Infinite Cosmic Cafeteria Chapter 64: Cooperation

Translator: Stellar Novels Editor: Stellar Novels

“Not long ago, you accepted a dark commission. The client requested that you send people to eliminate a newly established small hunting team. I wonder if Vice Leader Jin Jian still remembers this.”

Jin Jian’s eyes shifted around. “Five people, plus a Swift Coyote. I know who you are. You’re from the Double Sunflower hunting team. The squad I sent to deal with you disappeared a week ago. It looks like you took care of them.”

“Answer my question.” Bocchi stepped forward two more steps, pressing her mechanical spear against Jin Jian’s throat.

Jin Jian raised his hands. “No need to rush. I have the answers you want. If you’re willing to be a bit more patient, I can even offer you more…”

“If you’re trying to buy time for reinforcements, forget it,” Ma Lu said as a friendly reminder. “We dealt with your backup up above before coming down.”

“I admit, I underestimated your strength before,” Jin Jian said, looking directly at Ma Lu. “Especially you.”

He gazed into Ma Lu’s eyes and spoke in his distinctively magnetic voice, “Are you interested in joining Black Horn? I can offer you double—no, four times the pay…”

Before Ma Lu could respond, Jin Jian turned to the others. “The same goes for all of you. Black Horn is always open to those with extraordinary talent. Here, you can better utilize your abilities and earn more money.

“And we can write off what happened before. I’ll deal with those who want to come after you. From now on, you can work by my side without worry. I guarantee no one will dare to target you again.”

“No thanks. If we really wanted money, blackmailing you would be faster than being your lackeys,” Ma Lu replied.

“You don’t want to start a war with Black Horn, trust me,” Jin Jian said. “No one in The Giant Screen can withstand Sang Lu’s wrath. His influence is beyond your imagination. You’ve already taken down many Black Horn hunters. If anything happens to me, it’ll escalate, and Sang Lu will eventually trace it back to you.”

“Cut the nonsense and tell me the name of the client,” Bocchi said sternly.

“Alright, it was Chi Qi from the Harpist hunting team who approached me. He said he’d pay to have you killed.”

Bocchi was stunned. “You’re lying to me?”

“I’m not lying. Didn’t he always want to get you out of your father’s hunting team?” Jin Jian said sincerely.

“I’ve already left Harpist and started my own hunting team. That should have been enough to put his mind at ease.”

“He’s not worried about you returning anymore, but your new hunting team is drawing too much attention. Every hunt is a great success, and you’re consistently bringing back valuable prey. How do you think that makes the others in Harpist see him?”

“When Chi Qi tried to convince Gu Li to give up on you, he argued that you didn’t have what it took to be a hunter and that you’d only hold the team back. But since you left, you’ve been doing better and better, proving his words wrong.

“Now, there are even rumors within the team that he intentionally set you up just to force you out and take the vice leader position. He’s not having an easy time right now.”

“And just because of that, he wants us dead?”

“Well, he’s young, so it’s normal for tempers to flare,” Jin Jian shrugged.

“No, it doesn’t add up. Hiring you must have cost a fortune. Where would he get that kind of money?”

“Like I said, Black Horn’s doors are always open to those with exceptional talent. For a capable young hunter like him, there are plenty of ways to get money.”

"If you’re willing to return to The Giant Screen with me, I can find the promissory notes he signed and show them to you.”

Bocchi still found it hard to believe. She thrust her mechanical spear forward a few more inches, her voice tense. “You’re lying!”

Jin Jian sighed. “I’m not lying, and deep down, you know what I’m saying is true. So, what do you plan to do next? Are you going to kill him?

“Killing the rising star of the Harpist hunting team wouldn’t be difficult for you. But if you do, your father’s hunting team might collapse completely.”

As Jin Jian spoke, he carefully watched Bocchi’s expression before changing his tone.

“Or, you could let me mediate the conflict between you. I can ensure he stays quiet and doesn’t bother you anymore. Let’s settle this, and everyone can walk away happy.”

Bocchi remained silent, her grip on the mechanical spear tight enough to turn her knuckles white.

Mai Mai patted her on the shoulder. “Let me handle the questioning. I think this guy won’t admit anything until he’s backed into a corner. What he’s told you might not even be true.”

Hearing this, Jin Jian’s expression changed slightly. He quickly said, “No need to resort to torture. I can tell you another secret.”

“What secret?” Ma Lu asked.

“Aren’t you curious about why I came here?”

“Didn’t you say this was a treasure vault?”

Jin Jian lowered his voice. “That’s just my cover story. In reality, there’s a hidden relic here.”

Ma Lu smirked. “Relics are just myths.”

“Relics aren’t myths. The leader of the Golden Sword obtained one, and it allowed him to unlock a second psychic ability, greatly boosting his power.”

“Everyone can only have one psychic ability. That’s an unbreakable rule for all hunters,” Setta said. “Do you think we’re idiots?”

“The reason a relic is called a relic is because of its extraordinary power,” Jin Jian replied.

“I manage Black Horn’s black operations and finances. Ordinary treasures don’t excite me anymore.

“To be honest, I came here in secret to search for the relic without informing Sang Lu. When I first saw you, I actually thought the news had leaked and that he’d sent you to steal the relic from me.

“So, now that you know my secret, how about we work together?” Jin Jian’s beady eyes glimmered with greed.

“There’s a stone chamber outside where the relic is stored, guarded by a mother spider. It’s far more formidable than the three Stinger-Legged Whip Spiders you faced before. I was planning to wait for more reinforcements before making a move, but you’re clearly stronger than those worthless subordinates.

“If you’re willing to help me get that relic, I’ll pay you 1 mil- no, 3 million units of electricity each.”

Hearing that figure, Setta couldn’t help but take a sharp breath. If he could really get that much money, it would be enough to cover his father’s medical expenses for the rest of his life.

Ma Lu wasn’t particularly interested in money, but the mention of the relic’s power stirred something within him.

He looked at Jin Jian with a less friendly gaze, and Jin Jian, seeming to sense his thoughts, hurriedly added, “The relic can only be opened with a key. That key could be anything—a pebble, a feather, or even a bone. I’ve already hidden the key. If you kill me, you’ll never get the relic.”

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