Chapter 718: Hypocritical Tactics
Zhen Liu simply stared at Zhen Jun Yao with a subtle scowl as he listened to the man’s flimsy excuse. Honestly, he was a bit disappointed.
When Zhen Liu confronted Zhen Jun Yao about the nature of his meeting with Elder Zhen Tinh, he was honestly expecting the man to be a brilliant conman of sorts. Someone who could be considered a spy without equal, given that he had managed to hide his true allegiance in plain sight for a little over a decade. If not any of that, at least a competent liar.
The documents that the kaijin had found in the man’s room had originally helped to solidify this image. Some of the documents included stolen resource records, letters between himself and the Fallen Clan which included multiple plans of previous attacks the Fallen had made up until now, as well as a personal diary of sorts that was chockfull of plans, schemes and his true feelings about everyone in the clan.
Most damning of all though was one particular set of documents, that recorded precisely how Zhen Jun Yao had manage to manipulate the Zhen Clan’s existing political issues to squash out malefactors, but have the blame place solely on other people. For how can someone be blamed for something as vile as killing a rising student, when all that someone did was simply make a…rather poorly planned suggestion.
Literally on paper, Zhen Jun Yao was terrifying mastermind that had been hindering the Zhen Clan for over a decade and was the focal point for many of the clan’s woes throughout the years without any of them being the wiser.
But now that Zhen Liu had a chance to see the man for himself and was now sitting across from him while he attempted to fix an issue with one of his earlier lies…he wasn’t exactly impressed.
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Zhen Liu maintained a neutral expression as Zhen Jun Yao continued to lie his pretty little head off, but the former wasn’t actually listening. Instead, throughout this whole yarn, Zhen Liu had been taking notice of the man’s body language.
Due to having to deal with a multitude of espionage type warriors and spies as of late, Zhen Liu figured he might as well learn how to read people without having the kaijin take over someone’s brain. The reason for doing so was because he was paranoid as all hell that there would be a day where he would not be able to fall back on kaijin abilities and would have to rely on himself. As such, that knowing Zhen Jun Yao was going to lie through his teeth anyways, Zhen Liu figured he would use the man as a practice run of sorts.
Evidently, this turned out to be a very good idea.
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‘Well…that explains why this man is so shit at lying…’
Based on Zhen Liu’s observations, Zhen Jun Yao was clearly used to lying with the help of the [False Dream Jade] necklace that Zhen Hai recovered not too long ago. Which made sense, given that the jade’s effect was literally memory manipulation.
Zhen Jun Yao was probably used to using the jade to cause his targets to drop their guards and become significantly more susceptible to even the most bullshit of suggestions. Which would explain the sheer amount of records indicating how he manage to convince up-and-coming talents to tear each other part via a simple suggestion of skullduggery and sabotage.
Then again, Zhen Liu couldn’t really judge the man on using other people to fulfill his goal since he was already doing that on the regular with the kaijin. That and…one other person that is.
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‘Razorstella, have you finished delivering my instructions?’
[I have, director. The instructions have been delivered. Although…may I ask one question?]
‘Go ahead.’
[Why are you giving this guy a chance to claim all of this unearned glory? I mean, we already have the evidence and that babyfaced yakuza crone already sees you as an ally, why don’t we just expose Zhen Jun Yao ourselves and reap even more benefits? I’m pretty sure doing this will allow you another crack at that treasure vault.]
‘First off, I’d rather not risk having yet another cursed treasure gunning for my family’s life. That nad I’m pretty sure my new hammer here wouldn’t appreciate me having another cursed treasure attached to me.’
*…*
‘Case and point. As for the possibility of earning more glory…well, I could say something grandstanding like I’d prefer to spread around the recognition so that others may benefit. I could also say something along the lines of “I wish to settle any promises” to the recipient. But…you guys are in my head, so you probably know the reason why I’m doing this already.’
[…]
‘…’
[Is…is it because you want to avoid culpa-]
‘It’s because I want to avoid culpability. The Fallen Clan already has a reason to curse my name and wanting to rip my head off my shoulders, well a version of me anyways. I’d rather not give them a chance to connect that the guy who screwed them out of their grand victory was also the guy who screwed over their precious spy.’
[Makes sense.]
‘Anyways, now all I need to do now is, well, make my own suggestion.’
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‘Dammit…does this guy believe me or not? I did my best to sound like I was desperately trying to tell the truth…dammit! Why did I have to lose my necklace?!,’ Zhen Jun Yao cursed.
Without his precious jade aether treasure, Zhen Jun Yao was forced to rely on the lying skills he had used before he had received it. Back in those days, he used to be quite glib with his tongue and knew exactly what people wanted to hear.
However, due to having access to such a convenient aether treasure, Zhen Jun Yao had become a bit…rusty in regards to the art of fibbing.
He could tell that his simple lie of feigning a head injury was nothing more than a flimsy cover, a fresh coat of paint in the rain, and yet…he couldn’t come up with anything else.
At this moment, the only thing he could hope for was that the matriarch’s new favorite brackborn brat was gullible enough to fall for it. He might’ve caught him in an earlier lie in regards to why Elder Zhen Tinh, but surely, the man’s innate compassion was enough for him to believe a head injury…right?
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‘Oh thank the heavens!’
Zhen Jun Yao would’ve let out an audible sigh of relief at the realization that his lie had actually worked, but he knew better than to do that. This simple action might’ve been a form of emotional release for Zhen Jun Yao, but it could also be perceived as a suspicious act, especially around this weird fellow. The sigh would have to wait until after Zhen Liu left.
However, moments before Zhen Liu actually walked through the door, he paused in order to say something.
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As Zhen Liu left the room, Zhen Jun Yao used his aether to enhance his hearing and make sure he heard Zhen Liu’s footsteps leaving the area. Once he was certain he was gone, Zhen Jun Yao let out a massive of sigh full of relief and shock.
The reason for the relief was obvious, Zhen Liu was like a looming monster and he had now simply disappeared.
As for the reason for this shock, it was quite simple: his contact in the Fallen Clan had called him for a meeting and they had use the brackborn brat as a means of deliverance.
‘But why would…bah! Forget it. I need to focus on what I need to say to them…’
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‘What kind of dumbass leaves their secret password written in a diary of all things?’
[To be fair, maestro, not everyone has access to a wonder agency full of magical, reality defying monsters like us.]
‘That’s fair.’
‘Please stop referencing old television.’
