Myth Beyond Heaven

In a secret room somewhere in Europe.

"Ladies and gentlemen," a woman with a cold demeanor addressed the gathering, "taking down Zhu Tianlong has been very costly. This time, we've lost over half our agents in China. We need a recovery plan."

Freya Van der Linde, the current head of the Linde Group, one of the world's biggest consortiums, scanned the room. Her gaze settled on a middle-aged Chinese man. "Mr. Wei," she said, "China is your domain. Surely you have some ideas?"

Wei Jianhong, the wealthiest man in China, had built the powerful Life Group from the ground up. His name remained a secret, even to most within his own country. Like everyone else in this room, he was a top capitalist, a figure who wielded immense power behind the scenes.

Wei Jianhong took a calm sip of his wine. "For now," he said, "laying low is our best action. China's government is notoriously ruthless and cautious. With Zhu Tianlong exposed, cultivating new agents would be unwise."

A Slavic-looking man scoffed. "Cowardice doesn't suit you, Wei. That's not your style." Viktor Antonov, the most powerful oligarch in Russia, couldn't resist a jab.

Wei Jianhong smiled coolly. "In China, we have a saying that aligns perfectly with Sun Tzu's wisdom: 'Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.' We can only blame Zhu Tianlong's incompetence this time."

Freya's gaze swept across the room, seeking further input. Silence met her, tacit agreement with Wei Jianhong's assessment.

"Let's temporarily cede China," a powerful voice finally broke the quiet. Bartholomew Thorne III, the current president of the Hell Church and head of the omnipresent Thorne Group, spoke from the main seat. "We'll resume after the upcoming US election."

A collective nod rippled through the room. The upcoming US election would demand their full attention.

With a semblance of consensus reached, Freya addressed another pressing issue. "We have confirmed the retrieval of Yun Lintian's remains was unsuccessful. He's most likely alive."

While Yun Lintian had previously been considered insignificant, his team's repeated interference with their plans had earned their ire. They'd presumed him dead for four years. His return was unsettling.

An uneasy tension settled in the room. Yun Lintian's unexpected reappearance had cast a shadow over their carefully laid plans.

"A cunning man indeed," Viktor muttered, shaking his head with a frown. "I wonder how he managed to survive back then."

"Curious, aren't you?"

A deep male voice resonated through the room, sending shivers down everyone's spines.

At this moment, Yun Lintian, Lei Hao, and Cai Yaoyao opened the door and entered the room.

Gasps filled the air as faces contorted in shock. As a former soldier, Viktor was the first to react as he lunged for the gun hidden beneath the table.

Bang!

A gunshot echoed, followed by Viktor's scream as a bullet tore through his hand.

All eyes locked on the smoking gun held steady in Lei Hao's grasp.

"Seems my aim hasn't gotten rusty," Lei Hao chuckled, the nickname "Quick Shot" clearly well-earned.

Cai Yaoyao, on the other hand, felt like her mind was about to explode. How had she gotten here? The situation was surreal.

"Yun Lintian?" Bartholomew finally spoke, regaining his composure.

"Greetings, Mr. Barty," Yun Lintian replied with a smirk, "a pleasure to finally meet the richest man on Earth."

Bartholomew offered a courteous smile. "Why don't you take a seat first?"

"Certainly." Yun Lintian nodded, gesturing for Lei Hao to follow him as they found vacant chairs.

Lei Hao holstered his weapon but remained vigilant, his presence a silent threat to anyone considering a hostile move.

"A young hero emerges," Wei Jianhong boomed with amusement. He poured Yun Lintian a glass of wine. "Come, have a drink first."

Yun Lintian calmly accepted the glass, raised it in a toast to Wei Jianhong, and took a sip.

"Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 1945," he remarked, savoring the flavor. "An excellent vintage."

"I have a few more bottles left," Wei Jianhong offered with a sly grin. "Consider them a gift."

"I wouldn't refuse then," Yun Lintian chuckled.

Bartholomew exchanged a glance with Freya, who then spoke up. "We acknowledge the inconvenience we've caused you, Mr. Yun. Since you've graced us with your presence, perhaps you'd like to state your terms? We're open to compensation."

Yun Lintian smiled, savoring the wine in silence.

Sensing his lack of response, Freya continued, "We understand that there was no initial conflict on our part. We acknowledge that our people acted first. Please accept our apologies, Mr. Yun."

"Listen, Little Brother Yun," Wei Jianhong interjected with a smile. "Your villa was recently destroyed. How about a replacement? I own a substantial amount of land in Hangzhou."

Yun Lintian raised an eyebrow at Wei Jianhong. "Really? You should know how expensive Hangzhou real estate is."

"Absolutely! Not only Hangzhou but also the other cities," Wei Jianhong chuckled. "Name your desired location and architectural style. My team can build you a magnificent mansion."

Bartholomew and the others exchanged subtle frowns. Yun Lintian's apparent disinterest in wealth was becoming clear.

"Perhaps this, Mr. Yun," Freya interjected smoothly. "We can offer resources to help Ms. Lynn rebuild her business."

Yun Lintian gave a slow nod. "Not a bad proposition. Your generous offers truly showcase your immense wealth."

"Wealth is all we have," Wei Jianhong declared with a sip of his wine. "Name your price, and the funds will be in your account within a minute."

"Any number?" Yun Lintian inquired, feigning contemplation as he tapped his chin. He then raised a single finger.

"One billion?" Wei Jianhong furrowed his brow slightly. "Come on, that's too low, isn't it, Little Brother Yun? Let's do this. We can offer you a hundred billion directly."

"Indeed," Viktor chimed in, suppressing the throbbing pain in his arm. "I know that you like Manchester United. I can give it to you if you want."

Perhaps due to their shared military past, Viktor recalled a surprising amount of detail about Yun Lintian.

Yun Lintian burst into laughter. "Gentlemen, there seems to be a misunderstanding. I wasn't suggesting one billion. The number I have in mind is one hundred trillion."

The room fell silent, a collective gasp escaping their lips.

Wei Jianhong, ever the diplomat, attempted to lighten the mood. "Ah, Little Brother Yun, you jest! We may be wealthy, but even for us, that figure is astronomical."

Yun Lintian feigned disappointment. "Is that so? A mere hundred trillion... I suppose your lives are less valuable than I anticipated."