Chapter 562: A Dangerous Pact

In a brief spell of shock and silence, Yenir neither agreed nor refused—he seemed to be weighing his options.

Meanwhile, a Peak Third-Stage from Yamamoto Corporation—who had either bypassed or bribed the external Military—suddenly appeared before him and made no move to hasten him.

In his mind, Yenir’s hesitation was perfectly natural.

After all, rare opportunities are to be treasured; as the saying goes, a wise bird chooses its tree.

A political marriage and aligning with the right faction could be a hundred times more important than hard work.

Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, the Middle-Aged Man murmured in a low tone, as though adding extra weight to the stakes:

“The Cabinet Minister is one of ours.”

At those words, Yenir’s performance hit a perfect note as his whole body shivered ever so slightly.

After a few seconds, Yenir—whose head had stayed bowed—abruptly raised it and fixed his gaze on his counterpart with grave determination:

“What makes you so sure you can guarantee that I’ll finish first?”

His voice carried a hint of hoarseness—a sound of reluctant concession.

Upon hearing this, the Middle-Aged Man couldn’t help but smile; he knew Yenir was wavering!

Excellent!

Surely, every survivor in the Japanese Battle Zone has heard their names! Yenir’s uncertainty was entirely expected.

“We can’t promise first place, but only by joining us do you stand a chance at it.”

In an ambiguous tone, the Peak Third-Stage offered no direct answer to Yenir’s question, merely hinting at the deeper connection.

Listening to the Middle-Aged Man’s words, Yenir’s eyes flickered as hesitation crept back in.

Of course, he understood the underlying subtext.

Success wasn’t guaranteed—it all depended on his cooperation and whether he was deemed worthy.

Yet, they could just as easily ruin him, making it impossible even for him to become a Divine Warrior.

This is… a threat.

Beneath his feigned indifference, Yenir’s heart let out a cold laugh.

While he wasn’t fazed by the threat, he had to admit that this was the Japanese Battle Zone’s most unspoken rule.

For ordinary people with no background, no amount of raw talent opens doors. Even if pulled into the Cabinet, the Middle-Aged Man meant that only the Chairman behind the scenes could truly support him!

“So, you’re promising me first place if I agree?”

It’s not that simple.

Since powerful forces were investing in him, those other contestants, born into influential circles, would naturally get even more backing.

At best, he was simply the most gifted right now.

Just as Yenir was about to agree in a perfunctory manner, a group of girls—already waiting outside his door—stepped inside.

At the forefront, a young girl, flanked by a few servant-like attendants, stepped forward; her bare, jade-like foot led the way into view.

Her skin was as white as snow—just a glimpse of her foot made Yenir immediately realize she was petite.

Sure enough, as the diminutive girl slowly advanced into the room, she timidly lifted her head, meeting his gaze with a nervous, shy look.

Stunning—like an exquisitely crafted porcelain doll.

In that very instant, Yenir raised an eyebrow, instinctively admiring her charm.

Inside, a girl clad in a white kimono appeared, her delicate frame resembling a budding cherry blossom.

Her finely chiseled features were accentuated by eyes tinged with sorrow and melancholy, like autumn waters that stirred tender affection.

Meeting each other’s eyes, the girl silently bowed to Yenir before lowering her head in reticence.

Noticing that the Middle-Aged Man had been fixated on her since she entered, he couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

It seemed even this prodigious Awakener was captivated by Zi Ying’s appearance.

To be honest, he was somewhat envious of the kid’s good fortune.

If it weren’t for the Divine Warrior Project—a trial in the Japanese Battle Zone to select gifted Awakeners, a departure from the usual power plays…

With the kid’s talent, even if he were exceptionally strong, his fate was that of a mere thug; there was no need to spend a fortune to win him over.

Miss Zi Ying, the genuine daughter of the Chairman—even if she was just an ordinary one among dozens—was utterly captivating.

Innocent, kind, and strikingly beautiful—she had just come of age.

In his eyes, it was an absolute bargain for Yenir.

Mind you, countless high-ranking heirs had pursued Miss Zi Ying, only to be turned down by the Chairman.

This kid, too, was incredibly lucky.

“Zemei, are you satisfied?”

After a long silence, the Middle-Aged Man smiled and inquired, his eyes subtly fixed on Yenir.

He believed that every man would be smitten by such charm.

But if the kid failed to recognize his blessing, then don’t blame him for taking action.

Just as the Middle-Aged Man had anticipated, Yenir seemed momentarily stunned before coming to his senses and hesitantly nodding.

He gestured toward the girl, feigning calm while secretly swallowing hard.

“I’ll join you, and you’ll back me.”

“And what about her? Should she stay behind?”

A smile flickered on his face.

With Yenir’s agreement, the Peak Awakener from Yamamoto Corporation beamed with delight.

Once the kid agreed, his mission was considered accomplished.

In high spirits, he revealed a knowing smirk and murmured:

“Of course.”

“From now on, Miss Zi Ying will always be by your side. Do as you please.”

“She’s… already yours now…”

“And if you fancy a larger party, these maidservants—my little treats arranged just for you—know exactly how to please a man. They’ll ensure you and Miss Zi Ying enjoy a delightful time together.”

With a low chuckle, the man gradually faded away, just as he had arrived.

As if to let Yenir relish this exquisite moment undisturbed.

Meanwhile, still standing there, Yenir was momentarily stunned before his normally unflappable senses rapidly picked up the surrounding aura.

A very peculiar ability… some kind of invisibility combined with instantaneous teleportation?

No wonder they’re so bold as to threaten me—was this their way of showcasing their strength?

Silently adding them to his kill list, Yenir then calmly turned his gaze back to the group of girls who remained.

Now that their visitor had left, he noticed that the large contingent of Military undercover guards originally assigned to protect him had tacitly withdrawn to over a hundred meters away.

I have to admit, these little Japanese sure know how to serve.

Under Yenir’s mental scanning, he immediately realized that aside from a layer of kimono, these girls were otherwise completely naked.

And in terms of quality, they were top-notch.

Barely had he issued an order when the maidservants on either side stepped forward, respectfully announcing:

“My lord, we’re here to assist you…”

Their voices were soft and velvety, imbued with a hint of seductive longing.

Their task was to solidify the bond between Yamamoto Corporation and Yenir—and that bond, naturally, meant…

Sure, they weren’t meant to bear children, but if Yenir enjoyed himself enough to keep them around, it would be the fulfillment of their dreams.

However, when several girls moved to kneel and disrobe for him, Yenir calmly waved them away.

“Step out, please. I’m not used to so many people.”

At his words, several maidservants visibly dropped their expressions in disappointment.

Realizing that she was to be left alone, young Zi Ying trembled, her small face drained of all color.

She knew exactly what was coming next.

Herself…

Could she really handle it?

Her lips pressed tightly as her little mind swirled with anxious thoughts.

Though a trace of sorrow lingered, she accepted that this was her fate.

But thankfully…

Instinctively, she stole a glance at Yenir, who was about to come over to her.

At least, she was still young?

But youth also meant she might not be able to handle everything.