Chapter 196: Here to Make a Deal
Chapter 196: Here to Make a Deal
Leaving the phone booth, Sizar straightened his clothes. He then flagged down a car and said he wanted to go to Zero Ring’s branch in White Hall.
Hearing Sizar’s words, the driver felt tempted but hesitated. It was the height of the first zombie outbreak. Their numbers were still small, scattered across the city, being hunted down by police officers and helpful citizens. They were clearly losing. The city broadcast had already announced that these things could be legally killed.
He’d just seen a zombie run past the street and really wanted to hit the gas and run it over. Whatever happened, it’d be legal. He might even find a wallet! But with so many people chasing that zombie, his chances were slim. Remembering how his wife always beat him when he handed over earnings every night, he was even more reluctant to let Sizar go.
Seeing the chaos around him, Sizar didn’t want to linger either. He pulled out several large bills. “Take me there, and these are all yours.”
“Alright, get in!”
Half an hour later, the driver crossed several blocks and stopped before a luxurious skyscraper.
“The Zero Ring branch is here?” Sizar pointed through the window at the tallest building.
“Yep! Now pay up.” The driver snatched the bills and nodded quickly.
“What floor is it on?”
“????” The driver stared at him, baffled. “The whole building is theirs!”
“…” Feeling underestimated, Sizar slammed the car door and stormed off with a stiff face, marching toward the building.
Entering the ground-floor lobby, Sizar walked up to the reception desk. He picked the sweetest-looking receptionist and approached her.
“Hello, how may I assist you?” the receptionist asked sweetly.
“Well, my name’s Sizar. Seems your headquarters is very interested in me?” As he spoke, he noticed her expression growing stranger and felt embarrassed. Even if Zero Ring was tracking him, it still sounded like bragging. “Uh, don’t look at me like that! Anyway, these belong to you guys, right?”
Remembering the identification badge from Byron’s corpse, along with the map and beetle tracker, Sizar laid them all out.
Though the receptionist didn’t recognize these items, the hidden Zero Ring emblem was unmistakable. They were indeed organization property, likely for internal use.
“These…” she hesitated.
“I took them off one of your outer members after killing him. Your group was really hunting me, and now I’m here. I’m Sizar, a student from Black Molar. Your organization chased me all the way to Aken City before losing track…” Suppressing his awkwardness, Sizar pushed through the explanation.
“Oh!” The receptionist blinked, then replied professionally, “Please wait! I’ll notify the team leader immediately!” After a respectful bow, she hurried toward the back offices.
Ten minutes later, security escorted Sizar to a meeting room on the twentieth floor.
Opening the door revealed a standard meeting area.
As Sizar entered, a bearded man approached warmly, offering a handshake. “Mr. Sizar, hello! Pleasure to meet you. I’m Truman.”
Uranium Light Fist Truman?! What an intimidating name for a welcome party!
“Uh, hi!” The Zero Ring’s enthusiasm caught Sizar off guard. They weren’t enemies, but they didn’t need to be this friendly, right? Especially with such a fearsome title—couldn’t he act more imposing? Don’t embarrass your namesake!
“You seem to misunderstand us?” Truman chose his words carefully.
“Huh? Do I?” Sizar gaped, feigning innocence.
“You hold deep suspicion toward us, yet we mean you no harm! Your wariness makes it hard for me to show goodwill.” Truman sighed, troubled.
“Goodwill? By sending people to tail me?” Sizar raised an eyebrow.
“Your movements were unpredictable. We simply dispatched a subordinate to establish contact for further discussion. Sadly, you refused without reason.” Truman shrugged, sounding hopelessly helpless—like they’d gotten the cold shoulder, yet here Sizar was, crawling back anyway. What was the point?
“Reach out, then rip off my arm? If I hadn’t known some moves, I’d be dead!” Recalling his shattered arm from Byron, Sizar instinctively winced and spoke coldly. Little Master Sizar wasn’t here for help—he was here to do business. Why should he play nice?
“What?!” Truman stared, looking even more wronged than Sizar.
“Byron… B6,” Sizar replied flatly.
“Is that a vitamin brand?” The bearded man played dumb.
“The ID card I just handed to your receptionist. Type B, No. 6. Don’t tell me you don’t know what mission that is?”
“Ah! That! I remember now. Some insignificant little mission, nearly forgot about it. As for this Byron guy, he was just an outer member—low skill, no experience. He doesn’t represent headquarters’ attitude at all! We gave orders to approach you, but those wild freelancers twisted it. Our fault—should’ve sent an elite member instead!” Truman’s remorseful expression not only dismissed blame but insulted Sizar: You small fry only deserve being caught by outer rejects, little brat.
“Fine, skip that. Business.” Unwilling to argue further, Sizar got straight to it.
“Oh? Seeking refuge?! We know your situation! Even if Royal Pineapple is military, this capture mission is just a squad working off-book. Zero Ring can step in and protect you. After joining, headquarters will set up your own laboratory, provide full staff and funds—you’ll have complete freedom! As for your mobility…”
In the ten minutes Sizar waited, Truman had reviewed his file. He knew the youth had created a Demonic Mutation Virus at school—very promising research. Sizar escaped during the North Netherworld’s chaos, got caught up in Aken City’s calamity, then vanished. A month later, he popped up in White Hall, killed a colonel’s son, and got hunted by Federation mecha troops. Dealing with a desperate, naive teenager with zero social experience? Truman felt confident. Haggling? His specialty!
Watching Truman’s endless pitch, Sizar cleared his throat and corrected him: “Ahem, you’re mistaken, sir. I’m just here for a minor business deal.”
“Huh? A deal? Business?” Truman froze, mouth opening and closing. Hold up—my speech wasn’t done!
“Time’s tight! I’m here for a small trade. It’s a rare chance—don’t let it slip!” Sizar reset his mindset, ready to self-promote. Even if he disliked Zero Ring, business required a positive attitude—no need to sour things. The Church would arrive soon—every second mattered!
“You know you’re wanted by the army, right?”
“Of course! Already turned myself in,” Sizar smiled.
“Turned yourself in?!” Truman’s voice shot up, stunned.
“Yep. Called Heaven’s Condemnation Church, confessed my sins. They’re coming for me soon. So let’s hurry before your organization misses this golden chance.” Sizar nodded agreeably.
“The Church?!” Truman’s voice climbed higher. Referee! Report! This brat’s not following the script!
“Yep, the Church! Earlier today, when the army cornered me, I had no choice but to unleash my personal creation—the Demonic Mutation Virus Type-B,” Sizar answered meekly.
“Virus?!” Truman panicked. Why, you little—?! You planned this whole thing?! Annihilating everything?! Can’t you let me make one move?! My performance stats! My quarterly report!
“Exactly! The army was too fierce. As a last resort, I used the Virus to block a mecha squad and destroy their support troops. Oh, and the city’s current attacks? All caused by my Virus!” Sizar feigned shame but couldn’t hide the pride in his eyes. “This Virus is what Zero Ring wanted. Your headquarters should have the data, but you probably don’t. Let me explain briefly…”
In simple terms, Sizar detailed the Virus’ traits: superfast infection and evolution, low cost and high effect, limitless potential—gaining demon creature strength while staying under human control, tougher than demon creatures… As long as the head’s intact, it’s unkillable… He conveniently skipped the weaknesses.
“It’s that powerful?” Truman gulped.
His analysis of the data showed its definite potential—why else would HQ send a specialist for Sizar? But the kid’s pitch sounded too mythical. Given time, he’d verify and negotiate—but the kid had played his strongest card: cutting off his own escape by reporting to the Church. How could Truman stall?
“Don’t trust me? Then trust Royal Pineapple! They sent twelve mechas and two hundred fully armed soldiers today! That kind of force! How could I—an ungraduated nobody—fight that? But guess what? One mecha destroyed. Two hundred soldiers dead. I escaped! How many zombie beasts are in the woods now? How far have they evolved? I dread to think! Send scouts tomorrow—you’ll see.”
Sizar wasn’t lying about this part. But these zombies weren’t common infected. They were his life’s work—a meticulously crafted zombie army made with his entire stockpile of resources. He’d thrown up and nearly exhausted himself creating them. The cost was astronomical… but Truman didn’t know that.
“Also, ordinary zombie traits? Grab any infected in town and see! Oh, right—these city zombies appeared by accident. Maybe birds infected in the woods flew into town, causing secondary infections. They’d be weaker overall. Anyway, bioweapons this cost-efficient are rare! Don’t miss out! If I take it to jail, you’ll never get it! Oh, and when the Church arrives? Don’t breathe a word! Blame it all on the army—their chase caused the virus leak! I’m innocent! That’s the foundation of any deal!” Sizar kept spinning his tale, carefully avoiding how he’d engineered those infected birds.
“Well… uh… hang on,” Truman forced a bitter smile.
“No rush! Take your time! But remember—the Church won’t ignore these zombies!”
“…”
Stabbing Sizar in his heart a hundred times, Truman managed a pained smile and stepped outside to whisper to his secretary. Then he returned to keep talking.