The Master’s Mask Unveiled Again
Chapter 966 - 965: He Saw Hope and Felt Despair

Chapter 966: Chapter 965: He Saw Hope and Felt Despair

Lu Mian lounged lazily on the sofa. Although Ya Ling had squeezed into her space, it didn’t affect her relaxed and indifferent demeanor in the slightest.

"Oh?" Ya Ling’s red lips curved into a smile. "Who is it? What a coincidence?"

"Indeed, quite the coincidence." Lu Mian lowered her gaze, chuckling coldly.

The phone screen still displayed the internal information interface of IEG.

Team Three: [Team Two, help me out! Do any of you know about this special RE Factor medicine? Any way to get it? Price is not an issue—just urgent!]

Her slender, pale fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the sofa. Even this simple gesture was mesmerizing to behold.

Ya Ling was shouting inwardly about how enchanting Lu Mian was. Even as a girl herself, she couldn’t take her eyes off her.

"No one’s ever looked to me for inquiries before. But now that old man Lu’s in trouble, this person suddenly comes asking."

Lu Mian spoke nonchalantly.

Her brow arched slightly, her chilly gaze full of understanding.

She moved her fingers and replied to Team Three.

——

At the same time, Xiao Qimo was waiting in the hospital room with Yun Sang.

Lu Mian had gone to Ya Ling’s office and forbade him from tagging along.

His phone pinged with a message. He opened the IEG internal app and casually glanced at it.

Team Three: [Team One, help me out! Do you know about this special RE Factor medicine? Any way to get it? Price is not an issue—just urgent!]

Xiao Qimo’s expression stiffened, his gaze growing complex as a hint of thought crossed his mind. The atmosphere around him also shifted slightly.

After a moment’s consideration, he quickly replied to Team Three.

——

The lover of Team Three’s commander was amidst a fierce firefight.

Having ended a call with Lu Yutian, he was distraught.

His mind was filled with "special medicine" and thoughts of "severing cooperation with the Lu Family."

He had searched tirelessly but hadn’t uncovered any leads related to the special medicine.

With his resources, he really hadn’t been able to procure the drug.

And he couldn’t help but wonder which group had developed the medicine and kept its existence so tightly under wraps that even he couldn’t trace it.

After much deliberation, he concluded that only three individuals in the world might be able to help him.

The Leader, Team One, Team Two.

He decided to avoid the Leader for now—the cost was too high, and he’d likely be scolded.

That left Team One and Team Two...

Amidst the bullets flying over the battlefield, Team Three dashed between cover, risking his life as he sent out desperate messages to Team One and Team Two for help.

It was all a gamble. Maybe one of the two knew something.

Team Three crouched behind a small dirt hill, clinging to a shred of hope while waiting for replies from the renowned Team One God of Death and Team Two Demon.

Team One: [I know. I have access.]

Team Two: [I can procure it.]

!!!

Team Three shot to his feet in shock and disbelief. "What the hell?"

After the fleeting moment of astonishment, Team Three’s lover huddled beneath the hill, clutching his phone and trembling.

The replies from those two legendary commanders—so calm, so confident—were enough to throw his mind into chaos amidst the warfare.

They knew about the special medicine.

They actually could both acquire it!

Initially, he had only sent a tentative query, never truly expecting these two figures to be so capable!

Seeing a ray of hope also brought a sense of despair.

Look at their competence as commanders... now compare it to himself as Team Three.

Useless! Worthless! Trash through and through!

Overcome with excitement, Team Three accidentally revealed himself from his cover.

A stray bullet grazed his shirt sleeve, jolting him back into the safety behind the dirt hill.

His fingers moved rapidly, preparing messages but hesitating before actually sending them.

He faced a dilemma—should he ask Team One for help or Team Two?

A choice between them was excruciating, akin to sacrificing his flesh and blood.

He didn’t dwell too long on his indecision, cautiously sending out two probing messages.

[Team One, how much?]

[Team Two, how much?]

Whomever offered the cheaper price, he’d go with them.

Team Three never could have imagined that he’d stumble upon a purchasing channel so easily; his heart brimmed with joy.

However, once he received replies from the two big shots, his smile evaporated instantly.

Team One: [Free of charge, just remember to vote during the leadership transfer.]

Team Two: [No payment needed. Just cast your vote for me.]

Team Three froze in shock.

He felt like he had stirred up a hornet’s nest, being roasted alive. As a lowly third team member, he had no chance against these two magnificent figures. A single offhand remark from either of them had plunged him into hell, leaving him stranded on a knife’s edge.

Voting...

During IEG’s leadership transition, internal votes would be conducted. The higher one’s vote count, the greater one’s prestige.

Ultimately, the current leader would base their decision on the voting results and select the new leader.

For commanders at the highest level, their votes carried enormous weight, followed by the votes of subordinate team members.

Ever since the Magician Leader returned from his overseas trip, he had increasingly displayed signs of wanting to retire early and pass on his position. All of them understood that the leadership election in IEG was likely imminent.

Still, Team Three hadn’t expected this day to arrive so swiftly and suddenly.

Team One and Team Two’s rivalry had already reached a boiling point.

If he failed to make an immediate choice and pick a side, the fallout for him could be catastrophic...

There was even a possibility of being dealt with as a potential competitor.

After all, as pitiable as he might be as Team Three, he technically held eligibility to run for the position.

Not that Team Three ever entertained any such ambitions—not even in his wildest dreams.

Especially when faced with these two high-ranking, wildly capable, and unequivocally intimidating figures, he knew he’d be crushed into irrelevance.

While the sounds of gunfire rattled on incessantly, no chaos outside could compare to the turmoil in his heart.

One was the acting leader, and the other was a close ally of the current leader. He didn’t want to offend either of them.

This was insanity—had they conspired to corner him?

To say the exact same thing at the exact same time?

In the end, he could only risk his life and reply to them one by one.

[Team One, rest assured. Even without this matter, I would still cast my vote for you.]

With trembling hands, he switched to the other chat and cautiously drafted his reply.

[Team Two, you’re the one I’m closest to. Even if you gave me nothing, I’d still vote you in as leader!]

He double-checked and triple-checked his messages, ensuring, over and over, that he hadn’t sent them to the wrong individuals. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness for anonymous voting—it would save his skin.

Thank goodness they were sworn rivals—there was no risk they’d share or combine their conversations and uncover his ploy.

Amitabha.

Amen.

——

Meanwhile, Lu Mian received the reply from Team Three and curled her lips meaningfully.

Ya Ling shivered. "What’s the matter, Mian? Why such a sinister grin?"

Lu Mian flicked her phone screen with her fingertip, producing a crisp "tap," then smiled coldly. "Oh, nothing. Just found myself a rather amusing individual."

Ya Ling glanced at Lu Mian’s expression—emmm...

She couldn’t help but feel this "amusing individual" was probably doomed.

As Lu Mian read through Team Three’s reply, the sincerity of his tone was unclear.

But since he had made such a declaration, Lu Mian decided not to hold back.

"Then I won’t be giving you the medicine. Just make sure you cast your vote when the time comes."

Team Three: [???]

What the hell?! Are you messing with me?!