The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix’s Novels Also Desires Happiness - Chapter 191
116. The Most Valuable Head
—
The old woman waved her withered arms, issuing a declaration that was strikingly powerful, completely at odds with her frail figure.
Under her words, the eyes of many gang leaders, already pushed to the brink, lit up as if they could already see the beautiful vision she described.
Justice!
Peace!
Autonomy!
A lower district that belongs solely to us!
How wonderful, how enticing…
“Pfft…”
The sudden burst of laughter shattered this beautiful illusion.
“What the hell? The council? Hahaha… the council… unity? Am I hearing things?”
At the bar, Mu En clutched his stomach, laughing so hard he nearly doubled over.
As if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
“This… mediator lady, you can’t possibly be unaware, right? The current council is nothing but a bunch of bloated, brain-dead nobles, bickering like children, utterly useless. And you want to mimic the council?
Or do you think these guys beside you, who are always ready to stab each other, can sit down together and calmly discuss things?”
“I can solve such problems,” the old woman nodded earnestly, utterly convinced of her own words.
She was the mediator of the lower district, and under her prestige, everyone could sit together in peace to plan the future of their community.
“Ah, is that so?”
Staring at the old woman for a while, Mu En picked up a handkerchief to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes.
“I thought you were some formidable character, but it turns out you’re just a fool who abuses her ‘mistress’ status to do as she pleases?”
If they really established a so-called lower district that belonged only to them, they might not see fairness, peace, or autonomy; instead, they would likely be met with the iron hooves of the royal knights.
Playing council under the emperor’s nose? Little one, do you not know how to write the words ‘beheading’?
“You—”
The old woman’s face suddenly twisted in rage, as if Mu En had struck a sensitive nerve.
But her gaze quickly turned venomous, mocking:
“Kid, laugh all you want. I see you won’t be so arrogant for long. As long as we all unite, you’ll just be a lamb waiting for slaughter.
When that time comes, I’ll tear your face off and decorate my collection room with it, so you’ll know the consequences of angering me!”
“But you won’t have that chance.”
“What?”
“I said you won’t have that chance.”
Mu En lowered his hands, his expression returning to calm, but the pale blue eyes hidden beneath the shadow of his top hat revealed a deep mockery.
“Perfect, I’ll use you to show those still hesitating my other strength, and by the way, test whether the unity you speak of is truly feasible.”
“What do you mean?”
Could it be… another murder?
A sudden wave of intense unease surged within the old woman. She instinctively stepped back, seeking refuge among the people behind her. Yet those who had seemed somewhat swayed by her words just moments ago now chose to retreat in unison.
The corners of the old woman’s eyes twitched, and she cursed this bunch of useless fools in her heart.
But then, she straightened her chest, held her head high, and glared at Mu En, her voice sharp as she said:
“If you want to kill, then kill! Let everyone see clearly that you are just a madman who kills indiscriminately. A madman will never gain anyone’s approval!”
It seemed she was prepared to face death.
But—
Glancing at the old woman’s trembling legs, the mockery in Mu En’s eyes deepened. He lowered his gaze and softly asked:
“Do you know why I call myself Bruce Wayne?”
“Wh… why?”
“Because although I have no superpowers, I possess another very formidable ability.”
As fear gradually filled the old woman’s eyes, Mu En slowly extended a finger, pointing at her.
Is it… coming?
Knowing she had no power to resist, the old woman resignedly closed her eyes, preparing to welcome death.
However, after a brief wait, death did not come.
Instead, a rich voice, clear enough for everyone to hear, spoke:
“Now, mediator lady, your head is worth one hundred million.”
“Huh?”
The old woman was instantly stunned.
She opened her eyes, frowning in confusion, struggling to understand Mu En’s meaning.
One hundred million?
My head is worth one hundred million?
What does that mean?
Can you kill me with just a word?
Ridiculous.
But just then, she heard the sound of breathing.
Heavy, beast-like breathing.
And the greedy gazes, piercing like needles, all converged upon her.
She jolted awake, feeling a bone-chilling cold envelop her body, and turned to the crowd, shouting in terror:
“Don’t be fooled! This is his scheme! A scheme!”
“This is not a scheme; this is a promise.”
Mu En adjusted his hat habitually, looking at the crowd with a mocking smile reminiscent of a clown taking a bow at the end of a performance:
“You all climbed your way to this point step by step, so you should know better than anyone that at a time like this, I would never lie. If I say it’s one hundred million, then not a single cent less.
Moreover, anyone who successfully claims the dear mediator’s head can walk out of here safely, and after that, I will have no acts of revenge.”
Mu En raised three fingers to the sky: “I swear to the goddess.”
Swear to the goddess.
These words were like a spell, causing the once-spectating gang leaders to stir restlessly.
One hundred million.
Plus the promise of safety.
For them, it was a temptation hard to resist.
And the price they needed to pay was merely the life of a nobleman’s mistress.
Ha ha, a mistress.
At her age, how could that noble even remember her?
Those so-called connections had long lost their deterrent power.
As for prestige… can that be eaten?
It was simply a deal that guaranteed profit without loss.
Yet, for now, no one made a move.
Everyone was still hesitating; they weren’t foolish enough to lose their heads over a hundred million.
To act for this sum now would mean… acknowledging this man’s status, recognizing him as superior to these gang leaders.
“Don’t be fooled, don’t be fooled! Think about what I just said—unity! At a time like this, only unity matters. Don’t let that man divide you; do you really want to be beneath him?”
The old woman’s face was pale, her trembling voice pleading continuously.
Even she, no matter how foolish, knew this was her only chance at survival.
But in reality, no one was listening to her anymore, for just a glance into each other’s eyes revealed that the so-called equality of unity was nothing but a pipe dream.
Everyone was secretly contemplating, weighing the pros and cons.
Was one hundred million not enough?
Mu En’s gaze flickered.
Then let’s add…
But before he could utter the words to escalate the situation, a sharp buzzing interrupted his thoughts.
The old woman suddenly let out a wretched scream, collapsing to the ground as she began to wail in agony.
A mist of blood filled the air as a magically imbued arrow turned one of her calves into nothing but flesh and blood.
Everyone turned in shock to look at the person who had pulled the trigger.
The Rat King, Sam.
“Sam?”
Mu En raised an eyebrow in surprise, turning to the gnome-like figure:
“I didn’t expect the first to act would be you?”
“What’s so surprising? I’m just making what I believe is the right choice.” Sam remained expressionless, as if no one could fathom his thoughts at that moment.
He slowly approached the old woman, raising the crossbow in his hand once more.
“Sam! You, you b*stard, so you really are with him?”
In excruciating pain, the old woman screamed with bloodshot eyes, but just then, the arrow slicing through the air turned her scream into a shriek.
Sam shot through her other foot, saying lightly:
“Don’t get me wrong, no one hates this guy more than I do. He’s put a knife to my throat and deceived me and all that.”
“Then why… you!”
“But there’s one thing he said that I agree with.”
From noble mtl dot com
Sam continued to draw the bowstring, aiming again, this time not at a vital spot.
“—Since everyone needs a master, why not him? At least, unlike those stingy and cowardly nobles…
He’s really willing to put up a hundred million.”