our strength against the desperate attacks of Tarantula who’s fighting for survival, but also guard against the other three organizations’ who will definitely try to strike at us in the darkness.
Reducing the number of future opponents will be pointless if Annihilation is exhausted to death in the process.”

Lian Jun’s attitude turned unfriendly once more.
“Do you think it’s so easy to achieve a balance between those four organizations? Do you think the underworld will become calm and they will be able to peacefully develop and grow in strength? Step by step, you’re pushing Annihilation to become the enemy of the whole underworld.
Now you’ve even ‘gotten justice’ for us with such great fanfare—once the Tarantula matter ends, what will the other organizations do, can’t you guess? At that time, will I have any other choice than to fight with them? Since I know this will happen sooner or later, is it wrong for me to want to save my strength and try to get some buffer time? Director Zhang, it’s so obvious what will happen in the future that do you really need me to break it down for you? You’re either pretending to be a fool or treat me as a fool!”

Zhang Zhuoyuan’s expression became stiffer—he didn’t expect Lian Jun to be aware of the situation to this degree.
“I didn’t mean that, Lian Jun,” he said, mouth dry.
“I’m just worried that if we let go of Tarantula, things will be more difficult for Annihilation since you’ll have to face more opponents.”

“Difficult? No, that’s when things will get simple.” Lian Jun’s expression suddenly turned indifferent as if he couldn’t be bothered to continue this conversation any longer.
“Director Zhang, I have never held out hope that Annihilation can survive this one-against-four fight… Didn’t you want to know my position? I’ll tell it to you right now: pray that the other four organizations form an alliance as soon as possible so my hands won’t have to be tied anymore and Annihilation will be able to fight with all its strength and perish together with our foes.”

“Perish—” His eyes snapping wide open, Zhang Zhuoyuan stared at Lian Jun in disbelief.

Just as shocked, Shi Jin also looked at his lover.

Resting his chin on his hand, Lian Jun said indifferently, “Only by burning out its life can Annihilation create a firestorm large enough that the underworld will burn clean.
Once the big organizations that can threaten the government are gone, it will be easy to handle the remaining small fishes.
This is my sincerity and my determination, Director.
I have already found my resolve, but you still seem to hesitate.”

Zhang Zhuoyuan was shaken to his core.
“You…” he stammered out.

Lian Jun suddenly turned his head, calling out, “Shi Jin.”

“Yes?” Shi Jin responded immediately.

“I’m tired.
Take me back to my room, I want to rest.” Lian Jun lowered his head and put a hand on his forehead, clearly showing that he didn’t want to continue talking.

Shi Jin hurried over to take the handles of the wheelchair and pushed him out of the study.

If you’re seeing this notice, you’re reading this chapter on pirate site – the original translator of Death Progress Bar is Betwixted Translations.

The conversation lasted for too long, making Lian Jun miss his nap time again.
Eyebrows knitted, Shi Jin helped him lie down, then sat on the edge of the bed to tuck him in.

Sponsored Content

“Scared?” Lian Jun held the hand smoothing the covers and kissed it.

Shi Jin nodded, not trying to hide it.
“Yes.
I knew that you’re going to let Annihilation be destroyed together with the rest, but when I heard you say it as if you were preparing to die, it still scared me… You’re not really planning to die, are you?”

“Of course not, I just said it in such a way to bluff Zhang Zhuoyuan.” Lian Jun sat up and touched Shi Jin’s hair, then pulled him into a hug, soothingly stroking his back.
“I have you, how could I be willing to die?”

Shi Jin hugged him back, as hard as he could.

Zhang Zhuoyuan didn’t leave immediately but stayed in the study for a while.
He was really shocked by what Lian Jun said.
Although Lian Jun had expressed this intention before, he never took it seriously because Annihilation’s transformation to a completely legitimate business was making steady progress—he thought that Lian Jun, like other wily organization leaders, was just saying pleasant-to-hear words to get more benefits.

But after today’s conversation, he can no longer deceive himself.
Lian Jun was serious—he’d already written the ending of the story of Annihilation and other underworld organizations and was now quietly waiting for the beginning of the final chapter.

In the face of the other party’s determination, all his provocations were despicable and ridiculous.

After sitting in a daze for a long time, he suddenly took out his mobile phone and began to make calls, one right after another.
Some were short, some were long, some ended up being arguments, and some were him listening and repeatedly answering “Yes.”

When Lian Jun woke up and returned to the study, Zhang Zhuoyuan’s phone had already run out of battery.
As if he was a whole different person, his attitude was no longer solemn and wary but became mild and amiable.
Seeing Lian Jun, he hurriedly stood up and stepped forward to meet him, then bowed his head and apologized earnestly.

“This time, we acted arbitrarily and as a result, caused a lot of trouble for Annihilation.
I’m very sorry, this kind of thing will never happen again.
In addition, I’ve just discussed things over with my superiors—from now on, any decisions concerning dealing with the big underworld organizations will be consulted with you.”

Lian Jun wasn’t mollified, however, and still looked at him coldly and with distrust.

Zhang Zhuoyuan smiled wryly.
“I will prove the sincerity of my apology with actions.” After that, he politely said goodbye, nodded to Shi Jin and the Guas and left.

Click.
The study door closed behind him.

Shi Jin immediately looked at Lian Jun.
“So… it’s done, right?”

“It’s a great success!” No longer playing the role of a silent and grim-faced guard, Gua Two pounced at Shi Jin and threw an arm around his shoulders, grinning so wide that his mouth had to hurt.
“Jun-shao played Zhang Zhuoyuan like a fiddle.
He saved Tarantula, obtained benefits, and gained a say in the government’s decisions.
Three birds killed with one stone, beautiful!”

Throwing Gua Two a warning glance, Lian Jun motioned for him to release Shi Jin, then took Shi Jin’s hand.
A hint of a smile softening the lines of his face, he said, “Yes, it’s done.
We can contact Aunt Lu and let her know the plan can move to the next step.”

At last, the curtain rose on the prelude to the final war.

Translator: Eques
Editor: –

Eques:

Guess who’s going to appear in the next chapter~ (≖ᴗ≖)

(Actually in chapter 110 but chapter 109 makes it pretty obvious, so…)