Chapter 565: Phantom Bear’s Ambition

Su Lun looked like he was struck by lightning and shuddered.

But he quickly realized that he had lost his composure and braced himself. “Gang Leader Xiong, this isn’t something you should joke about. Do you want to bring on an all-out war with Golden Tooth?” he asked fiercely.

“All-out war?” When Xiong Wei saw his reaction, he became even more certain of his judgment and scoffed. “Something major has happened in the lair, and the empire we built with our blood, sweat, and tears over decades is about to collapse like an avalanche with Leprosy Village at its center. Even so, Saber Jin Wanhao refuses to come out. How could he still be known as the Underground Emperor if that’s the case?

“I’ve been friends with him for decades, and I’ve also been his rival for decades. We’ve once risked our lives to save the other from the monsters’ mouths, but then became the one person we wanted to kill the most when we fought over the rights to control the lair.

“In other words, I know him well. In this current situation, if he had at least one breath left in him, even if he had to crawl, he would come out to manage the situation.

“So, tell me, how did he die?”

Su Lun’s face turned pale, and he said in a quivering tone, “Mr. Jin i-isn’t dead…”

“Su Lun, you’ve always been smart, so why are you being stupid when death is around the corner?” Xiong Wei smiled coldly. “Do you seriously believe that I’m the only one who wonders whether Saber Jin Wanhao is still alive? Ever since he embarrassed himself during his birthday party, all the gangs in the lair have kept their eyes fixed on our Underground Emperor and wondering when that old man will die!

“Our lives are on the line now, but for some strange reason, he went into isolated training, and you’re the only one allowed to deliver messages to him and send his commands, so the lair is without a leader. Do you think that the leaders of the gangs are idiots and won’t suspect this?

“If the hunting squads from the outside world had been successful in their mission to capture the abnormal beast and the wanted criminals in Leprosy Village, perhaps you would have really been able to fool us.

“But now, the situation is getting worse, even if I don’t ask about it, Poison Scorpion and the other middle-sized and small gangs will ask where Mr. Jin is.

“I’m asking you here to give you a chance. Once I get my answer, I might be able to help you figure out a way to help you through these difficult times. When the other gangs publicly cause trouble, they won’t be as nice as I am!”

Red Brows Su Lun thought about it for a long time, then moaned in great sorrow and slumped down.

He looked dejected and defeated.

“Is Jin Wanhao really dead?” Xiong Wei demanded with an intense gaze.

“No. Mr. Jin isn’t dead, he’s just…” Su Lun closed his eyes. “He just lost consciousness and has been in a coma for three months!”

“With the hidden injuries he accumulated when he was young, it’s normal for him to end up like this,” Xiong Wei said. “Why didn’t you announce it?”

“I couldn’t,” Su Lun answered honestly., “Mr. Jin didn’t collapse all of a sudden. He stayed awake for a few months after the birthday party last year, and his mind was very clear. It was as if he had returned to the past.

“At that time, he really controlled the lair from the cultivation room that’s shaped like a super medical cabin. He gave his commands and took care of the lair remotely.

“Golden Tooth and the whole lair gradually got used to me as the messenger as well.

“However, Mr. Jin’s body started going worse this year, and his mind was occasionally as sharp as a blade, but at other times dull. He also became very temperamental.

“He was getting weaker and more hot-tempered. He was like a drowning man trying to grab the last straw, refusing to let go of his authority. There was no way he’d let me reveal the fact that he’s ill.”

Xiong Wei observed Su Lun’s face to find traces of him lying, but he found nothing.

“Didn’t Jin Wanhao mention anything about an heir? After he died, who was going to manage Golden Tooth and the entire lair?” Xiong Wei asked.

“He didn’t say. Mr. Jin is different from you, Gang Leader Xiong. He doesn’t have any blood-related heirs. Golden Tooth has no other person with Mr. Jin’s great strength and high prestige, either” Su Lun said with a glum expression. “Besides, as I just mentioned, Mr. Jin seemed to have realized that he’s about to die, so he became eccentric and ruthless. He grew suspicious of everything and constantly suspected that someone would try to take his position while he’s weak.

“Aside from me, since I’m a weak scholar, he didn’t trust anyone. He didn’t allow anyone to get close to the floor he used as his isolated training ground.

“Golden Tooth naturally had people who realized that Mr. Jin is not in a good condition, so they have spoke about the gang’s future, but once Mr. Jin learned of these discussions, these people… didn’t meet a good end.

“That’s why everyone became fearful. It’s like we’re all treading on thin ice. I was unable to refuse interacting with Mr. Jin, which was the only reason why I was still meeting him. The other middle management and high management members in Golden Tooth would rather talk to me than face Mr. Jin’s unpredictable temper.”

Xiong Wei nodded with a contemplative expression. “And last question. How did Jin Wanhao end up in a coma?”

“Multiple organ failure,” Su Lun said. “Since he was injured heavily while he was young and could not get a suitable method to train, he drained his cells. The doctor said that even though Mr. Jin is just 71 years old, his body has aged to the point that it’s 134 years old. There’s no meaning in trying to treat him anymore.

“He might be unconscious now, but in truth, he’s just relying on machines to retain his basic physiological functions. Mr. Jin is in an even worse condition than comatose people. In truth, he has already died, but I just don’t dare pull off the cables on him.”

“No matter what, we’re old friends,” Xiong Wei said. “Can I meet him one last time?”

“Since I told you about it, of course you can.” Su Lun looked like he had a major burden removed from his shoulders, but he still felt a little troubled. “But Mr. Jin’s isolation training room is located under Golden Tooth’s headquarters. The defenses there are very tight. I can’t just take you there to take a look, or we’ll stir up misunderstandings. What sort of reason should we come up with if we want to go in right before the people’s eyes and take a look?”

“Forget it. We’ll think about this later!”

Xiong Wei had never wanted to take a last look at Jin Wanhao. He just wanted to verify Su Lun’s words.

When he saw that Su Lun was not rejecting his request, he believed his words a little more.

He pondered the situation for a while, then asked, “Who else aside from you knows about this?”

“No one,” Su Lun said. “Aside from me, no one knows that Mr. Jin has died. Perhaps some people have guessed it, but they don’t dare verify it.”

“Makes sense. Our Underground Emperor was a truly outstanding person with great intelligence while young and better than me in everything, but no matter what, he has become old. Just like the intelligent kings in history, he became a decrepit and surly tyrant.” Xiong Wei snorted coldly.

“Compared to the tyrant, you’re naturally much more likeable. As long as you can continue generating wealth for us, it doesn’t matter whether the Underground Emperor is alive or dead. But why didn’t you take the initiative to announce Jin Wanhao’s death to Golden Tooth?”

Su Lun opened his mouth and thought about it for a long time, but he could not think of anything to say.

This was indeed something very difficult to explain.

“Because Jin Wanhao’s death is a horrible situation to you.” Xiong Wei patted Su Lun’s shoulders and helped him answer the question. “You’re a professional manager that Jin Wanhao hired from the outside world despite the entire gang’s objections. Even though you’re a vice gang leader and in charge of the daily operations in Golden Tooth, in truth, compared to the other vice gang leaders and the senior members who have solid foundations in the gang, you don’t have much weight in the gang nor any power. You also lack the ability to fight.

“Your only pillar of support was Jin Wanhao himself. Jin Wanhao was truly wise, and you didn’t let him down. Over the years you were in Golden Tooth, you managed to put the gang in order. Even the other gangs in the lair managed to benefit from it, and everyone became rich together.

“Take the online coliseum you created together with Xiong Ying and Mutual Gold Coliseum for example, Black Bone managed to get quite a lot of profit from them.

“I’ll tell you the truth, the only reason why I was willing to listen to Jin Wanhao over the past few years and refused to get into direct conflict with him was not just because I don’t want our gangs to end up badly injured. The other reason was you, God of Wealth. I really admire you!”

Su Lun blinked rapidly.

It seemed like he did not expect that the usually domineering Phantom Bear Xiong Wei would say such things.

“Revolution has always been the most difficult thing and the one thing that offends a lot of people,” Xiong Wei said. “While you were managing Golden Tooth and creating new sources of wealth, you couldn’t help but offend a lot of senior members in Golden Tooth and people in advocacy groups who are unwilling to change.

“Just like Song Jinbo, who was in charge of the gambling sites and coliseums in Golden Tooth before. Back then, he was Jin Wanhao’s right hand man, but after you appeared, he was marginalized, then benched. He might have smiled through it all, but it’d be strange if he didn’t want to flay you alive!

“If Saber Jin Wanhao were alive and suppressing everyone, be it Song Jinbo or the other nobodies, they wouldn’t be able to cause a splash, and if you were given a few more years, your position as the vice gang leader would be firmly set in stone.

“Unfortunately, Jin Wanhao died early and untimely. No one is a saint. Everyone has their own selfish motives. Even if you had no ambitions, you’d have to think carefully about how you’d end up if the news got out.

“The seniors like Song Jinbo didn’t manage to benefit much from the revolution, so once they learn about Jin Wanhao’s death, they will definitely pounce on you like mad dogs and chase you out of your position.

“At that time, forget about retaining power in Golden Tooth, you might not be able to even protect your life.

“Of course, if you were willing to give up on everything that you’ve worked on for more than a few years here and ran away with your tail between your legs, you should be able to keep your life.

“But your work and ambitions would all go down the drain. Everyone knows that you’ve been managing Golden Tooth’s business and so you’ve been branded as a gang member. The businesses and corporations outside won’t accept a former gang member as part of their higher management.

“Vice Gang Leader Su, on the surface, you look like you’re enjoying success and standing in the limelight. You represent Jin Wanhao in various situations and give orders to the entire lair, but the truth is, you’re at the cliff before an abyss and treading on thin ice. You don’t know when you’ll fall into the bottomless abyss and shatter all your bones!”

His words were like thousands of arrows that pierced Su Lun’s heart, and his expression became incredibly distorted.

“Gang Leader Xiong, what are you trying to say?” Su Lun asked hoarsely.

“It’s nothing. I just want to know your plans. It’s impossible for Jin Wanhao to remain a dead that’s still living for long. When are you going to announce his death, and after you announce it, where are you going to go? Are you really going to give up on everything and leave the lair, or…” Phantom Bear Xiong Wei stared at Red Brows Su Lun. “Or are you going to try and fight for the position of Golden Tooth’s gang leader?”