Chapter 72: Failed Negotiations

The banquet was extravagantly luxurious. The moment Governor Ander led the doctor into the banquet hall, seventeen pairs of eyes turned to them.

Each of them represented a major family in Eternal City.

The doctor acted as if he didn't notice, allowing Governor Ander to escort him to the guest of honor's seat at the long table.

However, only the doctor was given a seat. Jon and the other two stood to the side, showing no reaction to this unfair treatment.

The doctor glanced at Jon and said, "Find a seat and sit down."

Jasmine spoke up, "There are no seats left, Doctor."

"Then take one," the doctor said in a low voice.

Governor Ander, who had just sat down, stiffened slightly as he watched Jon walk behind one of the family heads, looming over the portly man.

"You, move."

Without waiting for the man's reaction, Jon grabbed him with one hand, tossed him aside, and took his seat.

Jasmine followed suit, though her method was more direct—a poisoned dagger convinced another family head to vacate his seat.

As for the young man carrying the box, he made no move, standing quietly.

Governor Ander tapped the long table with a smile, producing a rhythmic "knock knock knock" sound, and said, "It seems we've been inconsiderate. Since there are no seats left, the two family heads may leave."

Without waiting for their response, guards carried them out.

"The journey here must have been tiring. Let's eat while we talk," Governor Ander said, picking up his utensils and actually starting to eat.

The doctor also picked up his utensils, looking at the steak before him, and said, "It's been a long time since I've had this."

Governor Ander, while eating, said, "It's what you like, Teacher. If you return, you can take some with you. Actually, why not take a few cows? That way, you can always have it."

"It would be even better if the common people could have it too," the doctor replied noncommittally to his former student's words.

Governor Ander paused, seeming puzzled: "Teacher, why do you always speak up for those commoners? Haven't I done enough over the years?"

"What have you done?" Jon interjected.

Governor Ander glanced at him, then turned to the doctor: "Teacher, is this your new student?"

The doctor shook his head: "Not a student, a partner."

"Oh~ Since he's a partner, I should explain properly," Governor Ander said, putting down his utensils and wiping his mouth with a white napkin before turning to Jon.

His gaze became sharp, a stark contrast to his earlier gentle demeanor.

Governor Ander said, "First, I've provided them with jobs. The factories in the middle eight layers have supported countless lower-level citizens. Without our investments, they would starve."

Hearing this, the family heads nodded in agreement.

The lower levels were resource-scarce. Without the factories and their mercy, how would these lower-level citizens survive?

But Jon sneered: "Factories? Jobs? You mean working twelve-hour shifts for 3,000 Colons a month, barely enough to feed their families?"

"That's not a job. That's exploitation," Jon said, slamming the table.

Governor Ander leaned back in his chair: "3,000 Colons, Jon. Don't forget, without it, the lower-level citizens would suffer even more. Alright, today isn't about arguing with you. Teacher, I know you want to stand up for the lower levels. Fine, for the sake of our past relationship, I can decide..."

"To raise their wages to 4,000 Colons. Will that suffice?"

As soon as Governor Ander finished speaking, one family head couldn't hold back: "No, Governor! If we open this door, the lower levels will revolt!"

"That's right, that's right."

"The factories' profits are already declining. How can we raise wages?"

"Exactly..."

Amid the rising voices, Governor Ander looked troubled and turned to the doctor: "Teacher, you see, even though I'm the Governor... Well, you know, Eternal Station is always a station for the nobility."

The doctor looked at his once-familiar student, now feeling a strange distance.

He also put down his utensils and said calmly, "Enough, Ander. Stop this poor act. We're not here to beg. Lainer."

At this, the young man who had been standing opened the wooden box, revealing the bomb inside.

The sight of the bomb startled everyone. At such close range, even an ordinary explosion would leave no one unscathed.

Governor Ander's expression gradually cooled: "Is this... the Roar of Death?"

He had once heard his teacher mention it in passing during his youth. He thought it was just a concept, never expecting to see it here.

No wonder the teacher was so confident.

The doctor slowly stood up, speaking in a gentle tone: "Originally, we could have created a fair world, without strife or wealth disparity. We could have done it. Eternal City is only eighteen layers, with a population of just a few hundred thousand. With a reasonable distribution system, we could have achieved our utopia."

"But human greed and desire shattered this dream time and again. Now, it's time to rebuild a new order."

His words made it clear—he was ready to overturn the table.

Governor Ander narrowed his eyes. Suddenly, he took out a pocket watch from his coat and threw it.

The watch stuck to the surface of the [Roar of Death]. As a series of "beep beep beep" sounds rang out, Governor Ander's face relaxed into a smile.

He looked at the doctor and said, "Teacher, did you underestimate me? Did you really think I came unprepared?"

[Stasis Pocket Watch (One-time use)]

[Can permanently freeze an object in its current state, making it unbreakable.]

Governor Ander slowly stood up. He was undoubtedly taller than the doctor, and now he bared his fangs.

"Teacher, you're still as naive as ever. Naive enough to reveal the [Roar of Death] to me, naive enough to bring it here..."

At this point, Governor Ander's expression froze.

He looked at the doctor in disbelief, then at the [Roar of Death] immobilized by the pocket watch.

The next second, Jon suddenly struck, grabbing Jasmine, who was sitting beside him, and ruthlessly snapping her neck.

The incident happened in an instant.

The doctor sighed softly and said, "Spies, moles, thinking you've got everything under control. So now, where do you think the real [Roar of Death] is?"

Governor Ander's face turned ashen as he looked at Jasmine, who had already stopped breathing.

The mole he had spent so much effort cultivating—they had known all along. It seemed that the casual remark from years ago had been deliberately said for him to hear.

Looking into the doctor's eyes, he found himself once again reduced to that child from long ago.