TYMIMA Chapter 122

The rescue mission was set. Even if it was a dragon’s den or tiger’s lair, they’d have to break in.

 

The most crucial thing now was how to get everyone to Phobos Bay as fast as possible, and how to face the rival team members who were still in the dark.

 

Adrian: “If Lan Qi can’t get over it, I’ll apologize to her.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan tapped his brow: “Sigh, actually Sister Qi is nice, taught me a lot about competition, but who told them to steal our tires and toilet paper? A trick is a trick.”

 

Adrian: “How are you going to tell Lance?”

 

They’d planned to finish the Rosa Roxburghii Festival in Tasman before leaving. Everyone liked it here, and Sandro had warmly invited them to stay longer.

 

Plus, after surviving the deadly underwater ordeal, Lance’s body had just recovered—he needed Zhan Pingchuan’s company more than ever.

 

Zhan Pingchuan put on a troubled face and shrugged: “Guess I’ll have to trouble my dad again.”

 

He’d definitely come back in five days to make it up to his little fox for the interrupted vacation.

 

Elsewhere, Dream Witch flicked her cigarette ash into the sea, squinting at the horizon: “When the time comes, you’ll have to meet Adrian under another identity.”

 

Lance felt no guilt at all. He held his phone, arm hanging at his side, the screen showing the call couldn’t connect, the mechanical voice repeating Sorry…

 

He knew perfectly well the call wouldn’t go through for now, but still instinctively tried to call Mad Clown.

 

When he finally hit endless busy tones, Lance hung up and said calmly, “I’m sure Adrian won’t mind such a small thing.”

 

“What about your little idiot? What are you going to do?” Dream Witch withdrew her gaze and looked at him.

 

Lance’s expression shifted slightly, his fingers tightening.

 

His little idiot was still happily looking forward to their two-person world in Tasman, but unfortunately, everything would end today.

 

He’d make it up to him, in any way he liked—even with a lifelong mark, if needed.

 

With that thought, Lance turned and walked toward the city center. Dream Witch stubbed out her cigarette on the stone embankment and followed him back.

 

The two teams met. Adrian gave Dream Witch a meaningful look and said quietly, “There’s an emergency—Ghost Eye has to return to Phobos Bay immediately.”

 

Dream Witch forced a smile: “Same for High Tower.”

 

From Lan Qi’s expression, Adrian already guessed she was a member of the Black Lantern Society and would join the rescue.

 

He nodded: “Alright, we’ll talk then.”

 

Ghost Eye Guild would also add three more elite members, and the three of them were already on their way to the airport.

 

 

The specific action plan would still have to be discussed after everyone arrived.

 

Dream Witch understood what he meant and turned to Zhan Pingchuan: “Little Zhan, once we get to Phobos Bay, you’ll get reimbursed for first class. You head back to the High Tower Guild first—we have some private matters.”

 

“Uh…” Zhan Pingchuan quickly looked at Lance, placing both hands on Lance’s shoulders, his face mournful and his tone gentle, “Darling, I might have to go home for a bit. I won’t be able to hang out with you these days—my dad’s electric bike business went bankrupt.”

 

Adrian: “…”

 

Lance’s mind jolted, and the first thought that flashed through was: what perfect timing for bankruptcy!

 

He’d just been worrying about how to ask his little idiot for five days off.

 

Lance immediately put on a worried look and held Zhan Pingchuan’s hand: “Hubby, something happened at your home, I should go back with you to check on things.”

 

“No need, darling!” Zhan Pingchuan was startled.

 

“—I’m not done yet.” Lance sighed. “Turns out I also need to rush home, so I can’t go with you.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan quietly breathed a sigh of relief: “What happened at your place?”

 

Seeing Dream Witch still standing there, Lance casually replied, “My sister is getting married.”

 

Dream Witch: “?”

 

Zhan Pingchuan blinked a few times: “That’s great, congrats to our sister on her wedding, wishing her lots of happiness and a baby soon.”

 

Dream Witch tried hard to suppress the twitch at the corner of her mouth, then checked the time: “Since everyone’s in a hurry, I think we’d better set off right away.”

 

In the undersea palace, Sandro was woken from sleep. He’d been celebrating with his people until the early morning and had only slept a little over two hours.

 

But he wasn’t angry, just a bit surprised: “You’re leaving now?”

 

Dream Witch: “Yes, immediately, it’s urgent. Our president will explain the details to you personally.”

 

Adrian: “Excuse me, is there a faster way?”

 

Sandro said, “The fastest the undersea speedboat can get to Phobos Bay is two and a half days. If there were a plane, it’d be quicker, but Tasman’s aircraft carrier is out at sea collecting protection fees and can’t get back now.”

 

Lance asked anxiously, “What about a submarine?”

 

Sandro shook his head: “Nothing is faster than the undersea speedboat right now.”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, a purple-black tail tip rose up in front of him.

 

Ryan wrapped his cool webbed hand around Sandro’s waist and stomach, a little annoyed at being ignored, and waved his tail tip in front of Sandro’s eyes: “Sandro, I’m faster than them.”

 

Sandro froze for a moment. That’s right—Canglong was indeed faster than anything else in the sea.

 

Zhan Pingchuan was delighted: “Bro, you’re the best. You’re way more useful than any bird I’ve ever seen.”

 

Ryan never quite understood what Zhan Pingchuan was saying—this human spoke too fast and had even given him the nickname “bro,” which sounded worse than “Ryan.”

 

Sandro caught Ryan’s thin tail fin, pressing it into his palm and stroking it gently, his gaze soft: “Then take them to the shore for me. I’ll wait for you to come back.”

 

So, the High Tower and Ghost Eye teams were loaded onto an undersea speedboat. Ryan flicked his tail fin and pressed his webbed palm to the back of the boat.

 

He started to push. Beneath his pale skin, muscles rippled with smooth definition, and his long fish tail sliced through the waves at top speed.

 

In less than half a day, the speedboat reached Phobos Bay.

 

Ryan didn’t surface. He flicked his tail tip at the group, then dove into the deep sea and quickly disappeared.

 

After saying goodbye to Ryan, everyone drove the speedboat out of the water and finally set foot on land again.

 

By then it was afternoon. Oliver and Fata’s flight had already landed, while the Ghost Eye Guild elites were still on their plane.

 

The negotiation was set for 8 p.m., so everyone had a short break.

 

Lance and Zhan Pingchuan each found an excuse to take a car around the airport, then quietly slipped back to the hotel and into the suite run by their own guild.

 

It had been ten hours since the announcement of Lucas’s arrest, and the High Tower and Ghost Eye Guilds were being pushed further into the spotlight.

 

“Did the Federation government order Adrian and Lan Wendao to the restricted zone for investigation because they suspect them?”

 

“I’ve always suspected the Black Lantern Society was connected to a top guild. Otherwise, how could they have disappeared for so many years?”

 

“I don’t believe Lan Wendao didn’t know his personal assistant was a Black Lantern Society member, so the High Tower Guild must be closely tied to the Black Lantern Society.”

 

“But Adrian Howard is Lucas’s brother. Is there a boss closer than a brother? I think the Ghost Eye Guild is more suspicious.”

 

“The world is so strange. Who would have thought these two mortal enemies would get caught up in the same thing?”

 

“Actually, I think the Black Lantern Society, even if it’s labeled illegal, really gave hope to people who had nowhere else to turn. I still remember their Black Lantern Society Manifesto.”

 

“Yeah, did everyone forget about Erdiff abusing students? Since the Federation claims to have caught Deng Zhi, why not let her speak out instead of executing her immediately? Doesn’t that just prove the Federation is guilty?”

 

“But what good does it do for us to know? The Black Lantern Society’s luck has run out—no one will take those help requests anymore.”

 

“Wait, I heard these two guilds are having business negotiations in Phobos Bay today!”

 

“Huh? Business negotiations now? Didn’t something happen to them?”

 

“I think it’s fine. Lucas must have been interrogated. If he was really connected to these two guilds, the Federation wouldn’t have sent people to talk—they’d have sent the Blue Pivot Inspection Team to arrest them directly.”

 

……

 

The sky gradually darkened, and the last ray of light faded. Phobos Bay was completely swallowed by night.

 

Lance pulled up his sleeve and checked his watch.

 

7:45 p.m.—fifteen minutes until the negotiation officially began.

 

The High Tower and Ghost Eye media reporters had already arrived outside the hotel. They symbolically filmed the hotel and made repetitive, meaningless reports to cover up the true purpose of the meeting.

 

The city lights flickered on.

 

Lance had changed into a white suit, a platinum ring symbolizing the highest command of the High Tower Guild on his right index finger. His hands were folded in front of him, his index finger tapping in sync with the ticking second hand.

 

All the youthful innocence from his student disguise was gone from his eyes, replaced by the cunning shrewdness of White Pharaoh.

 

Streetlights outside the hotel window cast light into the room, glinting off his glasses and tracing the silver frame.

 

Except for Mad Clown and remote-support Duma, all Black Lantern Society members were present. Everyone looked grim and silent, quietly waiting for the time to arrive.

 

Tick—tick—

 

The second hand circled, and the hour hand finally pointed to eight.

 

Zhan Pingchuan was dressed head to toe in black. The night cast shadows on his broad back, gradually blending with his suit.

 

He leaned against the windowsill, one hand in his pocket, the other slightly raised, gaze lowered as he checked the time.

 

The neatly pressed suit creased naturally at his elbow. The well-fitted fabric slightly restricted his movement.

 

He hadn’t worn such expensive, luxurious clothes in so long he almost forgot what it felt like.

 

“Young master, it’s time,” Adrian said.

 

The Ghost Eye Guild rescue team was all assembled, ready to go. Zhan Pingchuan straightened up at the balcony edge, his cuff sliding down to his wrist: “Let’s go.”

 

It was time to finally meet the legendary White Pharaoh.

 

This was the person who’d caused his first undercover mission to fail completely, who’d forced him into the plot to assassinate a senior Blue Pivot official.

 

He’d once suspected him of being a freshman infiltrating Star University. He thought he was about to catch him, but he always managed to disappear into the crowd, leaving

 

Zhan Pingchuan empty-handed.

 

“Dear viewers, it’s now eight o’clock. On the seventeenth floor of the Phobos Royal Hotel, the High Tower Guild and Ghost Eye Guild are about to begin an epic business negotiation. It’s reported that the heirs of both guilds are present…”

 

“An exciting moment, a historic thaw. Although we couldn’t reach the negotiation site, you can see reporters have already blocked the hotel entrance so tightly that not even water could get through—showing just how hard-won this business negotiation is.

 

What exactly made these two top guilds, usually at odds, choose to cooperate? I think we can at least foresee that the future crystal ore trading market is about to undergo a brand new change.

 

Stay tuned to this channel—the anchor will keep you updated on the latest from the scene…”

 

The lights in the seventeenth-floor conference hall came on. Lance was the first to arrive.

 

He stood with his people on the right side of the long conference table, eyes narrowed, staring intently at the door.

 

He was quite interested in this young master of the Ghost Eye Guild. He wanted to know what kind of ability the other party used to sneak into the restricted zone and steal Si Hongche’s autopsy report.

 

S-class, eighteen years old.

 

Maybe a tough opponent.

 

Lan Wendao participated via video. On the laptop in Fata’s arms, his rarely serious face was displayed.

 

He’d already decided: if the other side showed even a hint of neglect because his darling was F-class, he’d immediately back his darling up.

 

Ding!

 

With a sharp elevator bell, the sound of leather shoes on marble echoed.

 

The crisp steps sounded like drumbeats, getting closer and closer, second by second. Fingers touched the gilded handle, twisted down, the lock popped open, and the full light of the room spilled into the dim corridor.

 

The footsteps paused, the crisp sound stopped, like a performance reaching a crescendo and then suddenly leaving a blank. But everyone knew—the drumstick was raised high, about to strike a blow that would echo through the world!

 

The door swung fully open. The first to step out of the dimness was a pair of long, straight legs. Dress pants outlined his superior proportions, and his polished shoes reflected the bright lights inside.

 

The glare dazzled Lance’s amber eyes. His gaze inevitably landed on those legs. The sudden force and familiarity pressed on his heart, his breathing caught, and his gaze shot upward—

 

Lance: “?”

 

Zhan Pingchuan: “?”

 

Dream Witch: “!”

 

Adrian: “!”

 

Abaddon, Lily, Fulunla, Wu Peng, Mudeli: “!!!”

 

Everyone in the conference room was stunned!

 

Lance had imagined ten thousand possibilities, but never thought he’d see this face here.

 

Standing before him was no longer the little idiot with streaks of blue in his hair, dressed like a meteor hammer, lazy and unrestrained, always with a unique mind.

 

Instead, it was the noble, forceful, and imposing young master of the Ghost Eye Guild.

 

Heh.

 

A dad who picked up trash and stole bikes, a mom who bravely rescued drowning children, a bankrupt family, and a poor him.

 

Lance gritted his teeth.

 

He thought he’d picked up a little wolf cub, all howls and clinginess, but it turned out to be the big bad wolf who ate Little Red Riding Hood.

 

Zhan Pingchuan was just as shocked as Lance.

 

Before him was no longer the naive, pure, weak, easily bullied little fox who obediently lay on his shoulder and showed his glands.

 

Now it was the scheming, ruthless, sharp White Pharaoh—every eyelash brimming with intelligence and edge.

 

A hardworking sister in the fields, a dad who broke his leg driving a tractor, a simple family, a top student…

 

Looking back, everything made sense.

 

Lance’s familiarity with the underground city was not something you could get from just reading in a library.

 

Plus, with his Divine system awakening, there was no way he’d be bullied by Erdiff or the electric eel awakened at the start of term.

 

No wonder.

 

No wonder he could never find White Pharaoh—turns out, he was right in front of him all along!

 

All those little details from the past flooded back. Zhan Pingchuan wanted to shout “no wonder” every second.

 

The conference hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The tension was so thick, even breathing was hard to sense.

 

But outside, the media were still passionately broadcasting—

 

“Time’s up! We believe the leaders of both guilds have already met in the conference room for friendly talks!”

 

“We can see the shadows of lights flickering on the seventeenth floor, just like the hands of the two guilds clasped together. We really hope they’ll break the ice and move forward.”

 

“Today proves there are no eternal enemies in business, only eternal interests—because you can even see the High Tower Guild and Ghost Eye Guild together for five minutes without fighting!”

 

Five minutes passed.

 

Still, no one spoke first.

 

Everyone’s gaze shifted between the young master and the rival’s young spouse, waiting for them to blow the horn of battle or go in for a loving hug.

 

After a long time, Lance moved first.

 

The little idiot’s lies could wait—right now, Mad Clown was more important.

 

Luckily, acting was his specialty. He decided he’d communicate with the little idiot as White Pharaoh all night.

 

He reached out to pull out a chair. The chair had barely moved half an inch when Zhan Pingchuan suddenly said in a deep voice, “Don’t move!”

 

Lance instantly froze, fingers gripping the chair back, shooting a look at Zhan Pingchuan.

 

In the video, Zhan Qinghe’s heart trembled, sitting up straight and thinking, My son’s got presence—just like me!

 

Lan Wendao’s brows shot up, fingers gripping the big machete at his side, grinding his teeth—who dares yell at my darling?!

 

But Zhan Pingchuan frowned, strode over to Lance, unbuttoned his expensive tailored suit with one hand, tossed it aside, and quickly laid it on Lance’s chair.

 

Then, righteously scolded the flustered little fox: “You just got better, and you’re sitting on a hard chair without checking?”

 

Zhan Qinghe: “……”

 

Picked up from the trash, might as well throw it away.

 

Lan Wendao tossed the machete away with a “whoosh” and straightened his tie.

 

Lance couldn’t help but twitch his lips.

 

He thought the little wolf cub was about to start a fight, so he’d braced himself, but things turned out so unexpectedly he had to swallow his words.

 

Lance stared with big round fox eyes, wanting to say something, but for once, was speechless. In the end, he just plopped down with a resigned thud.

 

Zhan Pingchuan immediately sat next to Lance, taking the lead and telling the Black Lantern Society members, “I’m sitting next to my wife. You all sit wherever, don’t be shy.”

 

The Black Lantern Society members: “……………..”

 

##

---

 

 (advanced chapters available on kofi)