Yama Rising

Chapter 569: Grim Banquet (1)

Qin Ye wasn’t the Second King Yanluo of Hell. He had come to Daehan with a mind to learn. He wanted to know how to perform the most important function only known to masters of underworlds. Naturally, it didn’t occur to him that this trip would also trigger his very first informal meeting with an ambassador-at-large. No matter where one went, ‘dinner banquets’ between national representatives were synonymous with ‘informal meetings’. Anything he said or did would allow the Russian Underworld to gain a better insight into Hell’s strength and weaknesses.

For instance, right now.

This would entail agreeing to the request of the Russian Underworld, and disregarding their trespass into a fiefdom of Hell. That way, these newfound “allies” would finally let down their guard, and he would be granted the opportunity to slip right into the heart of Gonjiam Asylum and be given the opportunity to intercept Liu Yu’s harvest of faith.

Just look at Arthis, the Harken and even the Second King Yanluo of Hell! How would each of them have reacted to the situation? What would they have done? Hell’s standing in the netherworld was no different from Usonia’s standing in the mortal realm! Refuse to comply? I’ll sanction you, raise tariffs, and then send guards to protect your territorial borders. Oh, by the way, you have to repay us for these protection services, whether in cash or in kind.

So retreat is out of the question, and hard ball is the only remaining option.

Soon, a multitude of thoughts flooded Qin Ye’s mind. Rus and Cathay shared a substantial part of their territorial borders. Then, there was still Hindustan to contend with. If things with the Russian Underworld went south, then he would practically be surrounded on all sides. Rus above, Hindustan below, and then there was even one of the other top underworlds, Aegyptus located slightly to the west…

“Why does he have to be an advanced Prefect-class Yin spirit at that!!!” Qin Ye massaged his temples in frustration. Rumyantsev would never step out of the carriage for an Infernal Judge. In fact, he was already being courteous by inviting Qin Ye to board the carriage of an Abyssal Prefect. Just then, Rumyantsev smiled faintly and his voice boomed from within the carriage, “What’s the matter? Do you scorn Abyssal Prefects from the Russian Underworld?”

Persona. Watch the persona. You are now Zhong Kui, not the Third King Yanluo of Hell.

“Understood.” Both men nodded in unison. They both knew that a banquet in such contexts was never just a banquet. After all, loyalties between nations were fickle, and everything depended on the price of betrayal.

Zhong Kui’s name clearly preceded him. As soon as he got off the car, the four skeletal horses immediately neighed loudly and kicked up their front hooves. Rumyantsev exclaimed softly, “It’s you… To think that these trivial affairs in the far-flung lands of Hanyang would deserve the attention of Judge Zhong himself. Please.”

Rumyantsev had a large frame. He was approximately 1.9m tall, and he wore a blond wig - a necessity for nobility of their times. He wore a fitting waist-coat tuxedo ensemble made of blue materials and red stripes for accents, and the frills on his inner shirt peeked out of his suit. His knight’s boots were decorated with a scarlet cross pattern and buckled in place with brilliant gold buckles.

Qin Ye looked at Rumyantsev, and his heart sank at once.

Thus, they would all cut their hair short.

In other words, Rumyantsev was undoubtedly treating this banquet as a formal meeting with him.

Damn it… are you trying to force me into a corner?

Rumyantsev hadn’t expected Qin Ye to speak first. At once, he retracted his deadly gaze and shifted his posture, before responding with equally fluent Cathayan, “You can say that I hadn’t expected you to show up without observing any formal etiquette.”

“Judge Zhong, are you looking down on this Marquis?”

He could tell in an instant that Rumyantsev was a veteran who had been forged through the sands of negotiation.

And riding on those presumptions, he directly rebuked Zhong Kui for his presumptuousness in deciding this to be a private meeting. Truth be told, he would never dare make such bold statements in a bilateral meeting between underworlds. Instead, this was simply a test to determine where Hell was right now. The actual nature of this meeting rode on how Qin Ye responded to these seemingly benign statements.

Several seconds later, with palpitations in his heart, Qin Ye steadily took his seat, “Then, perhaps Marquis should just treat this as a private meeting, nothing more.” Qin Ye’s fingertips were trembling profusely. It was unbelievably daunting dealing with an Abyssal Prefect that appeared to be restraining his overbearing might. The fact that Rumyantsev could make minced meat out of him in an instant caused his back to be filled with sweat.

And for that matter, if he so dared.

“That’s right… the opening ceremony of the Hanyang Underworld.” Rumyantsev gently sipped his black tea, “Hell has flourished for over three millennia now. How could you possibly accept Liu Yu’s declaration of independence?”

Unfortunately, Qin Ye had no choice but to nod faintly in acknowledgment of Rumyantsev’s suggestions, pretending to be indifferent about his suggestions - He’s clearly trying to seize the initiative in these negotiations… Without doing much, he’s actually gained the upper hand in dictating the rules of engagement moving forward.

They remained silent the entire way. When the carriage finally came to a halt, Qin Ye discovered to his surprise that they were already standing by the beach, with a church steeple towering over them.

The church wasn’t large. It had a red roof, white walls, and grey brick edging.

Had this been any other time in the past, one could easily see countless tourists wandering about the vicinity and taking photographs with their favourite poses. Unfortunately, the Jukseong Dream Cathedral was now located right in eastern-Pusan, deep in the hearts of the red zones. Qin Ye looked to the entrance of the church, only to notice a monk covered in scars that was lying prostrate on the ground.

The banquet… is actually going to be held in the Jukseong Dream Cathedral? Is this a reminder? Or perhaps a threat? Are they warning me against going any further?

These were negotiations of the netherworld.

“Greetings Marquis Rumyantsev and esteemed Earl!” Mukov kowtowed heavily to the ground, “Your humble servant, Mukov, sincerely welcomes the arrival of both lords. Your presence will make the Jukseong Dream Cathedral shine with radiance! Please!”

There were approximately 20 female attendants, each of which were holding onto scarlet spider lilies and dressed in their hanboks as they bowed respectfully on the two sides that led right up to the entrance to the church.

They… were all zombies!

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1. Traditional Korean garments.