Supremely Talented Tyrant
Chapter 889 - 888: Good, I'll Take It!

"Boom!"

A deafening explosion echoed through Dong Aiguo's military district. Zooming in, the view revealed the entrance where the square pavement was littered with the bodies of twenty or thirty men. Aside from a few individuals foaming at the mouth and passed out cold, the rest shared a similar condition—eyes rolled back, unconscious.

Amid the scattered bodies stood a man with his arms crossed, exuding an unsettling aura. A cold glint shimmered in his gaze, sending chills down anyone's spine.

"Bring Dong Aiguo out immediately! I won't repeat myself. Consider this me showing mercy—next time, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

The man was none other than Hao Jian. His gaze locked onto Wei Long, and an even stronger energy surged from his body, concentrating into a singular beam that seemed to drill straight into Wei Long's forehead.

"Drip... drip!"

Cold sweat beaded incessantly on Wei Long's forehead, trickling down his face and finally dripping to the floor. That suffocating pressure, akin to despair, was something Wei Long had only felt around Dong Aiguo himself. Not even Ling Bing, Dong Aiguo's trusted aide, had ever exuded such dominance.

"I told you you're a troublemaker, yet you wouldn't believe me. The moment you show up, you've already beaten his men to this extent…" Secretary Zhang looked helplessly at the bodies strewn across the ground. While he had anticipated some chaos upon their arrival, he hadn't expected Hao Jian to immediately start a fight right at the entrance.

"What do you expect? If those blockheads won't get out of the way, I don't waste time; removing the obstacle directly saves me the trouble," Hao Jian shot an impatient glance at Secretary Zhang before proceeding forward. His sight turned to a nearby shadowed corner, and in a low voice, he spoke: "Been enjoying this little drama for long enough, haven't you? Either you step out yourself, or I'll drag you out—and I promise, my methods won't be pleasant."

"Clap… clap… clap…"

Following his words, slow applause came from the darkened corner Hao Jian was staring at. Upon hearing the sound, an imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of Hao Jian's lips. Moments later, a man around fifty or sixty years old, radiating a commanding presence, strode confidently into the light.

"As expected of a dominant figure in Hua City. I suppressed my presence as much as possible, yet you still sensed me."

"I'm Dong Aiguo, the person you're looking for. Now that I'm standing before you, what do you intend to do?"

Dong Aiguo's gaze briefly swept over the unconscious men sprawled on the ground; he scoffed lightly before lifting his eyes toward Hao Jian. His voice was icy, but the silent, raging inferno in his eyes betrayed his seething anger, barely restrained by his indomitable willpower.

This young man before him was the one who killed his son. Dong Aiguo knew he could simply mobilize the military district forces to capture him and exact vengeance—it was well within reach.

But he didn't dare, not here, not now. There was another man present who posed a threat that even Dong Aiguo couldn't ignore, whether or not the man wielded any physical strength. His status alone made him untouchable; that man was Secretary Zhang.

Secretary Zhang, a confidant with the backing of leadership, occupied a position even someone at Dong Aiguo's general-level wouldn't dare cross recklessly.

Hao Jian's brazenness in causing this scene at the military compound was founded on this connection to Secretary Zhang—or rather, to the leadership he represented. Without that, Hao Jian wouldn't have the audacity to storm the district outright; he'd likely resort to stealth, slipping in unnoticed to recover his stolen jewels.

"You took my goods hostage—don't think I won't settle this score," Hao Jian remarked, idly fidgeting with his fingers as his sharp eyes glanced at Dong Aiguo.

"Indeed, I did detain your goods. But you killed my son—don't think I won't hold you accountable for that!" Dong Aiguo's response came with a venomous roar, teeth clenched tightly. Beside him, Wei Long's face burned with indignation as he glared at Hao Jian.

To them, it was clear how deeply Dong Aiguo loved his son. The decision to relocate his son to Hua City's outskirts was rooted in a promise made twenty years ago: Dong Aiguo vowed to devote himself wholly to national service and development.

At that time, Dong Aiguo was engaged in business and had a young child. Yet when duty called, he chose without hesitation to enlist. Years of military service molded him into the man he was now—but those twenty years also robbed him of much, especially his role in his son's upbringing. Dong Aiguo had intended to make up for lost time, but now… his son was gone.

"Elder Dong, in my name, I assure you—Hao Jian killing your son was merely a misunderstanding. He fell into someone's trap, leading to…" Secretary Zhang's face showed slight concern as he opened his mouth to offer explanations on Hao Jian's behalf. But before he could finish, Dong Aiguo interrupted, shouting furiously.

"I don't care what the reason was—I only care about one thing: he killed my son!"

Dong Aiguo's visage contorted with rage, veins pulsating visibly across his tightly clenched fists.

"Do you think… with me here, you'll have the chance to deal with Hao Jian?" Secretary Zhang, unfazed by Dong Aiguo's interruption, responded coolly. His gaze shifted to Hao Jian as he added, "Even without me, Hao Jian's individual strength alone would be enough for him to walk in and out of your territory unimpeded."

"Ridiculous! You think this brat could escape from here without my say-so?" Dong Aiguo scoffed coldly, his laugh dripping with disdain as his intense glare locked onto Secretary Zhang.

"Secretary Zhang, while I hold some measure of respect for you, let's get one thing straight—I, Dong Aiguo, fear no one."

"Enough of this nonsense. It's clear you already have an answer in mind. Let's skip the pretense—state your demands outright," Secretary Zhang said smoothly, giving his glasses an adjusting push. His eyes sparkled with calculated wisdom as he addressed Dong Aiguo.

"Hmph!"

Though revealed, Dong Aiguo's displeasure was obvious. But his straightforward nature as a soldier left little room for subterfuge. Without hesitation, he pointed directly at Hao Jian, his tone cold and sharp: "Boy, I propose a wager for your life. If you win, I'll return your goods to you. If you lose, your life belongs to me."

"Do you dare take the bet?!"

"Haha, how generous of Elder Dong to value me so highly. Hao Jian would be nothing short of a coward if I didn't accept," Hao Jian jubilantly replied with laughter. His boldness knew no bounds—initially, he was planning to capture Dong Aiguo outright to threaten a return of his goods. He knew doing so would risk relentless hunts and assassination attempts once Dong Aiguo was free.

Now, this wager presented itself as a simpler, albeit riskier, alternative. Regardless, Hao Jian was confident—he'd never lost a single bet, especially when skill was involved. Besides, with Secretary Zhang backing him, he had nothing to fear.

"Consider yourself smart!"

Dong Aiguo couldn't help smirking as he witnessed Hao Jian's reckless agreement. While outwardly remaining stern, a triumphant glint flickered in his eyes as he scoffed coldly. "Since this is a military compound, we'll settle this as soldiers do—with military rules."

"I will select a team of soldiers who will challenge you. Victory requires besting them all. Lose a single round, and I win!"

Despicable! Utterly despicable!

As Dong Aiguo laid out his terms, even Secretary Zhang's expression darkened. Though he'd anticipated Dong Aiguo wouldn't play fair, this outright shamelessness still caught him off guard. Dong Aiguo had no intention of giving Hao Jian even the slimmest chance to win. Glancing at Hao Jian, Secretary Zhang felt a pang of worry, ready to urge him to reconsider.

However…

"Fine, I accept!"

Hao Jian agreed without the slightest hesitation. Stakes like these—the clash of individual ability—were precisely his realm of confidence.

"Hao Jian!"

Secretary Zhang's voice rang out, his concern palpable. Hao Jian's impulsive agreement startled him.

"Haha, Secretary Zhang, you needn't worry. You know what kind of person I am. I don't gamble with my life unless I'm certain of victory," Hao Jian replied with ease, aiming a reassuring glance at Secretary Zhang before turning back to Dong Aiguo.

In a military setting, Dong Aiguo's plan evidently revolved around exploiting the unique expertise of his soldiers. Hao Jian wouldn't allow Dong Aiguo to manipulate the outcomes, ensuring no unfair tactics or impossible challenges tilted the scales against him.

"But I have one condition," Hao Jian added.

"Fine, name it," Dong Aiguo replied curtly. To him, Hao Jian's condition seemed nothing more than desperate measures from a doomed man. He saw no reason not to humor it.

"Our wager must solely relate to military matters."

"Alright, I agree."

Dong Aiguo's self-assured grin widened internally. He'd prepared for exactly this type of competition. This new condition cost him nothing—it only affirmed his original intent.

Boy, your death is practically certain!

Dong Aiguo gloated inwardly as he observed Hao Jian. Yet even amidst his triumph, bitterness seeped into his heart. His enemy stood before him, yet he had to resort to convoluted methods for vengeance…