Soon, with a Wood Elf relaying the message, Zhang Bo also arrived at the large tent, and he came alone.
After all, the information Yang Di gave them was that he wanted to discuss this afternoon's negotiation process and inquire about how well they were hosted.
Of course, everyone knew that some private negotiations would certainly take place, but Zhang Bo was the main person in charge of the negotiations. At that time, Zhang Bo could just casually say something, find any excuse, and easily fool Sun Zhiru and the 10 negotiation experts, who wouldn't suspect anything.
After all, Zhang Bo was now absolutely Shen Mu's trusted subordinate in Deherim, especially after the rumors that spread that night: it was Zhang Bo, the Prophecy-type Mage, who had continuously warned Shen Mu, which ultimately led to victory against the Undead Legion's attack, Green Leaf Group's sneak attack, and Diesel Company remnants' rebellion—a full pincer attack from these three parties.
This allowed Deherim to survive that night and also ensured the safety of Lord Shen Mu.
It could be said that he had rendered great service.
A achievement of immense proportions.
Therefore, everyone knew that Zhang Bo was absolutely loyal to Deherim and to Lord Shen Mu, so there was no need to question Zhang Bo's loyalty.
Thus, as the general person in charge of this negotiation, if he handled matters himself, it would be fine even if the deputy managers and ordinary negotiation experts in Deherim did not participate.
After all, thinking about it, perhaps there were also some private matters arranged by Lord Shen Mu for Zhang Bo to conduct secret negotiations.
What right did these ordinary negotiation members have to intervene?
Anyway, they just needed to rest well for now.
"Mr. Yang and Cousin Zhang Song." At this moment, Zhang Bo had also arrived at the large tent. He lifted the tent flap and saw Yang Di and Zhang Song sitting inside. Zhang Bo walked over excitedly and reached out both hands to shake theirs.
"Xiao Bo." Yang Di also reached out and shook Zhang Bo's hand. Although he still had some doubts about Zhang Bo, seeing Zhang Bo so excited at the moment, he remembered the young man from before and couldn't help but nod with emotion: "I really didn't expect that after we met half a year ago, our next meeting would be now."
Half a year ago, it was also Yang Di who arranged for Green Leaf Group's inside agent to lead Zhang Bo into Diesel Company.
At that time, they just wanted to obtain some information about Diesel Company.
But unexpectedly, everything changed. Diesel Company had been annihilated, and now before them was Deherim, an entity even more terrifying and powerful than Diesel Company.
One couldn't help but sigh at the impermanence of things.
"Mr. Yang, let's not talk about anything else right now. Zhang Bo came here at great risk, so we need to quickly discuss whatever matters we have." Zhang Song reminded at this point, shaking Zhang Bo's hand and motioning for everyone to sit down.
He immediately got to the point, looking at Zhang Bo and asking, "Zhang Bo, what exactly are Deherim's negotiation terms this time? And we want to know what Deherim's bottom line is, so we can have room to maneuver."
Hearing Zhang Song's question, Yang Di also turned to look at Zhang Bo: "That's right, Deherim's coming to negotiate this time really exceeded our expectations. We thought their troops would come to attack us."
Thinking about it, it was clear that they were the party at fault, and they were also the ones who had ambushed Shen Mu, almost killing him.
For any normal person, this would certainly lead to anger and extreme rage.
However, neither Yang Di nor Zhang Song expected that Shen Mu did not send his troops to the Green Elf Village to completely destroy them. Instead, he sent a peace negotiation team composed of his trusted subordinates, wanting to conduct peaceful negotiations with them. This was truly quite unexpected for them.
Even though Zhang Bo had spoken earlier about the future of Blue Star Civilization, the continuation of Blue Star Humans, and the legacy of Blue Star World.
Such lofty, even morally superior, words.
It was as if Shen Mu was truly using such a moral high ground to negotiate with them.
But for them, who had been accustomed to intrigue even before the apocalypse, and to bloodshed during the apocalypse, such an excuse seemed a bit too childish.
Therefore, although they expressed belief in this matter at the negotiation table, in reality, in their current hearts, they still had some doubts.
Even deep skepticism.
"Mr. Yang and Brother Zhang Song, perhaps you don't understand Shen Mu, this young man similar to me, and you don't understand his idealism. But even I have to admire his idealism, and it's put into practical action."
Zhang Bo couldn't help but show a wry smile at this point, thinking about his long acquaintance with Shen Mu. His observations and his self-perception and impression of Shen Mu's personal character made him say with emotion at this moment, "He is a good person."
That's right, this was Zhang Bo's evaluation of Shen Mu: a good person.
Because ever since Zhang Bo met Shen Mu, and since he joined Deherim, his impression of Shen Mu had gotten better and better. In fact, if it weren't for them serving different masters, if Zhang Bo weren't a spy for Green Leaf Group,
Then he would truly be willing to submit to Shen Mu.
This was no joke, because looking at what Zhang Bo had experienced and witnessed in Deherim now, he couldn't help but feel a little swayed in his heart.
All Blue Star Humans in Deherim could be assigned a living place within the city walls. Although the living places were just tents casually set up in streets and alleys, like a homeless person's dwelling.
But it must be known that within the city walls, there was no threat from death spirit rules, nor the appearance of Undead Monsters. It could be said that simply allowing them to be within the city walls was already Deherim's benevolence to all Blue Star Humans.
Moreover, these Blue Star Humans were guaranteed meals every time, and nearly 1/5 of their food quota consisted of food with Spiritual Realm power.
It should be noted that even if those Blue Star Humans didn't eat food with Spiritual Realm power, they could still survive. Giving them Spiritual Realm food, although it could enhance their physical strength and soul, was a kind of unnecessary waste.
Truly powerful Spiritual Realm food should be given to Spiritual Realm Commanders and Spiritual Realm creatures to maximize benefits.
However, in Deherim, although ordinary Blue Star Humans ate less, they still consumed food with Spiritual Realm power.
Moreover, Deherim was not stingy in his thoughts and actions regarding promoting Blue Star Humans. Many ordinary Blue Star Humans were promoted to middle-level managers and low-level managers, and some were even directly made Spiritual Realm Commanders.
This was a rare feat for Green Leaf Group and Diesel Company; it could almost be called scarce.
Look at how things are now: food, clothing, housing, and transportation are all guaranteed, and there's a clear path for promotion. Everyone also knows that Deherim has a super powerful Human Race Empire as its foundation.
Furthermore, within Deherim, these Blue Star Humans also exercise self-governance. Shen Mu usually doesn't interfere too much, allowing them to elect, nominate, and form their own hierarchy.
He handed power over to these Blue Star Humans themselves.
This alone made Zhang Bo feel a sense of fairness, justice, and openness.
Therefore, at this moment, seeing Yang Di, who was like his father, and Zhang Song, who was like his brother, Zhang Bo truly couldn't suppress his emotions and wanted to fully showcase the good side of Deherim to them both.
In Zhang Bo's view, this would also alleviate the pain they felt from being conquered and becoming vassals.
“Is that so?” Yang Di slowly nodded at this point. He had completely heard Zhang Bo's detailed introduction of what Deherim was like now.
His seemingly calm face now showed a slight tremor at the corners of his eyes.
“That’s right, Mr. Yang, Deherim is just like this now—very fair, just, and open. And we Blue Star Humans can arrange our own affairs; Shen Mu and his Human Race Empire won't interfere with us at all.” Zhang Bo nodded repeatedly.
But beside Zhang Bo, Zhang Song glanced at Yang Di. Because he had followed Yang Di for too long, he was very clear that beneath Yang Di's seemingly calm face, a surging wave of anger had actually risen in his heart.
And he also knew why Yang Di was so angry now: it was because Zhang Bo in front of him had said too many good things about Deherim.
So much so that Deherim was portrayed as if it were the light of Blue Star Humans and the future of the Blue Star World.
If that were the case, wouldn't their Green Leaf Group be the villain? Wouldn't they be trying to stop a chariot with a praying mantis's arms? Shouldn't they be immediately subjugated by Deherim as vassals, submit to Deherim's rule, and then he, Yang Di, would become Shen Mu's prisoner, or a subordinate under house arrest?
How could this possibly make Yang Di, who had always been arrogant, feel good?
Especially since the one saying these words was a spy Yang Di had sent out, Zhang Bo, whom he valued almost like a godson. For him to speak this way made Yang Di and Green Leaf Group worthless!
He, Yang Di, was truly unconvinced!
And very angry.
“Mr. Yang, I really didn’t lie. If there’s an opportunity for you to personally visit Deherim, you might gain even more. And at that time, I will also do my best to make you the person in charge of Blue Star Humans. You are the true Blue Star Human superintendent in my heart; that fellow Zhang Caidong is just a soft puppet!” Zhang Bo continued to speak.
He didn't notice Yang Di's increasingly grim face, nor did he pay attention to Zhang Song's darkening expression.
All he wanted now was to quickly say good things about Deherim, so that both of them would quickly agree to peaceful negotiations—that is, conditional surrender—and then use his influence to allow Yang Di and Green Leaf Group to be reborn within Deherim and achieve greater success!
Zhang Bo's fervent words still echoed in the large tent, but the atmosphere suddenly dropped to freezing point. He was completely unaware of the surging anger in Yang Di's eyes and Zhang Song's gloomy face, still immersed in the excitement of painting a beautiful blueprint for Deherim.
“Enough!”
A low growl, suppressing endless rage, interrupted Zhang Bo's words like a clap of thunder.
Yang Di suddenly stood up, the large wooden chair sliding backward with a harsh screech from the force of his movement. His face was ashen, veins throbbing faintly on his forehead, and his sharp eyes stared fixedly at Zhang Bo, devoid of any warmth of old friends reuniting, leaving only the chill of utter humiliation and fury.
“Zhang Bo!” Yang Di’s voice trembled slightly from extreme restraint, yet it carried a heart-stopping power, “One moment Deherim is fair and just, the next Lord Shen Mu is so sagacious! Have you forgotten who sent you?! Forgotten what your mission was?!”
Yang Di pressed forward a step, an invisible pressure enveloping the entire large tent: “You keep saying Deherim is the light of Blue Star Humans, then what is Green Leaf Group?! All these years, I, Yang Di, have led our brothers in a desperate struggle for survival in the apocalypse, fighting tooth and nail to establish this foundation. In your eyes, has it become a stumbling block hindering civilization?!”
His finger almost touched Zhang Bo’s nose, each word piercing like an ice pick: “You want me to go see how good Deherim is? To see how brilliant and mighty that Shen Mu is? And then what? Willingly hand over everything I’ve fought for half my life, and take my brothers to be dogs for that kid we almost wiped out?! To be a colleague of that puppet superintendent Zhang Caidong under him, wagging our tails and begging for scraps?!”
“Mr. Yang, I didn’t mean that…” Zhang Bo finally woke up from his impassioned state, startled by the biting rage. His face instantly turned pale, and he stammered, trying to explain, “I mean we can…”
“You can what?!” Yang Di interrupted sharply, his chest heaving violently as the accumulated humiliation and unwillingness completely erupted. “You want to tell me this is called being a wise man who knows the times? This is called enduring humiliation for future greatness?! Bullshit! Zhang Bo! I sent you to Diesel Company as an inside man to gather intelligence, to seek a glimmer of hope for Green Leaf Group, to get a foothold and await my orders! Not to sing praises for others, and then run back like a missionary to persuade your old boss to surrender his city and submit!”
Yang Di’s eyes flashed with incredulous disappointment and cold scrutiny: “Look at you now! Eloquently expanding territory for Deherim! I even have to wonder, are you Zhang Bo of Green Leaf, or Zhang Bo of Shen Mu?!” (End of Chapter)
