Chapter 154, Meeting Black Dragon, Negotiation Breakdown_1
Jiang Chen contacted Alice via the Legion Badge.
"Alice, is Black Dragon planning to amalgamate other legions?" he asked.
"You've heard about this too?" Alice replied. "I only found out recently. Black Dragon indeed has such plans and has even approached me, but I refused."
"Good," Jiang Chen said. "If Black Dragon contacts you again, let me know. I'll talk to him. I don't mind if he amalgamates other legions, but the Dark Legion is off-limits."
Alice explained, "At Shenlong Academy, only you can stop him. Actually, his intention is quite simple: he wants to unite everyone to form a powerful legion to confront the Alliance. He has ambition and purpose, but the other legion leaders won't agree."
"Aren't there many more people at Shenlong Academy?" Jiang Chen inquired. "Where have they all gone?"
"Everyone above the First-stage has gone to other places for training, and so have those in the Second-stage," Alice responded. "Now, in Shenlong Academy, Black Dragon is the dominant force."
"Understood," Jiang Chen said.
Powerful individuals always have ambitions, and Black Dragon was clearly no exception.
Jiang Chen then sent a message to Ruo Li.
"I don't care if Black Dragon amalgamates other legions, but not the Dark Legion," he wrote. "Tell Black Phoenix to convey my stance."
Ruo Li replied, "Okay, I figured you wouldn't agree. I wanted to tell you when we were drinking just now, but I forgot."
"Alright," Jiang Chen typed back. "No matter the outcome, you're still my senior."
"I just love hearing you say that," Ruo Li responded. "Why are these men so ambitious?"
"I'm not..." Jiang Chen started to type.
Ruo Li sent another message: "Let's find a place to talk alone, just the two of us..."
Jiang Chen laughed. Can this woman stop tempting me...
He put down his phone and went home to sleep.
He headed to Room 5028. Jiang Chen knocked on the door, but there was still no response, and he couldn't get through on the phone either. He started to worry about Wang Gang's safety, wondering if the kid might have died out in the wild.
「Inside the villa.」
Black Phoenix looked at her brother and spoke bluntly, "I've been opposed to this all along. The other legions definitely won't agree."
"I won't give them the chance," Black Dragon replied indifferently.
"Do you want to start a war?" Black Phoenix asked.
"No need," Black Dragon said. "Forget them all ganging up on me; I could take them all down by myself. In the future, Shenlong Academy will only have the Black Dragon Legion, no other legions."
Black Phoenix fell silent; she understood her brother's character. He always did what he said. Once he decided on something, he definitely wouldn't change his mind. The idea of amalgamating the other legions at Shenlong Academy meant that the rest would surely unite to resist. But she also knew her brother's strength. Even if everyone joined forces, they wouldn't be able to withstand Black Dragon.
"Not the Dark Legion," Black Phoenix stated firmly.
"I've approached Alice already," Black Dragon said. "She refused, but I will keep trying. I know you have a good relationship with Jiang Chen. But first and foremost, you are the deputy commander of our legion. You should consider the legion's interests and put aside your personal feelings."
Black Dragon remained cold. His plan was to amalgamate the other legions.
He continued, "Either Alice gives up her legion, or she joins my alliance. Those are the only two possibilities."
"Jiang Chen will definitely step in," Black Phoenix warned.
"Then, I will fight him."
"You can't beat him! He's the one who took down the Demon King. And I seriously suspect that Jiang Chen also killed the Divine Envoy, Chuanteng Sanlang."
Black Dragon's expression remained cold. Kill the Divine Envoy? To be immune to 99% of damage and still take down a Divine Envoy... the offensive power required must be terrifying. Even if I were at the Second-stage, I couldn't face a Divine Envoy. After all, immunity to damage is practically invincibility.
Black Phoenix said, "If he tries to stop you, you'll definitely be taken down. So, giving up on the Dark Legion is your only option."
"I'll talk to him when I get the chance," Black Dragon mused. "In fact, if he wants to be the legion commander, I can step down. You know I don't care about the position. I just want to strengthen the Dragon Zone Union. I don't want to see the Dragon Zone Union scattered and weak."
"He won't be interested," Black Phoenix stated.
"Maybe," Black Dragon conceded.
Just then, Black Phoenix received a call from Ruo Li, who conveyed Jiang Chen's message before hanging up.
Black Phoenix turned to her brother. "Jiang Chen's intention is clear. You can amalgamate other legions, but the Dark Legion is off-limits."
"Do you have his number?" Black Dragon asked.
"Yes."
"Arrange a meeting. I want to talk to him."
"Okay."
「Inside Passion Bar.」
Jiang Chen entered Passion Bar and saw groups of people. Most of them were high-ranking members of the Black Dragon Legion, and all eyes turned to him as he came in.
At the back, Black Dragon sat to one side, with Black Phoenix and Ruo Li also sitting together.
Ruo Li stood up, waved at Jiang Chen, and said with a smile, "Jiang Chen, over here!"
With a smile, Jiang Chen walked over. "I had some drinks just now, and here I am drinking again. Any more of this, and I'll become a drunkard."
"No worries," Ruo Li said playfully. "If you get drunk, I'll support you."
"How could I dare trouble my senior with such a grand gesture?" Jiang Chen replied politely.
"Haha, come over and sit down," Ruo Li said. "Black Dragon wanted to meet and have a chat with you."
Jiang Chen sat opposite Black Dragon.
Black Dragon asked calmly, "What will you have?"
"A Bloody Mary. I like the taste," Jiang Chen replied.
"Alright."
Soon, a server brought several bottles of Bloody Mary and placed them on the table. Jiang Chen tasted it. It seems a little off; the Bloody Mary from Tattens Hills Village was better, he thought.
Black Dragon said, "Let's cut to the chase. I'm planning to amalgamate other legions, including the Dark Legion."
"Other legions are fine, but the Dark Legion is not," Jiang Chen stated.
"Then there's only one other choice: the Dark Legion must be dissolved."
"Impossible."
"And if I insist?" Black Dragon challenged.
"I will stop you," Jiang Chen said, his voice firm. "If necessary, I might even kill you."
The conversation between the two men was straightforward, with no excessive words. Black Dragon didn't want to waste time, and neither did Jiang Chen.
Ruo Li stood to the side, smiling awkwardly. "Men always like to fight and kill. Isn't sitting down for a chat and a drink so much better?"
Jiang Chen wore a helpless expression. "I wish I didn't have to!"
Black Dragon was silent for a long while before speaking. "Our world is just one of many. In other worlds, there are no legions of the Dragon Zone Union, or if there are, they're insignificant."
He continued, "My goal is simple: to create a powerful legion that stands at the pinnacle of the world. If you think I'm doing this for power, you're mistaken. After amalgamating the legions, I can step down and give you the position of legion commander. Apart from you, no one else is worthy of it. I don't need power; I just want to lead the Dragon Zone Union out of obscurity."
Black Dragon was well aware that once he amalgamated the other legions, only a powerful person would be qualified for the position. Besides Black Dragon himself, that could only be Jiang Chen.
Black Dragon also understood Jiang Chen's prestige: first place in the Alliance competition, the slayer of two hundred thousand Heroes, the expert who defeated the Demon King, and even the one who killed the Divine Envoy. Such a formidable figure, possessing such authority, was undoubtedly qualified to be the legion commander.
Jiang Chen shook his head, still refusing. "You talk too much."
Jiang Chen had no interest in the legion. Even if Black Dragon were to offer him command with both hands, Jiang Chen wouldn't accept. Others might crave such a position, but for Jiang Chen, the legion would only be a burden. He was not yet strong enough.