On the other side, Xiang Ning had hung up on the phone with a goofy grin on his face. Zhao Yang was slightly unnerved but thought to himself, Is it really possible?
âWhatever, Iâm not wasting any more time on you. Hu, Biao, get the irrelevant people out of my face and let our staff make the measurements they came to make. Also, letâs take this chance to build our temporary camp. When the documents are ready tomorrow, weâll begin construction!â
The two muscular bodyguards next to Zhao Yang approached upon receiving instruction. Xiang Ning sensed that they were only tier three martial artists. If he and his friends hadnât been here, these people would definitely have done whatever they wanted. But they were here today.
âDo you think you can touch me?â
âHehe, either you get the hell inside or theyâll escort you inside!â Zhao Yang smiled, not wanting to speak to Xiang Ning.
But what happened next frightened him.
âCome, this isnât a suitable spot for a conversation, letâs talk inside.â Xiang Ning was smiling, but twenty blades now orbited Zhao Yang.
Zhao Yang could feel the inevitable stinging cuts on his skin before the knives even touched him. âStop! Letâs talk like civil people here. I think we should talk.â
âNo, no. Thereâs nothing to talk about. Get your people out of here. They donât need this place anymore,â Xiang Ning smiled.
âWhat do you mean?â
âTake a guess?â
Fury Points +111
A ringtone abruptly sounded. âAbort. I donât know what the hell those researchers are thinking, but they appointed Meteorite Constructions as the agent.â
âWhat? Meteorite Constructions was appointed as the agent? Since when did they have such influence? Isnât it just a local business?â
âI donât know, but itâs best if you come back.â The voice sounded exasperated.
Hanging up, Zhao Yang looked at Xiang Ning, perplexed. âAre⌠are you one of the researchers working on the dimensional ring?â
âNo, but my teacher is. My teacher loves me, so all I had to do was speak to him.â
Zhao Yangâs knees almost gave out, but he still didnât believe it. He asked accusingly, âThis is a confidential project, how could he have told you?â
âI donât know either. He was just in a very good mood the day their research succeeded, and you know how people relax and let go when theyâre happy. So they went out drinking and drank a little too much, thatâs how I heard about the project,â chuckled Xiang Ning. He had no problem making up a lie.
Zhao Yangâs head ached. There was something wrong, because a researcher who could change the cityâs decision would definitely be someone of high status. But this was too fast! How long ago had Xiang Ning made the call? Five minutes?
There was no time for him to hesitate and ask questions as he was ushered out by Xiang Ningâs twenty knives. He was an intelligent guy; staying would be dangerous, and he might even further offend an important figure. He still hadnât figured out how Xiang Ning could take away their rights with just a phone call, though. He needed time to analyze the situation and therefore let Xiang Ning go for the moment. Somehow, he still felt unnerved.
After they left, Xiang Ning turned around with a smile. âLet the kids out, itâs fine now.â
âThey⌠they left just like that?â Grandpa Director was in disbelief. Blades were drawn like there would be a duel, but suddenly, they left. Even he had yet to come to his senses.
Fang Rou and the rest didnât find it odd. Xiang Ningâs teacher was one of the Twelve Great Prodigies, Dong Qianyi. Forget about taking away the companyâs right to sell in Marsh City; he could easily take away any rights from any of the worldâs top ten corporations in North Star City. It would be as easy as taking candy away from a child.
The Twelve Great Prodigies were all powerful in their own right. You could threaten one, but could you afford to threaten twelve? If all twelve of them decided to abandon their work to come meet you, it would be enough to shake your entire planet. Then, you would be a universal target.
Who would dare offend people of that status?
The twelve of them had produced countless technological products. All they had to do was remove your right to use them and you would instantly lose your sources of income. Profit was king; no one should destroy their future over a momentâs rage, right?
However, what nobody knew was that Xiang Ning was the key person involved in the dimensional ring research. Without his last formula, even if they managed to produce the ring, its storage would be less than ten cubic centimeters. He had provided the solution to expanding the space, which was the true key component of the product. The invention itself wasnât enoughâthey would have needed more than a decade to expand the storage space.
Completing two tasks in such a short time was an astonishing feat. That was why Xiang Ningâs contributions were considered greater than those who had worked there for years.
No matter what, why, or who, those people had left and the orphanage was saved.
The students had a meal at the orphanage, then rested. Xiang Ningâs phone buzzed and displayed a message from Dong Qianyi. He nodded; it was a code for the company to bring to the Central Tower for official registration to be a verified seller.
Xiang Ning called Fatty Wang to the backyard and gave him the verification code.
Wang Zhe looked at it curiously and chuckled. âWhat is it? A discount code for something?â
âNo, thatâs the verification code for the right to sell dimensional rings. Give it to your father later, then go with him to the Central Tower because only⌠never mind that, you must go with him,â explained Xiang Ning.
Wang Zhe looked stiff. âWhat are you talking about? This is the code for the right to sell the dimensional ring?â
âYep. If thereâs nothing else, Iâm going inside.â Xiang Ning turned and disappeared indoors, leaving the fatty behind in an existential crisis.
Xiang Ning wanted to return to the lounge to tell the children stories, but was pulled aside. Looking at Lu Shiyu and her familiar pink hair, he asked, âWhatâs up, Lu Shiyu?â
âIâve got a favor to ask.â
âWhat is it?â
âI need you to protect someone.â
âHuh?â
âYouâve met her. Her name is Annot.â
âHuh? Annot?â
âYeah, thatâs right. Yesterday, she was pursued by assassins from Azura, but you rescued her. You remember, right?â
âUh⌠this is such a coincidence,â muttered Xiang Ning. Fang Zhenyuan had just given him the assignment to protect Annot and heâd already been thrust into duty so suddenly the day before.