Invincible Snake Emperor
Chapter 395 - 391: Not Paying the Protection Fee
"Who I am is none of your business. I, on the other hand, would like to know what brings a group leader from the Demon Management Bureau here. Do you have some pointers for us?" Tu Xiao’an said faintly.
The Demon Management Bureau was supposed to be a sacred government department, tasked with vanquishing demons, saving the people from suffering, and protecting the peace of the City.
But in Tu Xiao’an’s eyes, that wasn’t how things were at all.
Humans and Demons weren’t at odds; they could even mix together for personal gain, becoming good friends and wallowing in the same filth.
’Demon King Level?’
In the next moment, Du Tianyi squashed that unrealistic idea. He didn’t feel any powerful pressure from the other party. Besides, if a Demon King Level being had come to Wencheng, the Demon Management Bureau would have issued a red alert long ago. How could they possibly not know?
’Still, to make the Bull Demon King treat him so submissively, his identity can’t be simple.’
"I am friends with the Bull Demon King. I just came to see him," Du Tianyi said.
Tu Xiao’an looked at him and said mockingly, "You, a group leader of the Demon Management Bureau, are friends with a Rank Three Demon Spirit. Does your supervisor know about this?"
Du Tianyi’s expression soured. ’What the hell does this have to do with you?’ No one had ever dared to speak to him this way.
Since he hadn’t figured out the other party’s identity, Du Tianyi ignored Tu Xiao’an and said directly to the Bull Demon King, "Bull Demon King, a few days ago, a huge fight broke out in your villa and caused quite a stir. If I hadn’t suppressed the matter for you, do you think you’d still be able to relax in this villa so comfortably?"
As he spoke, he stared at the Bull Demon King, a cryptic smile on his face.
To put it plainly, he was here today to extort him.
The Bull Demon King had dealt with this Du Tianyi before and knew him well. He appeared righteous and awe-inspiring, but he was actually insatiably greedy. He used his position to abuse his power—a hypocrite who would eat a man alive and not even spit out the bones, making him even worse than the Bull Demon King himself.
"Group Leader Du, you’ve worked hard. This old bull will remember everything you’ve done for me. I’ll have someone transfer five million to your account later. I hope you’ll continue to look after me in the future." The Bull Demon King, having spent many years in human society, was a slick old character.
At these words, Du Tianyi’s expression finally improved a little. ’This bull knows how to play the game.’
Du Tianyi was satisfied, but the Bull Demon King was not. He felt a sharp, hostile gaze fall upon him.
"Colorful Bull, so you were hiding a secret stash, were you?" Tu Xiao’an looked at him, his lips curved in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. ’Didn’t we agree that you only had three hundred million in liquid assets?’
’Still daring to hold out on me.’
The Bull Demon King’s soul trembled. Fearing the worst, he quickly explained, "I don’t have any money! I gave it all to you! So, you’ll have to be the one to pay for this."
"This is just a routine expense. It’s unavoidable. If a Demon wants to survive in human society, they have to stay on good terms with the people from the Demon Management Bureau. Otherwise, it’s impossible to get by."
It was tantamount to paying protection money. If you paid it, the Demon Management Bureau wouldn’t come looking for trouble.
"And what if I don’t want to pay?" Tu Xiao’an said coldly. ’Are you kidding me? Five million! This bull is truly a spendthrift, offering up five million at the drop of a hat.’
’And he expects me to be the one to pay it.’
Tu Xiao’an would rather donate that money to a school for underprivileged children.
’Why give it to a parasite like him?’
He was a group leader of the Demon Management Bureau, yet instead of performing his duties, he was colluding with Demons, openly engaging in corruption.
Even though Tu Xiao’an was a Demon himself now, he just couldn’t stand this kind of behavior.
"Master, we Demons trying to get by in human society have to know the rules! Offending this man won’t do us any good," the Bull Demon King hurriedly whispered in Tu Xiao’an’s ear, explaining the stakes.
"He’s the number one man in the Demon Management Bureau. Other than the Bureau Chief, who’s as elusive as a Divine Dragon, he’s pretty much the one calling all the shots."
"So his authority isn’t small, I see," Tu Xiao’an said.
"Exactly. That’s why we shouldn’t get on his bad side, or we’ll have an endless stream of trouble later."
The Bull Demon King kept trying to change Tu Xiao’an’s mind, but his words, "And what if I don’t want to pay?" had already fallen on Du Tianyi’s ears.
Du Tianyi’s face was grim, but he forced a joking tone. "Heh... Bull Demon King, could it be that you’re not the one in charge here anymore?"
He had come today for two reasons: first, to get some perks, and second, to have the Bull Demon King do something for him. He hadn’t expected some nobody to get in his way.
The Bull Demon King was about to speak, but Tu Xiao’an shot him a look, and he immediately shut his mouth and stood quietly to the side.
Seeing this, the smile vanished from Du Tianyi’s face. His whole demeanor turned cold and sinister as he stared at Tu Xiao’an. "It seems you have a problem with me."
In Wencheng, he was second to only one man and stood above tens of thousands. As a group leader in the Demon Management Bureau, he held great power. He wouldn’t even spare a Rank Three Demon Spirit a second glance.
’As long as this young man isn’t at the Demon King Level, he’s nothing.’ He didn’t care what the Bull Demon King’s relationship with this young man was. Since the guy dared to disrespect him, then he no longer needed to be courteous.
"I don’t have a problem with you, I just don’t like you," Tu Xiao’an said faintly.
Provocation. This was a naked provocation.
"Good, good, good," Du Tianyi said, stunned for a moment before bursting into a laugh of pure fury. He looked at the Bull Demon King. "Bull Demon King, it seems you’ve grown a spine. You want to go up against the Demon Management Bureau? Believe it or not, with a single order from me, both of you will end up in the Demon Management Bureau’s prison."
A bitter smile crossed the Bull Demon King’s face. He gestured and said, "Don’t say that to me. This old bull can’t call the shots anymore. You should say that to my master."
He didn’t know what Tu Xiao’an was thinking, or why he was so insistent on making an enemy of Du Tianyi.
It was a situation with a hundred drawbacks and not a single advantage.
"Master?"
Du Tianyi was astonished. ’This young man with no discernible aura is the Bull Demon King’s master?’
He knew the Bull Demon King was a Scattered Demon without any powerful backing. ’Could it be related to the fight at the villa a few days ago?’
’Is there some piece of information I’m missing?’
"Hmph... Since we can’t see eye to eye, I will take my leave."
He had come alone today. The situation had changed; it seemed he couldn’t stay here long.
"Since you’re already here, don’t be in such a hurry to leave," Tu Xiao’an chuckled, slowly getting up from the leather sofa.
Du Tianyi’s face was sullen. "What, do you intend to make me stay?"
"Am I not qualified to make you stay?" Tu Xiao’an smiled. "Speaking of which, I have some history with your Demon Management Bureau. I know your Group Two leader, Leng Shuang."
"What? Leng Shuang?"
Du Tianyi was shocked. A major incident had occurred at the Demon Management Bureau a few days ago: the exceptionally talented leader of Group Two had died unexpectedly while on a mission. They still hadn’t found out who killed her.
’What does he mean by bringing this up all of a sudden?’
"She’s already dead," Du Tianyi said flatly.
Tu Xiao’an said, "I know. I also know how she died, and who killed her."
Du Tianyi’s heart skipped a beat. He stared intently at Tu Xiao’an, his expression growing solemn. This was no small matter. If he could find out how the Group Two leader died, it would be a great merit.