This assassin is upright

Chapter 457 Song Yan's Astonishing Background

"Yes."

In response to Black Hawk's question, Yu Zhun nodded. "Delay could lead to complications. We'd better find Song Yan as soon as possible and investigate his background."

“Let’s go then.” Black Hawk stood up.

He wasn't one to drag things out, and now that a second option was available, he naturally wanted to take a look.

The other three members of the Black Hawk team followed closely behind, and the group of five quickly headed towards Song Yan's simple and secluded forge.

It was already late at night. If the excavation team were in the desolate wilderness outside the city, they would have to be extremely cautious, extinguishing all lights to avoid being attacked by mutated or polluted beasts that were active at night, which could cause significant damage and losses.

But this is a city of floating ash.

Neon lights illuminated the streets and alleys, and noise and laughter echoed in every corner. The safe environment fostered a bustling market. Looking at the endless stream of passersby, Langya couldn't help but show an envious expression.

"Now I finally understand why everyone wants to come to the city."

"It's like two completely different worlds here and outside."

"It's all just a facade of prosperity." The rat curled its lip in disdain. "If the mutated and polluted beasts outside the city gain the power to break through, then all the current prosperity will cease to exist."

"Everyone here will become food for the monsters."

"That day probably won't come," Eita couldn't help but say. "After all, this is a city of such a scale, and it still has the technology and weapons of the old society."

“It’s precisely because of the technological weapons of the old society that the City of Ashes has become increasingly dangerous.” The rat shook its head. “Those pedantic and foolish guys in the inner city are unwilling to embrace evolution.”

"They thought they could deal with everything with those weapons."

"But in reality, they don't modify those weapons left over from the old era; they just use them."

"The power of a weapon is always fixed, but evolution is endless."

"When the monsters outside evolve to the point where they can ignore those weapons..." The rat grinned and sneered, "Forget it, what does that have to do with me?"

"We've arrived," Black Hawk said calmly, interrupting their conversation.

Ahead of them was Song Yan's forging workshop.

Even though it was night, the sound of forging hammers striking metal inside the forge never stopped, and if you got any closer, you could feel the heat even through the door.

Black Hawk pushed the door open without hesitation, and Song Yan, who was shirtless inside, quickly stopped what he was doing and walked towards them.

"Hey, you guys are back so soon!" Song Yan smiled and strode towards the group, his gaze falling on Langya and Tieta. "Let me guess, did you two see Brother Yu Zhun's dagger and decide you wanted to forge your own weapons?"

"I can offer a discount if the materials are good enough!"

“We’ll talk about their weapons manufacturing later,” Black Hawk said slowly. “We’ve come to you this time to discuss another business deal.”

"Oh?" Song Yan scratched his head. "What kind of weapon do you want to forge?"

“It’s not a weapon, it’s this.” Black Hawk took out the purified plutonium.

"do you know it?"

"This is..." Song Yan paused slightly, staring wide-eyed at the silvery light that still shone brightly in the firelight of the forge.

"Purified plutonium?"

"This whole thing is purified plutonium?!"

“Not bad.” Black Hawk paused, a hint of nervousness creeping into his eyes as he looked at the other man. “So… are you going to buy it?”

"Hiss..." Song Yan gasped, appearing somewhat flustered due to his overwhelming excitement, and kept scratching his cheek. "Who wouldn't want something this good? But I really can't afford it right now..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly thought of something.

"Have it!"

Song Yan looked at the black eagle excitedly, "I can have my family buy it, but you'll have to wait a day while I contact them."

"...Your family?" Black Hawk paused for a moment, then a searching look appeared in his eyes.

“My home is over there,” Song Yan said, pointing in a certain direction.

Looking through the window at the direction Song Yan was pointing, Black Hawk's expression changed slightly, because that direction was clearly the direction of the inner city.

Is Song Yan from the inner city?

Seeing Song Yan's clearly evolved aura, Black Hawk's eyes showed deep surprise.

“As you all know, evolutionists are prohibited from entering the inner city, and those who live there are even prohibited from becoming evolutionists.” Song Yan scratched his head. “But the strength of high-grade alloys is too high; ordinary forces cannot forge them.”

"So, I had no choice but to become an evolved being and leave the inner city to buy a forging hut in the outer city."

As he spoke, Song Yan paused slightly, "However, my family doesn't have much prejudice against evolved people, and their relationship with me hasn't deteriorated because of it. They've even helped me out from time to time over the years."

"Otherwise... I would have gone out of business long ago."

Upon hearing Song Yan's words, Black Hawk showed a look of sudden realization.

Indeed, the higher the quality of the alloy forged weapon, the higher the price, but the higher the quality of the weapon, the less money Song Yan makes.

This is clearly a very unusual thing.

Only someone as pure as Song Yan, who doesn't care about money at all and is completely immersed in the world of forging, would do something like this.

But the purer a person is, the harder it is for them to survive alone.

Therefore, Song Yan has relied on his family for support all these years.

After understanding this, Black Hawk carefully recalled his past interactions with Song Yan and immediately discovered some clues from subtle hints.

However, his approach was simply following the natural course of events.

However, Yu Zhun followed the clues and meticulously pieced together the details to deduce that Song Yan's background was not simple.

Thinking of this, Black Hawk couldn't help but glance at Yu Zhun.

He quickly composed himself and turned to look at Song Yan. "Do we only need to wait one day?"

"How can you guarantee that your family members are really willing to make the deal?"

"Don't worry, they'll definitely be willing," Song Yan said with a smile. "I can assure you of that."

Seeing Song Yan's response, Black Hawk stopped worrying about it.

"In that case, let's come back here tomorrow."

After leaving those words behind, Black Hawk led the rest of his team away.

After leaving the blacksmith's shop, his gaze fell upon Yu Zhun.

Do you think Song Yan is reliable?

Yu Zhun did not answer, but suddenly spoke up.

"Which of the high-rise buildings in the inner city is owned by someone surnamed Song?"

Upon hearing this question, everyone simultaneously looked at the mouse.

If anyone knows anything about the important figures in the inner city, then Rat, who was born and raised here, is probably the most likely candidate.

"The one surnamed Song..." The mouse stroked his chin, a thoughtful look on his face, but his expression quickly changed, his eyes shifting with a hint of uncertainty.

"What's wrong?" Black Hawk asked, noticing the change in Mouse's expression.

“I do know of a family with the surname Song,” the mouse said slowly, “but I feel it might just be a coincidence.”

“It’s no coincidence that you have the ability to consume this piece of purified plutonium,” Yu Zhun said in a deep voice. “Speak your guess, you rat.”

“Alright.” The rat sighed. “The original builder of Floating Ash City was surnamed Song.” “After that, all the city lords of Floating Ash City were members of the Song family.”

Everyone was shocked to hear this.

Even Yu Zhun, who had made the prediction, was slightly surprised.

"You mean, Song Yan is from the city lord's family? The person he's trying to contact is very likely the city lord?" Black Hawk couldn't help but ask.

“It’s just a possibility.” The rat paused. “After all, apart from this, I don’t know of any other inner city families with the surname Song.”

Upon hearing this, the group couldn't help but exchange glances.

“If they really are from the city lord’s side…” Black Hawk frowned slightly, “would they really trade with us?”

“A high enough position and great power is actually more secure,” Yu Zhun said slowly. “Because at that level, every move the other party makes will be under scrutiny. If they try to seize something by trickery or force, their reputation will be greatly affected.”

"In any case, at least we have a second option."

Black Hawk nodded slightly.

The group fell silent and, under the cover of night, returned to their temporary encampment.

But as they approached their arrival, their expressions subtly changed.

"Someone has been here." Wolf Fang spoke in a deep voice after carefully examining a rather inconspicuous mark he had left behind.

“Indeed.” Yu Zhun sniffed, his mind automatically analyzing a large amount of information. “There are probably four or five people.”

He paused slightly at this point.

"One of them is old Göller."

Old Graeme?!

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then felt a chill run down their spines.

"Come out!" Black Hawk suddenly shouted at that moment.

"Pah~pah~pah~"

A slow, deliberate round of applause followed, and a figure completely shrouded in black robes emerged from the shadows. The hem of the hood revealed an approving gaze: "Very good insight."

"They were actually able to detect our presence."

Behind him followed several people, among whom was the white-haired old man, Gerrard, who was looking at the Black Hawk team with a complicated expression.

His eyes held a hint of regret and apology, but more than anything, they conveyed a sense of helplessness stemming from being unable to control his own destiny.

Sensing the oppressive aura emanating from the other party, Black Hawk slowly drew the long sword from his waist and walked step by step toward the man in black robes.

"So you're the one behind Old Gerler, from the inner city?"

“Not bad.” The man in black robes spoke slowly. “You don’t need to know my true identity. You only need to know that I possess great power.”

"This force is enough to unleash a hurricane in the City of Floating Ash."

"And the purified plutonium you brought will add fuel to the fire of this hurricane, turning it into a devastating fire tornado."

“Nonsense.” Black Hawk said coldly. “Old Groler’s agreed transaction time with us is four days from now.”

"Now that you've arrived ahead of schedule, can I assume that the deal also needs to be brought forward to now?" Black Hawk paused slightly. "If that's the case, then show your sincerity."

"What bargaining chips will you use to exchange for refined plutonium?"

As Black Hawk finished speaking, the arena fell silent.

After a moment of silence, the man in black robes chuckled softly, "A bright future, how about that?"

Black Hawk frowned slightly. "To put it bluntly."

"Very well," the man in black robes said softly. "Then I'll be frank. What do you think of the inner city right now?"

"A bunch of idiots," the rat blurted out instinctively, but then waved its hand dismissively. "I wasn't talking about you."

"Hahahaha~" The man in black robes burst into laughter, "That's right, you're absolutely right, the inner city is full of idiots."

"They view the ability to continuously evolve as a virus, clinging to the garbage left over from the old era, hoping to return to the prosperity of the old era."

"But times have changed!"

The man in black robes uttered a low growl, "Now, it is the age of evolution!"

"The past of the old era should be buried along with the order, and the torrent of the new era is like a surging river sweeping across every living being."

"These stupid guys don't deserve to control this world."

"Therefore, I will overthrow them!" The man in black robes said in a deep voice, "and establish a completely new order that belongs to the evolved."

“But aren’t you also wearing a combat exoskeleton?” Yu Zhun suddenly asked.

“Exoskeleton…” the man in black robes scoffed. “It’s just a means to conceal my true strength.”

"I didn't activate the exoskeleton at all."

"The power you feel originates from within myself!"

Upon hearing this, the members of Black Hawk Squad were horrified.

Because from the very beginning they had a vague feeling that the black-robed man in front of them possessed power far exceeding that of the Black Eagle, and was likely comparable to a fourth-tier evolver.

And this power actually came from within himself?

This means that the other party, as a resident of the inner city, possesses power comparable to a fourth-tier evolved being, yet has not been discovered by others.

Upon realizing this, they immediately understood why the other party was hiding.

This is to avoid revealing their identities and arousing suspicion in the inner city!
Black Hawk took a deep breath, ceasing his probing into the other party's identity, and spoke in a low voice, "Explain yourself clearly, what exactly do you want us to do?"

"Join us," the man in black robes said slowly. "Most of you are evolved beings, possessing great power but only able to personally enter dangerous ruins to dig, risking your lives at any moment."

"But the ordinary people in the inner city live a life of singing and dancing every night."

"Don't you think this is extremely unfair?"

"As long as you join us now, once the order of the inner city is overthrown, you will be one of the founders of the new order, and you will naturally be able to enjoy everything you have never enjoyed before." As he said this, the black-robed man's tone became more superior and confident.

"This will be your best chance to change your destiny."

"Just hand over that piece of purified plutonium to me, and I will give you a future that is brighter than ever before."

The voice echoed in the quiet alley, and as the man in the black robe finished speaking, the surroundings suddenly fell into dead silence.

Until one moment, the mouse suddenly let out a sneer.

"What a huge pie! Did I hear that right? This guy is planning to trade a pie for our purified plutonium!"

Upon hearing this, the others burst into laughter.

"You..." The man in the black robe spoke with a hint of anger.

"What's so funny?"

"For you excavation team members, this is like an untold windfall. Don't you think it's worth it?"

“It is indeed very funny.” Black Hawk’s smile faded, and he spoke in a cold voice, “I originally thought that you would at least pay some price.”

"I never expected it to be a case of getting something for nothing."

"Get out of here." Black Hawk coldly glanced at Old Geler, who had remained silent. "If you don't leave, then we'll have a fight here."

(End of this chapter)