Bizarre: Forced into an arranged marriage, his wife turns out to be a demon emperor?

Chapter 56 This Great Gift Has Thorns

A deathly silence.

The only sound was a barely audible hum from the projector's cooling fan.

"With just a glance, the SS-rank nine-headed bird was severely injured at its core, forcing it to flee in panic."

An elderly general with gray hair and empty epaulets broke the silence first. His name was Zhao Qingcang, a representative of the hardliners in the military.

"A single Dharma image suppressed hundreds of thousands of strange entities in Jiangcheng. Qin Shan, are you sure your report was completely free of personal bias?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like two pieces of iron rubbing together, each word carrying a murderous aura.

"Reporting to Elder Zhao, every single word is something I saw with my own eyes," Qin Shan said, bowing his head.

"Hmph, saw it with your own eyes?"

Zhao Qingcang snorted coldly, leaned back in his chair, and placed his fingers on his abdomen.

"All I saw was a young man of unknown origin, holding a Ghost Emperor who was comparable to a nuclear weapon hostage, and extorting money from us!"

"He wants control of the entire city, and we just give it to him?"

"Today he wants Jiangcheng, tomorrow will he want the capital?!"

He slammed his hand on the table, which didn't budge, but the invisible shockwave forced Qin Shan back half a step.

"Old Zhao, be careful what you say."

Sitting opposite Zhao Qingcang was a refined-looking man wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He was the highest-ranking secretary-general of the State Council, surnamed Zhou.

"According to our assessment, Su Hongyi's energy level exceeds all our current standards. Defining her as a 'nuclear weapon' is inaccurate."

Secretary-General Zhou adjusted his glasses.

"She is a natural disaster. She is a walking deity. She can wipe out a city at any time, and we—are beings utterly powerless against her."

"So what?" Zhao Qingmu's eyes turned dangerous. "Just because she's strong, we're going to kneel down? We're going to let that kid named Lin Che ride roughshod over us?"

"I disagree! This uncontrollable factor must be eliminated! Or at least controlled!"

Zhao Qingcang's gaze swept over everyone present.

"I propose we initiate the 'Separation' plan. Immediately dispatch our elite special forces team and the 'Celestial Master's' support group to Jiangcheng, and capture Lin Che alive at all costs!"

"Controlling Lin Che is like strangling that female ghost. We can study him, analyze him, and find a way to control her. A weapon capable of destroying the world must be in the hands of the state!"

The moment the word "stripping" was uttered, the temperature in the conference room dropped even further.

Everyone knows the bloodshed behind those two words.

"I object!"

Qin Shan suddenly looked up, revealing intense emotions in front of these people for the first time.

"Old Zhao! You simply don't understand the relationship between Lin Che and that—Su Hongyi! That wasn't kidnapping, that wasn't control! That was—that was husband and wife!"

"Absurd!" Zhao Qingcang retorted. "What kind of husband-and-wife relationship is this between a human and a ghost? It's utterly ridiculous!"

"But that's the truth!" Qin Shan exclaimed anxiously. "Lin Che's attitude towards her is one of doting and comforting. But Su Hongyi's attitude towards him is absolute, pathological dependence! Separating Lin Che will only lead to one consequence—that female ghost will completely lose control! At that time, not only Jiangcheng, but the entire Dragon Sparrow Kingdom will become hell!"

"That's gambling!" Zhao Qingcang retorted, "Gambling the fate of the nation on the conscience of a young man? I, Zhao Qingcang, cannot afford to gamble!"

"This isn't a gamble, it's the only option!" Secretary-General Zhou spoke up. "Old Zhao, I understand your concerns. But a hardline approach will only lead to the worst possible outcome. Why can't we try a different approach?"

He looked at the person who had remained silent and sat in the main seat.

"Sir, I believe that winning them over is more effective than confrontation."

"According to the information, Lin Che has a clean background, is an orphan with both parents dead. His only connection seems to be that female ghost. This kind of person is either an extreme antisocial personality or—extremely lacking in love and recognition."

"Judging from his actions in protecting Jiangcheng, he is not the former. He has his own bottom line and principles."

"Since he wants power, we'll give him power. Since he wants to be the king of Jiangcheng, we'll make him that king!"

Secretary-General Zhou's voice became steady and powerful.

"I propose that the Supreme Government and the General Administration jointly issue an order to specially recruit Lin Che to Beijing! And award him the highest honor, the Medal of Honor, 'Unparalleled National Hero'!"

"Give him fame, give him fortune, give him everything he wants! Bind him to us with the honor of the nation. Make him understand that protecting the Dragon Sparrow is protecting his own home."

"As long as Lin Che is kept under control, it's equivalent to keeping that calamity under control. We can even use that power for our own purposes!"

"A peerless national hero?" A hint of sarcasm appeared on Zhao Qingcang's face. "Secretary-General Zhou, what a grand gesture."

This honor is for those scientific giants and national heroes who have dedicated their lives to the country and its people. Why give it to a mere twenty-something-year-old?

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures." Secretary-General Zhou stood firm. "Isn't a national hero who can decide the lives of tens of millions of people more powerful than any theoretical argument?"

The argument in the meeting room grew increasingly heated.

The hawks and doves are clearly distinct.

One advocates swift and decisive action to nip danger in the bud.

One advocated appeasement and pacification, turning a fierce tiger into a domesticated dog.

Both routes are fraught with enormous risks.

All eyes eventually turned to the person in the main seat.

An old man was sitting there, and he hadn't said a word since the meeting started.

He simply listened quietly, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the black tabletop.

"despair."

"despair."

"despair."

Finally, he stopped tapping.

The entire conference room fell silent instantly.

The old man slowly raised his head; his eyes were cloudy, yet seemed to see through everything.

"Xiao Zhou's proposal is approved."

Secretary-General Zhou breathed a sigh of relief.

"Old Zhao—" The old man looked at Zhao Qingcang again, "Your plan, as a backup, should also be prepared."

Zhao Qingcang was taken aback, then straightened his back.

"yes!"

The old man stood up and looked at the huge holographic map.

"Send someone to Jiangcheng to bring our 'national hero' back."

His voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable authority.

"With the highest courtesy and the greatest sincerity, tell him that the capital is waiting for him, and the entire country is waiting for this hero."

"As for whether he comes or not, and if he does come—will he be a guest or a prisoner?"

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The old man didn't say anything more.

He turned around and slowly walked out of the conference room.

But everyone understood what he meant.

We extend an olive branch, but you must also have the sincerity to come in.

If you refuse our toast, then we have prepared a penalty drink for you.

At the same time.

Jiangcheng, Linjiang No.1.

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