Infinite Nightmares

Tan Yougen’s expression remained unchanged as he listened to Zhang Wenda, and he offered no rebuttal to the accusation.

"You’re quite talented. Even when your instincts take over, you can still think rationally. Not many people can manage that."

Zhang Wenda roared. "I’m putting my life on the line! And you’re still scheming against me behind my back!"

Tan Yougen held up his hands, gesturing for him to calm down. "Hold on. First, consider this: if you could figure it out, don’t you think your uncle would have, too? And if he did, why would he still go through with it?"

"Because you’re using me to threaten him!" Zhang Wenda practically seethed, glaring at the cunning old man before him.

"No, this isn’t a threat. It’s just a transaction," Tan Yougen continued calmly.

"Is that right? Fine. Since it’s a transaction, I have another option. I can call it off!"

As he spoke, Zhang Wenda reached up and smacked Hu Maomao’s fingers off his forehead. "Old Tan, you’re the one who broke the rules first! Find someone else to play this little undercover game of yours. I’m done!"

"Wenda!" Tan Yougen’s voice rose sharply, his face hardening with an imposing authority. "Do you think you’re still a child? That you can just quit whenever you feel like it? We’re talking about something that needs the Angel Engine to work. If this goes wrong, it could trigger a Thought-tide War! Do you have any idea how many people would die?"

"Fuck, what’s that got to do with me? Does this have a damn thing to do with me? Can you stop trying to dump responsibility on me that isn’t mine? You didn’t think this through! If you were really such a master strategist, you should have factored my personality into your plans!"

Just as Zhang Wenda was about to leave, Tan Yougen’s voice stopped him in his tracks. "Go ask your uncle. He agreed to this!"

"He agreed? Impossible. When did he contact you?" Zhang Wenda stared at Tan Yougen, his expression wavering, deeply suspecting this was just another one of the old man’s schemes.

"Go ask him. Once you get a clear answer, the choice is yours. But I have to tell you, you’re already halfway done with this. If you back out now, I won’t be able to deliver on my promises."

Zhang Wenda regarded him coldly. "Are you using my uncle to threaten me?"

Tan Yougen slowly shook his head. "No, this is a deal. My terms remain the same: find out Tang Xingxiong’s objective, and Biaozi gets put on the whitelist. Otherwise, he remains a Big Circle diehard."

Zhang Wenda knew what the man was aiming for. This was an overt scheme. Tan Yougen was using him to keep his uncle in check, while simultaneously using his uncle to keep him in check.

But even though Zhang Wenda saw through the plan, Tan Yougen wasn’t afraid. That was the nature of an overt scheme—even if Wenda saw the trap, he’d still be forced to walk right into it.

If he walked out now, his uncle would be in constant danger of being captured by the Third Line. His record would never be cleared, and he’d be forced to live like a rat in the shadows for the rest of his life.

Normally, Zhang Wenda wouldn’t have cared. Worst case, he could just join the Big Circle and have his uncle switch factions.

But the problem was that Teacher Rabbit was still with Bureau 507. Besides, the Big Circle was making major moves and seemed incredibly dangerous. Tying his fate completely to them was not a wise decision.

Seeing that Zhang Wenda was starting to think rationally again, Tan Yougen’s tone softened. "You probably see me as a cunning old fox and resent me for it. But the enemy is treacherous, so I must be even more so. Remember, my schemes aren’t for personal gain. They are to save a world that’s falling apart. This is my responsibility as the deputy director of Bureau 507."

He then looked out the window, a nostalgic glint in his eyes. "You young people were born into this chaotic world, so you think nothing of it. But we old folks... we’ve seen a better one."

Hearing this, Zhang Wenda was also reminded of the world that used to be. He understood Tan Yougen’s motives, but he couldn’t accept that he and his uncle were part of the price to be paid.

Zhang Wenda’s fists clenched. He refused to just sit back and wait for his fate to be decided. He had to find his uncle first and figure out a way out of this situation with him.

He didn’t care about Bureau 507 or the Big Circle. All that mattered to him was how the two of them could ensure their own survival.

With that, Zhang Wenda turned to leave, but Tan Yougen quickly stopped him. "Wait, don’t go yet. There’s something I need you to tell your uncle."

"What is it?" Zhang Wenda was already growing impatient.

"Just stand over there and watch. Use your eyes, not your mouth." With that, Zhang Wenda watched as the man picked up the landline on his desk and made a call. "Send him in."

Soon, Zhang Wenda saw a person with short hair being escorted in, their hands cuffed behind their back. They were chewing bubblegum, their eyes filled with disdain. "Why’d you grab me? What did I do wrong?"

"Er’er, drop the act." Hearing Tan Yougen’s words, the person’s expression froze. They were about to argue, but an escort to their left—a man with a camera for a head—wiped a hand across their face. The womanly features instantly melted away, revealing a man.

When the man suddenly looked over at him, it felt like a hammer had slammed into Zhang Wenda’s head. It was his former teammate, the garlic-loving Vampire, Liu Jianming!

The man was with the Big Circle, yet here he was. The implications were obvious.

Liu Jianming caught sight of Tan Yougen and a grin spread across his face. "Well, well, Uncle Tan. It’s, uh, been a few years, hasn’t it? Say hi to Aunt Zhao for me."

Tan Yougen pulled open a drawer and took out a rust-spotted Mauser pistol. He placed it on the desk with a soft but firm thud. "Talk. What exactly are you planning to do with the Angel Engine?"

"Uncle Tan, what Angel Engine? I have no idea what you’re talking about." The man turned his head to look at Zhang Wenda, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk.

Tan Yougen opened the drawer again, this time pulling out a metal tin that looked like it might hold health supplements. As he opened it, he revealed its contents to Zhang Wenda. Inside was a case of bullets formed from some kind of black substance.

"I’ve known you were a clever one since you were a kid. Qianxi wouldn’t have sent you otherwise. I’m sure you’ve left yourself plenty of escape routes, but you should recognize these, right?" Tan Yougen pulled on a pair of gloves and began to load the pistol.

"I know them. Of course I do. That’s Death in a shell. Get hit by one of those, and no trick in the book will save you. Not even with my constitution," Liu Jianming said nonchalantly. As he spoke, his right foot began to tap impatiently on the floor.

"Oh, by the way, Uncle Tan, if I’m going to be spending the holidays here, do I still get some of Aunt Zhao’s dumpli—"

BANG! A gunshot suddenly erupted. The black bullet flew from the barrel and struck Liu Jianming squarely in the forehead.

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