Hooking the Big One (6)

The moment I stepped into the reception room, a heavy silence pressed down on me. The air felt thick enough to cut with a knife. It wasn't the kind of tension that came from simple hostility. This was something colder, more calculated. Like the gaze of a predator sizing up its prey.

Seated at the head of the long table was a woman whose beauty seemed almost unreal. Her long black hair cascaded like silk over her shoulders, and her eyes, sharp as daggers, gleamed with intelligence. Even though she was simply sitting there, an overwhelming pressure radiated from her entire being.

Cao Cao. The woman who currently held the greatest power in the north. The one who had swallowed up countless warlords and was now aiming to unify the Central Plains under her rule.

She wasn't alone. To her left sat a woman with an elegant, scholarly air, her posture perfectly straight. Her features were refined, almost delicate, but the quiet confidence in her eyes suggested she was no mere ornament. That had to be Xun Yu. And beside her...

My gaze shifted slightly. A woman with striking crimson hair tied in a high ponytail. Her eyes burned with a fierce, unyielding spirit. Even without exchanging words, I could feel the intensity rolling off her in waves. Guo Jia. The genius strategist known as the "Ghost of the North."

These three together... this is no ordinary meeting.

I maintained a calm expression as I took my seat across from them. My heart was pounding, but I couldn't let it show. One wrong move here and everything I'd built so far could crumble in an instant.

"You've come." Cao Cao's voice was low and smooth, like aged liquor. There was a hint of amusement in it, but also something sharper underneath. "I was beginning to wonder if the famous Jin Hwan would turn out to be a coward who hides behind his women."

I offered a faint smile. "I don't particularly enjoy wasting time on pointless provocations. If you called me here to test me with cheap words, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."

For a brief moment, a spark of interest flashed in Cao Cao's eyes. She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her interlaced fingers.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Straight to the point. I like that. Very well. Then let me be direct as well." Her gaze sharpened. "What exactly are you planning in Xuzhou?"

The question came without warning, like a blade pressed against my throat. But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I had anticipated this. There was no way someone like Cao Cao would invite me here without knowing at least this much.

"Planning? I'm not sure what you mean." I tilted my head slightly, feigning ignorance. "I'm merely a man trying to protect what is his. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Protect?" Guo Jia let out a soft laugh from the side. Her voice was surprisingly clear and melodic, yet it carried an edge that made the hairs on my neck stand up. "That's an interesting way to describe swallowing up an entire province. From what I've heard, you've already turned most of Xuzhou's officials into your loyal dogs. Even Liu Bei has no choice but to watch from the sidelines now."

She's well-informed. I kept my face neutral. It seemed my movements hadn't gone unnoticed after all. Still, I couldn't afford to reveal my hand too easily.

"Loyal dogs, you say... That's rather harsh. I simply offered them a better future. One where they wouldn't have to tremble in fear every time another warlord's army came knocking."

Xun Yu, who had been silently observing until now, finally spoke. Her tone was calm and measured, like a scholar reciting from an ancient text.

"A better future, is it? Under your rule, I suppose. Tell me, Jin Hwan. Do you truly believe you can stand against the tide of this chaotic era? The world is vast, and your power is still but a single drop in the ocean."

I met her gaze steadily. "A single drop can create ripples. And ripples can become waves. History has shown us that many times before."

Cao Cao chuckled softly. The sound sent a strange shiver down my spine. There was something almost seductive about the way she carried herself, even in the middle of this tense political standoff.

"You're quite confident for someone so young. Or should I say... dangerously arrogant?" She tapped her fingers lightly on the table. "I've heard interesting rumors about you. They say you possess some sort of mysterious ability. That you can bend people's hearts to your will. Is that true?"

My pulse quickened. She knows about the System? No, that couldn't be. At most, she must have heard exaggerated tales from spies or defectors. I had to tread carefully here.

"Rumors tend to grow wings the more they spread. I'm just a man who knows how to make use of people's desires. Nothing supernatural about it."

Guo Jia's eyes narrowed. She seemed to be trying to read something from my expression. "Desires, you say. Then what is it that you desire, Jin Hwan? Power? Women? Or something even greater?"

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my legs casually. The corner of my mouth curled into a faint smirk.

"What I desire..." I paused for effect, letting my gaze drift slowly across each of their faces. "Right now, what I desire most is to sit here and enjoy this conversation with three of the most beautiful and brilliant women in the land. Isn't that enough?"

A brief silence fell over the room. Then Cao Cao burst into laughter. It was a rich, genuine sound that seemed to fill the entire space.

"Hahaha! What an interesting man you are. No one has ever dared speak to me like that before." Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Fine. I'll play along for now. But remember this, Jin Hwan. Xuzhou is too close to my territory. If you cause too much trouble there, I won't hesitate to crush you."

Her words were light, but the threat behind them was anything but. I could feel the weight of her ambition pressing down on me like an invisible mountain.

"I understand. But let me say this as well." I looked directly into her eyes. "If you ever decide to move south, don't forget that I will be standing in your way. And I won't be easy to crush."

The atmosphere in the room grew even heavier. Xun Yu and Guo Jia exchanged quick glances. Cao Cao, however, simply smiled. A dangerous, predatory smile.

"We'll see about that. For now, I think we've said enough." She waved her hand lightly. "You may leave. But don't think this is the end of our conversation. I have a feeling we'll be seeing much ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more of each other in the future."

I stood up slowly and gave a slight bow. "It was an honor to meet you, Lady Cao Cao. Ladies Xun and Guo as well. I look forward to our next encounter."

As I turned to leave the reception room, I could feel their eyes boring into my back. The moment the door closed behind me, I let out a long breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

That was close. My back was drenched in cold sweat. Facing Cao Cao and her two greatest advisors at once had been far more nerve-wracking than I'd expected. But at the same time...

A strange excitement was bubbling up from deep within me.

Finally. The real game is beginning.

I clenched my fist tightly as I walked down the corridor. The path ahead would be filled with blood and schemes, but I had no intention of stopping now. If anything, this meeting had only strengthened my resolve.

Cao Cao. Liu Bei. Sun Ce. And all the other heroes of this chaotic world.

I would make them all kneel before me. Not just as a conqueror, but as their absolute master.

Using every tool at my disposal. The System. My abilities. And yes... even the bodies of these beautiful women who now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ruled this land.

A dark smile crept across my lips as I stepped out into the sunlight.

The hunt had only just begun.

I felt a familiar surge of power flow through me as the System notification appeared in my mind. A new skill had been added to my arsenal. Perfect timing.

Now all that remained was to return to Xuzhou and continue tightening my grip on the province. And perhaps... begin preparing for the next move against the north.

The smile on my face grew wider as I mounted my horse.

Just you wait, Cao Cao. The day will come when even you will be begging at my feet.