Qin Siyang couldn't figure out the key point for a moment.
Why did Tang Wanjing want him to reject this tempting offer?
Seeing Qin Siyang remain silent, Chu Xiao'ang asked, "Little Qin, you're still not satisfied with this price?"
Qin Siyang was still hesitating.
Because he didn't know what this price truly meant.
Finally, seeing that Qin Siyang hadn't grasped it, Tang Wanjing beside him spoke up: "Commander Chu, offering such a high price, aren't you leaving our Management Department with no chance at all?"
"My price is right here. I am determined to get the Titan Foxtail Grass inner leaf fragments. If Minister Tang wants them too, just offer a higher price."
Tang Wanjing shook his head with a smile, "Commander Chu, you're making such a grand move, I could never match it."
"But, I do understand your determination now."
"The military's merit missions only reward one-thousandth of a Sequence potion."
"To get ten thousand bottles of Sequence potions, the military would need to complete ten million merit missions. As far as I know, that's roughly a year's worth of missions for the Chu Legion."
"And within the Chu Legion, the salaries of company-level officers seem to be just one or two silver coins per year."
"So, half a year's worth of mission resources, plus the annual salaries of thousands of junior officers, all in exchange for just a few Titan Foxtail Grass inner leaf fragments?"
"I really think this deal isn't worth it for you, Commander Chu."
Chu Xiao'ang shot a cold look at Tang Wanjing. "Minister Tang, you're talking too much. Just tell me. Will you offer a higher price or not?"
"I already said, I can't."
"Then shut up."
Then, Chu Xiao'ang crossed his legs on the sofa, his gaze landing on Qin Siyang, "Little Qin, what do you think of this price?"
Qin Siyang was silent for a moment.
After Tang Wanjing's words, he finally understood.
Chu Xiao'ang was using half a year's worth of his legion's mission resources to exchange for a few Titan Foxtail Grass inner leaf fragments.
At least a thousand soldiers would be affected.
No matter how you looked at it, this didn't seem like a good deal.
Even if he really needed the Titan Foxtail Grass inner leaf fragments, he shouldn't be offering such a high price.
Could it be that after the deal was done, there would be some kind of trap or trouble waiting for him?
At that moment, a memory suddenly surfaced in Qin Siyang's mind.
While browsing the joint government's legal forums, he had skimmed over a particular crime.
But with his enhanced memory from his Sequence abilities, it had still been imprinted in his mind.
[Crime of Extorting Military Supplies—Punishable by Death.]
Was Chu Xiao'ang planning to strike a deal with an enormous sum, then later use this crime to frame him and reclaim all the resources he had handed over?
Qin Siyang's gaze suddenly darkened.
'This Chu Xiao'ang.'
'Not only does he want to scam my goods, but he also wants my life?'
'This is beyond despicable!'
However, this kind of private transaction was inherently shady.
Qin Siyang had no way to leave behind any written evidence as leverage.
And Chu Xiao'ang's status was too high, even Zhao Longfei wouldn't dare to monitor him.
When the deal was completed, would the joint government believe a military commander like Chu Xiao'ang, who held real power, or a nobody like himself? The answer was obvious.
Even so, things hadn't reached an irreversible point just yet.
Qin Siyang decided to probe a little, "Commander Chu, I don't think the Titan Foxtail Grass inner leaf fragments are worth this much. I can accept the merit points, but the Sequence potions and gold coins, there are simply too many. Could they be reduced a little?"
Chu Xiao'ang shook his head, "Little Qin, this price represents my sincerity. If I lower it, wouldn't that damage the goodwill between us?"
"Young talents like you, I admire very much. I hope we can work together more in the future."
Hearing his father's words, Chu Baxing looked shocked.
'Have my father gone insane? Does he really value Qin Siyang this much?'
But Qin Siyang's expression remained as calm as a lake.
Although Chu Xiao'ang was flattering him, Qin Siyang had caught the real message, he wouldn't lower the price.
No one gives away benefits for free, let alone a commander of a military legion.
The Titan Foxtail Grass inner leaf fragments weren't worth this price.
So, Chu Xiao'ang's attempt to frame him was crystal clear.
A wave of anger rose in Qin Siyang's heart.
Now that he had figured it all out, there was no need to keep up appearances.
He spoke coldly: "Commander Chu, I make a deal with you, and you want my life in return? Isn't that a little too ruthless?"
Hearing Qin Siyang's words, Tang Wanjing quietly let out a breath of relief, his gaze filled with approval.
Meanwhile, Chu Baxing once again looked puzzled, turning his eyes toward his father.
Chu Xiao'ang picked up the teacup from the table, leaned back into the sofa, and asked in a friendly tone, "Little Qin, what are you talking about? I don't understand. We're just doing business. Why would I want your life?"
Qin Siyang took a deep breath, picked up the photos on the table, tossed them aside, and leaned against the table, facing Chu Xiao'ang directly.
"Commander Chu, I may have been born a poor orphan, but I'm not an idiot."
"Are you planning to use the [Crime of Extorting Military Supplies] to have the joint government execute me?"
A subtle look of confusion appeared on Chu Xiao'ang's face, "Little Qin, I really don't understand what you're saying."
"If you don't understand, then let me put it in terms you'll get."
Qin Siyang's eyes sharpened.
"I'm not selling the Titan Foxtail Grass inner leaf fragments anymore."
"Not selling?"
The moment Qin Siyang said he wouldn't go through with the transaction, Chu Xiao'ang's smile disappeared instantly, replaced by a dangerous glint.
"Little Qin, this isn't a very funny joke."
Qin Siyang nodded, "Indeed, this sentence you understood clearly. Commander Chu, you want my goods, and you want my life. This is a deal I can't make."
"Little Qin, you've been spouting nonsense since you returned. I've tolerated it so far. But now, after calling me here, you say you won't trade the Titan Foxtail Grass inner leaf fragments? Are you toying with me?"
"Commander Chu, weren't you the one who toyed with me first?"
Chu Xiao'ang rubbed his fingers together but didn't respond directly. He simply said indifferently, "Little Qin, have you thought about the consequences of toying with a military commander?"
Qin Siyang met Chu Xiao'ang's sharp gaze and said calmly, "What else but death? Do you have any other methods?"
"Commander Chu, don't underestimate people."
"I've been outside the safe zone countless times, facing life and death so often that I've even written my will. Do you think I'd be scared of your threats?"
"If I'm going to die either way, why should I still make a deal with you?"
Chu Xiao'ang didn't speak, his sharp gaze locked onto Qin Siyang's face.
Qin Siyang's lips curled into a cold smile, "Commander Chu, you need these Titan Foxtail Grass inner leaf fragments for someone important, don't you?"
"Trading a nobody like me for the life of a valuable officer, doesn't seem like a bad deal, does it?"
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