Starting Cultivation in Wasteland-Chapter 544 - 414: Misgivings

After Qu Jianlei finished speaking, Gwendolyn looked at him with a strange expression and said nothing.

After about half a minute, he finally raised his hand and clapped a few times with a smirk.

"What a talent, didn’t expect it. My friend, not only are your skills exceptional, but so is your eloquence. You actually managed to come up with such a twisted logic."

After a pause, he spoke in a low voice, "So in your opinion, how much would be enough?"

Qu Jianlei thought for a moment and replied, "I’m not very good at bargaining, but half a million is indeed too much."

Gwendolyn pondered for a moment before speaking, "Let’s put it this way, how much did Smiling Face and Shrek charge to deal with you guys?"

Qu Jianlei answered, "Shrek took five B-level Crystals, as for Smiling Face... I’m not sure."

"Five B-level Crystals, they really valued you," Gwendolyn nodded thoughtfully, realizing something the next moment.

"But that makes sense, three B-level players do deserve that amount."

Qu Jianlei understood what he meant and after some thought said, "Then how about this, ten B-level... I’ll pay you an upfront of one hundred thousand."

Gwendolyn’s eyes widened, "Only one hundred thousand?"

Qu Jianlei replied seriously, "That money is enough to handle three B-levels. You have favorable conditions, you might not even need to lift a finger."

Gwendolyn stared at him, shook his head after a while, "You said earlier... you weren’t good at bargaining?"

Qu Jianlei replied expressionlessly, "I’ve already hinted at it. This in itself could be a landmark event."

After pondering for a moment, Gwendolyn simply answered, "Alright, consider it my thanks for your suggestion."

After a pause, he added, "But after seeing the results, you’ll have to pay at least a million more."

Qu Jianlei was really speechless, he wanted to say that if not for fear of being wanted, he would have handled it himself.

Seeing that he did not speak, Bellini spoke again, "A million is too much, four hundred thousand."

Gwendolyn laughed angrily, "You’re directly cutting it down to forty percent? Making it fifty thousand was just my initial offer!"

Bellini nodded confidently, "Yes, I underestimated your ability. It seems easy for you."

"Besides, there’s the advertising effect."

"At least a million in the future," Gwendolyn stated simply, "If you disagree, consider I never came."

"I’m your child’s teacher!" Bellini stared at him, eyes unblinking.

After waiting for a while, she sighed, "Forget it, I won’t worry about the future, wasn’t it you who approached me?"

"So, in the beginning... we’ll only pay fifty thousand."

With those words, everyone fell silent; Qu Jianlei originally wanted to say something, but he couldn’t be bothered to contradict Bellini.

The three of them drank tea and puffed on their cigarettes without speaking, each minding their own smoke.

The cigarettes were still more than half left when Gwendolyn reached out and stubbed his cigarette out in the ashtray.

Then he sighed, "Alright, fifty thousand upfront... can I have it now, no problem right?"

Bellini glanced at Qu Jianlei, "Give it to him!"

Qu Jianlei glared at her, helplessly curling his lips, as if money doesn’t matter to you.

But it really didn’t matter at this point, he casually pulled out five ten-thousand-dollar Silver Notes and handed them over.

Gwendolyn pointed his chin at the B-level Warrior, who then collected the five Silver Notes.

He then stood up and nodded at Qu Jianlei, "You’re not a stingy person after all; I thought you were going to draft a contract."

"Haha," Qu Jianlei let out a dry laugh, "My money isn’t easy to scam."

"Is that so?" Gwendolyn gave him a meaningful look, "You’ll see in two days, money well spent."

After saying that, he waved his hand, "Enjoy your time, I’m leaving now."

The two of them left in a car, and Bellini looked at Qu Jianlei.

"I haggled for you for half a day, why weren’t you satisfied when you paid? You know... his child is under my care!"

Your words make you sound like a kidnapper, Qu Jianlei smiled.

"Just a bit emotional, how could someone with such conditions... also be just a Modified Warrior."

Bellini dismissed it, "A Modified Warrior is the limit money can achieve, Awakening truly depends on talent!"

Qu Jianlei furrowed his brows, "I don’t know why, I always feel like this Modified Warrior is lacking something."

Bellini responded bluntly, "The second injection was because someone greased the wheels, we have such students in our academy too."

Qu Jianlei wasn’t well-versed in these matters, so he ventured a comment, "Actually, there are also naturally Awakened ones."

"Mostly fake," Bellini said without hesitation, "Mostly something to cover up."

Although she’d always been in the Ivory Tower, lacking insight and average combat ability, she knew a lot about such news.

Qu Jianlei raised his eyebrows in surprise, "No way, that teacher Shari in the library Awakened later."

"Shari?" Bellini raised her eyebrows in surprise, she had some impression of this woman.

Qu Jianlei was waiting for her to make new remarks, but to his surprise, she stood up right away.

"Asking me so much... Trying to get close to me? Sorry, you’re not my type!"

Watching her drive away, Qu Jianlei stood up, shook his head with a wry smile, "Really... sigh!"

Two days later, Smiling Face and Shrek were still taken away by the Patrol Guard and handed compensation money before they left, ten thousand silver coins each.

This twenty thousand was to compensate the four of Zi Jiu Immortal, whether it’s too much or too little can’t be argued anymore.

When the four were having lunch in the cafeteria, Bellini came over excitedly, "I’ve got good news!"

She handled this matter very beautifully, no wonder she’s excited.

Xiang Xue still couldn’t stand her, pouting at her words, even though she knew the tomboy had facilitated Panda’s collaboration with outsiders.

In her view, if they can endure for a while, when the storm passes, a small family could be easily manipulated by everyone.

However, she couldn’t comment on this matter. Bellini meant well to help, and Panda had already paid the deposit.

After all, for her, fifty thousand silver coins is nothing, whether it works or not, it’s worth a try.

Qu Jianlei got up, dragged another chair over, and motioned for her to sit down, "What’s the good news?"

"You...," Bellini rolled her eyes at him, couldn’t help but retort, "Surely pragmatic."

Qu Jianlei rolled his eyes, sat down by himself, "It’s up to you if you don’t want to sit. I just thought it’s inconvenient for you to talk while standing."

Bellini was really straightforward, after sitting down with her tray, she lowered her voice to speak.

"Gwendolyn has made a move. A civil officer named Romel was taken away by the Cleanliness Department last night."

Romel is regarded as Robinson’s uncle, a mid-level member in the civil department of Fengrao City, not small in power and not good-tempered.

He was once a C-level Warrior, later his cultivation level was abolished in battles with Mutant Beasts.

The Imperial has Limb Regeneration Potion, cases of cultivation levels being abolished due to injury are rare, but there are some that can’t be treated.

Romel was injured on duty; his family isn’t short of money, but his cultivation level couldn’t be restored, so they gave him a consolation position.

Anyway, he has merits, and his family is not small, so even if his temper is bad, nobody usually bothers with him.

But now being taken away by the Cleanliness Department, not only is someone targeting him, but it’s also hard to return.

Romel is a flag of his family in the political arena, although not boundless in prospects, at least a pillar.

Therefore, this move has made many people ponder repeatedly.

However, Bellini doesn’t need to ponder; Mosman, while teaching today, told the teacher that he did it.

The four listeners did not speak after hearing, each looked at the other.

Seeing the situation, Bellini was unhappy, "What do you mean by this... Jiu Immortal, you say."

Zi Jiu Immortal pouted and answered helplessly, "It’s not that I don’t trust you, but what if he didn’t do it?"

Xiang Xue nodded at this, "He should have informed you beforehand, that’s the proper attitude for doing things."

But Bellini confidently replied, "Mosman said, can’t let the word out too early, easy to leak the news."

The two women fell silent, but Qu Jianlei spoke up, "Why Romel?"

"This... I don’t know," Bellini shook her head, then honestly retorted.

"There must be a target, so why can’t it be him?"

Qu Jianlei spread his hands, "I’m just asking, no intention to question, after all, I spent money, there’s no reason I can’t ask."

"Please ask him, if it’s convenient, can we confirm the next target?"

"This... makes sense," Bellini paused for a moment, then nodded, "You spent money, there’s no reason you can’t ask."

She quickly ate and left, the other four looked at each other.

After a long time, Xiang Xue sulkily said, "This underhanded way of dealing with problems really makes me uncomfortable."

Aunt Liu rarely muttered, "If Bellini wasn’t that kid’s teacher, the person might likely play both sides."

Qu Jianlei nodded slightly, from the start, he had this concern, hence his lukewarm attitude.

"This guy’s ability should be fine; it’s just his character I worry about... after all, playing both sides profits the most."

Zi Jiu Immortal looked at him, "If he really plays both sides, what do you plan to do?"

Qu Jianlei smiled, replied nonchalantly, "I’ll handle it according to my way of doing things."

"If such a thing really happens, count me in," Xiang Xue spoke up.

"Can’t stand someone not being straightforward, playing dirty and still being so shameless."

"With merely C-level guards, not even worthy to carry Aunt Liu’s shoes... I wonder who gives him the confidence."

Aunt Liu pretended not to hear, thinking in her heart those daring to target that person aren’t many, but you’re different.

Yet things in this world, good things don’t seem to happen as much as bad ones.

The next morning, as Qu Jianlei was reading in the library, Bellini hurriedly came in.

She walked over quickly and whispered, "Come out, there’s been a situation."

Qu Jianlei sighed inwardly, folded his book, and silently followed her outside.