Sacrificing My Looks for the Greater Good

"What?" Zhang Yuanqing almost dug his ear with a finger, wondering if he had misheard. "I'm not joking. The President hopes you can seduce Donna and make her helplessly infatuated with your charms." Seeing Tongtian Jiaozhu's stunned expression, Catherine repeated herself. The President she referred to was the leader of the Hunter Guild. *My charms? What charms do I have? All I’ve got is a stiff, sturdy weapon. While the taste of Desire is undeniably sweet, I don't want to end up walking the exact same path as the Demon Lord...* Tongtian Jiaozhu glanced at the plump, fair body before him. Though truthfully, he already was. At the same time, he realized who the romantic peach-blossom omen from his astrological divination was pointing to—Donna, the foremost beauty of New York County! Yuanshi Tianzun would have balked at such good fortune, but Tongtian Jiaozhu didn't mind in the slightest. After all, his sect taught without discrimination. So, keeping his face cold, he said, "Give me a reason." Catherine sighed. "Successive defeats in the faction war have shaken the confidence of several top brass in the Freedom faction, and morale among the middle and lower ranks has plummeted. Therefore, we need to pull Donna over to our side. "Donna is the premier beauty of New York County, possessing charms that surpass even mine. Taking her down by force is nearly impossible; even the most cold-blooded, ruthless members of the Freedom faction can't bring themselves to lay a hand on her. That is why the only way to pull her into our camp is through seduction." Hearing this, Zhang Yuanqing thought of Emma and Channing Lu and instantly saw through the Hunter Guild's design. They intended to use male charms to seduce Donna, then guide her into listening to divine revelations and turning her into a corrupted one. Once Donna became corrupted, none of her lovers would escape—including Sean Meade, the Executive Minister of Heaven's Punishment. Furthermore, Donna was a high-ranking member of the orthodox faction. If she formed intimate liaisons with top orthodox figures, no one would suspect a thing—a feat Catherine could never pull off. The Desire class was unmatched in social diplomacy. Controlling Donna was tantamount to controlling half of New York County's orthodox faction. After all, Donna had countless peerless beauties working under her. Every single one of them could become a pawn for the evil faction. "A brilliant tactic!" Tongtian Jiaozhu nodded in approval before sneering. "Why me? And if this tactic is so brilliant, why wait until now to carry it out?" Catherine replied: "The Desire class has two paths: 'Love' and 'Lust.' You can grasp the distinction just from the words. Lust is indulgence—leveraging looks, bewitchment, and physical perfection to build a wide harem, turning as many members of the opposite sex as possible into obedient thralls to be used at will. "Love places greater value on emotional connection and the quality of one's mate. Companions born of love are far more loyal and reliable. "By collecting payments, I can make men who have shared my bed throw their lives away for me, but it's strictly a one-time transaction; once the debt is paid, I lose them. Donna, on the other hand, doesn't need to extract a payment to make her lovers willingly lay down their lives. That is the power of 'Love.' "Therefore, seducing Donna—who values emotional rapport—requires the right candidate. Just any handsome man won't do." "And you think I'm the right candidate?" Zhang Yuanqing scoffed. "I wasn't aware I had that much charm." "You might not, but Jumang does!" Catherine said with a beaming smile. Hearing that, Zhang Yuanqing nearly lost his composure, thinking his true identity had been exposed. Immediately after, Catherine added, "The President hopes you can disguise yourself as Jumang to approach Donna." "???" Even as Zhang Yuanqing breathed an inward sigh of relief, he found the whole thing absurdly surreal. On what grounds did disguising himself as Jumang qualify him to seduce Donna? Swearing in the name of Yuanshi Tianzun, Jumang and Donna were completely pure and innocent! Seeing Tongtian Jiaozhu's bewildered stare, Catherine explained, "The Hunter Guild has gathered intelligence on Donna, analyzed her personality, and figured out her tastes. We discovered that she harbors a special soft spot for men significantly younger than herself. "According to our intel, ever since the mobilization banquet that night, Donna has kept a close eye on news regarding Jumang. As Jumang's fame surged, her attention grew even more frequent. "By our estimation, it won't be long before Donna takes the initiative to contact Jumang. If you seize that opportunity to approach her, your efforts will yield twice the results with half the work." Catherine offered a radiant smile. "You are an Illusionist, and disguise is your trade, so this mission falls squarely on you. Besides..." Her long, fair legs tightened, drawing Tongtian Jiaozhu's waist closer against her. "Your stamina and vigor rank among the very best of any man I've ever encountered. That matches the traits of Jumang's Wood Monster class perfectly. Donna won't suspect a thing—in fact, she'll adore it." A Wood Monster's staying power in that department was indeed exceptional, a trait it shared with Night Wanderers. *Impersonating myself? Since when did Donna have such an appetite for me...?* Zhang Yuanqing voiced his doubt: "Donna is interested in Jumang solely because of his age? You just said she walks the path of 'Love.' Just because a man has potential and strength doesn't mean she'll fancy him. "I need to understand this clearly so I can cater to her tastes during the impersonation and guarantee the mission's success." Finding his reasoning sound, Catherine nodded. "On the surface, Donna appears gentle and quiet, but deep down, she is timid and submissive. Hence, she prefers younger men who look harmless. You must have had some contact with Jumang, right?" *Then there's no problem at all—I can just play myself!* Zhang Yuanqing let out an "oh" and remarked, "Jumang does indeed look rather fair, quiet, and unthreatening." Dropping that point, he pivoted to another concern: "Still, your plan has a flaw. Approaching Donna, earning her trust, and inducting her into the organization all take time. In the meantime, if she goes to the Heaven's Punishment branch to find the real Jumang, or if rumors leak out, the plan will collapse, and I'll be a dead man." Catherine pinched his cheek. "Have faith in a Stargazer's ability to orchestrate the board. We have ways to keep Donna and Jumang from ever crossing paths." *A Dominator from Dark Night Rose is going to get involved too? To influence Donna... If I recall correctly, Donna is level eight, so it would take Dark Night Rose's Grand Protector personally stepping in...* Zhang Yuanqing feigned contemplation for a few seconds before saying, "The risk remains enormous. Without an adequate reward, I won't gamble with my life." Seeing him negotiate terms, Catherine knew the deal was within reach and promptly laid out the prize: "Once the deed is done, we will reward you with a secret weapon—a treasure that will allow you to smoothly ascend to Dominator in the killing trial. Though for now, its details must remain confidential." *Handed over only after the job is finished. And if it fails, they only lose a Dream Master from the Second District. What a sly calculation!* Zhang Yuanqing didn't refuse any further and nodded. "Very well! However, if anything feels off or if I sense danger, I will abort the mission." "Of course, your life comes first!" Catherine rested her head against his shoulder, her supple body clinging to him as she giggled. "I could never bear to part with you... Oh, there's one more thing. Let me teach you a little trick for handling Donna." Zhang Yuanqing immediately pricked up his ears. "When Donna was young, she must have suffered some unfortunate ordeal, which left her timid and frail. That ordeal also left her with mild masochistic tendencies." Catherine licked his earlobe, her voice sultry and soft. "When the two of you are alone, displaying a suitable amount of domineering arrogance and pushiness will work wonders." *Oh? There's gossip like that?* On the surface, Zhang Yuanqing remained impassive, but his inner spirit of gossip roared to life. "How do you know that?" Catherine chuckled softly. "The Demon Lord told me. He was my lover, and he was Donna's lover too. But rather than romance, the Demon Lord forcefully claimed her. Donna's lovers across New York County were all dealt a harsh lesson by him, and the President at the headquarters of the Association of God of Beauty was also one of his lovers, turning a blind eye to his outrages. Thus, Donna yielded herself to him for a time. "The Demon Lord told me Donna has masochistic tendencies. She will never admit it out loud, but in bed, she is more cooperative than anyone. The more domineering, forceful, and unreasonable you are, the more obedient she becomes. I trust the judgment of a man who has known countless women." *Her outward taste favors a quiet, obedient puppy dog, but inside she's a closet masochist? Alas, if the world's beauty were divided into ten parts, the Demon Lord hoarded eight of them. He deserved to die! If he weren't dead already, I'd want to kill him myself!* Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "Understood. One last question. You are also a Dominator of the Desire class. Whatever Donna can do, you can do as well. In fact, I find you far more enchanting than her." Given Tongtian Jiaozhu's abrasive nature, utterly incapable of sweet talk, anything that came out of his mouth had to be the honest truth. Flattered and thoroughly pleased, Catherine sighed. "My identity is no secret among New York County's elite. The orthodox leaders would never succumb to my charms. "Besides, we are in the middle of a faction conflict. Even the hot-tempered, arrogant Sirens know to guard against seduction. Even if one truly went to bed with me, he would probably demand an agreement that I cannot claim any payment beforehand." *A free-ride contract, you mean...* Zhang Yuanqing internally corrected her, then said, "I have no further questions." *** Inside the bank building, Heaven's Punishment branch. "Hello!" Inside the glass bowl, Ruth poked her head above the water and spoke human words in greeting: "You must be Jumang! I am Miss Chris's spokesperson. She dislikes speaking, so you may call me Ruth. Pleased to meet you! To borrow an expression from your Huaxia: your talent is arrogant and domineering, your appearance reigns supreme above all, your strength is aggressively threatening, and your demeanor flaunts its might far and wide! "Mr. Jumang, the eldest miss holds you in high regard. Would you be interested in accepting sponsorship from the Gustav family?" She spoke in Chinese. Once the iridescent little fish finished, Chris gave Zhang Yuanqing a look that said, *Precisely so,* awaiting his response. Zhang Yuanqing, who usually considered himself worldly, felt that his worldliness still left much to be desired. He had gathered intel on Chris before, but this eldest miss of the Gustav family kept a relatively low profile, rarely showing herself in public ever since the Demon Lord returned to the Spirit Realm. His limited dossiers contained not a single word about a fish named "Ruth." After a moment's daze, Zhang Yuanqing remarked with feeling, "Hello, Miss Ruth. In all my years, I've never met a fish capable of speaking Mandarin. Your grasp of idioms and Chinese is truly eight measures of talent, deeply penetrating, calling a stag a horse, and utterly nonchalant. "So, why don't we converse in English instead?" He offered no reply to the sponsorship proposal. Ruth swam a joyous circle in the water, delighted by the praise for her Chinese. Meanwhile, Zhang Yuanqing and Chris exchanged a nod in greeting. Standing nearby, Sean Meade spoke up: "Jumang, we'll be having dinner with the eldest miss at seven this evening. For now, go tend to your duties." The unspoken subtext was clear: the leadership had business to discuss, and he should step out. Zhang Yuanqing looked toward Deputy Minister Osido, whose face twitched faintly. "At six o'clock, meet me at the rooftop helipad." Zhang Yuanqing departed in high spirits. Returning to the office area, he closed the door and closed his eyes to rest, enjoying Guan Ya's shoulder rubs and back massages. Judging from the mission assigned by the Hunter Guild, there wouldn't be any Dominator-level battles in the near future, as the evil faction intended to corrupt Donna first, using her to bring the orthodox Dominators under their sway. With no large-scale clashes on the horizon, his primary focus going forward would be 'seducing Donna' and 'securing the sacred plate fragments.' Disguising himself as Jumang to approach Donna carried zero risk of exposure—whether Tongtian Jiaozhu or Jumang, both were him! The task of seducing Donna presented Zhang Yuanqing with a rare opening—a chance to strike directly at their home base. To corrupt Donna, the evil faction would either take her into the "Kingdom of God" or have her attend a gathering and lie on a golden bed to listen to divine revelations, just like Emma and Channing Lu. When that time came, he could bring the President and the other orthodox demigods along to wipe out the evil faction's lair in one fell swoop! *No wonder the star of romance shone so brightly in my astrological divination. Turns out it's an inescapable romantic encounter. For the greater good, I have no choice but to sacrifice myself,* Zhang Yuanqing mused inwardly. *I am seducing Donna strictly for the greater good, not because I covet her beauty.* Additionally, while seducing Donna, he could keep an eye on the women in the Association of God of Beauty. He might even uncover Catherine's whereabouts if she was lurking among them. As for obtaining the sacred plate fragments, Catherine's willingness to let him hold onto them stemmed partly from the evil faction waiting for that so-called opportunity, as well as plotting Donna's corruption. They had not yet reached their wit's end, so the Holy See's treasure could wait for now. However, they wouldn't delay indefinitely. He needed to assemble the fragments as soon as possible and seize the treasure, which would bolster his own faction while thwarting the enemy's conspiracy. If they could destroy the Covenant of Freedom's headquarters, discarding the persona of Tongtian Jiaozhu wouldn't matter, even if it meant forfeiting the full roster of the Covenant's leadership. *Right, I'll coordinate with the President tonight...* Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself as his consciousness gradually sank back into his avatar's body. Catherine and Tongtian Jiaozhu were at it once again. *** 6:30 PM. Wearing sunglasses and a mask, Guan Ya drove to a French restaurant situated beside Manhattan's Financial District. This was the dinner venue Fu Xue had arranged, and it ranked among the top dining establishments in New York County. Renowned for its seafood, it claimed to serve the most exquisite seafood cuisine in the world. Tables in the main dining hall were nearly impossible to secure, while private dining rooms required reservations half a month in advance, not to mention a long waitlist. However, Fu Xue was a business partner of the restaurant's second-largest shareholder; a single phone call had been enough to clear a room. Pushing open the door to the private room with her handbag in tow, Guan Ya spotted two women of similar age seated beside a small round table fashioned from polished black crystal. Neither looked especially young, yet upon closer inspection, both appeared remarkably youthful. Their skin was maintained with a delicate, lustrous sheen, their figures remained trim, and their attire leaned toward mature elegance. Guan Ya scrutinized her mother's friend. In terms of sheer facial beauty, this woman was slightly inferior to Fu Xue. In her youth, Fu Xue's looks had been among the very best in the Fu family, and even now in her mature years, she remained bewitching and glamorous. Yet while this friend might have lagged slightly in looks, her aura completely overwhelmed Fu Xue's. Sitting there in utter silence, she radiated an imposing, icy presence that struck like a wall. One glance was enough to tell she was an overbearing, self-centered woman used to wielding long-term authority. Furthermore, as a Scout, Guan Ya keenly noticed that the woman was scrutinizing her—and it was certainly not the way someone normally looked at a friend's daughter.