Chapter 456 - 306: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

Lake Heart Island, Mammon Manor.

The Fools’ Association is an organization that exists purely for fun, and its members spare no expense in pursuing their joys, leading many among them to ruin.

For those companions who have stuck by him through thick and thin, Mammon is loyal to a fault, offering them rooms in the manor and ensuring they live the rest of their lives in luxury.

In this purge against the Fools’ Association, those hiding in Mammon Manor became the last lucky survivors.

But this fortune only bought them a little more time to live.

News of their comrades falling victim to the Wildfire Internal Guard Team’s purge had spread far and wide. A member of the Fools’ Association residing in the manor approached Mammon, asking despondently, "What’s going on... Weren’t we told the Razor was hired to clean up the Edge? Why are the Wildfire people attacking us?"

Mammon’s eyes were bloodshot, and blisters had sprouted overnight on his lips. He said gravely, "Listen, don’t panic. There must be some misunderstanding somewhere."

"Don’t worry, I am a company executive. I’ll go find President Zhao and inquire about the situation. Besides, this is Lake Heart Island. How could anyone dare strike here?"

"Boom—"

Just as Mammon finished speaking, the door behind them suddenly burst open with immense force, sending debris flying into the two, knocking them to the floor in disarray.

In a mess of wood chips, Mammon struggled to get up, when a familiar voice reached his ears, "Oh, isn’t this Supervisor Mammon? Kneeling to pay homage on a holiday, that’s a gift I’m unworthy of as a junior."

Su Mo emerged from the cloud of dust, alone, silently watching Mammon lying on the ground.

Mammon’s face was full of shock, angrily questioning, "Where did you come from... This is Lake Heart Island! It’s my manor! What gives you the right to enter?!"

Su Mo: "Guess what? Not only am I going to enter your manor, but I’m also going to commit murder in it."

After he said that, "Bang!" a bullet pierced through the head of the Fools’ Association member beside Mammon.

Mammon was splattered with blood, eyes widened like saucers. After a moment of stupor, he shouted, "Guards! Guards! Kill him quickly!"

The guard captain was standing just outside the door, a high-ranking Blood Code Carrier.

He glanced at his sworn-to-loyalty employer, Mr. Mammon.

Then looked at the document in his hand, signed by Zhao Yiming and given by Su Mo.

Without a word, he fled.

Mammon sat limp on the ground as if his spine had been removed, eyes unfocused, unable to accept the reality before him.

Su Mo calmly looked at him and said, "What, when you recklessly ruined others depending on your power, did you ever consider that one day it would backfire on you?"

Mammon pointed his chubby finger at Su Mo with trembling hands, teeth chattering along, "You... call President Zhao... let me speak with him!"

Su Mo agreed readily, "No problem, President Zhao also mentioned, having worked with you, let us part on good terms."

Su Mo dialed the holographic call, and Zhao Yiming’s image was projected into the air amidst the intertwining light and shadow.

From the background, it was evident Zhao Yiming was still visiting Edge Mansion, holding a cup of hand-ground coffee, smiling at the camera, "Oh~ Mr. Mammon, I just happened to think of you, what a coincidence."

Mammon asked tremblingly, "President Zhao... what are you doing?"

Zhao Yiming raised his cup of coffee, his expression serious, "As you can see, I’m enjoying coffee while having your termination contract drafted."

Mammon roared unwillingly, "Zhao Yiming! I am the head of the intelligence department and partake in division shareholders’ meetings. I’m no small fry! You can’t do this!"

Zhao Yiming smiled and responded, "Why not? During your tenure as head of intelligence, the overall metrics such as intelligence acquisition efficiency and accuracy dropped by 4.7 percentage points compared to the previous term. The headquarters is already quite critical of you."

"And you don’t think you’re some irreplaceable important figure, do you?"

"Just within the New Moon City division, I can readily find seven or eight people with the ability and qualifications to replace you. They’re all waiting for you, the ’big shot,’ to step down so they can move up."

Mammon’s emotions started to unravel, tearing off his shirt buttons, revealing his body full of fat and old gunshot wounds, he cried out heart-wrenchingly, "Zhao Yiming! I’ve achieved feats for the company, have even taken bullet for you, you can’t treat me like this, I want to go to headquarters! I want to see the board!!!"

Zhao Yiming finished his coffee, accepted the termination contract from his assistant, speaking bureaucratically, "Mr. Mammon, thank you for your long-lasting contributions to the company. I extend my sincere gratitude, wishing you a smooth future. Goodbye."

In a flash, the holographic image disappeared.

Su Mo put away his cell phone and looked at Mammon, "Any last words?"

"Heh heh... Heh heh heh..." Mammon had already resigned himself to despair, showing a grim smile, sadly saying, "Su Mo, do you think you’re on top of Zhao Yiming, ready to ascend to life’s peak?"

"Did you hear what he just said? He didn’t even bother to pretend in front of you, using me as a warning to you, plainly telling you - when you’re useful you’re a companion, when you’re not you’re disposable trash."

"Let me tell you, Su Mo, your end won’t be good. You might shine with Zhao Yiming for a few years or even a dozen, but when you’re no longer useful, I will be the precedent for you... No, your end will only be worse than mine."

Su Mo said indifferently, "As you mentioned, those are matters of years or even a dozen years later, for now I will step on your corpse to ascend higher."

Mammon laughed darkly, "I’m going to die anyway, might as well tell you everything. I personally schemed against Nuobai for the Fools’ Association, I don’t deny that, but do you know who provided me with her intel?"

Su Mo: "Yes, Zhao Yiming did."

Mammon’s expression froze, blankly staring at Su Mo.

Su Mo stood against the door, the backlighting shadow obscured his facial details, yet the deep cold glint in his eyes was perceptible.

Su Mo’s emotionless voice came through, "I know Zhao Yiming orchestrated all this, also aware he’s plotting a massive game."

"But what difference does it make? Without entering the game, there’s no breaking it. My collaboration with him is merely for show, waiting for the right timing."

"Mammon, you need not mourn being abandoned. Today I kill you, some time later I’ll send Zhao Yiming to meet you. By then, you two bastards can entangle slowly in hell."

Mammon stood motionless like a statue, gradually the confusion on his face dissipated, transforming into a maniacal laughter.

"Hahaha! Hahahaha!" He laughed so hard that tears nearly came out, clapping vigorously, "Brilliant! Truly brilliant! So you were fishing all along?!"

"So amusing, Su Mo, indeed so amusing! If you truly pull it off, it will be unprecedentedly amusing, a hundred times more than any event the Fools’ Association has ever done!"

After laughing, he smoothed the creases on his shirt, tightened his loose tie, saying regretfully, "Such a pity, no chance to witness this extraordinary amusing event."

"Swish—" Su Mo drew from behind a Tang Blade belonging to Nuobai, placing it against Mammon’s throat.

Su Mo: "Greeting you on behalf of Nuobai."

"Thwack!" With a swift movement, head separate from body.