Chapter 5: A Deal with Death

Li Huan's mercenary gaze was too blatant, and Zhang Zhengzhong couldn't help but chuckle. "Heh, didn't they teach you anything in prison? Just spit out your conditions. It's just the two of us here, no need to beat around the bush."

"Heh... Alright then, I won't hold back. Let me be clear upfront: if I'm lucky enough to complete the mission and still have my life, what are your plans for me?"

"Of course, I have plans for you once you're out. What are you worried about, kid?"

"Worried? How can I not be?" Li Huan shook his head. "Don't tell me you wouldn't abandon me after I've served my purpose, you old fox. Give me something concrete. Anyone can make empty promises."

"What more do you want? Saving your life should be enough. Don't push your luck." Zhang Zhengzhong sensed something was off. The kid not only didn't trust him but also seemed to be aiming for a sky-high price.

"My life isn't worth much, don't act like I owe you a huge favor. After all this talk, you're just a messenger, aren't you? I'm disappointed. Find someone who can make decisions, or just send me back." Li Huan slouched a bit more, suspecting the old man was stalling because there wasn't much to offer.

"Bullshit, if I can't make decisions for you, who can? Getting you out wasn't easy, you know? With that attitude, you're asking for a beating." Zhang Zhengzhong was frustrated that his lifesaver didn't show any gratitude.

"Calm down, heh... I just want to know how bright my future is, right? Yelling at me won't help. Let's get specific, shall we?" Li Huan smirked, refusing to get riled up by the old man's agitation.

This kid was tough to crack. It looked like he was ready to dig in his heels unless he got something tangible. Zhang Zhengzhong hesitated, knowing the conditions from above were too meager. Would Li Huan accept them? He knew the kid's stubborn nature; if they couldn't reach an agreement, Li Huan might just prefer going back to prison.

"Hey, boss, is my situation that tricky?" Li Huan noticed the hesitation in Zhang Zhengzhong's eyes and found it amusing.

Zhang Zhengzhong paused briefly before saying, "...Let me be honest with you. The arrangements for after you complete the mission aren't great. You should be prepared."

"Tell me about it."

"First, you'll gain your freedom, but without an identity."

"So, even if I survive, I'll be a nobody with no legal status?" Li Huan's lazy smile remained unchanged, as if he had expected this.

Zhang Zhengzhong nodded, sighing internally. "Second, after completing the mission, you can't stay in the country. You need to go as far away as possible, somewhere even the National Security Agency can't find you."

"Is that so? Heh, I know a place where the NSA definitely won't find me." Li Huan's expression was nonchalant.

"Where?" Zhang Zhengzhong asked instinctively, taken aback.

"Mars. You guys won't find me there for sure." Li Huan's face was full of mockery.

The kid had a sharp tongue. Zhang Zhengzhong's expression turned awkward. "I know you're not satisfied with these conditions, but... better to live than die, right? Agree first, and I'll see if I can negotiate better terms later."

Zhang Zhengzhong suggested cautiously, "Actually... Africa isn't bad. How about Rwanda?"

Africa? Rwanda? What a ridiculous suggestion. Li Huan barely restrained himself from cursing.

"...Going back to prison isn't a good option, right?" Zhang Zhengzhong tried to persuade him patiently.

"Forget it..." Li Huan stretched lazily and sighed. "I won't make things difficult for you. It looks like we have nothing more to discuss. After the job, I'll have to hide without an identity? It's no better than being dead. You expect me to risk my life for the government with those terms? I'd rather go back to prison and die sooner."

A condemned man's life is worthless, right? Better to live than die, the government probably thought he'd think that way too. Realizing this, Li Huan lost interest. Even the comfortable bed seemed less appealing now.

"...Let's go. This place doesn't seem to suit me." Li Huan lazily got up from the bed.

"No, wait, aren't we negotiating? Have some patience, kid. You can make your own demands." Zhang Zhengzhong looked a bit panicked. He had promised the minister that Li Huan would cooperate.

"There's still room for negotiation?"

"Yes, yes, everything's negotiable." Zhang Zhengzhong forced a smile, knowing the conditions from above were inhumane.

Li Huan grinned. If there was room for negotiation, things were easier. "Alright, I have three demands. First, I need an identity. You're responsible for getting me a new one. Second, don't restrict where I can live, but I'll agree to go into hiding after the mission. Third, give me some resettlement money."

"Just these three?" Zhang Zhengzhong was secretly delighted, his eyes flashing with a brief smile.

"Just these three." Li Huan caught the fleeting smile and wondered if his demands were too low.

"Well... I need to make a call and discuss it. I'll fight for you." Zhang Zhengzhong quickly hid his expression and feigned difficulty. Li Huan was too sharp; he couldn't let him see through it.

Fight for me? With such lousy conditions? Watching Zhang Zhengzhong walk out with his phone, Li Huan shook his head. His old boss at Division 9 was notorious for being cunning. The call was just an excuse to save face.

The call didn't take long. Soon, Zhang Zhengzhong returned, looking troubled. "I spoke with the higher-ups. The first condition about your identity can be met. The second one, your location, is a bit tricky... They said you can't stay in Jinghua City, and it's better if you don't stay in the country. They'll arrange your new identity and passport if you go abroad."

Sure, keep up the act. Li Huan didn't expose his old boss's little trick and smiled. "The location issue is fine. I'm tired of this dump anyway. Now, about the third point, I'll need some money after the job, right?" Money was Li Huan's biggest concern. Without it, life would be tough anywhere.

"The money issue, the boss agreed to it, but since I got you out, the money comes from our division's budget. You know we're short on funds, so don't expect too much." Zhang Zhengzhong put on a pained expression. The resettlement money would come out of their budget, and money was always a sensitive topic.

The old man's act of feigning poverty was his specialty. Damn it, it's not your money, why act poor in front of me? After all these years, he was still as stingy as ever. Li Huan was a bit annoyed.

"...Trust me, once you complete the mission, the division won't shortchange you. Let's leave it at that." Zhang Zhengzhong forced a smile, ignoring Li Huan's dissatisfaction. He'd try to bluff his way through.

"Fine, just don't treat me like a beggar when it's time to pay up. Let's settle it then." Li Huan had dodged a bullet, and dealing with the notorious penny-pincher from Division 9, every penny counted.

"So, it's a deal?" Dealing with this kid was always profitable. Zhang Zhengzhong was thrilled and extended a friendly hand.

"Deal." Li Huan lazily shook his old boss's hand.

Seeing the old man's smug expression, Li Huan felt a bit helpless. Without guessing, he knew he'd been tricked onto the old man's boat. The mission was highly dangerous, and the higher-ups could afford better conditions, but the old man had lowered their expectations first. It was a classic psychological tactic, implying that as a condemned man, Li Huan shouldn't demand too much. What was this? It was about saving money wherever possible, making the most out of disposable resources. Damn it, this penny-pincher was ruthless, even pinching pennies from a dead man. Li Huan cursed his seemingly amiable old boss countless times in his heart...

The terms of the life-risking deal were set, and Li Huan accepted reality. On the surface, he'd been outsmarted, but secretly, he felt he'd come out on top. Life was precious, at least he wouldn't have to go back to that godforsaken place to face bullets. If he completed the mission and got lucky, he could keep his life and use the resettlement money to start a small business. Who knows, he might even become a business tycoon one day.

The deal was done, and both felt they'd gotten the better end. Zhang Zhengzhong, thinking there was nothing more to discuss, was about to leave, confident that his former subordinate wouldn't back out. 009 had many flaws, but his integrity was top-notch.

Just as Zhang Zhengzhong reached the door, Li Huan called out to him.

"What? Something else?" Zhang Zhengzhong looked at Li Huan nervously, fearing more demands.

Li Huan extended his hand, smirking mischievously. "Heh... Just a small thing. You need to leave something behind, right?"

Indeed, there was something. Seeing the gesture, Zhang Zhengzhong felt a pang of pain. This kid wouldn't let him leave without extracting something. Reluctantly, he pulled out his wallet, counted out a few hundred-yuan bills, and handed them over with a pained expression.

"Your pocket money will come from the military. This is my personal gift, so spend it wisely..."

Before he could finish, Zhang Zhengzhong blinked, and the money along with his wallet was already in Li Huan's hands, like a magic trick, incredibly fast.

"A few bills aren't enough. Ha... The old man's got quite a bit of cash." Li Huan laughed wickedly, emptying the wallet with a flick of his hand and tossing the empty wallet back.

Over five thousand, almost half a month's salary, gone just like that. Clutching the empty wallet, Zhang Zhengzhong's hands trembled. He was known as the penny-pincher of Intelligence Division 9, but he knew once the money was in Li Huan's hands, it was gone for good. He was sure to lose sleep over it tonight. Zhang Zhengzhong was on the verge of tears.

Pushing the old man with a mournful face out the door, Li Huan chuckled as he patted the wad of cash in his hand. Plucking a few feathers from the penny-pincher felt good...