King of Assassins
Chapter 68 - 67: The Gamble

Chapter 68: Chapter 67: The Gamble

"Boss."

Wu Caiyun greeted the stern-faced Wei Yue with a gentle nod.

Wei Yue said nothing and directly boarded the luxurious extended Pegasus car that had been prepared in advance.

Once the car door closed, Wei Yue’s stern face softened a bit, revealing a trace of exhaustion in her eyes.

This time, Divine Shield Group’s An Shirong personally stepped in, calling her, Fang Zhenlin, and Fang Zhenhai together for a negotiation.

An Shirong, as the top mogul in Mingjing City’s business world, held a significant position and immense power.

Although Wei Yue disliked An Shirong’s involvement, she had no choice but to obediently follow his arrangements.

Today’s meeting with Fang Zhenlin and Fang Zhenhai ended very unpleasantly. Both parties couldn’t reach an agreement on principles.

Fang Zhenlin and Fang Zhenhai wanted 20% of Yuanlong Company’s shares, which was simply insane.

Moreover, the other side insisted on this demand, taking a strong stance. There was nothing more to say.

Wei Yue knew that the Black Dragon Association was suffering consecutive blows and was barely managing. She definitely couldn’t show weakness.

If not for An Shirong’s presence, the negotiation would have surely collapsed.

Even so, neither side was willing to compromise.

Finally, An Shirong proposed a true sword duel between the two parties.

If the Fang Family lost, they would pay 20 billion credit points to Yuanlong Company. If Yuanlong Company lost, they would give the Fang Family 20% of their shares.

Regardless of the outcome, the parties would shake hands and agree to no longer attack each other after that.

The Fang brothers readily agreed, and Wei Yue had no choice but to concur.

A true sword duel would decide the company’s fate.

This method was particularly popular in the Alliance and was even included in legal procedures.

As long as both companies applied in advance and found a notary agency, the duel result would carry legal effect.

Wei Yue was unwilling to engage in a true sword duel because she couldn’t find a sufficiently powerful swordsman.

The other side set the duel date for July 7, over a month away, giving the Black Dragon Association enough time to dispatch more experts.

Yuanlong Company had no top experts. Wei Yue, with her extraordinary talent, had reached Level 9 at a young age.

However, her cultivation leaned toward spiritual power, leaving her lacking in body techniques, making it difficult to match up with swordsmen of the same level.

This was a battle worth 20 billion!

Wei Yue couldn’t afford to lose. If she lost those shares, the Black Dragon Association would extend its influence into Yuanlong Company, gradually devouring it entirely.

Yet, Wei Yue couldn’t refuse. Without a single expert to back them, Yuanlong Company couldn’t hold its ground in Mingjing’s upper business circle.

This time, An Shirong appeared unbiased, but Wei Yue was certain he was colluding with the Fanglian Group. He might even be the mastermind behind this entire situation.

Wei Yue had no choice. The Wei Family was a local power in Mingjing City, but it still lagged a tier behind the An Family.

An Shirong clearly supported the Fang Family, leaving her with no solution.

At this point, all strategies and calculations were futile. Only by winning the duel could there be a future.

Fortunately, she proposed a condition: participants had to be East Continent people.

Without this restriction, with the power of the Black Dragon Association, who knew what kind of experts they would bring in.

Limited to the East Continent, top swordsmen were few.

Wei Yue told Wu Caiyun, "Compile information on the top swordsmen in the East Continent."

"Yes."

Wu Caiyun had listened to the entire meeting and understood that at this moment, Wei Yue had no retreat and must win the duel.

Unfortunately, Yuanlong Company had no top experts. At this point, they could only find outside help.

Swordsmen of Level 9 and Level 10 had extraordinary statuses and their own stances.

Swordsmen at this level wouldn’t lack money. Few would risk their lives for money.

One must know that true sword duels didn’t allow armor or marvels.

The battle depended solely on swordsmanship to determine superiority. Such a fight posed exceptional risks; if the gap between the two was not large, both could die on the arena.

Even if Yuanlong Company offered a hefty sum, it might still be hard to find a suitable expert.

Wei Yue looked at the Divine Shield Company headquarter tower behind her, her gaze icy cold.

She could sense An Shirong’s greedy look at her. He didn’t even bother to hide it.

When seeing her off, An Shirong had made it clear that if she encountered difficulties, she could seek him out for help.

Wei Yue silently sneered. If she trusted An Shirong, not only would she be devoured, but the company would also be irretrievably lost.

On the top floor of the Divine Shield Company headquarter tower, An Shirong was also gazing at the departing convoy through the window.

On the ring highway, the convoy of luxury cars from Yuanlong Group was quite impressive.

An Shirong thought of Wei Yue’s icy face as she left, and instead felt more intrigued.

At his stage, the fascination with women was all about taste.

Only a woman as proud as Wei Yue could ignite his desire for conquest and satisfy it.

Of course, Yuanlong Company’s development of the Skywalker Gene Potion was a huge bounty he couldn’t miss.

This time, he wanted to see what tricks Wei Yue would pull.

Fang Zhenlin and Fang Zhenhai stood beside him, not knowing what An Shirong found amusing.

An Shirong, now over seventy, appeared only thirty on the surface, tall, strong, and vigorous with wheat-colored skin, exuding charisma.

In contrast, Fang Zhenlin and Fang Zhenhai appeared rather old-fashioned.

In An Shirong’s presence, the brothers were very restrained and deferential, nearly appearing to be his followers.

"You two can go back now."

An Shirong retracted his gaze and told Fang Zhenlin and Fang Zhenhai, "Take care of your company’s issues. Be low-key during this period and don’t cause trouble."

Fang Zhenlin and Fang Zhenhai hastily nodded in agreement.

"President An, we know what to do."

"Don’t worry, President An, we won’t act recklessly."

Fang Zhenlin hesitated for a moment and said, "Any instructions for the duel on July 7th, President An?"

An Shirong knew Fang Zhenlin was still uneasy, so he laughed heartily, "Just focus on the duel. Wei Yue won’t be able to find any experts."

He said proudly, "Among the top swordsmen in East Continent, only Li Qiushui and Xiao Bie Li might assist Wei Yue. I’ll speak with them in advance."

An Shirong then calmly said to Fang Zhenlin and Fang Zhenhai, "I won’t take a 10% share for nothing."

"President An is a master strategist, everything is perfectly arranged."

Fang Zhenlin smiled ingratiatingly, "It’s us brothers who lack vision, please don’t laugh at us, President An."

An Shirong smiled slightly, walked back to the coffee table, and took a sip of tea.

The brothers understood and immediately took their leave.

Fang Zhenlin and Fang Zhenhai got into the car, their expressions turned somewhat sour.

Although An Shirong is wealthy and powerful, they don’t want to act subservient in front of him.

Just like with the Yuanlong Company affair, their Fang Family paid a great price.

In the end, An Shirong showed up and took half of the profits. Of course, both were very displeased.

"An Shirong talks big, what if Wei Yue really brings in Li Qiushui and Xiao Bie Li?"

Fang Zhenhai said, "If we lose the duel, it’ll be us paying the bill."

Forking out 20 billion credit points at once would bankrupt Fanglian Group.

That would be like draining 20% of someone’s blood; it sounds like a little, but it can be fatal.

Fang Zhenhai gave Fang Zhenlin a sidelong glance, "At this point, do we have any other choice?"

If Fang Zhenshan hadn’t died, he might have withstood the pressure from the Black Dragon Association and wouldn’t let An Shirong take the biggest share.

The two brothers are constantly fighting internally, but they lack the courage externally. So now they can only bend and submit to An Shirong’s manipulation.

Fang Zhenlin was also very unhappy, "I’m your brother, if you’d listened to me, there wouldn’t be these problems."

"Hmph..."

Fang Zhenhai felt such statements were meaningless. He wouldn’t back down, nor would Fang Zhenlin.

The two brothers turned away, not looking at each other. The atmosphere inside the car became extremely awkward.

"Are you kids, still sulking and not talking?"

Sitting on the park bench by the artificial lake, Gao Xuan couldn’t help but mutter to himself; these two would say a few words then stop, making him itch with curiosity.

Nuwa reminded him that there would be an important meeting at the Divine Shield Mansion today, and he had arrived just in time.

From where he sat, he could see Wei Yue’s departing convoy.

He couldn’t really see it, but through a special spiritual connection with Wei Yue, he sensed Wei Yue. He also overheard the conversation between Wei Yue and Wu Caiyun.

The cultivation of the Fang Brothers was rather poor, and Gao Xuan established a spiritual connection with them without restraint, observing their actions.

Unfortunately, the brothers quickly stopped talking.

As for An Shirong within the Divine Shield Mansion, Gao Xuan dared not use the Six-winged Celestial Cicada to spy on him.

An Shirong is a tenth-level expert, already at the top of Pegasus Star. Such masters are exceptionally sensitive to external forces.

Gao Xuan only scanned An Shirong with spiritual power once, and the latter already faintly sensed something.

Of course, An Shirong wasn’t that sharp, so he didn’t really detect anything wrong.

Gao Xuan guessed that An Shirong might have some protective marvel or perhaps is truly a member of the Spirit Race, hence his acute sensitivity to spiritual sensing.

So Gao Xuan didn’t hear the specific content of the meeting.

Through the conversation between Wei Yue and the Fang Brothers, Gao Xuan roughly understood what the meeting was about.

Gao Xuan withdrew his spiritual sensing and relaxed to enjoy the lake view in front of him.

This artificial lake was located a few kilometers in front of the Divine Shield Mansion, also a greening park funded by Divine Shield Company, open to the public.

From his position, Gao Xuan was directly facing the Divine Shield Mansion across the lake.

The exterior of the mansion was pure black, with a convex front, and the glossy black glass exterior had a very beautiful metallic texture. From a distance, the mansion looked like a giant black iron shield.

The Divine Shield Mansion stood majestically before the artificial lake, like a towering mountain. The clear lake water reflected the Divine Shield Mansion, and the mansion’s black glass exterior walls shimmered with water reflections, creating a serene landscape view. In the glitzy Mingjing City, the Divine Shield Mansion’s exterior was very unique and highly recognizable.

While the surrounding skyscrapers were beautiful and delicate, they seemed overly frivolous compared to the Divine Shield Mansion.

Gao Xuan also had to admit that the design of the Divine Shield Mansion had a certain charm, a certain realm.

Judging from the building, one could also discern An Shirong’s demeanor and capability.

"Such a person isn’t easy to kill!"

Gao Xuan dared not directly observe An Shirong with spiritual power, so remote sniping was impossible.

Moreover, An Shirong had a protective marvel. Even if remote sniping were possible, it might not kill him.

In the previous life, Gao Xuan had fled Pegasus Star very early and wasn’t familiar with its top experts. He knew even less about An Shirong’s specialties.

The most troublesome part was An Shirong’s acute sensitivity to spiritual powers, so Gao Xuan couldn’t directly observe him.

"Are you distressed that you can’t use your marvel?"

Nuwa appeared from the air and sat beside Gao Xuan, affectionately putting her arm around his shoulder.

The virtual projection’s body appeared extremely real; Gao Xuan could even feel that subtle touch on his shoulder.

All of this was actually simulated through the smartwatch on his wrist.

Nuwa chuckled, "You can always ask me; I know everything."

"Sister Wa, please, quickly tell me An Shirong’s information."

Gao Xuan picked it up, and put it down, immediately pleading with Nuwa as he held her.

When Gao Xuan held her like this, the virtual image didn’t scatter. Her virtual body was like a real person’s, with her clothes wrinkling and her sitting position slightly off-kilter.

She tapped Gao Xuan’s head lightly, "Can’t you be less flirtatious, always taking advantage when you get the chance."

Nuwa was just saying that; she wasn’t really bothered. She turned and smiled, "You don’t need to beg me; we can make a fair trade. You tell me future information, and I can solve all these troubles for you!"

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