Hearing Ian Song's reply, the Heavensnare Saintess forced herself to suppress the urge to split him in two, instead putting on a look of compassionate sorrow. "The apocalypse has come, the nation has collapsed, and the people suffer. Yet Chairman Song alone holds up the sky, sheltering seventy thousand survivors. I truly admire you."
"Haha, Saintess, you're too kind." Ian Song replied smugly, drawing a look of utter disdain from Bella Bi standing nearby.
"So, Chairman Song, what are your plans for the future?" the Heavensnare Saintess pressed.
Hearing the Saintess ask again, Ian Song sneered inwardly. This woman was crafty—first using the world's situation as bait, then dangling ideals as temptation. Any man would fall into her rhetorical trap.
Feeling his own status rising, he thought he should show off in front of the beauty, launch into grand speeches, brag and boast about his great ambitions.
But Ian Song wasn’t just any man. First, he’d already been wary of the Saintess; second, his mental strength had broken past 1100 points—his intelligence was practically monstrous. So, the moment she spoke, he saw right through her.
So he played dumb: "Plans? What plans could I possibly have? Right now I eat well, sleep warm, and have beauties to share my bed—what more could I want? As they say, contentment is happiness!"
"Crude!"
Bella Bi couldn’t help but snap.
The Heavensnare Saintess’s elegant brows furrowed slightly. Was Ian Song really hiding his ambitions, or did he truly lack them? After a brief pause, she continued, "Has Chairman Song never considered contributing to the people, rebuilding a new order?"
Ian Song retorted, "Why should I contribute to everyone? Isn’t rebuilding order the government’s job? What does it have to do with me?"
The Saintess’s brows furrowed again as she tried to persuade him: "Monsters run rampant now, and humanity faces extinction. Chairman Song, with your great abilities, shouldn’t you do something for humanity?"
Ian Song laughed, "Haha, you’re not wrong, Saintess. I should do my part for everyone. But I know my limits—I can shelter seventy thousand people, and that’s enough for me!"
The Saintess’s eyes brightened. "What if there were a chance for you to save even more people?"
"Why don’t you tell me, Saintess?" Ian Song seemed moved.
The Heavensnare Saintess decided to turn up the pressure, declaring loudly: "The Heavensnare Order is Centralia’s top sect. Our mission is to wipe out monsters and save humanity. If Chairman Song joins us, you’ll not only save more people, but also earn great merit, become a hero, and maybe even rise to the top of the new government!"
First she tried to pressure him with grand ideals, then tempt him with fame. This girl could’ve made a killing in sales.
Ian Song muttered to himself, then said, "Seems like everything you’re offering is vague and unreal, Saintess. I’m pretty shortsighted—if you want me to join the Heavensnare Order, you’ll have to offer me something concrete!"
"How dare you! The Saintess is honoring you by inviting you to join the Heavensnare Order, and you still dare to ask for benefits? You’re truly shameless!" Bella Bi couldn’t hold back and scolded him again.
Faced with Bella Bi’s scolding, Ian Song couldn’t help but smirk. "You’re even more overbearing than your Saintess, Bella. Looks like she’s not much of a teacher, huh?"
"Bella Bi, aren’t you going to apologize to Chairman Song?" the Heavensnare Saintess said sternly.
Hearing that the Saintess actually wanted her to apologize to Ian Song, Bella Bi felt utterly aggrieved. "Saintess, I..."
"Forget it! I’m magnanimous—I won’t argue with a maid," Ian Song said with a wave of his hand.
Bella Bi: "...You...!"
"Bella, wait outside for now!"
The Heavensnare Saintess said calmly.
"Yes!"
Bella Bi shot Ian Song a fierce glare, then turned and left the office.
Once Bella Bi was gone, the conversation between the two continued.
The Heavensnare Saintess said, "Forgive me for being blunt, Chairman Song, but your current situation isn’t as good as you think."
"Is that so?" Ian Song smiled. "I’d appreciate your guidance, Saintess."
"In that last battle, Chairman Song may have won and annexed the Myriad Beasts Order’s enclave in Huahai City, but I don’t believe you actually have the strength to go head-to-head with the Myriad Beasts Order!"
"So what should I do?"
"If you join the Heavensnare Order, with our protection, the Myriad Beasts Order wouldn’t dare touch you."
"And if I still refuse?"
"Then the Heavensnare Order will join forces with the Myriad Beasts Order to eliminate you as an unstable factor!"
"Heh."
Ian Song laughed again—when tempting him didn’t work, she switched to threats.
"By the way, if you don’t mind me asking, what’s your status within the Heavensnare Order, Saintess?"
"Both the Divine Son and the Saintess are qualified to inherit the Order Master’s seat," the Heavensnare Saintess said proudly.
"So that means your status in the Heavensnare Order is pretty high, huh?" Ian Song’s eyes lit up. "Say, what if I captured you, Saintess, and used you to threaten the Heavensnare Order—how do you think that would go?"
At those words, even the Heavensnare Saintess, with her composure, was momentarily stunned. Her four escorts immediately placed their hands on their sword hilts, ready to defend her at any moment.
Seeing this, Ian Song couldn’t help but laugh teasingly. "Haha! No need to get worked up, gentlemen—I’m just joking. Even if the deal falls through, we should still be civil, right?"
For a moment, the Heavensnare Saintess was clearly annoyed. "Chairman Song, you’re supposed to be a smart man. There are so many benefits to joining the Heavensnare Order—why be so stubborn?"
Suddenly, Ian Song’s gaze fixed directly on the Saintess’s face.
Feeling Ian Song’s bold stare, the Heavensnare Saintess felt as if he could see right through her. She couldn’t help but snort coldly, "Chairman Song, please show some respect!"
"Heh, if the Saintess were willing to be my woman, I might just consider joining the Heavensnare Order!" Ian Song grinned—he’d just used his clairvoyant power to check her appearance, and beneath that veil, she was truly breathtaking.
"Scoundrel! How dare you insult the Saintess—you’ve got a death wish!"
The four escorts instantly drew their swords, their eyes fierce as they stared at Ian Song. It looked like they’d attack at her command.
"Stand down!"
A flash of anger appeared in the Heavensnare Saintess’s eyes. "Chairman Song, I’ll ask you one more time—are you really unwilling to join the Heavensnare Order?"
Ian Song shrugged. "And I’ll answer you one more time: if you’re willing to be my woman, I might consider it!"
"Hmph! Goodbye!"
The Heavensnare Saintess’s expression turned cold as she stood up and walked out.
"Take care! No need to see you out!"
Ian Song called after her back.
Standing at the window, watching the Heavensnare Saintess and her group drive away from the enclave, Ian Song couldn’t help but show a cold smile and mutter, "Since you’ve come, there’s no way I’ll let you leave so easily!"
Inside a modified bulletproof car, Bella Bi complained angrily, "Saintess, that Ian Song is totally tactless. What should we do next?"
"Go to the Myriad Beasts Order!"
The Heavensnare Saintess replied coldly—clearly, Ian Song had really gotten under her skin.
Ten minutes later.
The car jolted to a stop. The driver said gravely, "Saintess, there’s a large horde of zombies ahead!"