sovbooks Chapter 98 All or Nothing
Chapter 98 All or Nothing
Chapter 98 A Desperate Gamble (Sixth Update, Seeking First Subscription)
Chen Feng was incredibly perceptive; he instantly saw through the old fox's thoughts!
Aquinado was clearly certain that he would kill him once he left the city, so he simply gave up and refused to cooperate.
If we cannot gain his trust and get him to order the passage, things could easily change if the stalemate continues.
Chen Feng glanced at the Independent Army soldiers in front of him out of the corner of his eye. These men had fanatical eyes and moved in perfect unison. They were clearly Alvarez's trusted confidants and might not actually obey Aguinaldo's orders.
If this guy hadn't still had some remaining prestige to keep things in check, he probably would have opened fire without a second thought!
In a flash, Chen Feng suddenly released his left hand from Aquinado's nape, but his fingertips remained firmly pressed against his throat, and the muzzle of the gun remained unmoved, still pressed firmly against Aquinado's temple. He said coldly, "Aquinado, you think I'll kill you as soon as I leave the city? You underestimate me, Chen Feng, and you overestimate yourself!"
Aquinado stiffly turned his head to the side, veins bulging in his neck, his face full of undisguised sarcasm, clearly not believing a single word.
Chen Feng deliberately lowered his voice so that only the two of them could hear: "Your life is more valuable than your death! The Spanish are still entrenched in Manila, putting up a stubborn resistance, while the Americans are watching from the sidelines, ready to reap the benefits at any moment."
"If I kill you, the independence army will be leaderless and will only be vulnerable to being swallowed up and divided up. Then the Chinese in Luzon will be without checks and balances and will be caught in a dangerous situation, attacked from both sides. I, Chen Feng, am not foolish enough to create so many powerful enemies just to kill you!"
Upon hearing this, Aquinado's eyes flashed with obvious contemplation, and his clenched jaw seemed to loosen slightly.
Chen Feng seized this fleeting moment of weakness and immediately pressed his advantage, saying, "I can release Isabel first, and once we're out of the city and in a safe place, I'll release you immediately!"
Aquinado froze, his pupils suddenly contracting!
Should we let Isabella go first?
This was completely beyond his expectations!
If Chen Feng really wanted to kill her to silence her, there was no need for him to take this unnecessary step. Keeping Isabella in his hands was the biggest bargaining chip to restrain him.
But judging others by his own standards, he felt that this might be Chen Feng's delaying tactic, and that he would renege on his promise once they left the city. In that case, he and his daughter would still be doomed!
In the end, Aquinado shook his head fiercely, his face still bearing that defiant look, and said in a hoarse voice, "Don't waste your energy! We're both the same kind of people, we know best what it means to eliminate all threats! If I trust you, I'm just offering my neck to the blade and courting death!"
"Who the hell is on your side?"
Chen Feng frowned sharply, his tone revealing a hint of impatience.
Aquinado's stubbornness was proving quite difficult for him.
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, Alvarez's confidants' eyes grew increasingly fierce, almost crossing the line.
"Da da da yi—"
A rapid sound of hooves suddenly came from afar, growing louder as it approached, making the ground tingle slightly. It also carried the sound of a large group of people running, creating an astonishing atmosphere!
Everyone looked up and saw a troop of cavalry galloping towards them from the end of the dusty street, with the two leaders being particularly eye-catching.
On the left was Luna, who had not appeared at all.
He changed out of his suit and into a crisp Independent Army general's uniform, still wearing those gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, his gaze behind the lenses as deep as the sea.
On the right was Shi Lingxi, dressed in a black outfit that accentuated her sleek lines. A wide silver belt cinched her waist, making her slender figure appear even more defined. Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail, with a few stray strands clinging to her temples, the ends of her hair fluttering gently with the horse's movements.
As soon as she pulled on the reins, Shi Lingxi spoke first, her clear voice carrying a powerful penetrating force that instantly drowned out the soldiers' chatter and agitation:
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General Chen, there must be some misunderstanding. Please release the Commander-in-Chief immediately, and we can discuss this calmly!
Luna stood on his horse, his gaze sweeping over Aquinado's disheveled appearance. His broken arm hung limply, and his body was covered in cold sweat mixed with blood. Where was the slightest bit of the commander-in-chief's majesty?
A surge of overwhelming hatred welled up in his heart instantly!
This person is indeed extremely ruthless!
In an attempt to kill Chen Feng, they actually plotted to transfer him away from Malolos. If it weren't for his trusted confidant arriving in time to report, Chen Feng would probably have really met his end here today!
But then he thought that the cause of Philippine independence still needed Aguinaldo to unite all the forces at the moment, so even if he was dissatisfied, he could only suppress it for the time being.
Luna dismounted and strode forward, his voice steady and powerful: "General Chen, release the Commander-in-Chief! I, Luna, swear on my honor as a Doctor of the University of Madrid, on my status as a general of the Independent Army, and on the spirit of Mr. Penny Faxiu, that today I will be your hostage in exchange for your safe departure! If I try anything clever along the way, you may kill me without hesitation!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent, and even Alvarez's confidants showed emotion.
By swearing by the spirit of Pennyfashou, Luna made the most solemn vow imaginable.
A flicker of surprise crossed Chen Feng's eyes, quickly turning cold and unyielding. He held firm, the gun still pressed against Aquinado's temple: "Release Aquinado? Absolutely not!"
His gaze swept over Luna, then glanced at the restless Alvarez followers beside him, and coldly cut to the chase: "You, Luna, are known for your strict discipline and high prestige, yet you ultimately cannot control the entire Independent Army, at least not Alvarez's loyal and devoted followers!"
Upon hearing this, Luna's gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses suddenly turned serious.
How could he not be aware of this hidden danger?
Alvarez's men only obey his orders. If Aquinado is allowed to remain here today, Chen Feng and his group will be hunted down as soon as they leave the city. His so-called hostage will become a huge joke.
Shi Lingxi immediately stepped forward, her clear voice breaking the silence: "General Chen is absolutely right. Allow me to add something!"
She looked up at Luna, then at Chen Feng, and said firmly, "General Luna is accompanying me as a hostage, and I am willing to be a hostage as well!"
These words caused an uproar in the audience!
Liu Hengfu was so shocked that his mouth dropped open, and he subconsciously said, "Miss Shi! Why did you..."
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Shi Lingxi raised her hand to interrupt him, her gaze sweeping over everyone present, and said loudly, "Although my Shi family has only been in Luzon for a few decades, we have long regarded this land as our homeland and become a part of Luzon. For the cause of Luzon's independence, and to prevent the Chinese and Philippine sides from killing each other, I am willing to take this risk. Moreover, I believe that General Chen is by no means a man of his word!"
"This..." Chen Feng's gaze swept over Aquinado's distorted face, then over Alvarez's sinister eyes, and he shook his head again.
Luna stepped forward quickly and whispered, "General Chen, I'll be your hostage. The Commander-in-Chief can't let me die! Alvarez is ambitious, and the Commander-in-Chief needs me to lead the Catapuln to counterbalance the various forces, and he also needs me to restrain Spain's elite troops."
A cold glint flashed in Chen Feng's eyes as he rapidly weighed his options.
Luna is the leader of the Katipunan and the pillar of the independence army. Aguinaldo relies on him to suppress factional disputes and counter the Spanish elite, so it is indeed impossible for him to be killed openly!
but...
Chen Feng glanced at Aquinado's exaggeratedly distorted face and shook his head, saying, "This guy is a madman. Before he drove out the Spaniards, he even ruthlessly killed Punnifa, who fought alongside him. Now that you, Luna, have achieved great merit and are overshadowing the emperor, how could he possibly tolerate you sincerely? You save him today, but he will surely eliminate you one day!"
Aquinado, drenched in cold sweat from the pain, still gritted his teeth and retorted, his voice hoarse yet tinged with madness: "Nonsense! Pennyfaxiu was executed according to law after a fair trial by a military court for treason! Luna is my most trusted right-hand man; I would never kill him!"
Fortune