Chapter 52: Convincing Valmont to Defect
Then the Shadow Khan subdued Valmont with lightning speed, the scene completely under control.
However, Kazama didn't let the Shadow Khan kill him. This wasn't out of mercy, but because the Jackie Chan Adventures worldview was a bit strange—
The law of balance between good and evil ran throughout the series.
If he killed Valmont, the Dark Hand leader now, the dark side would probably spawn some unknown villain to maintain balance.
That would eliminate all of Kazama's plot advantage as a transmigrator.
So rather than face unknown risks, better to keep Valmont—this familiar old acquaintance who was essentially just a greedy businessman.
Moreover, Valmont was a key anchor point for Kazama controlling the plot's direction. This thread absolutely couldn't be severed.
At this moment, Valmont was being roughly pressed against the carpet, his cheek against the floor. That cane had been kicked far into a corner.
Kazama played with that strangely shaped Dragon's Eye.
"Is this your trump card, Mr. Valmont?"
"Looks like their aesthetic judgment is a bit higher than yours—they know who to choose as master."
Valmont gritted his teeth. The humiliation of being betrayed by his own subordinates turned his entire face liver-colored.
But he didn't dare move, because the hands pressing on his back were terrifyingly strong. It felt like if he struggled even slightly, his spine would snap on the spot.
"...Who exactly are you?"
Valmont gasped for breath, finally showing a trace of genuine fear in his eyes.
This wasn't an ordinary magician.
Ordinary magicians couldn't directly seize control of the Shadow Khan. This felt just like facing Shendu himself.
"Who I am doesn't matter."
Kazama didn't answer the question.
He turned his head and glanced at Yukino still standing stunned at the door, clearly not yet recovered from that absurd drama.
"Yukinoshita-san."
"The next scene might involve some classified information. Could you please retreat to the bedroom? And check if there are any clothes in my closet you can wear—you're too conspicuous in that outfit."
Yukino opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to ask something. But seeing the gang leader pressed to the ground by those monsters, then looking at "herself" currently radiating dangerous energy, that instinct for self-preservation made her obediently shut her mouth.
"...I understand."
She took one last look at Valmont on the ground, then turned and quickly walked into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
"Click."
After the door closed, Kazama withdrew his gaze, pulled over a chair and sat down. Those legs in knee-high socks crossed elegantly.
"Good, the extras have left the stage. Now we can have a proper chat."
"Speak. Who sent you? And how did you find this place?"
Valmont tried to turn his head away, maintaining the last bit of dignity as a gang godfather.
"Hmph, don't think you'll get anything from me! I'm a businessman, and a man of principle—"
"Crack."
The Shadow Khan holding his left arm suddenly increased pressure.
That sour feeling of bones about to dislocate turned Valmont's tough talk into a pig-like squeal.
"Ahh—! Stop! Stop stop stop! I'll talk! I'll talk!"
Those so-called principles were as fragile as paper before absolute violence.
Valmont had no psychological burden whatsoever selling out his secrets completely.
"It's Shendu! That damned statue! He gave me this detector, then Ratso saw that ceramic lamp online and traced it through the auction house records all the way to Japan where it was sold. I happened to be coming to Japan, so I came by!"
His words rushed out, afraid that if he was even a second slower, that arm would really be crippled.
"I swear I just wanted to get the talisman back! I didn't mean to do anything to you! Really!"
Kazama chuckled lightly.
As expected—that old schemer Shendu.
"Shendu, huh..."
Kazama nodded thoughtfully.
"Mr. Valmont, it seems you're a smart man."
He waved his hand, signaling the ninja to loosen their grip slightly so this poor boss could breathe.
"Since you're so cooperative, I won't beat around the bush either."
Valmont felt the pressure on his back lighten and immediately flipped over like a dead fish, gasping for fresh air.
Where was any trace of a big shot left? That head of gray-white hair was messy as a bird's nest, and his suit was covered in dust.
"Listen, young... uh, miss."
Valmont swallowed, looking at that smiling girl. The fear in his heart hadn't decreased at all.
"This time I lost. I shouldn't have targeted you. How about this—I have money! I still have several accounts in Swiss banks! As long as you let me go, I can give you a large sum! And I guarantee I'll never appear before you again! How about it?"
He was genuinely scared.
Facing this kind of monster, everything else could go to hell—saving his life was priority number one.
However, Kazama laughed like he'd heard a joke.
"Money?"
"Mr. Valmont, do you have some misunderstanding about the current situation? Your life is in my hands right now. If I kill you, your money can still be mine."
He stood up, waving his hand somewhat disinterestedly.
"And honestly, I'm not interested in paper with dead people's faces printed on it. What I want is you yourself."
Valmont froze, instinctively hugging his collar with a wary expression.
"What do you want to do? I don't do that sort of thing!"
"...What nonsense are you thinking?"
Kazama couldn't help rolling his eyes.
What was wrong with this guy's thought process?
"I mean, I want to make a deal with you."
He put away that inappropriate joking expression, his tone becoming serious.
"I want you to be my spy beside Shendu, help me collect the remaining talismans, then give them to me."
"That's impossible!"
Valmont's eyes widened like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, jumping up (though the ninja held him down so he didn't actually jump).
"No way! Absolutely not! You don't know how terrifying that monster Shendu is! If he finds out I betrayed him, he'll kill me! Really kill me! Definitely burn me to ash!"
Besides fear, Valmont actually had another reason he didn't voice.
That was the treasure of Qin Shi Huang that Shendu had promised him.
He hadn't gotten that treasure yet! How could he switch sides now? If he jumped ship, wouldn't that windfall evaporate?
Kazama watched his death-before-dishonor expression without getting angry.
He knew what Valmont was thinking.
"Don't rush to refuse. Use your brain, Valmont."
Kazama sighed with a look of disappointment.
"Let me guess—the reason you're so devoted to following that rock, besides fearing death, is because of that so-called treasure of Qin Shi Huang, or the Golden Rooster King's treasure?"
Kazama directly exposed his ulterior motives.
Valmont jerked his head up, looking at Kazama like he'd seen a ghost.
"You... how do you even know about that?"
This was an absolute secret between him and Shendu!
Even the other core Dark Hand members didn't know the specific details!
How did this unknown high school student know?
"Secret my ass."
Kazama mocked mercilessly.
"That evil dragon is a complete master of empty promises. Since thousands of years ago, he's used this spiel to trick countless people into working for him. The result? Those who helped him have graves covered in grass several feet high—has anyone actually gotten a single penny?"
"Empty... promises?"
"That's right. Calculate it yourself—since you started following him, besides constantly throwing money in to find talismans, buy equipment, pay medical bills, have you seen a cent in returns?"
This sentence precisely stabbed into Valmont's heart.
Valmont opened his mouth but found himself speechless.
He carefully recalled—it really was like that?
Since moving that dragon statue into his office, his Dark Hand gang had been cursed. The funding chain broke every few days, and he had to spend big money on various high-tech equipment.
Even paying his subordinates' salaries was becoming problematic.
And that damned Shendu, besides roaring at him daily "I want talismans," hadn't coughed up a single copper coin!
Every time it was just "When I'm resurrected I'll give you half the world," or "The Golden Rooster King's treasure is beyond counting."
But up to now, he hadn't seen even a chicken feather!
"But..."
Valmont wavered, but he was still afraid.
"Even if what you say is true, I have no choice! If I don't obey, Shendu can kill me right now!"