Spellcasting Gods

Seeing this, the remaining people also got to work, quickly dismembering the living person.

They understood that only those whose names appeared on the note were qualified to go to the designated location for negotiations, while those unwilling to take action would likely end up like Lucas.

Chapter 0681 Incitement

The next day at noon, the warm sunshine seemed to dispel the chaos and death that had erupted the night before. There was no trace of tension on the streets of Boston. Not even one of the ubiquitous news media dared to report on the so-called "terrorist attack" in the suburbs. As for the police who had been mobilized in full force, they remained silent about it.

As expected, when it comes to the privileged class behind the country, all that bullshit about democracy and freedom of speech is just empty talk.

Eric Harrison's single sentence silenced everyone in the know.

The government's only response was to release a low-key counterterrorism arrest warrant and a few blurry photos that made it impossible to identify the person.

Sitting in a roadside café, Zhang Cheng sipped his hot cocoa while browsing satellite data on his phone. He chuckled and muttered to himself, "The water is 4,680 meters deep. The surrounding area has whirlpools and undercurrents of varying sizes due to ocean currents, and countless reefs of varying heights. No wonder no one has ever tried to salvage it all these years. But it's alright, none of this is a problem for me."

Clearly, what he had just received was none other than the Spanish treasure ship that was being prepared for salvage in the Atlantic Ocean.

However, judging from the nautical logs and hydrographic data recorded by submarines from various countries, the ship that sank was not just one, but nearly half a fleet, more than eight of the most advanced galleons of the time. The value of the gold, silver and other precious metals alone may exceed six billion US dollars, and the value of other jewels and artifacts is beyond monetary measure.

In fact, when the storm came, most of the ships in this treasure-carrying fleet, which were fully loaded with treasure, sank. Only the lightly equipped escort warships managed to escape the disaster.

Therefore, after World War II, many countries and individuals wanted to find and salvage these treasures that had sunk in the deep sea.

The problem is that, due to technological and environmental limitations, no one has dared to take any practical action so far.

After all, a water depth of 4,680 meters is already an almost insurmountable chasm. Add to that whirlpools, undercurrents, and complex reefs, and the danger is self-evident. Even the world's best research submarines could easily encounter accidents.

The limitations of technology are vividly demonstrated in the face of the unfathomable ocean, but it's a different story when magic is added.

Just as Zhang Cheng was silently considering how to find the legendary golden mural, a man in a suit and black sunglasses walked in through the door.

But instead of sitting down and ordering a hot coffee or hot cocoa to savor like other customers, he went straight to the counter, whispered something to the owner, and then handed over a check.

The latter was clearly taken aback by this sudden action, but after seeing the number on the check, he was immediately speechless with astonishment.

After whispering to each other for seven or eight minutes, the two parties finally signed their names on two copies of the contract.

Then the coffee shop owner loudly announced to everyone that the place now belonged to the middle-aged man wearing sunglasses, and then drove off with the check in his car parked at the entrance.

It was easy to tell from the happy smile on his face that he was very satisfied with the amount on the check.

Before the customers could even react to what was happening, a group of men in black suits rushed into the coffee shop and asked each customer to leave, except for one person: Zhang Cheng, who was sitting in the corner.

After doing all this, they quietly guarded both entrances and exits, while giving all staff, including the chefs and waitresses, a large sum of severance pay.

After all the irrelevant people had left, a dozen or so people radiating magical energy cautiously walked in through the back door and sat down one by one on the chairs next to the bar.

Because no one was talking, the entire coffee shop was filled with an eerie atmosphere.

After about six or seven minutes, a man completely covered in UV-protective fiber material, including his face, approached alone and placed a note with his name written in blood on the table: "Respected Congressman, we have done as you requested. Now please state your terms for negotiation. What exactly do you want to let us go?"

"A half-vampire?! I don't understand. There are so many ways to prolong life in the world, why did you choose the worst one?" Zhang Cheng squinted, looking at the other person with slight surprise.

"There was no other way! You have to understand, in my time, North America was still in chaos. The Supreme Council wasn't exactly friendly to ordinary people; they even issued a notorious ban forbidding inhabitants of the underworld from marrying ordinary people, believing that this would keep their bloodlines pure and their offspring stronger. I didn't want to die, and I couldn't get any other help, so I had no choice but to accept the olive branch offered by the vampires," the man with his face covered in black cloth explained with a wry smile.

Zhang Cheng nodded thoughtfully, then pointed to the crowd near the bar and asked, "What about the others? How many of them have sided with Heaven and Hell? And how many are colluding with underworld forces?"

"No, Your Excellency, we have not sided with anyone, and our relationship with Heaven and Hell is limited to an exchange of interests, unlike those foolish believers who are willing to give up everything. Simply put, we are independent, and everything we do is for ourselves."

"Exactly! If we really turned to heaven and hell, do you think North America would still be as peaceful as it is now?"

"Please believe that we have no ill intentions toward the Supreme Council. Our private actions were merely for self-protection and have never touched any sensitive areas."

……

Immediately, many people turned around to defend themselves, while others tried to gain sympathy by playing the victim.

Watching the farcical scene unfold before him, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips into a mocking smile. He said sarcastically, "You think I'm here to cause trouble on behalf of the Supreme Council? No! Fools! I'm here to discuss cooperation! Unlike those old fogies in the council who have lived for decades or even centuries, I'm a young man who keeps up with the times and understands the potential of technology. Besides, don't you think the Supreme Council has held power for too long, its thinking is so outdated it's practically stuck in the Dark Ages, and it's already falling behind the times?"

He paused deliberately, observing everyone's reaction, before standing up and raising his hands to urge them on: "That's right! A great revolution is about to begin! Whether you're a resident of the underworld or a person in the ordinary world, you will face an unprecedented crisis, but also an opportunity. Now tell me, are you willing to continue living in the shadows like rats, or are you willing to cooperate with me to start a revolution and seize supreme power?"

Chapter 0682 Fighting the World

"Revolution?!"

Everyone inside the coffee shop was stunned by what had just been said!

There's no way I couldn't be stunned!

It's important to know that Zhang Cheng's identity in the underworld has never been a secret; anyone with even a little bit of inside information can find out everything.

As a member of the highest council in North America and an alchemist respected throughout the underworld, he is a beneficiary of the current ruling structure and a member of the elite privileged class.

Moreover, barring any unforeseen circumstances, he is very likely to become the next chairman of the Supreme Council.

It's like in the Middle Ages, a crown prince who was about to inherit the country suddenly said to a group of capitalists who were hiding in the shadows and desperately accumulating power: "Guys, let's unite and overthrow this corrupt and backward country."

It makes absolutely no sense, either from the perspective of vested interests or from a logical standpoint.

In short, this approach is the same as aristocrats deciding to overthrow the feudal system or capitalists deciding to overthrow capitalism. They have to bear unimaginable risks and gain no real benefits.

"Hehe, why are you all so surprised?" Zhang Cheng was clearly very satisfied with their reaction, and explained with a smile, "I believe you've all heard the rumor that circulates in the underworld: a cycle that happens once every thousand years. But you probably don't know what secrets are hidden behind this cycle, do you?"

"Are you willing to tell us?" The man with his face covered by a black cloth removed his magic mirror, and intense curiosity flashed in his scarlet pupils.

Zhang Cheng nodded without hesitation: "Of course! Consider it my way of demonstrating my sincerity in cooperation. In fact, the millennium cycle refers to the fact that those ancient secret realms that disappeared from human sight will gradually open up during the first hundred years of each millennium. These include places where gods once lived, such as the World Tree and Mount Olympus, as well as many mysterious locations from folklore around the world. In short, it's an era of explosive growth in supernatural power. If we could even find a god who has fallen into slumber and kill him, we might even be able to take his place and become a truly immortal god with incredible power. Think about it carefully, what does this mean for the whole world?"

“My God! This means a reshuffling of power! Whoever gets the most out of it will have the advantage that will last for centuries to come.” Another older man with a thick beard couldn’t help but exclaim.

"That's right! That's why I say the era of change has arrived! But I can tell you, gods and monsters from myths and legends are not so easy to kill. The power they possess could cause heavy losses to the Supreme Councils around the world. The simplest example is Icarus, the Fire King, who recently settled in Yellowstone. Therefore, this is both an opportunity and a crisis. If handled properly, it is entirely possible to reap sufficient benefits without alarming the Supreme Councils."

While saying these words, Zhang Cheng deliberately used his psychic abilities to induce, suggest, and hypnotize each person, stimulating their subconscious ambitions and desires for power and authority.

In less than half a minute, many of them began to breathe rapidly, their eyes gleaming with a hungry, wolf-like green light.

But an old monster who has lived for hundreds of years is not an ordinary person who has never seen much of the world. No matter how excited he is inside, he quickly regains his composure.

The man with half-vampire blood took a deep breath, tilted his head back, and tentatively asked in an uncertain tone, "Why us? In other words, what can we gain, and what do we need to give up?"

"As I just mentioned, I am a young person who keeps up with the times and understands the potential of technology, especially the power of nuclear weapons."

Therefore, I believe that the resources you possess can greatly assist my plan.

As for the benefits, I can provide you with two kinds of magical potions.

One type is a life-extending drug that can extend lifespan by at least ten or twenty years without any side effects, and can be taken repeatedly.

Another type is the evolution potion, which can grant ordinary people physical attributes and magical talents comparable to those of the inhabitants of the underworld.

In addition, I can provide a complete set of magical knowledge and training systems.

I believe that with these resources, you can build an army strong enough to withstand an attack from the Supreme Council.

Most importantly, whatever valuable things we find through our collaboration will be divided into three parts. I will take two-thirds, and you will receive the remaining one-third.

If one day the rule of the Supreme Council is overthrown, I am willing to form a new governing body with you and share power.

"So, aren't my terms pretty good?"

After saying that, Zhang Cheng stood still, patiently waiting for the other party to give him a reply.

In fact, he wasn't worried about being rejected at all.

The reason is very simple: no matter what choices these people make, they will not be worse off than they are currently hiding like rats in a sewer.

After all, the Supreme Council was not unaware of their existence; it was just that the council members had not yet felt threatened. Once they did, the council would not let anyone go.

In much older Europe, similar purges would occur on average every five hundred years or so, though most of the time these threats came from churches affiliated with the forces of Heaven, or from followers of demons.

But the New World is a little different, as the resistance actually comes from the rulers of the ordinary human world.

After a long silence, the half-human, half-vampire exchanged a glance with his companion and spoke directly: "In other words, what we need to give up is nuclear weapons, in return we have two kinds of magical potions, a third of the spoils of war, and the rights after overthrowing the Supreme Council. May I ask, how many of these two potions can you provide?"

“One longevity potion per person every ten years! Forty thousand evolution potions! Ten thousand bottles to be delivered annually. If you agree, I can pay the first year's share now.” Zhang Cheng stated the quantities he had already calculated.

Undoubtedly, 40,000 soldiers who have taken the evolution potion is a considerable number, enough to cope with all kinds of adverse situations, and even to fight a direct war against the lords of the underworld.

Clearly, he is exploiting the hidden desires deep within these guys to achieve his own ulterior motives.

When the time is right, he will betray it without hesitation to divert the attention of the Supreme Council.

From the moment he decided to hunt down the ancient gods who had fallen into slumber, he was destined to be an enemy of the entire world. At that time, no one would be his ally. Only by treating everyone he could use as pawns could he possibly win the final victory in this dangerous game.

"We agree! However, the nuclear weapons issue is a bit complicated, and we need some time to work it out."

“No problem! I’ll give you three months. Also, you don’t need to ship the goods into the US; I can pick them up from anywhere in the world…”

Chapter 0683 Common Interests, Common Enemy

As many great strategists have repeatedly emphasized, to forge an alliance that is not easily torn up, you need to grasp two points: one is that there must be common interests, and the other is that there must be a common enemy. If both are grasped, then no matter how the enemy tries to sabotage it, the two parties to the agreement will not easily betray each other.

However, even if you can't grasp both points, grasping just one point can ensure that your allies won't easily betray you.

Clearly, Zhang Cheng and the American ruling class, who have long been under the shadow of the Supreme Council, not only share a common enemy, but also common interests.

This means that unless faced with an overwhelming and devastating attack, there is no need to worry about betrayal.

Of course, if he betrays us willingly, that's another matter; at least for now, both sides are showing considerable sincerity.

Once the tense atmosphere had completely dissipated, Eagle Hamilton, who was half vampire and half human, said in a slightly curious tone, "Your Excellency, there is a question that I have never been able to understand, and I hope to get the answer from you."

"Oh? What's the question?" Zhang Cheng picked up the cup of hot cocoa, took a small sip, and looked up, blinking.

It goes without saying that the name Igor is definitely a pseudonym, but the surname at the end is probably real.

In fact, for these old monsters who have lived for one or two hundred years, their original names are nothing more than symbols. They change them on average every few decades, so they have long been used to using their current names instead of the original names that left a deep mark on modern history.

"It's about Lucas. I still don't understand why you killed him. Was it to control the Harrison family?"

When Eagle said these words, everyone around him pricked up their ears, their eyes revealing doubt and wariness.

Clearly, they all want to understand the motives behind this incident in order to ensure that they don't one day follow in their footsteps.

Zhang Cheng smiled dismissively and explained, "It's simple! He sent people to spy on my privacy, trying to find my weaknesses. Isn't that enough? You have to understand, I'm a person who values ​​my privacy a lot. I don't like people always following me around, and I especially don't want anyone harassing the people close to me. Do you understand?"

“I see… I think I understand…” Igor nodded thoughtfully, while exchanging a very subtle glance with the others.

As someone in the know, he naturally knew what Lucas had done: quickly labeling Elizabeth, who was still completely unaware in New York, as "high-risk" and secretly preparing to designate several reserve plans to take advantage of this.

"In that case, the Harrison family will have to obey your orders from now on?" a bespectacled man next to him asked cautiously.

“That’s right! As long as Eric isn’t stupid enough to think he can get rid of me, or even try to kill me. Oh, by the way, this is the first batch of potions I promised you, a full ten thousand bottles.” With that, Zhang Cheng stood up and took a fist-sized wooden box from his waist pouch, throwing it on the ground.