"Buddy, could you at least say these things away from us?"
Valmont's mouth twitched, feeling insulted.
Who plots loudly about double-crossing someone right in front of their partner?
This generation of young people has no martial ethics!
Shouldn't this kind of talk happen in a dim secret room, whispering in each other's ears?
Pah, I even turned off the lights.
"What does it matter~"
Vic grinned nonchalantly, draping his arm extremely naturally over Valmont's shoulder and squeezing, acting like they were best buds.
"After all, I'm saying this specifically for you to hear."
Valmont felt uncomfortable all over with this sudden "enthusiasm."
The hand on his shoulder felt like it weighed a thousand pounds, pressing panic into his heart.
"What... what do you mean?"
A bead of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. Instinct told him this guy's brain circuitry was definitely different from normal people.
Vic leaned closer, still wearing that harmless, brilliant smile. He lowered his voice, but the tone carried an undeniable seduction:
"I mean, brother Valmont, the cooperation I just proposed isn't with that talking stone on the wall."
He paused, looking at Valmont's suddenly constricting pupils, and enunciated each word clearly:
"It's with you, Valmont. With you personally."
"With... with me?"
Valmont nervously licked his dry lips, his heart beating uncontrollably fast.
A vague but extremely tempting thought popped up uncontrollably.
"Exactly!" Vic's smile deepened, like a fox spotting plump prey.
"Come on, tell me. How big of a pie did that stone dragon paint for you to make you work so hard for it?"
"The Treasure of the Golden Rooster King or something else? Fine, whatever it promised, the key question is—"
Vic leaned back slightly, looking Valmont up and down with an exaggerated expression as if he'd discovered a new continent:
"Up to now, how much return have you actually received? Real gold and silver, or even a tiny bit of tangible 'deposit'?"
"No... none."
Valmont almost squeezed these two words through his teeth, his face burning.
More than none! As the majestic boss of the Dark Hand, he had nearly bankrupted himself searching for the talismans!
Severance pay for minions, equipment wear and tear, intelligence network bribes... which one didn't cost money?
Recently, he had even started seriously considering layoffs. Who would believe it if he told them?
"None?!"
Vic's eyes widened abruptly, voice rising, filled with incredulous sympathy and... a trace of undisguised mockery.
"Oh my God! Working so hard, paying out of your own pocket, putting your people on the line, and you haven't seen a penny in return?"
"Brother, modern capitalists are missing model workhorses like you! If they heard your story, they'd have to give you the 'Best Dedication of the Year Award'!"
Valmont's face alternated between red and white as he tried to maintain his last shred of dignity:
"As long as... as long as I eventually get the Golden Rooster King's treasure, the current losses are just the tip of a single hair on nine oxen!"
But his voice clearly trembled; he couldn't even convince himself.
"Come on, brother, stop lying to yourself."
Vic dropped the exaggerated expression. His tone became sharp and direct, like a cold scalpel precisely dissecting the reality Valmont had been unwilling to face.
"You know better than anyone that broken stone is freeloading off you! It never intended to keep its promise!"
"It's just using you. When you're useless, kicking you aside would be a kindness. Maybe it'll even swallow you as a snack!"
Vic's words were like heavy hammers, smashing one by one on Valmont's fragile mental defenses. Cold sweat poured down his forehead, his lips trembling as he tried to refute:
"No... it won't..."
"Listen, Valmont!"
Vic interrupted him, his voice carrying an undeniable magic.
"Instead of pinning your hopes on an ethereal, credit-less ancient demon, why don't we join hands and pull off a big one—we join hands and 'eat its whole inheritance'!"
"Eat... eat its whole inheritance?"
Valmont's pupils shook. This term, full of underworld flavor and extreme ruthlessness, made his heart race.
"That's right!"
Vic's eyes shone with excitement, as if he already saw the scene of success.
"You find a way to get all the secrets out of Shendu's mouth—especially the specific location of his palace hiding countless treasures! Leave the rest to me."
"I am a man of principle and integrity!"
He paused, a sly look appearing on his face.
"So I won't say bullshit like 'split the treasure equally with you' that even I don't believe."
He changed the subject, his tone full of temptation:
"But I don't mind you taking the part you really want, like the Golden Rooster King's treasure."
"After all, you know, squandering things that aren't yours doesn't hurt at all, right? Think about it~"
Vic's words were like demonic sounds from the abyss. Every word struck the place in Valmont's heart he desired most and feared most. Finally, the desire for treasure and distrust of Shendu overwhelmed everything.
He took a deep breath, his eyes gradually becoming firm, even carrying a trace of ruthlessness. He extended his hand toward Vic:
"Happy cooperation!"
"Happy cooperation."
The smile on Vic's face bloomed instantly as he shook Valmont's hand firmly.
Two hands gripped tightly together. A consensus for a "inheritance-eating scheme" against an ancient demon was reached in broad daylight, under everyone's gaze.
Hak Foo, Finn, Ratso, and Chow looked at each other, feeling like their boss had... boarded a pirate ship?
And a particularly unreliable-looking pirate ship at that!
---
Twenty minutes later.
Tyler crossed his arms, coldly watching the luxury private helicopter emblazoned with the Dark Hand logo slowly landing on the hotel's front lawn. He let out a disdainful snort.
He turned to Vic, who was walking enthusiastically toward the cabin door, his tone carrying undisguised skepticism and warning:
"Aren't you afraid they'll bite you back? These guys are basically ungrateful wolves."
"Hey!"
Enid was instantly unhappy. Her azure eyes glared at Tyler, her cheeks puffing slightly.
"Tyler! Watch your language! Must you use the word 'wolf'?"
As a werewolf, she felt her entire species had been offended.
Tyler froze, realizing his slip of tongue. He turned his head stiffly, whispering: "Sorry, no offense intended."
"No need to worry."
Wednesday's voice was calm and ripple-free. She adjusted her skirt, her gaze sweeping over Finn and Ratso standing respectfully, almost fawningly, by the helicopter.
"As long as the 'sweet dates' Vic gives are huge and tempting enough, and the 'iron stick' in his hand is hard and deadly enough, they will naturally behave more obediently than the most strictly trained hounds."
Hearing this, Enid pouted, whispering:
"That sounds... still a bit offensive."
After all, wolves are canines too.
"Haha, exactly! Look how good they are!"
Vic had already dived into the helicopter first, sitting excitedly in the pilot's seat, waving vigorously at the three still standing below.
"They even sent a private helicopter! Come on up! It's my first time flying this thing; looks way more exciting than in games!"
"Coming!"
Enid's attention was immediately diverted. The novelty of the helicopter overwhelmed everything. She happily pulled Wednesday's hand and ran toward the aircraft.
"Wednesday, quick! We haven't been on a private helicopter either!"
Although Wednesday's face remained expressionless, her steps obediently followed Enid.
Tyler looked at the two cheerful girls, then at the maniac in the pilot's seat rubbing his hands together, eager to try. He sighed deeply.
Resigning himself to fate, he dragged his tired steps and was the last to board the plane.
The cabin door closed, and the roar of the propeller intensified.
Just as the helicopter engine roared, the blades spun at high speed, and the fuselage trembled slightly, about to leave the ground—
Vic's sentence, full of cheer and spirit of exploration, exploded like a delayed bomb in the minds of Enid, Wednesday, and Tyler:
...It's my first time flying this thing...
First time flying...
First time...
The three, who were just filled with excitement and anticipation, instantly stiffened. Their movements froze, as if pause had been pressed simultaneously.
The smile on Enid's face froze. Wednesday hugged the Book of Shadows tighter. Even Tyler's eternally gloomy expression cracked, pupils constricting slightly.
Inside the cabin, only the massive roar of the propeller remained, along with a dead silence named "Deep Anxiety for Unknown Fate" spreading wordlessly.
And at this moment, sitting in the pilot's seat, Vic was looking at the dense, dazzling array of instrument panels and joysticks in front of him, revealing a smile as pure and brilliant as a child discovering a new toy.
"So... which button is better to press first?"