Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 535: Why Are You Laughing

"Cooperation?" Yang Chen chuckled softly, bowed his head in thought for a moment, then asked, "I am indeed quite curious, what is your plan, and what do you want to cooperate on with me?"

Apollo said, "On this entire island, you are the only one I am interested in talking to, Hades. If you are willing to stand with me, then once my plan succeeds, I can let you rule half of the European Union. Of course, it's just the EU for now, but as we continue to expand, and as my 'Domain of the Gods' extends across the world, it would not be impossible for us to share the entire world as equals."

Apollo's tone was filled with a few traces of excitement and a wild frenzy, and his eyes were full of fanaticism.

These words made everyone on the island gasp.

Apollo's goal was actually to conquer the entire world?!

"Hahaha..."

Just as everyone was frowning, Yang Chen couldn't control himself and burst into laughter, almost laughing to the point of tears.

"Why are you laughing, Hades?" Apollo asked, somewhat displeased.

Yang Chen waved his hand, "It's nothing, I was just thinking, your goal is so grand. Compared to my desire for a simple and ordinary life, I feel rather pitiful."

"Hmph, this decayed and filthy world, those humans blinded by money and interests, only through a baptism of blood can they truly break free from their current shackles. Hades, it's fine if you don't understand me. I don't expect everyone to understand my thoughts. I just need to know if you are willing to accept," Apollo said, turning back to glance meaningfully at the unconscious Lin Ruoxi and others on the deck.

Yang Chen stifled his laughter, "Tell me, how do you want me to cooperate with you?"

At this question, everyone on the island looked at Yang Chen nervously. Even those who had wanted revenge on Yang Chen, such as Stone Sword and Takamagahara, had long understood after witnessing Yang Chen effortlessly deal with the six-winged angels of the church that they were no match for him.

If Yang Chen truly agreed to team up with Apollo, it was clear that they were in for a rough time!

"Straightforward," Apollo said with a sinister smile. "What I want you to do is simple. You just need to protect Bishop Cruyff, Captain Gabriel, and the other three friends of the church on the island, as well as Deputy Director Fodessa, to ensure that Deputy Director Fodessa can successfully complete one task."

Fodessa, whose mind had been in a state of shock, suddenly jolted and stammered, "W-what task?"

Apollo paused for a moment, then said, "Go to the underground control lab, retrieve the 'termination' button, and use it outside the blast radius."

"What?!"

Fodessa, a burly man, directly collapsed to the ground upon hearing this.

Storm Woman Laura frowned and asked, "Deputy Director Fodessa, what is the 'termination' button?"

Fodessa swallowed hard and said, "It is the master switch to initiate the 'destruction mode' of the base, triggering a nuclear explosion."

A nuclear bomb?!

Almost everyone turned pale; they understood what this meant.

Military bases often face undesirable situations, such as being breached by enemy forces or infiltrated. Therefore, it is crucial to destroy all evidence beneficial to the enemy at the last moment. This "destruction mode" obviously relied on nuclear warheads to blow up the entire military base, even affecting dozens of miles around it. After all, the power of a nuclear warhead, even if not a true atomic bomb or hydrogen bomb, far exceeds that of ordinary missiles.

France is the world's third-largest nuclear warhead reserve nation, and deploying enough to sink an island is easy for them!

Apollo continued, "Hades, it shouldn't be difficult for you to leave these ants on the archipelago forever. If you want, you can also kill them directly for me. I just need the world to know about my dominance as Apollo."

"Don't even think about it!"

A figure that had been still all this time suddenly disappeared!

The commander-in-chief of Takamagahara, Nurarihyon, flashed and appeared behind the seated Fo De Sa, with his Mimigiri Maru in hand, aiming to take Fo De Sa's head in an instant!

"Clang!"

However, before the short sword could swing down, the blade was forcibly gripped by a hand!

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Yang Chen appeared behind Nurarihyon in a blur, holding the blade in his hand!

Nurarihyon's face darkened as he turned back, "Should I wait until he gets the detonator and presses the button to trigger the nuclear explosion before making a move?!"

"Hades! Are you so selfish that you'd let everyone here from around the world die without a burial place just for your woman?!" Laura questioned.

"Hmph, I always knew he was an inhumane demon. Let's not beg him; everyone attack together, kill him and Fo De Sa, then have a final battle with Apollo!" Prince shouted.

However, Prince's words did not receive a response from the others, even the people from Excalibur looked troubled.

After witnessing Yang Chen's strength, they knew that attacking together would only mean dying faster.

"Kyōka Suigetsu..."

Suddenly, Nurarihyon muttered, and his figure dispersed into a ripple, disappearing from Yang Chen's grasp!

Yang Chen sighed, "Another one of these strange tricks. Do you really think I can't handle you?"

The next second, Yang Chen stretched his hand into the empty space on his left side, and out of thin air, the figure of Nurarihyon wielding his sword was firmly fixed in midair!

Nurarihyon looked at Yang Chen in shock, unable to believe his eyes. Previously, on the cruise ship, Yang Chen hadn't noticed him and only used a broad-range attack to defend. But now, he had seen through him instantly?!

Was he not serious about fighting me before?! Nurarihyon questioned himself in pain.

Yang Chen grinned, "Right now, this entire area is within the domain controlled by my innate true energy. Although I can't capture your aura, I can sense the flow of true energy. Your every move is futile."

"I admit, I indeed underestimated you. The strength of a Lord God is beyond my understanding," Nurarihyon said with a bitter smile, "So, it seems that you don't even need Fo De Sa to detonate the nuclear bomb; you could kill us all yourself?"

"No!" Before Yang Chen could speak, Gabriel stepped forward and said, "Not everyone. Lord Apollo has already stated. Our church has the sacred mission of educating the new world. Those who remain on this island are you, not us."

At this point, everyone but Soren and the others who absolutely trusted Yang Chen was nervously staring at him.

No one was foolish enough to try and escape at this moment. They knew very well that even if they evacuated the island at the fastest speed, they couldn't escape the explosion range of the nuclear bomb unless they could match the speed of a fighter jet!

Moreover, if Yang Chen truly wanted to stop them, they had no chance of winning!

"Fo De Sa, what are you hesitating for? Don't you want to reunite with your wife and son?" Apollo asked sinisterly. "And Hades, my patience is running out. Think carefully, your woman is in my hands. Compared to her, aren't the people on this island all insignificant and worthless?"

Yang Chen ignored Apollo's question and instead squatted down, patting Fo De Sa on the shoulder. "Deputy Director Fo De Sa, I want to know, what is your choice?"

Fo De Sa, drenched in sweat and with bloodied fingers clawing at the ground, showed a mix of fierce determination and pain on his rugged face. "I won't detonate it!"

"What?!"

Everyone present, even the four from the church who thought the outcome was a foregone conclusion, was shocked by Fo De Sa's choice.

"You idiot, what are you saying?! What do these people have to do with you? Are you going to abandon your wife and child?!" The one who spoke was Bishop Cruyff, who had regained his senses. The old man roared angrily, his previous domineering attitude returning despite looking a bit haggard, likely from overexertion.

Yang Chen's expression remained faintly amused as he nodded slightly.

Fo De Sa stood up and faced Apollo on the monitor. "I refuse, Apollo. You cannot control me with my wife and child! I, Fo De Sa, am not like some people who hide behind the guise of gods while doing despicable and heinous acts! Yes, I am just a mixed-blood Frenchman born from a German Nazi and a French traitor. In the eyes of many, even my superiors, I might be considered a disgraceful bastard.

But in my half-life, I have lived righteously and uprightly. My position was earned through military merit and risking my life. I might bow to the powerful, admit mistakes to my superiors, but I will not abandon the honor of being a French soldier!

I absolutely will not allow my child, even if they survive, to have a father who relies on treason and sacrifices others to cling to life!"

Fo De Sa's speech, filled with fervent emotion and conviction, stunned everyone present. Many couldn't help but feel a mix of guilt and respect, and even Nurarihyon, who had previously wanted to kill Fo De Sa, silently sheathed his sword after a moment of hesitation.

Apollo's eyes flashed with anger on the monitor. "Do you know what you're saying, Deputy Director Fo De Sa? Do you think not detonating the bomb will change the outcome?"

As he finished, Apollo's hand suddenly produced a black, palm-sized remote-like device! The appearance of this item caused Fo De Sa to stagger back three steps. "How... how do you have that?"

"Did you think the detonator was only on the island? I've had one in my hand all along. I value talent and wanted you to survive, but it seems you are unworthy," Apollo shook his head and then turned to Yang Chen. "Hades, since Fo De Sa chooses not to live, you should take the four from the church and leave the island. The others can stay."

Yang Chen said nothing and glanced back at Cruyff and the other three from the church, who were already standing together with expressions of triumph, ready to leave at any moment.

Yang Chen walked over amid the panicked gazes of the crowd.

"Haha, Lord Hades, it seems you are indeed wise," Cruyff, despite his defeat, was exceedingly smug at seeing Yang Chen being coerced.

Yang Chen stood before the old man and smiled broadly. "Is that so?"

Before Cruyff could say another word, Yang Chen's hand grabbed the top of Cruyff's head with a "crack"!

With a crisp sound, Cruyff's head burst like a crushed berry, red and white matter splattering everywhere as it was shattered into a pulp!