Chapter 256: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

Then, he turned on the polygraph and said, "The next question is up to you whether to answer or not. Anyway, only those who answer can obtain the Crimson Crystal."

"Let me ask you, have you ever sent followers to Region 14121 to plot against me?"

After asking, Qin Siyang crossed his arms and remained silent.

After a moment, Chris said, "I have not done that."

Chris actually chose to answer.

Then, the light bulb on top of the polygraph emitted a green glow.

Beep—

"Answer is true."

The other three members of Zephyr Church were momentarily stunned.

Jin Shengyu, after hearing this, angrily questioned, "Chris, how can you accept such an insult?"

Chris said, "The Crimson Crystal is of great importance to the entire Zephyr Church. I am doing this to spread the ideology of Zephyr God. Even if I accept this insult, Zephyr God will not blame me."

Qin Siyang was very satisfied with Chris's cooperation, "Guardian Chris, I appreciate your cooperation. I, Qin Siyang, keep my word. If Zephyr Church is allocated the Crimson Crystal, the contract will only be shared with you."

He pressed the button on the polygraph to reset it.

Then, he continued, "I will keep asking the same question until no one else is willing to answer."

"Let me ask you, have you ever sent followers to Region 14121 to plot against me?"

Chris's betrayal made the other three no longer remain calm.

Li Tianming's guess was correct.

As the largest officially recognized church within the safe zone, Zephyr Church was not internally united.

The three Great Guardians and the Holy Son were essentially in a state of mutual balance.

If the Crimson Crystal ended up solely under Chris's control, the others would certainly get nothing.

Thinking of this, Jin Shengyu sighed and said, "I have not done that either."

The light bulb on top of the polygraph once again emitted a green glow.

Beep—

"Answer is true."

Qin Siyang clapped his hands and smiled, "Very well, Guardian Jin can also share in the contract. Guardian Chris, don't feel too bad. Although your share of the Crimson Crystal is now halved, it's still better than getting only a quarter, right?"

Chris closed his eyes and did not respond to Qin Siyang.

His task was already completed, and the remaining matters concerned the others.

Qin Siyang asked the same question once more.

However, Holy Son Hu Chan and Yellow Robe Guardian Zhang Yingrui remained silent.

Qin Siyang didn't waste any more time.

"It seems the two of you do hold some grudge against me."

Hu Chan said, "We simply refuse to accept such an insult."

"You can say whatever you like, but everyone here knows the truth."

Qin Siyang put away the polygraph.

"Since you have a grudge against me and even sent people to harm me, then don't expect to get a share of the Crimson Crystal I retrieved."

"Thank you all for coming. Today's conversation has been quite enlightening for me."

Qin Siyang stood up and shook hands with Chris and Jin Shengyu, "I truly appreciate your cooperation. If we have the chance in the future, we can work together again."

Although the two had received Qin Siyang's promise, they were not particularly pleased.

At the very least, they could not show their happiness.

Red Robe Guardian Chris and Blue Robe Guardian Jin Shengyu left the meeting room one after another.

However, Holy Son Hu Chan and Yellow Robe Guardian Zhang Yingrui remained seated, unmoving.

They seemed to have more to discuss with Qin Siyang.

"You two are not leaving? Are you waiting for me to escort you out?"

Yellow Robe Guardian glanced at Qin Siyang, then at Hu Chan, and said calmly, "Mr. Qin, can we talk privately?"

Hu Chan said, "I have the same thought."

Qin Siyang looked at the two, as if considering whether to talk with them.

Zhang Yingrui said, "I have no deep-seated hatred against you, Mr. Qin. I came here today hoping to resolve the matter. I hope you won't refuse."

"Well then. In that case, may I trouble the Holy Son to wait outside first? I will speak with the Yellow Robe Guardian alone."

Hu Chan didn't say much after hearing this and simply got up and left the meeting room.

Qian Wenzhao's triangular eyes flickered as he stood up to follow, "I'll go entertain the Holy Son."

He wanted to ensure Zhang Yingrui's conversation wouldn't be overheard by Hu Chan.

"Mm. Thanks, Old Qian."

Now, only Qin Siyang, Li Tianming, and Zhang Yingrui remained in the room.

Zhang Yingrui said, "I did send followers to find you, but I never gave an order to kill you. I only wanted them to take you away to discuss some matters."

"Don't make it sound so pleasant. Isn't that just kidnapping and extortion?"

Qin Siyang's expression was puzzled, "I don't understand what you're after. Even if you kidnapped me, the share of the Crimson Crystal allocated to Zephyr Church would still be split among the others. It's not like you could take it all for yourself."

Qin Siyang couldn't see Zhang Yingrui's expression under his black veil.

But he could sense Zhang Yingrui's hesitation.

Qin Siyang did not rush him either. If Zhang Yingrui wanted to talk privately, then he had to be transparent.

Otherwise, Qin Siyang would not give him a share of the Crimson Crystal.

Zhang Yingrui took a deep breath and slowly said, "At this point, I can't take the blame for others anymore."

"It wasn't my idea to take you away. I was merely entrusted by someone else. That person said that as long as I could capture you, he would give me a generous reward."

Li Tianming chuckled, "As a member of Zephyr Church, you could at least receive a quarter of the Crimson Crystal's share. Yet, you risked everything for that person's reward. That means you were sure that he would get more Crimson Crystals than Zephyr Church in the negotiations, right?"

Li Tianming's words hit the nail on the head.

Qin Siyang immediately understood and said, "Give me that person's name."

"Xiao Zhigang."

Li Tianming asked, "Xiao Zhigang? He's already been kicked out of the negotiations. How could he offer you a reward?"

"He didn't pay me with Crimson Crystals but with something else, which I can't disclose. Besides, when he asked me to kidnap Qin Siyang, you guys hadn't even obtained the Crimson Crystal yet—you had only gotten the Vine Core."

"I never expected things to escalate like this, that you would even obtain the Crimson Crystal."

Zhang Yingrui's tone was gloomy, "If I had known that even two Sequence Rank 4 followers couldn't deal with you, I definitely wouldn't have taken this job."

"Especially now that there's such a treasure like the Crimson Crystal. I have even less reason to make a move against you."

"After failing, I withdrew. Then I heard that you had obtained the Crimson Crystal. Xiao Zhigang probably had concerns as well and never contacted me again."

'Two Sequence Rank 4 members couldn't take down Qin Siyang?'

Li Tianming looked at Qin Siyang with slight surprise.

'This guy is pretty capable.'

After hearing this, Qin Siyang rested his chin on his hand, his expression slightly dissatisfied.

But in his heart, he was utterly shocked.

'Wen Shu… she managed to take down two Sequence Rank 4 enemies by herself?'

'What is her actual strength?'

'This is way too absurd!'

And also, that book Gu Yunxuan mentioned she wrote…

'Why does it feel like Wen Shu is unfathomable, with more secrets than even me?'

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