Chapter 242 Dinner

“So, we need to show weakness—”

Lin Xiang stood up, walked slowly to the window, looked at the horizon that was heavily compacted by thick radiation clouds, and said lightly: "Many people know the saying "Never underestimate opponents who are weaker than themselves". But there are very few people who can do this. Radiation creates mutation, and psychics are used to using their breath to judge each other's abilities. The guy named Stewart just now is no exception. As long as we keep a weak appearance, it is difficult to arouse suspicion and vigilance. As for the "Claws" and their president... If you can control Klester, you will definitely know a lot of relevant secrets from him."

...

In the evening, the sky was already very dark. Large radiant clouds shrouded the entire world under an ever-changing gloom. Compared with the eternal night and polar day that had lasted for several years, the nuclear war had just ended, now it can be significantly alternating black and white within at least twenty-four hours. However, the changes between morning and evening are difficult to compare by light and darkness. This situation may last for a long time, or become the only color tone that dominates the earth.

One thousand two hundred city guard soldiers were neatly arranged on both sides of the entrance to the west of the city, surrounding the empty ground into a road with a width of more than ten meters. They were all wearing light gray military combat uniforms and holding all AK assault rifles in their hands. Under the emergency arrangement of Blanche and the City Management Committee, the soldiers were arranged in different height orders. It was difficult for bystanders to visually detect the differences, only the neat, spectacular and shocking feeling.

Guided by an armed off-road vehicle, the convoy painted with the "Claws" logo on the surface was along this street composed entirely of soldiers and crowded with tens of thousands of onlookers, slowly driving into a completely open and friendly city.

"Murphy, let it go. They are not enemies, but civilians who are about to accept our rule."

Sitting in the slowly moving black RV and looking at the curious faces outside the car window, Klester felt that his calm and calm heart was as if he had been injected with hormones, and he was getting more and more excited.

Many people like vanity. Although flashy things on the surface have no meaning, they can make people feel visually and sensory.

Klester did not like the reply Stewart brought back. But he also reduced his vigilance and hostility towards Hidden Moon City. No one would give up his own things, and absolute obedience usually means potential rebellion and subversion. If there is disputes, tit-for-tat negotiations, and appropriately giving up some of the benefits, we can achieve real stability.

"Your Excellency, there are so many people in them. I think... this is not a so-called welcome at all, but a demonstration."

The burly Murphy Kelestem is not suitable for the noble and luxurious exquisite machinery of the RV. His facial muscles are as hard as rocks, and his eyes are always staring at the city guard soldiers who are standing outside the car. Regardless of his weight of more than 90 kilograms, he is madly crushing the soft velvet pads under his butt. The tight friction with the leather sofa makes a squeaking sound.

"You should change your mindset and don't always look at problems from the perspective of a soldier."

Klester excitedly pulled out a cigar from the box placed on the coffee table, and made a knife with both fingers, cleverly cutting off the tail cut. Murphy, who was sitting next to him, took out the lighter from his pocket and lit it earnestly.

"After today, you are the highest military defense officer of this city. Remember, don't use the set of Heijin Town here. I don't want to see the shadow of "Jet" in this city. It's clean and orderly, so let it stay. If you encounter any difficult problems, ask the original managers more. Guns and fists are just used to deal with refugees in the wilderness. Here, you must learn how to use your wisdom."

As he said that, a thick stream of smoke spewed out of Kleist's mouth, and he nodded his head with his fingers with his expression.

...

Lin Xiang and other major city managers were waiting under the steps of the central building. Instead of wearing the officers' combat uniforms issued by the Skeleton Knights as usual, he changed into another exquisitely crafted black coat. This outfit added a bit of heroism to him. The wide suit just covered the high and convex muscles on the surface of the body, making people feel no strength at all. At first glance, he was a young man who was so handsome that he was jealous, glossy, quiet, but had a strong desire for power and material possession.

The moment the black RV slowly stopped in the open space in front of the building, Lin Xiang also quickly walked over. He stood sideways in front of the car, opened the door, and stretched out his right hand to block the roof of the car for Klester who had just poked out. This overly flattering behavior made Stewart, who had just jumped out of the leading truck and was obviously one step late, was very dissatisfied, but made Klester's slightly excited heart feel unprecedented satisfaction.

"Your Excellency, we are ready for a welcome dinner. I hope you enjoy it."

Lin Xiang turned to make way and smiled respectfully.

Nodding lightly, Klester's sharp gaze fell on the tiny beads of sweat that had just oozed out because of the intense movement. Then he smiled and walked up the steps with his head held high, surrounded by everyone.

I couldn't feel the breath of supernatural powers, and my physical reaction was no different from that of ordinary people... Stewart was right, this young city lord was indeed an incompetent ordinary person.

...

The first floor lobby has been temporarily converted into a banquet venue. The round table covered with white dining cloth is filled with delicious delicacies.

The surface is painted with delicious sauce, and the golden and attractive aroma is radiated. The garlic and various spices are added, and the stewed pork is simmered on low heat until crispy. It is threaded together with a long iron brazel, spread on the surface of fresh purple cauliflower, and grilled chicken pieces with oil beads dripping down. Butter that is so thick that it must be cut with a knife, and it has been cut into neat and thick slices of cornbread in white porcelain plates. Just next to these delicious foods that seem to make your index fingers stimulate, there are bottles of bottles that have just wiped off the surface dust, and the bottle is covered with a century-old wine that has been labeled from the old era to the present.

One hundred and twenty guards were arranged to eat in the lobby on the first floor, and Murphy, Stewart and Klester were introduced to the conference hall on the third floor. This act of separating the subordinates from themselves did not arouse any displeasure or objection. After all, compared with the downstairs, the tableware placed on the long strip table in the conference hall was more luxurious, the dishes were more refined, and the quiet environment was conducive to conversation and was in line with each other's identities.

After the indispensable hustle and courtesy, people began to sit down. Christ was naturally sitting in the first place, while Murphy and Stewart were naturally listed on the left and right sides. In a more downward order, it was Lin Xiang and the others' turn.

A young and beautiful maid came forward, holding a bottle of brandy that had just opened the seal and wrapped the bottle with a silk squid. Just as she was about to bend down and pour the wine into the goblet in front of Klester, Stewart, who was sitting next to him, suddenly stretched out his hand and blocked the tilted bottle mouth in the air.

"Wait a moment-"

He picked up a small suitcase from his feet and placed it on his legs, skillfully pulled open the leather buckle tied to the surface, opened the lid, and took out three sets of exquisitely crafted silver tableware from the box backed by white cotton, and placed them one by one.

"You pour wine and drink a drink first-"

Stewart glanced at Lin Xiang, who was sitting under his head, and said coldly: "Sorry, Lord Klester never uses tableware provided by others. We are the same."

"no problem-"

Lin Xiang stood up with a smile, took the bottle from the maid's hand, waved her hand to signal her to leave, and then filled the cup in front of him, and drank the amber wine in it in one go. Then he raised the empty goblet, turned the mouth of the cup that had not left the wine face down, flexibly circled between his fingers, and put it back on the table.

The coldness on Stewart's face still did not fade. He looked at Lin Xiang unmoved, then turned his gaze to Wang Biao and others sitting opposite him, stretched out his fingers and said, "There are them, I have to drink too."

Klester had no intention of stopping Stewart. He crossed his hands and looked at the scene coldly.

“…Respect your orders, Your Excellency.”

Lin Xiang's expression was a little ugly. He walked around the long table with a gloomy face, poured the glasses of Wang Biao and others sitting opposite him, and watched them empty the entire glass of wine... It was not until everyone's cups returned to transparency, and Stewart's face, as hard and cold as ice, was slightly soothing.

After checking the wine, the next step is to check the dishes.

This time, Stewart did not let Lin Xiang do it anymore. He picked up the knife and fork, took some from different parts of the dishes and bread, distributed them evenly to Lin Xiang and others, and sprinkled seasonings at the same time. After all this, he slowly walked back to his seat and returned to the mechanically cold.

No one picked up the tableware. Wang Biao and others looked at Lin Xiang sitting opposite each other. They both pursed their lips tightly, with no expression on their faces. However, the blue veins that kept jumping on the forehead pulled the nerves to tremble uncontrollably. These tiny details naturally could not escape Stewart's eyes. The edge of his lip line as hard as steel wire finally showed a small crack. Regardless of whether these people were angry or shameful, this was indeed their instinctive consciousness. Although they could not see through what they were actually thinking, as long as they revealed what was hidden deep in their hearts, they could at least find possible flaws.

Lin Xiang frowned, and he keenly felt the obvious anger on Wang Biao and others. He exhaled deeply, raised his head, and turned his eyes to Kleist who was sitting in the first place, and said in a slightly dissatisfied voice: "Your Excellency, I am forgiving, this is really..."

"If you want to eat, why are you talking so much nonsense?"

Murphy's roar sounded like a thunder rolling through the sky. He took out a large-caliber modified pistol from his waist hood, fiddled with the "wavering" metal wheel intimidatingly, and smiled mockingly at Lin Xiang: "Of course, it doesn't matter if you don't want to eat it. These dishes should taste good, and I can help you make some pre-dinner appetizing exercises."

"Wait a minute, don't be so rude-"

Klester, who had been silent, made a sound to stop the guard captain who was about to stand up from his seat. He raised his head and his sharp eyes were spinning back and forth on Lin Xiang, as if he was about to penetrate his body and see his heart. After nearly five minutes, he withdrew his gaze and smiled faintly: "As the former city lord, I believe you should understand the principle of "preventing trouble before it happens". Although Stewart and Murphy's actions were a little rude, they were for my own good and for your sake... Haha! I believe that everyone here is not my enemy.

People don't want to go against me. Carefulness and caution are my biggest problems. I hope you can satisfy my special hobbies. Since you are so enthusiastic and have prepared such a sumptuous dinner, you should also handle everything. I don't want to see someone fall to the ground and die on the spot because of eating these things, nor do you want you to walk out of this hall with hunger. So, you should agree with what Stewart said, treat the food on the plate as an appetizer before the meal, and eat it all-"

When he said these last few words, Klester's face was still smiling, but his tone was cold and hard, full of coldness.

Lin Xiang's face turned pale, and he stared at Klester tightly. After a moment, his eyes swept over Stewart and Murphy on both sides in sequence. No matter who was on anyone's face, he could not find any mercy or gentleness. The gazes released from the three pairs of eyes of different colors were all filled with cruelty, contempt, arrogance and hostility.

Forced to endure the urge to break Klester's ugly head deep in his heart, Lin Xiang slowly raised his fork, forked a piece of cut and broken barbecue from the plate, slowly raised it to his tightly closed lips, staring silently for several minutes before suddenly opening his mouth and stuffing the pieces of meat on the fork in as fast as possible, and swallowing and chewing with unconcealed humiliation and anger.

With the first mover, the rest began to pick up the knife and fork, and slowly ate the food in front of them that was forcibly arranged for them. The pieces of meat that should have been delicious and juicy in their mouths had no taste, as if they were chewing the shriveled wax, which was difficult to swallow, but they had to eat it.

No one spoke, and the "jingle" sound of knife and fork hitting the dining plate echoed in the hall, as well as the mechanical chewing sounds coming from the mouths of the crowd.

Klester looked at this scene with interest, and his cunning eyes carefully distinguished all the details that might attract attention on the strange faces.

Murphy grinned and played with the gun in his hand, raising it from time to time, aiming transparently at the holes, and putting his heads into it.

Stewart looked at everyone's movements seriously, and glanced at the watch on his wrist from the corner of his eyes, silently calculating the time in his heart. Until the plate in front of everyone was completely cleared, the minute hand of the watch walked through twenty scales, then nodded, stood up, picked up the brandy that had been drunk halfway from Lin Xiang, approached Klester, lowered his body, and said in the most respectful tone: "Your Excellency, there should be no problem. If you want, you can start eating now."

Klester smiled and tapped the table with his finger, saying, "These unpleasant things happened at the first party... I am very sorry for this. Haha! I hope you can understand. Of course, if we are more familiar with each other, these things will not happen again. As the ancient sages said - everything takes time."

Lin Xiang gritted his teeth, tried to control his anger, and said in a plain tone as possible: "Your Excellency, I admit that you are right. But doing so seems a bit redundant. You can use a test device instead. If you allow it, I can provide relevant equipment to test the remaining wine."

“That’s impossible—”

Stewart vetoed it. He pointed to other unopened wines on the table. Looking at Lin Xiang, his eyes were like ice that was still moving: "After drinking this bottle, continue to repeat the process just now. Every bottle of wine is like this. You drink half of it first, and it will be our turn next."

"Why?"

Lin Xiang spread his heads in surprise and shook his head hard: "This, this is completely unnecessary. The detection instrument is completely OK..."

"You're right. Hehehehe! But... I don't believe that thing-"

Klester grinned, revealing his white teeth, and suddenly smiled grimly: "Young man, you are not a parasite, so naturally you won't understand what kind of physical characteristics we have. There are many things in this world that are affected by radiation. Those detection methods left over from the old era cannot have an effect on every toxin. Using human body for testing can completely avoid omissions. Do you know why I didn't ask more people to test? Because the four of you are enough. There are ordinary people and there are also

Parasites. There are men and women. Whether you really have tampered with food and wine or not, as long as you sit here honestly, eat the same dish and drink the same wine before me, we will be absolutely safe. Haha! I like to see the tragic appearance of the poisoned person dying under his masterpiece. As far as I know, there is any antidote in this world that can last for more than half an hour. If you keep your composure with me to drink these bottles of wine, then the next negotiation will be much simpler."
Chapter completed!