From Apocalypse To Entertainment Circle (BL)-Chapter 26: A Fair Trade

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The sun’s rays grew scorching and intense as the clock neared nine in the morning. At this time of day, schools and businesses should have been in full swing, yet an eerie silence blanketed the city. Schools, plazas, and even the usually bustling streets were now desolate.

Everything had changed since the day terrorists attacked a variety show being held in the largest forest on the outskirts of City "B." Chaos ensued. Families of the hostages pleaded with the police to take action and save their loved ones. People lashed out at the government’s policies, its competence, and its laws. During the live broadcast, it was revealed that the root cause of this catastrophe was a fugitive who had escaped police custody. This man had ties to a powerful terrorist organization.

The organization was after him—he had betrayed them, stolen a large shipment of weapons, and possessed crucial information that made him a grave threat to their operations. Unfortunately, he had fled into the very same forest where the variety show, directed by Han, was taking place. Now, with over seventy people trapped in the clutches of ruthless terrorists, everyone was praying that Commander Lan Qisheng could successfully negotiate and rescue the innocent civilians who had fallen into the hands of these cold-blooded killers.

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Sitting on the couch, Sian watched as Liang Zhou continuously pulled out his pendant, staring at the picture inside every few seconds. Sian couldn’t help but take notice of his actions.

Suddenly, Michael Cheng spoke. "Hey, old man, at least you have a picture of your family. I don’t even have a single one."

"Oh? Brother Cheng, don’t tell me you have a wife too?" Tong Xiao asked.

"Why? Do I not look like husband material?"

"No, no, that’s not it! But if all of you are married and have families, I’ll feel like the only bachelor here."

"Hahaha, don’t worry, this idiot is single too. With his personality, no one can stand dating him for more than two months," Aaron Wang said, smirking as he pointed at his friend in a teasing manner. Well, they were close friends, so he knew Michael wouldn’t take offense.

"You...! You’re not any better! Did you forget how your girlfriend dumped you after just two weeks of dating?"

Liang Zhou shook his head, watching the two of them bicker. "You two... truly are serial daters."

Just as the two were about to protest, they suddenly heard voices coming from outside. Lan Qisheng and his men, who had been keeping watch, immediately raised their guard.

"Who’s there? Don’t come any closer!" Lan Qisheng called out from behind the door.

"It’s me! I’m unarmed—look! I just want to hand you this radio. The boss wants to talk to you! Please, don’t shoot!" the person approaching the door pleaded.

"Stop! Don’t come any closer. Just toss it over and back away!" This time, Yang Chen spoke from the window.

They heard some movement outside before something wrapped in cloth was thrown toward them—it was a radio.

Lan Qisheng cautiously stepped forward to pick it up, ensuring no one else was nearby. Once he had it, he signaled Liu Weiji to take his place on watch.

The moment Lan Qisheng held the device, a voice filled with hostility and contempt rang out.

"You bastards. Do you really think you’ll win this way?"

Just as Lan Qisheng pressed the button to respond, he felt something shift behind him. A faint tickling sensation brushed against his neck—Sian’s soft hair grazing his skin as the latter leaned in closer to the radio in his hand.

Lan Qisheng’s breath hitched, his face turning slightly red. A sweet, refreshing scent emanated from the person beside him. He was so intoxicated by it that, for a few seconds, he forgot to react—allowing Sian to say whatever he wanted.

With a bright, teasing tone, Sian spoke into the radio. "Oh? Hello, your lapdog. Can’t say it’s nice to hear from you. In fact, hearing your voice again makes me sick."

Lan Qisheng snapped out of his daze, giving Sian a light push on the head. Sian, having said what he wanted, obediently stepped back—though not before they all heard Liam’s furious voice crackling through the radio.

"You little brat! Just wait until I get my hands on you! I’ll skin you alive!"

"Oh? I didn’t know your organization had you working as a butcher too. Poor thing," Sian sneered.

"You—!"

"Enough," Lan Qisheng interrupted, his voice cutting through the tension like ice. He brought the radio closer to his mouth and spoke in a calm yet commanding tone. "Did you call to play games? The deadline I gave you is up. Do you accept my terms or not?"

Liam fell silent for a moment before speaking again, his tone eerily calm. "Fine. I’ll allow the hostages to leave the forest and meet the military outside. I won’t kill any of them."

"We’re saved!" Tong Xiao shouted with joy.

"Oh, thank God! Thank you!" Liang Zhou clutched his pendant, whispering a prayer of gratitude.

Kim Hyun smiled, and everyone in the room felt a wave of relief. However, their relief was short-lived.

Liam’s voice returned, laced with amusement.

"I’ll release the hostages I’m holding. But you and the people with you... you’re not leaving."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Truthfully, Lan Qisheng and his soldiers had expected this outcome from the start. It was impossible to get the terrorists to release everyone. But this result wasn’t entirely bad—without innocent civilians as hostages, it would be easier for them to move and eliminate these bastards.

Amidst the tense atmosphere, Lan Qisheng’s voice remained as steady as still water. "Fine. We have a deal. Release them, and I’ll contact the military to confirm that you kept your word."

"Wait," Liam said, his tone dark, yet unnervingly composed. "Do you really think that’s all?"

Lan Qisheng frowned. "What do you want? You’ll get the fugitive once you’ve fulfilled your end of the agreement."

"No," Liam chuckled. "In addition to the fugitive... you’re going to give me that boy."

Everyone froze.

Even though they had all been tense before, they had remained relatively calm, thinking that, with the soldiers present and the vastness of the forest, they could escape by destroying the surveillance cameras and slipping away. And with the military outside, they could be rescued.

This was precisely Lan Qisheng’s plan—to distract the enemy while part of his team escorted the remaining civilians to safety, all while requesting reinforcements. The risks were there, but they were manageable.

However, Liam’s demand changed everything.

"You want me—a soldier—to hand over an innocent civilian? Have you lost your mind?" Lan Qisheng’s voice was filled with fury.

Of course, he knew that these terrorists despised Sian. If he handed Xian over, it would mean certain death for him. There was no way—absolutely no way—he would do that. Even if everyone in this forest had to die, Xian would not.

"Of course, I’m not asking for free," Liam said, his tone dripping with amusement. "I’m a businessman, after all. If you surrender yourselves, including that brat, I’ll let the remaining civilians go. Sounds like a good deal, doesn’t it?"

"I don’t want much," he added with a sinister chuckle. "Just you, your five men, the fugitive... and that little whore."

"Eight people in exchange for more than eighty. That’s a fair trade, isn’t it?"

"Do you think we’re idiots? How can we trust you not to kill them after we surrender?" Zhao Ling snapped.

"Of course, as proof of my sincerity, I’ll release the hostages first. Then, once you lay down your weapons and come to me, I’ll allow the others to leave the forest."

"Sir, don’t believe him. He’s obviously lying. He just wants us to drop our guard so he can capture everyone," Ren Yi said grimly.

Liam let out a sigh. "Enough talk. Either you do as I say and complete the deal... or I blow you all to hell. Even if I need that man alive, as long as he’s dead, I can live with it. The choice is yours."

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Author erato has something to say:

Greetings, my wonderful readers! I hope you are thoroughly enjoying the journey of this story thus far. If you find yourself captivated by the plot or the characters, I would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave a review. Your feedback not only lifts my spirits but also helps me improve my writing and reach more readers.

I also want to take a brief moment to sincerely apologize for any errors you may have come across in the text. Thank you for your patience and understanding as I continue to refine my work.

I realize the language in the book may come across as quite simple, but I assure you that it reflects my unique writing style rather than a preference for simplicity. I believe that clarity can often enhance the storytelling experience, allowing the emotions and themes to shine through without distraction.

I cannot express enough how grateful I am for all of your support. Your encouragement means the world to me as I pour my heart into this narrative. I’m thrilled to let you know that what lies ahead is packed with excitement! The tension in the forest dilemma is building, and I promise you, it’s heading toward an exhilarating conclusion that you won’t want to miss.

Thank you for being part of this adventure, and happy reading!

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